Herbert Ave
Design-Build Custom Home
Challenges & Objectives
The Herbert Avenue project was a unique and technically complex renovation of a semi-detached home in The Beaches. The goal was to maximize interior space while maintaining the charm of the original structure. To achieve this, Woodsmith Construction engineered a cantilevered third floor that extended both out the side and back of the home, creating a striking architectural feature. The standout highlight of this project is the stunning third-floor walkout deck, which provides breathtaking views and an ideal outdoor retreat. The homeowners were fantastic to work with and are thrilled with their beautifully transformed home.
This project required a creative approach to maximize the home’s footprint and functionality:
- Cantilevered Third Floor: Extend the third storey outward both to the side and rear to increase interior space while ensuring structural integrity.
- Semi-Detached Constraints: Work within the limitations of a shared wall while executing significant structural changes.
- Seamless Integration: Blend the modern additions with the original character of the home.
- Third-Floor Walkout Deck: Design and construct a standout outdoor space that enhances the livability of the home.
Our objective was to expand and modernize the home while ensuring the additions felt like a natural extension of the existing structure.
Design Solutions
To achieve a spacious and seamless transformation, we employed strategic design and engineering techniques:
Cantilevered Expansion:
- Engineered a structurally sound cantilever to extend the third floor, creating more usable interior space without requiring a full footprint expansion.
- Integrated steel reinforcements and advanced framing techniques to ensure stability and durability.
Modern Meets Traditional:
- Preserved the classic charm of the lower brick façade while introducing contemporary finishes to the new upper addition.
- Designed the extension to complement the home’s existing style and the surrounding neighborhood.
Third-Floor Walkout Deck:
- Created a private, elevated outdoor space with durable, weather-resistant materials.
- Designed the deck to maximize natural light and provide seamless indoor-outdoor living.
Enhanced Interior Layout:
- Optimized the new third-floor space with an improved floor plan for better functionality.
- Incorporated high-end finishes and custom-built features throughout the home.
Construction Process
The Herbert Avenue renovation was executed with precision and attention to detail:
Structural Engineering and Framing:
- Reinforced the existing structure to support the cantilevered expansion.
- Installed steel beams and framing elements to safely extend the third floor.
Exterior and Interior Upgrades:
- Blended modern siding with the traditional brick to create a seamless exterior design.
- Fully upgraded the home’s interior, including new finishes, flooring, and custom-built features.
Walkout Deck Installation:
- Constructed the third-floor deck with high-quality, low-maintenance materials.
- Designed and installed custom railing and lighting to enhance usability and safety.
Results
The completed renovation on Herbert Avenue is a stunning example of how smart design can transform a semi-detached home. The cantilevered third-floor addition has created much-needed extra space, and the walkout deck has become the homeowners’ favorite feature. The mix of modern and traditional elements ensures the home fits beautifully within The Beaches neighborhood while standing out as a true architectural achievement. The clients were delighted with the results and love their expanded, light-filled living space.
Our Clients' Experiences Say It All
At Woodsmith Construction, we believe our clients’ experiences highlight our commitment to exceptional customer service. Explore what real homeowners say about partnering with us to achieve their home renovation goals.
The Woodsmith team did a phenomenal job of rebuilding our house to match our dream on-time and within our budget. Chris (the owner) was always accessible, open to ideas and patient with questions. This made all the difference for us. He understands that a job of this scale is something that an owner will likely only do once, and he offered great advice and put all our fears at ease. We constantly knew exactly how we were tracking to our budget (to the dollar) and our job site was clean and orderly at all times (which our neighbours very much appreciated). We were nervous about our year-long adventure in renos (we've all heard horror stories), but Chris helped us spread out decisions over time and provided clear options for any challenges his team encountered, making that year a surprisingly pleasant one. All of the work was top-quality and has garnered unsolicited positive comments from anyone who sees our home (including other contractors working in our neighbourhood). I have no problem recommending Woodsmith; you will be in very good hands.
Dave Duncan
We were very pleased with the results of our renovation project completed by Chris and his team at Woodsmith Construction. As well as a great end-product, Chris provided excellent customer communication services throughout the whole process that were greatly appreciated! We would have no hesitation in recommending Woodsmith Construction and in fact have already booked them for a second project.
Lynn
We had a great experience working with Chris at Woodsmith Construction. He is honest, transparent, realistic, easy to get in touch with and makes himself available to his clients whenever they need him. I would gladly recommend Woodsmith Construction to anyone doing a renovation as Chris made a complicated process a positive experience.
Matthew Bernstein
We worked with Chris Smith and Woodsmith Construction Inc. on the design for a garage addition, and the experience was fantastic. The project included adding attic trusses to create a new walk-in closet and laundry room that seamlessly connected to our existing main bedroom. Chris’s goal was to make the addition feel like it had always been part of the home, and he absolutely nailed it.From the start, Chris took the time to understand what we needed and came up with a design that not only maximized the functionality of the space but also kept the style consistent with the rest of the house. He paid close attention to every detail, from the layout to the finishes, ensuring everything worked perfectly with our main bedroom.The design makes such smart use of the space, and it feels like a natural extension of the home rather than an afterthought. Chris was great to work with—responsive, creative, and incredibly knowledgeable. He even provided advice on how to approach the construction phase, which made us feel confident moving forward.If you’re looking for someone to bring your vision to life with a thoughtful and practical design, we highly recommend Chris Smith and Woodsmith Construction. The design he created for us has truly enhanced our home. Our construction is well under way and we are already seeing the great design come to life!
Steve F
Woodsmith Construction completed a project for us in a timely and professional manner. The quality of their workmanship is superb. Communication between them and us was informative, courteous and collaborative. We would highly recommend them.
Rick Wilson
Woodsmith Construction Inc. recently completed a full-home renovation on our place, including underpinning and adding a third floor. We couldn't be happier with the results and the level of service that we received from Chris and his entire team. Chris is an absolute professional who is extremely knowledgable, dedicated to his craft and was exceptionally responsive at all points in the project to all of our questions and concerns. For us, this timely communication provided a level of comfort and assurance - I cannot imagine doing a project of this scale without it! During the project, the worksite was kept so clean - our neighbours consistently commented on how great and respectful the team was. We were able to complete a huge project with very little tension and to me, that speaks volumes about the manner in which the project was carried out. In terms of the results, we are thrilled. The workmanship, detail and solid construction of our home are all that we hoped for. This workmanship and level of service continued through the final stages of the project, when we were completing the finishing touches. Chris ensured that every small detail was arranged for and completed. Obviously, we highly recommend Woodsmith Construction and are grateful to Chris and his team for the amazing work, professionalism and service they provided.
Natalie Zawadowsky
