Linwood Custom Homes - Custom home packages including house plans

Award winning Custom Home Packages including house plans with site specific design.

All Weather Windows

Canada's largest privately owned window and door manufacturer

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is Canada's national housing agency. CMHC is Canada's premier provider of mortgage loan insurance, mortgage-backed securities, housing policy and programs, and housing research

Energy Star

Save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products

James Hardie

World leader in fiber cement siding and backerboard

Jeldwen Windows & Doors (US)

Reliable wood, vinyl and aluminum windows and patio doors

Western Archrib

A leader in the design, manufacture, and custom fabrication of glued-laminated structural wood systems.

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Material Choices

Using the right materials

to build your custom home will give you a much better finished result. There are many different materials on the market to choose from. All have special performance characteristics, appearance and price points.

The choices you make will affect the overall quality and look of the finished home. The use of higher quality material not only gives you a better-finished result, but can also save you money in the construction process.

It is important to be able to source premium quality building components at a good price and get them delivered efficiently to your site. This can be challenging because many of these components are not readily available in the Gulf Islands area.

A variety of components used in custom home building will have to be specially manufactured and ordered well in advance of construction. Non-standard items will also require deposits at the time of the order. This means you need to make an informed purchasing decision.

When selecting materials for your project you should consider:

Gulf Islands Home Builders can give you an extensive choice of quality materials as a result of our strong relationship with national suppliers. You get quality components that offer great performance, save on labor during installation and are efficiently delivered to your building site.

Appearance and Function

The look of your home will depend on your choice of building material and components. The advantage of building a custom home is that you can create a unique living space, which incorporates the features that give you the look and feel you want.

There are a number of different ways to achieve the right result. For example, you may want vaulted ceilings with exposed timbers, windows that provide an abundance of natural light and the ambiance of natural wood inside and out. Others may value a more traditional look and choose different building materials to get the appearance and function they want.

The choice of windows, doors and wood components used in the structure of the home will greatly influence the look of the finished home. There are many different alternatives for the shape and size of windows and how they open and close. Similarly, there are many options for doors. Timbers can be sourced in different species with variable structural load characteristics and offer a variety of finishing options.

Many of the items needed to get the best result are not readily available in the Gulf Islands area. However, because of our contacts with national suppliers, we can help you select and source the right kinds of materials that give you the appearance and function you want for your project.


Performance and Quality

There are many different products at different price points that are used in construction and appear to achieve a similar result. The reality is that performance and quality levels vary significantly and will not only affect appearance but also structural integrity, installation costs and ongoing maintenance. Less expensive building components simply do not perform as well as premium products for a variety of different reasons.

It is not easy for the average homeowner to strike the right balance between performance, quality and price. For example, the use of straight dry framing lumber may have a slightly higher up front cost but it makes building faster, saves on finishing costs and reduces waste. Higher quality windows will save on energy costs, reduce glare, operate more smoothly, provide better protection against water infiltration and require less maintenance.

Gulf Islands Home Builders can advise you in selecting the kinds of material that will perform well over time. The use of higher quality material generally gives you a better-finished result and often saves money in the building process.


Building Material Choices

Gulf Islands Home Builders helps you make informed decisions on the many building material components and options available. We can supply you with a wide range of the structural materials you need to get your project to the lock-up stage of construction.

These products are available in a variety of quality levels, specifications and price points. The right products for your project will depend on the effect you want to achieve and quality levels you want. Many premium building materials are not readily available and may need to be ordered in advance of construction. Gulf Islands Home Builders can help you choose the right material for your specific project.

Once your home is weatherproof and secure, the finishing stage begins. There are lots of decisions to be made and many hundreds of items to be selected including plumbing and electrical fixtures, flooring, tiles, cabinets and trim. Some homeowners want to play a major role in finishing work while others like to use the services of an interior designer. Whatever option you may choose, we are pleased to work with you to get your home completed.


Efficient Delivery Methods

Having material available when required is critical to the building process. Multiple deliveries, particularly in remote locations, can add substantially to the real cost of building materials. It is also hard to source a wide range of premium building materials locally.

A good solution is to order a complete material package and ship it all at once to your building site. This is not only a cost-effective way of purchasing materials, but also makes sure that they are readily available needed for construction. Proper organization of loads and efficient shipping methods can significantly reduce your construction costs and minimize delays.

Gulf Islands Home Builders has arrangements with suppliers to consolidate and then deliver materials to the building site in fully loaded trucks or containers.


The Best Price and Value

Gulf Islands Home Builders can give you the best price on the major components required to construct your home. Best price refers to the price paid for equal quality material. Lower quality materials may be available at a lower price; however, this will be reflected in the overall result. Gulf Islands Home Builders can help you select the right materials to get the best possible value for your money.

The cost of design and lock-up materials represent about one third of the total construction cost of a typical custom home. If desired, Gulf Islands Home Builders can offer you extended price protection on these materials through its suppliers.

The length of the price protection is based on the individual project and building timeframe. This gives you the ability to fix a significant portion of your construction budget. This type of price protection is not available from traditional lumberyards or is only good for a very limited period of time.


Meaningful Warranty

Warranties on building products are only as good as the strength of the companies who supply them. Some suppliers offer very limited warranties, which do not cover many of the most common problem areas. They may also only service product that is installed in close proximity to their manufacturing operations.

Product warranties must be meaningful in order to protect the investment in your home. This especially important for:

This is why Gulf Islands Home Builders only works with national brand name suppliers who offer a superior product with comprehensive warranties and have the ability to service their products in the field.



Gulf Islands Home Builders - Member of BC Builder Network - 1.866.582.8453