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Archive for the 'Building materials' Category
By Yves Carignan
In its May/June issue, Home Builder Magazine, the official magazine of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association did an interesting report about the evolution of house plans in Canada. Judy Penz Sheluk contacted us to get our opinion about the stock plan industry and the emergence of house plans web sites. You can read the entire article by clicking here.
Marie-France Roger, my partner, was the one interviewed by Mrs. Sheluk and explained that Stock House plans can be sold as is or modified to suit the customer’s needs. We can even do a compelete custom project, on-line, by exchanging information with the customer / Builder.
Some designer, like Mrs. Jane Cameron from Life Home Design, think that people can not be 100% satisfied with a stock plan… Over the years more than 110 000 people can argue with that because it is the total number of stock plan we sold in the past 35 years ! However, a stock plan company must be able to do some modifications to their plans to make sure that we can serve all types of customers and this is what we do.
In the past, people who wanted to do some modifications or get a full custom design had to meet with a local designer to get a complete set of plans. Today, we can all do it on line (we do more than 500 modified / custom house plans per year without meeting direct with the customer!) and tailor a complete design to the customer needs and then, by also contacting local engineers and/or architect during the project to complete the plans and meet the local regulations. Customer saves time and money. Our costs are about 1 to 3% of the total cost to build. Get a quote right here !
If you go to a local designer with some images of a stock plans, make sure that the designer gets the copyright licencees from the original designer and work legally on your project because those plans are potected by our Canadian Copyright law. The original designer has the total right to sue you and your designer… Don’t get in trouble and work legally!
Drummond House Plans has some programs for local designers / drafters who would like to modifiy a plan based on our design; it is simple, quick and not expensive ! Click here for more information.
Special thanks to Mrs. Sheluk and to Charlie Blore, Editor of Home Builder Magazine.
Read the rest of this entry (No Comments »)By Yves Carignan
A few days ago, I got and e-mail from a friend in Alabama, Architect Bob Chatham from Chantham Design Group, who featured in a very interesting TV episode from Dany Lipford.
The video will explain you the details of a green house and also how you can be greener in your existing home !
Congratulations to Bob who designed the featured house of this video. The Fairhope Green Home Project is the first house in the state to receive Gold Certification from the National Association of Home Builders Green Building Program.
Remember one thing if you build green, this type of construction is a real team work !
Enjoy !
By Yves Carignan
You’ve thought about it for so long and now, you are close to start building your home ! What an exciting decision but are you ready ? Are you stepping down this path for the firts time ? Nervous ?!…
Like any process, building his home can be tricky and there are many important details to consider as you get started. Have you decided on a style of home yet ? There are many styles as American, Bungalow, Cottage, Country, Crafstman, and many more. Try to find the style of a friend’s or a neighbour’s home that you like and you will probably find what you like. Write down or draw the details you like and and keep it in a file; once you will meet an architect or any plan designer, you not forget anything. Browse the Internet and you will maybe find the home of your dream through a Stock Plan Collection, or you can do some modifications of a stock plan through the original designer or do a complete Custom plan.
Where you build is very important too. If you already own the land you plan to build on, your options will be more open than if you are building in an established subdivision. One thing very important though; make sure you have your land before buying the plan. Some people bought some plans and bought the land after… They noticed that the home they dreamed of can not be built on the land they bought !
If you buy a land in a subdivision, make sure you know very well all the restrictions and limits from the developer. 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 the future. Always remeber that a house is an investment that you have to protect and, even if you do not think about it now, you may want to sell it some day ! Protect it !
There are a lot of things to consider about the location of your new home: Distance to shopping, Schools, work have to be thought about.
Finding the right contractor is your next step. Talk to some friends or relatives about their experiences and make sure, when you have identified the right contractor that you get at least 3 bids plus the names of satisfied customers you can contact. Always remember the old adage: “If it is too good to be true, it problably 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 and on the plan stage will avoid any confusion later on.
With the internet and groups like the Canadian Home Builder Association and your provincial groups, reams of information is available to help plan your home. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation also offers useful information including valuable question and answer sheets.
Beyond choosing a good contractor, you will also need a lawyer and a banker to handle legal matters and financing. Finally, remember that some 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 the furnitures you already have fit ? Do not hesitate to contact an interior designer before starting to build; they will help you to maximise your living space and avoid mistakes you will see once you live in your home !
