For the discerning customer, this ever-popular Drummond House Plans no. W3133 does not go unnoticed, with its angled main entrance, abundant windowing (looking for a house with panoramic views, click here), its eye-catching gables and balcony, without forgetting the chimney located at the main pinnacle for more discretion and harmony on the lateral view.  To view our entire 3-Bedroom Bungalow Collection, visit our website! 

www.DrummondHousePlans.com # W3133

Once inside, we can’t help but notice the original entry hall with its bench space and corner coat closet.  Next is a beautiful family room of interesting dimensions and the basement staircase next to it give this area a more open look.  Original text and full article here…

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Last month I received an email from a very ambitious soul in Sooke, BC asking if we had ever considered turning some of our shed designs into home plans. At first I thought she meant using the style as the basis for a home design or a Carriage House Plan, but after a number of emails and phone calls her mission was clear – tiny, tiny, tiny (tiny house plans)! Lois turned out to be a wonderful person and a really creative thinker. She wanted to embrace the idea of adding multiple dwellings on her Sooke property in accordance with new zoning which allowed for densification.

The idea of micro-living intrigued me so it was time for some research. 
After much digging on the web and calling different city halls around BC, I came to understand that Lois’ idea is more than just a concept – it is now a reality. Many regions are allowing additional dwellings to be added to properties as separate living units for grandparents, renters, and the increasingly common “boomerang children”. These dwellings are sized in accordance with local building by-laws and can be as small as 300 square feet which is, amazingly, in accordance with the National Building code of Canada. Formalizing densification also addresses the issue that there were illegal (and often unsafe) dwellings being added to properties.

Drummond House Plans - Tiny House Plan no. 2923

Still the question begs to be asked, “Why would someone want to build (or live in) a home the size of a shed?” From a user’s point of view, a tiny house would be perfect for someone needing independence, low maintenance, affordability, and safety. From a city planner’s perspective, it addresses affordable housing and densification mandates.  From a landlords perspective it’s a small space to independently house a family member or generate income to help out with mortgage payments. From city hall’s perspective it is additional tax revenue. When you look at it from all of these perspectives, tiny houses make sense.

Can a person comfortably live in a space so small? One need only ask people with live-aboard boats and RV’s that very question. With careful planning and paring down to necessities, both groups of people would say “absolutely”! Of course, it may be quite challenging for a young or growing family but “living small” is an ecological and social challenge that some are happy to embrace.

For the purpose of definition, Drummond House Plans classifies a tiny house as a dwelling which is under 1100 square feet. These houses are frequently fawned over as being darned cute and amazingly efficient. These homes also have the added benefit of having a smaller carbon footprint and are ideal for areas which embrace high-density housing. 

Thank you, Lois, for starting this conversation. We look forward to adding more designs to our available Drummond Tiny House Plans for people just like you.

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Are you considering renovating your home?

Come to the Renos Done Right Seminars and Trade Show on September 26, 2009 in Nanaimo. This one-day, free admission show is hosted by the Canadian Home Builders Association, Central Vancouver Island. While you take in this informative show, make sure you stop in to visit Drummond House Plans’ BC Distributors, Richard & Vivian Martin who will be available in booth #29.

For more details on the exhibitors and speakers topics “From how to be green to saving some green and everything in between”, please visit the CHBA-CVI website.

See you there!

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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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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!

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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

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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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Insulated formwork is an interesting option for residential foundations.  As the formwork remains in place after the cement hardens, it assures a superior energetic performance.  Moreover, the cement poured into this formwork is maintained in better curing conditions which improves its quality and limits the number of cracks.

Starting from the foundation’s footing, the walls of the foundation are mounted by superimposing hollow blocks made of polystyrene.  In order to ensure the base of the formwork is leak proof urethane is projected beneath the first row.  Steel armature composed of vertical and horizontal bars is inserted in the blocks, which gives the foundation a superior resistance to cracks.

Once the wall is mounted, the cement is poured.  Leak proofing is assured by a waterproofing membrane placed on the exterior insulation beneath soil level.

The choice of insulated formwork is certainly a step in the direction of lasting development.  Among the causes of deterioration of cement, humidity is at the top of the list, while a bad curing is responsible for the appearance of cracks.  Leak proofing and curing the cement in such conditions increases the longevity of the foundation.

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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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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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