i just finished building my new 4 bedroom modern home in ontario with clean lines and big windows that bring in lots of light. the main house is done but now im working on the backyard patio and it should be finished in the next couple weeks so i can start using the space soon.

im looking for great patio furniture in a modern style with clean lines that can handle canadian weather like rain snow and sun without falling apart fast. it needs to be comfortable for family gatherings with good seating and a table that fits 6 to 8 people.

i found some options online but im still looking around for the right set that feels solid and matches the house vibe. what brands or materials have held up well for you in similar canadian climates and any tips on what to watch for when buying outdoor stuff?

Our new build home has been uninhabitable since the builder handed the house over nearly 2 years ago. Hundreds of code failures documented by engineers and inspectors which may still lead to demolition. Custom build, $700 psf. Tarion are paying $150 a Day while house is Toxic and we can’t move in. Curious for others who have gone through this if Tarion paid emergency accommodation immediately or if there were long delays.

We’re buying a new detached build from a volume builder in the GTA and need to pick our exterior. Full brick/stone is a $20k upgrade over the standard vinyl. Here’s the dilemma: We actually prefer the look and colors of the vinyl option. But we’re worried about long-term durability against our winters and wind.

For those of you living in volume-built homes:

• How is your vinyl holding up? Any issues with warping, cracking, or wind damage?
• Is there a noticeable difference in street noise between the two?
• Is spending the $20k on brick an absolute "must-do" for peace of mind, or is modern builder-grade vinyl perfectly fine?

Would love to hear your experiences or regrets before we sign.

Hi,

I'm in the very early stage of building a bungalow. I already own the land right out. I'm wondering if any of you has any insights on the cost of building a 1,500 square foot bungalow as a self-builder. Simple framing and no fancy material.

I know I will have to gather estimates to get a better estimate of the cost but I figured I'd ask reddit first. I know it's super vague question but I unfortunately can't find anything online pertaining this and if I do, it's all giving me like $300/per square foot.

I had a local builder tell me he's able to build for about 300k (he hires out everything). Plumbing, HVAC and electrical will be done at cost in my case. Most of the finishing, I'll do myself. My biggest expenses will be excavation, foundation, framing and windows/doors (after material of course).

Just curious to hear your thoughts. TIA.

Hello yall.

Has anyone recently done an IKEA cabinet install but swapped the doors for Allstyle or other 3rd party door supplier. It sounds like it's around 30% to 100% more for the doors vs the IKEA door fronts. I'm in BC and trying to find a budget option for a client that has a very low budget.

Thanks!

Hello,

New account here to not doxx myself.

I am starting to look into potentially building a house (very early on), and I have a few plots in mind and a few meetings booked with a few lenders/banks to figure out what is possible for me to do but in the meantime I have some questions and I'd love to see what the more experienced fold have to say.

The first thing is in the title. Assuming I have the land covered. With $1M (construction loan intended) what is possible to build?

The lots are fairly small. 25-35 wide, 100-120 deep.

I think somewhere between 2K and 2.5K sqft would suffice, for a 3 bed, 2.5 bath above ground dwelling. Ideally I'd want a 4bed, 3.5 bath.

In terms of finishes, there are a few things that I'd like to have, but I would not be looking for luxury. Actual hard wood flooring, granite counter, solid doors, 10ft ceilings.

Is it realistic at all? if not, what would be a more realistic estimate? And what about 1M + drawings and permits?

Also, how do you estimate the value of the lot before submitting an offer?

And one additional question, how much cash flow is needed roughly? is $100K enough-ish or we are talking about 150-200K? I would NOT be my own GC. I'd either hire one, or a builder, btw.

I know the questions are fairly vague but I don't have a ton of details jut yet. Still trying to get my bearings.

Thanks in advance.

I am building a house, I have planned/engineered for 3 inches of concrete ontop of the framed floor in the main living area for a cream polish finished floor, and 1.5 inches on the upper level with plans for various toppings over that depending on room use. Originally we were thinking to go with a hydronic in floor heating system, but over time the project has evolved to have a forced air cooling system and as such the primary heating system will become the forced air. We still want warm feet esp in the cooler months, so electric seems the way to go. A lot of what I see in terms of install guidelines and instructions is for a while house heating goal. However we are just looking for auxiliary heat in the floors. Also, everything I read is focused on slab on grade and not for concrete slabs poured as a topper on a TJI framed floor. Any guidance/documentation suggestions are much appreciated. So far I have read through WarmUPs docs, and everything seems geared toward 1-slab on grade installs and full heat your house installs. I just want warm feet, in the bedrooms/bathrooms, kitchen etc...

