Building Our Own Net Zero HIGH PERFORMANCE HOME

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When It All Began

When we started Sonbuilt Custom Homes back in 1995, our goal was to build to the best quality and standards possible.  We had already built several homes on our own and enjoyed the home building experience.  Those early days of being self employed were full of challenges and growth opportunities.  We learned the “ins and outs” of running a business, hiring employees, and balancing work and play.  It wasn’t easy.  Being self employed is never really easy.

The Dream Begins at Lot 4

Fast forward a number of years and we started dreaming of building our own home.  A net zero High Performance Home that would “showcase” all of the features we can offer to our customers.  Our dream took shape in 2010 when we found our dream property we affectionately call “Lot 4”.

Sonbuilt Great Wall

The slope of the land meant before we could even begin construction of our home, we had to build several retaining walls to keep the slope from sliding into our foundation.  We called it the season of building the “Sonbuilt Great Wall”.  It was a lot of hard work and there were definitely times when we wondered what we had gotten ourselves into!

Insulated Concrete Forms

We were finally ready to start the foundation and, of course, we built our foundation and walls using Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) so that our home would be comfortable from basement to top floor throughout the year.

Geo Exchange

As we started the foundation, we brought in the rig to drill for the geo exchange system.  Geo exchange uses the temperature in the earth to heat and cool our net zero home.

Walls of Foam

We decided to build both our foundation and walls of our High Performance Home with ICF to ensure a quiet, durable, energy efficient home.  This was a new concept for some of our neighbours and we frequently had to explain the benefit of building with insulated concrete forms.

A Home With Braces

For the main floor of our High Performance Home we used Quad Deck.  Quad-Deck combines the strength, security, and reliability of reinforced concrete with the energy efficiency, fast construction, and comfort of insulating concrete forms.  The lower level needed extensive bracing for the concrete pour and concrete curing process.

A Growth Spurt of … FOAM!

With the main floor poured, we were ready to grow higher.  We continued to install the insulated concrete forms for the main floor walls and within a few weeks, we poured the top floor.  Every time we poured concrete, we wished the rain away.  We were pretty fortunate (most of the time)!

Rainwater Harvesting System

As a resident of Abbotsford, we pay for city supplied water.  Every drop.  We decided to install 9 GRAF rainwater harvesting tanks below the ground for water storage.  The water we harvest will be used for laundry, car washing, toilets, and irrigation.  The day of the installation was exciting!   Our rainwater harvesting system is the largest GRAF residential system in Canada.  Both University Sprinklers and Barr Plastics were on the jobsite and a marketing video promoting the system was taped.

Installing the Timber

By now the trusses and roofing were installed and we were heading into winter.  Despite the moist, cool weather, we decided to install the timber accents.  This required that we cover the front of the house with plastic and work in the dry space.  The house was covered for several months.  We were pretty excited when we encountered a few dry days of sunshine when we could finally reveal the timber!

A Retaining Wall.  Again.

Summer was now upon us and it was time to tackle the slope behind the house.  Using Redi-rock we built the retaining wall behind the house.  It took a lot of time, resources, and creative thought. We are pretty happy with how it turned out!

Drywall

Prior to drywall we took numerous photos of the interior of the home so we would know the locations of important pipes and wiring.  We do that on every net zero home we build.  During drywall we rented a lift to assist in drywalling the high ceilings and walls.  It was dusty and heavy work but overall, fun!

Finishing Details

With the majority of the drywall done we started painting and installing doors and trim.  We have an oval ceiling in the suite upstairs.  Mark, one of our team, was the inspiration behind this ceiling.  We call it Mark’s Ceiling.

Tying it All Together

A big step towards completion was hooking up the plumbing, heating, and electrical systems.  In a net zero home like this, there are many, many components that need to work together seamlessly.

Solar Power!

Installing a solar panel system is a big decision that more and more people are choosing to make.  There are a number of reasons why we chose to invest in solar for our net zero home.  Since the day we installed the solar panels, we have regularly checked our account with BC Hydro to compare our cost of electricity from day to day.  We noticed an immediate drop in our daily cost of power!

Wrapping up Construction

Is the home of a builder every really done?  Yes, the finish line is nearly here.  Some minor aspects still need completion and the builder’s wife will be very happy when the lower part of the property is landscaped.  But I digress.

Fulfilling any dream isn’t easy and our net zero High Performance Home journey has had many interesting moments.  Are you interested in knowing more about building your own net zero home?  Contact us today!

Thanks for reading!

ICF Foundation

ICF – Starting with a Better Foundation

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This week we started the foundation on the “Woodside” home at the Vine at Pepin Brook.  If you drive be the site, you will notice we are building the foundation out of Quadlock ICF, also known as “Insulated Concrete Forms”.   These large foam panels are easy to assemble, almost like building with lego, and contribute to our High Performance Wall system.  Once the concrete for the foundation has been poured, the icf panels remain in place, not stripped away like form panels of a conventional foundation.

Why Do We Use Insulated Concrete Forms?

