Projects We Did
Walkout Secondary Suite
projects
Walkout secondary suites with grade level entry and full height glazing, across Calgary and area.
A suite at grade,
with its own front door
A walkout lot is the best hand you can be dealt for a secondary suite. The rear of the lower level sits at grade, so the suite gets a genuine door at ground level and full height windows instead of a stairwell and a light well. This project takes that advantage and builds a legal suite around it.
The suite still meets every legal requirement that applies to any secondary suite in Calgary. Fire separation from the main dwelling, interconnected alarms across both units, dedicated heating and ventilation, egress in the bedrooms, and a full independent kitchen and bathroom. The walkout changes the light and the entrance, not the code.
Grade level access also removes the friction that puts tenants off basement units. There are no stairs down from the street, moving furniture in is straightforward, and the entrance has its own presence. That is a practical advantage every month the unit is advertised.
Walkout Secondary Suite in Hotchkiss, Calgary
9 photos
Walkout Secondary Suite in Lakepointe, Chestermere
14 photos
Walkout Secondary Suite in Masterscape, Calgary
10 photos
Walkout Secondary Suite in Windrow, Calgary
10 photosWhat's Included
What every one of these involves
Grade Level Entrance
The walkout entrance built out and finished as a proper independent door for the suite, with landing and exterior detailing.
Full Height Glazing
Door and window openings along the walkout elevation, framed, installed and finished to bring real daylight into the unit.
Egress Windows
Egress window to code in every bedroom, sized and installed with the well detailed correctly.
Full Kitchen & Bathroom
Complete independent kitchen and bathroom for the suite, with dedicated services and appliance connections.
Fire Separation
Rated separation between suite and main dwelling, with interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide alarms throughout.
Permits & Inspections
Development and building permits managed end to end, with every required inspection booked, attended and closed.
Is a walkout suite worth more than a standard basement suite?
It usually rents more easily. Grade level entry and full size windows remove the two things tenants most often object to in a basement unit, which tends to show up as shorter vacancy rather than a dramatically different rent.
Does a walkout still need a separate entrance built?
The walkout gives you the opening, but the entrance still has to be built out and finished as a code compliant independent entry for the suite, including the door, landing and exterior work.
Do bedrooms in a walkout suite still need egress windows?
Yes. Every bedroom in a secondary suite needs a compliant egress window regardless of whether the lot is a walkout. The larger glazing on the walkout elevation does not automatically satisfy the requirement in rooms that face the other way.
Can a walkout suite be used as a short term rental?
That depends on current City of Calgary business licensing and any rules attached to your property. The build itself is the same legal suite either way. We can point you at what to confirm before you commit to a plan.
How long does a walkout suite take to build?
Expect a similar window to any legal suite, commonly around 8 to 14 weeks on site depending on scope, with permit review ahead of that. Exterior work on the walkout elevation can add time in deep winter.
Quick Quote
Tell us about your project.
We'll do the rest.
Answer a few quick questions and we'll prepare your free consultation, complete with free 2D structure design.
- Takes under a minute
- No obligation, no pressure
- Permits and inspections included
