You’re about to build the home of your dreams?    Take advantage and give it a touch of blue to improve your comfort and quality of life.

Known for its comfort and effectiveness, natural gas is present in more than 200 residential projects in Quebec.  The advantages are numerous:

Wall to wall comfort

Not only is it energy, it is the peak of comfort and peace of mind you dream of.  The blue flame enlivens your home and adds a plus in each room: more heat, more pleasure, less work.

A reliable resource

Natural gas is delivered to you by continuous subterranean lines; you’ll never have to worry about the whims of Mother Nature for your deliveries.  And, in case of power failure, many appliances can still function.  Practical and reassuring, isn’t it?

Gaz Métro has different offers available to facilitate integration of the blue in your home.  Here is a glance of financial aid granted:

• $1750 for the purchase and installation of a hot air high-efficiency heating unit (Energy Star rated) and a water heater;
• $100 per outlet for each natural gas appliance, such as a range, dryer, fireplace, barbecue, pool warmer
• $30 for a programmable thermostat.

A friendly word of advice

The integration of natural gas into your new home should be done as soon as your choice of architectural plans is made.  From the beginning of your project, you should have a representative for new construction from Gaz Métro involved.  The consultant can guide you through the steps as your project advances.

Good to know

In order to integrate natural gas into your home, it is of utmost importance to choose a central heating system.  As you draw up your home plans, plan openings for heating and the location of the mechanical room in the basement.

Here is a glance of steps to follow for a blue home:

1. Access to gas lines:  The first step consists in ensuring that natural gas lines pass at less than 30 meters of your future home.  Contact Gaz Métro customer service at 1 800 567-1313 for more information.

2. Implicate Gaz Métro :  Your representative for new construction at Gaz Métro can refer you to a heating professional who is a Certified Gaz Métro Partner.  These professionals are independent contractors, members of the Corporation des maîtres mécaniciens en tuyauterie du Québec, and are subject to most rigorous quality controls.

3. Connecting your home:  Construction is coming along well, your heating system is installed and connection of gas lines to your appliances is complete (water heater, range, dryer, fireplace, barbecue, pool heater)  Expect about 6 weeks for Gaz Métro to proceed with connection of your home to the main gas lines.  Once this is completed, gas will be brought into your home by your Gaz Métro Authorized Partner jointly with a Gaz Métro technician.

All that is left to do is take advantage of the soft comfort provided by natural gas.  For more information, visit www.gazmetro.com

Read the rest of this entry (No Comments »)

When will my new house be ready?

Building a new home should be one of the most exciting times of your life.  It can also be one of the most nerve-wracking. New home construction can easily involve over 50 subcontractors and suppliers, 200 people and more than 10,000 pieces of material.  Although complex, the home building process is a carefully designed and managed process to ensure that you get the house of your dreams on time and on budget.

There are a number of factors that can influence a construction timeline such as weather, number of workers, special requests and the complexity of the design, but most new home constructions follow similar stages and time frames.

Here’s a basic timeframe to help you understand what typically happens and when.

STAGE 1: Site preparation

- Obtain municipal and provincial permits
- Begin site work and excavation
- Pour foundation or slab
- Frame floors
- Rough-in electrical and plumbing under floors
- Install first subfloor
Timeframe: 1-3 months

STAGE 2: Framing

- Frame interior and exterior walls including door and window openings, roof and ceilings
- Rough-in remaining electrical and plumbing lines throughout the structure
- Apply exterior wall and roof sheathing
- Install reaming subfloors
Timeframe: 2-3 months

STAGE 3: Exterior Finish and Inspection

- Inspect mechanical rough-in and exposed structural work
- Apply roof flashing and shingles
- Windows and exterior doors are installed
- Apply exterior trim
- Apply exterior wall finish material
Timeframe: 2 months

STAGE 4: Interior Finish

- Cabinets and countertops are installed
- Install ceramic tile in baths and other flooring throughout
- Complete plumbing and electrical work
- Complete sheetrock, paint and wallpaper
Timeframe: 2 months

STAGE 5: Finishing touches

- Install hardware and appliances
- Complete any landscaping
- Touch-up for final inspections by homeowner, contractor and building inspector
- Final payment to contractor
- Move in
Timeframe: 2 months

Read the rest of this entry (No Comments »)

When you’re thinking about building a new home it’s pretty easy to get caught up in thinking only about the sticks and bricks of the structure.  Many people overlook the fact that the lot you choose to build on can be just as important a factor in determining your future happiness as the home itself. Before you get too involved in the details of you house plan, it can pay to invest some time I finding the perfect lot.  There are a number of key questions that you can ask yourself to help determine what lot is right for you.

DO YOU ALREADY HAVE A HOMEPLAN?

If you already have your dream home planned, and you know the style and size, then it makes sense to look for a lot that will complement and maximize you design. If you don’t have a house plan yet, then you may want to search for the perfect lot and then design a home to fit.

