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.

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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.

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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

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In these times where good news may sometimes be a rare thing to hear, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some very exciting news regarding the Drummond House Plans’ customer service team.

Last week, at the International Builder Show  in Las Vegas,  Drummond House Plans was honoured by receiving the Best Customer Service award among all the designers represented by Hanley Wood / House Plan Division.

Drummond House Plans stood out amongst many other very popular & important architectural firms in the US, such as House Plan Gallery, Don Gardner, Sater Designs, Frank Betz Associates, Nelson Design Group, and many others and for this, we are particularly proud!

In this industry where competition is of the utmost importance, top quality house plans, professionalism, efficiency and prompt responses to our publishers & customers, make the difference between winning or losing a sale!

Congratulations to our team for a job well done, I am very proud of us all!

And a big thank you to Hanley-wood for the award & for doing a terrific job at promoting our designs! 

So now, Hanley-wood, how can we get more exposures? 

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Interesting questions we receive from customers can be of great interest to future homeowners or people who will make additions or renovation to their existing home. 

Here are some answers provided by Drummond House Plans‘ senior home Designer, Denis Chamberland, to questions from a customer wishing to build a garage,  and how to make a great garage construction planning.

Q:  What is the width required for a garage in order to park two intermediate vehicles while still being able to fully open the vehicles’ doors?
By attributing six feet of width for each vehicle and three feet for each of the doors when wide open, we come to 24 feet wide inside the walls.  Considering the three feet in between as being common to both vehicles, we can also say 24 feet width to the exterior walls.

Q:  What is the depth required for these two same vehicles, considering I want to build a workbench in front of them?
In general, the suggested depth is 20 feet but, since you want to add a workbench (two feet deep), I would suggest you go once again with 24 feet in order to give you room to work in front of the vehicles.

Q:  If I want to add a garage door, where should I place it and what width should it be?
When one single door gives access to a garage containing two vehicles, it must be a minimum of 16 feet wide; and here I would suggest two doors rather than just one, in case the mechanism fails; then, you would have the possibility of using the other door.  Here, I recommend two 9 foot wide doors, positioned at 10 feet minimum or 11 feet maximum center to center of the doors.

When considering building such a garage, it becomes very interesting to think of the possibility of integrating storage space in the roof area which can be accessed by pull-down stairs.  This space would then allow you to use the garage area for its intended purpose, to accommodate your vehicles.  The pull-down stairs can be located in a corner, or right in the center of the garage which gives more room to maneuver at the top of the stairs.

www.DrummondHousePlans.com - Garage Plan no.3980

For great detached garage plans, garage with apartment and VR garage plans, please visit the “detached garage designs” section of our Drummond House Plans website.  Many architectural styles are available for garage designs such as Country style & Craftsman style.  Drummond can also create the perfect Custom Garage Design that will match you homestyle & colors, don’t hesitate to contact our customer service to get more information!

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Have you ever had the opportunity to visit a billion dollar house ?!  Forbes magazine gives you the chance to visit one through this link

My opinion ?  Absolutely awesome, imposing and fabulous…  However, I think with a billion dollar, I would have built something nicer !….

What do you think ?

(original content available on www.yvescarignan.com)

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Last Monday, I posted this messsage on my personal blog from one of our many satisfied customers :o)

Good Afternoon,

We recently purchased one of your designs and are currently in the process of having these plans approved by our local building inspector.  We thought we would share some comments he had about your design. 

We are going to be doing our own construction and we were very impressed by the detail provided in your plans.  Our building inspector indicated that he has never seen such complete and detailed plans and that it was a pleasure to review.  Your plans will not only be a hugh benefit to us as we begin to build but it obviously has facilitated the approval process.

Thank-you

Linda Lindsay, Flinton, ON

(original content posted on www.yvescarignan.com)

Considering the fact that the Ontario Building code is very strict, including the BCIN, we are very pleased with that kind of comments from our customers.  So, Ontario customers, get the peace of mind with Drummond’s plans !

