Kitchen Counter

Let’s Talk About Kitchen Counters

Do you enjoy entertaining?  Is your kitchen the hub of family life? 

We often design our kitchens into large open areas where entertaining, family activities, conversation, and food are all centered into one convenient living space.  A space that’s large enough for entertaining plenty of guests, yet intimate to encourage family board games or homework.

We are often asked what is the best material to use for counter tops.  While all aspects of kitchen design are important, the countertop usually makes a significant statement.   Your choice of countertop can impact a guests first impression of the space.

Quartz

Quartz is more durable than natural stone and resistant to stains, scratches and heat.  It is easy to maintain.  One advantage of quartz is that it’s consistent in appearance.  The sample you see at the supplier is going to be pretty much what you get.

Marble

Marble is porous and will stain.  While marble is can be a stunning addition to a kitchen it is not a recommended material for counters.

Granite

Granite is a natural material and every slab of granite is different.  If you are looking for a unique look with timeless beauty, granite may be a good choice for you.  When it is properly sealed, granite is durable and low in maintenance.

Solid Surface

Surfaces such as Corian are man made from acrylic resin and minerals.  A solid surface product is durable and can be molded to whatever shape you want without seams.

Timber

Timber is quickly becoming a popular choice!  It’s natural beauty and overall warmth adds character with a stunning appeal.  Timber will require regular maintenance and can come in washed, stained, and oil finishes.

Always take your personal taste and lifestyle into consideration when choosing a countertop.  Remember your choice is going to be one of the first things you see when you enter the room. 

Thinking about a new home?  Let’s talk!  Contact us today at (604) 626-4688 or visit the contact page of our website.

A True Expression of You

Before starting to design and build your new home you need to carefully consider the answer to one simple question:  ‘Why?”.  Why do you want to custom build a home rather than buy one already built?

For many, the most obvious answer is that you get everything you want exactly the way you want it.

In many ways, your home is an expression of who you are.  Think about every home you’ve lived in.  Did you have a say in the details of your home?  The light fixtures, bathroom faucets, or the appliances?  Custom homes are a true expression of the owners.  Building custom is your chance to create a living experience that’s all you, through and through.

At Sonbuilt, we take customization to the next level by customizing the high performance, energy efficiency of your new home.  From exterior insulation, solar panels, and tankless hot water to insulated concrete forms, radiant heat, and a heat recovery ventilator.  With a custom build there is a greater opportunity to dial in energy efficiency and substantially lower your energy bills.

Throughout the build process it is important to remember why you want to build your home.  Remembering your “why” will help you navigate the exciting and challenging moments.

Contact us through our website www.SonbuiltHomes.com or give us a call at (604) 626-4688 today.  We are happy to answer your questions and help you get started.

Built Better and Feels Better

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

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

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

5 Questions to Ask Your Builder

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.

Whole Home Surge Protection

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!

Window and Door Bucks

Window and Door Bucks – Building Them Right!

Our Project in Abbotsford

Our Abbotsford project in the Fraser Valley is coming along nicely.  We are fortunate to have some nicer weather lately and this has made our job just a bit easier!

Known for Quality Built Homes

We are known for quality built homes.  We don’t cut corners.  We build our foundations with ICF, also known as insulated concrete forms.  An ICF foundation makes a home more energy efficient, durable, and comfortable.  Damp basements and random cold rooms are eliminated when living in a home with an ICF foundation.

The walls on this particular home in Abbotsford are ICF as well.  As a result, this home will have a lower appetite for energy and vastly improved comfort inside the home due to more consistent temperatures, lack of drafts, and superior sound absorption.

A Home with ICF Walls

When your home has ICF walls, we work to ensure the window and door openings are sealed for  minimal air leakage.  A window or door buck is a wood, metal or plastic element used in conventional or icf concrete forming.  It can be removed after concrete is cured or left in place as a permanent attachment point for windows, doors, or other finishes.

New Homes Built Right

Today’s vlog New Homes Built Right shows how we build our window and door bucks to keep your home durable and well constructed.

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Holmes Approved Homes

Holmes Approved Homes

Holmes Approved Homes Builder

We are frequently asked about the Holmes Approved Homes program and how we got connected to Mike Holmes network of builders.

We were originally contacted by the Holmes Group over 2 years.  They surprised us with a phone call and follow up visit to some of our jobsites.  They were impressed by our quality construction and commitment to building energy efficient, durable homes.   When asked if we would consider partnering with the Holmes Approved Homes program, we were thrilled to say ‘YES’!

Please visit our website HERE for more information on the program.

Today’s New Homes Built Right VLOG gives a brief explanation on the Holmes Approved Homes program.  Check it out!

Holmes Approved Homes

ICF Foundation

Abbotsford Custom Home

Welcome Spring!

Spring is here and we are happy and excited to be busy working on this Abbotsford custom home!

This Abbotsford home is currently in the foundation stage and like all of our custom projects, this home has an ICF foundation.  ICF, or insulated concrete forms, makes a home more energy efficient, durable, and comfortable.  Damp basements and random cold rooms are eliminated when living in a home with an ICF foundation.

A High Performance Home

In each high performance home we build we use materials 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.

This home will have considerably lower monthly energy bills compared to a conventionally built home.  While building a high performance home will cost a little more upfront, our client will save monthly on energy bills and maintenance.

Happy Client, Happy Builder!

Our client is thrilled and so are we!  Contact us today if you are interested in talking to us about your future dream home!