We believe achieving the best living environment starts with a solid foundation.  We use ICF (insulated concrete forms) to produce a more comfortable, quiet, and energy-efficient home than those built with traditional construction methods. Homes built with ICF foundations retain heat more effectively.  Basements feel warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.  Homes have a more even temperature, fewer drafts, and fewer hot and cold spots.

Building for Comfort

As a builder, we keep comfort in mind when we build a home.  Both thermal comfort and sound-wise comfort.  We find ICFs are ideal for both.   A comfortable environment offers a better quality of home life for families and their guests.

Saving on Energy

An ICF foundation provides greater insulation performance ratings, resulting in better energy efficiency.   These high-performing foundations contribute to lower energy bills and less wear and tear on the home mechanicals.

Good Air Quality

Indoor air quality is something we often don’t think about until it becomes a concern.  Maintaining a healthy environment is important in any indoor space, especially your home.  An ICF foundation, combined with the Sonbuilt High Performance Wall system and a heat recovery ventilator, will keep humidity levels in a healthy range and provide filtered, unpolluted air for everyone in the home.  The risk of mold is greatly reduced and indoor air is filtered and fresh.

Are you interested in owning this rancher, the “Woodside” and benefiting from living in a better built home?  Contact us today!  Let’s talk!

Merry Christmas from Sonbuilt

Merry Christmas from Sonbuilt!

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Merry Christmas!

We at Sonbuilt Custom Homes would like to take a moment to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2019 is already shaping up to be a busy year for Sonbuilt!  This past fall we have worked diligently at completing the site services at THE VINE at Pepin Brook.   We are excited to be starting construction in the Spring.   If you are looking to have a home designed and built, be sure to contact us early in the New Year.

All the best this Holiday season!  And … a big thank you to all of our customers, staff, trades and suppliers!  We couldn’t do this without you!

radon gas

Radon Gas in Your Home

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What is Radon Gas?

We all want our homes to be as safe as can be for our family. There is a danger that we are just becoming aware of that most people probably haven’t ever heard of in the form of Radon gas.   Radon gas is an odourless, tasteless, invisible radioactive gas produced from the breakdown of uranium in soils.

Why is Radon Gas so Dangerous?

Radon gas is airborne and can be inhaled.  While in your lungs, these particles breakdown even further, releasing small bursts of radioactive energy causing damage.  As a result, there is an increased risk of developing lung cancer when they reproduce.

Did You Know …

Health Canada estimates that about 16% of lung cancers deaths in Canada are attributable to radon.  It’s the second leading cause of lung cancer and the leading environmental cause of cancer.

 

How Can Radon Gas Get Into My Home?

Radon can get into your home anywhere it finds an opening where your home contacts soil.  For example, cracks in foundation walls and floor slabs, construction joints, gaps around service pipes and support posts, floor drains and sumps, and water supply.

To find out if your home has a radon problem you have to measure the radon concentration inside of it.

How Do I Test My Home for Radon?

There are radon professionals in the Greater Vancouver area like Radon Environmental who can work with you to test your home.  They provide radon mitigation solutions for residential homes and workplaces.

As a builder, we use radon mitigation products in the construction of your home to decrease the amount of radon gas capable of seeping into the home.   By doing so, we ensure your new home is safe and free from harmful levels of radon gas.

Health and safety is one of our top priorities, which is why radon mitigation is an important aspect to every one of our new homes.  We urge you to look into what you can do to keep your family safe.

Watch our video to learn more.

Radon Gas

Rainwater Tanks

Rainwater Harvesting

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Rainwater Harvesting – The Answer is in Nature

Last month we celebrated “World Water Day” which gives us the opportunity to seriously consider how we as individuals and as a society are conserving or wasting the water at our disposal. This year’s theme is “The Answer is in Nature”, here at Sonbuilt we couldn’t agree more. Living in the Fraser Valley we are very accustomed to wet rainy days, those days provide the plenty of opportunity to harvest rain water and use it instead of letting be wasted down a storm drain.

Rainwater Harvesting Basics

A rain water harvesting system collects the water that falls on your roof and stores it in tanks until you are ready to use it. There are some limits to those uses; however what you are able to use it for includes flushing toilets, laundry, and even watering your lawn during the dry weeks! Sonbuilt is actually responsible for the construction of a home with the largest Graf residential rain water harvesting system in Canada, comprised of 9 tanks that that can hold up to 1,700 U.S. Gallons of water each.

An Economic Option

Water conservation is not only environmentally friendly, but it is also economic. After the initial cost of the tanks and the pump, there is no charge for collecting the water from your roof, and then redistributing that to your plants at a later time, or using it to dispose of waste after every flush of the toilet.

Feel free to visit the websites of our suppliers:  University Sprinklers and Barr Plastics.

Sonbuilt Rainwater Harvesting

Whole Home Surge Protection

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Protect Your Investment with Whole Home Surge Protection

Protecting your entire home from power surges is an important step in keeping your home safe, especially during seasons of high winds and ice storms.  We’ve had some interesting weather this winter resulting in several days of power outages and very cold temperatures.  I heard of several homes encountering devastating power surges leaving home electronics destroyed and unsafe.