Want to build green ? Many links like LEED and Built Green can surely help you.
Enjoy !
this post was based on an article from the Cottage and Home Plans magazine provided by Tim-Br Mart. Some information was also supplied by CMHC and CHBA.
By Marie-France Roger
Filed under: Building materials, Cabana Plans, Detached garage designs, Garage, Garage Plans with Apartment, Garden Shed Plans, Mother-in-law Suites, Outdoor Storage Solutions, Playhouse Plans, Project, Project Plans, Shed Plans, Small Project Plans, Storage Solutions, garage designs, garage plans
Store your bicycles, garden tools, recreational toys & other seasonal necessities like snow blowers and swimming pool gear in the creative NEW shed plans that Drummond House Plans‘ has planned. Saving space and making room, either way you look at it, this Drummond designs’ collection of sheds is dedicated to providing you with storage solutions.
Shed Plan 2963-16 by www.DrummondHousePlans.com
To get a custom shed plan or a playhouse plan to match your existing or future house, please contact Drummond House Plans’ customization department or call 1-800-567-5267.
If you are looking for a larger storage solution, visit our detached garage designs collection.
Garage Plan 3981 by www.DrummondHousePlans.com
For those who are searching for extra space for your in-laws, review our garage plans with apartment collection.
Garage Plan with Apartment / Mother-in-law Suite (Plan 3935) by www.DrummondHousePlans.com
By Richard Martin - BC Distributor
This morning, I awoke to the wonderful sound of tree frogs croaking in the forest beside our home. At last spring appears to have truly sprung here on Vancouver Island!
As I sat listening to the frogs doing frog things, my mind began to wander to all of the spring things on my “honey do” list. I was brought back to reality when a rather loud croak occurred from what sounded like inches away from my head. I looked over and to my astonishment a very small, but vocal, tree frog sat perched on the fig tree by our now open patio door. Hmm… one of the items on my list was fixing an errant downspout. Somehow, it felt like there had to be a connection here.
In areas like Vancouver Island, rain is bountiful until the summer heat and then it can be surprisingly dry on our “Wet Coast”. Collecting and reusing rainwater can equal dollars and sense. Having your own natural reservoir can reduce water bills and storm sewer charges, alleviate demand on local water supplies and bypass strict watering schedules.
While planning to build any home, and more particularly one where reliable water supply may be an issue, it is a good idea to look at the logistics of water harvesting. A publication of particular value may be the Rainwater Harvesting Frequently Asked Questions, a project of the Islands Trust Fund. This publication targets an area where water collection has become a heated and urgent topic.
Whether you have a dependable water source or not, rainwater is better for your landscape than treated water as it is rich in nutrients, will reduce fertilizer requirements, and does not contain chemicals.
There are many ready-to-use collection options and rainbarrels available. At one of the recent Home Shows we participated in in the Comox Valley, we were introduced to the RainXchange Rainwater Harvest Systems. It is an intriguing rainwater collection system that integrates discreet, scaleable, and flexible rainwater storage with a circulating/filtering system and water feature. Of course there are also a number of innovative DIY solutions which abound on sites like YouTube. (Some of them are quite amusing!)
Regardless of the option you choose, remember to store your water safely. Be sure that children cannot access your storage vessel, ensure that you filter any debris from getting in and fouling your water, and make sure you screen the intake to prevent mosquito breeding. One final safety note… make sure you have an overflow plan. A 2000 sq. ft. roof generates 1,250 gallons of water for every inch of rainfall! A tiny rainbarrel will overflow in no time!
Speaking of showers, it is time to get Kermit out of the house and back where he belongs! We have a nice rain falling and his friends are calling.
By Marie-France Roger
Filed under: Baby boomers, Building materials, Custom Home Design Services, Designer, Home Addition House Plans, Home Elevator, Home plans, House Plan Customization, House Plan Sale, House plans, Multigenerational House Plans, Remodelling, Renovation, Wheelchair Accessible
In order to answer the increasing requests from the population, Drummond House Plans has decided to re-design three of its top-selling home designs, to incorporate an elevator.
