Frequently Asked Questions

An architect has a university education, is a member of the Ordre des architectes du Québec, and can seal plans that affect a building’s structure or require a municipal permit.

An interior designer focuses on layout, materials, atmosphere, and furniture without altering load-bearing walls or the structure. An architect is required for an addition or structural alteration. An interior designer is generally sufficient to redesign a kitchen or living room without changing the structure. At CMPG, both areas of expertise work together on the same project.

The architect designs: they draw the plans, plan the space, and submit the permit application. The general contractor builds: they coordinate the trades, manage the worksite, and oversee the construction schedule and budget. A project may involve only a general contractor if plans already exist, or only an architect if others will carry out the work.

In a turnkey project like those offered by CMPG, architecture, interior design, and general contracting are brought together under one team, so clients do not have to coordinate several independent professionals themselves.

Both prepare plans, but their scopes of practice differ. An architect has a university master’s degree and can design any type of building, including complex or large-scale commercial projects. An architectural technologist has a college diploma and may sign plans for a single-family home within certain limits set by law.

For a standard residential home, an architectural technologist is often sufficient and more affordable. An architect becomes mandatory for a more complex project or one that falls outside those limits. A multidisciplinary firm like CMPG can direct you to the right professional based on the scope of your project.

Not always. In Quebec, the Architects Act does not require an architect for a detached single-family home with no more than two storeys and a basement, provided the total gross floor area remains under 600 m² after the work is completed. In that case, an architectural technologist may sign the plans.

Above that threshold, or for a multi-unit or commercial building, an architect’s involvement becomes mandatory. The best approach is to have the project assessed from the outset so you know which professional is legally required before ordering plans.

It almost always depends on the municipality. In Quebec, each city adopts its own regulations for residential buildings such as single-family homes, duplexes, and triplexes; the Régie du bâtiment du Québec establishes only the provincial framework.

A simple change of finishes generally does not require a permit, but relocating plumbing, modifying electrical work, or altering a wall often changes the situation. The only reliable way to know is to check directly with your municipality’s planning department before work begins.

Yes, in most cases. An addition changes the building’s footprint on the property, which makes the existing location certificate out of date. Many municipalities require a foundation location certificate after the foundations are poured to confirm that setbacks are respected, and a new location certificate becomes necessary for a future sale or refinancing.

Only a land surveyor who is a member of the Ordre des arpenteurs-géomètres du Québec can produce this document. For new construction, surveying begins with the building layout before work even starts.

In a traditional model, the homeowner or architect often requests bids from several general contractors once the plans are complete.

In a turnkey model, the general contractor or project manager handles bids from the trades—electrical, plumbing, and cabinetry, for example—on the client’s behalf, ensuring that every bid is based on the same plans and specifications. This simplifies comparisons and means the client does not have to negotiate with each trade directly.

You need an architect or architectural technologist as soon as the project affects the building’s structure: removing a load-bearing wall, adding a storey, expanding the building footprint, or changing how a space is used. These changes require sealed plans and a permit application.

If the project stays within the existing building envelope and focuses on layout, materials, lighting, or furniture without structural changes, an interior designer can lead the project alone. Many projects combine both: the architect handles the structure and the designer handles the finishes.

It depends on the project. For design-only work—architectural plans or interior design—CMPG can work with clients farther away because regular worksite visits are not required.

When CMPG’s general contracting team is involved, the service area is focused on Vaudreuil-Soulanges and the West Island, where CMPG can provide direct worksite supervision. This area includes municipalities along the Lake of Two Mountains and the Ottawa River. For a project outside this area, the best approach is to contact CMPG to confirm whether a design-only mandate is possible.

The budget is based on several factors: the area affected, the desired level of finish, structural complexity—such as load-bearing walls or plumbing and electrical systems that must be relocated—and the constraints of the property or existing building.

For a turnkey project, a preliminary estimate is generally prepared after an initial meeting and site survey, then refined throughout the design process until a firm price can be established once the plans are complete and trade bids have been received. Keeping a contingency for unforeseen conditions is good practice, especially in renovation work.

A complete proposal typically covers a measured survey of the existing building, preliminary concepts, permit drawings, construction drawings for the contractor, the selection of materials and finishes, and worksite follow-up through to project delivery.

For interior design, it also often includes millwork drawings for custom furniture and cabinetry. The number of revisions included and the exact scope of deliverables vary from one firm to another, so these points should be clarified before signing an agreement.

