Your housing project, our construction costs

The usefulness of square footage calculations

In the absence of a precise construction plan, construction costs are estimated on a per square foot basis. We use this measure during the preliminary stages of a project. This makes it possible to establish an approximate target number of square feet to be incorporated, or to summarily evaluate the cost of a model or source of inspiration being considered

Estimating a customized house plan

The creation of your house plan by an architect or technologist is a gradual process.

In general, the professional will start with a rough sketch drawing, followed by a preliminary plan, and then the final construction plan. As soon as the preliminary versions of the plan have been completed, we are already in a position to provide a complete and detailed estimate of construction costs, using specialized software. Our close relationships with suppliers and subcontractors enable us to quickly and accurately determine material and labor costs. Estimating your plan in its preliminary phase will enable you to finalize and adjust it in line with your financial objectives.

Would you like to build in the Laval, Lanaudière or Laurentian regions? Send us your building plans, and we’ll be happy to evaluate them free of charge.

Square foot calculation method

First of all, please note that the figures presented are based on the company’s vision, and therefore do not necessarily represent construction costs in urban areas, in remote regions of the Laurentians, or those of other builders.

Next, construction costs are illustrated per square foot (sq. ft.), for a typical 2,500 sq. ft. home erected on a low-slope lot (15% or less).

It should also be noted that, in the case of a turnkey project, the estimate includes all built square feet, including floors, basement or garden level and garage. So, for a house with a 1000 sq. ft. footprint, one storey and garden level, the calculations are based on 3000 sq. ft. This way of calculating allows us to include the same quality of materials (floors, doors, mouldings and frames, etc.) in these spaces as in the common living area.

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Garden level

What is a garden level? It’s the name given to a basement when at least one of its walls is above ground, as is the case when a house is built on a sloping site. A good part of the walls are made of concrete and lie in the ground. Another part, however, is made of wood and is completely free of the ground. It also features large windows, wood-clad walls on the outside and high-quality finishing materials on the inside.

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What’s included in our construction costs

We offer turnkey home projects. Our construction costs include all related elements, such as :

  • Excavation and access road
  • Foundations
  • Well and sanitary installation
  • advanced secondary
  • Structure and insulation
  • Plumbing, heating and ventilation
  • Interior and exterior finish
  • LEED and Novoclimat certifications
  • .

Construction costs by house type

Construction costs vary according to the type of home you choose.

Pre-construction

Choice of terrain

The choice of land on which to build your new home is certainly a key factor in the success of your project, and in your long-term satisfaction. Land is also a determining factor in project costs: it’s important to consider its topography. Is the land you’re planning to buy or have bought hilly and steeply sloping, or is it completely flat? This central element will certainly play a role in excavation and foundation costs.

When choosing a plot of land, you should also consider its orientation. Land with a due south view optimizes the presence of natural light in the house, and often offers the best view of natural features such as a lake or mountains. In this respect, south-east and south-west orientations are also interesting. However, we recommend avoiding slopes and north-facing views.

In our opinion, the lot offering the best ratio between construction costs and quality of interior spaces is the one with a gentle slope, which slopes southwards when looking at the low point of the lot.

Layout and surveying

Site planning is the positioning of a future construction on a plot of land. Before issuing a building permit, municipalities require a site plan. This work is carried out by a land surveyor, who prepares a plan showing the position of the proposed construction in relation to property lines. Layout operations are governed by the Regulation respecting the standard of practice relating to picketing and establishment of the Ordre des arpenteurs-géomètres du Québec.

But what’s the best place on your lot to build your home? We’ll be happy to set up a meeting on your property and work with you to determine the best location. We’ll coordinate the surveyor’s work so that you’ll have a plot staking and site plan that will be both useful for obtaining your building permits, and later, for starting construction.

Soil investigation

When the land is not served by municipal services (water and wastewater), an artesian well must be installed for drinking water, and a septic tank and drainfield for wastewater. The soil survey is therefore used to define the installation of these elements, a task entrusted to a soil engineer. Using laboratory analyses of samples taken from the site to be built, the professional determines the composition of the soil to assess its permeability and capacity to absorb liquids. This information then enables him to predict how wastewater will be absorbed by the soil, and the type of sanitary system required. A soil analysis report and a sanitary system plan are other documents required by cities to issue a building permit.

During the site visit, we will also advise you on potential locations for the sanitary system. We can also coordinate the work of the soil engineer on your behalf. There are often several possible locations on a plot for the sanitary system. We can discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each location with you and determine the best choice together.