A Holmes Approved Product

This past January we visited the International Builder’s Show in Orlando with Mike Holmes and his son, Mike Holmes Jr. and daughter Sherry Holmes.   One of the booths we stopped by at was the Eaton booth.  Eaton sells a small, cost effective device that provides whole home surge protection.  This is a  Mike Holmes approved product and offers a smart way to keep your home safe from potential power surges.

Install One In Your Next Home

As a Holmes Approved Home builder, Sonbuilt Custom Homes installs this surge protection device in the homes we build.  Just another step we take to build new homes right!

Foundation Finishing

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Transitioning from an ICF Foundation

Our foundation finishing details are an important part of keeping our homes dry and comfortable.  We use several different waterproof products to transition from our ICF (insulated concrete form) foundations to our exterior cladding.  Using these products ensure our foundations stay protected from water and dampness.

1.  Colphene

The first product we use is called Colphene, by Soprema.  Colphene is specifically designed to waterproof an ICF foundation.

2.  Delta Drain

We also use Delta Drain.  Delta Drain is an effective method to control the flow of damaging soil moisture and hydrostatic pressure through cracks and gaps in below grade structures. It is an essential element of a complete waterproofing system.

3.  TuffX

The final product we use is TuffX.  We use TuffX as a transition strip between the ground level and the exterior cladding.  TuffX is extremely durable and tough.

ICF foundations are known for reducing cold spots and drafts in basements.  By waterproofing our foundations we limit the potential for moisture to seep in through the foundation and fuel mold and mildew growth within interior finished basement walls.

For more information contact us!

Foundation Finishing

Insulated Concrete Forms

Insulated Concrete Forms – A Better Foundation

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We Believe in Building Better.

In a new home, there is no better place to start better building than in the foundation.  We choose to build the foundation of each home we build with insulated concrete forms.

A Better Foundation.

We use ICF (insulated concrete forms) to produce a more comfortable, quiet, durable and energy-efficient home than homes built with a traditional foundation.  For the customer who wants year round energy savings and comfort,  a foundation built with insulated concrete forms is a great benefit!

Today’s video on New Homes Built Right Jonathan discusses icf and some of the materials used to put an icf foundation together.  Don’t miss it!

Fraser Valley Home and Garden Expo

Fraser Valley Home and Garden Expo

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Fraser Valley Home and Garden Expo 2017

We are very excited to be in the Fraser Valley Home and Garden Expo in Abbotsford at Tradex next weekend!  Come visit us at booths 212, 213, and 214.

This Fraser Valley based home and garden show has a vast array of both interior and exterior products for your home and features a number of landscaping, remodeling, interior design, and home construction companies from areas throughout Greater Vancouver.

Main Stage Speakers!

As well, both Jonathan and Carmen Zerkee of Sonbuilt Custom Homes are very pleased to be guest speakers on the Main Stage at the show.  We are speaking Friday at 5:15pm, Saturday at 1:30, and Sunday at 1:30pm.  Come hear our presentation “Live Better:  The High Performance Home”.

Show Details

Show Location:  Tradex, 1190 Cornell Street, Abbotsford, BC

Show Times:

Friday:  1pm – 9pm

Saturday:  10am – 6pm

Sunday:  10am – 4pm

Visit the following link for show admission and additional information.  Fraser-Valley-Full-Page-Ad

See you at the show!

Building Science – What is It?

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Defining Building Science

In the past, designers and builders considered each aspect of a home – foundation, walls, windows, roof, plumbing, electrical, all the parts that make up the home – individually.  Today, we know all aspects of a home work together as a system to create a comfortable, durable, healthy living environment.  Balance all these components together and your home will be far more energy efficient than a home in which these aspects are not working together in harmony.

The study of homes as a system is called Building Science. 

Your home interacts with the surrounding environment and those who live in your home.  The following components have an effect on the overall system:

  • Outdoor temperature, wind, rain, air quality, and dust
  • Everyone living in the home, including pets
  • The materials that make up the envelope of the home like the foundation, exterior walls, windows, roof, and floors
  • Interior aspects that remain fixed in the home
  • Appliances, equipment, and furniture
  • The mechanical and electrical system, ventilation and heating, plumbing and electrical components

Each component will affect the overall performance of your home in terms of energy efficiency, durability, and longevity.   When the systems in your home are not working together, the overall health of your family could be compromised through poor indoor air quality, mold growth, and poor ventilation.

Think about your current home.  Do you see any concerns? 

  • Condensation on windows
  • Rotting windowsills
  • Damaged drywall
  • Bubbled or flaking paint
  • Musty smell
  • Mould on walls
  • Mouldy drapes, carpets or furniture
  • Mould in closets

Think About This

Building to the standard BC Building Code is not enough to ensure your home is a healthy place for you and your family.  It is the minimum standard, but by no means a healthy standard.

If you are considering building a new home, ensure your builder is well qualified to build a healthy home.  This is probably going to be the biggest investment of your life.  Make it a healthy one!

For more information on healthy living environments, download a copy of “Moisture and Air Guide”, by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Council.