It’s that time of the year again where the planning begins on any major; renovations, restorations, or rebuilds, to make sure it is ready to go come the spring thaw, and right now it seems as though it couldn’t come any quicker here in Vancouver. If you’re looking for a way to stay warm and still get ideas, make sure to circle (if you still have a traditional calendar) the 20th- 24th of February for the BC Home and Garden Show. The experienced, educated and all round great people of new home builder Wallmark Homes along with hundreds of other industry experts will be there to help get the creative juices flowing.

Now time for a little shameless self-promotion, as a premier Vancouver new home builder Wallmark will be sending our experts to answer all of your new home building and construction questions. We will have everyone from real estate experts to construction experts there to make sure that no questions go unanswered.Much like previous years, celebrity guests are scheduled to come in and share their knowledge and experience on a variety of topics. Paul Lafrance host of HGTV’s Deck Wars, Decked Out & judge on Canada’s Handyman Challenge will grace the HGTV main stage, sharing his knowledge on an assortment of topics. Sarah Daniels turned in her microphone as long time host of Global’s Morning News, for a licence in Real Estate and hasn’t looked back. From time to time she revisits Global BC to share her real estate expertise and now you can see her live on the HGTV main stage. These are just a couple of the expert celebrity guest that you can be sure to see at the BC Home and Garden Show.

Looking for a way to go to the Vancouver Home and Garden show and not have to pay (because who are we kidding free is the best price) check back often or “Like” us on Facebook as we may be looking to give away some tickets in the near future.

Now if you can’t wait until then and need answers right away for building your new home in Vancouver don’t worry here is a FAQ from the previous Vancouver Home Show and if that doesn’t help please contact us, because much like you we can’t wait until the home show to talk either.

Winter is coming and you know that you need to get your home ready for the cruel Vancouver weather right around the corner, but you don’t know where to start. That’s where we come in, we have compiled a list of some Vancouver home and Vancouver laneway home maintenance tips that will turn your home into a lean green energy saving machine. Who says that you have to wait until the new years to get in to shape?

Furnace – Much like a Car, no matter where you live; from a new Vancouver home to a heritage home in the hills, consistent maintenance is a must and the furnace is no exception.  Most heating and furnace providers require an annual service check to ensure that it continues to run at optimal performance. This is  a requirement by most furnace companies to ensure the warranty stays valid.  If your unsure of how often you need to service your furnace check the manual or give the company a call.

Clean The Ducts – Cleaning the ducts and vents of your home regularly will help keep them safe and running efficiently. Dust and debris can build up making it harder for your appliances to clear the air. The less work that your appliances have to do to move the air through you house the better and longer they work.  This will also help to improve the air quality of your home by circulating the more stale air from inside with the fresh Greater Vancouver air.

Concrete Care During the Winter –  A common practice, THAT MUST BE AVOIDED, is to use salt to melt ice on walkways. This can be very detrimental to the integrity of the concrete weakening it and causing it to crack. Salt can be very corrosive to concrete and by itself can cause some damage, however, when mixed with water it can get into the pours of the concrete, causing more damage due to an increased freeze cycle. This happens if the salt used to melt the ice mixes with the water and gets into the pours of the concrete. Then the temperature drops to below what the salt is rated for and the water freezes again. This can occur frequently if the temperature continues to fluctuate around where the salt freezes. The continued expansion and pressure from the salted ice will cause the concrete to crack over time.
A safe option to using salt is to try sand or gravel. These won’t cause the ice to melt, but it will give traction making it safe to walk on. If you must deice the walk way use an environmentally safe synthetic material, these aren’t corrosive to concrete, will usually have a better temperature rating, and won’t cause pets to get sick from walking on it.

Gutters – One downside about living near all this lush nature in or around Vancouver is  gutters need to be cleaned out regularly throughout the year, mostly in the fall and winter months. Leaves and other debris can get blown into the gutters causing them to back up or plug. During a rainfall water will flow into the gutters and won’t be able to drain. This will cause the water to over flow and start pouring out; causing a flood in areas  not deigned to receive a heavy flow of water. Another issue that can occur is fairly common during the winter months, where water freezes on the roof or in the gutters and causes an ice-dam. This dam prevents water from draining and will back the flow up in to the home by going underneath shingles and between gaps.

As a premier Vancouver home builder we are working on even more tips to help you keep your home running problem free. In the mean time feel free to start on these while you’re waiting, or if you have any that you want to share or any questions about these, come join the conversation on our  Facebook page.

Part 2 of “Get Your Greater Vancouver Home into Energy Efficient Shape Before Winter” is here.

Here is the much anticipated Part 2 to the critically acclaimed frequently asked questions and answers from the Vancouver Home and Design Show.

What can I expect once I contact Wallmark?

Once you contact us you can expect to speak to one of our home building experts right away. We would love to set up a no obligation in person meeting to discuss and help answer any questions you may have about the custom home building experience.

How much does it cost to build a new home?

