What we see in Burnaby homes
In the towers, most calls are unit turnovers and interior repairs: drywall damaged in a move, doors and hardware worn by years of tenants, and trim that needs replacing before a new lease. In the older houses around Capitol Hill, Burnaby Heights and Deer Lake, the jobs look more like the rest of the region — rot at exterior doors and decks, basement suites that need freshening between tenants, and interior doors that no longer close cleanly.
Many of the older houses have basement suites finished in the 1970s and 1980s, with paneling, doors and trim from that era that tend to be replaced together when a suite is refreshed.
- Strata unit turnovers around Metrotown and Brentwood
- Move damage to drywall, doors and trim
- Basement suite repairs between tenancies
- Exterior door and deck rot on older homes
Weather and your house
Higher ground around Burnaby Mountain gets some of the city’s heaviest rain, and older houses built into the slopes see water collect behind retaining walls, under decks and at the base of back doors.
Hiring a contractor in Burnaby: what to check
This city is part of the Metro West inter-municipal business licence program: a single licence lets a trades contractor work across Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, New Westminster and Delta. Ask any contractor which business licence they hold for work here.
Anywhere in BC: there is no provincial licence for general repair work, but electrical and gas work must be done by contractors licensed through Technical Safety BC, and plumbing by certified plumbers. Landlords and strata corporations hiring a contractor should ask for a WorkSafeBC clearance letter — if a contractor is not paying premiums, the business that hired them can be held liable. In homes built before 1990, materials that may contain asbestos should be tested before they are cut or sanded.
Check for yourself: Metro West inter-municipal business licence · WorkSafeBC clearance letters · Technical Safety BC
Prices in Burnaby
All prices in Canadian dollars (CAD).
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Drywall & repaint, single room | $1,000–$1,600 |
| Interior door & trim package (3–5 doors) | $1,400–$2,400 |
| Deck repair | $1,200–$3,000 |
| Fence repair | $800–$2,000 |
| Rental turnover punch list | $1,000–$2,200 |
What drives each price: Property managers · Rental turnovers · Drywall repair cost.
Neighbourhoods we cover
- Metrotown
- Brentwood
- Edmonds
- Capitol Hill
- Burnaby Heights
- Deer Lake
- Highgate
- Burnaby Mountain
And the rest of Burnaby.
Nearby: Vancouver · Surrey · Richmond · New Westminster · Delta · all locations
Burnaby questions
Can you work within our strata’s move-in and elevator bookings?
Yes. For tower work we schedule around the building’s elevator and loading bookings and its permitted work hours, and we send the strata or property manager a photo report when the unit is done.
Do you need a Burnaby business licence?
Burnaby is part of the Metro West inter-municipal business licence program, so a contractor holding that licence can work here as well as in Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey, New Westminster and Delta.
Who actually does the work in Burnaby?
An established, insured local contracting company operating under the Thatcher Home brand. We confirm the company by name on your written estimate — before you commit to anything.