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Just to clarify, the reason why I am sharing this is because I want to share the entire journey of renovating this home, even if it doesn't make us look great. I want to share the successes, the fails, the disappointments and the mistakes as they are all part of renovating a home. We are not perfect and we are learning every day. Thank you everyone for all the support, you make this series possible by watching our videos each week. See you all next week ❤

I RENOVATED TWO OLD HOUSES: My work around for the permitting hassle is that I always included a letter from an engineer friend that what I want to replace/repair is a hazardous condition and must be replaced to prevent injury or further collapse. Or words to that effect. No one in the permitting department was to be put in the situation where they caused an accident.

Speaking as a roofing company manager, I would recommend you take some of the wood you have laying around, place them in different areas on the tarp and nail them down, you're putting a new roof on anyway and it will protect you from the liability of something flying off the roof and causing damage or hurting someone, it will also prevent the tarp from flying up and possibly off the roof completely.

work in Texas as a home builder and from time to time we do refabs. When I see water damage at that level, I'm calling my engineer and every time he says dry wall will hide the truth, take it down so we can take pictures of the damaged area or areas. Now with the roof that's another story. Yall might want to take pics of the roof without the tarps on, it's a hassle but well worth it. Or get another engineer to help y'all out. If that doesn't work start calling your local councilmen or go to the TV station about this. Just because there is an abondance of idiots working at your permit office doesn't mean the story can't be told a different way. I hope everything works out for you both. Love the videos

The fact that cities make it so hard to remake old homes is so dumb to me. That house was a hazard and all you guys are trying to do is fix it .

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! It's funny the house was basically falling down when you bought it and that was ok with the city. But let you go and pay for permits to better it and they shut you down.smh

"I'm sure everyone watching... Also would have never guessed" is Canadian politeness for "why'd you have go and tell the whole internet I'm wearing women's pants?" 😂😂😂

I love how supportive and encouraging he is, like he rips up half a sheet and she has removed 3 nails and he says "that's awesome, well done" without being a sarcastic prick about it, just all love

Get your city councillor involved! :) it’s part of their job.

If the city keeps jerking y'all around with permits get the news involved! I know y'all already got interviewed so the station would probably love to do a follow-up, and a story about how the city isn't working properly to help not just their citizens but a rather prominent one is right up their alley!

For your roof... Since it needs replaced, the best would be to nail down those boards to hold down the tarp. You'd need to figure out where the roof beams are, so they are being nailed down correctly. I saw this a lot after Hurricanes in the south because there are so many homes that need work they can't get to them right away. You'd need a piece of wood nailed down about every 1-2 feet, so the tarp doesn't get wind under it and make holes. This would keep stuff from falling off the roof. There's a chance that something will fly off and land and break the window. This won't cause any more damage than the house as already sustained from being vacant for so long.

Fines are usually issued when someone shows bad intent or flagrant disregard for regulations, neither of which is true here. The main point is that you are trying your best to do everything right and navigate the system, which can be clearly demonstrated. Now it’s time to get someone with authority involved, like scheduling a meeting with the county supervisor or your local council person. You go in with your plans and documentation from your engineer, show them that this structure is otherwise in danger of becoming a hazard to the community and then plead that you’re just trying to follow the rules to rescue the building. No one needs to threaten they just need an advocate, and suddenly all the hurdles can melt away.

This Series has now become my happy place. It kills me they are shutting you down for fixing something.

That tar paper did a good job of protecting your subfloor from rotting.

Did anyone else see that Jenna and Nick were featured on a news broadcast?? They truly deserve the recognition as they are working so hard, being so brave to do this, and most importantly, putting as much positivity as they can into the world despite the challenges they have faced along the way. Jenna I have loved seeing you go from sewing, to crocheting wardrobes, to renovating your own house, and I absolutely cannot wait to see where this journey takes you. ❤

A shingle removal tool might help with that subflooring. Sometimes called a shingle shovel, or a shingle snake, they come in a variety of sizes and shapes, but are typically used in a shovel-like motion to scrape shingles off roofs.

