For most people, discussions on energy efficiency are academic.  They only seriously think about it when paying their heating bills, when it is too late.

It’s during winter that energy inefficiency is most obvious.  In fact, the enormous icicles and ice barrages that accumulate on roofs are flagrant proof of heat loss and an inefficient use of energy.  I am always surprised to hear intelligent people say that this is typically normal for our Quebec winters – just like apple pie is American.  What nonsense!

At the beginning of winter, heat loss through the eaves or the attic keeps the roof surface warm.  As snow starts to accumulate, it stays, even on slanted roofs.  After awhile, snow becomes the insulation and traps the air. The colder it gets, the more we heat the house and the more heat we lose, the more the eaves and roof surface warm up.

Monster Icicles

One day, the roof surface temperature reaches 0 degrees Celsius and the snow next to it softens and melts.  This melting snow transforms into water which slides down towards the edges.  As water accumulates at the roof edges and rain gutters, the water freezes as it contacts outside air which is colder than the roof surface.  Over time, the result is the formation of spectacular icicles – some reach one storey and more!  The greater the heat loss is, the greater the thickness of the ice barrages behind the icicles and the greater the length of the icicles.

When there’s a major thaw and rain with temperatures reaching at least +6 degrees Celsius, even in the Laurentians, infiltrations begin.  Frequently though, these do not come from the roof as such, they occur horizontally, from the edges.

In fact, the weight of the accumulated ice in the gutters opens up a joint on the edge of the roof, on the ledge or in the soffit, and the water leaking under the accumulated snow and ice in the roof penetrates to the ceilings.  To the greatest surprise of homeowners, even when ceilings have a slight slope, infiltrations can manifest themselves a good distance from the exterior wall.

It’s Raining in my Bed

To my greatest disappointment, this is what my family lived through at the summer cottage of my in-laws in the Laurentians, following a successful surprise party given for André Fauteux, editor of La maison du 21ième siècle.  Water started dripping from the ceiling onto our beds in the middle of the night.

Unfortunately in such cases many homeowners mistakenly blame their roof while the origin of the problem is the house’s heat loss.

Roofers are called in by panicking homeowners, and repairs are scheduled, even if no one has determined what the real cause of the problem is.  Redoing a roof when it is not necessary is a very costly additional energy loss.

Certain customers have told me that they have had their roof completely redone two or three times in 10 years but the problem has not disappeared.  This is outright robbery by the roofers!

In fact, as unbelievable as it may seem, many Montreal eaves contain only from 0 to 4 inches of insulation.  (Note:  It is generally more advantageous to install from 12 to 14 inches for a thermal resistance of R-42 to R-49, if cellulose is used, it being the most economical insulation for attics.)
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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.

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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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