Secondary Suite in Lewiston, Calgary
A completed Grains Construction project in Lewiston, Calgary. Consultation, 2D structure design, permits, construction, inspections and handover, walked through room by room below.
Walkthrough
Inside this project
The main living area
This is the room the whole layout is built around. Ceiling height, beam positions and duct runs were measured before framing so the main living area got the clear, uninterrupted span, and the bulkheads and service clearances were pushed into circulation and storage space where they are not noticed.
Recessed lighting is laid out on a grid rather than dropped in wherever joists allowed, and the flooring runs continuously through the space to make it read larger. Details like that are decided at drawing stage, which is why the finished room feels planned instead of assembled.
A full kitchen, not a kitchenette
The layout keeps the working triangle tight so the space functions properly rather than just looking complete in a photograph. Backsplash, counter and cabinet hardware were specified together, and the appliance package was planned into the elevation from the start rather than squeezed in at the end.
A full kitchen with cabinetry, counters, sink and appliance connections on their own dedicated circuits. Plumbing was brought in and tied to the existing stack, and the range and dishwasher were wired by licensed trades and inspected before the cabinets went in.
The bathroom
The bathroom is where shortcuts show up first, usually two winters later. Behind the tile there is a proper waterproofing system on the wet walls, the correct substrate and a floor built to fall to the drain. Mechanical extraction is ducted to the outside rather than into the joist space.
Plumbing rough in was inspected before anything was closed up, and the finishes went on afterwards: tiled shower, glass enclosure, vanity, mirror and fixtures. Getting the sequence right is what keeps a basement bathroom dry for its whole life.
Every bedroom, every EGRESS WINDOW
This is the single most common reason an existing basement fails to legalise. Rooms get called bedrooms without a compliant opening, and the fix means saw cutting the foundation. Building the opening correctly the first time is far cheaper than correcting it afterwards.
Every bedroom below grade needs a compliant EGRESS WINDOW, sized so an adult can get out and a firefighter can get in, with the window well dimensioned to match. It is not optional and it is not a detail you can add later without cutting concrete, so it is designed in from the first drawing.
Laundry, planned in
Laundry was designed into the layout rather than left to wherever there happened to be room. The unit gets its own washer and dryer, with the water supply, drain and dedicated circuit run during rough in and the dryer vented properly to the exterior.
For a self contained unit this matters more than it looks. Shared laundry means shared access through the main home, which undermines the independence the whole build is meant to create.
Access, done to code
Finishing the stairs properly also does a lot of quiet work on how the whole level feels. It reads as part of the home rather than the way down to a basement.
Stair geometry is governed by code: consistent rise and run, minimum headroom, and a handrail at the required height. Existing basement stairs frequently fail one of those, and correcting them is part of bringing the level up to standard.
More Photos
The rest of the build
Scope Of Work
What this build involved
Separate Entrance
An independent entrance for the suite, built and finished so the unit functions without going through the main dwelling.
Egress Windows
Egress window sized and installed to code in every bedroom, with the window well and cover detailed properly.
Full Kitchen
A complete kitchen for the suite with cabinetry, counters, sink, appliance connections and its own dedicated circuits.
Fire Separation
Rated separation between the suite and the main dwelling, with interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide alarms across both units.
Heating & Ventilation
Heating and mechanical ventilation for the suite arranged to meet code for a self contained dwelling unit.
Permits, Inspections & Registry
Development and building permits, every required inspection, and the paperwork the City needs to recognise the suite.
What actually makes a basement suite legal in Calgary?
A legal suite needs its own entrance, an egress window in every bedroom, rated fire separation from the main dwelling, interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, compliant heating and ventilation, and minimum ceiling and window dimensions. It also needs the permits and the passed inspections that prove all of it.
Do I need a separate entrance for a secondary suite?
Yes. A self contained dwelling unit needs its own way in and out that does not run through the main home. That is usually a side entrance or a rear entrance, and it is one of the first things designed into the layout.
What is an egress window and why does every bedroom need one?
An egress window is a window large enough for someone to get out through in an emergency, and for a firefighter to get in. Code sets minimum dimensions for the opening and for the window well. Every bedroom in a suite needs one, and an undersized window is one of the most common reasons an existing basement fails to legalise.
What can a legal suite rent for in Calgary?
Market rents for legal basement suites in Calgary have commonly sat in the range of roughly $1,500 to $1,750 per month, varying with size, finish, location and parking. Rents move, so treat that as a starting point for your own numbers rather than a promise.
Is there funding help for building a secondary suite?
There are programs worth checking. The City of Calgary Secondary Suite Incentive Program has offered eligible homeowners up to $10,000 toward building and registering a legal suite. Eligibility rules and program status change, so we check current requirements with you at the consultation at no charge.
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