Photograph, measure and document existing materials/details before intervention.
Special renovation case
Old and heritage home renovation
Check heritage status, document character-defining elements and plan interventions before demolition or replacement.
Checked: 2026-08-20
Verify protection status, approvals and material compatibility before replacement.
Protected property/heritage area or irreversible intervention: do not begin before applicable approvals.
Sources and limits
Rules vary by province, municipality, building, condominium documents and property status. This tool prepares checks; it does not make legal, heritage or regulatory determinations.
V14
Systems to check before closing the work
V14 connects envelope, air, fire, structure, water and code instead of treating each project in isolation.
Legacy conditions and resilience systems
Check these before enclosing, excavating, modernizing or automating an existing system.
Advanced systems and special cases
Checks that change sequencing, risk or which professionals must be coordinated.
Hidden systems and critical interfaces
These checks target costly problems that often appear only after opening assemblies, conversions or changes of use.
Deep retrofit and envelope interfaces
Measure, sequence, drain, dry and verify interfaces before concealing work.
V28
Finish and service details to verify
V28 connects small details that become costly once finishes are closed.
V34
Use, excavation and construction constraints
V34 connects use permits, soil, excavation, neighbouring structures and public-space logistics before hard-to-reverse work.
Before finalizing the project
V35 checks that can change drawings, permits, construction methods or structure.
- Professional plans: architect, engineer or other designer?
- Permit closeout, final inspection and occupancy
- Variance, design review and discretionary planning approval
- Temporary construction heating and drying
- Hot work, permits and fire watch
- Infrared thermography and moisture mapping
- Well yield, recovery and storage
- Snow drift at additions and roof steps
- Balloon framing and continuous cavities in old homes
- Wetlands and watercourses before construction
Blind spots before proceeding
V36 checks that can change methods, insurance, testing or work sequence.
- Temporary structural bracing during renovation
- Soil vapour intrusion into a home
- Foam-plastic insulation: thermal and fire protection
- Well, septic system and new project siting
- Permit expiry, extension and reactivation
- Potable-water flushing and recommissioning
- Controlled building-envelope water penetration testing
- Insurance during a major renovation
- Pre-demolition hazardous-materials survey
- Acoustic flanking paths in renovation
Remaining specialized systems
V39 connects uncommon but costly decisions to systems already tracked by RenoAtlas.
- Construction legal hypothec: protect the homeowner file
- Metal roof: snow sliding and retention
- Domestic hot-water recirculation: comfort, energy and plumbing
- Wine cellar or cold room: temperature, vapour and condensation
- Sewage ejector and grinder pump
- Water softener: brine, drainage and septic system
- Storm windows and secondary glazing
- Exterior shading, awnings and overheating
- Tankless water heater: flow, capacity and maintenance
- Heat-pump / ventless dryer
- Gas-to-induction range conversion
- Solar carport / PV canopy
Specialized systems not to overlook
V42 covers legacy, energy and envelope systems that can change the method or required professional.
- Legacy steam heating and cast-iron radiators
- MERV/HEPA air filtration without choking the system
- Legacy sewer lateral: camera, material and trenchless rehabilitation
- Copper pitting and pinhole leaks
- Door-to-door renovation sales: contract, 10 days and current prohibitions
- Electrification: actually decommission gas service
- Window security bars and egress
- Off-grid home and microgrid: energy, storage and islanding
- Building-integrated photovoltaics and solar shingles
- Foundation: dampproofing is not waterproofing
- Chimney flue liner and relining