
The Approach
How we work.
Deciding to build is a powerful moment — and a lot has to happen between that decision and getting your keys. Our planning process is built to make every step ahead clear, calm and honest, so you walk into construction with full confidence in the plan, the budget and the team behind it.
The Process
Step by step.
Every planning engagement runs through the same four-stage rhythm — refined over two decades of builds.
- 01
Clarity around the budget
Money is the fastest way to introduce tension into a build, so we put it on the table first. We set a realistic number with you up front, point out where smart spending pays off, and flag the corners that aren't worth cutting.
- 02
Guidance toward the vision
When budget and ambition diverge, we don't just say no. We propose alternatives, trade-offs and creative paths that get you as close to the original vision as possible — without compromising structural or design integrity.
- 03
Realistic, no-surprise timelines
We can't promise a date before we understand the scope, but we can promise transparency. Once a plan is set, every shift in the schedule comes with an honest explanation and a clear path to keep things moving.
- 04
Open, ongoing communication
You'll get regular updates at every stage, not just when something goes wrong. Our team stays accessible — questions get answered, decisions get documented, and you stay in control of the project from day one.
Continue Exploring
Other services.

Bespoke Builds
Custom Homes
From foundation to finishing carpentry — homes designed and built around how you actually live, made with materials chosen to age beautifully.
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Density, Done Right
Multiplex Construction
Whether for family, tenants or future income, we deliver multiplex projects from rezoning through occupancy with the same craft we bring to single homes.
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Slope, Soils & Views
Hillside Construction
Stepped foundations, geotechnical-driven retaining walls, hillside drainage, view-corridor bylaws — Burnaby's slope lots are where most builders lose money. We don't.
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Renovate, Add or Rebuild
Whole-Home Renovation
Major renovations sit on a spectrum from cosmetic refresh to full structural overhaul. We help you find the right point on that spectrum, then build it.
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Character, Preserved
Heritage Restoration
Original siding profiles, salvaged fir, restored windows, sympathetic additions — heritage and character home restoration done at builder pace, not museum pace.
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Secondary Dwellings, Done Right
Laneway & Coach Houses
Coach houses and laneway homes built with the same care as the main house — proper envelope, real kitchens, proper sound and fire separation between buildings.
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Highest-Performance Envelope
Passive House & Step 5
Step 5 envelopes, blower-door targets under 1.0 ACH₅₀, mineral-wool exteriors, heat-pump mechanical, HRV/ERV — high-performance homes built to certify, not just claim.
Learn MoreRenovate — Kitchens
Kitchen Renovation
Refresh, reconfigure, or take walls down — we scope kitchen renovations honestly, then sequence them so you're not living without a sink longer than you have to.
Learn MoreRenovate — Bathrooms
Bathroom Renovation
Tile, fixtures and finishes are the visible part. Waterproofing, ventilation and the plumbing routing under the floor are what decide whether the bathroom lasts.
Learn MoreRenovate — Basements
Basement Renovation
Dampproofing, egress, mechanical, and an insulation strategy that actually works on a Burnaby slab. The cosmetic part is the easy part.
Learn MoreRenovate — Add Space
Additions
Over-builds, rear extensions, second-storey adds — additions only work when the connection between new and existing is engineered, not improvised.
Learn MoreRenovate — Envelope
Exterior Envelope Renovation
Re-clad, retrofit a rainscreen, upgrade insulation, replace windows — envelope work is where most older Burnaby homes get a generation of life back.
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Book a planning call
A short conversation is the fastest way to understand whether Icon is the right partner for your project.