Cowichan Home Builders

Our Services

Working with Cowichan Home Builders gives you

• New Home Construction
• Home Additions
• Home Renovations
• Our Expertise
• Design and Construction Options

We provide our customers with a variety of practical building options. This gives you the flexibility you need in structuring a working relationship with us that makes sense. A number of clients like to act as the general contractor but may need project management services in certain technical areas of construction. Some want a qualified general contractor to build the structure of the home to the lock-up stage and then complete the interior finishing on their own. Others want the general contractor to look after the entire project.

New Home Construction

Cowichan Home Builders is experienced in working on custom home projects of various types and sizes. Homes have become more complex over the years and building code requirements more stringent. This has affected the timeframe it takes to obtain building permits in the Cowichan area.

Many of our customers have found that it is helpful to understand the building process before construction begins. Cowichan Home Builders gives you realistic expectations and can help you make informed decisions about what is involved in construction in the following areas:

• Site specific design and material selection
• Budget preparation
• Building permits and approvals
• Site preparation and improvement
• Installation of foundations
• Completing the basic structure of the home
• Finishing the interior of the home

The cost to complete your home to occupancy will be dependent on the size, location and complexity of the project. The time taken, availability and quality of trades-people used will affect the labor component. The reality is that it is more important to consider the value of work being done than simply choosing trades based on a low hourly rate.

Choosing the right people can save on a lot of labor cost and fixing problems later on. Generally the use of higher quality material gives you a better finished result, less waste and lower maintenance as well as substantial cost savings during construction. Cowichan Home Builders uses best construction practices in all of their projects.

Home Additions

A well-designed addition to your home takes thorough planning. Your addition should not only consider lifestyle needs, but also increase the value of your property by more than the construction cost. Structural changes resulting from your addition may give you a chance to improve other outdated components.

Cowichan Home Builders uses up-to-date, energy-efficient construction practices. Home additions often require changes or upgrades to air handling equipment to improve moisture control and air quality in the house. The objective is to increase the comfort as well as the function and size of the home.

Many additions will require a building permit, particularly when the external footprint of the home is increased. Cowichan Home Builders has access to professional designers who can take your ideas and prepare blueprints that will meet structural and permitting requirements.

Cowichan Home Builders can help you make sure that your addition is structurally sound, meets your living requirements and looks like an integral part of the existing home.

Home Renovations

A professional renovation makes your home more appealing, more efficient and more durable. Cowichan Home Builders has the right kind of experience to make you comfortable that your project will be successful. We provide you with realistic estimates and perform the work to meet building code standards. We can also assist you to source experienced designers and prepare blueprints that will meet structural and permitting requirements.

Before renovating, it's important to assess the condition of your home to determine if there are any significant underlying problems that must be addressed before or during your planned renovation. You will need to consider:

• Lifestyle requirements
• Upgrades or replacement of key structural elements
• Improvement of the look and feel of the home

Good up-front planning is crucial before you start work to keep costs under control and get the best result. A thorough inspection will help you to assess the condition of your home. Cowichan Home Builders can arrange for a professional home inspection for you that assesses signs of deterioration and the possible causes.

Cowichan Home Builders can then help you plan your project and make your home look better, last longer and be more comfortable.

Our Expertise

Most homeowners require external expertise to take their project from concept to completion. Technical advice and support are often required prior to and during construction. This is especially true if the nature of the property presents construction challenges.

No matter if you are building a new home, renovating an existing one or adding an extension, Cowichan Home Builders has access to the building resources required for custom projects.

You get a much better finished result and more value in your home when you use the right materials and hire the right expertise. The cost to fix problems caused by the use of the wrong materials or poor installation can be substantial. Better quality materials and skilled people will pay for themselves during the construction process because building goes faster with fewer problems and less waste.

Critical areas where homeowners need external expertise usually include:

• Obtaining permits and approvals
• Design and material selection
• Structural load bearing and other engineering requirements
• Assembling the right human resources
• Constructing the home to meet building code standards
• Controlling and managing the project

As registered builders with the BC Builder Network we have full access to technical experts including designers, drafts-people, engineers and specialty trades. We can also help with choosing materials that perform well in the Cowichan area.

Working with Cowichan Home Builders you can be confident that your project will come in on time and on budget.

Design and Construction Options

Your choices of design, materials and construction method play a major role in the look and feel of the finished home. There are many ways to combine different construction types with design and material that creates the perfect home for you. Some may choose spacious open plan living, abundance of natural light and the ambiance of natural timbers while others prefer more traditional and easier to build structures.

Different construction methods will be required depending on the type of structure selected for the home. Conventional framing is the most common option. More complex homes may involve the use of post and beam, timber-frame or log structural components. In some cases, these components may be combined with a conventional frame to get a more cost-effective result.

Building different types of homes takes special skill sets. Cowichan Home Builders uses the best construction practices no matter what design and structural materials are selected. We recommend the use of higher quality materials as they give a better finished result, reduce labor costs during the building process and minimize waste.