Green Custom Home Trends

Environmentally friendly standards for custom homes can take a variety of forms. Whether it is the materials used to build the home itself or the features, amenities, and final touches that are completed after the home is built, there are numerous ways to make a home energy efficient. Some simple green custom home trends for 2019 include:

Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters are a great way to save money on your energy bill as well as conserve water usage. These features also ensure that your home never runs out of hot water, which is great for large families.

Solar Power

When building a custom home, implementing a solar power system can greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Some solar electric systems are so efficient that you can provide enough power for your own home and the extra energy generated will be fed into the municipal grid, meaning that your solar panels will make you money.

Heat Pump for Temperature Control

A heat pump is a device that works similarly to a refrigerator, but on a large scale for your home. It moves air through a series of coils and other mechanical components to control the air temperature of an environment. They are incredibly effective and energy-efficient devices and they are becoming more popular as methods of heating and cooling homes.

Energy Efficient Lighting

Energy-efficient fixtures and LED lighting are on the rise with custom homes, and so is increased use of natural light. LED lighting can be implemented throughout a home in order to cut waste and produce more light with less power, and better systems for skylights that let in light while keeping out heat can be used in a custom home to improve energy efficiency.

To learn more about 2019’s energy efficiency trends, or if you would like to find out about any of our other residential custom building services, please contact Hyline Construction at 604-889-5242 or fill out a contact form on our website.

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Ideas for Sustainable Custom Homes

During the design phase of a custom home, there are a variety of ideas that can be considered that contribute towards an environmentally friendly build and can help a home cut down on energy use once the family moves in. Many of these ideas are incredibly simple to implement and merely require a little extra planning. Some concepts for sustainable custom home building include:

Use Better Building Materials

The very materials that a home is made out of can have a massive impact on how green the home is. Some types of insulation can be made from recycled materials or plant-based resources to cut down on waste and toxicity. Using reclaimed materials, such as wood, steel, stone, and brick, can not only conserve building supplies but also give a home an excellent, highly coveted aesthetic.

Many siding and roofing options can also help to keep energy usage at a minimum. Living roof systems are a great way to insulate a custom home, and metal roofing or siding can greatly improve heat retention.

Energy Efficient Lighting

Lighting does not have to be purely about utility. When building a custom home, there are endless opportunities to incorporate unique light fixtures and many of these options can be made to be energy efficient. Light fixtures that use responsive technology will ensure that your home always has the proper amount of light for different times of the day.

Make Use of Natural Light

Allowing for plenty of natural light will also help to ensure that electricity use is limited during the day. Skylights and well-placed windows will let in sunlight and, with the right metallic oxide coating on the glass, these windows can adapt to be low-emissivity and keep your home’s temperature steady.

Conserve Water

The right fixtures and appliances can help your custom home to conserve water use. Dual-flush toilets, water-conserving faucets and shower heads, and Energy Star rated appliances can all help to keep water consumption down.

To learn more sustainable custom home building ideas, or if you are interested in getting started with any of our residential custom building services, please contact Hyline Construction at 604-889-5242 or fill out a contact form on our website.

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Before you begin planning your custom home layout, there is key information you should know and share with your custom home designer to help ensure a successful outcome.

Understand the Restrictions and Allowances of your Custom Home Layout

Knowing the conditions of your property that can dictate the shape and function of your home is extremely important. Some examples of restrictions include:

• Current bylaw and zoning regulations
• Building footprint and size allowances
• Tree restrictions and requirements
• Encroachments, easements, and right of ways

In order to help you understand the full construction potential of your lot, the custom home builders from Hyline Construction will begin your home building process by formulating a Property Report that outlines restrictions and allowances.

Pinpoint Your Architectural Style

It is important that you are clear in your own vision so that your designer can best realize it for you. Is your ideal custom home a craftsman style with contemporary accents or is it a modern farmhouse with an industrial feel? Whichever direction you lean, seek out a variety of inspiration images and have in-depth conversations with your designer about which details you love and which you would prefer to skip.

Know Your Budget

Establishing your budget before you begin allows your designer to work within your allotted finances. During the design process, the custom home builders and designers at Hyline Construction will work closely with one another to communicate the opportunities and obstacles of each specific custom layout and floorplan in respect to budget and function. They are adept at maximizing budgets and skillfully value engineering layouts.

