WELDING COTTAGE

Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

PROJECT OVERVIEW

This custom home renovation and addition on Salt Spring Island began as a 440-square-foot lakefront cottage. The goal was to preserve the character of the original structure while expanding it into a comfortable, modern home. The existing cottage was lifted to install a new foundation, and a new structure was built alongside it to create a larger, fully integrated home. The original building was fully gutted and largely reframed before being incorporated into the final design, allowing the project to balance preservation with thoughtful new construction.

To support the design and permitting process, we recommended and worked alongside 5:4 Drafting & Design to complete the construction drawings, ensuring the plans aligned with both the project vision and local requirements.

HIGHLIGHTS

The project balanced preservation with modernization, allowing the homeowner to retain the history of the original cottage while creating a durable and comfortable new living space. By reusing the existing structure, the project reduced material waste and maintained the character of the lakefront property.

DETAILS

  • Role: Prime Contractor

  • Location: Salt Spring Island, BC

  • Project Type: Residential Renovation & Addition

  • Completion: February 2024

  • Size: 1,000 sq ft

SCOPE

  • Lifting the original cottage to install a new permanent foundation

  • Construction of a new addition connected to the existing structure

  • Full remediation and structural reframing of the original cottage

  • Exterior cladding using locally sourced and locally milled cedar

  • Interior and exterior finishing throughout the home

  • Coordination of all trades and project execution

  • Material selection support for the client

Wooden house exterior with a glass front door, a small window, and outdoor lights. Signs and decorative items are attached to the wooden siding.
A lakeside scene showing a green lawn with a single green Adirondack chair, a wooden dock extending into the water with a ladder on the end, surrounded by dry brown shrubs, with a wooded background of evergreen trees.
Close-up of a wooden structure with metal wires attached to hooks, and a lantern placed on top, against a blurred green forest background.
A small wooden house surrounded by trees with a metal roof, steps leading to the front door, and firewood stacked beside it.
Front entrance of a wooden cabin with a glass-paneled door, a green chair with dried grass on it, and a welcome sign that says 'bienvenue'.
Back exterior of a wooden house with a small window, a propane tank, and a metal roll-up door.
A window with a white frame on a house with wooden shingle siding. Inside the window, a potted cactus plant is visible along with a curtain and a plant hanging on the wall.
Side view of a wooden house with a metal roof, surrounded by trees, featuring a small balcony with a table and chairs.
Close-up of a wooden exterior wall of a building in a forest, with trees and moss-covered ground in the background, and sunlight filtering through the trees.