History of In-Floor Heating In-floor heating, also called radiant floor heating, has been used for centuries. The Romans channelled hot air under the floors of their villas. The Koreans directed hot flue gases under their floors before venting them up the chimney. In the 1930s, architect Frank […]
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Canadian federal government has adopted a national standard for lighting efficiency that came into effect in 2014. Most, if not all conventional, incandescent light bulbs do not meet the required performance level. The objective was to make sure that more efficient bulbs such as Compact Fluorescent Light […]
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A fireplace will probably be a consideration as you plan your new home. The decision to include a fireplace involves lifestyle, room appeal, and the expected value it will add. Fireplaces vary greatly in efficiency. Some wood and gas log fireplaces operate at very low efficiencies while […]
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We love new floor plans, and we know you do too! Take a look at the Woodlands, 1971 square feet floor plan and drool over this 3-bedroom oasis with 1971 square feet of functional space. It is our latest “Floor Plan of the Month”. PLAN DESCRIPTION This […]
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The price you pay for your homeowners insurance can vary by hundreds of dollars, depending on the insurance company you buy your policy from. Here are some things to consider when buying homeowners insurance. 1. Shop Around It’ll take some time but could save you a good […]
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Tiny Beaches Enclave by ICFhome.ca offers a country setting to call home within the rural hamlet of Lafontaine, Ontario. There are six custom estate homes available (one is already sold), all of which are nestled next to beautiful beaches of Georgian Bay. For those who are already […]
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By Tim Smith Do you remember driving past potential properties for sale and cringing at one or two that looked just awful from the outside? As a previous homebuyer, you know what makes the grade when pulling into a driveway. Now as a homeowner, you need to […]
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Land Transfer Tax Calculator Land transfer tax (LTT) is often overlooked when looking at the total cost of buying a home. All provinces have a land transfer tax, except Alberta and Saskatchewan, who instead collect a much smaller transfer fee. When you buy land or an interest […]
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What is the Construction Lien Act The concept of a lien goes back to medieval times when it initially applied to ships. In North America, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison came up with the idea of applying claims to buildings. The idea was to encourage builders and […]
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The cost to power and heat our homes is something many Ontario residents pay close attention to. The colder-than-normal winter and news reports about rising Ontario Hydro rates have made energy costs a top of mind issue in the province. People want to know why their bills […]
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Deciding on individual specifications within a custom home build is based on personal choice and preference, however; there are quite a few specifications that most, if not all, homeowners universally want – regardless of family size or status. To help you understand which items should be on […]
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As reported by CBC News, an elderly woman battling cancer learned recently that the standard practice isn’t always common knowledge in the home insurance business. (CBC News article “Cancer patient’s home not covered for flood damage because she was away for treatment – Apr 20, 2015). As revealed by […]
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3 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms | 2-Car Garage | Timeless Elegance & Modern Comfort If this home looks familiar, it’s because you’ve likely seen its beautifully crafted design in some of Southern Ontario’s most desirable neighborhoods. Springwood is a stunning 1,592 sq. ft. bungalow that strikes the […]
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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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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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