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Building a Healthier Home by Using Low VOC Materials

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You probably do not often think about how the materials your home is built from may be detrimental to your health. Many homeowners are unaware that certain building materials can contain VOCs, or volatile organic compounds. When custom home building, consider using low VOC materials that will result in a healthier home environment.

Paint

Paint is not all made the same. When choosing paints, there are many varieties, brands and types available. Paint is perhaps the biggest and most immediate culprit for releasing VOCs, as it covers much of the surface area of a home. The highest risk for VOC emissions with paint tend to be while the paint is being applied and drying, with gradual reduction over time. When choosing paint, look for low-VOC options with less than 50 grams per liter of VOCs.

Flooring

When deciding on flooring for your custom home, you may decide to stain and finish hardwood flooring. Similar to wall paint, stains and wood finishes can also contain a high amount of VOCs, which can slowly emit over time. Thankfully, there are options and products available with low VOC emissions.

Another consideration with flooring is with the use of vinyl. Make sure the vinyl flooring you choose is phthalate free, as well as to use a glue that is low VOC or VOC free.

Adhesives and Caulk

Adhesives and caulking used for finishing various aspects of your custom home may also contain high levels of volatile organic compounds. When choosing these materials, make sure that they contain 70 grams of VOC per liter or less. If you are putting any tile products, make sure that any grout, mortar and sealant products are also low VOC or VOC free.

Following these suggestions and being aware of building material choices can help to make your custom home a happier, and healthier place.

What Does 2019 Have in Store for the Real Estate Market in Vancouver?

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Vancouver is consistently one of the best cities to live in the world.  The The Global Liveability Report 2017, puts Vancouver at #3, The UK based Independent 2018 article ranks Vancouver #5 (Independent – 2018 Best Cities). The Economist has ranked Vancouver #1 in the past (Point Grey Now – Vancouver Best City)

Being one of the best cities in the world has a price. Real estate is always a hot topic in Vancouver. Over the last couple years, new regulations, taxes & fee changes have ben put in place to regulate the market.

A recent report put out by the Vancouver Sun (https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/metro-vancouver-2018-home-sales-lowest-in-eight-years-rebgv) has indicated that 2018 Metro Vancouver home sales were the lowest seen since 2000, 25% below the historical average. Despite the drop in 2018 sales, there has been near record building activity.  Upcoming multi-family homes are being completed, ready for purchase.  Whether this affects the market is to be seen.

The real estate market is much more than a few extra projects coming onto the market.  What is in store for 2019 is very difficult to predict.  Supply & demand are affected by interest rates, world market conditions, local market conditions, government regulations and general overall sentiment.

Even amongst authorities in the real estate market, there are conflicting views with regards to the Vancouver real estate market. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has gone on record and predicted a stronger sales year for 2019 when compared to that of 2018. In contrast to this, the Canadian Real Estate Association has forecasted an even further drop in sales, building on the drop in 2018.

Is there a housing bubble?  Bearish individuals may say yes.  Many media outlets disagree, and insist we will not see a massive crash that some have predicted to be coming for years.  Maybe it’s a great time to buy.  A softened market in 2019, thanks to the sales declines of 2018, may be the perfect time to buy that piece of land, contact Clay Construction, and build the custom luxury home you have always dreamed about. Get that land now.  Besides Hawaiian volcanoes and a few dump trucks, the world isn’t making any more of it.

Tips for Custom Designing an Accessible Home

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Not all homes are designed with accessibility in mind. In fact, few homes are wheelchair ready. When considering your design for your custom home, it might be important to talk to your home builder about how to make an accessible home. Here are some tips for custom designing your accessible home.

Door Access
Many homes are built slightly elevated, and have front steps to enter the main door. When designing your home, make sure that the entrance is built to be accessible, and that if the house is elevated, enough room for a ramp is given. In addition, the exterior and interior doors should all be wide enough for wheelchair access. This might mean making doorways and openings at least 36” wide.

Switches, Outlets and Other Features
An often-overlooked feature of a home is the height that light switches, thermostats, alarm control panels and other features are placed at. These controls should be placed at heights that allow easy access. If this is not possible, using Wi-fi switches and other smart home devices may be a suitable substitute.

