How much should we budget for converting our assigned parking stall in an underground garage into storage space in a Coquitlam condo building? Is that even allowed under BC strata rules?

Converting a parking stall to storage in a strata underground garage falls outside basement finishing work, so this isn't something Vancouver Basement Finishing can help with directly. That said, here's where to get the right guidance.

For the strata rules question, you'll want to speak with a BC strata lawyer or your strata management company. The key documents to review are your strata plan, bylaws, and any registered parking stall designations — whether the stall is limited common property or common property makes a significant difference in what's permitted and what approvals you'd need. The Civil Resolution Tribunal and BC's Strata Property Act are the governing framework here, and a strata lawyer can give you a proper reading of your specific situation.

For the renovation cost question, a contractor who specializes in commercial or strata interior buildouts would be better positioned than a basement finishing contractor to quote that work accurately, since underground parkade construction involves fire suppression systems, concrete drilling, and strata-specific requirements that differ from residential basement work.

For finding the right contractor for that kind of project, the Vancouver Construction Network at vancouverconstructionnetwork.com covers a broad range of trades beyond basement finishing and may be able to connect you with someone experienced in strata commercial work in the Tri-Cities area.

If you ever have questions about finishing an unfinished basement in a house or townhome in Metro Vancouver — waterproofing, framing, secondary suites, egress windows — that's exactly what we're here for.