Legal suite developments typically start from $55,000. Final cost depends on square footage, kitchen/bath layout, permits, HVAC, and more. Use our pricing calculator or book a site visit for a detailed quote.
The cost of building a detached garage in Calgary depends on the size, design, site conditions, and finishes. Most detached garage projects typically range from approximately $25,000 to $70,000 or more, depending on the garage size, site access, foundation requirements, electrical work, insulation, and architectural features.
Every property is different, so the best way to determine an accurate price is through a consultation and site review where layout, site conditions, and design options can be evaluated.
Alta Home has been building garages in Calgary for more than 15 years and has earned multiple HomeStars and TrustedPros awards. Our team handles the entire process including design, permits, construction, and inspections.
All work is completed in-house by our experienced team rather than outsourced to third-party companies. This allows us to maintain consistent quality, keep projects on schedule, and provide more predictable pricing for homeowners.
We focus on durable construction, transparent pricing, and delivering garages built to last. Every garage we build is backed by our Limited Lifetime Warranty on workmanship, giving homeowners long-term peace of mind.
That depends on the weather and humidity levels, however, generally we recommend waiting 28 days, as this is how long it takes for the concrete to reach 80% of its final strength
No. Do not use salt, ice melt, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, or any de-icing chemicals on new concrete, especially during the first winter season after it is poured.
Fresh concrete is more vulnerable during its first year. De-icing products can increase freeze-thaw damage and may cause surface scaling, flaking, or peeling. This type of surface damage is considered environmental wear and is not covered under workmanship warranty.
For the first winter, we recommend using sand only for traction. Avoid letting snow, slush, and salty road water sit on the concrete for long periods. In garage areas, it is also a good idea to squeegee standing water toward the door and keep the space reasonably ventilated to reduce excess moisture.
After the concrete has fully cured, usually around 28 days, customers may choose to apply a dedicated long-term concrete sealer or coating for added protection. A cure-and-seal product applied after pouring helps with curing, but it is not the same as a permanent concrete sealer, epoxy, or polyaspartic coating.
Yes — we apply a cure-and-seal product shortly after pouring the concrete. This is standard practice and helps the slab cure properly while adding a light layer of protection.
However, this is not the same as a dedicated long-term sealer or decorative coating. Once the concrete has fully cured (usually around 28 days), you have the option to apply products like:
Penetrating acrylic or silicate sealers for added moisture, salts, UV and stain resistance
Epoxy or polyaspartic coatings for a smooth, finished look and high durability — especially useful in garages or high-traffic areas
These additional coatings aren’t required, but they can greatly enhance both the appearance and longevity of your floor
Yes, absolutely. Many homeowners develop basements for personal use — including rec rooms, gyms, extra bedrooms, or home offices. No legal suite requirements apply if there’s no secondary cooking space or rental intent.
Yes. A building permit is still required for structural, electrical, and plumbing work — even for personal-use basements. Alta Home handles all necessary applications.
Yes, we offer financing with fast approvals. For Calgary clients, visit this link to qualify: https://www.financeit.ca/s/pscbtw
Typical project duration is 6–10 weeks depending on complexity, material availability, and permitting timeline.
Yes, in most cases. It depends on layout, ceiling height, and zoning. If it was used as an illegal suite before May 2018, some requirements may be relaxed.
Because Calgary experiences significant temperature fluctuations, moisture changes, and clay soil movement, garage foundations must be carefully designed to prevent shifting and cracking over time.
The correct foundation depends on several factors including the size of the garage, its height, soil conditions, and how the space will be used. In many cases, garages under approximately 600 square feet can be built on a properly prepared slab-on-grade foundation. Larger garages or structures designed to support additional loads may require engineered solutions such as grade beams, frost-protected footings, or screw piles.
At Alta Home, proper base preparation is essential. Every garage foundation we build includes carefully compacted base material, a 10-mil vapour barrier to prevent moisture migration, and 2-inch rigid insulation to help reduce frost movement and improve long-term slab stability.
