Blog
Real-world insights on BC construction, Canadian immigration, and life in Canada.
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A Plumbing Permit is required for all plumbing work within a building — including water supply (Supply), drainage (Drain), sanitary piping (Sanitary), and gas piping (Gas). It applies to new commercial construction as well as Tenant Improvement (TI) projects. The Plumbing Permit is typically applied for by the mechanical/plumbing contractor and tied to the issued…
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A Mechanical Permit is required for all mechanical work related to HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems within a building. You will encounter this permit frequently not only in commercial new construction, but also in Tenant Improvement (TI) projects. The mechanical permit is typically applied for by the mechanical contractor and linked to the…
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The Building Permit is the foundation of every construction project. It is required for new construction, structural modifications to existing buildings, and major renovations. No construction work can legally begin until the Building Permit has been issued. It is critical to confirm the expected permit issuance timeline before finalizing your construction schedule. For renovation projects…
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Everything a General Contractor needs to know about BC’s mandatory 10% holdback, the Substantial Completion 3-2-1 formula, the 55-day release timeline, and what it all means for your project’s cash flow. Table of Contents Section 01 What is the BC Builders Lien Act? The BC Builders Lien Act (BLA) is the provincial legislation in British…
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Whether you’re just getting your contractor’s licence in British Columbia or you’ve been running crews for years, knowing your contract types isn’t optional — it’s the difference between a profitable project and a financial nightmare. In Canada, construction contracts are heavily influenced by the Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC) standards, but the contract type you…
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After obtaining my P.Eng, I decided to move to British Columbia. The good news is that in Canada, you don’t have to start over from scratch — you can transfer your P.Eng license from one province to another. The process turned out to be faster and simpler than I expected. However, there was one trap…
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Working in Canada as a general contractor, one question comes up more than any other: “Do I really need a P.Eng? How did you get yours?” Honestly, I had no idea where to start. I wasn’t sure how much of my experience from Korea would be recognized in Canada, and there were moments I almost…