Sunter Homes

Green Living: Top Features in Canadian Eco-Friendly Homes

When you think about your dream home, it's not just about the stylish layout or the stunning views. It's also about building a future for yourself and the planet. That's why eco-friendly features in homes are becoming not just a nice-to-have but a must-have. Especially here in Canada, where nature's beauty surrounds us, it makes sense to live in a way that preserves it.

And as we move through 2024, green technologies are no longer a thing of the future—they're here, now, and accessible.

Innovative Insulation Options

Staying warm during those Canadian winters is top of mind for any homeowner. But how do you keep the cold out, the warmth in, and your energy bills down? Innovative insulation.

Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) are revolutionizing how we build walls. These innovative blocks, panels, or planks made of rigid foam aren't just put in place for structure; they're filled with concrete and act as a powerhouse duo of strength and insulation.

What's incredible about ICFs is their ability to increase your home's insulation values drastically. This means less energy is needed to heat your home, which translates to lower bills—something every homeowner loves to hear.

But beyond the cost savings, the tighter air seal provided by ICFs contributes to a more consistent temperature throughout your home, reducing the hot and cold spots that are all too common in traditional builds.

Let’s not forget the additional benefit of insulation: soundproofing. The thick, continuous insulation layers dampen sounds outside, making your home a tranquil oasis.

Sustainable Heating Solutions

How you heat your home is just as important as keeping that heat from escaping. Sustainable heating solutions like radiant floor heating systems and geothermal energy are changing the game.

Imagine stepping out of bed in the middle of February onto toasty, warm floors. Sunter Homes can help you experience the luxury of radiant floor heating: a network of tubes runs beneath your floors, carrying heated water that warms your toes and your entire home. It's energy-efficient because it directly heats what you want, where you want, eliminating the loss that happens with traditional forced-air systems.

Geothermal systems take it further by tapping into the Earth's natural heat. Below the frost line, the ground stays at a relatively consistent temperature year-round, and geothermal technology leverages this to heat and cool your home. A geothermal heat pump with an air handler uses a fraction of the energy of a conventional HVAC system but provides you with comfortable temperatures no matter what's happening outside.

Water Efficiency Technologies

Water is one of our most precious resources; every drop counts in your home. From the kitchen faucet to the garden hose, advances in water efficiency technologies mean you can enjoy the same comforts while using less.

Take water storage tanks, for example. These aren’t just any tanks; they’re part of a system that collects rainwater from your roof, filters it, and repurposes it for your garden or toilet. This way, you're not just saving on your water bill but also reducing your dependence on municipal sources and ensuring that every time you water your plants, you’re not tapping into—and paying for—treated drinking water. Sunter Homes specializes in integrating these advanced water-saving systems, ensuring your home is both luxurious and environmentally responsible.

Let's talk about the fixtures that are changing the game in water conservation, too. Low-flow toilets, showerheads, and taps are designed to use significantly less water than their standard counterparts without sacrificing performance. By installing these in your home, you're making a choice that benefits both the environment and your wallet.

But water-saving tech continues beyond fixtures. Greywater recycling systems are becoming a homeowner's best friend. They take water from showers and sinks—not toilets, don't worry—and recycle it for non-potable uses. It's a smart way to reduce waste and make the most of every litre.

Renewable Energy Integration

The sun that beams down on your home is more than just natural light; it's an energy source waiting to be harnessed.

Photovoltaic systems, or solar panels, are becoming a staple on rooftops across Canada. These systems turn sunlight into electricity to power everything from your fridge to your phone charger. These systems come in various sizes to fit different energy needs and roof spaces. Still, they all work towards a common goal—reducing reliance on the grid and lowering electricity costs.

The incentives available, like the microFIT program in Ontario, make going solar even more appealing in Canada. This program helps offset the initial investment in solar panels and allows you to profit by selling your surplus energy back to the grid.

Yes, you read that right. Your home could generate more power than it uses, and the excess could make you money while also contributing to a greener community. So, with solar panels, you're not just powering your home; you’re powering a movement towards a more sustainable future for all.

Working with a visionary home builder like Sunter Homes means having access to the latest solar technology and assistance in navigating incentive programs like microFIT, making the transition to renewable energy seamless.

Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation

Breathing easy in your home is about more than just comfort; it's about your health. That's where systems like Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs) and Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) come into play. Especially in the cooler months when homes are sealed tight against the cold, the air inside can start to feel stale, and the level of indoor pollutants can be higher than the air outside.

These ventilation systems provide a continuous supply of fresh outdoor air while retaining the heat from the indoor air that's being expelled. It's like opening a window to let in fresh air without the chill.

HRVs and ERVs keep the air fresh and use less energy, which is good for both the planet and your monthly bills. When summer rolls around, an ERV can help keep the humidity level in your home balanced so you can stay cool without feeling damp. This improved air circulation can help reduce the symptoms of those with allergies or respiratory issues, truly making your home a sanctuary.

When it comes to keeping the air clean, chem-bio air wash machines are a homeowner's high-tech ally. After all the painting, sealing, and finishing are done in a new or renovated home, this machine cycles through the air, filtering out volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other airborne particles.

You're left with air that’s not just fresh but practically scrubbed clean.

Smart Design for Sunlight Management

Sunlight is beautiful, but when it comes to your home, it's all about managing it smartly to maintain comfort and energy efficiency. This is where louvred sunshades shine.

