Types of Alterations

There are several types of building alterations. When you apply for a permit most of the categories can fall under umbrella expressions, either "additions" when it involves increasing the buildable area, or "interior alterations" for work inside the building envelope. But if you have a vacant land or intend to demolish your existing building and build from scratch, it falls under "new build".

Change of Use

The first type of the building alterations is the change of use. Change of use is generally when you're turning a use or category into another. Example would be you're changing an office space into residential unitl, an industrial loft into a gallery, or a group of residential units into a bank. This type of change of use requires re-zoning if the area doesn't allow for a change of use.

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Addition

The second of these types is addition or extension to an existing structure, house or building. this is the most commont type. Most of people eventually would need to expand their homes since they bought it. Expansion to the rear of the property especially when the Gross Floor Area or footprint allows, is the most common. Adding an extra bedroom, a solarium in the back linked ot the kitchen, or expanding the living space, or even adding an enclosed swimming pool would all be "additions" to your existing structure or building. this could improve the functionality of the space but could also change the whole atmosphere of the interiors because it requires rearrangement of the spaces slightly to accommodate the new expansion.

Adding A Dorm

The third is adding a dorm on the upper floor, expanding the main floor building toward the backyard, or "topping up" an exsiting bunglow with a second or third floor if the Gross Floor Area, maximum height or other restrictions allow.

Retrofitting

Building alteration normally involves partial demolition, retrofitting, or upgrading a component or feature of acomponent in the existing building. An example of that is to improve the thermal resistance (insulation) of all exterior walls or ceiling or slabs-on-grade by adding more insulation. Refurbishment or remodelling of a component also fall under the retrofitting category as it upgrades the whole space or exterior element (such as modernizing the exterior facade with modern material or features -another common retrofit). In general though upgrading is rarely done without some sort of other types of building alteration such as interior alteration, expansion, addition, or even performing two types of retrofits at the same time (improving insulation on all exterior walls while doing a kitchen remodelling for example).

Interior Alteration

The potential of linking existing spaces together (opening up a wall to create an opening) or separating spaces by closing off doors or adding dividing walls to create an extra room or rooms is also a type of building alteration that you need to know about. This is usually falls under "interior alteration" per the City of Toronto or other building department / jurisdictions in Canada.

Renovation

Renovation as a type of building alteration is when you improve the building's existing components or features without changing them. The repair of an existing component or feature however is not called a renovation but a repair work (i.e. priming, sanding, and painging a damaged wall for example) which can also be called maintenance to lengthen the life span of the component. Decoration as is more commonly known is part of the attempt to change the feel of the space by changing more cosmetic elements such as colors, textures, adding plants, furniture, paintings or murals and so on.

Check if it Requires a Building Permit

Whatever your needs might be, it's important to know that some of these alterations may require building permit (building department approval). Other don't. In general, any increase in building footprint, or increasing the hazard index of a building, or adding more strain on the existing structural or fire/life safety systems, privacy, overhangs, change of building character the might be incompatible with the neighborhood's pattern, may all require different approvals sometime from different authorities.

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