What Drives Whole-Home Renovation Costs in Kamloops?

If you’re planning a whole-home renovation in Kamloops—or a full main-floor transformation—you’re probably asking the same question everyone asks:

“What’s this going to cost?”

Renovation budgets aren’t driven by a magic “per square foot” number. They’re driven by a few major decisions that either keep the project predictable… or quietly blow it up.

Here are the biggest cost drivers we see.

The 7 biggest cost drivers

1. Structural changes and layout rework

Opening walls, adding beams, changing door/window openings, reworking stairs—structural scope increases complexity fast.

Typical structural beam/opening range: $30,000–$50,000+

2. Mechanical work (electrical, plumbing, HVAC)

This is where costs jump—especially if you’re moving plumbing, upgrading electrical, building a real lighting plan, or rerouting HVAC to suit the new layout.

3. Hazardous materials (asbestos)

Testing and remediation can significantly affect budget and schedule. Best handled early, before demo.

4. Finish level (the biggest variable you control)

Finish choices swing budgets more than most people expect. Labour is expensive either way, so ultra-low-end finishes often don’t save as much as people hope.

Kitchen finish-level example:

Standard: ~$75,000
High-end: ~$125,000
Luxury: $200,000+

5. Cabinetry and millwork

Vinyl wrap vs solid wood, material quality, internal organizers, and custom detailing can change totals dramatically—even in the same footprint.

6. Tile and stone (and complexity)

Tile budgets climb with large-format tile, niches, patterns, and detailed edge work—because the labour increases.

7. Logistics and custom details

Tight access, stairs, parking, bin placement, plus premium finish details (custom timber features, tight transitions, miter returns) all add labour time—and labour is the biggest cost driver in most renovations.

Real example (anonymized)

Large basement renovation (full gut): new layout + structural changes, reworked plumbing/electrical/HVAC, custom sauna, extensive tile work, custom timber features, millwork, paint/trim, high-end finishes.

Budget range: $200,000–$300,000+

Timeline: planning ~2 months, permits ~3 weeks, construction ~3.5 months

Biggest cost drivers: mechanical rework + premium custom details (sauna/tile/timber)

Quick cost anchors

Kitchen: $75,000–$150,000+
Bathroom: $35,000–$60,000+
Structural beam/opening: $30,000–$50,000+
Main-floor gut (kitchen + main level): often $200,000+

The fastest way to keep a renovation on budget

Make decisions early and stick to them. The biggest budget creep comes from repeated changes and details being decided mid-construction.

Next step

If you want realistic numbers for your home, book a free 30-minute video consultation. We’ll align on scope and clarify the biggest cost drivers before you commit.

Book a Free Consultation

What Our Clients Say

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"We highly recommend Live Timber for renovations. Excellent communication, clear and professional quoting, diligence around protecting the floors and areas around the reno. We have worked with a few contractors and this has been our best experience yet."

– Danica Richard

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"Sascha and his crew recently renovated our summer home townhouse in Tobiano. They painted all the walls, put in new floors, counters, bathrooms, and light fixtures. They were professional, organized, very friendly and great at communicating through the whole process. They stayed on budget and the end product turned out to be absolutely beautiful. We are very happy we hired Live Timber!"

– Sarah Street

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"I am delighted to share my experiences with Live Timber. Sascha and his team renovated the main floor of our townhouse. This was a major project and involved installing new flooring throughout, renovating three bathrooms, installing a completely new kitchen, updating the fireplace, painting, and adding light fixtures etc. Their attention to detail was meticulous, from the first day on the job to the final walk-through, and we are beyond delighted with the results. What a transformation! The project was started and ended well within the proposed timeline, and within our budget. We were out of town for the duration of this undertaking, so we received pictures of their progress daily. Sascha communicated regularly if he had questions or suggestions and was receptive and available if I had questions. I would unreservedly recommend Live Timber to anyone considering renovating their space. Thank you so much Sascha, David and John!"

– Beth Hunter

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"I recommend Live Timber for your renovation needs. They arrived as scheduled and completed the work on time. They used an app that provided weekly updates on their progress, including pictures. This team is extremely professional and efficient. I was so impressed that I asked them to quote another job for me. I highly recommend Live Timber."

