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

Re: Self build in Canada
 

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:

Re: Self build in Canada
 

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.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

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.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

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

Re: Self build in Canada
 

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.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

I think you are being way to hard on the OP. He has also posted some interesting information that clearly doesn't need validation and yet judging by your comments, you seem to be suggesting otherwise by ignoring that element. I guess playing nice doesn't cut it around here, copious amounts of sarcasm clearly does though.

This could have developed into being quite an interesting thread on self build. Shame that some just won't allow the negativity to go away. Why? I know not. :(

Re: Self build in Canada
 

You see. This is the thing. Maybe that was sarcastic and I should probably cut the OP some slack. However, pointing out that septic systems are expensive isn't sarcastic or even negative, yet, the OP took offense at even just that. He set the tone in the first paragraph of post #17 imo.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Interesting. I'd not considered air source heat pumps and was unaware that they might cut the mustard in cold climates. Certainly worth a thought for the Victoria area, where we will settle. Vic sees winter temps around that of London (by way of comparison).
In effect it's got to be the same technology as the dual function air-con systems we have here in Portugal. Yep! we need heat in the winter, although the summer temps are around 35 degrees at this time of the year so the air con comes into play big style.
I always been advised that deriving heat from the outside air is pretty cost efficient. If you could drive the compressor pump via PV cells through a battery accumilator/DC-AC inverter system then you'd be on a real winner. Is that what your father is also installing, or are they run from supplied mains (single phase) AC power?

Saw a program once that used roof tiles that were individual PV cells in their own right, connected in series parallel up to 48VDC if I remember correctly. What I liked about that was you could simply check each cell from inside the roof space where all the connections were protected from the elements. If one or two fail in the winter it's no great shakes as you don't lose a great percentage of output overall. Wait until the summer and swap out the duff ones.

Let us know how things progress. If you come across any self build sites that cover Canada post those also. I'll be looking to do some research soon myself.

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Well said, my thoughts exactly :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Re: Self build in Canada
 

Yes that was what I was talking about, my Uncle told me all about those they sound fantastic!