Licensed General Contractor — Burnaby Since 1981
General Contractor
in Burnaby, BC — Licensed Since 1981
Most Burnaby homes were built in the 1960s and 1970s — and most contractors quote them like they were built yesterday. DELANA has been renovating in Burnaby long enough to know what is behind the walls before you open them.
Serving Burnaby Homeowners Since 1981
Jim Delana has been completing renovation projects in Burnaby for over 40 years. He knows the ranchers in Burnaby Heights and the split-levels in Parkcrest — and what it means to renovate a home that was built in 1968 and has not had its electrical panel or plumbing touched since.
Burnaby has one of the highest concentrations of 1960s and 1970s housing stock in Metro Vancouver. These homes were built well for their era. But that era used asbestos in drywall compound, floor tile adhesive, and pipe insulation as standard practice. Any renovation that involves demolition — opening walls, pulling floors, removing tile — requires an assessment before work begins. This is not optional. It is required under WorkSafeBC regulations. A contractor who does not know this going in will discover it mid-project, and that costs time and money.
DELANA has been managing renovation work in Burnaby's older housing stock since the early 1980s. We know what to look for. We assess materials before demo, arrange certified abatement where required, and build it into the project timeline from day one. No surprises. No delays.
What does a home renovation cost in Burnaby?
Home renovations in Burnaby typically run $75,000–$250,000+ depending on scope and the age of the home. Many Burnaby homes built in the 1960s and 1970s require updated electrical panels, vapour barriers, and asbestos assessment in pre-1990 materials before renovation work can begin — these are standard steps in older Burnaby housing stock, not surprises. DELANA Interiors provides a written estimate after reviewing the space and confirmed drawings. A real number based on your actual project.
The most requested projects in Burnaby are kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, and full-scope rebuilds managed by our licensed general contractor team. Read what Burnaby homeowners say about working with DELANA.
Our Renovation Services in Burnaby
One contractor. One point of contact. Every trade coordinated under one contract.
Kitchen Renovation
Full kitchen gut and rebuild — layout changes, custom cabinetry, countertops, tile, plumbing, and electrical under one contract. Burnaby Heights to Brentwood.
Bathroom Renovation
Principal ensuite upgrades to full main floor bathroom rebuilds. Capitol Hill to Metrotown — all scope under one contract.
Custom Millwork
Built-ins, cabinetry, and trim work that modernises the space without losing the character of the original Burnaby home.
Flooring
Hardwood refinishing, new hardwood, and engineered flooring. Burnaby Heights and Capitol Hill homes often have original hardwood worth exposing.
General Contracting
Full renovation scopes under one contract. One point of contact, all trades coordinated from permit to final walkthrough.
Custom Home Building
Custom homes on Burnaby's hillside lots since the 1980s. Deer Lake, Buckingham Heights — development approvals managed.
Commercial Renovation
Office, retail, restaurant, and medical clinic renovations in Burnaby — Metrotown, Brentwood, and the Heights commercial spaces.
Tenant Improvements
Office, restaurant, retail, and clinic fit-outs — designed and built under one contract with full permit management.
What Renovating in Burnaby Actually Involves
Permits in Burnaby
Renovation permits in Burnaby are issued by the City of Burnaby Building Division. Kitchen and bathroom renovations that involve plumbing changes, electrical updates, or structural work require a building permit. Burnaby has its own permit portal and its own inspection schedule — separate from the City of Vancouver and the North Shore municipalities. Burnaby also has a Heritage Register for designated properties, primarily in the Deer Lake and Burnaby Heights areas, which may require heritage review for certain exterior changes. DELANA handles permit applications as part of every general contracting scope. Visit the City of Burnaby Building Permits office for more information.
Burnaby's Housing Stock
The majority of detached homes in Burnaby were built between 1955 and 1985 — split-levels, side-splits, and ranchers that represent the core of Burnaby's residential neighbourhoods from Burnaby Heights to Sullivan Heights and Parkcrest. Pre-1990 homes consistently contain asbestos in drywall compound, floor tile adhesive, vinyl floor backing, and pipe insulation. In Burnaby, this is not an edge case — it is the standard. Before any demolition on a pre-1990 property, DELANA assesses materials and arranges certified abatement where required under WorkSafeBC regulations. This is built into the project plan and the budget before the first tool is touched.
