When it comes time to renovate your home, there may be times when building custom from the ground up is a better option. In most cases, renovating will meet and even exceed your expectations of what’s possible. But when it comes to site constraints, structural integrity, and building safety, starting from scratch can be the better option.
If you opt for this route, working with an experienced contractor is important to ensure the job gets done right. Luckily, there is a great custom home builder in Calgary who can help you decide what option is best for you.
With lumber prices now down almost 70% compared to prices seen earlier this spring, there’s no time like the present to begin such an exciting project! But if you’re still not convinced, here are a few reasons building a custom home might be the way to go.
5 Advantages of Custom Home Builds
Fewer restrictions
If your existing house has a small original footprint, especially one with a wood frame basement or an abundance of load bearing walls, your ability to rework the floorplan and create unique customs spaces will be limited. While renovating can offer you the chance to improve your functional living space, or even increase the size of it by building an addition to your existing home, some options simply won’t be available due to existing site conditions.
In this case, pouring a new foundation will allow you the flexibility of designing upwards in a way that you otherwise might not be able to achieve. If you’re really in love with the space you have and just need to update your home, consider working with a team of architectural and interior designers who can get creative on ways to make your current space work.
Less compromise
One of the most appealing aspects of building a custom home is that you can make design and finishing decisions without the need to consider existing elements. We all know how important flow is in today’s homes, and building new means you don’t have to consider how current decisions meld with past ones.
You get to choose every single detail and create a space that works perfectly for where you or your family might be now, as opposed to where you were 10+ years ago. Regardless of whether you prefer modern, traditional, or somewhere in between, there’s nothing stopping you from creating a home that represents the present “you”. From the layout to the materials, you can feel proud that each and every aspect of your home was hand selected to suit your style and needs.
Ensures Safety
While a thorough inspection is part of every good renovation, sometimes it’s what’s behind the walls that can impact your ability to renovate safely and efficiently. If it turns out that there is asbestos in a large percentage of the home, the cost of remediation can quickly turn a budget upside down. Similarly, if the guts of the home, namely plumbing and electrical, no longer meet building code, you’ll be looking at the labour intensive process of replacement. Rerouting pipes can also become cumbersome and expensive if an old plumbing stack doesn’t offer an easy connection to your new floor plan.
By opting for a custom build, you can be sure your entire home is safe and structurally sound, and not just to the space you’re updating.
Location, Location, Location
You’ve put roots down and established a community that you’re happy with! From the kids’ school to the neighbours that have become friends, why risk losing all your connections in an effort to find a different house?
If renovating isn’t an option, don’t give up on your dream lot; instead, consider building new. This way, you get the best of both worlds: the perfect location and your ideal home. Moving won’t guarantee that every box on your list will be checked off, but custom building your home will!
Energy Efficiency & Recycling
Now more than ever we are aware of our impact on the planet. Fortunately, renovating or building with the latest technology can help us reduce our footprint. Using energy efficient appliances, triple-pane low-E windows, and cutting edge materials is just one advantage to updating your living space. Did you know you may even be able to recycle your existing house in the process of building your new one?
There’s also ways to incorporate pieces of your old home in your new one, like repurposing brick from a front façade to construct an outdoor fireplace, for example. So whether you’re choosing to renovate or build new, helping the planet in the process will always be achievable.
Ultimate Homes & Renovations is Calgary’s only 11-time “Renovator of the Year”. Our mission is to bring your home to life. For over 40 years, we have established ourselves as the industry’s elite team of contractors for complete home renovations in Calgary and Edmonton. Our quality craftsmanship, superior customer service and our ability to exceed expectations are how we have established ourselves as the renovator of choice for homeowners. Contact us at (403)-287-3122 (Calgary) or (780)-430-6441 (Edmonton).