The Kitchen
The kitchen is often the most inaccessible feature of any home. When designing an accessible home, it is important to consider factors such as lowering the height of the sinks and countertops and giving lots of ground-level cupboard access.

The Bathrooms
The bathroom is another feature to really consider making accessible changes to. Similar to the kitchen, accessible bathrooms should have lowered countertops and sinks. A roll-in shower is also an excellent feature to include. Any bathtubs should also have grab bars.

Accessible homes are not always readily available, so if you are considering building your own dream home, it may be best to consider a custom home, and talk to your home builder about these tips, and more.

Making Your New Home Ready for the Holidays

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Well you’ve moved in to your brand new, custom built home just in time for the Christmas holidays. Now you need to get ready for Christmas and you are starting to panic!  Construction is complete and your home looks beautiful, but you are feeling the pressure to make your everything perfect for family arriving sooner than you’d like.

Your family is not going to care whether you’ve decked the halls to the nth degree and you know it.  But you care, so here are a few tips to get your new home prepared for the season.

With a new home, especially a custom home with high peaks that seem to touch the sky, you likely won’t have time to illuminate the roofline with the latest strings of Christmas lights.  Save those eaves for next year.  A few strings of lights on a front yard tree or two and maybe lights along the lower level of the house would do it.  Add a fresh wreath to the front door and some fir boughs to up the Christmas cheer level. Then spice up the inside entrance –candles and string lights can look elegant and welcoming in a foyer.  If you do have a bit of extra time, do some Christmas crafts with your kids.  Here is a link for 70 Christmas Decorating Ideas if you get stuck.

It’s a new home.  Your guests know that and understand that you have been frantically unpacking boxes and setting up house.  Throughout the home construction and moving in process, you have lost track of where all the decorations went to.  For the last several months, your life was build, build, build.  There was no thought of Christmas.  Now you are supposed to be settled and you need to get ready, and fast!  So in the house, you need focus on the areas where everyone is going to be – probably the living room.  Number 1 priority is to get your tree up and decorated.  Spend sometime on the mantle.  Make sure there is enough seating areas for all your guests.  Consider a Christmas scented candle or two around the house – it’s easy and adds a nice touch.

If you have the time to get to your guest rooms, you could incorporate a simple garland with lights across the dresser, or holiday themed throw pillow on the bed.  You will need fresh linens and somewhere to put their luggage and gifts.

If baking defines you, then maybe you want to stay up late at night for a baking marathon like my mom used to do.  If you aren’t particularly known for your Christmas baking, then skip it.  Use that time to find that missing Christmas box in storage.  And no baking means you won’t have to worry about getting used to a new stove.  There are lots of bake sales this time of year.  Failing that, the local grocery stores usually have a pretty good bakery nowadays.

Being in a lovely new custom home is great and enjoy it.  And the holiday season isn’t meant to be stressful time.  You may not be able to do absolutely everything you want to be prepared for your Christmas guests, so prioritize.  Do the easy stuff.  Get help.  Buy some baking.  Remember to relax.  Enjoy your family.  Drink some egg nog.

What is thermal bridging and how can it be avoided?

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Heat loss is a very important factor when looking at any home to purchase. In an un-insulated home, about 30% of the heat loss occurs through the roof, 13% through doors and windows, 16% through walls and 16% through the floor. Those numbers are all huge, especially when you think of the money being wasted as you’re heating your home and it’s all going to waste.

A thermal bridge can account for heat loss up to 30 percent in an insulated home. Basically, a thermal bridge can almost render your insulation nearly ineffective, especially if there are large amounts of thermal bridging. Careful planning and design when starting to build a new home, or renovating an existing home, are essential to preventing or limiting thermal bridges.

But what is a thermal bridge? It happens when there is a path within the home construction that allows heat to pass through and escape. Bridges occur when materials that don’t provide insulation come in contact with each other and allow the heat to bypass the insulating materials around it. These commonly occur at junctions between walls, roofs, and floors, holes cut for pipes and cables, window and door reveals, and wall ties used in masonry.

Homes with lots of thermal bridging will find that their home isn’t as energy efficient as they were hoping. More electricity/gas is used to heat the home since the insulation just isn’t as effective as it should be. Also, the cold surfaces will lead to condensation providing a propensity for mould growth and rot.