You should put a time capsule in the house, before you board up the walls put in pics of the house before and after you renovat it so that the next owners will find it and it will be so cool

Jenna when you kick the floor wood, it speaks volumes of every home owner trying to renovate their homes. The frustration we all go through. You guys are doing a great job. 🎉

Municipalities should be ENCOURAGING restoration projects not just more boring new build McMansion suburbs. UGH!!!

So, my seven year old Leo was introduced to your project today, with this episode. At a point you loaded the subfloor bits into the bin. He sees this and says, “why don’t you take some of that garbage wood and build a ramp to get the wheel barrow into the bin?” So, I’m posting it here! Keep up the amazing project!

🌷Hi Jenna & Nick I saw the interview the two of you did on CBC Vancouver , you guys were great!!!! I hope they continue to check in on you from time to time. I wish you nothing but the best 🌷

Since you are filming, it makes it soooo easy for the city to watch and see any shortcuts or mistakes. It also makes a huge difference who you get for permit review and inspections. Some are easy to work with and others seem to make their own rules and will change what they tell you randomly. Super frustrating.

the city was fine with it for all those yrs, now it's a problem???? unbelievable, just a hiccup in the house renovation process.u guys r doing a fantastic job it's going to b outstanding! don't get discouraged

on the bright side of all this… your future livingroom view is absolutely INSANE now! a dream! mountains, pines, and ocean will be your forever view at the end of all this stress and hard work 🌞

I feel your frustration with the city’s permit system. Blah! Enjoying your renovating journey. Love how well you both work together!! ***As a person who took her knees for granted & am now paying the piper -- Here’s my two cents: Please take care of your knees. The knee pads are goofy, but really do help save your knees for when you are older and getting creaky. Also love your knitting, crocheting, creating videos😊

Well city, cat's out of the bag, you better get on it. Since publicized on CBC Vancouver ~ Me and perhaps many more are now invested in this project. Good luck with your permit and roof.

When manufactured homes are delivered, they often come wrapped with massive pieces of plastic (like 60 ft x 40 ft), and after they are unwrapped the plastic is often thrown out. One of those sheets might cover your entire roof [rooves?]. If you can reach out to any local companies that deliver manufactured homes, you might be able to score some of those large plastic sheets for free and use them as extra covering for your home until the permits go through. Best of luck with all of the next phases of the renovation!

I adore this couple. They are so sunny and supportive of each other with an incredible “can-do” attitude. The best. The very best.

my dads a contractor and always told me "its easier to ask for forgiveness than permission" when it comes to permits and dealing with the state lol. You guys did everything the right way so i cant imagine it coming back too harshly lol

I love how patient you are with eachother. It's really beautiful to watch. ❤

With the shortage of homes available, why does your city have such RIDICULOUS bureaucratic permit processes? I get that they want to ensure renovations are done safely and environmentally friendly, but to to put ‘stop work’ restrictions on this home which was in danger of collapse and rotting away is CRAZY. As this couple say, in order for architects and engineers to determine whether the structure is safe and to code, they need to see beneath the cosmetic surfaces. Every step of the cleanup has been documented, so there is no hiding anything. The same can not be said for many newer homes where shortcuts are done by contractors who are looking to build as fast and as cheap as possible.

My uncles bought a 1900s house that had a hideous non original barn/garage/log storage attached to it. They asked for permission to tear it down and expand the house but got told they could only renovate, no tearing down or building allowed. So they did, they "renovated" every brick they removed by putting a new one in its place, same with every roof tile. The new structure takes up the exact space as the old structure did but now it's actually well made and usable.

