Kamp-C-Saga-Space-Architects

3-D printing has been hailed as a revolutionary technology that has the potential to transform many aspects of modern life, including construction. The concept of 3-D printing houses has gained a lot of attention in recent years, with many claiming that it is a game-changer for the construction industry. While there is no denying that 3-D printing has the potential to revolutionize construction, it is important to consider the potential faults and limitations of the technology. In this article, we will explore the reality of 3-D house printing and discuss the limitations of the technology.

What is 3-D house printing?

3-D printing in construction involves using a large printer that creates structures layer by layer. The process is similar to traditional 3-D printing, but on a much larger scale. The printer creates a model of the building in a digital format, and then uses a variety of materials to create the physical structure. The materials used in 3-D printing construction can include concrete, plastic, and even metal.

One of the main benefits of 3-D house printing is that it can be completed quickly and efficiently. The technology allows for the creation of complex structures in a matter of days, which is a significant improvement over traditional construction methods. Additionally, 3-D printing can be more environmentally friendly than traditional construction, as it produces less waste and uses fewer resources.

What are the faults of 3-D house printing?

While 3-D house printing has many potential benefits, it is important to consider the limitations and faults of the technology. Some of the main faults of 3-D house printing include the following:

1. Limited materials

One of the main limitations of 3-D printing in construction is the limited range of materials that can be used. While concrete is the most commonly used material in 3-D printing, it is not suitable for all types of construction. For example, concrete structures are not ideal for buildings in earthquake-prone areas, as they can be prone to cracking and collapsing under stress. Additionally, other materials that are commonly used in construction, such as wood and steel, cannot be printed using current 3-D printing technology.

2. Limited scalability

Another limitation of 3-D printing in construction is the limited scalability of the technology. While 3-D printing can be used to create small buildings quickly and efficiently, it is not yet capable of producing larger structures. This is because the technology is still relatively new, and there are technical limitations to how large a 3-D printer can be. Additionally, the cost of large-scale 3-D printing is currently prohibitively expensive for most construction projects.

3. Complexity of design

While 3-D printing can be used to create complex structures quickly and efficiently, it is not without its limitations. One of the main challenges of 3-D printing in construction is the complexity of the design process. Creating a 3-D model of a building requires significant expertise and resources, and mistakes can be costly. Additionally, the process of printing a 3-D structure can be time-consuming and prone to errors, which can add to the overall cost of the project.

4. Dependence on software

Another limitation of 3-D printing in construction is the dependence on software. Creating a 3-D model of a building requires specialized software and technical expertise, which can be expensive and time-consuming. Additionally, the software used in 3-D printing is constantly evolving, which means that construction companies must stay up-to-date with the latest technology in order to remain competitive.

5. Regulatory challenges

Finally, 3-D printing in construction is also subject to regulatory challenges. In many jurisdictions, there are strict regulations governing the use of 3-D printing in construction. These regulations can vary significantly from one jurisdiction to another, which can make it difficult for construction companies to operate in

The post Will 3-D House Printing Change The World? appeared first on Ontario Home Builders.

So, we charge $60.00 per hour for every man on the construction site, be it a foreman, knowledgeable framer, or just a labourer. With 10% overhead, 15% profit, and 13% HST, the total comes to $85.00.

Is that labourer worth $85.00 per hour?

If you asked that question, you are thinking more like a slave driver, rather than a business owner.

Imagine that you want to start siding, soffit, and fascia business. You’re just getting started, so you need a truck, a trailer, an eavestrough machine, and a bunch of tools, totaling $100.000.00, most of it used.

In the beginning, you get a job or two per month, hardly making ends meet, borrowing funds from whoever wants to give it to you. At times, you hire part-time help, that you pay in cash. As time goes by, you get better and acquire more and more business. At about 3 year mark, you start making money and paying yourself, providing you are an excellent businessman and an even better craftsman. 

However, you are working 18 hours per day, including weekends. After 8 hours per day of hard physical labour, 2-4 hours of driving to and from work, at least 2 hours of talking, visiting, and making phone calls to prospective clients, an hour of maintaining equipment, an hour of paperwork, etc., etc. Out of all those, only 8 hours are chargeable if you are lucky. 

Do we still think we are paying too much?

Let’s take it a little further. Since you are working too hard and can not keep up, you decide to hire a couple of guys. 

You have to hire them as full-time workers with a base pay of $25.00 per hour.  Of course, they want to be paid for those 2 hours spent driving in a truck with you. 

Already, to pay them, you’re having to charge customers a little more than their salary, about 14% more. 

In the meantime, you need another truck and a bunch of tools, so you buy them on credit.

Your guys take the old truck to go to work, and you get the new one. Of course, you have to pay for their insurance, gas, maintenance, and expenses. 

