Self build in Canada
Jul 29th 2011 | 4:45 am
#16
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,227
Re: Self build in Canada
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.
Jul 29th 2011 | 5:43 am
#17
Thread Starter
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27
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??
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??
Jul 29th 2011 | 6:07 am
#18
Slightly Canadian
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 10,146
From: St. John's, Newfoundland
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
But has anyone built their own house??
But has anyone built their own house??
Jul 29th 2011 | 6:10 am
#19
Slightly Canadian
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 10,146
From: St. John's, Newfoundland
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.
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.
Still, a mate with a long shovel. That's all you really need......
Jul 29th 2011 | 6:20 am
#20
Thread Starter
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27
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
Jul 29th 2011 | 6:24 am
#21
Thread Starter
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27
Re: Self build in Canada
Opps my bad 1783
Jul 29th 2011 | 6:24 am
#22
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,227
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......
Still, a mate with a long shovel. That's all you really need......
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.
Last edited by Alan2005; Jul 29th 2011 at 6:31 am.
Jul 29th 2011 | 10:17 am
#23
Banned
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,824
From: the GTA
Re: Self build in Canada
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.
Square footage quoted for Canadian homes does not include the basement.
Jul 29th 2011 | 8:38 pm
#25
All Sooked up!
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,895
From: Sooke, BC.
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
Let us know how it goes. I, for one, would be interested.
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
Let us know how it goes. I, for one, would be interested.
Jul 29th 2011 | 11:52 pm
#26
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 245
From: London, UK but want to be in Seeleys Bay
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
Let us know how it goes. I, for one, would be interested.
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
Let us know how it goes. I, for one, would be interested.
Jul 30th 2011 | 12:14 am
#27
Nova Scotia
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 621
From: Alberta, Canada
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.
Jul 30th 2011 | 12:17 am
#28
Nova Scotia
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 621
From: Alberta, Canada
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.
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.
Jul 30th 2011 | 12:23 am
#29
Nova Scotia
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 621
From: Alberta, Canada
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
. 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
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
. 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
Jul 30th 2011 | 12:24 am
#30
Thread Starter
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27
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
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