Think of them as high-tech sunglasses for your home. They automatically adjust to let in light and warmth in the winter while providing shade in the summer. This eco-friendly design saves you money on heating and cooling and adds to your home's curb appeal.

But strategic sunlight management isn't just about the outside of your home. Inside, intelligent design choices can make a world of difference to your home's thermal efficiency.

Think about high-performance windows that let in light while blocking UV rays that can heat your home in the summer. Or consider the placement of rooms and windows for passive solar heating—a design technique that takes advantage of the sun's natural warmth during cold months.

These intelligent designs do more than save on energy costs; they create inviting spaces filled with natural light that make your home not just a place to live but to thrive. The design experts at Sunter Homes can help you incorporate these innovative sunlight solutions and enhance your home's beauty and efficiency.

Heat Recovery and Efficient Drainage

Did you know that when you have a hot shower in colder months, you can recover the heat that is lost down the drain? That's what drain water heat recovery systems are for.

These ingenious setups reclaim heat from the water you've already used to warm the cold water which enters your water heater or other plumbing fixtures. It's a clever way to cut down on energy use, and because they mostly use gravity and heat exchange, there are no moving parts to worry about.

In your eco-friendly home, every bit of efficiency helps, and drain water heat recovery contributes to that without you even noticing. You're saving energy and money without sacrificing a single drop of comfort in your daily routines.

Diagnostic Tools for Green Homes

So you've got all these eco-friendly features in your home, but how do you know they're working as well as they should be? Enter diagnostic tools, like the blower door test, to gauge how airtight your home is.

During this test, a powerful fan mounted into an exterior door frame blows air out of your house, lowering the air pressure inside. The higher outside air pressure then flows back into the house through all unsealed cracks and openings, revealing the areas where your home is letting heat escape.

Why does this matter? Air leakage can account for a significant portion of a home's energy loss, making your heating and cooling systems work harder than needed. With a blower door test, you can pinpoint and seal these leaks, ensuring your home's energy efficiency is top-notch.

Embracing a Sustainable Future in Home Design

Wrapping up our exploration of eco-friendly features in modern homes, it's clear that green living is no passing trend. It’s a comprehensive approach to home design that embraces efficiency, innovation, and a deep respect for the environment—all while maintaining the elegance and comfort you seek in your living space.

These features, from ground-breaking insulation options to cutting-edge ventilation systems, represent more than technical advancements; they're a testament to a lifestyle choice that prioritizes sustainability. By adopting water conservation practices, integrating renewable energy sources, and ensuring that your home is a paragon of energy efficiency, you're not just building a house—you're setting a standard for the future of residential living.

As you take these insights off the page and into your life, consider the impact that such choices have on your immediate environment and the broader canvas we all share. Each eco-friendly feature you implement is a step toward a cleaner, more sustainable world.

So, if you're ready to embrace these features in your home or want to discover more about green home design, reach out to the experts.

Sunter Homes is at the forefront of sustainable home building, and our team is equipped to guide you through the journey of creating an eco-friendly home that doesn't just meet today's standards but is ready for the innovations of tomorrow.

Let your home be a testament to your commitment to green living and an inspiration to everyone charting their own course toward sustainable living.

by Sunter Homes

Open Vs. Closed Concept Which is Better?

Professional Advice for deciding if an open or closed floor plan is right for you

While architecture and interior design often go hand in hand and work together harmoniously, they can also end up at odds with one another. A prime example of this is the layout of your home and whether it should have a closed or open floor plan.

Read More: REFINING YOUR HOME DESIGN IDEAS WITH AN ARCHITECT

Modern, open concept floor plans are all the rage right now and are appealing from a design perspective, but they may not be the best fit for every structure and homeowner. The same applies for closed floor plans.

You might be thinking – can’t my contractor decide this for me? Even though we are a highly-experienced contractor able to provide a wealth of knowledge, when it comes to helping you make this decision, it’s important for you, the homeowner, to also have a solid understanding of the pros and cons of each floor plan option going into your custom home design project to help establish your expectations.

Read More: BUILDING THE CUSTOM HOME OF YOUR DREAMS: INSPIRATION AND DESIGN

What Is an Open Concept Home?

In open-concept homes, barriers are eliminated and traditional closed-off rooms are replaced by open spaces that aren’t separated by walls.

Such a floor plan can often exclude hallways, doors, and of course, walls, resulting in a more inviting, seemingly larger layout.

These types of floor plans have surged in popularity over the past decade as they are the epitome of contemporary design and offer homeowners a variety of benefits.

Benefits of An Open Concept Home

Space

Open-concept floor plans are excellent for creating space in a smaller home. Because there are not many walls to break up the flow of your space and divide it into separated rooms, you’ll have one large open area that looks bigger than it actually is.

This not only allows people to move around more easily but makes your home feel more spacious.

Versatility

What’s great about an open floor plan is that you can turn your space into anything you want it to be, and you don’t have to commit yourself to one permanent layout.

The absence of walls makes it easier to re-designate certain areas for different purposes and come up with creative ways to separate spaces without closing them off.

Safety

Open concept homes can be a great option for families with young children, as it makes it easier to keep an eye on your little ones at all times.

This means you can be cooking dinner in the kitchen and still be able to keep a watchful eye on your kids watching television in the living room. Or if you’re the one watching that’s watching T.V., you’ll be able to see them sneak cookies from the kitchen. It’s a win-win for parents, really.

Accessibility

With an open concept home, you have more flexibility when it comes to furniture layout and room design, allowing you to create a better flow of traffic.

