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Welcome to the CHBA Blog

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Embark on your journey to home ownership in Canada with invaluable insights into renovation tips, finding professional contractors, and understanding the stages of home building. The CHBA Blog is perfect for first-time buyers and seasoned homeowners alike, offering practical advice for every step of the process. Learn how to plan for a new home, navigate the construction process, and execute smart renovations, whether you choose to DIY or hire a professional.

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Featured Story

NET ZERO Blog Post

Watercolour Westport Brings Net Zero Homebuilding to Cottage Country

Award-winning and Net Zero Ready, Land Ark Homes’ Watercolour Westport community showcases how beautiful design, exceptional comfort, and high-performance construction can come together to create a sustainable legacy for future generations.
A modern net zero house with solar panels on the roof, a landscaped backyard with stone paths and patio seating, surrounded by a wooden fence in a suburban neighborhood.
A modern two-story net zero home with dark gray siding, a steep gabled roof, large windows, a double garage, and a front porch with outdoor seating, surrounded by landscaped bushes and plants under a clear blue sky.

Categories

Roof trusses: Why your home goes ‘boom’ in the night

February 7, 2018

Roof trusses: Why your home goes ‘boom’ in the night It might not be easy going back to sleep after your house startles you awake, but it’s likely nothing to worry about. Are roof trusses the culprit? For 50 years, most house roofs have been framed using triangular assemblies of wood called trusses. The top…

The Most Important Question You Can Ask Before Renovating

December 18, 2017

The Most Important Question You Can Ask Before Renovating You’ve decided it’s time to move ahead with your long-planned renovation project. You’ve collected all sorts of great ideas and product pictures, visited the local Home Show and spent many hours online looking at what other homeowners have done in their projects. Now you’re ‘shopping’ for…

The Ins and Outs of Renovation Warranties

December 14, 2017

The Ins and Outs of Renovation Warranties When you hire a contractor to renovate or improve your home, there are a lot of details that need to be spelled-out in your work order or contract. The more obvious of these are a thorough description of the work to be done, the work schedule to be…

Three Tips For Hiring a Great Renovation Contractor

December 5, 2017

Three Tips For Hiring a Great Renovation Contractor Home renovations can be one of the biggest single expenses most people ever take on, and the success of your project depends a lot on the contractor you choose. The crazy thing is, people often put more thought into selecting a shirt than into finding a contractor…

Should You Do It Yourself?

November 29, 2017

Should You Do It Yourself? Planning a DIY renovation project? Here are some questions to ask yourself first.   Do you have the skills? Many of today’s home improvement products make it easy for do-it-yourselfers, but other projects require specialized skills. Seeing something done on a television renovation show isn’t the same as having practical experience. Getting…

CdnBuilt: Reid’s Heritage Homes Helps Open Nephrology Clinic at McMaster Children’s Hospital

November 17, 2017

#CdnBuilt: Reid’s Heritage Homes Helps Open Nephrology Clinic at McMaster Children’s Hospital “Our daughter Kayla’s life was saved by the teams at McMaster Children’s Hospital,” write Charlotte and Tim Blevins of Reid’s Heritage Homes. In 2011, Kayla Blevin developed a severe E. coli infection, leaving her with life-threatening kidney failure and sending her to McMaster’s Children’s Hospital in…

5 facts you need to know about heating your home

November 16, 2017

5 facts you need to know about heating your home As Canadians, we rely on heating systems more than most nations in the world. But our need doesn’t necessarily translate into knowledge. If you’re unhappy with the comfort or cost of keeping your home warm in winter, here are some things to consider.   Insulation…

Cold basements: Is a lack of cold air ducting to blame?

September 20, 2017

Cold basements: Is a lack of cold air ducting to blame? The season has changed to fall, and in many corners of Canada, the temperature is getting chilly in the evenings. As winter fast approaches (sigh), it’s time to make sure your home heating is in order. Many people struggle with cold basements, but why?…

How to make changes once a renovation begins

August 23, 2017

How to make changes once a renovation begins Your dream renovation is underway. You found the right contractor, checked their references, agreed on the plans and schedule, and most importantly, signed a contract that includes a warranty. But you’ve just found the perfect lighting fixture or floor tile, and it’s different than what’s in your contract. Or you’ve opened up…

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