What you need to know about roofing shingles If you’re buying a tract-built house, the chances are close to 100 per cent that the roof will be asphalt shingles, the most cost efficient roofing material currently available. The builder will ask you to pick one from a […]
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Imagine you’re having a new house built. Workers prepare the building site then a 6-metre tall crane-like gantry is brought in and installed on rails either side of the house. The machine rolls back and forth extruding fast-drying concrete and building up your house layer by layer. […]
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BY ANTHONY FUREY ,QMI AGENCY One of the most bizarre bans ever is gaining traction in cities across the country. A ban on doorknobs. First passed in Vancouver last November, now Halifax and Pickering, Ontario, are considering it. What could be the rationale behind this? What sort […]
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National Association of Home Builders’s consumer study, “What Do New Home Buyers Want,” takes a comprehensive look at what’s hot and what’s not among prospective home buyers. The 2013 survey was conducted at the tail end of a protracted housing recession that affected not only the number […]
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How to get home construction loans to build your custom home: A down payment of at least 5-10% of the total value of your building project will be required. If your building project (land and house) is projected to be $300,000 you will need a minimum down […]
Read more →Smartest Dog A structural engineer, an architect and a builder are all standing around arguing who has the smartest dog. The architect says “Watch this. CAD, come here!” And his dog takes a pile of dog bones and makes them into a beautiful building. The engineer then […]
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A new report from the National Association of Home Builders shows the costs of constructing a single-family home were much higher when compared to 2011, reaching $246,553 last year compared with just $184,125 in 2011. Much of this cost was due to an increase in the price […]
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The Home of Tomorrow — complete with helper bots and automated appliances — has long been the stuff of science fiction. The tech world is determined to make it a reality. Soon, the vision goes, everything from garden products to bathroom appliances will be controlled by the touch […]
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Warning! Failure to read a written agreement is not valid defense! A well-drafted construction contract clearly sets out the work to be done, the price to be paid for the work, and the terms and conditions of payment. The contract should also designate various foreseeable risks between […]
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For years, climate contrarians have pointed to snowfall and cold weather to question the scientific reality of human-induced climate change. Such misinformation obscures the work scientists are doing to figure out just how climate change is affecting weather patterns year-round. Understanding what scientists know about these effects […]
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It all starts with buying a building lot. Whether you long for the privacy a couple of acres in the country promises, or you’ve got your eye on a cute little residential lot in a subdivision, buying a lot and building a house on it is a dream for […]
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Finding the ideal house plan to meet your lifestyle and needs may seem time-consuming or overwhelming, but knowing what to look for can help lead you to success when building your new home. 19 Things You Must Know When Choosing House Plans 1. Aesthetics: Do you like […]
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Whether you’re remodeling your home or on the hunt for a new one, the cost of a solar system is on everyone’s radar these days. Installing a solar energy system can give your home that extra edge while saving you on monthly utility bills and curbing your […]
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Construction Lien Act In Ontario – Introduction Those involved in the construction industry are continually faced with financial risks not encountered in other commercial contexts. These financial risks stem from the fact that most construction work is carried out by different construction trades people who have no […]
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Straw-bale home construction is a building method that uses bales of straw (commonly: wheat, rice, rye, and oats straw) as structural elements, building insulation, or both. The first straw-bale structures we know of were built about a hundred years ago by European settlers in the Sand Hills of Nebraska. Having little other […]
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Post and Beam construction is a method of building homes with heavy timbers rather than dimensional lumber Where low energy running costs are matched by precise engineering quality and a new home doesn’t need to come at the expense of future generations. “Post and Beam” construction or […]
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Everything you need to know to create a warm, comfortable, attractive log home. Over the last 30 years, architects and designers have taken log cabin design to places our founding fathers could scarcely imagine. Yesterday’s one-room cabins have become full-fledged homes—even castles—sought out by do-it-yourselfers and boardroom […]
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Insuring Your Home While Being Built – Construction Insurance Even though insuring a home while it is under construction or being built is not directed by any laws, it is a must, especially if you finance all or a part of construction costs. So, what type of […]
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At the beginning, we have to state that only a small percentage of contractors are bad apples. Those who are will cost you large in time and money. Fortunately, scammers and con artists are pretty easy to spot as long as your desire to save money doesn’t […]
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How much will my dream home cost – What you need to know about a cost of homebuilding: If you are considering having a custom home built, the following information will help you get an idea of the home building cost exclusive of land. There are many […]
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Buying a House With a Well and Septic System: A Comprehensive Guide Ah, the charm of rural living! Rolling fields, serene silence, and enough fresh air to make city dwellers green with envy. But life away from urban utilities comes with its quirks, notably wells and […]
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By Leigha Dickens When we talk about energy efficient building, everyone wants to know about the R-value. “R-value” (that’s the inverse of the BTUs of heat transferred per hour per across a square foot of surface area per difference in temperature, in degrees Fahrenheit, on either side of […]
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Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) represents another choice for builders seeking alternatives for R-30 (or higher) walls for single and multifamily construction. Although a substantially different system than the more typical ICF construction methods, SIPs can achieve equally impressive results cost-effectively if the nature of the product, its […]
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Title: Energy-Efficient Homes: Your Guide to Saving the Planet (and Your Wallet) Without Living in a Cardboard Box “Design energy efficiency into your home at the start, and the benefits will pay off for years to come.” Ah, the wisdom of yesteryear. Back when “energy-efficient home” meant […]
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1. How do residential wind turbines work? A wind turbine, which is installed on top of a tall tower, collects kinetic energy from the wind and converts it to electricity that is compatible with a home’s electrical system. In a standard residential application, a home is served […]
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