We evaluate the specific conditions of each property to ensure the foundation is properly designed for durability. The appropriate foundation type is always included and clearly specified in the quote you receive for your project.
Yes — legal suites require building, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and secondary suite permits. We handle all permit applications and coordinate inspections.
On average, expect 8–12 weeks from start to finish depending on permitting timelines, complexity, and material availability.
Yes, fast-approval financing is available. Use this link to apply: https://www.financeit.ca/s/pscbtw
Yes, in most cases. If your basement was used as an illegal suite before May 2018, some requirements may be relaxed. Otherwise, a custom inspection and quote is needed.
Most legal basement suites in Edmonton range from $50,000 to $90,000+, depending on layout, finish level, upgrade selections, and the amount of work needed to create a fully compliant secondary suite. For a faster estimate, use our Edmonton secondary suite cost calculator to get an instant price range
Edmonton requires zoning confirmation, development permits, building permits, and trade permits. Alta Home manages the entire permitting process for you.
Depending on complexity and permit speed, the full build can take 10–14 weeks.
Yes. Apply directly here for fast approvals: https://www.financeit.ca/s/-_NcwA
Yes — especially if it was an active illegal suite before May 2018. That may reduce scope and costs. Otherwise, a site assessment will help clarify the path.
A legal suite typically starts around $40,000–$65,000, depending on size, layout, and finishes. This includes permitting, egress, HVAC, fire separation, and all city-mandated upgrades.👉 See full pricing details for Calgary »
Water pooling in some areas of the concrete is tolerable, and completely normal phenomena which called “bird-baths” ASCC website, says “Birdbaths are an unavoidable consequence of a flatness tolerance” There is certain tolerance under which the small paddles or “birdbaths” are acceptable. You may choose to apply epoxy coating or modular tiles such as RaceDeck to achieve a completely levelled and finished look is desired
Each jurisdiction has a certain set of rules covering building setbacks. In the city of Calgary, the garage may go directly on the property line if certain conditions are met:
1. The property is not shared with the street
2. The wall is fire rated with 5/8″ type x drywall from floor slab to underside of roof sheathing
3. There is no eave overhang onto the adjacent lot (reverse Gable Construction Reccomended)
4. There are no windows or doors on the property line side of the garage
5. There are no neighbouring sheds, garages within 2 ft’ of the property line (For building purposes)
6. In case the garage will need to be placed on the Maintenance Right of Way or a Utility Right of Way, make sure to check with the relevant caveats and encumbrances registered on the title document to ensure it’s allowed
Ethics: Despite meeting all of the above building code restrictions and legally obtaining the permits, it is a good practice to be a “Good Neighbour” and keep a healthy relationship with your next-door neighbours.
Especially when building on or close to the property line, we strongly recommend discussing your building plans with both of your neighbours and notifying them of your intentions.
In addition, we strongly recommend having your property staked out by a professional surveyor (may be provided by Alta Home for a fee) prior to commencing your build on or near property lines. This will ensure your structure remains within your property and doesn’t encroach on adjacent or city lots avoiding costly issues.
There are a few main points to know once the project is completed
- You will have a final walk-through with the Project Manager to ensure: a) All items are explained and questions answered b) Sign off on scope completion
- You will get a warranty certificate indicating our warranty details and contact information
- We typically don’t do any landscaping, and it is up to the home-owner to complete the landscaping even if the yard had some existing sod/concrete/patio stones, shrubs, flower beds etc. We are backfilling the electrical/gas trench with the same soil that was taken out. Generally, we are backfilling around the new garage with road crush gravel and leave some space for landscapers hired by the owner to top it off with top-soil, sod, paver stones or any other landscaping materials preferred by the owner.
- It is up to the homeowner to ensure the garage is adequately kept and maintained once it’s built. You may find a full article on how to maintain your garage on our blog page
- For any warranty-related issues or questions, you can call us at 403 827 7211 or e-mail us: info@altahome.ca
Unfortunately, we are not set up for credit card transactions. Due to the nature of transactions, the cc bank fees would have to be added to your invoice and we wouldn’t be able to keep competitive with our pricing. We do accept E-transfers, Certified Cheques, Cheques, and Cash
Absolutely not!