In fact, it involves three very popular house plans: a Country style design, a charming European home and a luxury European mansion, already in existence here. Modifications have been made to these homes in order to integrate an elevator in each one of them.
There are many reasons why our customers are looking for houses with elevators. Among other things, we find baby-boomers or the elderly with reduced mobility but are otherwise completely self-sufficient, as well as families where one family member has reduced mobility.
Home Elevator by www.universalelevator.com
Last January, during our annual meeting of Drummond House Plan Agencies, we had the opportunity to have as a guest, the Savaria Concord company.
They specialize in finding accessibility solutions in North America. Amongst these solutions were stair chair lifts, platforms as well as elevators themselves. Able to modify plans from its collection, Drummond House Plans also specializes in the exclusive concept of plans for new homes according to your needs as well as renovation plans and home addition designs for your existing home, among others, integrating an elevator!
By Yves Carignan
Fridays are not always the same… This one, is a particular “positive Friday” ! Since I was very busy and out of the office most of the week, I decided to go through my e-mails and found this one who really made my day !
“Dear Mr. Girouard (Dan Girouard is our production manager),
I would like to express my thanks for the efforts Johnny Graziani did on changing our house plans.
While the modifications to our plans were not much out of the ordinary, we ran into some unexpected administrative discussions with our town in getting the needed permits. This required additional modifications to the plans with a very quick turnaround time. Johnny made sure that he understood our needs, worked within the limitations of his staff and assisted us in getting preliminary versions of the needed changes so we could work with the town as quickly as possible. Johnny could easily just told us that his schedule was fixed and we would have to wait until his team could complete the work efforts. But instead, he worked with me to understand what the minimum we needed was and how he might be able to get this done quickly.
It was truly a pleasure working with Johnny and the resulting plans match our needs perfectly. I hope all the people in your organization are as pleasant as Johnny to work with.
Kind Regards / Viele Grüße,
Thomas Voshell
Director Industry Solutions
Constituent Services
SAP Labs
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004 USA
www.sap.com “
We can get recognition from our industry partners but nothing matches that kind of comments to me ! Thanks for your e-mail Mr. Voshell and I want to congratulate our modification team, Johnny, and Dan who does a great job managing all the production team.
To answer your question, Mr. Voshell, I am sure all the people in our organization are as pleasant as Johnny !… Except myself, sometimes !!! ;o)
Have a great week-end everyone !
By Marie-France Roger
Filed under: British Colombia, Builder House Plans, Building materials, Canadian House Plans, Customer Service, Home Expo, Home Shows, House Designers, House Plan Sale, House plans, Housing, Multi-family house plans, Municipality, New-Brunswick, Professionals, Regional Drummond House Plan Agencies, Renovation, Residential
Dear future homeowners, home builders, home renovation builders,
Come and meet Drummond House Plans‘ residential design expert Mr. Richard Martin, at these 2009 Home Shows in British Colombia, Canada:
March 27-29: Comox Valley Spring Home Expo, Sports Center
April 3-5: Tri-City Spring Home Expo, Port Moody Arena
April 17-19: Victoria Spring Home Expo, Juan de Fuca Recreation Center
April 24-26: Langley Spring Home Expo, George Preston Recreation Center
May 1-3: Campbell River Spring Home Expo, Strathcona Gardens Arena
May 8-10: Powell River Spring Expo, Recreation Complex Arena
Drummond House Plans - Home Expo
Drummond House Plans will also be attending these great home shows in New-Brunswick, Canada:
March 20-22: The 2009 Moncton Home Show, Moncton Coliseum. Come and meet Mr. Denis Cormier from the new Drummond House Plan Agency in Moncton.
April 24-26: Salon de l’Habitation Richelieu d’Edmundston, au Palladium. Come and meet Mr. Daniel Lepage and Mrs. Annie Lajoie from our new Drummond House Plan Agency in Edmundston.
We’ll see you there! And until then… take a minute to have a look at our new website: www.drummondhouseplans.com and give us your comments! Take advantage of our free house plan search! Send us your criterias, and we’ll get back to you with a plan selection that will meet your requirements! Send your request to: searchrequest@drummondhouseplans.com and if you place your order before April 30, 2009, you’ll get 20% discount on your plan purchase!