And there’s still more to consider. Since your guys are full-time employees, you need to have workman’s compensation insurance, in case they get injured on the job. It comes to 12% on their gross pay. You have to pay the employer’s contributions to social security, unemployment, and pension plan. Some of them, especially if they have children, ask for private health insurance. 

In October of 2018, Carpenter construction union wage rates, including selected pay supplements, ranged from $45.07 in Halifax, Nova Scotia to $59.43 in Toronto, Ontario.

It doesn’t stop there, though. You have to pay for a 1/2 sick day and one paid holiday per month to each worker. You have to pay a phone bill. You have to buy more and more tools. If you want to have a web site, you have to pay for that. You need a computer to track your inventory, do billing, and communicate with parts suppliers, so you get it. The software is another expense. You have business fees to pay, such as licensing. You have to pay taxes and do payroll, so you will spend a lot of money getting an accountant’s help.

You’re not directly selling any of these things, but they have to be paid for, so you have to factor them into the hourly wage you charge.

Do we still think we are paying too much?

A general rule of thumb used in human resources is that hiring someone actually costs about three times their take-home pay. 

… and that’s the answer to your question. The reason why construction companies charge more per hour than most people make in a day is that there are a lot of other costs that go into the running of a viable construction business. 

More discussion: Home Price Versus Lifetime Cost

The post Why do construction companies charge more per hour than some people earn in a day? appeared first on Ontario Home Builders.

Geothermal Heating

Why Geothermal Heat Pumps Attract Buyers

There are many factors that can influence a home’s value. Location, size, features, aesthetic, and condition of the home are all variables that buyers take into consideration when they’re trying to decide which home to purchase. Some factors are simply economical decisions, while others may be more subjective or even emotional. In that same vein, geothermal appeals to buyers for a number of reasons.

Sustainability & Eco-Friendliness

Relatively recently, green/sustainable features have become another factor that can influence a home’s value. Sustainability can not only act as a tie breaker between two similar properties, but it can also be something buyers actively pursue. More and more home buyers seek “green” homes or homes with “green” features simply out of a sense of duty or obligation — although that is not to say these buyers wouldn’t also enjoy saving money as a result.

Energy Efficiency

Geothermal HVAC systems can cut a home’s energy use by a significant amount. This is one of the easier selling points as it is one of the easiest to explain. Because they save homeowners hundreds or thousands of dollars over a period of many years, the presence of a geothermal heat pump on a property can compel buyers to make higher offers. For example, if a buyer believes there’s a reasonable opportunity save upwards of $10,000 over their decade-long residence in a home, they may be inclined to pay $5,000 more for a home with geothermal compared to an exact copy of that home with a traditional HVAC system.

Durability

Heat pumps are also long-lasting. Whereas an air conditioner lasts about 15 years, and a furnace lasts about 20, a geothermal heat pump lasts for 25 years while the ground loop can last as long as 50 years. Since the heat pump can serve as both an air conditioner and as a furnace, this means that a heat pump can potentially save a homeowner thousands of dollars over many decades on replacement HVAC appliances.

Novelty

There’s something attractive about an element of uniqueness to many buyers. Although geothermal is not really new, it’s not the most common home feature either. Just like a home with an interesting roof, unique architecture, or elegant entryway, some buyers may enjoy the prospect of “standing out” with geothermal. Their home may not be visibly different from the others in their neighborhood, but they’ve certainly obtained a good conversation starter when the topics of utilities or sustainability come up.

It’s also possible that a buyer may specifically look for homes with a geothermal system already installed and – in that case – they may be willing to make a very competitive offer.

Consider Every Variable

Making an informed decision means running all of the numbers. Even within the same neighborhood, some homes may be better suited to certain upgrades than others. It’s quite possible that monthly savings alone will make this upgrade “worth it” to homeowners. Every situation is unique and should be treated as such. Consulting with experienced professionals is a great first step.

The post ROI: Can Geothermal Boost a Home’s Value? appeared first on Ontario Home Builders.

 Building New Or Renovating – What Makes More Sense

What makes more sense? Building a new home or renovating an existing one? This is a question that homeowners and prospective homeowners often grapple with whenever they wish to upgrade their living standards.

Well, there isn’t a clear one-size-fits-all answer to this question because there are many factors that come into play when remodeling or building a new home. The best you can do when presented with this question is to consider each option separately and then see which one will work best for you. In this post, we will look at the differences between building a new home and renovating an old one in regards to 7 key factors.

1. Desired quality

How qualitative is your existing home? Is it structurally sound in terms of the electric wiring, plumbing and heating systems? What about the quality of the home’s workmanship: Do you find it unique to the extent that modern contractors cannot replicate? If you answered yes to any of the questions, then remodeling will work best for you. That will allow you to modernize it and still maintain its original uniqueness.