How do you prevent thermal bridging? Exterior rigid insulation and insulated foundations are two ways to minimize thermal bridging. Wall assemblies must be carefully considered to prevent the bridging that occurs at the junctions between walls, floors, and roofs. Proper planning, design and an experienced construction team are very important.

This is another reason Clay Construction is the best company to contact about custom built homes. We understand the best techniques to reduce thermal bridging to ensure your home is as energy efficient, healthy and comfortable as possible.

Why is it so expensive to build a detached home in Vancouver?

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According to a recently released study, Metro Vancouver is the most expensive city in Canada to build a new single-detached home. Toronto-based C.D. Howe Institute released a study in August 2018, that outlined the cost of building a single-detached home in metropolitan regions across the country.

By calculating the costs of building a new home compared to buying one, they estimated that a home in Greater Vancouver cost $644,000 more. The second-most expensive metropolitan area is Abbotsford-Mission, which cost $311,000 more.

So why is this so much more expensive? The report cited the following reasons:
Land accessibility. In Metro Vancouver, it’s much more difficult to get access to land to build on. There are very few spaces that are available, which drives up the prices, and that is included into the final price of the home.

Protection of Agricultural Land. BC protects agricultural land and severely restricts any development on this land deemed for farming. This reduces the amount of accessible land and in cities with large farming areas, such as Abbotsford, leads to higher land prices elsewhere.

Non-resident demand. Non-resident buyers drive up the costs of property and tend to own houses and condos that are far more valuable than that which is owned by residents. According to StatsCan data, non-resident buyers own as much as 19 percent of the condos built between 2016 and 2017 in the City of Vancouver. Again, more demand leads to higher costs.

But when you look at the high costs a little closer, it’s obvious that it’s the price of the land, not the price of building a home that’s driving prices up. These high costs affect both new homes and old homes. Having a company like Clay Construction build your dream home won’t cost you dramatically more than in other cities if you already own your land. If you’re looking for a way to increase the value of your property and live in a home that fits your family perfectly, Clay Construction can deliver everything you’re looking for.

Vancouver’s Renewable City Action Plan

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In 2017, the city of Vancouver announced their Renewable Action Plan, a multi-sector strategy to ensure that Vancouver derives all of its energy from renewable sources by 2050. This plan has set an interim target for 2030 to see carbon pollution reduced by 50% below 2007 levels and to derive 55% of the energy used in Vancouver from renewable sources.

According to the city’s Action Plan, 55% of the carbon pollution in the city comes from buildings (residential, commercial, and industrial) with another 41% coming from transportation. The remaining 4 percent comes from solid waste.

Because of this huge amount of carbon pollution coming from buildings, the city is targeting new outcomes that are expected in the coming decades. Such outcomes include new and existing buildings containing more energy-efficient walls and windows, insulation and heating equipment will be upgraded, and buildings will be more comfortable and healthier.

There will also be an increased push to encourage residents to choose healthy forms of transportation, such as transit, car-sharing, and more electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. To reduce the solid waste, recycling and composting will become much more commonplace.

So how does this affect new homes built in the coming years? Very simply, home builders will have to become much more energy efficient in their planning and execution of any new houses and will have to keep these outcomes and goals in mind when talking with home buyers about what they will want and need in the new buildings.

Finding a home builder with experience designing and building energy-efficient homes will ensure that your dream home can meet and exceed these new guidelines. Clay Construction averages an 85 in the Energuide rating for the new homes they’re building, far exceeding what most home builders can achieve. They are a Net Zero Home Builder, so they build homes that produce as much energy as they consume. They are also a certified R2000 builder, which means they are experienced building homes that have superior energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and use environmentally responsible products and materials. If you want your new home exceeding Vancouver’s guidelines, contact Clay Construction.

Home renovations and hazardous materials in Vancouver

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Having your home renovated is an exciting time for any homeowner. It’s like you’re getting the best of your old home combined with all the extras and benefits of a new home. There’s something refreshing and invigorating about doing more to your house than just a fresh coat of paint. Opening up your kitchen, knocking down a wall or two, and seeing your home transformed makes all the sacrifice and costs worthwhile.

