Self build in Canada
 

Hi all, just found this site and had a good look through, really good site. I and my Canadian wife are planning to move to New Brunswick, Canada next year and i'd like to build my own house. i've been in the UK building trade for 30 odd years and the thought of building our dream home for our ' golden years ' :) really appeals. is there any one in the forum that has built there own home in canada and can help with guidance with regards canadian building regs etc. one thing I have noticed the East coast doesn't seem to know what the internet is. finding suppliers and getting prices on line is almost impossible, although there seems to be plenty of info online out west, guess it the slow pace of life in NB :p thanks for reading my post

NWAB

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Search for posts (I'd help, but am on sloooow speed interweb), under my username - I built about 4 years or so ago and posted pics and details of the process and experience. Building regs will be specific to the province and jurisdiction you're building in.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

thanks for the reply Rich. Did you do the work yourself or did you get contractors in? I'm at the early stage ATM just doing the plans. we think we have the land sorted friends of the wife's are going to sort out about 5 acres for us. can't believe the price :D. couldn't buy a plot the size of a garage in the UK for the price were paying. I'm up to about 6000 sq ft so far on the plans, but the wife keeps adding to it :). guess the best way is to draw what i want then hand it over to a canadian structual engineer to sort out the code requirements. could do it blind fold in the UK been at it a while lol

Re: Self build in Canada
 

I acted as my own General Contractor when I built this place 10 years ago. As Rich says, codes are specific to the jurisdiction.
Probably the biggest lumber and building supplies outfit in The Maritimes is Kent Building Supplies. They are part of the Irving conglomerate and are based in St. John, N.B. but they have many outlets all over the Maritimes. You obviously didn't look too hard.:p
Try www.Kent.ca or www.rona.ca Those are two of the larger ones but there are numerous others. It depends on where you choose to build.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

been to Kents many times when I used to commute to Canada after I first met the wife out there 13 years ago.Spent 3 years going back and forth between the UK and Canada before she moved over to the UK. it would be like buying from B & Q in the UK very expensive. i'll find a local lumber yard with the quntity i'll be buying I should get a much better deal

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Bit of both - did what I was able to do and had time for and contracted the rest.

Just bear in mind your total finished sq/ft and the assessed value (of land and residence) will ultimately determine your property tax bill. 6000sq/ft+ won't come cheaply.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

6000sq ft? :eek:

How many of you will be living there in those golden years? ;)

Land may be cheap - but running, heating and maintaining that ain't gonna come cheap.

Good luck though - we self-built in the UK and though stressful in parts, it was great fun.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Also don't underestimate the costs of site clearance and preparation for that 5 acres. I'm assuming its going to be semi-rural/rural so you will need a drilled well and septic. There's $20k right there. Plus in your twighlight years do you want to be snow clearing a long drive!

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Thanks for the comments guys. To put the 6000 sq ft in to prospectus the house is about 50 ft sq about the same as three terraced houses in the UK, because I’m building and designing the house my self it wont just be built to code but far beyond minimum requirements.

I’ll be using heat pumps to heat the place and solar panels to top up the electrical supply and will sell back to the power company what I don’t use, the insulation will be about 3x minimum requirements. So initial calculations are that the running costs based on current Canadian prices even at –30 c in winter shouldn’t be much more than my house in the UK.

Ok the initial outlay will be high for the panels but they will pay for them selves in about 8 years the heat pumps give you about a 3 to 1 ratio for your heating so you pay $1 for the electric and get $3 of heat, obviously you don't pay anything during the day the panels supply the power, I’ve got a cracking deal on the heat pumps from the father in law who fits them they will pay for them selves in 2 years, as far as maintenance is concerned as it’s a new build there shouldn’t be too much to maintain for some time. As far a clearing the site we’ll only partly clear it, like the idea of having trees all round, and the site clearing party has already been arranged that’s gonna cost a trunk of beer and half a cow on the bar b:beer:. septic tank and well have been sorted about 10k ( a friend of a friend );).

I’m sure the Ram truck with the plough on the front will do most of the drive way clearing that’s if I need to go anywhere in my ‘ twilight years’ probably fill the basement with food and just sit in the window and wait for it to melt in the spring:teeth_smile:

Re: Self build in Canada
 

You're dreaming if you think you'll get a septic system and a well for that price. Even with mates rates.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Are you you sure you can sell power back to NS power? Not an option here, although I believe you can do it in ON.

Also sceptic about your septic costs. If you can get well and septic from a mate for $10k then thats a steal of a deal.;)

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Throwing money down the pan in NB doing that. It will cost a fortune, and I doubt you would ever find anyone who would pay half what you put in if you had to sell for some reason (like you realize you don't want to live in the middle of nowhere in NB).
Braver than me.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Very well said. I agree.
However, I admire the poster's...er..."courage" for planning such a bold move.
What the heck, if you've got it flaunt it, even if it is in rural N.B. :)

Re: Self build in Canada
 

2000 sq ft terraced houses in the UK:p

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Perhaps the OP knows how to build but not how to measure.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

A full septic system (tank + field) is gonna be min $25k or something isn't it? Also, this is a 6000sqft house we are talking about - how many bedrooms / bathrooms is that going to have? If it's done to code it's going to need a fairly hefty system so maybe up that price.