Thank you for documenting both your successes and failures as you go thru this process. I think it’s important to show both sides of the coin because some people may not realize how much goes into a project like what you took on. I remember when I was renovating a house in Vermont my contractor told me before he put the windows in to go to the town clerk and get a permit. I went down to the town clerk and she said as long as I’m not changing the outside footprint of the house I could do whatever I needed to without a permit. That included both window replacements and the roof! Vermont was one of those states where in some towns you could pretty much build a house without a permit and in others you’d need one to hang up a mailbox. On the flip side, my dad is renovating an old house in New Hampshire (he’s a retired engineer so it keeps him out of trouble) and he’s run into permitting issues himself so he completely understands your frustrations. He ended up making friends with contractors in the area who told him exactly what to write on his application to get the permits approved and that was super helpful. I mean, I get why different municipalities have different requirements for permits and stuff, but you also shouldn’t need doctorates in law, structural engineering, and landscape architecture to get a permit to replace your roof. Have you considered hiring a local attorney who specializes in real estate/land issues or a local contractor to help advise you on the permits? You’d still be able to do the work yourself but having that ally on your side might be beneficial since they’d know the nuances of the permit process so you don’t have to keep spending the money to just keep getting turned down.

Get your local media involved. Both T.V., newspaper and radio. The city will look silly to make you wait.

It looks like you guys never fight🫠 i mean.. i know social is not the whole truth but your energy to eachother is so chill, kind and supportive

With the mountains and mountains of magical mid century floordust that was pillowing up. I was screaming for you two to wear respirators

It's been more than two years and we are still waiting for the permits to fix our apartment. In the meantime I'm dying because I can't get any rest in my son's house. I told my son that I'm running out of time. 😢 Cities are crazy

From the city's perspective, if the house falls down and no one is in it, then it's just a financial issue that the owner has to take care of. If the house falls down and you're in there and the city allowed you to be in there, then they're at risk of liability. They're always going to fight the part where they could face liability. The challenge, of course, is getting through all the red tape to get to that point. Hopefully it's resolved now that you're getting some attention.

I waited 7 months for my permit to renovate my little bungalow in Vancouver to add another level... Most of the issues were regarding the drawings details and little silly dimensions between houses and overall heights and specifics about the living spaces. The permit gets sent through a few departments that don't speak to each other which is totally bass ackwards and takes forever :( Our architect was fabulous but the structural engineer was ridiculous and impossibly stubborn. Finding the balance between them and the city was what took most of time as well as me not knowing the tricks or loopholes to get the drawings approved to move to the next stage. I feel your frustration. Also, you have every right to get in there and demo some stuff prior to permits issued. It's common place to do so. Love the progress this far and don't get discouraged. it'll happen :)

Wild 😂 Of course you're sharing this. It's a huge part of reno. So many hurdles and red tape and set backs. It's very confusing for people, frustrating, and can be quite expensive. People have to know the full story so they don't think something like this is easy breeze. It takes a ton of hard work, a mountain of money, and insane patience.

I saw your media interview & realized you had been keeping Nicky's Engineering & reno experience from us, way to go on building suspense & making interesting content. Then the beginning of this video had me rofl when you said you threw the piano in the dumpster. Then I was so sad to hear the city gave you notice to "Stop Work." You two have busted your backs on this project. I so want to see you two get a win on this project. Successful videos, beautiful home, amazing career. I Iove it when people work hard & win! So in your interview, you said the Realtor had it listed as a "tear down." Do u think thats what the city is going to tell you to do? This is crazy. Best wishes to you kiddos!

Not all the way through, but for the love of all things holy and the safety of your persons, WEAR MASKS - ripping up all that flooring ... The dust, the pathogens, the eww, it's going to make you ill!!!

It took us 6 months before our city gave us the permit to replace the roof on our abandoned house and 9 months before they turned our water one - which they only did because the city had just lost a major lawsuit for illegal taxation on water usage and we were the least of the water department problems. We collected rainwater in kids paddling pools and fought raccoons for 6 months

The person doing the flooring was defiantly paid by the nail

I couldn't get myself to watch you work until I skipped to the end to make sure everything was ok 😭

The City needs to provide clear guidelines . Meet with them to discuss this. You are doing a great job !!

I think my favorite part of this series is just the positive mindsets you and him both maintain. You both work so well together, are so supportive and so good at communicating which is how a couple should be so hats of to you guys!! ❤️❤️ I love watching how well you both work together push eachother to be better❤️

When Nick changed into Jenna's green shirt, did anyone else get flashbacks to when Shaggy from Scooby-doo turned into a girl in the live action movie. It brightened my day 😂

Honestly Jenna right now the city's biggest problem is that the permit department look like a bunch of Morons. Morons don't like it when it is obvious that they are morons. Right now the head of the permit office in your town (which may or may not be Vancouver), has probably seen your videos and is realizing that your house is more complex than normal renovations. I am sure that you have both a structural engineer and an architect involved. it is possible that your architect is not the "right guy" but there needs to be a real conversation. The fact that the city told you that you are only allowed to "move furniture" is complete and utter horseshit, which confirms that the problem is deeper. good luck and don't give up. You did everything right, the truth is that for a structural engineer to draw plans he needed to see the structure...

when you discover you don't actually own your property. You're just renting from the municipality.

I stopped doing work in west van because of all the difficulties dealing with the planning department. Cool project and best of luck

01:03 🏚 The roof permit is delayed, causing frustration and uncertainty about the structural integrity of the house. 02:17 🛠 Pulling out a million nails from the floor and walls is a time-consuming task, adding to renovation woes. 03:09 🏠 A leaky part of the house has a sturdy floor, suggesting potential stability throughout. 05:42 🪓 Demolishing the entire structure for a fresh start is tempting but impractical due to time constraints. 06:02 🏞 Repurposing the existing floor as flooring to save costs is considered, highlighting a practical approach to renovation. 08:02 🚫 Lack of clarity from the city regarding renovation regulations adds frustration and hinders progress. 12:03 🛒 Neighbor's offer of a temporary power pole is a fortunate turn, easing a financial burden in the renovation process. 13:10 🥼 Utilizing gender-neutral workwear, like women's pants, for construction work demonstrates practicality and inclusivity. 17:02 🏚 Renovation complications escalate with structural issues discovered, leading to a halt in progress and uncertainty about the next steps.

Am I missing something? If you guys are working with licensed/bonded tradesmen to rebuild/rehab your roof, why is the city denying your permit? Don’t they want this structure stabilized? I don’t live in CA, but in the US, getting a permit with the local municipality is not this difficult. ALSO, isn’t this kind of an exigent issue - this is the structure’s roof!?

My favorite part, * Nick pulls up entire floor panel * Jenna: I pulled three nails 😂😂😂

I recently watched a political commentator’s video about regulations in Canada and I thought she was exaggerating. Watching this series I realize she wasn’t. Let me get this straight….so someone buys a derelict house, cleans up the yard, brings the house back to the studs….and they have to apply and get denied over and over to replace the roof? A roof that is 100% a safety hazard. And you can’t replace the floor in your own house. That is beyond ridiculous, why do you even need permits for renovating? If you respect the structural requirements and keep the general aspect of the house, this should be easily solved by an inspection to see the state of the house then an inspection to check the results. Or request a project manager to present documentation and pictures from the stages of renovation. I don’t get how the local councils function, do they actually do anything?

I will never understand why cities have to make it so dang difficult for people. I’m currently going through the same thing with permits. Like you would think they would be happy people are taking care of the eyesores and improving property values.