This can also be incredibly beneficial for people who require mobility aids, since there are fewer doorways, hallways, and narrow passages that can be difficult to navigate.

Resale Value

Open concept is a real estate buzz word, often giving these homes an advantage when it comes to resale.

Many buyers are attracted to these types of floor plans and are often willing to pay more for a home with an open interior compared to a similar home with a closed floor plan.

Whether you’re in your forever home or plan on putting it up for sale in the future, you may want to consider an open floor plan to boost home value.

Plenty of Natural Light

A significant advantage of having an open floor plan is the amount of natural light that fills your home. It’s no surprise that sunlight is a real mood changer, so having it flood through all corner of your home can have a calming, relaxing effect.

Without walls to break up space, sunlight is able to disperse throughout the home, making the entire house feel bigger, brighter, and homier.

Downsides to an Open Floor Plan

While there are many benefits to designing a home with an open floor plan, there are some drawbacks to consider.

For example, rather than designing several individual, distinct spaces as you would with a closed floor plan, an open-concept floor plan requires a cohesive design process throughout the space with the right décor and furnishings to avoid clashing styles.

Additional downsides to an open concept home include:

When Would an Open Floor Plan be Recommended?

Open concept homes without dividing walls are ideal for smaller homes, as this helps to open up the space and makes your home look and feel larger than it actually is.

Here are some additional instances where an open floor plan may be recommended:

What Does Closed Concept Mean?

A closed concept home has a traditional floor plan and layout that features multiple rooms or separated spaces enclosed by walls and doors.

Essentially, each designated area of the home becomes its own separate space or room, including the kitchen, dining room, and living room.

Benefits of a Closed Concept Home

While open-concept has been trending in recent years, some homeowners are starting to shift away from modern floor plans in favour of more traditional, closed-off designs.

Here are a few reasons to explain this.

Privacy

While having more open space can be great for bringing families together, sometimes, you may want a bit of privacy, which can be hard to come by without many walls, doors, or separated spaces.

Closed rooms in your home’s main areas that are separated by walls and doors help you to isolate the space if need be.

Furthermore, walls and doors offer an extra layer of soundproofing for the home, giving you even more privacy than with an open concept floor plan.

Sound Control

Any family with young children knows that sound travels, and with an open layout, sound will inevitably carry throughout the house more so than with a closed-off home.

Another benefit of a closed concept home is that sound is contained within a particular room and tends to not travel as much throughout the house and disturb other family members who may need a bit of peace and quiet from time to time.

Energy Efficiency

With an open floor plan, the entire space must be heated or cooled, while traditional, closed floor plans can allow you to heat or cool certain rooms.

This means that with a closed floor plan, you are likely to pay less for heating and cooling costs.

Tidiness

With a closed floor plan, it’s easy to hide clutter in less-used rooms or put off tidying up when life gets busy.

But with an open floor plan, it’s hard to escape and ignore messes and clutter, and you may find that you have to put more effort into keeping your home tidy.

Interior Design

A closed layout is often more appealing from a design standpoint, as it allows you focus on making each room unique and design it to match your own personal taste rather than having to pick one type of design or décor for the entire home.

For example, in an open concept home, the dining area, living room, and kitchen have to be cohesive.

But with closed-concept, you get to be a bit more creative and not worry as much about picking décor that compliments the design of other rooms.

Downsides of a Closed Concept Home

Some downsides to a closed concept home include:

Things to Take into Consideration When Choosing Open vs. Closed Concept

Do You Host A Lot of Parties and Events?

If you’re the life of the party and frequently entertain guests in your home or take pleasure in hosting extravagant dinner parties on the weekends, this is something you should keep in mind when designing or remodelling your home.

Read More: 6 TRANSFORMATIVE KITCHEN DESIGN TIPS

Having an open concept layout means you can be cooking up a storm in the kitchen, while still having the ability to interact with your guests in the living area.

An open concept layout also allows guests to move more effortlessly between the kitchen, living room, and dining area for a more inviting experience.

That being said, you’ll have to keep in mind that any messes you make in the kitchen will be visible to your guests.

Do You Prefer Smaller, Quiet Spaces?

If you enjoy having a study or other room to retreat to for some peace and quiet, and open floor plan may not suit your needs (unless you live solo, of course).

With open floor plans, everything is accessible, making it difficult to find a space to call your own and that is free of distractions.

Does Your Family Create a Lot of Noise?

Whether it’s noise from the TV, pets, chatter, the latest metal hits or clinking and rattling in the kitchen, open concept homes tend to elevate the sounds in your house. If you’re hard of hearing or don’t mind the background noise, open concept could still work for you.

But a closed layout will help to contain the noise and prevent it from spreading throughout your home.

Do You Prefer a Modern or Classic Look?

Open floor plans offer a contemporary and modern style, while closed-concept provides a more classic, traditional look.

Therefore, nailing down your own personal tastes and preferences when it comes to home design is important, as it can be a significant factor when deciding which floor plan best suits your needs.

Do You Spend a Lot of Time in The Kitchen?

If you cook a lot at home, an open concept kitchen means messy pots, pans, and dirty dishes will be visible to family and friends in other areas of the house. Not to mention, smells and sounds will inevitably travel from the kitchen out into the living room area.

Plus, keeping your kitchen clean becomes a constant chore (more so than it already is), as you can no longer put off doing the dishes by hiding them behind a wall until the next day.

