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Architectural style in Villeray

 

In the past, this district was surrounded by quarries, which is why today you’ll find many stone buildings that characterize the borough’s architectural style. It’s much the same as in the Plateau Mont-Royal, with numerous plexes, large spiral staircases in front, 25-foot-wide buildings with a firewall between each plex to prevent the spread of flames in the event of a fire. 

If you want to convert your duplex into a triplex or single-family home, you’ll need to apply for a permit at your borough’s permit counter. ESPÉ can do all this for you, saving you time.

Lifestyle

 

Villeray is a very lively neighborhood, especially on rue Saint-Denis. This borough is famous for its large Jarry park and its twisted staircases. It’s a very fashionable part of Montreal, and has the advantage of being very accessible, with 3 metro stations (De Castelnau, Jean Talon and Fabre). You can also enjoy a leisurely bike ride, thanks to the many bike paths available to residents. New streets will also be laid out to optimize cycling in this area of Montreal.

In the heart of Villeray, you’ll find the magnificent Jean Talon market, which is very convenient for residents of this neighborhood. In addition to the market, there are a multitude of local shops.

The population of Villeray is a mix of older and younger people. Owner-occupiers are often middle-class or even affluent families. All in all, this neighborhood offers and enables a fine social mix. Different generations, cultures and economic situations live side by side in harmony. You could also compare this neighborhood to Verdun, with its many plexes and tenants.

Recurring problems 

 

In Villeray homes, it’s common to find asbestos in plaster linings. Asbestos removal is highly recommended to clean up your home, as this substance can be harmful. At ESPÉ, we test for asbestos before every renovation project, because we don’t just want to renovate, we want to offer our customers a healthier home. 

Older homes in Villeray are often poorly insulated. So the first step will be to overhaul your home’s insulation. You’ll see a big change in your living comfort and energy savings.

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Renovation’ style

 

Renovating in Villeray often involve decompartmentalizing the first floor. These homes, which were once designed to house large families, have many partitions. Today, however, homeowners are looking for more open spaces, such as a kitchen that opens onto the living room. This means knocking down walls. Note that if it’s a load-bearing wall, it can be knocked down, but this will require greater resources and therefore a bigger budget. That’s why we strongly recommend that you call in a professional to carry out renovation work.

If you knock down a load-bearing wall without taking the necessary measures, you run the risk of affecting the structure and seriously damaging your building. Especially since, in the Villeray borough, you need to consult the permit counter for both interior and exterior renovations. And once again, ESPÉ takes care of all that for you!

Houses in Villeray sometimes have crawl spaces or basements that are not full height. In these cases, the space can be transformed or upgraded to create a basement. This will considerably increase your home’s surface area and thus its value. To transform your crawl space or basement into a compliant basement, you’ll need to excavate the basement and pour a concrete foundation. It’s a major and costly undertaking, but it’s sure to add value should you wish to resell your home in the future. Our team will guide you through the entire process. 

Renovations provide an opportunity to enhance the building’s surface area and depth by improving the building envelope.

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