Framing at Taylor Landing

Project Update “Taylor Landing”

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Framing at Taylor Landing!

Over the past few weeks we’ve begun framing at our Fraser Valley project we call “Taylor Landing”.  It’s been exciting to see this home take shape and we are pretty happy to be finished the often wet and muddy foundation work.  Soon the main floor walls will be going up and trusses will follow shortly!

A Step Code 5 High Performance Home

This High Performance Home is Step Code 5.  Step Code refers to the steps of performance targets in new construction making homes more energy efficient.  Step Code 5 is the highest level of energy efficiency in Step Code and means that the home is Net Zero Ready.  The goal of Step Code in British Columbia is to have all new buildings Net Zero energy ready by 2032.

Features in this High Performance Home

Taylor Landing will feature many High Performance Home items:

    • Heat Recovery Ventilator: We call it a Fresh Air machine.  It provides 24/7 fresh air and regular climate control
    • Insulated Concrete Forms: Also known as ICF, this foundation will keep the home more quiet, comfortable and energy efficient a home built with a traditional foundation
    • Exterior Continuous Insulation: We will wrap the exterior of the home in a special exterior insulation before we apply the exterior cladding.  By doing this we block any gaps that result in mold and air leakage.
    • Rainwater Harvesting: Rainwater harvesting can be used for sprinkling lawns and irrigation, flushing toilets, washing cars, and laundry.  There are four 1,700 gallon tanks in this home.
    • Solar Panels: These panels will  take energy from the sun and convert it into clean power for the home.
    • Geo Exchange: The geo exchange system uses the energy of the sun, stored in the earth, to keep the home comfortable all year long.
    • Radiant Floor Heating: Radiant heating has a number of advantages. It is more efficient than baseboard heating and        usually more efficient than forced-air heating because it eliminates duct losses. People with allergies often prefer radiant heat because it doesn’t distribute allergens like forced air systems can.

Contact Us for Information!

If you are looking for more information on building a High Performance Home, please don’t hesitate to contact us!  We believe you will “Live Better in a High Performance Home”.

Built Better and Feels Better

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Feel Better About Your Future in a High Performance Home

Imagine living in a home that’s built better, feels better, and allows you to live better.  And it just happens to make as much energy as it uses.  A Sonbuilt High Performance Home will provide you with comfort that saves on energy.  A comfortable home is warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and free from drafts.  For many homeowners, comfort is a high priority.

“I wanted a better living experience for my family.”

~  High Performance Home Owner

We use materials in our homes that respect the environment and ensure lower energy bills, improved comfort, and clean indoor air quality.  Some of these materials include insulation upgrades, higher-performance, Low-E Argon windows, more efficient heating with a complete HRV system and sealed ducts for better air distribution.

We combine comfort, energy savings, and environmentally caring products into each of our homes while respecting your wallet and your budget.

Let’s Chat About Your New Home

We’d love the opportunity to chat about your new home.  Contact us today!

Understanding Radon

Understanding Radon

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What is Radon Gas?

Radon gas is an odorless, colorless, tasteless gas found in many, many homes.  There are an estimated 3,300 radon-induced lung cancer deaths per year in Canada.  It is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.

Where does Radon come from? 

Radon comes from the decay of uranium minerals found in rock, soil, and water.  It does not naturally occur indoors, however, 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.

Why is Radon so dangerous?

Radon itself is radioactive.  When outdoors, radon mixes with the open air and dilutes it.  However, indoors, it is trapped.  It becomes concentrated resulting in serious health risks, especially lung cancer.

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?

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

Health Canada recommends you test for radon every two years.  Radon is volatile and it is normal for levels of radon to change regularly 

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.

Radon Mitigation Products

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.

Concrete Window Wells

Maintenance Free Window Wells

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What is a Window Well?

If your home has a basement with windows you probably have window wells too.  Window wells are the openings in the ground that allow light to come into the basement.  Often, window wells are made from metal, plastic, wood, or concrete blocks to support the surrounding earth.  Window wells must be properly installed to ensure excess rainwater drains away from your foundation.  They can become a high maintenance item if not properly built and cared for.

Why Concrete?

Our solution is a maintenance free stamped concrete window well.  Why concrete?  Pressure treated wood will last between 5 to 10 years.  Corrugated metal will start to rust and break down between 10 and 15 years after installation.  If improperly installed, both of these products can become a concern for the homeowner.  They can cave in or become misaligned with the foundation causing expensive repair bills.

How Long Does a Concrete Window Well Last?

A concrete window well installed directly onto the concrete footing of your home will never move and can last indefinitely.  They are strong, durable, and virtually maintenance free.  A well built concrete window well will go a long way in preventing future water damage in the basement of your home.

