Planning a Mudroom for an RTM Home.

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The mudroom is a common design element that farmers and ranchers incorporate into their RTM homes as this side entrance is a popular entryway point into the home.

With smart planning and design, you can keep these areas neat, organized and styled to your lifestyle. Whether you want to put the laundry in this area with a sink for a double function, or a convenient half bath, the mudroom area can help the rest of your home stay clean and organized.

planning a mudroom for an RTM                                                    Tile floors keep the area easy to clean and maintain.

RTM Mudroom

Lockers, drawers, hooks and benches are also commonly found to help keep everyone’ outerwear and accessories tidy.

laundry-ironstone

If you do not want to commit to a half bath in this area of your home, you can always add a sink to a connected laundry area to clean up in after working outside.

To start planning your own RTM mudroom in your design, contact B&B Homes.

Features that Add Value to Your Home

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Your home is not just your personal sanctuary, it is also an investment! Whether you are planning your own custom home or preparing to sell your existing residence, there are some upgrades that will appreciate the price of your home when you are ready to sell. Below are a few ideas:

  • Upgrading flooring in bedrooms from carpet to laminate
  • Tile showers, as well as tile flooring in bathrooms
  • Upgrading your countertop from laminate to quartz or granite
  • Adding a fireplace (gas or wood burning)
  • Installing LED pot lights throughout the home
  • Using vinyl siding to fiber cement board siding and/or adding stone to your exterior
  • Upgrading from stipple ceiling to either painted or pine

Whether it is your forever home or you know you will sell down the road, it is important to consider how the home will maintain it’s value over the long run.

 

New Building Codes for 2019.

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On January 1, 2019, a new Energy Code came into effect in Saskatchewan.

This code has the potential to change the way that today’s homes are designed and built as there is a higher emphasis on building homes that use less energy.

One thing that many people do not realize is that when they take out a building permit for a new home, the responsibility is ultimately theirs to ensure that, in the end, the entire project meets all applicable building codes. The new Energy Code is no exception. Homeowners will have to ensure that not only their RTM (house) meets the new requirements, but also other elements of the project such as the foundation, the concrete floor, and the home’s mechanical equipment. This can be a very overwhelming undertaking.

Here at B&B Homes, our staff is experienced in building not only energy efficient RTMs, but also managing all other elements of the construction project and ensuring that everything is up to code so you don’t have to.

Contact us today for more information on the new Energy Code and how our quality homes meet the new requirements.

What a 2019 RTM Project Timeline Looks Like.

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It is not too late to plan for a 2019 delivery of a brand new custom RTM home, however it is time to get started!

Though an RTM build (including a foundation) only takes five months to complete, your relationship with your builder lasts up to a year and a half in total. Be sure to work with someone who you are comfortable with and that will honor any warranty work that may come up during this time.

Below are the different stages of an RTM project timeline for you to consider for your planning:

1. Design, Project Details and Financing

Drafting and finalizing your custom floor plan can take between 1-2 months with estimating. There is often some back and forth to get the estimate where you want it. Some families like to take their time making decisions during this phase to account for custom features so it can take as long as you want it to. During this time you should be sourcing your mortgage in parallel. Do not underestimate the time it will take for your mortgage to be approved in order to release funds to start.

2. Selections Meeting with B&B’s Onsite Designer

Right before you sign the contract, you have an important meeting with our onsite designer to discuss and select the finishes for your home. Katia will guide you through the decision making process to help you create the look and feel you are after, that will suite your preferences for your family’s custom home.

3. Signing the Contract and Reserving a Build Spot

Quoting can take some time as blueprints need to be developed and your selections estimated for exact pricing to be confirmed. During this time you can source any permits you may need as a requirement of your RM (if applicable).  Once you have your financing in place and the estimate where you are comfortable with, you sign the agreement to commence your RTM project and B&B will order the materials for your build.

Once this critical stage is complete, you have a defined project timeline and delivery date assigned.

4. RTM Project Milestones Site Visits

You will be asked to come to the site at the beginning and again at the end of the project for your final approvals. In the first walk-through, B&B completes the framing (floor, walls, roof) and you will confirm the electrical and plumbing rough-in locations before the home is insulated. You will monitor the following details and stages of the project in Co-Construct  remotely until you are asked to come out for your final walk-through prior to the home leaving our yard. You are welcome to come anytime throughout the build to view the progress in person.

