There's something incredibly humbling about working with buildings that've stood for over a century. Every crack tells a story, every timber holds memories we'll never fully know.
We don't just restore old buildings - we dig into their bones, understand what made them tick, and give 'em another century to shine.
Look, heritage restoration isn't about slapping some paint on old bricks and calling it a day. It's detective work mixed with craftsmanship, historical research combined with modern engineering know-how.
We spend weeks - sometimes months - really getting to know a building. Old photos, original blueprints if we're lucky, paint analysis, timber dating. It's kinda like archaeological work but vertical.
We touch what needs touching and leave alone what's still doing its job. Sometimes the best restoration is knowing when NOT to mess with something that's been working fine for 120 years.
Yeah, we use lime mortar and traditional joinery techniques. But we're also not afraid to integrate discrete structural reinforcement or updated building systems where they make sense.
Heritage buildings belong to everyone, really. We work closely with heritage societies, local historians, and neighbors who remember when these structures were in their prime.
Slide to see the transformation - these aren't just renovations, they're resurrections
Built 1892, restored 2023. This one was tough - the roof had been leaking for probably 15 years before we got the call. But the original Douglas fir timbers? Still solid as the day they were hewn.
1905 Victorian beauty that someone in the 70s thought needed aluminum siding. Yeah. We carefully removed decades of "improvements" and found the original redwood cladding underneath - weathered but savable.
1898 brick warehouse that sat empty for 30 years. The structural engineer wasn't sure it was salvageable at first, but we reinforced the foundation and those old-growth timber columns? They're still carrying the load.
People always ask how long this stuff takes. Honestly? It depends. But here's what a typical heritage restoration looks like from our end.
2-4 weeks
We photograph everything - and I mean everything. Crack patterns, paint layers, construction details. Then comes the research phase, digging through city archives, old newspapers, whatever we can find. Had one project where we tracked down the original builder's grandson who had photos from the 1920s.
6-12 weeks
Working with heritage committees isn't always quick, but it's necessary and honestly, they've saved us from making mistakes more than once. These folks know their stuff and they care deeply about getting it right.
4-8 weeks
First things first - we gotta make sure the building isn't gonna fall down. Foundation work, temporary shoring, addressing any immediate structural concerns. It's not glamorous but it's critical.
12-20 weeks
Roofing, masonry repairs, window restoration. This is where you really see the building come back to life. We source materials that match the original as closely as possible - sometimes that means custom milling trim profiles or tracking down specific brick from heritage salvage yards.
16-24 weeks
Modern HVAC, electrical, plumbing - but hidden away respectfully. Then comes the finish work: plaster repair, floor restoration, bringing back original details that've been covered up or damaged. This phase requires real craftspeople, not just contractors.
4-6 weeks
Paint colors based on historical analysis, hardware restoration, landscape work. We also create detailed documentation of everything we did for future owners and heritage records. Think of it as leaving breadcrumbs for whoever's gotta take care of this building in another hundred years.
There's something about working on a building that's older than your great-grandparents. These structures were built by people who knew they'd never see the building reach 100 years old, but they built 'em to last anyway.
In Vancouver, we're losing heritage buildings at an alarming rate. Every one we save is a small victory against the tide of generic glass towers. Not that there's anything wrong with modern architecture - we do that too - but cities need their memory, their connection to what came before.
When you walk past a building we've restored, you might not even notice our work. That's kinda the point. We want you to see the building as it was meant to be, not our ego splashed all over it.
Whether it's a century-old house, a forgotten commercial building, or a Gothic Revival gem that's seen better days, we'd love to take a look. No project's too challenging - we've tackled buildings that other firms walked away from.
Let's Talk About Your Building