On the other hand, if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, a closed-concept design means you’re isolated from the happenings of your home. It’s all about your personal preference!

When it comes to deciding whether to choose an open or closed floor plan, you have a lot to think about.

Read More: HOME RENOVATION PLANNING FROM START TO FINISH

Ultimately, it’s important to consider your overall lifestyle and choose a layout that works for you and your family.

Before making this decision, ask for guidance from professionals to gain a better understanding of what each layout will entail so you can make an educated decision regarding what is best for your home.

At Sunter Homes, it’s our mission to build you the home you’ve always dreamed of
and work towards bringing your vision to life.
Give us a call!

by Sunter Homes

Factors to Consider When Choosing Bathroom Materials

A Guide to the Best Building Materials to Incorporate in Your Bathroom Renovation Project

When designing a custom bathroom, of course, you want your new space to be aesthetically pleasing and reflect your personality. But looks are not the only factors at play here.

Bathrooms pose a unique challenge from a design and building perspective, as all materials must withstand conditions unlike any other part of the home.

While you should have an idea of what your design will look like, your immediate preferences may not always guide your decisions since there are so many other non-aesthetic factors to consider that make up a successful bathroom renovation.

Read More: BRINGING LUXURY TO ANY BATHROOM

Read on for our guide on how aesthetics and function must work cohesively when it comes to bathroom renovations.

Considerations for Choosing Bathroom Materials

Moisture Resistance

This is perhaps the most important consideration you will need to account for when choosing bathroom materials. From showers, baths, and running tap water, bathrooms are constantly steamy and damp. For this reason, it is absolutely imperative that every design element in your bathroom – including your vanity, flooring, and walls – is able to withstand moisture.

Heat Resistance

After stepping out of the shower or bath, the warmth that fills the room often lingers, as evidenced by fogged-up mirrors and windows.

So, besides just moisture, your bathroom materials need to be durable enough to withstand heat from steam and hot hair tools that may be left out on the bathroom counter.

Picking Out Materials for Your Bathroom Remodel

Now that you know what to look for in bathroom materials, it’s time to start narrowing down your list.

As award-winning custom home contractors, we’re an excellent source of knowledge and can help you with this next phase in your bathroom renovation project. But to give you a better understanding of what you should be looking for, here are our tips for picking out materials for your bathroom remodel.

Flooring

When planning a bathroom remodel, one of the most important decisions you will make is choosing what type of flooring to install.

Durability is an important factor in this decision, along with moisture resistance, and slip resistance is to prevent unnecessary injury.

To help ensure your bathroom floor is slip-resistant and has some traction, look for flooring materials that have some texture to them.

And when researching different materials, don’t forget to search for information on how it will perform under stress – i.e. heavy foot traffic, heat, and water – and think about how easy it will be to clean. For example, tile tends to be more difficult to clean because of the grout, so if you’re a stickler for super clean floors, you may want to avoid smaller, more detailed tiles or avoid thick grout lines.

For easy-to-clean tiles, your best bet is to choose larger tiles with thin grout lines.

With that being said, here are some of the most popular bathroom flooring options:

Walls

Unlike floors, walls tend to be more forgiving when it comes to the elements of your bathroom. Because of this, you have a bit more flexibility when it comes to choosing wall materials.

However, you still need to make cognitive decisions when it comes to choosing materials that will make sure your walls are moisture-resistant to prevent things like mold, mildew, and rot.

If you’re opting for a fresh coat of paint in a smashing new colour, always pick out a bathroom-specific paint that is both moisture and mildew resistant.

Countertops

Your vanity takes a heavy beating over the years, having to withstand soap, water, cosmetics, harsh cleaning products and hot hair tools on its surface. It also acts as a workstation during morning rush hour and likely won’t get a much-needed wipe down until later that day.

What does this mean for your bathroom renovation? Choosing a countertop that will hold up against whatever life (and your toiletry bag) throws at it. In other words, delicate, porous, easy-to-stain surfaces need not apply.

Some beautiful and durable options for bathroom counters that are also moisture resistant include:

Cabinets

Cabinets have a wonderful ability to dramatically change the entire look and feel of your bathroom. From two-tone to see-thru, they are the facelift of any bathroom remodel. While choosing the cabinets you truly love is important, you also want them to withstand the test of time, so durability is also key when narrowing down your choices.

Some popular options for bathroom cabinetry include:

Materials to Avoid

We’ve covered the basics when dealing with which materials work best in bathroom environments, but there are some that you should completely avoid at all costs.

Here are some examples of bathroom materials we absolutely do not recommend.

Thin Laminate

Although laminate floors can look fantastic and withstand wear and tear from children and pets, if this is something you want in your bathroom, be sure to choose a thicker vinyl laminate that can stand up to daily heat and moisture.

Thin laminate gradually separates, while wood core laminate buckles or discolours, allowing water to seep in between the boards and leading to serious, costly damage. So, be sure to ask which laminate flooring is specifically recommended for the bathroom.

The Takeaway

While designing a bathroom is not as cut and dry as other rooms in your home, with help from home building experts, you can achieve the bathroom you’ve always wanted without sacrificing your vision.

To help you design your dream bathroom that withstands the elements,
contact Sunter Homes today!

by Sunter Homes

Refining Your Home Design Ideas with an Architect

From Concept to Construction Drawings and Administration, Learn How Architects Help Bring Your Home To Life

So you want to build the home of your dreams—fantastic! Custom home design and construction is a big investment, but one that’s definitely worth it. After all, how often do you get to experience a home that’s tailor-made for your family and lifestyle?