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To tell the truth, this question is asked frequently!  It is obviously not easy to give a precise cost due to the imponderables that are connected to it.

First, it depends on the type of ground on which the garage will be built.  You can choose among various foundation types such as monolithic floating slabs or monolithic floating slabs that reinforce the periphery in order to properly receive exterior walls and any other attachments. Already, a variant in the amount of  1000$ to 2000$ may be applied. In most case, a monolithic slab would prove to be less expensive.

Will you hire a builder to build the entire garage, or only the structural part and you will do the rest to save money?  Your choice here will result in a cost variation of between 3000$ to 5000$ that you must consider if you hire specialized manpower.

Will your detached garage be insulated to enable you to do odd jobs all year round?  Will it be erected with 2 x 4’s or 2 x 6’s? Technical-wise, will you have electricity, heating and plumbing in your garage?  There are other important elements that have considerable influence on building costs. We can easily say there is a variance of 2000$ to 3000$ if not more. Of course, this is according to the size of the garage.

Finally, many garage plans suggest bonus spaces at the ceiling for additional storage. Will this space be built as planned or will it be eliminated and built with trusses and a window? If you opt to keep this extra space, will it be insulated or only done in plywood?

You will now understand that with all these possibilities, it becomes very difficult to set firm construction costs for a detached garage, but since you have taken the time to read this article, here is an example that could serve as a reference guide.

www.DrummondHousePlans.com Plan no.2975

Let’s say that you are interested in the detached garage no. 2975-16, which is 16’ wide by 24’ deep. You are planning to erect it with 4 vinyl sides on a monolithic foundation with 2 x 4’s, as well as with the bonus space planned on the upper floor but not insulated. A minimum of electrical facilities is included but there is no plumbing or heating. The cement footing, the structure and the roofing (finishing of these steps included), would be done by the contractor whereas you would be responsible for both the interior and exterior finishing. Well, this garage should cost approximately 14500$

You can review Drummond House Plans’ detached garage plans, and order the one that fits your housestyle!

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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

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What if the home you are planning to build could be your family home for the rest of your life?  What if, with a little planning, your new home could adapt to meet the needs of your family and change as your family does?

That’s the idea behind FlexHousing.  A FlexHouse is a home designed before construction begins to be user friendly to its occupants at all stages of their lives and to make future renovations easier and cheaper for the homeowner to complete.  FlexHousing can eliminate the need to move from house to house as the requirements of your family change over time.

WHY FLEXHOUSING

The first home for many couples is often referred to as a “starter” home, which is typically small and easy to maintain.  Then, as children come along the first home is too small and that requires the costly and disruptive choice of moving.  When the children are grown and on their own this second home becomes too large for only two people to take care of.

As the population ages, half of all homes in Canada will house people 55 yeas old or older by 2017.  Also, with a declining population, fewer new homes will be built each year.  So homes that are flexible will be in big demand.  This flexibility not only is beneficial to the home, but if families don’t have the need to move, they stay in the neighbourhood longer, creating a stronger sense of community.

PRINCIPLES OF FLEXHOUSING

A FlexHouse isn’t a type of home style like a bungalow or two storey, it is the way it is designed prior to construction and is based on four principles.

• Adaptability
• Accessibility
• Affordability
• Healthy Housing

Adaptability:  The home is designed to be renovated to suit changing needs.

A large bedroom can be made into two smaller rooms and used as either another bedroom or home office.

A space such as the basement can be renovated to become a separate apartment by roughing in plumbing for a kitchen and bathroom that will bring in extra income later on or be used by an aging relative.

Bathroom walls can be given extra strength during construction to allow for the installing of grab bars and other special items to assist less mobile residents.
Install counters and cabinets in the kitchen or bathroom that can be adjusted vertically on brackets or that can have sections that are lower so that people in a wheelchair can reach with them.

Building such features into a new home during initial construction saves time, money and inconvenience when changes are needed or desired down the road.

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