– Pino Mancuso

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"10/10- I cannot say enough good things in one review. The professionalism and communication of this team is top notch. Your workmanship and attention to detail is superb. Choosing Live Timber for our deck build and renovation was absolutely the best choice and we couldn’t be happier with the results. There is no doubt that we will be contacting them for future projects. Sascha, David and John, thank you!"

– Joey Reid

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"Live timber did an amazing job widening my doors for my daughter who is in a wheelchair. They showed up when they said they would, communication was consistent throughout the entire process. Sascha came in on his own time to button things up, he definitely knows how to run a business. Highly recommend!"

– Jamie Smith

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"Could not be Happier ! From the Start of the project I knew I was in good hands! Sascha and his team communicated extremely well, and were so easy to deal with, They delivered a perfect one Bedroom add on to our basement. The attention to detail from matching all the moldings, to catching that we were creating a hallway with out a light and installing a wall sconce that tied in perfectly. Sascha’s outline of the job included things I wouldn’t have even thought of, new outlets, new outlets for new living room wall how to cut into the ceiling as little as possible. I knew right away he was extremely knowledgeable and would deliver quality. Every tradesman that was at our house was very friendly and respectful. Even with some tweaks, we came in on budget , and Sascha’s estimating skills are first class. The project was completed within the time frame we were given, with an extreme attention to detail. We could not of asked for more from Sascha and the Live Timber Team!"

– Mathew Friesen

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"Live Timber replaced my ailing deck this fall. I am very excited to share that I am now very proud of this deck which was completed on time and within my budget. The staff was easy to work with, as we managed the improvements. I would recommend Live Timber for any Home Improvements. Sincerely Rae Nixon."

– Rae Nixon

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"Working with Sascha and Live Timber Renovations was a superb experience with outstanding results. The professionalism and expertise they demonstrated when taking care of our project make them a fantastic choice for anyone. They're an A+ outfit that I would highly recommend."

– David Needham

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"Sascha and his crew at Live Timber just completed my kitchen and family room renovation which included removal of walls, flooring and main bath update. Sascha took the time to understand my wants and needs while working closely with me to come up with a design that is truly functional and beautiful. He listened to my ideas and concerns then made suggestions that elevated the end results to more than I hoped for. Sascha utilizes a user friendly app that kept me up to date and in the loop of all on goings throughout my renovation from financials, scheduling and for communication between Sascha, myself and his team. He has a keen eye for detail and demands the best out of his trades to ensure high end quality results that were delivered on time and within budget. He addressed any concern quickly and to my satisfaction. Sascha and Dave were very professional and respectful of my home throughout this renovation and truly made this project seamless.This was my first experience with a big renovation and I can’t say enough about Sascha and Dave, they were truly professional, knowledgable, friendly and courteous throughout the project. Sascha keeps you well aware of where your money is going to keep you on budget and his scheduling of trades is impeccable as my reno was completed on time and below budget. I couldn’t be happier with my new living space. I highly recommend Sascha and Live Timber for any of your renovation needs big or small!"

– Joanne Bosher

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"Sascha transformed by bathroom by replacing my tub with a beautiful 3 sided walk-in shower. He included suggestions of a few types of products according to my wants/needs and all products are top quality. He also utilized local vendors for a custom glass panel - which I appreciate as I try to shop local/smaller businesses whenever possible. I was kept up to date with the time-line and budget and it was easy for me to access it all on-line. This was important as I was actually out of the province while most of the renos were being done. He was able to send me photos of different product options so I could see exactly what was being installed.

I HIGHLY recommend Sascha and Live Timber for any job - big (he did a full wall removal and full kitchen transformation for my son earlier ) or small that you might have."

– Valerie Robinson

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"I cannot say enough about Sascha's professionalism and talent. We collaborated throughout the custom design process to create a highly functioning, durable, and beautiful outdoor kitchen and dining area for my clients. They are thrilled with the results and are looking forward to sharing their new space with friends and family for years to come. I hope to have the opportunity to work with Sascha again in the near future."

– Jodi Plowe