In recent years, the residential construction industry has undergone an unprecedented growth, and it’s noteworthy that the province of Quebec has contributed more than ever to the record construction surge.

The relentless pace, which month after month continues to confound the experts, will, sooner or later, experience an inevitable slowdown. There are some very simple reasons why this will eventually occur: the rise in the cost of labour and building materials, combined with the gradual hike in mortgage rates will prompt people in this activity sector to reconsider their strategy.   

While the phenomenon is still in its infancy stage, it’s been happening for the last few months from a Canadian standpoint. It’s the direct result of housing prices, which, since the beginning of the new millennium, have spiralled, often beyond 50%. Some people see that as nothing but a good thing, even though the real-estate value of their home is practically wiped out by the proportional increase in costs of buying or building a new house.   

A growing number of home owners, however, prefer renovating their home,  financing the work through the equity that has been built up in their property.  Consequently, they avoid having to pull up stakes to go and live in a residential area that is likely to take a decade to mature from an urban development aspect. 

There are myriad reasons for sake-of-change renovation, as opposed to a straightforward move into another home. Usually, the decision is made once the children have left the family nest. Then it’s a matter of re-appropriating space, with practicality and comfort of the occupants in mind, by enlarging the living room or bathroom to set up your own peaceful oasis, by adding on a solarium or by finishing off a spare room above the garage.  

As residential designers, our knowledge of the housing sector and the need to oversee each of the stages one goes through in bringing a project to fruition has led us, more and more, to contribute not only to the development of plans to carry out the work, but also to play an active consulting role, thereby providing support service throughout the project, if need be.

All the more true, the renovation projects are becoming more sophisticated and expensive as lands and properties value are increasing.

It is no longer uncommon today, to turn a bungalow into a cottage and double the floor space of a home in order to maximize the value of a property located in an area in demand or on the edge of a water-course, for example. This type of transformation, we understand, requests an excellent planning for future use of space.  This is the task that is increasing more and more the workload for designers and creators specialized in residential construction.

If we add other determining factors such as the scarcity of land and urban sprawl, it is likely that the decline in starts of new homes will be largely offset by the major renovation projects in the next following months.

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It is our pleasure to welcome you on our new Drummond Designs.com Weblog.

Conscious of the increasing need of our customers wanting a rapid access to an accurate and exact information on construction, Drummond Designs is proud to offer you this opportunity.

Drummond Designs has always been an innovative leader in its architectural firm and wishes that this new weblog will be a reference in the construction business in addition to arouse plenty of reactions and comments that will be shared with millions of our daily visitors.

You will find interesting articles linked to construction and design that will guide you in your steps towards construction, renovation or simply learn more about this field of work.

The construction business has increased phenomenally in the last years and this increase has caused many revolutions as much on the point of view of regulations, new methods and new materials provided.  Going green!  is only one of the subjects that has great influence at the moment on all aspects of the construction business.

Because of the price increase on of certain materials the industry has developed less expensive durable materials and new methods of labor.  The same thing is applicable in the energy cost which forces the owners to become aware of the maintenance cost of the home.

The styles and trends are also subjects that affect greatly our construction industry, from the concept of new architectural styles to the smallest finishing details and decorations.

Here is an outline of subjects that we want to share with you, if you have a building project, a renovation project or just fascinated by the architecture and residential construction just like we do at Drummond Designs.

We wish you very pleasant reading and wonderful discoveries!
 

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