air quality in homes, especially with builds that are well-sealed and energy efficient. In addition, consumers are looking for healthier cabinetry materials that are formaldehyde-free. A popular trend in Europe, some manufacturers across North America may already be offering formaldehyde-free kitchens and bathrooms.
design a truly unique home. Be aware that converting a historic building can become a bottomless pit for your budget, ensure you have the building inspected throughly before moving ahead with any plans. It's exciting and rewarding to plan and build a home. Whether it's your first home or the dream home you've been planning for years, it will be a memorable event in your lifetime.
Prefab or Manufactured
Prefabricated homes are not a new thing on the market, but are often able to achieve a higher standard of quality than site-built homes where the raw materials and shell of the house are often left exposed to the weather for extended periods of time. In addition, the uncertain and unpredictable weather in Canada, and on the Island in particular, can affect the timeline dramatically. Manufactured builds also avoid labour overruns and damaged materials from lying in the rain. Indoor shop manufacturing also lends itself better to material reuse and recycling, as smaller pieces of wood and Insulation can be sorted, stored and later reused.
Natural Light
Windows are not just for taking advantage of the views. The trend of installing not just larger windows but more windows is assisted by the more energy efficient windows available on the market. Larger windows help with passive heating and cooling and eliminate the need for turning on lights during daylight hours.
Laneway Houses
Green Building
Larger Canadian cities like Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver are encouraging existing home owners to build laneway or coach houses. With an aging population these smaller builds can be used as in-law suites, guest accommodations or rental income opportunities. Typically these builds are smaller in square footage and built to be energy efficient.
Focusing on greener building practices has become less of a trend and more expected in the building industry. The higher cost of energy combined with an increasing awareness of the global climate crisis is a driving force behind more energy-efficient home construction. Everything from installing solar panels to choosing more energy efficient windows and doors can make a build greener.
Darren MacKenzie Master Builder/Owner MacKenzie Builder Services Ltd.
Mass Timber Panels
Passive Heating and Cooling
Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and Mass Timber Panels (MTP) are more frequently replacing metal and solid wood as structural beams in buildings and homes. Although this has not yet become a popular choice on the Island, it is a great trend towards preserving natural resources and old growth trees, as they are made from post-industrial waste wood as well as smaller dimension trees from logging that are normally too small for any commercial use.
Passive heating and cooling in homes is simply a matter of determining where the sun exposure is, and trying to capture and keep as much of that heat as you can in the winter while keeping it out in the summer. The position of the sun, the placement of shade trees or other natural features of your lot can create natural ways to control your home's heating or cooling requirements.
MacKenzie Builder Services Ltd. 262 Howe Point Road, Eglington 902.687.1508 C: 902.969.0425 E: darren@mackenziebuilders.ca www.mackenziebuilders.ca
Healthier Homes
Historic Conversions
New non-toxic building products are introduced to the market regularly, but what is important is when consumers ask for more eco-friendly material options. Homeowners are more concerned with protecting indoor
Converting a church or barn into a home isn't something new, but it's increasing in popularity. In addition to preserving historic or existing buildings, it allows the homeowner to
SUMMER 2020 www.pei-living.ca
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