Customized house plan

How do you design a plan to suit the topography of your plot? How to optimize natural light inside the house? How to facilitate access in and around the building? In addition to all these questions piling up in your head, you also have a growing idea of what kind of house plan you’d like. We have extensive experience with custom plans and their challenges. We can advise you.

Écohabitations Boréales also offers a range of design services.

  • The ready-made plan : taken from one of the collections of plans readily available on the Web. You should expect to pay between $2,000 and $5,000 for this type of plan.
  • The ready-made plan with modifications : deal for those who want a model from a plan bank, but would like to include a few minor modifications. Purchasing a bank of design hours makes this possible, and enables you to make the plan conform to your vision and needs, and even adapt it to your terrain.
  • Made-to-measure plans : created from scratch by a technologist or architect. Based on your inspirations and needs, the professional will draw up a unique, personalized plan for you. In terms of fees, you can expect to pay between 1% and 10% of the cost of building your home. Architects and technologists offer a variety of drafting services, from simple construction plans with elevations and floors, to detailed furniture drawings and a complete interior design service.

Building permits

An application for a building permit must be made to the municipality where your land is located. Using forms specific to each city and the required documents, you must submit a complete file to the urban planning department. The documents are generally as follows:

  • Site plan certified by a land surveyor
  • Sanitary installation plan and soil survey sealed by a soil engineer
  • House plan issued for permit or construction, sealed by a technologist or architect
  • Deforestation plan
  • Plan of vehicular access (included on site plan)
  • All completed application forms

In some cases, building permit applications must be approved by the municipality’s Comité Consultatif d’Urbanisme (CCU). Additional documentation on exterior finishing materials is often required.

The time it takes to obtain a permit once an application has been submitted varies from city to city, from a few days to several months. Check with your local planning department to find out.

We can therefore prepare a complete permit application. We’ll fill out and submit the required forms and documents on your behalf, free of charge for all our customers.

Underfloor heating: a good idea?

How much does it cost?

Radiant floor heating costs between $5.00 and $10.00 per square foot, depending on whether it’s hydronic or electric. This is much more expensive than using electric baseboards, convectors or a forced-air system. We believe that this type of heating is well worth the cost if it’s installed in your main living areas and you’ll enjoy it every day. We’re thinking here of spaces such as the living room, kitchen, dining room or bathroom. With warm feet, you’ll enjoy the added comfort of this type of heater. In the case of a bedroom, the comfort won’t be much different than if it were heated with electric baseboard heaters, but you’ll be investing a lot more money.

5 tips for planning your screened porch

Position it well

Some like to enjoy the terrace at breakfast in the morning. Others prefer it at the end of the day, for aperitifs or supper. Depending on your habits, you can plan your terrace to face east, to maximize the morning sun, or west, to take advantage of the evening sun.

Polished concrete floors

 

Smoothing

The first step in achieving polished concrete floors is initial placement, also known as smoothing. When the concrete is poured, the cement-maker levels the surface of the slab using a mechanical trowel, commonly known as a « helicopter ». This method differs from conventional concrete placing, which is done by hand, using a concrete trowel. This method of placing concrete can be obtained for as little as $1.00 per sq. ft.

 

Windows: which ones to choose for your new home?

PVC windows

All-PVC windows offer the best energy performance, since PVC is a material that does not conduct heat. What’s more, they’re the least expensive on the market. All-PVC windows are maintenance-free and highly durable. We’ve used them on many of our buildings. As PVC is white in color, you need to think about color matching with the house’s exterior cladding. On the interior side, white PVC windows lend themselves equally well to installation
more modern without framing around the perimeter than the more conventional installation with framing. It is possible to buy colored PVC windows, and manufacturers offer certain warranties. The fact remains that PVC painted with color is sensitive to scratches and less resistant than aluminum to fading and color change.

Aluminium/wood hybrid windows

This type of window is made of aluminum on the outside and PVC on the inside. This is the type of window we’ve installed most regularly on our projects over the past ten years. Hybrid windows are slightly more expensive than their all-PVC counterparts. Aluminum is available in a multitude of colors, offering a wide range of color combinations with the house’s exterior cladding. The main advantage s that the exterior color is highly durable.