Here at Alta Home, we manage over 8 crews of various skilled professionals to complete each stage of all the projects we run. At times we manage up to 14 projects at a time and yours is being one of them. This ensures the most efficient approach and the quality result. There will be days that you won’t see our guys on site, it does not mean we decided to take a break rather we are either waiting on material or the project is in queue for the next available crew. While we make every effort to complete all tasks as scheduled, at times people do get sick, equipment do break and the weather doesn’t always co-operate. That being said, your project completion date in your contract will rarely get affected and you will be notified of unexpected delays if need be
When you see your garage door opener lights flashing and the garage door will not close, most of the time it’s due to the sensors which possibly misaligned or something is obstructing the door from a smooth open/close operation. If you have no time dealing with this issue right away you can close the garage door by pressing and holding the door control push bar until down travel is completed.
Realign the safety reversing sensors:
- Locate the receiving sensor and sending sensor on either side of the garage door track. The safety reversing sensors should be installed no higher than 6 inches above the garage floor.
- Align the receiving sensor by loosening the wing nut, and slowly moving the sensor until the LED is glowing steadily and not flickering. Tighten the wing nut.
- The LEDs on both safety reversing sensors. They will glow steadily when they are aligned.
To view a video with these instructions demonstrated see Video – How to align the safety reversing sensors
If you are still experiencing issues with your garage door not closing please call us and we will be helping you further to resolve this issue
Most certainly! Whether purchasing a new property or refinancing your current one, Alta Home is recognized by all major lenders. We can provide an instant preliminary quote required for mortgage approval. We are recognised by all new home builders and developers in all Calgary and area communities. We will work with your lawyer directly to receive the funds upon project completion.
The size of your curb-wall, when measured from the outside, should always be 12″ or higher in case of a sloped grading which required a retaining wall. This measurement includes the concrete slab and might change according to the ground slope. Hence it will be underground and will come out to approximately 4″-7″ above ground depending on the location measured. Generally the closer it is to the ground lowest level the higher the curb wall is visible above ground.
We have created a whole blog-post around this topic. You may expand on it here
In addition, feel free to read about it on the Alberta New Home Warranty Program Web Site
That depends. We recommend calling Alberta 1 Call or use their website to order free locates to verify if the gas line runs underneath a proposed garage. Once you verified the gas line is located underneath your proposed garage you need to ensure if it’s sleeved. You may do that by calling ATCO GAS. If the gas line is sleeved, you have nothing to worry about and you may build your proposed garage. If the gas line is not sleeved, you have 2 options. 1. Get the line relocated. 2. Get the line sleeved. We can help you to suggest the right option for you as well as arrange this procedure with ATCO gas. The cost for this procedure could range anywhere from $2,000 to $4,500 depending on the nature of your lot, length of gas line etc.
We provide warranties for our garage doors and openers, covering defects and installation issues. However, damages often occur due to post-installation modifications, such as detaching and reattaching garage rails, or applying epoxy or floor coatings, causing the garage door to stick to the floor. Forceful attempts to open the door may result in a snapped cable and broken mechanism, necessitating costly repairs. These items are not covered by our warranty. We strongly recommend hiring a qualified professional to address your garage door concerns and ensure proper handling of its specifics prior to tampering with your garage door or opener.
After a few months of new fence installation, you might discover some cracks, splits and bows over the posts, boards and reinforcement studs of your pressure treated fence. This natural process of wood which is constantly expanding and contracting while responding to humidity levels and temperatures. It will be extremely rare to find a fence without any cracks or splits.