5. Moving Day and Warranty Items

On this exciting day you are at the site location to confirm any details that the movers may need. Once the home is settled onto the foundation, you will make a note of any warranty work in Co-Construct that needs to be completed. Once you have your heat and water hooked up, B&B Homes will come to do service work on the home right after the move prior to you officially moving in.

6. One Year Anniversary

At the one year anniversary of your home being delivered, B&B Homes will come to your home to do any service work that may have come up in the first year of you living in the home. All B&B Homes new builds are covered by our own guarantee that we will take care of any potential damages or malfunctions that happen to the home within the first year of being delivered.

If you have any questions or want to get started with your own RTM project, contact us here to get started.

How to Utilize Professionals to Keep Your Project Within Budget.

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Little known fact: The start of your custom home project is not when you break ground for the first time. It’s all figured out on paper first.

Be prepared to review, revise, and repeat to get everything within your budget and style. Make sure to allow enough time for planning and building to achieve your desired delivery date.

RTM design budget

So what are the steps you need to take to get your RTM project plan together?

Do Not Fear Disclosing Your Budget

One big, and necessary, step is discussing what you hope your overall project will cost. At B&B, we have compiled an entire list of the expenses associated with building a home – reaching past the costs related to the RTM alone, including site prep, hookups and foundations.

Discussing your budget with our on-site designer and estimator gives them the ability to design and quote your home project using materials and function that will fit within your overall budget while allowing enough room for other expenditures and features.

To ensure that you do not encounter any surprises along the way that can suddenly hinder you from achieving your dream—or will require last minute split decisions—our estimator at B&B Homes is equipped to provide you with detailed quotes based on your budget parameters. From your RTM home costs to your on-site garage, foundation, hookups and deck, as well as any other required on-site elements that may come up.

Be Prepared to Review, Revise, and Repeat

There are a couple steps involved in this process. First, designing your custom home. This involves everything from the style and materials chosen, to the layout and function of the home that fits your family’s lifestyle. All of these parts are taken into consideration and reviewed to make sure they are fitting your overall vision.

The next step is estimating the cost of the design. In this phase you will be given quotes that include everything discussed during the design process. Once the first vision of your home is quoted, and you have a concrete idea of all the costs involved, it can be necessary to go back and revise some of the options chosen, or remove some features.

Do not fear this step. Request changes or revisions to get the project to a stage you are comfortable with.

This is a natural progression point in all major projects. More often than not, there is another material available, or another timeline to consider – like saving the decks or garage for a project the following year – that will make achieving your exact vision a reality (without depleting the quality of your home).

So What Now?

The biggest feeling may be to give up. We get it, we’ve all been there. At B&B, we want to be there for you helping you through this stage. We understand this last step is full of very personal decisions, and requires thoughtful deliberation of answering the questions like “What do you most want to get out of your home?” and “What are the top 5 priorities?”. Once you feel you have those questions and thoughts answered, approach the drawing board again with our team of professionals.

Be Involved

Ask all your questions, state your ideas, and display any concerns or fears you may have. B&B Homes wants to build you a home that we ourselves would live in. That requires perseverance, flexibility, and honesty from both sides. Believe us when we say all the hard work at this stage, makes the reward at the end even better.

B&B Homes has earned the reputation for providing excellent quality RTM homes and prides itself on delivering superior customer service throughout the process. If you are ready to start planning a 2019 RTM project, reach out to us here for more information.

Keep Cozy in the Winters: Explore these Popular RTM Fireplace Options

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There is no doubt about it that the prairies have some of the harshest winters out there. But there is a silver lining, and that is keeping cozy by the fire in the bitter cold months in the comfort of your own home.

There is no shortage of different options to customize a fireplace with lots of options available for aesthetic and function. Three popular options for B&B Homes clients are traditional wood burning, gas and electric fireplaces.

RTM fireplace

Wood burning fireplaces are a traditional option that have been heating homes naturally for decades. This tried and true style of fireplace requires a little more upkeep than more modern gas and electric options and is not as efficient at producing heat. But if the scent and ambiance of the burning logs is what you are after, the additional maintenance can be considered a labour of love when maintaining your wood supply and cleaning your chimney seasonally.