Les fenêtres hybrides aluminium/bois

Aluminum/wood windows are made with aluminum cladding on the outside and all-wood on the inside. The wood used is often clear pine, but this type of window is also available in other species. Wood is a noble material that insuffle always a lot of cachet and character to a home. It comes in a multitude of colors and grain patterns. As you may have guessed, wood windows require maintenance and remain quite sensitive to scratches and color changes caused by the sun. Although manufacturers offer very good warranties, once installed in a well-ventilated and insulated home, they may need to be refinished. As for price, it’s comparable to all-aluminum products.

Aluminum windows

All-aluminium windows are very popular with architects and designers. Aluminum is a strong, rigid material that allows large glass surfaces to be contained in a relatively slim structure. Black windows on the inside are also popular, and all-aluminum windows are the durable, maintenance-free choice for integrating a modern look into a project. On average, all-aluminum windows cost twice as much as hybrid aluminum/PVC windows, so you’ll need to budget more. They are undoubtedly the most expensive windows on the market. What’s more, as aluminum is a conductive material, their energy performance will be lower.

Triple-glazed windows

To increase a home’s energy performance, triple-glazed windows can be installed. However, triple-glazed windows cost more than double-glazed windows, and they have to be reconciled with certain manufacturing limitations, as triple-glazed windows are heavier than double-glazed windows.

The opening system

Crank, awning and casement windows are our favorites. They are ergonomic to use, easy to maintain and offer good value for money. Sash windows offer a beautiful ancestral look, but it’s very difficult to achieve good energy performance with this type of sash. As for sliding windows, we use them most often for windows in basement rooms, when these are located in coping stones. Finally, tilt-and-turn systems are available on higher-end products, and this type of opening is appreciated because it combines the two possibilities of awning and casement.

Discover some of our achievements!

What to consider when choosing a fireplace?

 

To reduce your pollutant emissions, it’s essential to choose a high-performance product – For wood-burning fireplaces, there’s the EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) standard. Coming from the USA, EPA certification guarantees that the appliance limits the threshold of fine particle emissions to 4.5 g/h. In 2020, the EPA standard will even drop to 2.0 g/h! In Quebec, compliance with the CSA B 415 standard also ensures good performance for gas fireplaces. Finally, the fireplace must be designed and installed with an outside air intake to ensure the oxygen supply required for combustion. This will avoid the need to draw the oxygen required for combustion from the ambient air in the house. These are essential prerequisites for any fireplace installed in a LEED- or Novoclimat-certified home.

And how do you install it? – It’s often advisable to set the height of the firebox at least 20″ above the floor. This is more ergonomic for lighting the fireplace. You can also raise the height of the combustion chamber to 30 inches from the floor, and install log storage underneath. You should also consider using non-combustible materials around the fireplace: slate, ceramic, steel or concrete slabs, for example. Installation standards vary from model to model. Most gas fireplaces have no such requirements. Finally, a wooden shelf at the top of the fireplace is also appreciated for its added aesthetic appeal, and as a place to put a few decorative objects.

Back-up and emergency heating – In the event of a power failure in winter, the fireplace becomes a vital source of heat. It ensures the safety of the building even in the event of high costs or prolonged blackouts. Some fireplaces offer blowing systems that allow heat to be distributed via ducts to other rooms in the house. This also helps regulate the temperature in the living space where the fireplace is located, and sends excess heat to secondary spaces, notably the home’s basement. On several of our homes, we’ve connected the fireplace’s blowing system to an auxiliary electrical panel. This way, in the event of a prolonged power outage, even the basement of the house could be maintained at adequate temperatures. A low-powered generator will be sufficient to run the blower.

What about gas fireplaces? Easy to use, it switches on and off with a simple click using a remote control or the thermostat. It can also be programmed to switch on at a specific time or when the ambient temperature reaches a certain level, and to regulate the heat to maintain a comfortable temperature. In the event of a power failure, the electronic ignition system can be powered by a battery back-up, or the fireplace can be lit by a simple match. What’s more, no more messy house with ash, shavings, bark, smoke and other residues produced by a wood fire. No more wood to split, store and transport, or frequent chimney sweeping. And, unlike a traditional wood-burning fireplace, it produces continuous heat, as combustion is constant. On the other hand, gas fireplaces don’t offer the smell of burning wood or the crackle of burning logs. In addition, the price of gas and propane is higher than that of wood. Burners also need to be cleaned from time to time. (Source: CAA-Quebec)

Airtightness and energy performance

Thermal insulation


Thermal insulation limits heat transfer between a hot and a cold environment. A material’s ability to limit heat transfer is quantified by its R factor. The higher the R factor, the more insulating the material. An R30 wall, for example, means that all the materials used together provide a thermal resistance of R30.