A rough estimate can be provided at the first meeting based on the proposed area and desired level of finish. A firm price, however, requires completed plans and bids from the general contractor or trades, which generally takes several weeks once the design process is underway.

The more structural work or complex permitting the project requires, the longer this process takes. A budget established too early, before the final plans, always remains an estimate that must be validated.

The general contractor combines bids from each trade—structure, electrical, plumbing, and finishing—into an overall budget that usually includes a contingency. They then track actual costs against that budget throughout construction, approve extras before the work is done, and inform the client of any variance before it becomes a problem.

In a turnkey model, budget management is centralized with design coordination, which helps limit unpleasant surprises between the initial estimate and the final invoice.

In Quebec in 2026, the cost of a home addition generally ranges from $200 to $450 per square foot, depending on the type of addition—horizontal or adding a storey—the materials, and the level of finish.

A horizontal addition with full foundations often costs more per square foot than adding a storey to an existing structure, but it may include a basement. The price per square foot tends to decrease for larger additions, although the total project cost rises with the size of the addition.

The cost varies widely depending on the size, materials, and degree of customization involved in the millwork, so there is no fixed price for a high-end kitchen. Most CMPG projects fall within the mid-to-high-end range, with custom cabinetry and premium materials when the project calls for them, or prefabricated options when those are more appropriate.

The best way to obtain a realistic figure is to contact CMPG directly for a quote or an estimate based on the actual scope of the project rather than relying on a generic range found online.

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The preliminary meeting is used to understand the project: your needs, approximate budget, preferred style, and the constraints of the building or property. It often includes a site visit to assess the existing conditions.

It is also an opportunity to determine whether the project requires an architect, architectural technologist, or interior designer, and whether a general contractor should be involved from the outset. After the meeting, the firm generally presents a project proposal and a budget range before design begins.

A measured survey records the existing space precisely: room dimensions, load-bearing wall locations, plumbing and electrical locations, ceiling heights, and openings.

It provides a reliable foundation for the drawings instead of relying on original building plans, which may no longer reflect the actual conditions after years of alterations. An error in the survey affects every design decision that follows, so this step should never be skipped in a renovation project.

It varies with the complexity of the project, but the average is generally three to four months from the measured survey to plans that are ready for a permit application. A simple project with no structural changes moves faster than an addition that affects the foundations or changes the building footprint.

The municipality’s permit processing time must then be added to the schedule, and it varies from one city to another. Accounting for this delay from the outset helps avoid surprises in the overall project timeline.

The design considers the sun’s path in relation to the property’s orientation: favouring south-facing openings for natural light and winter warmth, limiting large west-facing windows to reduce summer overheating, and using roof overhangs or sunshades to manage solar gain by season.

Well-positioned windows can also reduce the need for artificial lighting and heating. This is one of the factors an architect considers from the initial concepts, not only when the windows are selected.

A millwork package is the technical document that accompanies the interior design plans for all custom-made elements: kitchen cabinets, islands, closets, or built-in bookcases. It specifies exact dimensions, wood species or other materials, hardware, finishes, and assembly details.

The cabinetmaker uses this document to fabricate the pieces, so it acts as the bridge between the designer’s vision and production in the workshop. Without a detailed package, the risk of fabrication errors or deviations from the intended design increases considerably.

Renovating both at the same time makes it possible to coordinate shared trades, particularly plumbing and electrical work. This often reduces costs and avoids paying twice to mobilize a worksite.

The work must still be sequenced carefully to limit how long the home is without a functional kitchen or bathroom. A coordinated plan also helps harmonize materials and style instead of treating each room in isolation.

Three practices make the biggest difference: finalize the project scope before construction starts rather than adding changes during the work, give one person responsibility for coordinating the trades instead of splitting that role among several parties, and include a time contingency for unforeseen conditions—especially in renovations, where hidden issues may only appear once walls are opened.

A dedicated project manager who follows the schedule daily rather than occasionally remains the best protection against delays that build up quietly.

Natural materials and matte finishes are gaining ground: solid wood, natural stone, and brushed brass are gradually replacing highly polished surfaces. Functional islands with integrated storage and combinations of materials—wood and stone, for example—remain reliable choices for a high-end project.

The backsplash remains an area where a distinctive material can make a strong visual impact without requiring a large budget. Trends change quickly, so a designer who follows the market is the best guide for avoiding a choice that will look dated too soon.

