Blog Archives

Vancouver Laneway House

BIG Living on a Teenie Footprint

Check out this sweet little Vancouver Laneway House with a Teenie Tiny footprint.

This beautiful 1 Bedroom 1 Bath East Van Laneway House features just over 500 sq/ft of living space in a Teenie TINY 60′ Backyard.

The property owner was looking to augment the rental income on their land and wanted to convert their small lacklustre backyard into an income property.
 
This little Laneway house rents for over $1950 a month generating great cash flow for the owner.

Vancouver Laneway House Photos:

The modern look of this Laneway House is a great addition to the backyard! What do you like the Most? the Pain Colour? The Cedar Shingles? the Black Window Frames?

The interior of this Tiny Laneway House is designed to maximize every square inch of living space.

The compact kitchen with its built-in dishwasher and fridge! Have you ever seen such a beautiful kitchen and in such a tiny space?

Check out the combination washer and condensing dryer on the center island. With Tiny living, you need to be creative as to where you put all your appliances. 

Think OUTSIDE the box!

Check out that cute little washroom complete with Vanity, Toilet and a full shower and tub combo. What a great layout!

The City of Vancouver, BC Canada allows most homeowners living in Single-Family Zoned RS read to add a small Laneway or Coach House to their backyards. This is a great way for owners to earn some passive income while increasing the pool of so desperately needed rental houses.

A laneway house cannot be sold as a separate house. 

From the first meeting with the client to the completion of the building the whole process took just over a year. A significant portion of that time was dedicated the building and development permits being issued by the City of Vancouver. 




Backyard Office Buildings

Looking for a Backyard Office Buildings?

Click your favourite photos to view the project details:

Backyard Office Building Backyard Office Building Backyard Office Building
Backyard Office Buildings Backyard Office Buildings Backyard Office Building
Backyard Office Backyard Office Backyard Office
Backyard Offices Backyard Offices Backyard Offices

MORE LIKE THIS




NEW Squamish Production Facility

We’re Moving to Squamish
OMG It’s Really Big!

Sometimes bigger is really better.

All joking aside; Seven years ago when Laura-Lee and I started Westcoast Outbuildings our first “Production Facility” was a $250 a month rented garage in North Vancouver. 

We started off building humble Garden Sheds and Backyard Offices. As time progressed we took on larger and more complex buildings including multi module Off-Grid Cabins, Tiny Houses and Park Model RV’s and full size Laneway houses.

For the last several years we’ve been hold-up in an old warehouse space in North Vancouver but we’ve been crammed for space! If you’ve ever been to our facility then you know what I am talking about.

We’ve outgrown our facility and with an impending redevelopment of our entire block into Townhouses and Condos, we knew we needed to move.

We’ve been looking for that PERFECT Production Facility since the fall of 2016, NO LUCK! In retrospect I could liken our search for a new Production Facility to being a UNICORN HUNTER! 

This was our dilemma… With the soaring price of real-estate in Metro Vancouver we needed to find a suitable Production Facility with the following criteria:

  • Enterprise Level Facility
  • Expandable to meet our growing demands
  • Overhead Cranes
  • Industrial Zoning
  • No Demolition Clause in the Lease.
  • Long Term Lease option.
  • Proximity to transportation routes (Road, Water & Rail)
  • Be AFFORDABLE!

In February 2017 we identified a suitable location to move and began the negotiations. After 9 Months of negotiations the deal was done and the lease signed.

WE DID IT!
Check out our new 89,183 Sq/Ft Production Facility in Squamish BC!

Squamish, Modular Building

Our new home is on the sprawling 70+ Acre former BC Rail Yards in Squamish. Built in the early 1970’s and known as the “Old Car Shop” our new Production Facility is over 89,138 Sq/Ft in size and is the largest building on the property today.  This is where BC Rail would maintain all their rolling stock back in the day before the Government sold it off in 2003.

With the exception of the occasional cameo in Movies and TV Series the Old Car Shop has essentially been vacant for the last 8 years. 

These pictures are now a few months old and the cleaning and basic updates have already begun.

The main production floor boasts a 75,000 sq/ft clear span space with two gargantuan Overhead Cranes capable of lifting 20 Tons each. Complimented by 7 partial gantry cranes ranging from 3-5 ton lifting capacity. 

Sure its a little rough around the edges but nothing a little elbow grease and perseverance can’t overcome!

Ultimately there are very few things we could not build in a factory of this size and you will be amazed with the new projects we have in production. Plus we are working hard to finalize an entire new product line to be launched in 2018.