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO LIVE?

Knowing in advance where you want to live will help you stay focused and avoid throwing lots that don’t meet your need into the mix.  If you are new to an area, find a knowledgeable real estate agent to help in your search.  You must also consider proximity to shopping, schools, churches, playgrounds, and work.  All of these factors influence property and resale value. Finally you should carefully research the value of other homes in the area. As a rule of thumb, you will want the value of your home and the lot to be approximately the same as others in the area.  Having too high or too low a value for the neighbourhood can make it more difficult to sell your home in the future. You should also take the time to check for area zoning restrictions or restrictive covenants that might limit your freedom to build the house you want.

IS THE LOT LARGE ENOUGH?

More than likely there will be some setbacks that will leave only a portion of the lot for the actual house.  How much back and front yard space do you want? Will there be a driveway? Will you be building a garage? These are all things that you must consider. Even if the garage might be a future addition, it’s smart to think about it now.  You will also want to check for any easements on the lot.  An easement is an area on the lot that is restricted from building.  Most easements are for utility line access.

WHAT IS THE TOPOGRAPHY LIKE?

A flat lot is much less expensive to prepare and build on, but a sloping lot can be much more scenic. You should also be wary of lots in low spots that may be prone to flooding. No matter what lot you are considering, take the time to visit it after a heavy rainfall to evaluate the drainage. Take the time to look for the sun direction as well. Many homeowners will orient their house to maximize natural light exposure. Don’t stop at what’s above ground either. The type of soil or rock under the ground can affect how easily you will be able to dig a foundation and how well it will support you home.  Bedrock is very expensive to dig through, while clay soils expand and contract which could cause cracks and leaky basements.

WHAT WILL YOU WANT IN THE FUTURE?

We will go through changes in our lives, and having a lot that gives you the flexibility to accommodate these changes is a big plus.  Whether it’s an addition to the family that requires an addition to the house, or maybe a new garage or swimming pool, you don’t want to find yourself somewhere down the road without sufficient space.

FINAL THOUGHT

It’s very difficult to find a lot that meets all of your criteria.  In many cases there are trade-offs to be made, so list your criteria in order of important. If you find yourself overwhelmed, you can seek the services of a landscape architect, surveyor or professional contractor to help you make the right decision.

Read the rest of this entry (No Comments »)

You’ve thought about it and now you’re doing it, you’re building your own home.  It is an exciting decision to make.  Being able to choose, plan and live in a dream for many, but now you are making that vision come true.

Are you stepping down this path for the first time? Like anything, the process can be tricky and there are many important details to consider as you get started.

Style of your new home

Have you decided on a style of home yet?  If you need inspiration, go to open houses or remember what you like about the design of you friends’ and neighbours’ homes. Make notes.  If there is an interesting detail or feature, write it down so that it doesn’t get forgotten during the excitement of building.

Where you will build is very important too.  If you already own the land you plan to build on, your opinions may be more open than if you are building in an established subdivision.  Many subdivision developers have restrictions called “covenants” which may force you to build a house of a certain size or style.  They may limit where you can choose to build your home, even what colour it is when finished.  These covenants are in place to assure that all the homes in the area are worth about the same and this will protect the value of your investment in later years.  Remember that this is an investment and even if this is your dream home, there may come a day that you will have to sell it.  Protecting help ensure its value in later years.

What to consider

There are a lot of other things to consider about the location of your new home.  Distance to shopping, schools and work have to be thought about.

Finding the right contractor is your next step.  A new home is likely your biggest investment.  Make sure you don’t rush into it.  It’s always a good idea to get at least three bids and remember the old adage, “If it is too good to be true, it probably is”.

To ensure that both you and your builder are satisfied with the work, make sure the details are spelled out in a written contract.  The time you spend at this stage will avoid any confusion later on.

With the internet and groups like your provincial Homebuilders Associations, reams of information is available to help your home. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation also offers useful information including valuable question and answer sheets.  Their website address is http://www.cmhc.ca.

Finding a good contractor

To find a good contractor, ask around.  Ask family, friends and associates about who has a reputation for doing good work.  Ask your contractor to supply the names of satisfied clients.  If he can’t, look to another contractor.

Not offering a warranty on their services,  poor workmanship and extra costs are all pitfalls on the path to feeling good about building you new home.  Remember not every contractor plays by the rules.  It is best, of course, to avoid these people.

The contractor will also be handling the scheduling of other trades such as electricians, insulation and drywall installers and any other specialists that may be required to complete the construction of your home.

Beyond choosing a good contractor, you will also need lawyer and a banker to handle legal matters and financing.  Finally, remember that many home builders are more concerned about structural integrity and the attractiveness of your home from the outside.  Remember that the interior should also be designed for practical concerns like – will all that furniture you already have fit? So if it’s not already clear, researching and planning before the first nail goes in is the key to making your new home a great castle to be enjoyed for years to come.

Read the rest of this entry (No Comments »)