Chances are you’ve got plenty of ideas for the design and layout of your home in mind. Still, translating those ideas into concrete plans for contractors and home builders is a challenge.

That’s where architects come in.

Architects take your ideas, dreams, and inspiration and create real-world plans. They help bring your dreams to life, translating your vision into a tangible reality.

If you’re just starting down the path of custom home construction, architects can provide a helping hand along the way, keeping the creation of your home on track.

Let’s take a closer look at how architects can help you!

Architects translate your dreams into a concrete plan.

What Do Architects Do?

Let’s get the basics out of the way first: architects are individuals who design buildings, frequently overseeing their construction, as well. Architecture, after all, is the art, science, and business of building.

Equal parts designers and engineers, architects are versatile people who work with clients (whether they’re businesses, families, individuals, or organizations) to create buildings based on their needs and specifications.

Architects have extensive knowledge of not only the art of creating a building but the regulations, processes, and technical details needed to get the job done.

Architects frequently supervise teams of engineers and contractors, or they may simply be a consultant—it depends on the project.

Basically, commissioning an architect to design your home means you’re getting access to a wealth of knowledge. At Sunter Homes, we regularly work with several architects, but we’re just as comfortable working with one of your own preference.

Architects vs. Designers: What’s the Difference?

By now, you might be thinking to yourself, “Architects sound a lot like designers—so what’s the difference?”

The short answer? A lot.

The long answer? Architects typically focus on the bigger picture, but that big picture can also encompass some of the design features of a home.

Architects are most often responsible for the structure and façade of the buildings they work on, but the designs they come up with for a home may also influence the interior design.

Designers focus more on interiors and materials.

Designers, on the other hand, are almost entirely focused on the interior. While they may be able help create the spaces you’re after, their scope and expertise can be more limited.

For example, if you ask designers for two additional bedrooms for your kids, they can do it for you, no problem, but an architect can help you create additional bedrooms with enough soundproofing that you can sneak more gifts under the tree at Christmas without being heard.

What’s more, architectural services go beyond the design of your home. They help you prepare plans, handle construction documents on your behalf, and can even administer and organize the construction of your home, always making sure everything is up to code and abides by local zoning bylaws.

Do You Need an Architect for Your Custom Home?

In Ontario, it’s not necessary for an architect to design a house, but whoever designs your home and makes a submission for the building permits must be a licensed architect, a certified professional engineer (authorized b the Professional Engineers of Ontario), or a province-accredited house designer with a Building Code Identification Number (BCIN).

That being said, an architect will typically have a BCIN. What’s more, they can help you navigate the design process all the way to breaking ground and through to the finished home.

Understanding Design Phases

Perhaps one of the best ways to understand how architects can help you is to take a closer look at design phases and how they inform custom home construction.

These four phases start with high-concept, big-picture ideas and progress all the way to detailed plans used by contractors and home builders.

Conceptual Design

Conceptual design is almost exactly what it sounds like: the design of loose, even freehand, sketches and designs to help map out what you want your home to look like.

These are preliminary sets of drawing to help narrow down what you’re looking for and to rough in the basic shape and structure of your home.

During this phase, architects will likely ask about a program: a wish list or description of what you’re looking for in your home. This is your opportunity to send your architect every idea and concept that’s caught your eye and to share all your inspiration!

Conceptual designs let architects mockup ideas quickly and develop a theme.

Schematic Design

Schematic design refers specifically to more precise sketches, getting the rough conceptual ideas into something a bit more concrete that reflects exactly what you’re after.

By this point, your architect has likely developed a parti, short for “parti pris.” This is a French term that, to architects, refers to the big idea, concept, or theme behind your project. The parti informs the project and tends to fall into the schematic phase.

Design Development

This is typically where contractors and designers get a bit more involved. Design development is the phase wherein materials and details are selected. This is fairly standard practice: at Sunter Homes, we help our clients select all materials well in advance of construction.

All these decisions help create a plan of attack for building the home of your dreams. Architects can help streamline the entire process, or you can choose to work closely with your contractors when it comes to material selection.

Construction drawings are the roadmap to building your dream home.

Construction Drawings

Finally, construction drawings are the full plans and designs that accurately describe exactly what will be built.

These drawings are the final design, and incorporate everything from exterior elevations (profile views of the building’s design), floor plans, sections (quite literally cross-sections that can help contractors create framing and other structural elements), and details (the specific elements where a designer or architect wants to convey greater information).

Construction drawings, in fact, are blueprints. “Blueprint” is a somewhat outdated term, as most construction drawings are done now on white paper, with no need for the chemically treated blue paper that construction drawings were once created on.

Construction drawings are the roadmap to creating the home of your dreams.

Architects Work with Your Contractors

It’s easy to get a bit lost in defining the roles and responsibilities of architects, designers, and contractors, but it’s important to remember that architects work with your team. After all, everyone you’ve hired to build your home is after the same goal!

While there is no stipulation that you must hire an architect for your custom home, they’re an incredibly invaluable resource to draw upon. From the initial design phases straight through to construction administration, they’re ready to help with every aspect of custom home construction—and then some.

At Sunter Homes, we have the pleasure of being able to work with some very talented architects. We’re always happy to make recommendations and introductions, but we’re equally at home working with an architect you’ve contracted ahead of time.