When fresh PT wood has a high chemical and moisture content that needs to dry naturally and it’s not recommended to stain or paint it for at least 4 months from installation without letting it dry naturally any coverings will damage the wood further and will make it more vulnerable structurally
Once this period is over, we do recommend painting/stainings it and use some wood filler for the larger splits and the paint will take care of the smaller ones. At this time the paint/stain sealer will be used as a protector and will ensure your fence will last for time to come
There are many risk factors during a construction project — from theft, fire, and vandalism to weather damage, liability, or job site injuries. Managing these risks means understanding what your policy covers and what it doesn’t.
Alta Home carries $2,000,000 in liability insurance and full WCB coverage for our employees, protecting you and us from injury claims, job site incidents, and legal liabilities.
However, Builder’s Risk Insurance is separate — this covers damage or loss to the structure under construction, materials on site, and certain unforeseen events. Most homeowner insurance policies do not automatically cover major projects like basement developments, additions, or garage builds unless you’ve told your insurer in advance.
We always recommend that homeowners notify their insurance company about the project before we begin. If your provider won’t extend coverage, we can offer Builder’s Risk Insurance through our provider for an added cost — just let us know.
The cost of construction lumber has spiked considerably – in some cases up to 100 per cent.
By taking a few easy but very important steps, you may reduce the risk of concrete damage and avoid costly repairs to your concrete pad and driveway.
- Remember, it takes roughly 28 days (temp. dependent) for concrete to reach its 80% strength, hence, we strongly recommend not driving over your concrete during that time. We also advise you not to drive or keep any personal belongings throughout the construction period
- The rest of the 20% will get cured over the next year or so, it’s important to ensure care is taken during that period by not applying any ice-melting chemicals or salt on your driveway concrete pad and sidewalk. Those chemicals & salts will blend with the uncured concrete & damage it. Instead, we recommend shovelling the snow & out & keep the area off prolonged icing build-up.
- The slope in your garage is designed with a roughly 2-3% incline from back to front, aimed at directing large volumes of water toward the door. However, it’s not 100% efficient at eliminating all water, the garage door seal can also hinder some water drainage. Water accumulation near your front wall can happen from various sources such as melting snow from cars or when opening the overhead doors. To protect your walls and concrete floor from water damage, it’s crucial to squeegee out the remaining water as part of your regular maintenance
- As you have probably noticed the garage pad and driveway contain expansion joints to avoid cracks. We recommend cleaning the often and keeping the dirt and ice build-up. this will allow the water to flow freely and prolong the life cycle of your concrete.
- Using sharp and/or heavy objects to clear off ice or drilling through concrete during the first year can also negatively affect and may damage the concrete. Avoid using hammers, ice breakers, or crowbars, especially in the first year of your new concrete pad
- To minimize the likelihood of flaking or popping, we strongly advise against using salt or other de-icing chemicals on your concrete, particularly during its first winter. If possible, we also recommend rinsing your vehicle to remove any street salt residue before parking it on the concrete surface
Our warranty does not cover these cosmetic deficiencies beyond the first seasonal change.
Mold caused by humidity issues can be a common uninvited guest in garages, and it doesn’t discriminate between old and new ones. While AHG&M ensures optimal ventilation in your garage’s construction, it’s crucial to complement this with some best practices:
- Manage Moisture Proactively: Any moisture that clings to your car in wet snowy conditions should be dealt with immediately—wipe it off and use a squeegee to clear it from the garage floor and man doors (The slope on your concrete pad is not steep enough to get all the water out naturally)
- Maintain a Constant Temperature: For garages that are heated and insulated, it’s vital to keep the temperature consistently above 10 degrees. Warmer air can hold more moisture, which is less likely to condense on surfaces if they’re kept warm. This helps prevent condensation from becoming a problem, especially compared to the fluctuating temperatures that can lead to moisture buildup and eventually, mold growth.
- Elevate Storage Solutions: Keep boxes and wooden items off the floor by mounting them on walls or hanging them from the ceiling to avoid moisture transfer.
- Use a Dehumidifier: Investing in a dehumidifier can make a significant difference in maintaining a dry garage. Alternatively, products like silica gel and molecular sieves can absorb excess humidity.
- Check Downspouts: Regularly inspect your downspouts to ensure they’re functioning correctly and not directing water towards your garage.