RTM gas fireplace

Gas fireplaces are a stylish, modern option that provide flexible heat and aesthetic options by efficiently burning natural gas or propane instead of wood. There are a number of options for gas logs that create the ambiance of your flame. Gas fireplaces are also enclosed, providing safety from embers without requiring any chimney maintenance. Gas fireplaces also provide an alternate heat source for the home.

RTM electric fireplace

Electric fireplaces allow you to have the visual of a fire without having to produce any actual heat allowing for use all year round to create a relaxing ambiance at your leisure. You could even get a tv stand with electric fire place built into it. This gives an extra level of aesthetic appeal. Most electric models B&B sources do give you the option for both flame and heat or just the flame. An environmentally conscious option, electric fireplaces do not use any gas or produce any emissions.

Do you want to warm up by your own brand new fireplace next winter? Are you ready to start planning your own custom RTM dream home with B&B’s Dream It, Build It, Move It process? Contact Suzanne directly at suzanne@bbhomes.ca to get started.

What’s Trending at B&B Homes

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Here at B&B we have been seeing a big demand for cozy, rustic style homes.

The Redburn RTM

Warm brown tones, paired with distressed wood features and dark metal accents create this well sought after look.

The Redburn RTM

Adding in a stone clad fireplace and pine ceiling is another way to develop the rustic style.

Pine Ceiling

Features

And finally complete the look with the little details.

Ensuite features

Features

Features

Whatever your style may be, the B&B team has the knowledge and expertise to pull it off. Visit our Facebook page, Instagram, and website to see more inspiring pictures. Contact B&B Homes to get started on your own custom home build.

 

Onsite Planning for an RTM Project Part 4: Landscaping

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We have reach the final part of this RTM onsite project series. We hope you have a good understanding of some of the items that will come up in a project so you can be prepared and educated.

Part 4 of this series focuses on some landscaping considerations that may or may not apply for your location, they are:

  • Eavestrough
  • Road access/driveway
  • Window wells
  • Deck
  • Parging exterior of exposed basement walls
  • Fencing (if needed)

If you missed part 1, 2 or 3 of this series, you can still read them on the B&B Homes blog.

RTM Home

Final grade

This is a very important step of your landscaping. You need to make sure the ground is sloped away from your home. You need to plan for heavy downpours in the summer and snow runoff in the spring. If you get your foundation work done with B&B Homes we will help you prepare this.

Roadway Access

When planning for a new roadway, access, or when upgrading your existing, make sure you plan ahead and prepare for moving day requirements. Make sure there will be enough room for your home to safely come off the main road and into your yard. Ask us for specific information, we can help you plan for this.

Eavestrough

B&B does not install eavestrough on our homes. This is because there is a chance it will get damaged during the move. It is a good idea to have eavestrough installed as soon as you can once your home is on your foundation. This way any runoff from your roof will be directed away from your basement and prevent damages to your new investment.

Window Wells

If your basement windows will be below final grade, you will need to install window wells as well. Make sure that the local codes are followed when determining the specifics. This is very important as your basement windows serve as a fire escape and have some requirements.

Decks

There are many different finishes you can have when planning for your decks. One thing to make sure is that your deck is sitting on a solid foundation such as screw piles or concrete piles. This will help insure your deck will last for many years to come.

Parging

After your final grade is complete, window wells installed (if needed), and the decks is built, you will need to cover the exposed portion of the  foundation to protect it from the weather. Acrylic parging is one method you can use. This is a stucco like product that gets applied and comes in many different colours. Other options include siding or stone. This is usually one of the final finishing touches you’ll do to the outside of your home.

Fencing

If you live in a town or small hamlet, you may want to budget for a privacy fence for around your property. There are many different materials you can use ranging from maintenance free to materials that you will need to stain or paint every year. Maintenance free materials will cost more but if the cost is figured out over time, you may save money, time and hassle in the future. Make this decision carefully!

Window wells

RTM

Eavestrough

RTM

B&B Homes does onsite decks as part of our comprehensive RTM packages

If you have any questions about foundations or any other aspect of the RTM process or would like to get started planning your own 2019 RTM project, contact us here.

 

RTM Maintenance: Protecting Your Home From Humidity and Moisture

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Fall and winter are the seasons to be cautious with humidity levels in a new home. Moisture and humidity problems are classified as regular maintenance issues and are not covered by B&B’s warranty. It is very important that you are aware of the dangers so that you can take preventative measures against any future damages and avoid incurring any costly repairs.