The process begins with the customer journey through the space: where people look when they enter, how circulation naturally guides them toward key areas, and where friction occurs, such as lineups or congested zones.

The design then uses lighting, materials, and signage to strengthen the brand identity while keeping the space practical for staff in day-to-day operations. A commercial space redesigned without considering how the business actually operates may look attractive on paper but prove difficult to use once it opens.

The design separates areas for focused individual work from collaborative spaces instead of imposing one open-plan solution on everyone. Acoustics, natural light, and ergonomic furniture matter just as much as appearance.

Providing private spaces for calls or quiet work also prevents common areas from becoming a constant source of distraction. A layout based on how the team actually works will support productivity better than one designed only for appearance.

Phased renovation is the most common approach: divide the space into sections and close one area at a time instead of shutting down the entire business, or schedule the loudest and dustiest work outside opening hours. Temporary partitions can often isolate the worksite from areas that remain open to customers.

This approach generally takes longer than a complete closure, but it protects revenue during the work, which is often more important to an operating business than the speed of construction.

The general contractor prepares a schedule that sequences each trade to avoid conflicts on site—structure before electrical and plumbing, with finishes last. Regular site meetings make it possible to track progress and adjust the schedule if a trade falls behind.

A commercial project often involves more specialized trades than a residential project, including mechanical systems, fire safety, and accessibility. This requires tighter coordination to meet both the schedule and the building code requirements that apply to commercial occupancies.

It is the final verification that the completed work matches the approved plans and the building code requirements that apply to commercial occupancies, including fire safety, accessibility, and electrical and mechanical systems. This step generally comes before the municipality issues an occupancy permit authorizing the business to open to the public.

Non-compliance discovered at this stage can delay the opening, which is why periodic reviews during construction are preferable to waiting until the very end to find a discrepancy with the plans.

Verify that the RBQ licence is active and covers the correct work, request proof of liability insurance and bonding, and ask for references from projects similar in size and complexity to yours.

A written contract that details the schedule, payment terms, and how extras will be approved before the work is done protects both parties. Be cautious of a price that is significantly lower than other bids, as it often hides lower-quality materials or exclusions that were not mentioned at the outset.

The real test is whether one contact follows the project from the first concept to the handover of the keys, or whether the client has to coordinate the architect, designer, and contractor separately whenever an issue arises between trades. In a truly turnkey experience, that coordination is included in the mandate and is not left to the client.

A budget that remains consistent from the initial estimate to the final invoice, without unexplained variances, is also a good indication that one team has maintained control from beginning to end.

First, confirm that these areas of expertise are genuinely in-house rather than outsourced to third parties presented as part of the team. Ask to see complete projects from concept through delivery, not only design renderings.

A credible multidisciplinary firm should be able to explain clearly how design decisions and construction constraints are coordinated throughout a project, because this is precisely where the model demonstrates its value compared with hiring separate independent professionals.

In a conventional arrangement, the client often acts as the point of contact between the architect, designer, and contractor, creating additional coordination work for the client. A dedicated project manager fills that role: they monitor the schedule, communicate decisions across disciplines, and serve as the client’s single point of contact from beginning to end.

This does not replace the expertise of the professionals involved, but it prevents the client from having to coordinate teams that would not otherwise communicate naturally.

Yes. CMPG Design Construction completes high-end residential and commercial projects using the same multidisciplinary approach: architecture, interior design, and general contracting under one team.

Commercial work follows the same turnkey logic as residential work, adapted to the requirements of commercial spaces, including building codes, accessibility, and opening schedules.

Yes. CMPG Design Construction holds RBQ licence 5706-1822-01, which is active for general contracting in Quebec. This licence confirms that the company meets the competency, bonding, and insurance requirements imposed by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec.

The status of any company’s RBQ licence can always be verified directly in the RBQ public registry before signing a contract.

Yes. Since March 1, 2026, a new provincial regulatory framework has replaced the previous transitional system for work in flood zones, shorelines, or littoral zones. Each activity must now be reassessed to determine whether it requires ministerial authorization, a declaration of compliance, or qualifies for an exemption. Municipalities remain responsible for issuing construction and renovation permits.

For an addition near a body of water in Vaudreuil-Soulanges, confirming the property’s new status with the municipality is an essential step before finalizing the plans.