Burnaby's Electrical and Mechanical Reality
Homes built in the 1960s and 1970s in Burnaby frequently have 100-amp electrical panels — undersized for modern renovation scopes that include new appliances, in-floor heating, and updated lighting. Many also have original cast iron or galvanised steel plumbing. A kitchen or bathroom renovation in a 1968 Burnaby rancher is almost always an opportunity to update these systems — and a contractor who does not flag this upfront will flag it partway through when the walls are already open. DELANA includes a systems assessment as part of the initial site review on every older Burnaby home.
Recent Work in Burnaby
Burnaby Heights Kitchen and Main Floor Renovation — 2024
A 1971 split-level in Burnaby Heights. The scope included a full kitchen reconfiguration, removal of the wall between the kitchen and the living room, new custom cabinetry throughout, hardwood floor refinishing across the main floor, and an electrical panel upgrade from 100 to 200 amps. Total scope: $119,000. Timeline: 11 weeks. Pre-1990 drywall compound was assessed before demo — certified asbestos abatement was arranged for the kitchen and dining room, completed in the first week without delaying the overall schedule.
Project details based on representative work — client details withheld for privacy.
From Burnaby Homeowners
What Burnaby Homeowners Say
"We renovated our 1969 Burnaby Heights kitchen and living room. Jim found asbestos in the drywall compound before demo started — dealt with it fast and clean, and the project still finished on time. Excellent quality throughout."
"DELANA refinished our original hardwood floors and installed custom built-ins in the living room. Jim told us upfront the floors were under the carpet and worth saving. He was right. The house looks completely transformed."
Questions Burnaby Homeowners Ask
Kitchen renovations in Burnaby that involve plumbing changes, electrical updates, or structural work require a permit from the City of Burnaby Building Division. Cosmetic updates — cabinet replacement without moving plumbing, new countertops, painting — typically do not. DELANA confirms permit requirements during the initial site visit and handles the application as part of the contracting scope.
Bathroom renovations in Burnaby typically run $25,000–$75,000 depending on size, fixture selections, and whether the plumbing stack needs to be relocated. Older Burnaby homes in Burnaby Heights and Parkcrest sometimes require updated drain lines as part of the scope. We provide a written estimate after reviewing the space — not a range over the phone.
Very likely yes. Homes built before 1990 in Burnaby commonly contain asbestos in drywall compound, floor tile adhesive, vinyl floor backing, and pipe insulation — standard materials in that era. Before any demolition, DELANA assesses materials and arranges certified abatement where required under WorkSafeBC regulations. This is part of the project plan from day one — not a surprise mid-renovation.
DELANA Interiors has been completing renovation and construction projects in Burnaby since 1981. Jim Delana has worked throughout Burnaby — from Burnaby Heights and Capitol Hill in the north to Metrotown, Deer Lake, and Buckingham Heights in the south. Burnaby is a core service area for DELANA, not a secondary market.
Many 1960s and 1970s Burnaby homes have 100-amp panels — often undersized for a modern renovation scope. When opening walls for a kitchen or bathroom renovation, it is common to find that the panel needs an upgrade to support new appliances, lighting, and in-floor heating. DELANA identifies this during the initial site visit and includes it in the estimate upfront.
A full home renovation in Burnaby — kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, and millwork — typically takes 12–20 weeks depending on scope and City of Burnaby permit timelines. Standalone kitchen renovations run 8–12 weeks. We provide a confirmed project timeline after drawings are approved and permits are submitted.
Have more questions? Contact us — we reply same day.
Serving Burnaby and Surrounding Areas
DELANA Interiors serves all areas of Burnaby — from Burnaby Heights, Capitol Hill, and Parkcrest in the north to Metrotown, Central Park, Deer Lake, and Buckingham Heights in the south.
Ready to start your Burnaby renovation?
Tell us what you are planning — a kitchen, a bathroom, a full home renovation, or a custom build. We review the space, confirm permit requirements with the City of Burnaby, and give you a written estimate before any work begins. We can typically meet within one week of your enquiry.
Call Now — (236) 858-8187