A successful renovation on the North Shore comes down to three things: careful planning before the first wall comes down, skilled hands on the job site, and a contractor who actually picks up the phone. At Custom Installations, that's what we've built our reputation on.
We're a North Vancouver-based general contractor specializing in kitchen, bathroom, and full interior renovations for homes and condos across the North Shore. From older homes in Lynn Valley and Edgemont to newer condo builds in Lower Lonsdale, we plan the scope, coordinate the trades, and finish the details so your renovation comes together cleanly - without the stalls, surprises, and "we'll figure it out later" moments that derail so many projects.
Call 604-818-4053 or request a free quote - no pressure, no upsell.
The term "general contractor" gets used loosely in North Vancouver. Some operators are really one-trade specialists who hire help when needed. Others sub out every piece of work and add a markup without managing it. A real general contractor owns the project - start to finish.
Here's what that looks like on a Custom Installations project:
Pre-construction planning.
We confirm scope, materials, and sequencing before the first nail goes in, so the project doesn't stall waiting on a decision.
Trade coordination.
Electricians, plumbers, tile setters, drywall, painters - scheduled and sequenced so they're not stepping on each other.
Site management.
A tidy, organized workspace every day. Floors covered, debris removed, neighbours and strata managers kept in the loop.
Quality control.
The straight lines, clean transitions, and finishing details that separate a renovation from an upgrade.
Clear communication.
You know what's happening this week, what's happening next, and what we need from you to keep moving.
We focus on interior renovations where craftsmanship and coordination matter most:
Kitchen Renovations
From condo kitchen refreshes to full layout overhauls. Cabinets, countertops, backsplash, lighting coordination, flooring transitions, and the finishing details that pull the whole room together. Whether you're updating a 1970s family kitchen in Lynn Valley or planning around the strata rules in a Lower Lonsdale tower, we plan around the realities of your space.
Bathroom Renovations
Updated layouts, tile work, plumbing fixture installs, lighting, and waterproofing done right - especially important in North Vancouver's wet climate, where bathroom moisture management isn't optional. We sequence the waterproofing, vapour barriers, and tile work so the bathroom holds up well past the warranty.
Hardwood Flooring & Refinishing
Installation of hardwood, engineered wood, and luxury vinyl plank. Refinishing of older floors back to their original beauty. Site prep done properly - moisture testing, subfloor inspection, acclimatization - because shortcuts here show up later as cupping, gaps, and squeaks.
Drywall, Painting & Whole-Home Finishing
Drywall demo, install, and repair. Interior painting from a single room to a full repaint. The details that make a renovation feel finished, not just functional.
Whole-Home Interior Renovations
When the work spans rooms - opening up a layout, refreshing a tired interior, or getting a recently purchased home ready to live in - we manage the full scope so you don't have to juggle five different trades.
Get Started
Renovating on the North Shore isn't the same as renovating anywhere else in the Lower Mainland. A few things that change the job:
A lot of North Vancouver's neighbourhoods - Lynn Valley, Calverhall, Pemberton Heights, parts of Upper Lonsdale - were built between the 1950s and 1970s. Behind the drywall, you can find vermiculite insulation, asbestos in older flooring and ceiling textures, knob-and-tube wiring, undersized foundations, or plumbing that should have been replaced two decades ago.
We don't pretend these aren't there. If your home was built before 1990, we'll flag the testing and abatement steps you may need, work with WorkSafeBC-certified abatement contractors, and plan the renovation around real conditions - not best-case ones.
The North Shore gets 2,500–3,500mm of rain a year at mid-elevation - among the wettest urban areas in Canada. Moisture management isn't a nice-to-have, it's baseline. That changes how we approach bathroom waterproofing, basement renovations, exterior wall openings, and the transitions between flooring types. Cut corners here and the work fails within five winters.
Many District of North Vancouver properties - particularly on the slopes above Lynn Valley, Capilano, Edgemont, and Deep Cove - sit inside Slope Hazard Development Permit Areas. Structural changes can require geotechnical reports and a Development Permit on top of the standard building permit. We'll tell you early if this applies to your address, so it doesn't become a six-week surprise mid-project.
The City of North Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver are two separate municipalities, each with its own building department, fee schedule, and submission requirements. Both generally process residential renovation permits faster than the City of Vancouver - usually 4–8 weeks - but the details differ. We help you understand which jurisdiction you're in and what your application needs to include.
Renovations in North Shore condos and townhomes - common in Lower Lonsdale, Lions Gate Village, the Park & Tilford area, and along the Marine Drive corridor - come with elevator bookings, strata bylaws on hours of work, sound transmission requirements, and notification rules. We've done enough condo renos to plan around these, not get blindsided by them.
Why Choose Us?
We work across both the City and District of North Vancouver. Common areas we renovate in include:
We also serve West Vancouver (Ambleside, Dundarave, British Properties, Caulfeild) and select projects across the Lower Mainland.
We are extremely happy with the work done by Custom Installations! They repaired the laminate flooring in our living room and installed new tiles in the entryway- we couldn’t be happier with the results. They were reliable, professional, and responded to all our inquiries promptly.
We serve North Vancouver and communities throughout the Lower Mainland, bringing our expertise and personalized approach to every project.
For most renovations, yes - we'll let you know whether your project needs a permit, which jurisdiction (City of North Vancouver or District of North Vancouver) is involved, and what the application requires. For projects involving structural changes inside a Slope Hazard DPA, you may also need a Development Permit and a geotechnical report; we'll coordinate that piece with the right consultants.
A bathroom usually runs 3–6 weeks once we're on site. A kitchen runs 6–10 weeks. A whole-home interior renovation can run 3–6 months. Permits add to the front end - figure 4–8 weeks for most residential applications on the North Shore.
Often, yes - depending on scope. For a single bathroom or kitchen, most clients stay. For whole-home work, it's case by case. We'll walk you through the realistic phases before you decide.
We focus on interior renovations and finishes - kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, drywall, painting, and full interior refreshes. If your project requires structural additions or a custom build, we'll be upfront and can refer you to a trusted partner.
If your home was built before 1990, asbestos is possible - most commonly in vermiculite attic insulation, vinyl floor tiles, drywall joint compound, and pipe insulation. Before any demolition that disturbs these materials, BC regulations require testing, and abatement (if asbestos is found) must be done by a WorkSafeBC-certified contractor. We flag this early, coordinate the testing, and bring in qualified abatement specialists when needed.
Yes. We do significant work in Lower Lonsdale, along Marine Drive, and in newer North Shore condo buildings. We're familiar with strata renovation bylaws, elevator and parking access logistics, and the sound and moisture protections most buildings require.
Most of our renovations are quoted as fixed-price contracts after the scope and selections are confirmed, which gives you cost certainty before we start. For projects with significant unknowns (older heritage homes, undefined scope), we'll discuss the right structure with you upfront.
Call 604-818-4053 or fill out the quote form below. Send a couple of photos of the space and a quick note on what you're hoping to do - it makes the first conversation faster and the quote more accurate.
Every project is different, but to set expectations, here's what we see on the North Shore right now:
|
Project Type |
Typical Range (North Shore) |
|---|---|
|
Cosmetic refresh (paint, flooring, fixtures) |
$25,000 – $60,000 |
|
Mid-range kitchen renovation |
$45,000 – $90,000 |
|
High-end / full custom kitchen |
$85,000 – $150,000+ |
|
Mid-range bathroom renovation |
$25,000 – $55,000 |
|
Whole-home mid-range renovation (~2,000 sq ft) |
$150,000 – $250,000 |
|
Premium whole-home renovation |
$250,000 – $400,000+ |
A few notes on these numbers: