After we survived the coldest and the longest winter in recent history, we’re all glad that it’s finally finished, and there is relief from bitter temperatures and the high cost of heating our homes. The awful news in Ontario is that the Ontario Energy Board upholds big […]
Read more →Having a custom home built for your next property is a significant investment in time and expense, so it’s important that you have it designed to specifications that fit not only your lifestyle but on-going needs too. If you’ve never had a home built before, the decision […]
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As the busiest homebuying season of the year gets under way, potential buyers are poised to get off the sidelines and enter the market. According to Chase’s national survey “Insights: From the Mind of the Homebuyer”, potential home buyers say they aren’t concerned about navigating the home-buying […]
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Purchasing a new home takes a major commitment; especially when you’re trying to finance the home as cheaply as possible. Banks and lenders seem to be all over the board when it comes to interest rates and amortization periods – making your decision a tough one. Fortunately, […]
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Flying Cars or No Flying Cars, the Future Needs Energy Efficient Homes Our planet will be a very different place in the coming years. By 2050, Earth will be home to another 3 billion people, of which 70% will live in cities. Although many things about the […]
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With energy and utility costs expecting to rise in the next few years, investing in environmentally friendly products can help you save energy, water—and perhaps most importantly, money. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of products that will help you live green. Energy Efficient […]
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Home Automation – What’s Next? While it was something, once seen, in science fiction movies and futuristic films, home automation (also known as SMART homes) are becoming an increasing trend as technology makes a greater push into society. With an increasing prevalence in a modern home building, smart […]
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Deciding to hire a custom home builder in Toronto is a major investment of time and energy. After all, you’re entrusting a company to design, create and build a home specifically tailored to your wants and needs – it shouldn’t be a brash or rushed decision. With […]
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Having a custom kitchen is an ideal solution for anyone wanting to create a functional, practical space with current modern kitchen design trends. Although every kitchen should have the unique characteristics, a homeowner brings to space, following these to 10 trends can help you optimize your space […]
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If you’re purchasing a home from a new home builder, it’s important to consider which, if any, upgrades you’d like to have installed by your builder. While it’s important to create the home of your dreams, it’s also important to consider the resale value of you upgrades […]
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Planning to purchase a lot to build a home in Ontario? Before you do anything else, check if a public sewer system is available? If not, you will need a septic system to treat and dispose of sewage from the home you plan to build. What type of […]
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The builder who offers the biggest house for the lowest cost has most likely compromised quality at every step of the construction process. The problems manifest later. Faulty foundations, moisture intrusion, and shoddy framing are often at the root of problems, which show themselves as gaping cracks, […]
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Closed Cell vs Open Cell Foam Insulation Before we can go into that we need to start by saying that in the foam insulation industry there are usually two types of foam insulation being used, open-cell and closed-cell. There are several major differences between the two types, […]
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Looking to relocate to a peaceful, scenic area away from city living? If this sounds appealing, consider Tiny Township as your new location. Tiny Township is located on the peninsula that separates Severn Sound and Nottawasaga Bay at the south end of Georgian Bay. It extends southward into the […]
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Many people in Ontario will buy a home or a piece of land at some point in their life. This is one of the biggest decisions anyone makes. It entails spending a lot of money and for decades making payments on a mortgage. Therefore, before you make any decisions, […]
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Here at ICFhome.ca, we love a good plumbing joke. Plumbing is the only game where a good flush beats a full house every time! So, every year we compile a list of some of our favorite bits of plumbing related humor and funny pictures to share with […]
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We have never met a client looking for an average home builder. Choosing the best home builder for your needs and for the kind of home you are after, is one of the most critical decisions you’ll make in your home building process. While some custom builders construct […]
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The most expensive house in Canada isn’t in Vancouver. It isn’t even in Toronto. It’s on the outskirts of Calgary: Property values are going up in the ultra-luxury market. Of the 20 Most Expensive Homes In The World owned by members of the Forbes Billionaires List, only […]
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A Special Place in the Home Fireplaces have long held a special place in the hearts of Canadians. At one time an essential source of heat for warmth and cooking, they remain a gathering spot for family and friends, a symbol of romanticism and comfort, and visually […]
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You did not take me seriously when I told you to watch the humidity in your new home! I am really mad! In the recent month, I received 3 phone calls from my last year’s clients about their homes. The floor boards are splitting and the drywall […]
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“How To Build A Home Without Going Broke” Whether you’re hiring a Builder, or a General Contractor, using a Construction Consultant or managing your job as an Owner-Builder, you can use the resources presented to you here to get the home you want. Once in a while, […]
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Welcome to your brand new ICFhome.ca dream house. Model: Ravenswood – For virtual tour and the price click here! This is the perfect three bedroom, two bathrooms, single level home design, offering 1839 square feet of luxurious living space. For sale in Georgian Bay: The home design […]
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Most builders, especially mass production builders, build to the Ontario Building Code standards only; meaning that they build to the minimum acceptable standards, equating to more profits for them. In Supplementary Standard SB-12 Energy Efficiency For Housing, March 15, 2013, update, you can see those rules up to date. If, […]
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When building with Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs), foundation forms remain in place and provide insulation on each side of the concrete. The foundation of every building is fundamental in the transfer of all loads throughout a building into the ground. In areas where earthquakes and high winds are […]
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Current trends indicate that, in 2015, new homes will be smaller, greener and more casual. At the end of 2014, NAHB Research Centre conducted a survey online in two phases. The first phase used screening questions to identify recent home buyers, who purchased a home in the […]
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