Designing a Safe Room
This article will feature a summary of the resources available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for designing a safe room to shelter you and your loved ones from natural disasters…
Home Improvement Tips
A guest post by Michael Adams edited by Deb Villeneuve When it comes to home improvement tips, there are a lot of small details surrounding projects done around the house that seem to have…
Make your home winter ready
Although not really a concern to our Southern neighbors, homeowners of the North (East, Central and West) may find this article enlightening with a few tips on preparing for the cold to make your…
E.S. a new standard
In the near future, Drummond House Plans will be introducing plan models with the ES suffix What does ES mean? ES is short for Environmentally Superior. We're not just talking about the…
Cleaning promises
A guest post by Grace Bailey edited by Deb Villeneuve Living in a dirty or untidy house can really get you down in the dumps, without you even realizing it’s your living environment causing the…
13 Ways to Be Happier in Your Home This Year
Modern Family Room design by Seattle Architect David Vandervort Architects Make 2013 the year you increase your happiness at home with resolutions that will get you motivated to finish lagging…
BC Building Codes – 2012
After several on again, off again proposed release dates, the BC provincial government has adopted the 2012 editions of the BC Building Code, BC Plumbing Code and BC Fire Code (BC Codes), with an…
Are You Ready For Disasters? Prepare Yourself!
You can’t turn on any form of media lately without hearing about natural disasters. Whether it is the 7.7 quake on Haida Gwaii or Hurricane Sandy, we are humbled that there is precious little that…
Environmental Efficiency Changes as of 2012
Delays of 2 to 4 additional days for the receipt of house plans purchased in Quebec (Canada) in order to update the plans to meet new codes in effect will not affect clients elsewhere as…
Residential Wood Heating
If you heat with wood now or are considering the use of wood fuel for home heating, this book is for you. Wood as a home energy source differs in important ways from all the other options. Heating…
Boost Your Energy With Natural Light
Modern Kitchen design by Seattle Architect McClellan Architects Abundant natural light in a home not only saves electrical energy, but it gives you more personal energy too. In a normal building,…
Ventilate Your Home to Reduce 374 Indoor Pollutants
Airtight homes keep in heat... and many other things. At the beginning of my career, I had the privilege of working for a company specializing in residential ventilation called Venmar. The company is…
Finish Your Basement the Right Way
Contemporary Basement design by Minneapolis Design-build Orfield Remodeling, Inc Basements are tricky. These large spaces beg for a new use, but they often become dumping grounds for all of…
House Plan of the Week: “Fabulous Flow For Limited-Mobility Residents”
www.DrummondHousePlans.com - Plan # 3276, The Tidewell Following a survey on our website with close to 500 respondents, consensus was a desire for available universal access or wheelchair-modified…
Decking Innovation – Perennial Wood
So, I have to admit... I am addicted to the concept of all things home related. It is not only about decor. It is all about the entire building from the inside out. Building techniques, energy…
House Plan of the Week: “Comfortable Accessibility For All!”
www.DrummondHousePlans.com - Plan # 3275, The Aurora Following a survey on our website and through the participation of nearly 500 respondents, we are pleased to introduce the first of two plans…
Bad weather can help you assess your home
Whether it's after a rough winter or following other severe weather - bad weather can help you assess your home so look on the bright side because it gives you the chance to take advantage of…
Home Safety: Keeping Your Own Personal Firebreak
Image Source: The Ready Store Even though it is still very early in the fire season, there have already been some outbreaks of wild fires like the one in Teulon, Manitoba. I sincerely hope it is not…
As We Prepare to “Spring Forward”, Reflect on the Benefits of Daylight
With Daylight Savings time approaching on March 11, it is a good time to reflect on light in the home. Realtors will attest to the value of a bright and welcoming home. Do you have any idea why the…
