Construction & Renovation Services in Saddle Ridge & Skyview Ranch

It depends entirely on what you're renovating and why. If you're replacing functional systems (furnace, windows, roof) — yes, it's far too soon. Those components have 15-25+ years of service life remaining. But if you're upgrading builder-grade finishes to match your preferences, there's no wrong time to do it. The most common 'early' renovation in Saddle Ridge is finishing the basement. Builders sell these homes with an unfinished basement shell because it keeps the purchase price lower and lets buyers direct their budget to the above-grade living space. Many homeowners plan to finish the basement within the first 1-5 years of ownership. Doing it sooner rather than later means you're living in the full potential of the home from early on, and if you're building a rental suite, you start generating income sooner. Kitchen and bathroom upgrades are also common in relatively new Saddle Ridge homes — not because anything is broken, but because the builder's standard finishes don't match the homeowner's taste or cooking needs. A family that does extensive cooking may want a more powerful range hood and a gas cooktop within the first year of ownership. That's not premature renovation — it's customization. What IS premature: ripping out functional systems to chase marginal improvements. Replacing a working 96% AFUE furnace with a slightly newer model, swapping out windows that are still performing well, or re-roofing a 5-year-old roof because you want a different colour. These projects don't make financial sense on a new home. Focus your budget on finishes, functionality, and unfinished spaces.

Calgary's land-use bylaw permits detached garages (classified as 'accessory buildings') on residential lots, but several constraints apply — and Skyview Ranch's smaller lots and developer covenants add additional layers. City bylaw limits: the maximum size for an accessory building is 75 sq m (807 sq ft) or 12% of the lot area, whichever is less. On a typical Skyview Ranch 32-foot wide lot (approximately 370 sq m), the 12% rule limits your garage to approximately 44 sq m (475 sq ft) — enough for a single-car garage with some workshop space, but not a full two-car structure. For a two-car garage, you'd need a wider lot (44+ feet) where the 75 sq m maximum applies. Setbacks: minimum 0.9m from the side property line and 0.9m from the rear property line. Maximum height: 4.5m (approximately 14.8 feet) to the peak. The garage must not exceed the height of the principal dwelling. Developer covenants: check your land title. Many Skyview Ranch lots have registered covenants that restrict accessory buildings more tightly than the City bylaw — specifying approved materials (must match the principal dwelling's siding or use complementary materials), colours, and even whether a detached garage is permitted at all on specific lot types. Construction requirements: a building permit is required for any detached garage. Footings must extend below frost depth (4 feet in Calgary). The standard approach is a concrete slab-on-grade foundation with thickened edges serving as footings — this is adequate for a garage on stable soil but should include a gravel base and vapour barrier to manage moisture. If you're planning to heat the garage (a common request given Calgary's winters), you'll need a gas permit for the heater and adequate ventilation to prevent carbon monoxide buildup in the enclosed space. Cost: $35,000-$55,000 for a basic single-car detached garage (480-500 sq ft), $50,000-$80,000 for a two-car structure with insulation and gas heater. Add $10,000-$20,000 for interior finishing (drywall, lighting, workbench) if you're creating a workshop space.

This is a critical question that many new-home owners in Saddle Ridge don't ask until it's too late. The Alberta New Home Warranty Program provides coverage in three tiers: 1-2 years for labour and materials, 5 years for the building envelope (water penetration through walls, windows, roof), and 10 years for structural defects. Modifications by anyone other than the original builder can void specific portions of this coverage. The key distinction is between damage caused by the original construction (covered) and damage caused by subsequent modifications (not covered). If you finish the basement yourself or hire a contractor, and the work causes damage to the home's systems — for example, puncturing a vapour barrier while framing, overloading the electrical panel, or improperly connecting to the plumbing system — the resulting damage is not covered by the ANHWP warranty. More subtly: if you finish the basement and later discover a foundation defect (a crack that admits water, for instance), the warranty provider may argue that the defect was caused or worsened by the basement finishing work — particularly if the work was done without a City of Calgary building permit. This is why pulling a permit for basement development is not just a legal requirement but also warranty protection: a permitted, inspected renovation demonstrates that the work was done to code and provides a paper trail that separates your work from the builder's original construction. Practical advice: if your home is within the first 2 years of the ANHWP labour/materials coverage, document the condition of the basement thoroughly (photos, video) before starting any work. Note any existing cracks, moisture stains, or defects. Report defects to the builder under warranty BEFORE you cover them up with framing and drywall. Once the walls are finished, it's nearly impossible to prove that a defect existed before your renovation work.