FAQs

What is your service area?

We currently build and service Guelph, Hamilton, Kitchener, Waterloo, and surrounding areas.

How long will it take to build my Backyard Home?

From initial conversation, approximately 10-12 months. Overall construction time is about 5 months for Backyard Homes, depending on material lead time. Build time does not take into account time to design the building, attain a permit, order materials, and schedule work.

As the homeowner, what am I responsible for in this process?

We provide a turnkey building. All aspects of the design, permit, build, and bringing in utilities to the building are provided by our team and subcontractors. Our clients help in the design process to customize the building to their needs and to choose finishings and colour schemes. We do the rest!

Do you offer financing? What about building warranty?

We offer financing for up to $100,000. This is a great way to borrow the money until your mortgage is up for renewal, at that point, it is usually most cost-effective to borrow the funds through your mortgage. We offer a 1-year warranty for defects in materials and workmanship on all of our products.

What zoning requirements should I be aware of?

Zoning requirements vary by municipality and restrict how close you can build to a property line, roof height, floor area, and percentage of the yard that can be occupied by your building. It’s best to check with your municipality’s zoning by-law or schedule a meeting with us to find out.

Will I require a building permit?

You will need a permit if your building:

1) Exceeds 160 sq.ft. 2) Has plumbing

How do utilities tie into the building?

Our standard process is to run a trench connecting the primary dwelling to the ADU. We tie into the electrical panel and install a sub panel with a 60 amp breaker inside the ADU. Plumbing connections may require a water pump depending on the slope of the yard.