This is a tough one to answer without knowing anything about the new home you are planning to build.   There are many different variables that can greatly affect the cost of building a home in BC. This includes where you are building and the size of the home, whether you are building a laneway house in Vancouver or a custom home in Burnaby will affect the cost of the home.  Before determining any sort of price we prefer to sit down with the home owners and discuss their wish list for their new home and work with them to create a home that is as unique as they are within their personal budget.

Should I renovate or rebuild?

This all depends on the size and scale of your renovation. If you are thinking of just doing a kitchen remodel then obviously just renovate, however if you are thinking of doing a larger overhaul of your home then this question is a little tougher to answer. The benefits of rebuilding your home include the freedom to completely redesign your home around your needs with little to no compromise, where as if you choose to renovate then you are confined to working with the previous layout.  The difference in the cost of building a new home vs. renovating is comparable in the long run.  A benefit of building a new home with Wallmark is that there will be no hidden costs, once we finish working with the home owners to create a home that meets their needs and budget we will not change the price. With renovating, however, there is always the risk of running into unexpected issues, like having to completely rewire your home, once you start to open up walls.

We hope this helps to answer some of your custom home building questions. If you have any other questions or would like to set up a no obligation meeting please do not hesitate to contact us either by phone 604-420-5220 or email.

Thinking about building a new home but don’t know where to start? How do I find trusted and experienced home builder? How long should building a home take? What should I expect during the building process? What IS the building process?

Wallmark Homes can answer all of your questions and more during our popular and informative Free Home Building Seminar this Saturday November 5th. Wallmark Homes offers this free service to help home buyers make informed decisions on one of the largest investments of their lives. Our team of professionals will teach you how to interview and select a custom home builder and give you insight to planning your home’s exterior, floorplan layout and interior design strategy. The Wallmark Homes’ talented team of professionals will walk you step-by-step through the custom home building process and arm you with the knowledge and confidence you need to get the dirt moving towards building the custom home of your dreams.

To keep the sessions at a comfortable number for interactions and questions with our team, seating is limited. Reserve your seats now or call 604-420-5230.

FREE HOME BUILDERS SEMINAR  SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5TH

Wallmark Showcase Home: Built Green in Burnaby

The second installation in our Wallmark Showcase Homes series features a fantastic LEED certified home in beautiful Burnaby. From the tiered garden to the tiled backsplash, every detail has been carefully considered in this stunning Green Built Wallmark home.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Homes that are LEED certified adhere to internationally recognized standards to improve home performance in areas such as water efficiency, energy savings, lower emissions, and higher indoor air quality. In addition, LEED certified homes are built with consideration of the environmental impact of the home and the resources used during construction.

Wallmark Custom Homes built this custom home in Burnaby to take advantage of energy efficient technologies and eco-friendly design without compromising on the comfort, design and style that the client wished to achieve. With it’s LEED certification, the home not only lived up to the standards and expectations in the industry, it turned out to be exactly what the client wanted to come home to everyday.

Outside, the roof is outfitted with several solar panels that take advantage of the bright BC sunshine and provide 15-20% of the yearly electricity used in the home. In addition to utilizing natural sunlight, the roof and gutter system collect rainwater in a barrel that is then used to water the drought resistant plantings around the home’s perimeter.

Also outdoors, a Garden Gourmet compost bin provides the perfect solution for handling grass clippings and organic waste while saving money and reducing the amount of trash generated by daily living. The rich compost is then used to condition the soil and benefits the plants and landscaping.

A visual feast awaits inside this gorgeous Green Built home. The gourmet kitchen features all Energy Star rated appliances, including an induction stove that can boil water in just 45 seconds! Recycled glass tile and quartz stone countertops  compliment the warm hardwood flooring and rich color palette that carries from the kitchen throughout the home.

Plenty of windows and a generous use of glass block help the homeowners take advantage of natural light throughout the day which cuts down on electrical use. This custom built home proves that a home can be created that is eco-conscious and stylish without compromising on the comforts of modern living. The small details are what set this home apart and extend to the master suite which includes a built in lounging window for a cozy read.  The master bath features spa-like vanity complete with a custom molded glass top, a large soaker tub and a tankless hot water heater to provide plenty of hot water when needed.

At Wallmark Homes, we love taking the latest technology available and using it to create homes that are better for you and better for the environment. By building green, we all take steps toward being more environmentally responsible in our decisions and lifestyle. More photos are available to view on our website on this fantastic Green Built home in Burnaby. If you are interested in creating your own green home or learning more about the building process, we invite you to contact us anytime or come to one of our next FREE building seminars.

Wallmark Showcase Home: West Vancouver, Esquimalt

One of the most affluent cities in the British Columbia, West Vancouver is the picture of perfection with sweeping views of the city of Vancouver, the ocean, beaches and local landmarks Lions Gate Bridge and Stanley Park. Tucked into the base of the North Shore Mountains, most of the land is residential and the elevation of the land allows for most of those properties to take advantage of the gorgeous views which have made West Vancouver so popular.  Wallmark Homes is known for building homes in the Greater Vancouver area but did you know we also build custom homes in the areas of West and North Vancouver? The new year marks the beginning of our new showcase homes series designed to inform you of the many options and possibilities that can be found in a custom built home involving everything from architectural detailing to the latest in materials and home building technology.