One unseen problem with home renovations could be the presence of hazardous materials within. Owners of homes constructed before 1990 could be dealing with asbestos in the walls, tiling, or duct work. Once asbestos-containing materials are disturbed by construction workers and become airborne, they can be inhaled and lead to lung damage and other serious diseases. Other substances such as lead or arsenic could also be present in the paints or caulking used.

Any company that offers home renovation services must have employees that are trained to spot these dangerous substances and know how to properly handle them. It isn’t as simple as knocking it down and throwing it in a pile. Hazardous materials removal is a government-regulated operation and must be done correctly to protect the workers and the environment around your home as well as where it’s going to be disposed of.

home renovations hazmat

If you’re talking to home renovation companies, you need to ask them how they will handle hazardous materials and find out what their policies and procedures are. Check with WorkSafeBC to ensure that this company is following all government regulations.

At Clay Construction, we pride ourselves in our commitment to safety and the protection of our employees and the environment we work and live in. We follow all WorkSafeBC-mandated procedures, such as performing complete surveys on all areas that could possibly contain these types of dangerous materials. If Clay Construction is renovating your home, you know that our expertise is protecting your home and the environment around it.

Why build a custom home?

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To be honest, we think the better question would be “Why wouldn’t you build a custom home?” There are so many advantages to building a custom home, especially in the Lower Mainland, it appears to be the most logical choice. In case you need some more convincing, here are some reasons why we think you should build a custom home.

Your blank canvas
One complaint that we hear from people who have bought pre-built homes is that they’re always missing something. The kitchen is too small, there aren’t enough bathrooms, they wished they had more sunlight. When you talk to a custom home builder like Clay Construction, they’ll start by working with you to make sure you have everything you want. The design is blank to begin, and your wants, needs, and dreams go onto the plans. This is a home made especially for your family.

Superior quality
Working with the home builder, you’re making all the decisions concerning the materials used in the build. There are no shortcuts being taken and every worker is one of the best in their field. The tradesmen are experienced professionals and the building code is strategically exceeded. With over 15 years building custom homes, Clay Construction delivers quality above and beyond the other builders.

Greener is better
Great custom home builders exceed the Canadian requirements for environmental standards. Clay Construction is a leader in building healthy, efficient and comfortable homes such as Energy Star, R2000 and Net Zero homes.

Pride
Everyone loves showing off their homes. It’s great when someone comes over to visit and you get to give them a walk-through and show off the amenities. Now imagine how it would feel to give them the grand tour of your custom-built dream home. No experience compares to it.

Come and talk to the experienced professionals at Clay Construction and we’ll give you an even longer list of reasons to build your own custom home.

What is geotechnical engineering?

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When a new construction project is proposed and the initial planning begins, many factors must be considered before a single worker starts digging into the ground. Plans must be drawn up, architectural designs considered, schedules and budgets organized and geotechnical engineering must be done. But what is geotechnical engineering? Here is a very basic explanation.

Geotechnical engineering is the study of the engineering properties of earth materials. Engineers take samples of the ground underneath the proposed construction site to see what kinds of soil, rock, fault distribution, and bedrock properties are underneath. They study the slope of the land. They determine the risk to humans if there is a chance of earthquake, landslide, sinkholes and other natural disasters.

Think of this as the study of the structural engineering of the ground, instead of the structure itself. They have to consider questions such as this: How much weight can the ground support. If the land is soft and not compacted, what could possibly happen if you build a house on top of it?

In the Lower Mainland, a geotechnical engineer must study the slope and gradient of the land they’re going to build on. One look at all of the new homes being built on the sides of the hills and mountains around Vancouver and it is obvious that any home builder must be concerned with how the sloped land will be affected and how well they will be able to cut into the side of the mountain. Earthquake preparedness is also a very large consideration as well. A geotechnical engineer must consider what will happen to the structure if Vancouver gets an earthquake.

When you high a top custom home builder, such as Clay Construction, you know you’re getting one of the top geotechnical engineers as well. We don’t start construction on anything until we’ll absolutely sure of the land underneath. Come and talk to us, check out our many years of experience, and we can build you the home of your dreams.