I helped my parents Reno a fixer upper and dealing with the bureaucracy of permits and inspectors was a nightmare. I can't imagine doing a full Reno on a property you are planning moving in asap and you buy it unlivable. If your reading this and your planning a project add a year to your timeline 😬

This situation with the city is soooooooo infuriating!!!! Virtual hugs to you guys, you're doing amazing work to preserve this beautiful house, we all (and your lovely neighbours, it seems!) are here rooting for you. I personally hope you find an engineer who just ROCKS and gets the paperwork going smoothly and safely

Your situation is so relatable to me, I did a small remodel on my business and also got shut down. Thankfully my brother is a general contractor and was able to help us with all the city stuff. Thank you for sharing this journey, it’s a delight to watch the process 😊

“GO NICKY GO NICKY GO NICKY”

Only time I have had to work with a building permit and municipal it was for my senior capstone for mechanical engineering and the project was backed by the mayor. We were helping get stuff ready for the nonprofit to apply for grants. So having the site analyzed and the initial paperwork filled out to be review by a liscenced engineer is really helpful for the grant applications. Everyone was so happy to help and gave us so much support it sucks that not every municipal and project is like that. I just wish people were not on vacation the week we need to get in contact with them.

I thoroughly am enjoying this renovation and the banter between you both ❤ excited to see the end but also excited for the journey! So glad I found ya all!!

I appreciate you & Nick sharing this journey you are on , there is nothing to b ashamed of, everything you have posted so far is great , love the explanation of things , Nick's fun facts, jenna ur attire, ur funny, things happen but will get resolved soon !! Wishing you the best !!

Working with an architect might help. They can get the right info sent in for permits and permissions. I've had my own issues working with regular builders who were not aware of all the building and planning permissions that my old house needs and I have had to learn stuff on my own. It kind of sucks.

It's been more than two years and we are still waiting for the permits to fix our apartment. In the meantime I'm dying because I can't get any rest in my son's house. I told my son that I'm running out of time. 😢 Cities are crazy!

I absolutely love that you guys are giving this old gem the sparkle it deserves! I know its a TON of work and I have no idea where you get the funds other than YT, but good for you both for doing it! That view is utterly SPECTACULAR!! This home will be unreal when you're done!

Watching the home reno is entertaining and all but I'm here for seeing your sweet little relationship evolve over time! Thank you for sharing!

Your channel is a hidden gem, glad I stumbled upon it!

an electric demo hammer with a big wide blade on it might make easier work of the subfloor and little nails

LOVE YOU GUYS THAT KEEP GOING THROUGH THICK OR THIN. LOVE THIS SERIES AND CAN'T WAIT TILL YOUR ABLE TO CONTINUE. I KNOW IT WILL GET GREAT, HAVE FAITH. WE ARE BEHIND YOU 100 PERCENT. HOPE YOUR DOGS ARE WELL.THANKS FOR SHARING AND STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY ❤️ 🙏

It's always nice hearing that a city is being nice and helpful when someone is trying to save a house that has been empty for years.

Wednesday is my new fav day of the week! Thanks for sharing the journey, you’re both awesome!

Off topic: where did you find a guy like Nick? Cute, great Handyman, supportive!… I wish everybody finds their own Nicky! ❤

I'm so sorry this is turning out to be so frustrating. I appreciate seeing all of the community here giving you ideas to help you with the city. I'm always excited to see you have a video up!

You guys are great. I am impressed at the amount of work you have done, and with the most basic of tools.

Ya'll need to make a roof top deck....that view is killer!!

I seriously need a playlist of the music that you use in your videos!

I Recently binge watched the whole series and Ive been impatiently waiting for a new part since, at this point I love your guys's house as much as you do 😂

Saw you on TV! So cool to be getting positive attention! Love following this journey with you both! The ups and the downs! Hope tomorrow is a much better day! 🥰

This series is an immediate watch 🤩 love how you're sharing all the highs and lows, keeping my fingers crossed for you

Sending you all the hope and strength you guys need ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

So sorry this is happening. I hope this all gets sorted out soon so you can really get started on the next phase. You all have worked so hard already and it would be nice if the city would acknowledge that and help move things along.

I just found your channel. I am now in love with it. As a red seal carpenter/ a site supervisor. I love how real your channel is and not fake. Keep it up. Working with the city is painful if you don’t have connections.

