Commercial Renovation

Commercial renovation in Metro Vancouver — offices, retail, restaurants, medical clinics, beauty salons, fitness studios. Permit handling, BC Building Code Part 3 (where applicable), barrier-free / CSA B651 compliance, off-hours scheduling, and continuity of business operations during construction.

We work with property owners and tenants. Tenant build-outs include landlord coordination (lease tenant-improvement allowance, LL approvals).

Every commercial project includes a written scope, fixed-price contract, BC permit package, $5M CGL insurance, WorkSafeBC, and a 2-year workmanship warranty.

Real Vancouver Commercial Costs (2026)

Type	Investment per sq ft	Typical project total
Office refresh (paint, flooring, lighting, partitions)	$80–$160	$50K–$200K
Retail build-out	$100–$300	$100K–$500K
Restaurant build-out (full kitchen + dining)	$200–$500	$300K–$1.2M
Medical clinic / dental office	$300–$700	$400K–$1.5M
Beauty salon / spa	$150–$350	$150K–$500K
Fitness studio / yoga / pilates	$80–$200	$80K–$300K
Cannabis retail (high security spec)	$250–$500	$300K–$800K

What's Included

1. Pre-construction

• Existing-conditions survey + measurements
• Lease review (where tenant)
• Landlord approval coordination
• Building Code review (BC Code Part 3 vs 9 — affects sprinkler, accessibility)
• Health Authority sign-off (restaurants, clinics, salons)
• Liquor / Cannabis license coordination (where applicable)
• BC Building Permit package
• Schedule respecting business continuity (off-hours, weekend, phased)

2. Code & Compliance

Item	Code reference
Barrier-free design	BC Code §3.8 + CSA B651
Plumbing fixture count	BC Plumbing Code Table 2.6.4
Exit + emergency lighting	NBC §3.4
Sprinkler system (Part 3 buildings)	NFPA 13
Health Authority (restaurants)	VCH FoodSafe + grease trap + commercial vent
Air handling	ASHRAE 62.1 (especially clinics)
Soundproofing	STC 45+ between tenants

3. Restaurant-Specific

Item	Cost range (2026)
Commercial vent hood (Type I) + curb / roof penetration	$35K–$90K
Make-up air unit	$15K–$35K
Grease trap (1,000 lb interior)	$8K–$18K installed
Walk-in cooler (8x10)	$25K–$45K
Health-board-compliant prep area + 3-compartment sink	$8K–$20K
Liquor license fitout	$5K–$15K
Patio + outdoor service	$20K–$80K

4. Medical / Dental Clinic-Specific

Item	Cost range (2026)
Lead-lined X-ray room	$25K–$60K
Dental chair plumbing + air	$5K–$10K per chair
HEPA / clinical-grade HVAC	$20K–$60K
Sterile prep / autoclave room	$15K–$30K
ADA / barrier-free washroom (CSA B651)	$25K–$45K
Reception millwork	$10K–$25K

5. What Drives Price Up

• Strata building (high-rise office) — work-hour limits, freight elevator booking, building protection: +10–20%
• Heritage building facade restrictions: +10–25% on facade scope
• Permit complexity (Part 3 vs Part 9): +$15K–$50K in engineer / architect fees
• Asbestos abatement (pre-1990 commercial): +$10K–$80K
• HVAC zoning rework (clinic / restaurant): +$30K–$80K
• Sprinkler system upgrade (some change of use triggers it): +$25K–$80K

6. Business Continuity Options

Approach	When to use
Phased build — work in sections, business stays open	Open-floor retail, large offices
Off-hours only (nights + weekends)	Anchor retail, can't close for relocation
Full closure with timeline guarantee	Fastest path; we hold to timeline with daily-rate penalty clause
Pop-up location during build	We've coordinated this for restaurants and salons

7. Timeline

Type	Duration
Office refresh	4–10 weeks
Retail build-out	8–14 weeks
Restaurant build-out	14–24 weeks
Medical clinic	16–28 weeks

8. Free Site Walkthrough

Commercial projects start with a 60–90 min site walkthrough — measurements, lease review, scope discussion, ballpark cost. We follow up with a written fixed-price quote within 14 days.