The well will need to be able to supply a decent amount of water for a house that size too. I've got no idea how much drilling and installing a well is - but I can't imagine even this on it's own being much less than $10k for a 6000sqft house.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Thank’s guys. Most of you have reaffirmed my conviction that this is definitely the right move! It’s weird I have spoken to many Canadians, about this project over the past 13 years and practically all of them have replied “ That sound great how can we help.” But with out exception every Brit I’ve spoken to has come out with a list of ‘what ifs.’ Guess it’s the British mentality

In answer to Atlantic Xpat yes NB power will buy excess power they have details on there web site the payback isn’t as good as in ON but every little helps more cost effective if you use it than sell it back though and as far as the septic tank etc I can only go on what this guy has said he will do it for and to be honest I’ve done septic tanks in the UK a few times myself it’s not rocket science I’ve already priced the tank and the pipe work and most of the cost is pure labour to do the job, hopefully he won’t be charging me $500 an hour!!!

As far as living in the middle of nowhere in rural NB. I love the place, I’ve spent up wards of 500 days there some visits were up to 3 months long. Think I would know if I didn’t like it by now. Within a 15 minute drive there were 12 houses built in 2009 which sold for 1.5 mill plus each and were snapped up before the last shingle went on the roof, some people like trees !

http://townsearch.com/remax/forsale.html

My mates terraced house is 10m x 6m including the full basement that’s 1937.5 sq ft bigger in side than you think like the TARDIS

But has anyone built their own house??

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Yes, it's a very British mentality to receive advice grounded in reality from people who live in the country you are moving to and be arsey about it because its not what you want to hear. I've done some research into well drilling and septic solutions because I have both in my house. But if you either have such a cracking good deal or are so blinkered as to not want to consider that it might cost you more, then knock yourself out.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Estimated cost for unserviced sites in this part of the world is in that order. With wells it depends how deep you have to go to get a decent flow rate. It might be 80ft or might be 280ft like I have. For a muliple bathroom, multiple occupancy place, a flow rate of 10gpm or more is going to be ideal.

Still, a mate with a long shovel. That's all you really need......;)

Re: Self build in Canada
 

my wife is Canadian her family moved to NB in 1860 i'll go with what they tell me thanks

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Opps my bad 1783

Re: Self build in Canada
 

There probably aren't very many here who've built their houses literally with their own hands. RICH might have come close to that, but I don't think he did everything.

I finished my basement recently (well a contractor did). And I know how much of a difference it makes doing things to code. It's not the code so much as the permits to prove you've done it, the regular inspections and fixing things that aren't right depending on the mood of the inspector of the day.

We had several unexpected expenses because we were pulling permits for everything - the worst was because our septic system wasn't big enough for the extra bathroom/bedrooms we were adding (which is why I know about septic systems). Fortunately we didn't need a new field which would have cost us $25k for just that. His mate with a shovel better be a qualified septic guy because he'll need a permit for that too.

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My mates terraced house is 10m x 6m including the full basement that’s 1937.5 sq ft bigger in side than you think like the TARDIS

Square footage quoted for Canadian homes does not include the basement.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

It does if it's finished.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

NWAB

We'll likely be self building in the next couple of years. On Van Island.
Fully expecting comments of.. it's not cheap there, building supplies are expensive etc.

For your project I guess one or two positive responses would have been nice....

Here is one:

Best of luck with your project :thumbup:
Let us know how it goes. I, for one, would be interested.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Me too - we want to hear how it goes - the good the bad and the ugly! And then the lovely home you get at the end of it!:thumbup:

Re: Self build in Canada
 

We are just in the process now of buying our land and we have just had the perc test done and we need a C2 Septic which is going to set us back about $8,000 and we have a rough idea about the well too which is going to be around $3000 so not too far off actually (for us) all land is VERY different.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

The only way that it will cost the $25K is if the land is not suitable and doesn't drain away properly also you have to have a minimum of 3% slope away from the property, we just had our done and it came back @ 9% so we are ok, but if it was less than 3 THEN you are looking in the region of the $25K that you are mentioning :thumbsup:

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Solar panels are VERY VERY expensive, we have been looking into this too for our new build. A family member of mine is an engineer and he did the math on it for us and basically it would take approx 13 years for them to start paying back. Of course this depends which system, but seriously do tons of research on it :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Thank you James, yes it's nice to get a positive comment.

