• Ventilate Siding, Brick and Cathedral Ceilings
• Build Clear Expectations
• Consider Radiant Heating

Ventilate Siding, Brick and Cathedral Ceilings

Few exterior walls are completely rainproof.

• Ventilate the area behind siding, brick and stone.
• The best options are made of synthetic mesh that holds siding about 1/4-inch away from exterior walls, allowing water to drain downwards and out harmlessly.

Tall, vaulted, cathedral ceilings are inspiring.

• The space between rafters needs to be ventilated to the outdoors with open channels connecting peak and eaves.
• Don’t stuff the space full of fiberglass insulation.
• Ignore this warning and wintertime condensation can (probably will) wet ceiling surfaces as badly as a roof leak.

Build Clear Expectations

Before any work begins, you need to build a two-way understanding with your contractor.

• As a homeowner, you’re entitled to a detailed, written contract outlining everything that will be done for a specific price paid.
• Some builders will try to convince you to pay them by the hour, plus materials. Don’t do it. This approach provides no incentive for efficient work and leaves you with no clear idea how much building you’ll receive for your dollar.
• On the other hand, in all courtesy and fairness to your contractor, you need to understand that deviation from any detailed plan is costly, troublesome and frustrating. You must be prepared to pay extra (sometimes a lot extra) for changes to the contract you signed. This is only fair, so don’t change your mind unless you must.

Consider Radiant Heat

People love cozying up to something warm. Canada is a leader in radiant in-floor heating systems, an approach that’s growing in popularity because it feels so good to have warmth coming up through your toes.

• Radiant systems are available to distribute hot liquid through floor frames.
• You’ll also find high-resistance electric heating pads available for installation underneath most finished floor surfaces. Canada is a leader in this technology.

Your home is more than an investment. For those who want a truly excellent home, understand that few are ever built primarily as moneymaking ventures. To achieve all that is possible, you need to think beyond any monetary pay-off when it comes time to sell. Build as if you’ll live a hundred years, using the most energy-efficient materials and techniques available. And in the end, you’ll probably end up with a very valuable place, even though you didn’t have that idea up front.

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