Wallmark Esquimalt Ocean View, West Vancouver

Unique Architecture and an Incredible View

Our first showcase home of the year is located in the Esquimalt neighborhood of West Vancouver.  Tucked into the rolling hills of Esquimalt, this home is a combination of modern architecture and materials that were designed to blend effortlessly into the natural surroundings and provide comfortable living for the homeowner. Exposed solid wood beams extending outside of the home on through the main living area provide a striking visual statement when combined with natural stone and loads of custom made, energy efficient windows.

From the moment you walk through the front door into the entryway, you’ll notice immediately how the hand picked beams make the eye travel to the wall of french doors that open to a wrap around covered porch that was built to take advantage of the stunning west coast vistas.
The panoramic views make for an ever changing, living wall of art everyday.

Wallmark Homes is a certified Green Built homebuilder and this West Vancouver home is a great example of our Green Promise. The doors completely open the entire the back wall to let the outdoors in and take advantage of fresh air to circulate through the house during the summer months. Solar bronze skylights offer natural lighting throughout the day which dramatically reduces utility costs as electrical lighting is typically not necessary. In addition to the other earth friendly features of this home, geothermal heat helps to keep the occupants warm while cutting down significantly on energy consumption and emissions.

All elements of the home were carefully considered to tie in with the clean architectural lines and take advantage of the home’s prime location in West Vancouver. An elevator provides easy access between the three levels of the home and make transporting groceries a breeze. A gourmet, state-of-the-art kitchen boasts water views and provides a central gathering place for friends and family whether they are enjoying the views from the porch outside, or cozying up to the custom made fireplace in the living room. The Wallmark Custom Homes Team worked closely with the homeowner to take their modern vision and make it into a reality they are thrilled to come home to.  If you are interested in building a custom home in West Vancouver or anywhere in the Greater Vancouver area, we invite you to take advantage of our next Home Building Seminar on January 29, 2011. Registration is free and you’ll be given a wealth of information on building a new home that you can put to good use while mortgage rates are still at historic lows.  To see more about this fabulous showcase home in West Vancouver, we invite you to take a virtual tour on our website or contact us anytime!

Ready for a FREE Education? Join us Saturday, Nov. 6th!

A free education DOES exist and it starts right here at the next FREE Building Seminar hosted by the trusted pros from the Wallmark Custom Homes Team. We have built an astounding number of homes over the past two decades and during that time we have perfected our process and boiled it down to what we affectionately refer to as our 9 Step Building Experience. You won’t find it anywhere else because it’s exclusive to our techniques and how we work, but you CAN learn about it at our next FREE Custom Home Building Seminar.

If you are interested in learning more about how homes are built and the many steps involved, you should join us next Saturday for our  Free Home Building Seminar. Members of the Wallmark Custom Homes Team will walk you through all the steps from start to finish and will be available one-on-one to answer any questions you might have.  If you are considering building or buying a new home in Vancouver, the information you learn in this seminar may prove invaluable to making sure you get the best home possible.

Why do we do this for Free? At Wallmark, we believe that when it comes to choosing a new home, an informed buyer is a great thing to be. We are very focused on customer satisfaction and providing this free service is one way to help people make smart decisions on one of the biggest investments you’ll make in a lifetime. Our goal is to provide you with the information and resources you need for everything from choosing a qualified and trustworthy Vancouver home builder to managing your expectations during the building process. What are you waiting for? We’d love to see you next Saturday-  Reserve your seat today!

NEXT SEMINAR: Saturday, November 6th from 10am- 11:30am.

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT

There is limited seating available for each seminar to keep the sessions at a comfortable number for interactions and questions with our team. Because they fill up fast, we recommend that you register soon to ensure that you get a seat.

For anyone who has owned a home, there are often thoughts of what things we’d change if we were to do it all over again from scratch.  From making the kitchen larger and more efficient, to building with more green and sustainable materials sometimes remodeling simply won’t do.  Of course, when you are considering custom building a home, one of the first questions is, “Where Do I Start?”  Naturally, you want to choose a qualified builder who will listen to your wants and needs and help you plan a project that fits your lifestyle and your budget but what about all the in-between items?

At Wallmark Homes, we’ve been listening and created a FREE Custom Home Building Seminar series to address the questions you have before you embark on the exciting journey to a new custom home. Our team of pros from the Wallmark Custom Homes Team will cover everything from how to select the right builder and architect, to learning about the various steps and timelines involved in the construction process.

NEXT SEMINAR DATE: OCTOBER 2nd from 10am- 11:30am. CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT

There is limited seating available for each seminar to keep the sessions at a comfortable number for interactions and questions with our team. Because they fill up fast, we recommend that you register soon to ensure that you get a seat.