You might find this web page useful in you project http://www.electrospec.ca/lib.repr.htm

If there is one thing i've learned after 30 years in the building game in the UK " shop around " theres always a better deal out there and if you can do as much of the work yourself that really knocks the price down

and good luck with your build

Re: Self build in Canada
 

NWAB
Cheers for the link. :thumbup:
Hopefully this'll build into a more positive thread with some helpful suggestions on self build in Canada (as per the subject title) rather than focusing on negative issues in a typically Brit fashion. Definitely a glass half empty syndrome here. Being into construction (subsea engineering) I tend to look at the glass being half full or twice as big as it needs to be in any given situation ;)

Bellanova
On solar panels, ground loop solar heating, insulation, etc.
When I do things for us I tend to think of not so much the initial capital outlay and what the payback period might be (although going way OTT on that front is also not an option), but more along the lines of... If we can afford it now then install it.
From that point onwards you'll be paying far less monthly (in power bills) and in later years, when there may not be so much money around. If the money is invested in your property then it can't be blown on other things (Big Boys toys spring to mind!). If you are into house renovation for capital gain then that's another consideration altogether.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Bellanova

yep you sure do have to do your homework PV panels are expensive the secret is to use them as much as you can it can mean a change in life style run your washing machine, dryer, dishwasher etc during the day pre heat your house before the sun goes down, things like that. I’ve been looking at them for ten years now every year they come out with more efficient ones, there’s a company in California who have just brought out a photo electric paint that they are putting on roof tiles so the entire roof becomes a collector really interested in that one! Canada seems to be lagging behind as far as small generator schemes, in the UK you used to get something like 25p per unit sold back to the electric company the EU stepped in last year and said the minimum should be 47p that makes a huge difference to the payback time. Out in Ontario or Alberta can’t remember which ( seen so many web site’s lol ) there scheme pays nearly 3 x what New Brunswick do, hopefully Can Gov will get it sorted and get it standardized nation wide one day

Also if you can couple them with other energy saving things like heat pumps that makes a difference as well

As I said earlier in the thread when the house is built the insulation will be well above minimum required by code yes more expensive but well worth it when it hits –30c outside

Nice to see some positive responses at last, was about to give up with this site :(

Re: Self build in Canada
 

:lol: Like minds James

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As far as heat pumps are concerned James. The father in law fits them in NB according to him it’s best to go with air source, the one’s he’s fitting are a fraction of the cost of ground source and are efficient enough to cope with even Canadian winters. Which goes against what I always though the way heat pumps worked, I always though the pump had about a 20 : 1 coefficient if it’s 0c outside you would get + 20c heat out of it and therefore if it’s –20c outside you would get 0c heat out of it, but apparently this is not so. He’s been fitting them for about 6 years now and his customers seem perfectly happy with them. But saying that I’m still gonna put a wood burner in, you just don’t get the same feel good factor curled up round a heat pump matrix as you do a log fire.. saving the planet is one thing but you still have to feel good while you do it..:D

Re: Self build in Canada
 

It wasn't the slope. More that it isn't a new system and might have needed replacing. My numbers aren't lies - I don't really believe that the final cost of a septic + well will come under $10 unless you forgo permits. Even cheap ones.

I must admit I forgot that many posters like the OP aren't actually looking for advice and are purely looking for validation (for some reason that I don't really understand). In this vain: Good luck NWAB, not that you'll need it of course as all self builds in Canada go perfectly. You'll have it finished earlier than you expect and under budget and your mates with shovels will do excellent jobs. You'll then be able to sell for 5 times as much as you put into it for sure. 100% guaranteed.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Yeah I heard about those roof's, but I think they were more that the WHOLE roof was made out of little solar panels rather than just one or two, but I think its quite a new thing, although it sounds very interesting. I'm all for the while solar thing and I think if you can afford it then great, just not sure that we can really justify the outlay at the mo, we will just have to see how our budget goes along, fingers crossed for your build though, its so exciting isn't it! :thumbsup:

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Actually you are wrong! Those quotes that we have had are from the people that know, including the contractor and the surveyor that did the tests. I do however understand that there maybe extra costs, but the point that I was trying to get across is that all septic's don't necessarily cost the $25K that you were quoting.

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If you think somebody that want's a 6000sqft house can get a septic and well for under $10k then go ahead and believe it.

I don't. I think he'll be doubling that cost even if he does it on the cheap.

Edit: I'll change my mind if somebody has had the work done already and can say it cost $xxx all-in, but so far it's only quotes. Quotes probably not including taxes.

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Thats not what I said I was talking about my experiences, not about a 6000sqft house!

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OP is talking about a 6000sqft house.

When we finished the basement we ended up with 2 extra bedrooms and an extra bathroom consequently I had to upgrade my septic system. Cost $7k for an additional tank to be installed - if i'd needed a new field and lines too it would have been $25k, but fortunately it was already big enough. This is my experience - I'm not telling porkies.

I've got no idea about wells as I'm on city water thank god.