The early warning signs of high humidity are:
•Exterior door handles & deadbolts no longer work properly
•High amount of moisture on windows
•Exterior door handle & deadbolts have visible moisture or frost on them
•Exterior doors are freezing shut
•Water pooling on window sills
•Exterior door handles & deadbolts begin to rust on the inside

If things get really bad, the worse case scenarios of high humidity (which we have seen) includes:
•Cabinet doors swell to the point that they won’t close
•Paint is peeling on cabinets, railing, etc.
•Laminate flooring buckles
•Mold will grow on doors, windows and other areas of the home

Fact: A new home typically expels 500-600 gallons in the first year and a half.
Fact: A new home typically expels 500-600 gallons in the first year and a half.

 

Before any of these warning signs occur, there are some measures you can take. They are:

•Testing the humidity with a reliable tester (contact us and we will send you one to keep free of charge) It can cost a fair amount of energy though so getting a cheaper electricity quote will help mitigate the costs. A quote from Usave should help.
•Increase ventilation by keeping air circulating with a small fan or by opening windows
•Make sure an air exchanger is set and running properly (make sure your installer explained all the settings and how to operate it)
•Run a de-humidifier. If levels remain high you may need one on both the main floor and in the basement
•If your basement floor is not cemented, it needs to be sealed with poly
•During the summer months, running your air conditioner will help reduce moisture
Make sure that the silicone around the tubs, showers and between the kitchen counter top and walls is still fully intact. If it isn’t, you need to replace it. If moisture gets around the tile or counter tops you will develop swelling and moisture issues over time.

table 1

Re: Table 1. Wind chill temperature – this is the method used to relate wind and temperature. Usually traditional temperature readings do not include a wind chill factor. For example, with an indoor temperature of 20C and an outside air temperature of -12C this table recommends a relative humidity of 30%. However, with an outside air temperature of -12C and a 20km per hour wind, the outdoor wind chill temperature is -26C and so the level of relative humidity should be reduced to 20%. Moisture and humidity damage is classified as regular maintenance and is not covered by your warranty.

To manage the humidity levels in your home, monitor the levels mentioned in the chart above and use your HRV system or a dehumidifier to regulate moisture and protect your investment.

Monitoring moisture and humidity levels help you protect the value and health of your home. Feel free to contact us if you need more information or have any questions about humidity in your RTM Home.

Onsite Planning for an RTM Project Part 3: Code Compliant Basement Finishing.

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We are nearing the end of the onsite project series. With only part 4 remaining, you will soon have all of the information you need to shop and prepare for your RTM project onsite work, while having a good understanding of what happens before you officially move into your brand new home.

If you missed part 1 and 2 of this series, you can still read them here on the B&B Homes blog.

Part 3 of this series focuses on what you need to do to complete your basement before you move into your RTM while being compliant with local codes.

Rim Joist Installation

  • Rim joists need to be insulated once the house is set on the foundation. At B&B, we recommend using spray foam as you get a better seal but batt insulation and poly can also be used
  • Once the spray foam is applied, it must be covered by a fire resistant insulation such as Rockwool
  • If the rim joists are left uninsulated for a long period of time, this will lead to damage to your new home. Humidity levels will rise as the colder outside air mixes with the warmer inside air

*Please keep in mind, humidity issues of any kind are not covered by B&B Home’s warranty as it falls under proper home care maintenance.

                                                                                 Rim Joist Installation

Installation of Drywall for Basement Foundation Wall

  • The Styrofoam blocks that B&B Homes uses in ICF foundations have plastic fastening strips every 8” and this is indicated on the surface by a diamond pattern. These particular strips have higher pull out strength then a dimensional stud
  • The easiest way to get the drywall into the basement is through a window opening. Keep this in mind when designing your basement and make sure you have at least one window that is big enough to accommodate this
  • ICF walls must be drywalled before you move in as code requires
*Although mudding, taping, and painting aren’t required at this stage, you will want to consider having this done prior to your move in, for a smoother transition with less of a mess to deal with later on when finishing.
                                                                  Drywall of Basement Foundation Walls

Other Miscellaneous Items to Be Code Compliant

  • Temporary or permanent handrails/railing must be constructed on your basement stairs as per code
  • You will need to have exterior doors leading onto a deck or landing with stairs and railing

If you have any questions about foundations or any other aspect of the RTM process, contact us here