- Apply Protective Floor Coating: A protective coating such as polyurethane or epoxy, or even a quality floor paint, can provide a moisture barrier for your concrete slab, offering additional defense against mold.
Following these steps diligently will significantly reduce the risk of mold taking hold in your garage, helping to keep it in pristine condition.
Your garage door is a very important part of your new garage, after all, it’s there to keep your vehicle safe & sound. It is also one of the neediest parts as it’s on the move as often as you are! It is crucial to maintain your garage door and its surroundings on a regular basis to avoid costly repairs to both your garage door and the garage door opener parts. To ensure your garage door opens and closes smoothly each time we strongly recommend taking the following measures on a regular basis
- Optical sensors: Ensure your sensors are always clean of dust, oils and other obstructions preventing them from clearly seeing each other. If the LED light on one of the sensors is not solid green and solid amber on the other one, chances are something is obstructing their signal which will result in a garage door malfunction
- Manual release handle: This is typically a rope with a handle that hangs down from the track system which, when pulled, disengages the opener and allows the door to be operated manually. If the automatic opener isn’t working, try the manual release. Pull the release cord horizontally to re-engage the trolley, allowing the door to connect back to the opener system
- Spring, Tracks and Cables: Pay close attention to those moving parts. Every 2 months or so or if you notice any unusual squicking noise we recommend lubricating them with a 3-WD-40 3 IN-ONE Professional Garage Door Lube. Available on Amazon. If you notice a banging noise, avoid using the garage door and call us for service.
- Weatherstrip (rubber piece under garage door): The weather strip needs some care, especially during the winter months. The surface on which the rubber weather strip is landing has to be clear of stones, ice and water. The most common issue with the weather strip is when it’s stuck to ice causing it to rip. Ice can cause other issues too such as breaking your garage door mounts to a door.
- Garage Door opener: The garage door opener on itself will not require regular maintenance. However the environment it’s in might. Make sure it’s always clean of dust, drywall dust, or any other debris. As mentioned in the previous section ice or any sticky surface such as fresh paint or epoxy and pulling the garage door against it, may cause some serious damage to your garage door components.
You will likely need a development permit, building permit, and various trade permits, but the exact requirements depend on your address and zoning designation. Alta Home verifies all zoning details during the quoting process and handles the entire permit application on your behalf.
Most personal use basement developments in Edmonton start around $25,000, with the final price depending on basement size, layout, bathroom requirements, flooring, ceiling finish, electrical work, plumbing, and overall finish selections.
For a better starting point, you can use our Edmonton basement development cost calculator to estimate your project before requesting a quote. Alta Home can then review your space and provide a more accurate budget based on your layout and goals.
Yes. Alta Home offers financing options with fast approvals for qualified homeowners. Financing can help you start your basement development sooner and spread the payments over time. You can apply through our financing partner here, or ask us to send you the application link when you request your quote.
Yes. For a real basement development project in Edmonton, permits are required. The City of Edmonton lists basement development as a home basement renovation project that requires permits when you are building or finishing a living room, bedroom, bathroom, doing structural changes, or adding/changing windows or exterior doors.
Alta Home can review your project scope, confirm which permits apply, and help coordinate the permit and inspection process so the work is completed properly from the start.
Yes. A finished basement can be a strong investment because it adds usable living space without needing a full above-ground addition. Many Edmonton homeowners use their basement for extra bedrooms, a bathroom, family room, home office, gym, storage, or entertainment space.
The best value comes from a layout that fits the home, durable finishes, proper permits when required, and clean workmanship that feels like a natural extension of the main living area.
Yes, in many Edmonton homes an existing basement can be converted into a legal secondary suite, but the final scope depends on ceiling height, windows, entrance, heating and ventilation, fire separation, plumbing, electrical, and code requirements.
Legal suites require permits and must meet City of Edmonton zoning and building code requirements. If you are considering a legal suite, Alta Home can review your existing layout and explain what upgrades may be needed.