The move to the facility is happening as we speak and production will recommence in early December 2017 in Squamish.

With our new enterprise production facility 2018 will bring massive growth for Westcoast Outbuildings but don’t be left out. Even with the increased building capacity there is still a limit on the total number of projects we have manpower to build.

As of right now there are only a couple production spots left for larger projects in the 2018 season.

Bring us your ideas and lets make it happen!

Cheers,

 

 

Geoff Baker / Co-Founder
Westcoast Outbuildings Inc.
1-855-910-7433 Ext 1.




Chilcotin Modular Cabin “Zombie Cabin”

zombie_facebookChilcotin Modular Cabin: A Remote Build with Significant Barriers to Construction

For years I’ve been wanting to push the boundaries of what we build, build something different, build something really remote, build something really cool.

Pushing the boundaries of design, location and material choices I’ve had a particular interest in RUST. Rusty Weathered Corten Steel siding that is.

Inspired by a recent article I saw on Inhabitat.com  about a pair of Weathered steel and reclaimed wood-clad cabins on a Navajo reservation I made a post on our Facebook page “Please Lord, help me find a client that wants Corten Steel on their building!” I put it out there into the universe to see what we could find.

Just 4 days later I received an email from one of our recent clients who had referred one of her friends to us. It was the perfect project; an incredibly remote property in the heart of the Chilcotin Valley. The family had owned the 5 acre property for over 30 years but it has three major barriers to construction the last of which turned the families existing cabin into a pile of smoking ashes.  Read more ›




TICKING TIMEBOMB – Are Vancouver Micro Laneway Houses the Answer?

TICK TICK TICK
Affordable Housing is Metro Vancouver’s
TICKING TIMEBOMB and the Govt’s not listening!

Are Vancouver Micro Laneway Houses the Answer?

Vancouver Micro Laneway Houses

Affordable Housings – Vancouver’s Ticking Timebomb

FACT: Without affordable housing Vancouver will see a MASS EXODUS of entire generations of Vancouverites. We are on the verge of a Breaking Point… A point of no return?

Although there are many ways the government can help make housing more affordable but let’s not hold our breath for that one.

So what can we do to help?

Read more ›




HIRING: 1st or 2nd Year Carpentry Apprentice

CARPENTRY APPRENTICE NEEDED

Westcoast Outbuildings Inc.
North Vancouver BC
March 3, 2016

Please Share!

Do you have a passion for small structures, micro homes, tiny houses, FINISHING carpentry, good times, permaculture, non toxic and salvage construction.

We have a full-time position, starting asap in North Vancouver, Canada.

Looking for a motivated 1st or 2nd year apprentice to join our build team.

Amazing training opportunity (as we build 2-4 complete building a month) of which you would be part of all phases.

Some job site experience would be great. Here is a list of thing you will learn.

Demoliton, Carpentry, Framing, Roofing, Electrical, Plumbing, Siding, Windows & Doors, Finishing Work,

You must be:

  • Reliable
  • Detail oriented
  • Have a valid drivers license
  • Speak fluent English
  • Work well in groups
  • Attention to detail.

Please check www.Outbuildings.ca for examples of our work.

80% of our work is INDOORS at our shop located oat 2128 Front St North Vancouver near the Iron workers bridge.

Please email Geoff for more details.

Cheers,

Geoff Baker
Westcoast Outbuildings Inc.
604.551.2485




“You want to live in a tiny house it’s cause you gave up . . .you’re stupid”

An Open Letter to Steve Harvey, from a “Stupid” Tiny House Owner

steve_harvey
Dear Mr. Steve Harvey,

I hope this letter finds its way to you through the sharing efforts of our “stupid” tiny house community on Facebook and other.

The text below was taken verbatim from your recent tiny house rant.

“This is for people who have given up. This is for people who ain’t got no faith. Who ain’t got no dream. I still believe if you write the vision and make it plain, he who reads it will run to it.”

“You want to live in a tiny house it’s cause you gave up . . .you’re stupid.”


I live in a tiny house and pride myself on my faith, ambition, and the responsible lifestyle decisions I’ve made. Read more ›




Do you want to start a Homestead?

Frozen Parody Video well worth the watch 🙂

Do you want to start a Homestead?

 

Although it’s a Parody it’s really no joke at all.

Jesse and Alyssa recently purchased 5 acres of land and are developing their off-grid homestead, 100% from scratch, debt-free! They are documenting our entire journey in hopes of helping others who wish to do something similar. Feel free to subscribe and follow along!

www.purlivingforlife.com