Memar
Whether your dream is to renovate the family home, finally re-design that outdated apartment, or construct a brand new house, you probably have a long list of items to research, countless people to hire, and important decisions to make. Before any architectural venture can even begin, there are many fine points you need to know about, so if this is you, and your plans take place in the wonderful city of Vaughan, then you’re in luck! We’re here to help. As a prominent architectural firm with a proven history of successful luxury home design projects (link to projects), Memar Architects are highly experienced in design, research, development, technical support, and construction management for Vaughan and its surrounding areas, which include Kleinberg and Thornhill.
Thanks to our extensive knowledge of the top Vaughan residential architect structures in the surrounding neighborhoods, experience with building permits, and unique expertise in architectural home design, Memar Architects has long been the first choice to make any construction project a success in Vaughan. With our services and your vision, we help you create or renovate a modern home design of your choice, where you can focus on the bigger picture, while we take care of the details.
In this page, you will find a comprehensive guide to our process for design, building permits, and show you why Memar Architects is the key to your dream home!
Memar Architects Design and Building Permit Process in City of Vaughan
The Top Five Mistakes Homeowners Make When Starting Construction
Step Zero
The first thing you need to do is to make sure that your home is located in the city of Vaughan. Use the map on this page to find out if your home is within the boundaries of the city of Vaughan. If you need the City’s contact information, you can find it here:
City Hall Level 100
2141 Major Mackenzie Drive
Vaughan, Ontario L6A 1T1
Custom Home Design and Building Permit for Vaughan Residential Architect Projects
As with any city, Vaughan requires a building permit before any major construction may begin. The design and building permit process can take anywhere from one to six months, depending on the size of your project. Naturally, the smaller your project, the quicker the permit will be obtained. Small modern home design projects are those which don’t include changes to the exterior of the house or its footprint.
To obtain a permit, you must submit the custom home design, completed by your residential architect of choice, to the building department. An examiner will be assigned to review your design and verify its compliance with local zoning bylaws, the Ontario Building code, and any other applicable laws.
As a general recommendation, choose a local Vaughan residential architect who is familiar with the process and the bylaws and regulations that surround it.
Do You Really Need a Building Permit For Construction in Vaughan?
Yes. The city of Vaughan does require that you obtain a permit before legally altering any structural and architectural elements of the house. This may include the following:
- Relocating mechanical fixtures
- Removing and/or relocating load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls
- Creating new openings in exterior walls
- Additions or changes to the grading of the house.
For a complete list of building permit requirements, along with other useful tips and recommendations for the top modern home designs and construction of houses in Vaughan, download our FREE Guide.
The Top Five Mistakes Homeowners Make When Starting Construction
Four Major Phases to Realize Your Custom Home Design in Vaughan
CHOOSE AN ARCHITECTS
Designing a custom home in Vaughan is an exciting and dynamic experience! Your first decision: would you rather work with a drafting technician, or contact a professional Vaughan residential architect? A drafter can help you draft what you need but an architect can understand why and what you need to change and can help you find the most efficient and cost-effective modern home design. There are many other advantages to hiring an architect because they will be able to help you avoid many common mistakes, especially if they are already familiar with local neighborhoods and building codes.
ZONING RESEARCH
In the city of Vaughan, your building application has to be in compliance with zoning bylaws, both new and old. A skilled Vaughan residential architect can help you get through this phase, as they understand limitations and requirements related to bylaws. They will know how to apply proper changes to the home design in order to maximize the use of the land and increase design efficiency.
PREPARE PERMIT DRAWINGS
Next, your architect will prepare a complete set of drawings for your house. These drawings will include sections, elevations, and construction specifications. Should you decide, the Vaughan residential architect can also contact other professionals such as Structural Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, and Surveyors, to prepare additional documentation required by the city of Vaughan.
SUBMIT BUILDING APPLICATION
When all of your drawings and technical documentation have been assembled, it is time to submit your application to the city of Vaughan. City examiners will work alongside your architect to conduct a complete review of the application. This phase requires constant communications between the city examiners and architect to ensure that the submitted documents are in full compliance with the City’s requirements.
Five Steps of Memar Architects Design Process
Step One
Unless you have the floor plans of your existing house, you will need to have an as-built drawing prepared by a technician. The technician will visit your property and take onsite measurements (room dimensions, window and door locations, etc.) and pictures. It is very important to have an accurate and detailed as-built drawing, since a Vaughan residential architect needs this information in order to prepare the best proposal for your renovation/alteration. If any information on the as-built drawing is incorrect or missing, this would require costly adjustments to be made during the construction phase.
Step Two
You might already have a survey of your property; or, depending on the project, you might need to get a new survey. A surveyor will need to measure and record the precise location of the property’s boundaries along with setbacks (relationship to surrounding properties), easements, rights of way, accessory buildings, fences, decks, and any other legal limitations. For any major addition to or extension of your house, it is highly recommended that you also order a new topographic survey. This will give your Vaughan residential architect the ability to create the perfect custom home design, or renovations to your existing structure, in collaboration with the surrounding environment. Tip: In Vaughan, you cannot build any addition or extension to your house, unless you submit a survey.
Step Three
In this phase, you will meet with your Vaughan residential architect and tell them what you would like to create. It is helpful to bring along pictures of houses you like, which can be used as a reference. You might want to prepare a “wish list” of what you like to see incorporated into your custom home design. Your architect will use this meeting to get the information they will need in order to create a schematic home design based on your wishes. If you do not know where to start, please check out our gallery for some inspiration. (link) Tip: A well-planned schematic design is a real asset, because it can be a great step toward understanding your needs and requirements. Glossing over this phase (or even missing it completely) can significantly increase your project time and cost.
Step Four
The latest technology allows a Vaughan residential architect to create 3D models of your future home before construction begins. This can give you a better understanding of what your luxury home design will look like, and it is a great opportunity to explore the proposed design and make any desired changes before it is too late..
Step Five
Now that your ideal custom home design is mapped out in the computer, you are ready to continue on to the next step: getting a city of Vaughan building permit.
Committee of Adjustment (COA)
Before your application can be approved, it must first be reviewed by the city’s COA. At Memar Architects, we have successfully pushed applications
In This Diagram, You Can See What a Typical COA Process Looks Like:
Our Cost-Effective Solution
Thanks to our team’s unparalleled expertise and unique synergy, we have perfected our tools and processes to minimize
Our Response Time
We don’t just work for you, but with you. Our experts will be in constant communication to ensure you are completely informed and in agreement
What makes Memar Architects different?
As you may have noticed during the four phases to build your custom home, a skilled and trustworthy architect is paramount. Professionalism, patience, and experience are essential in completing the four phases successfully. At Memar Architects, we pride ourselves in providing these services and will always go the extra mile to achieve your dream. We have long perfected the custom home design phase and have divided it into seven different milestones to ensure this critical part of your application only needs to be done once.
Our specialties include: luxury home design, research, development, technical support, and construction administration.
Our Knowledge & Resources
Our knowledgeable and highly experienced team offers the services you need to pave the way to your dream home. Not only do we guide you through the custom home design and construction planning, we also help you make the best and most cost-effective decisions every step of the way for a smooth and uninterrupted process. We strive to exceed your expectations and continue to provide the best architectural services in Vaughan.