Prioritize Your Wishlist

Whether you have your heart set on expansive floor to ceiling windows or a backyard swimming pool, evaluate which architectural features are most important to you and create a priority list before you design. This will help your custom home designer incorporate your priority features into the initial layout and established budget, only adding secondary features as the budget permits.

Sunlight is Golden

Spend time on your land. Know where the sunlight shines at each time of day. Envision living on the property and decide which rooms you want to maximize that light. Discuss your lifestyle with your designer. Do you enjoy long leisurely mornings with coffee or prefer entertaining into the evening on the patio? Do you work from home and want your office daylit or do you enjoy an afternoon workout in your home gym? Your designer will be able to fuse both the landscape and the nuances of your lifestyle into your floorplan, delivering a fully customized home layout.

If you would like to learn more about the process of designing custom home layouts and floorplans, or if you are interested in any of our residential custom build services, please contact Hyline Construction at 604-889-5242 or fill out a contact form on our website.

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High-End Custom Home Renovation Ideas

When renovating a home, there are some features that can be added to bring quality to a custom home remodel. Applying modern, classy aesthetics, opening up the space, and getting your home on a green energy system are all excellent suggestions for a renovation, but some ideas that will help to make a White Rock home truly comfortable and raise its value include:

Built-In Appliances and Devices

Whether it is a built-in espresso machine, an in-wall premium television, an entertainment centre that is hidden in the wall, or warming plates in the kitchen counter, having features built into the house during a custom renovation can really take a home up a level.

Comfortable Bathroom Designs

Turn your bathroom into an at-home spa. High-end taps, a rain shower, lots of natural light, and a sitting space can all add value to a home renovation. Combat the White Rock winter cold by installing heated floors and heat lamps so that you can step out of your shower and be greeted by warm clothes and a warm floor.

Install a Gas Fireplace

Fireplaces are an excellent way to create an ambience of class and coziness in a home. Gas fireplaces can be turned on and off with the flick of a switch, making them a convenient amenity to install during a White Rock home remodel.

Custom Wine Racking

Built-in wine racks can be incredibly appealing to both casual fans of wine and connoisseurs. These racks provide for easy entertaining and display elegance, class, and value to guests.

If you would like to find out more about quality home remodels and renovations in White Rock, BC, or if you are interested in our custom residential building services, please contact Hyline Construction at 604-889-5242 or fill out a contact form on our website and we will get back to you.

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Green Custom Building Ideas for Surrey and White Rock

When building an environmentally friendly custom home in British Columbia, there are endless possibilities for the home’s design. Some great ideas for green custom homes in the Surrey area include:

Green Heating Options

Geothermal power can be used in South Surrey and White Rock custom homes to replace comparable HVAC and/or boiler systems with geothermal heat pumps. Although geothermal heat pumps and other forms of green heating can cost a bit more up front, the long-term environmental and cost benefits make these systems well worth the price tag. With a massive efficiency advantage over other heating systems, custom homes with geothermal heating can expect significant monthly savings on heating and cooling. By implementing a system that does not burn fossil fuels for heat production a home can cut down on its greenhouse gas emissions and provide a higher air quality throughout the home.

Capitalize on Water Usage

Although British Columbia has an abundance of natural water resources, freshwater is a depletable resource. The energy that it takes to pump water to homes could be saved by implementing a variety of preservation systems. Rainwater harvesting, water recycling, Energy Star rated washers, tankless water heaters, and low-flow faucets are all excellent water-saving options for Surrey green custom homes.

Supplement with Solar

Solar power, like other renewable energy resources, has many environmental and health benefits. Going solar reduces greenhouse gas emissions and results in fewer air pollutants, such as sulphur dioxide. Custom homes in the South Surrey and White Rock area can capitalize on the amount of sunlight that we receive in British Columbia. Many premium solar energy collecting systems have the ability to gather energy from sunlight through medium to heavy cloud cover, meaning that a home will be able to supplement its electrical usage throughout most seasons.