Just saw your news story on CBC! So nice! It will all work out in the end!

@JennaPhipps This is a great project to watch you both do! always look forward to seeing your video get released.

I think the news channel needs to do an investigative piece on why the city drags their feet so much to issue permits. Seems like some funny business going on there and it’s really disappointing to see you caught in the middle of it.

Shenanigans! You two have been through so much on this journey! I have been having a blast following along. Your city planners need to get with it! Such an amazing structure that needs to be preserved. Too much bad bureaucracy is holding you back - I will stay tuned to see how things go, but wish you the best of luck!

Yeah where we live you can’t do any remodeling unless you also agree to pay the power company to move their own electrical wires from the poles to an underground supply. There are all kinds of codes for earthquake safety refurbishment, sidewalk placement, and all sorts of things that have nothing to do with the INSIDE of an existing building that they require if you want to apply for any permit for your own property. It’s easier to demolish historical buildings than to try to work with codes to preserve them.

With the slanting of the roof you may want put up a support post going from the basement to the beam to give support while the city works out the permitting.

I was born in Vancouver and lived all over the lower mainland well half my life in Coquitlam. Vancouver building laws are tough from what I've heard so all I can say is good luck and I hope they come through eventually. I'm going to keep watching hope for the best for you.😊

You guys are so Optimistic. I Love the attitude. I agree that you should show every aspect of your journey. We are all learning from your experience. And I must say, "you are both perfect" in my eyes😊 Sending good Vibes so you can get your permit. ❤

Jenna you always makes me smile with your new videos😀😀😀

A roofing shovel will help take all that old plywood off of the subfloors! Choose one with grooves along the edge and it will pull nails also! 💚

You’re gonna be living in the most beautiful house it’s already incredible. Such an incredible space you’re so fortunate. You’re very hard-working people. I respect you immensely.

I LOVE watching this renovation! I’m here until the end with all the bumps in between! 👍😊👍

I said a couple videos ago that my friend, who flips houses, never gets permits when he's doing a remodel. He leaves the exterior as it was when he bought it, then goes in a tears everything out, similar to what you're doing here, and then builds it all back up. By the time he gets to the exterior, he has everything organized to do it as quickly as possible, typically in a few days. Then he sells the house without the city being any the wiser. He's even done a termite infested house that was in worse structural condition than this one. Tore out all the first floor joists, and every piece of lumber supporting the second floor, and replaced everything with brand new lumber, all without disturbing the exterior. He's flipped more than 50 houses, and only ever been caught once. He paid the fine, got the permits, and continued on. If he were to submit for permits, he wouldn't be able to make a living doing what he's doing. In fact, they almost certainly would have condemned that termite house, costing him a couple hundred thousand dollars, and wasting a bunch of perfectly fine lumber, bathroom fixtures, door knobs, flooring...ect, in the process (the second story was fine). The people at the permitting office are tyrants who wield life changing power with no due process available to the citizen. You want to know why housing costs are so high? Well, one of the biggest reasons is the cost just to get PERMISSION to build a home on your own land. In a lot of places in America and the rest of the West, if you don't have enough money to bribe local officials, or enough money to retain a lawyer who has political connections, or are famous enough to cause the political leadership societal headaches, you're shit out of luck. I suspect that in the end, you Jenna, will be able to overcome this hurdle rather quickly precisely due to your notoriety, but remember that the rest of the population would have been screwed had it been them.

i swaer this is why cities are crumbling. they make it impossible for our generation to even think about getting a house.

Oh Jenna!! I just looked through all your house shorts and you guys have come so far!!! It's brilliant! Keep at it, it's all gonna be worth it in the end... Can't wait. ❤

Challenges make the journey even more special! I hope you get what you need to continue and even if this is a hiccup right now, one day it will come to pass. Wishing you the best outcome for this 💖💖💖 love every single video!