Increasing the efficiency of buildings and their use of energy, water, and materials, and reducing building impacts on human health and the environment, through better siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal — the complete building life cycle.

What to consider when designing a Green Building:

- The ideal site would be a Brownfield: abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contaminations.

- Conserve water and energy: limit the amount of resources required to operate a building. Installing a self-supporting filtration unit.
- Recycle construction materials: using recycle construction materials limits the amount of resources that must be disturbed. Obtaining locally or manufactured locally reduces the energy in shipping and transporting of these materials.

- Indoor air quality: limit the amount of materials in the building that contain Volatile Organic Compounds(VOC): Compounds that evaporate easily at room temperature and often have a sharp smell. They can come from many products, such as office equipment, adhesives, carpeting, upholstery, paints, solvents, and cleaning products.
- Beneficial Lanscaping: using different landscaping techniques to achieve a variety of benefits (e.g., decrease of maintenance costs, reduction of stormwater runoff, beautification of the landscape, preservation of endangered species) and using plants that require little or no pesticides etc.

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Rightfully considered as the biggest investment that a person makes in his or her lifetime, buying a house involves a number of equally crucial steps, and this is especially true for a new-home construction project.  

In the few lines that follow, we’ve tried to compile the 10 major steps that comprise a construction project, from the initial idea to final delivery.  Please feel free to keep, and if need be, refer to this reference tool, which we hope will further raise your appreciation of the intricacies that such a development project entails and how important it is to be able to rely on top-notch professionals to make this as positive an experience as possible.  

The steps

Pre-building

1. Select a location that is in tune with the family’s priorities

In recent years, the availability of lots (make sure that the lot is debt- and defect-free) and their cost have had a direct bearing on buyers’ decisions. Thus, choosing a lot according to family needs (school, daycare, work) and/or recreational activities (municipal pool, bike path, etc.) is essential.

2. Choose a lot that fits your needs

Depending on what you plan to do with your land (gardening, swimming, using the barbecue, or other), it’s important to choose a lot that is most likely to get the amount of sunlight you’re seeking at specific times of the day. 

3.  Research and negotiate with a lending institution

Every dream comes with a price attached, so before venturing any further, you need to meet with a financial institution or mortgage broker to clearly establish that your dreams don’t exceed your means. 

4.  Research a house plan tailored to your needs

Home needs (space, facilities…) vary from one person to the next. That’s why it’s paramount, during the initial house-hunting, to be able to rely on an extensive inventory of plans, and have the flexibility of being able to change them, if need be, while continuing to respect standards and aesthetics. This is exactly what Drummond Designs offers, affording the possibility, at minimal cost, of adapting a home to a person’s lifestyle, using the original plan designs.

5. Select the entrepreneur/contractor

The ties that connect you with your contractor go way beyond simply building your home. Actually, the enjoyment derived from talking things over with your contractor will be borne out in those first few years after delivery of the finished product. An entrepreneur’s intrinsic workmanship, meticulous attention to detail, availability, receptiveness, and history of after-sales service, are all key factors that might attest to the type of buyer-builder relationship one might expect to have. 

The work site

In the following section, you’ll find the main things to look out for as your new home is being built. This is not a comprehensive list, but it’s a good overview of the key stages.

6. Foundation and structure

- Drainage system (ground absorption capacity) 
- Height of foundation vs. the neighbour’s 
- Street level vs. yard entrance
- Foundation dimensions in accordance with the plan

7. Insulation, electricity and plumbing

- Insulation: ensure the house is well insulated, properly done in all places, check waterproofing of various materials, doors and windows

-  Electricity: check your needs (electrical outlets, exit lighting, switches, thermostats, telephones, TV…), vs. furniture arrangements

-  Plumbing: check to make sure that the selection of equipment and accessories corresponds to your original selection,
check on location of equipment installation such as hot water tank, furnace, central air system, the future bathroom in the   basement vs. your future plan of finishing off your basement. Also, check location of outside water outlet, garage

8. Finishings

- Quality of the joints, select the various paint colours and determine where you want each of these paint colours to go, pick out wallpaper and other finishings. Quality of molding installations, floor covering (selection, quality of the installation…), staircase. Make sure the inside doors open and close properly. Cupboards and vanities, adjusting the doors, etc…  
Post-construction

9. Final approval visit & signing the contract at the notary

Draw up a list of work that is unfinished or needs adjusting, submit this list in writing to the contractor. Make sure that all the work has been done to your satisfaction before making the final payment. Gather up all the maintenance manuals and/or warranties on the various equipment (heating, central air …)

10. Guarantees

To find out more about the responsibilities of the various parties involved (contractor, sub-contractors, manufacturers and others) we strongly suggest you inquire locally through any builder association that may exist in your region.

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