Go Green with Roofing

The type of roofing systems you select can help your green custom home retain heat more readily than conventional roofs during the winter and keep your home cooler during the summer. Living roof systems are made of grass, moss, and other plant life, and they provide incredible insulation and rainwater gathering properties. They require some care, but the benefits are worth it. Other environmentally friendly and energy-saving roofing options include terra cotta, slate, or metal roofing.

To learn more about building a green custom home in Surrey, BC, or if you are interested in our custom building services for residential or commercial projects, contact Hyline Construction at 604-889-5242 or fill out a contact form on our website.

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Why Hire a Custom Home Designer for Your Floor Plan?

When designing your custom home floor plan, there are many factors to consider. Knowing where to place appliances, storage space, stairwells, and even furniture to optimize the flow and utility of your home can be a complicated procedure. An experienced home designer will know how to draw up a floor plan that is not only functional but also optimized for your specific lifestyle, all while avoiding common issues that can cause future issues for the homeowner.

The best custom home designers will create plans that do not only work for your family’s present lifestyle but also take into account the future by thinking about aging family members, the possibility of family growth, and designing rooms with the capacity to be multipurpose. Home designers with experience in floor plans will also know the best placement for certain rooms and features to ensure that the home operates as it should. Keeping bedrooms away from common areas that generate noise and providing privacy for bathrooms are just some of the ways that a good custom home designer can optimize a floor plan.

Floor Plan Standards for Modern Custom Homes

When designing a floor plan for a modern custom home, the best designers aim for uncomplicated designs focusing on simplicity and function. Some modern standards for custom home floor plans include:

• Passive and energy efficient floor plans
• Space planning
• Storage allocation
• Furniture layouts
• Outdoor living
• Maximizing on building footprint and square footage lot allowances
• Optimizing on natural light through windows and airflow throughout the home
• Highly customized according to the client’s lifestyle, design, and budget

To find out more about custom floor plans from top designers, or if you are interested in our custom building services for residential or commercial projects, contact Hyline Construction at 604-889-5242 or fill out a contact form on our website.

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Custom Home Building Tips

Whether you are building your first custom home or you have been through multiple custom builds, there is always room to learn more about home building practices. Some helpful tips for custom home building to remember include:

1.     Find the Right Custom Home Builder

Having the right custom builder handle your home is vital to the project’s success. For the best results, find a home builder who also has experience with design. This will allow your home to reach its full design potential as well as help your project to have flexibility along the way to completion. A custom home designer and builder should also have knowledge of the area in which they are building. This knowledge will ensure that your home is prepared to weather its environment and fit in practically. Investigate your home builder’s licensing, insurance, and testimonials, and make sure that they match up with your stylistic choices.

2.     Keep the Function of Your Custom Home First

When designing your custom home, make sure that the functional aspects are at the front of your mind. The aesthetic of the home can be tailored to suit the layout and features, so the visual aspects should not take priority over how the home functions to suit your lifestyle. Storage space, traffic flow, room layout, and work space are all important factors for designing your home.

3.     Plan for the Future

Without losing track of what will help you in the here and now, it is important to ensure that the home will suit your future lifestyle. Planning extra rooms for future little ones, a ground-floor master bedroom for reduced mobility, or any other future possibilities can keep your custom home convenient for years to come.

4.     Find the Right Land

In planning your dream home, it is important to find a compatible piece of property to build on. While it is rare to find the perfect piece of land for your custom home, do not jump on the first plot that you set eyes on. Discuss your ideas with your custom home builder and get their input on whether or not the land and the home designs are compatible.

5.     Trust Your Custom Home Builder

When it comes down to completing your project in the most practical, efficient, and cost-effective way possible, your custom home builder should have a wealth of experience and successes. Trust that your builder will work in your best interests and keep your home on track.

To learn more about these 5 tips for building your custom home, or if you are interested in our custom building services for residential or commercial projects, contact Hyline Construction at 604-889-5242 or fill out a contact form on our website.

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Floor Plan Ideas for Custom Homes

When devising a floor plan for your custom home, it is worth remembering that your dream home still needs to be practical and suit whatever land it is being built on. For this reason, it is good to consult a custom home designer that can help execute your vision. Some great ideas for a custom home floor plan include:

1.     Open Floor Plan

The open floor plan has become quite popular in recent years and it remains an excellent way to showcase a space and build a free-feeling environment. Open floor plans allow your family to live life together, no matter what room of the house you are in. For instance, rather than walling off your kitchen, build a counter island and put barstools on one side.