If your current home is in very bad shape and quality, then you may need to build a new one. Maybe the plumbing and heating systems are failing or outdated, the uniqueness it had initially seemed to be structurally off nowadays, or maybe you there is certain design specification that you desire, but the current home cannot be transformed exactly into that design.

2. Neighborhood

How do you like your current neighborhood? Have you developed strong emotional ties with your neighbors? What about your kids: Are they in love with their current school? Are you ready to find another church? The amenities in your current location; are you willing to leave them all behind? If you are skeptical about moving to a new neighborhood, then renovating your current home would be a good idea.

However, then there could be that your current neighborhood isn’t as appealing or maybe you have gotten a chance and the finances to move to a trendier neighborhood. In that case, building a new home would be more fulfilling.

3. Financial Considerations

What is your current home’s worth and how much will it cost to renovate it? After renovations, will it be worth as much as its current worth plus the renovation costs or will it cost lower/higher? If its worth will be higher, then renovating it would be a good Investment decision. If its value depreciates or stagnate, then renovations might end up being a total waste of money.
Can you qualify for a mortgage loan to finance a new home? Can your current home raise enough equity loan amount for renovations? Moreover, if you sell your old home today, how big will the real estate commissions be? All these factors put together will tell you which option will work best for your case.

4. Convenience

Renovating or building a new home will have their unique challenges that you must learn to live with, at least temporarily. In the part of renovations, you will have to spend a month or even five months with debris all over the place, noise, or even weeks of alternative accommodation. That’s all depending on the magnitude of renovations.
If you wish to demolish the current home and build a new one in its place, then you will be looking at six months of alternative accommodation or more. However, if you are planning to build on a different plot of land, then your life will continue undisturbed.

5. Available space

Renovating your house may limit you in terms of space. You can only either build out which means that your yard will shrink or build up which means that you will have local zoning laws to contend with. Also, remember that your house’ foundation may limit you when adding extra stories.

6. Wear and tear

Renovating your existing home means that you will retain most of its old infrastructure. A new home, on the other hand, comes with an entirely new infrastructure. All things being equal, wear and tear will necessitate repairs to your old house sooner than in a new house.

7. Technology

This goes without saying: Renovating your new home will deny you a chance of enjoying modern technology. Its bathroom, showers, kitchen, and even the overall house design may not have the space to accommodate new heating, lighting, and other vital technologies.

If you are thinking of building or renovating your existing home, please review our blog for more information on most of the things you will need along the way

The post Building or Renovating – What Makes More Sense? appeared first on Ontario Home Builders.

The average house price in Ontario is $578,000, a figure that has seen a negative 13% change over the last year, according to the Living In Canada website. While home prices across Canada have been steadily rising over the last decade, income levels have not increased at the same rate, making it harder for potential homeowners to finance home construction projects. Luckily, choosing to walk the bridging finance path can help to easily utilize opportunities that are time-bound. While it is a common option for homeowners looking to sell or buy a new home, it can also help you construct your dream house. With this option, you can get to build efficient homes while taking advantage of enticing building discounts. Here’s what you need to know about bridging finance and how it relates to the construction industry.

What Is A Bridge Loan?

A bridge loan is a short-term financing option that provides borrowers with funds to fulfill their construction or home buying goals before they can get a permanent solution. It tends to be fast, secure and flexible for times when you need a quick fund injection. By doing some quick calculations, you can get to decide which bridging loan works best for you. Once you find a permanent financing option, you can then pay up your loan and proceed to repay the permanent version.

Why Should You Consider It?

The average cost of building a home in Canada from the ground is $200 per square foot. This cost can be quite a daunting target for most homeowners. While there are instances where the construction can wait for a long time to get underway, other cases might demand that the construction work starts as soon as possible. For instance, if there is a time-limited discount on building material, then you might need to get a loan fast to utilize this opportunity. Unfortunately, the conventional mortgage system often takes too long to provide you with the needed finances. Bridging finance can provide you with an easily ready finance option within a short period. Additionally, most bridge loans lack repayment penalties. However, you will still need to maintain a good financial profile for both options.

What’s The Catch?

Generally speaking, traditional loans are less expensive than the bridge loans. In exchange for the convenience and short approval periods, the loans tend to come bundled with a high-interest rate. Since you will easily repay the loan with a permanent financing solution that has a lower interest rate, dealing with this disadvantage can be quite easy. Furthermore, the fact that most loans come without a contingency to sell as you buy or construct your new home can make you feel comfortable with using this financing option.

The post Should You Consider Bridging Finance For Your Home Construction? appeared first on Ontario Home Builders.