Construction & Renovation Services in Bowness & Montgomery

This is the central question in Bowness real estate, and the answer depends on three factors: foundation condition, flood-zone status, and your end goal. If the foundation is sound (no structural cracking, no significant settlement, adequate waterproofing), renovation makes sense for homeowners who plan to live in the house. A comprehensive renovation — new kitchen, bathrooms, mechanical systems, and insulation — runs $80,000-$150,000 and creates a comfortable, updated home on a lot with mature trees, established landscaping, and the character that only 60+ years of settlement produces. The renovated bungalow won't have 9-foot ceilings or an open-concept main floor (without major structural work), but it will have something new construction can't deliver: the patina of a real neighbourhood. If the foundation is failing, the calculus changes. Foundation replacement ($80,000-$150,000 to lift the house and pour new) plus renovation ($80,000+) approaches the cost of demolition ($15,000-$25,000) and new construction ($350,000-$500,000 per unit). At that point, especially on a wider lot that supports a duplex, demolish-and-rebuild delivers more value. If you're an investor, the math is simpler: buy the bungalow for land value ($400,000-$550,000), demolish, build a duplex, and sell each side for $550,000-$750,000. The lot is worth more as two modern homes than as one renovated bungalow, and the infill market in Bowness is mature enough that the construction process is well-understood. Flood-zone properties add complexity. A bungalow in the flood fringe requires flood-proofing investment on top of renovation costs. If the total approaches the demolish-and-rebuild threshold, new construction to current flood-resilient standards is usually the better investment. The one scenario where renovation always wins: a character home with heritage features (original woodwork, distinctive design, established gardens) that would be lost to demolition. Bowness has homes with genuine architectural merit — not many, but enough — and these are worth preserving even when the pure financial analysis favours demolition.

The Bowness flood barrier project is a $75 million City of Calgary initiative designed to protect the community from a repeat of the 2013 Bow River flood. The project involves berms, walls, and drainage infrastructure along the river corridor, with an estimated completion in 2025. How it affects your property depends on your location relative to the barrier: Properties behind the barrier (between the barrier and the community interior): these will receive significantly improved flood protection. The barrier is designed to handle a flow event comparable to 2013 without the widespread inundation that occurred. For these properties, the barrier should reduce flood risk, potentially improve insurability, and stabilize property values. Renovation investment is well-supported — you're improving a home that now has engineered flood protection. Properties between the barrier and the river: some properties sit on the river side of the barrier alignment. These properties may not receive the same level of protection, and their flood risk profile remains elevated. Renovation investment on these properties should include flood-resilient construction regardless of the barrier — backwater valves, elevated mechanicals, flood-resistant materials below grade. Properties affected by the barrier's footprint: approximately 90+ property owners are directly affected by the barrier construction — the barrier may cross their property, require easements, or alter their access to the river. The City has negotiated with affected owners, but the process has been contentious. If your property is directly affected, consult with the City's flood mitigation team before planning any renovation that might conflict with the barrier infrastructure. The barrier's most significant effect may be psychological: it signals that Bowness is a community the City is investing in protecting, which supports the long-term property value trajectory and justifies renovation investment. The communities that flooded in 2013 and received mitigation infrastructure have generally recovered their property values; those without mitigation have recovered more slowly.

Knob-and-tube wiring is common in Bowness homes built before 1950. It's not inherently dangerous when undisturbed, but it becomes a safety concern when insulation contacts the wires (which it was never designed to accommodate), when connections deteriorate with age, or when the circuit is overloaded by modern electrical demands. Your options, from least to most invasive: Option 1: Leave it in place and add new circuits. A licensed electrician can install new wiring for high-demand circuits (kitchen, bathroom, laundry, home office) while leaving the knob-and-tube in place for low-demand circuits (some lighting, closets). This is the minimum intervention — it gets modern capacity where you need it without tearing open every wall. Cost: $3,000-$8,000 depending on the number of new circuits. Option 2: Selective replacement. Replace knob-and-tube in high-risk areas (kitchen, bathroom, attic — anywhere moisture or insulation is present) while leaving it in low-risk areas. This is a pragmatic middle ground. Cost: $5,000-$15,000. Option 3: Complete rewiring. Remove all knob-and-tube and replace with modern NMD-90 wiring throughout the home, with a new 200-amp panel. This is the gold standard — it eliminates all knob-and-tube risk, enables insulation upgrades everywhere, and brings the entire electrical system to current code. It also requires opening walls and ceilings throughout the home, which means it's best done as part of a larger renovation that already involves drywall removal and replacement. Cost: $15,000-$30,000 for a typical Bowness bungalow. Insurance implications: many insurance companies will not insure a home with active knob-and-tube wiring, or they'll charge a significant premium. Complete rewiring may be required as a condition of your home insurance policy, which makes the decision for you. Check with your insurer before deciding on the partial options. The practical recommendation for most Bowness renovators: if you're doing a comprehensive renovation that involves opening walls, rewire completely — the incremental cost of pulling new wire through open walls is a fraction of doing it later. If you're doing a targeted renovation (kitchen only, bathroom only), rewire the affected area and add a plan to complete the rest of the house over time.

Montgomery shares Bowness's vintage housing stock and flood exposure but has its own distinct character and renovation dynamics. Location advantage: Montgomery is closer to the University of Calgary, SAIT, Foothills Medical Centre, and the Alberta Children's Hospital than Bowness. It's also adjacent to Market Mall and has direct Crowchild Trail access. This proximity to major institutions creates strong rental demand and supports both owner-occupant renovation and investment property upgrades. Housing stock: similar to Bowness — 1940s-1960s bungalows on moderate-to-large lots — but with more townhomes and small apartment buildings. Montgomery also has a pocket of newer infill development, particularly along the transit corridors and near the river. Flood exposure: Montgomery's lowest-lying areas along the Bow River were severely affected in 2013. The community does not benefit from the same scale of flood barrier investment as Bowness, so properties in Montgomery's flood fringe carry ongoing risk. Verify flood-zone status through the City's flood map before purchasing. Renovation opportunity: Montgomery's lower entry prices (detached homes from $380,000-$600,000) create a wider renovation margin. A $450,000 bungalow that receives a $60,000-$80,000 renovation becomes a $550,000-$580,000 property — or a strong rental asset with basement suite income of $1,200-$1,600/month. The area's revitalization is ongoing. New restaurants, cafes, and small businesses have opened along the main commercial strip, and the community's walkability score is improving. Properties within walking distance of these amenities command the highest renovation returns. One caution: Montgomery's lot sizes are generally smaller than Bowness's, which limits infill development potential. R-CG fourplex development works on wider lots but may not be feasible on the community's narrower parcels. Check the lot dimensions and setback requirements before purchasing with infill intent.