2.     Designs for Outdoor Living

Whether it is by building a large deck with a lot of sitting space or by planning for large windows that showcase your yard, incorporating the great outdoors into a custom home floor plan can help make the space feel bright and natural.

3.     Home Office Floor Plan

If you know that you are going to be using your custom home as an office, you might as well build it to optimize workflow. Making the office accessible but separate from the custom floor plan might help streamline work down the road. If the office is accessible directly from the entryway, clients will not have to walk through the whole home for a meeting.

4.     Floor Plans for Entertaining

For people who love to host, having a floor plan that is built for entertaining guests is ideal. This type of design focuses on living and dining areas and often features recreational aspects, such as an entertainment centre, theatre room, or gaming area, as the focal point.

For more information about floor plan ideas to enhance your custom home, or to learn about any of our other custom home building services or commercial building services, please contact Hyline Construction at 604-889-5242 or fill out a contact form on our website.

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Do I Build a Custom Home or Buy a New Home?

There are many benefits to building a custom home, with the main benefit being that you get exactly what you want in a house. Every nook and cranny of your custom home is built specifically for your needs and wants. A custom-built home also offers newer features and finishes, so the details will be perfectly suited to your tastes. Everything will be current and up to code, and you will not need to worry about inheriting any big repairs from the previous owners. The right custom home builder can also ensure that the home is built to be energy efficient and easy to maintain.

Building a custom home is not the solution for everyone. Buying a new home has benefits as well. Custom homes take time to build, which means that, if you are looking to move in quickly, buying a house may be the way to go, as you can usually move in immediately. If you have a smaller starting budget, there are often more options to buy a house than there are for building custom homes; however, if you are looking to get a better value for your money, custom homes are often worth considering. The new technology, current designs, and superior quality that can be found in houses made by custom home builders allow them to retain their value better and longer than pre-built houses. When you hire a custom home builder, you do not need to worry about getting lucky and finding something that perfectly fits your budget because your custom home builder will work within your set financial plan.

To learn more about the benefits of building a custom home vs. buying a new home, or for more information about any of our other custom home building services or commercial building services, please contact Hyline Construction at 604-889-5242 or fill out a contact form on our website.

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What Comes First When Building a Custom Home?

Something that people often forget to factor into the time that it takes to build a custom home is the time that it takes to plan, design, and get all of the necessary documentation filed before starting the actual building process. The planning process includes assessing the site of the build and figuring out the maximum custom house size allowance, building the footprint, ensuring permit requirements and zoning regulations are fulfilled, factoring in landscape details, and determining the property’s eligibility for auxiliary buildings or basements. All of these planning factors can take 2-4 weeks, provided the local permit offices are compliant.

The design phase of building a custom home can take 4-8 weeks. In this phase, your custom home builder will design floor plans and layouts in accordance with current local bylaws. Some high-quality home builders, like the ones at Hyline Construction, will produce full colour 3D renderings to give clients a real feel for how the finished custom house will look. Included in designing is the development of CAD documents for the trades that detail lighting, electrical, plumbing, millwork, and window and door designs. Architectural design and trades consultation also factor into this phase of the custom home building project. Throughout the planning phase, the builders from Hyline Construction will work with you to ensure that your vision comes to life and you get the finishing touches that you desire.

Building a Custom Home

The building process is the phase that can fluctuate the most, depending on each individual project. Building a fully planned out custom house can typically take anywhere between 6 months to a year or more, depending on the size and style of the home, and there are certain factors that can make a project take longer, such as weather or material delays. At Hyline Construction, we like to make our custom homes as healthy, sustainable, and energy efficient as possible, which means that our time is spent making sure that a quality project is delivered. We provide detailed scheduling for each custom home that we build, so you will always be in the loop on where things stand with your home

To learn more about how long it takes to build a custom home, please contact Hyline Construction at 604-889-5242 or fill out a contact form on our website and we will get back to you.

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