Our goal, as always, is to create beauty built to last.

by Sunter Homes

Building the Custom Home of Your Dreams: Bringing Your Dream to Life

Putting the Finishing Touches on Your Dream Home—Ahead of Time

So, you’ve designed the home of your dreams, you’ve broken ground, and you’re knee-deep in the building process. The roof is up, the floors are roughed in, and it’s time to start considering how the home will look and feel once it’s finished.

Some contractors wait until this moment to discuss ways to customize and personalize your home, roughing in a few basic ideas during your initial consultation but waiting to finalize until a later date.

There are two sides to this: yes, you get a better sense of how your home will look in the moment, and it takes out a lot of the guesswork, but this can come with added costs.

It’s understandable why so many people want to wait to settle on these things. After all, it can be difficult to imagine how your finished home will look while it’s being built. What’s more, self-doubt can creep in. How can you be completely certain the materials you’ve chosen will look good together until you see them side by side, in your home?

Simple: you work with experts who’ll help you navigate the design and construction process from start to finish.

At Sunter Homes, we make it a priority to help our clients choose the materials that best reflect their style and what they want, well before we break ground. You could say we help put the finishing touches on a home right at the start!

With that in mind, here are a few things to keep in mind while putting the “finishing touches” on your custom home—and how your custom home builders can help.

Choosing Finishing Materials

Again, if you’re waiting until the end to choose materials, you’re in for a bit of stress. We recommend choosing finishing materials well in advance to take out the guesswork.

Trusted contractors will provide you with a wealth of options and styles, including samples, to help you better visualize how your home will look once it’s finished.

Beautiful Flooring

Flooring provides endless potential for further customization and personalization in your home. While hardwood floors remain popular for their versatility and timeless appeal, there are several other options you can consider.

Unique tilework in kitchens and bathrooms allows you to create patterns that please the eye. You can even use these patterns and designs to compliment (or even offset) other materials and backsplash tilework.

If you’re keen on sticking to wooden flooring, then you might want to consider exploring different wood grains and stains. Parquet flooring can let you create subtle (or bold) patterns, too.

There are also many varieties of synthetic materials, like vinyl, that allow even greater customization for the exact look and feel you’re after.

Custom Cabinetry

Custom cabinetry is an amazing way to provide a beautiful finishing touch to your kitchen, bathroom, or closet. Built to your specifications, these cabinets provide elegant storage solutions throughout your home.

Most cabinet makers provide a range of materials and design options for you to choose from, but you can go a step further and have completely custom cabinets made for your home.

Even if you’re sticking to basic shaker-style storage options, cabinet hardware presents another amazing way for you to add a personal touch to any cabinet.

Stunning Countertops

Marble countertops remain, in the eyes of many, the gold standard of high-quality countertop material, but with the wide variety of materials now available, customizing the look and feel of your kitchen has never been easier.

Countertops are an often-divisive topic in home décor and design; what’s beautiful to some will be a “what were they thinking?” decision to others, so at the end of the day, remember that it’s about bringing your vision to life.

Many new home builds use plastic laminates like Formica as stock choice, but you can absolutely go to a higher-end marble or quartz. We’ve discussed the pros and cons of various countertop materials in the past, but let’s take a quick moment to recap:

Basically, you’re spoiled for choice!

Crown Molding—Don’t Skip the Details

Crown molding can be thought of as the finishing touch on any beautifully constructed or renovated room.

This fine molding generally caps (or crowns) walls, creating an elegant and refined transition from wall to ceiling. Molding helps give greater depth and definition to a space, subtly influencing its appearance.

There are many classically influenced rules of thumb for designing crown molding, but generally speaking, it’s important to balance angles and contours with neutral space in the design.

There are three key things to keep in mind when designing crown molding: the design should be proportional (think about the Golden Ratio), should provide neutral spaces for the eyes to rest, and offer simple, complementary contours.

Crown molding is a highly detailed finishing touch for any home, but one that’s worth the time and investment to create a unique look that you can enjoy for years to come.

A Fresh Coat of Paint

Your home is fully built to your exact specifications, you’ve got all the materials and features you’ve been after… now what?

It’s time to paint!

This is perhaps one of the easiest ways to truly personalize your custom home, but it’s also arguably one of the toughest decisions to make. After all, there are any number of shades you can use to create the look and feel you’re after.

So, what colours should you choose?

Let’s cover a few basics first. How familiar are you with the colour wheel? It starts with the three primary colours—red, yellow, and blue. Red can be found on the wheel at the 12:00 position, yellow at 4:00, and blue at 8:00.

All other colours are made from various combinations of these primary colours, and fall at different positions on the wheel, cycling from warm colours to cooler colours and back again.

Colours next to each other on the wheel pair well, in most cases, but one will always be prominent. Colours directly across from each other, meanwhile, are complementary and play off each other nicely; for example, blue and orange are complementary colours.

You may want subtle, understated tones in one room and cooler tones in another. White is a great way to make a small room feel more expansive, and touches and pops of colour here and there can draw the eye and create unique focal points.

Making Your Custom House a Home

Really, we’re only scratching the surface of what’s possible with these finishing touches. A huge part of how your new custom home looks and feels will depend on the furniture and décor you choose, too.

The above tips are a great way to get started with these finishing touches to truly bring your dream home to life, but they’re just that: a starting point.

If you’re looking to create something truly beautiful that stands the test of time, get in touch with Sunter Homes today to discuss your vision.