Check out our video below! For more videos on how we build new homes built, click here.

Maintenance Free Concrete Window Wells
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!

Barrow Family

The Barrow Home, Two Years Later

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A few days ago we stopped in to visit Wil and Sara and their twin daughters, Marlee and Paige.  We first met this family back in 2014.  At that time they were excited to build their dream home in Ryder Lake near Chilliwack, BC.   They really wanted to build a High Performance Home.  Clean, fresh indoor air was a high priority for them as allergies were a concern in their family.

Building a Family’s Dream Home

We designed and built a two story home with a basement.  The large open kitchen and great room are ideal for sharing meals together and family time.  A spacious laundry room contains a wide bench with plenty of hooks for hanging sports gear, jackets, and back packs.  The girls were thrilled to have their own bedrooms and were allowed to choose the paint colours.  The open space in the basement has space for indoor sports and lots of storage.

Energy Efficient and Low Cost to Operate

Their home is very energy efficient!  It is built to the R-2000 Standard making it 50% more efficient than homes built to the standard BC Building Code.  In the winter, the warm air stays in the home and in the summer, the home is cool and comfortable.  Wil and Sara shared a story about a power outage that took place a few months after they moved into the home.  It was below freezing outdoors and after several days of no power, the home dropped one degree!  They are very pleased with how cost effective the home is to heat and cool.

We completed their home in 2016 and it was fun to catch up with them at their home to see how they are doing.

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!

Healthy Home

Quick Tips For a Healthy Home

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If you already own a home, here are some easy tips to follow to keep your home environment healthy:

Ventilation

Make sure you have fresh air circulating in your home.

Use Eco-Friendly Products

Keep air fresher and cleaner using toxin and pollutant free products

Choose Hardwood Flooring

Carpets can hide dust, pet hair, fungus, and other harmful particles

Unplug

Switch any technological devices not in use

Remove Your Shoes

Shoes can carry pollen, dirt, and soil from the outdoors into your home

Get It Tested

Ensure your home is radon free by getting it tested

Ensure Paint is Dry and Cured

While it’s exciting to set up a freshly painted room, ensure that paint is dry and cured before using it.

Change That Shower Curtain

Rotate your shower curtain regularly and avoid ones made from vinyl as they do become moldy quickly.

Visit our webpage on the High Performance Home to learn about building a healthy, energy efficient home.

5 Questions to Ask Your Builder

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5 Questions to Ask Your Builder

Building a new custom home is an exciting experience, but it can also be a little intimidating.   An important first step in building a home starts with choosing your builder.   Often, folks begin their initial questions to a potential builder by asking about cost per square foot and whether or not they can supply their own trades or suppliers to save money.  These questions only scratch the surface on what a homebuyer should consider to ensure a positive building experience.

To get you started, here are 5 initial questions to ask your builder as you begin your journey:

  1. Can I walk through some of your recently built homes and meet the owners?

A solid, reputable builder will have no problem providing a prospective client with a list of past customers.  It’s a good idea to have the builder connect with each name on the list to inform them they may be contacted.   Past customers will be able to tell you if the builder was organized and pleasant to work with.  Find out if their home was finished to their expectations, on budget, and on time.   Before you leave, consider asking “Is there anything else I should be asking or you want me to know?”

  1. Who will be in charge of building my home each day?

A dedicated lead carpenter assigned specifically to your home from groundbreaking to finish will be able to consistently answer your questions throughout construction and maintain communication with scheduled trades and suppliers.   While there can be occasional lulls in the process, your go to person will always be available to keep you updated on the timeline and anticipated progress.

  1. Are you a member of your local Home Builders’ Association?

As a member of a Home Builders’ Association, your builder has committed his or her self to a Code of Ethics which is based on principles of fairness, integrity, and client satisfaction.  Membership is an indication of professionalism, dedication to the business of home building, and planning to be in business for the long term.

  1. What is your home building experience?

It takes dedication and commitment to stay current with all the details of building a solid home.  Whether a builder has 5 or 25 years of experience, a good builder will honestly share details of his or her business background, construction training, and what sets him or her apart from others.  An experienced builder will confidently tell you what he or she can do for you and for how much.

  1. How often will I receive an updated budget and schedule?

Let’s face it, your most valuable commodities are your time and your money.   A common complaint made by many homebuyers is that they are frequently unsure of how much money is still needed for completion and how much longer the construction will take.  By staying in touch with your budget, you will be able to make ongoing decisions on materials and finishes.  Regular schedule updates will assist you in knowing when to anticipate completion.  An important key to a smooth construction project is a builder who provides ongoing, easy to understand reports to clients.

Choosing the right builder is just as important as choosing the right design for your home.    A good relationship with your builder will last long after the home is complete and throughout the warranty period.

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