By Marie-France Roger
Filed under: Blended Family House Plans, Budget, Building materials, Country Style Homes, Custom Home Design Services, Duplex, Extended family house designs, Home plans, Investment, Multi-family, Multi-family house plans, Multigenerational House Plans, Residential, Semi-detached homes, Townhouses, Triplex, bi-generation
For family reasons (keeping the family together without sacrificing independance) or for economical reasons, you might be thinking of investing in a multi-family construction and build a townhouse or a semi-detached homes, a duplex, a triplex, a multi-family building (4 or more units), or simply a home with a basement apartment with a separate entrance.
Below, I will share with you my favorite Drummond ready-to-build Duplex House Plan, Triplex House Plan, TownHouses (Semi-Detached Home Plan) and a House with a basement apartment. However, click on the link above to access the entire collections, depending on what you are looking for or directly on the house below to see my favorite multi-family picks! If you have something specific in mind or haven’t found the ideal multi-unit design yet, contact Drummond’s Custom Design Dpt. to get your FREE house plan cost estimate.
Drummond 4-units Multi-family plans no. 3006 which ia a Beautiful Country Style 4 unit residential building. Each unit has 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom.
www.DrummondHousePlans.com 4-unit Multi-house plan #3006
Drummond House Plans Duplex House Plans no. 4096 which is an Affordable Country Style Duplex with two nice 2 bedrooms 1 bathroom units.
www.DrummondHousePlans.com Duplex House Plans no. 4096
Drummond House Plans Triplex House Plans no. 3029 which is Drummond’s most popular European / Traditional Style Triplex, with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom per unit.
Drummond House Plans Duplex House Plans no. 3029
Drummond House Plans Country Style Semi-detached House Plans no. 6014 is among our top-selling One-level Semi-Detached Floor Plans, with a one-car garage.
www.DrummondHousePlans.com Semi-detached house plan #6014
Drummond House Plans Houses with Basement Apartment Plan no. 2795B, which is the most charming 4-bedroom Country Style, plus a one-bedroom basement apartment! Interesting for young families and first-home buyers.
www.DrummondHousePlans.com Home with Basement Apartment - House Plans#2795B
By Johnny Graziani
Concrete Construction (also known as Mass Construction) was once thought of as a building practice traditionally used in countries where wood wasn’t as easily or abundantly available for construction purposes, or in areas with warmer year round climates. This is no longer true. The popularity of concrete construction and concrete block house plans in North America, as a principal building material for more than just the foundations of a house, has in recent years, experienced a steady rise. There are numerous benefits to building your future home with concrete. However, there are also several different ways to build with concrete, from using traditional Concrete Blocks (CMU or cinder blocks), to traditional poured-in-place concrete using reusable wooden forms, or Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF). If you are looking to concrete construction as an alternate construction method for its characteristic strength or insulating properties, you will need to be sure of which type of concrete construction will be the most effective in the environment in which you live.
To find out more about concrete and the benefits of building with concrete visit sites such as The Portland Cement Association or the Canadian Cement Association.
One of the benefits but also often misunderstood qualities of concrete is regarding its thermal mass, it is essential to know how and why thermal mass works. I have found the efforts in one article to be particularly interesting in the way the properties, benefits and results of thermal mass is explained.
There are numerous notable benefits of Concrete House Construction here are just a few:
Considered a “Green” building method as it results in reduced energy consumption from heating and cooling in-turn reducing the consumption of fossil fuels. For Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) the R-values can reach up to R-40 or R-50 (RSI 7.0 or RSI 8.8)
Conserves forest resources saving trees.
Concrete is a non-toxic material produced from natural and recycled materials.
Resistance from extreme weather conditions such as hurricanes, tornadoes (as well as impact resistance from flying debris etc) and earthquakes.
Fire resistance.
Rot and termite resistant.
Increased soundproofing.
Healthier indoor air quality free from dusts and pollens.
At Drummond House Plans we have created numerous ready-to-build house plans designed in concrete. Keep in mind though, you are not limited to those designs, all of our collection can be modified with Concrete Construction in mind. Below you’ll find one of our most affordable & popular 4-bedroom concrete house plans:
www.DrummondHousePlans.com Concrete House Plan #3249
To find out more contact us at 1-800-567-5267 or visit us on-line at www.DrummondHousePlans.com