We’ll help show you how we can bring it to life.

by Sunter Homes

Building the Custom Home of Your Dreams:
Breaking Ground And Building

A Look at the Construction Process for Building Custom Homes from Start to Finish

You’ve decided you want to build the custom home of your dreams.

You’ve found designers, architects, and contractors you’re excited to work with.

Your designs and plans are ready to go.

Now it’s time to break ground and start the build!

This is an incredibly exciting time in any home construction project. It’s where the rubber meets the road, so to speak, and you can actually see your vision come to life before your eyes.

As exciting a time as it is, it can still feel a bit overwhelming. It’s your home, after all, and you want to be involved in every stage of construction.

Chances are, you’re going to have a lot of questions for your contractors, and they’re going to have a lot of questions for you.

That’s why we’ve put together this helpful guide that you can use to track the construction of your home, and to give you an idea of what to expect during the entire process.

Let’s take a look!

Site Prep and Foundations

Unless you’ve got a lot prepped and ready to go, it’ll need to be cleared of debris before you can properly break ground. This means hauling away stones and uprooting vegetation that’ll get in the way.

You’ll also need to level the site, which is typically accomplished with a backhoe and bulldozer.

Once that’s done, though, your construction team can break ground.

While the team here at Sunter Homes will always handle every aspect of construction on your behalf, we definitely understand when our clients want to be the ones to break ground.

It’s a special moment, after all—this is the very first step you take towards building your dream home, after all.

If you want to take the first swing with a pickaxe or be the first person to use a shovel while digging out foundations, let your contractors know. You don’t need to do the whole job, but it’s a fun moment that’s worth a photo, at least!

Once the crew levels the site, they put up wooden forms to create a template for the foundation of your home, dig holes and trenches, and install footings. They’ll also dig a well or space for a septic tank if needed.

If your home has a basement, this is the point at which it’ll be dug out.

From there, it’s time to form and pour concrete footings before forming and pouring the walls of the foundation.

For slab-on-grade, the crew digs, forms, and pours footings, levelling the area between them. They’ll fit this area with utility runs and pour the slab.

After concrete’s been poured, it needs to cure. Construction typically stops at this point while the concrete sets and dries.

After the concrete is cured, your contractors install a waterproof membrane for the foundation walls in addition to drains, sewer and water taps, and other necessary plumbing features.

They will also backfill excavated dirt in the space around the foundation wall.

At this point, an inspector will check out the site to ensure your foundation is up to code. Once they sign off, your contractors remove the concrete forms and move onto the framing.

Building Framing

Think of building framing as the skeleton of your home. This is what gives it shape and supports the building as a whole.

Your home builders start by creating rough framing, including floor systems, walls, and roofing.

Plywood and oriented strand board (OSB) sheathing are commonly used for exterior walls and roofing.

The sheathing gets covered by a protective barrier—what’s known as a house wrap. This keeps water out of the home during the construction process while letting water vapour escape.

Windows and exterior doors often go in at this stage. Once the framing and shell are complete, you’ll get another visit from an inspector.

Next, it’s time to install plumbing, electrical wiring, and other features.

Plumbing, Electrical, And HVAC Installation

Usually, while the roofing and siding are being installed, electricians and plumbers will start running wires and pipes through the ceiling, floors, and interior walls.

Plumbers will install sewer lines and water supply lines. This is also when tubs and showers are brought into the home.

If you’re worried about having to hire more contractors, rest assured: the contractors you’re working with will bring in the experts they need for certain tasks if they can’t do them on their own.

Here at Sunter Homes, we’re able to handle every aspect of custom home construction, and we love finding elegant solutions to wiring and plumbing layouts.

Typically, this is the point at which HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) contractors will install vents and ductwork for your home’s new HVAC system. They will install vent pipes through the roof, and they will also install a furnace.

Once the roof is installed, the house is considered “dried in” and safe for electricians to install receptacles for outlets, lights, and switches, and run wires from the breaker panel to these receptacles.

One of the best benefits of a custom home is that you can get it wired up in a way that works for your needs.

This means custom wiring solutions for home theatres, home offices, telephones, and even power outlet placement.

Assuming it’s up to code, there’s no reason you can’t customize these aspects to your heart’s content.

Once it’s all done, it’s time for—you guessed it—another inspection before moving onto insulation and drywalling.

Insulation, Drywalling, And Interior Textures

Home builders will install insulation in the floors above unfinished basements, walls, and ceilings, including the attic.

There are several types of insulation used in new custom homes, some with better thermal performance than others.

Before you break ground, your contractors will discuss your options with you and how they’ll impact your budget.

Once the insulation is installed, home contractors will hang the drywall and complete the interior drywall textures if applicable. They will also apply a primer coat of paint once the drywall is hung and taped.

During this time, interior doors, baseboards, door casings, window sills, mouldings, stair balusters, and other decorative trim can be installed.

The walls will get a finishing coat of paint and/or wallpaper at this point.

Finishing the Exterior

Your contractors will install exterior finishes such as stucco, brick, stone, and siding.

Exterior driveways, walkways, and patios are installed during this stage. Exterior finish grading is completed to provide proper drainage away from the home.

Next, it’s time for interior details!

Flooring, Counters, And More

This is one of the biggest parts of building a custom home, though not necessarily due to the amount of time it takes.

Interior design details are, after all, features that homeowners put a lot of time an energy into.

At this stage of construction, your contractors will install hard-surface floorings, such as ceramic tile, wood, or vinyl.

It’s also common for countertops to be placed at this phase, and, by extension, sinks and faucets.