Building a new home in and just got the lighting upgrade pricing from the builder. Looking for honest feedback from people who've gone through this — are these prices reasonable or should I skip the upgrades and hire an electrician after closing?

Here's what they're quoting for Light Fixtures:

Item	Location(s)	Price
Exterior wall sconce (SAN-A6080-6)	Walkway to SDU entry (TBD)	$532
4" slim pot lights, white, LED — wet-rated	Living room (×4), Family room (×6), Primary bedroom (×4)	$4,228
4" slim pot lights, black, LED — 2nd floor	Front of home	$1,383
4" slim pot light, white, LED — wet-rated w/ switch (tub/shower)	Primary tub/shower, Bedroom #2 ensuite	$844
Total	$6,987

Main questions:

1. Is ~$7k for pot lights and a couple fixtures reasonable for a builder upgrade in Ottawa, or is this a ripoff? Especially that $4,228 for 14 pot lights in 3 rooms.

2. Has anyone skipped builder lighting upgrades and hired their own electrician post-closing? Better value? Any complications (warranty, drywall, etc.)?

Looking to do some work on my sister’s condo and need someone who actually knows condo reno from inside, not just some general fixes. It’s a smaller downtown unit, so they’d need to be good with space, layouts, permits, noise rules and all that condo board stuff.

Thanks!

I'm looking to build a largish bunkie. It is at a water access lake near huntsville ontario. I want to DIY it other than the foundation and maybe the platform. It will have no water - only electrical and we have an electrician in the family. Does anyone have any suggestions to keep it cheap. Its basically a sleeping cabin only. Looking for ideas. All the kits I have looked at have kitchens, baths etc. I need a mini motel concept.

Looking for advice/recommendations for a garage drainage issue in Toronto.

My detached garage slopes slightly away from alley behind our house, towards our backyard, so during winter melts and heavy rain, water and slush still make their way inside. I’m trying to decide best options:

• re-sloping/re-pouring the concrete apron
• installing a trench/channel drain in front of the garage door (tricky to do as not clear where water would go)

Looking for general advice and:

Also looking for recommendations for good concrete/drainage contractors or garage specialists in Toronto who’ve handled this type of work well.

Thanks!

We're finally back at zero with the house, we think we have all issues and defects covered. Found an engineer to do the drawings missed and fix the framing issues to stop the house tearing apart. So we're finally up to the contractors taking our 1 year old house down to almost nothing and starting again. Starting with framing on the foundation, whats the best order to do all this:

• Foundation digging up and resealing
• Basement slab cut open around perimeter, vapour barrier resealed and basement floor sealed
• All insulation in basement walls replaced due mold and basement framing cleaned
• All siding and strapping removed
• Windows removed
• Doors removed
• Water damaged sills replaced
• Window RO sealed correctly
• All exterior rigid insulation removed and replaced
• Housewrap removed and replaced
• Leaking windows and doors all replaced
• Damaged Metal roofing and trim all removed and replaced
• Roofing membrane removed and replaced.

That's the exterior, is there anything we would do in a different order getting a house to lockup other than if we were just building the house from scratch? I'm assuming get foundation sorted, exterior then interior and go from there.

Interior needs all drywall off, vapour barrier removed, batts insulation removed and the wiring all checked by ESA and repaired. We need to keep the water out of the wiring so the sooner we can get to a sealed building envelope the better.

Thoughts? Still seems a marginally better way forward than demolishing and starting again.

Has anyone got china so far in city area or container home .Please guide me for cheapest option ?

Is anyone aware of cheaper option to move old building modular home and it’s related cost .

For reference, I am in Ontario

Hi everyone, just curious, we are planning to start rebuilding our home in Toronto in July but might have over estimated the speed of getting the permit finalized. While getting estimates one builder told us that if we start any later then July, the construction would take 12 to 13 months. But had we started in March it would have taken 8 months to complete. Is this valid?

Are crawl space vent wells a thing in Canada? If I search google I can find all kinds in the US, even some nice ones with grates. But I can't find anything in Canada.