The Pros and Cons of Building an Infill Home in Edmonton
After decades of outward growth, Edmonton has become one of the most expansive cities by population in North America. As the world shifts its mindset towards a sustainable approach to suburban sprawl, infill homes are becoming a more popular choice for Edmonton home builders.
But what exactly is an infill home?
An infill home is a brand new home built on a lot in an old neighbourhood. At an individual level, building a custom infill home can mean buying a lot with an old house and choosing to demolish the old home to build a new home instead. There are also infill developments in older neighbourhoods done as part of urban redevelopment, where several new homes are built on old repurposed lots.
Let’s explore the pros and cons of building an infill home in Edmonton instead of building in a new development or suburb.
The Pros of Building an Infill in Edmonton
Established community
Building an infill home lets you build in a community that is already established. There is no need to wait on development or construction timelines for essential services and amenities. You also get the benefit of a better location within the city that is closer to the centre rather than far out in the outskirts. You can choose your lot based on your wishlist for what you want in a community and your proximity to the amenities you care about. Infill housing allows you to live in some of Edmonton’s best neighbourhoods, which are all mature and established communities. Infill lots are also usually much larger in mature communities than they are in new builds.
Environmentally friendly
There are several reasons why infill homes are an environmentally friendly option. Firstly, retrofitting an older home to be more energy efficient and durable can be costly and inconvenient. Building a new home in the community of your choice allows you to have modern innovations right from the start, such as passive or net-zero technologies that makes your home healthier and saves you money down the road. Infill housing is also better for the environment because it doesn’t require any new land development, which means Edmonton can have new builds without growing anymore outward.
Incentives
Infill housing is encouraged and incentivized in the city of Edmonton. Building new homes in old communities helps keep those areas vibrant and refreshed with new people and increased property and lot values. There are even incentives to help you offset the cost of building a custom infill home in Edmonton, and the Infill Development in Edmonton Association (IDEA) has lots of resources to help you get the most out of your infill build.
The Cons of Building an Infill in Edmonton
Lot history
Your house may be new, but your lot is not. This means you may be inheriting issues such as soil issues or being on a flood plain. Additionally, all the infrastructure your house connects to will be the same age as the neighbourhood, including water, sewer roads, sidewalks, and other city fixtures which may not be in top condition. Though you get the advantage of older, mature trees and developed parks, you do face potential risks such as burst pipes, damaged sidewalks, and overgrown trees in these older areas.
Expenses
The costs tend to add up when building a custom infill home. The process tends to take longer than building in a new development, since you have to find the right neighbourhood with an open lot, get the right permits, plan the design and finally begin construction. Often, you have to factor in the costs of demolishing an old home that is already on the lot, plus construction costs in the city and in mature neighbourhoods are often higher than in new developments.
Disruptive construction
Many infill lots present a space challenge due to surrounding houses and infrastructure that can inhibit the work required for your build. During the excavation process, old dirt is removed from the site and replaced with new backfill material, and there must be adequate access to do so. There also needs to be room to store building materials required for the various trades building the home (known as the laydown area). Space can be at a premium in mature neighbourhoods, and storing these items off-site comes at an additional cost. In addition to space issues, infill building can also cause disruptions in the area, with construction noise, dirt, and extra traffic potentially upsetting your neighbours.
There are many factors to consider when deciding to build a custom infill home. The City of Edmonton’s Residential Infill Guide has all the steps and information you need to complete your infill project above board, and the Development Permits Map details the locations of permit areas in Edmonton so you can know what is in effect and where. It’s also important you familiarize yourself with the Development Process before you start building!
Ready to get started? When you build a custom infill home, it’s important to hire an Edmonton home builder with experience who is well adapted to the quirks of building an infill home. Timberstone Builders has over 15 years of experience building, remodeling, and renovating award-winning custom dream homes in Edmonton and surrounding areas.