Next, it’s time to complete the electrical panel with light fixtures, outlets, and switches. HVAC technicians will install the HVAC equipment, and the registers will be completed.

During the final stage of home construction:

• Mirrors, shower doors, and carpeting will be installed.
• Exterior landscaping and/or cleanup will finish, including planting trees, shrubs, and resodding grass.
• You’ll get one more building code inspection.
• Finally, it’s time for a final walk-through with your contractors.

During your walk-through, your builders and contractors will take you through the home and offer detailed explanations of all features, systems, warranties, and offer maintenance tips.

This is an opportunity to ask questions, inspect your home for yourself, and address any minor issues you may notice, as unlikely as they may be.

And, lo and behold, you have your brand-new custom home!

Getting Through Home Construction

As with any construction project, it’s totally normal to feel stressed during custom home construction.

You may be trying to coordinate moving out of your current home on top of staying involved with progress with your home, not to mention a day job and family commitments.

You need to know you can trust the contractors and experts you’re working with, which is why we recommend soliciting recommendations from family and friends before making a final decision on your contractors.

Your contractors, designer, and architect should all understand your vision and work towards it in tandem.

At Sunter Homes, we make your vision for your home our number one priority and are dedicated to making custom home construction more than a project; we want it to be a memorable, enjoyable experience for you and your family.

We know how important consistent communication and reliable planning are. We’re ready to help you with everything from suggestions and recommendations to timelines and budget insights.

Building a custom home can be overwhelming. But with the right team, open communication, and realistic expectations, the home construction process can be more exciting than stressful.

by Sunter Homes

Navigating the Building Permit Process

Before You Build or Renovate, Get Your Permits!

You’ve got a vision for your home in mind, you’re working with an architect or designer to refine it even further, and you’ve picked reliable, trustworthy, and experienced contractors to work with.

Have you got the necessary permits?

Building a new house or renovating your existing home to bring it to dream status requires a lot of planning and attention to detail.

One of those details is ensuring you’ve got all the necessary permits in place so you can continue with your project unobstructed.

If you’ve never dealt with building permits before, don’t worry: you’re not alone.

Plenty of homeowners looking to build an addition or undertake a significant project (even custom home construction) have no experience with the permit process when they start planning their project.

Reliable contractors and construction professionals can handle this task on your behalf, acting as your advocate and representative to successfully navigate the permit process.

If you’re not sure what you need or where to start, we’ve got you covered.

What Are Building Permits and Why Are They Necessary?

Building permits are official approvals of your proposed construction or remodelling project, issued by your municipality.

Permits give municipalities a way to ensure project plans comply with land use, zoning, and construction standards and laws.

Building permits are necessary to ensure a home is built to code, ensuring it meets standards for safety, energy consumption, occupation, and much much more.

Basically, the permit process is a way to let your community know what you’re doing and to ensure it’s all above board.

What Happens if You Don’t Have a Permit?

If you don’t obtain the necessary permits prior to breaking ground, you’re setting yourself up for massive headaches.

Not only can your municipality issue a stop-work order, but you’re also at risk of having any progress deconstructed or torn down.

For example, if you just had your kitchen remodelled but an inspector finds you didn’t have the necessary permits in place, they could issue an order to tear out all or part of the work done.

You may also be on the hook for additional fines.

What’s more, since the work wasn’t inspected by a professional and objective third party, there is no way to know for sure the work is safe and was done in accordance with building codes.

It's far better to be proactive and get the necessary permits before any ground is broken or walls are knocked down. If you don’t apply for building permits, you are likely inviting trouble.

Do You Need a Permit for Your Renovation Project?

Even if you’re not building from scratch, you’ll still need to secure permits for renovation projects.

While it’s a lot of work to fill out the applications, pay the fees, and deal with all the rest of the bureaucracy that comes with construction, you’ll thank yourself in the long run.

Here are a few of the benefits of applying for permits:

Once the application packet is received, it will be reviewed to ensure the project complies with the Ontario Building Code, zoning, grading approval, and other local laws.

Once your application packet is approved, officials will issue your permits. At this time work on your dream home can begin.

Permits and Your Project Timeline

The average cost of building permits for a 2,000 square foot home is somewhere around $2,400 in Ottawa. This will vary by municipality and project, however.

As for how this impacts your project timeline, though, you can generally expect a wait of 10 business days.

Again, this will vary from municipality to municipality, and according to your project.

Getting permits for water and sewer service connections, for example, depends on the scope of the building’s use, and the price may vary, as well.

Once the permit(s) arrive, make sure they are visibly posted in accordance with provincial and municipal law.

If your application is denied, officials should explain to you why and provide detail on what changes need to be made to qualify for approval.

If you’re still struggling, though, your experienced contractors may be able to help.

Work with Contractors to Streamline the Process

While you can plan everything down to the precise detail, sometimes things might not go as planned.

But by working with skilled professional home builders you can minimize those unexpected changes and keep on budget. A good contractor will help make this process smooth and stress-free.

Getting all your permits in place helps keep the construction process as smooth as possible, without delays or disappointments.

Inspections will take place during key parts of the project which will ensure the work is properly done, keeping your project closer to projected completion estimate.

Either you or your contractor can book the appropriate inspection appointments.

Working with professional home renovation companies for your major home projects help to streamline the process from start to finish They’ll ensure the job is done right and according to your specifications.

Before you know it, you’ll be enjoying your newly completed home!

by Sunter Homes