JULY/AUGUST 2022 | COMPLIMENTARY COPY
THE MAGAZINE OF ARCHITECTURE / HOME & INTERIOR DESIGN / WEST COAST LIVING
Awesome Ideas for a DIY Deck Project Demand For Modular Homes in BC is Booming Planning Your New Dream Yard
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F RO M T H E D E S K OF THE PUBLISHER Copyright 2022 by Campaign Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any article, photograph, or artwork without express written permission of the publisher is forbidden. Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.
Hello Summer! It’s about time! After a long wet and dreary spring, it looks like summer has finally arrived on the Coast and with it, all the great events and activities that help to make this one of the most spectacular places on the planet to call home. The Sunshine Coast has always been a Mecca for creative people of all disciplines and backgrounds including designers and artists, musicians and writers, as well as entrepreneurs and small business people with a plethora of talents and fresh ideas, and of course let’s not forget our incredibly talented community of custom home builders and tradesmen. In this issue, we feature not one, but two of the exceptional local custom home builders that are making their mark here on the coast by building beautiful homes with a local west coast aesthetic. We also take a deep dive into helpful deck design ideas, as well as great suggestions on how to create your own dream garden, the latest in energy-efficient affordable homes, and much more. So go ahead and pull up your beach chair, grab a tall cool one, and enjoy this latest issue of @ Home on the Coast.
PUBLISHER & EDITOR Brad Ferguson, publisher@homeonthecoast.ca CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bryan Brasco Russ Qureshi Angela Koop GRAPHIC LAYOUT Darren Griffin MEDIA SALES advertising@homeonthecoast.ca DISTRIBUTION Matt Preus For Marketing and Advertising contact advertising@homeonthecoast.ca Printed in Canada on recyclable paper.
Brad Ferguson, Publisher
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July/August 2022
CONTENTS
8 12 18 23
JakeStar: Setting A New Standard for Home Construction Awesome Ideas for a DIY Deck Project Acacia Homes Building a Better Future
27
Sunshine Coast Real
28
Planning Your New Dream Yard
30
The Evolution of Affordable Housing
Estate Statistics
Demand For Modular Homes in BC is Booming
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@Home on the Coast | 8
JakeStar:
Setting A New Standard for Home Construction Jakestar Management Corp. is a full-service boutique construction company based here on the Sunshine Coast and has been building quality homes in BC since 1992. Although the company is well known for building high-end luxury homes in North and West Vancouver, they also have a long family history here on the coast that goes back generations. @Home on the Coast | 9
The founder of Jakestar, Chris Simpkins, built his first home here (his family residence) at Secret Cove over 20 years ago on a pristine piece of property that was purchased decades ago by his grandfather, the wellknown Vancouver auto dealer, Clarke Simpkins. Since its inception, the company’s focus has been on building quality energyefficient custom homes for clients both on the North-shore of Vancouver as well as the Sunshine Coast. We asked Chris to share a bit about his philosophy of building and his approach to client relationships and project management. “Our goal is to make the client’s vision a reality. We achieve this through a collaborative approach from the very first consultation through the finishing details and completion of the home. We believe that the difference between a house and a home is in the details.”
“We also understand how important budget and timeframe are to our clients and we work hard to overcome any obstacles to ensure there are no surprises along the way” As a custom boutique home builder, Jakestar has a strict policy of never taking on too many projects at once and instead focuses on building only a limited number of custom homes or renovation projects at any one time. As a result, the client will always have their full attention from day one through to completion. Another point that Chris stresses is that having a great team of talented craftsmen makes all the difference in the quality of the finished home and this is reflected in every project they take on. If you’re looking for a high-end home builder in Gibsons, Roberts Creek, Sechelt, Halfmoon Bay or in North or West Vancouver, Contact Chris at Jakestar for a no-obligation consultation on your next renovation or new home project. Info@jakestar.net @Home on the Coast | 10
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Awesome Ideas for a DIY Deck Project Thinking of adding a new deck to your home this summer? A deck is an excellent way to utilize unused space and allows you to appreciate your backyard. It will likely encourage you to spend more time outdoors. If you have unused space at the back ( or front or side) of your home, why not create an exciting new deck for a unique and attractive new outdoor living and entertainment space. Here are a few ideas to inspire your inner designer.
To design a deck that can be used year-round, one of the first things you should consider is covering the part of the deck that connects to your home. Thoughtful landscaping around your deck creates a natural flow and acts as a subtle reminder of how your home is connected to your backyard.
If you’re planning to design your deck, you should first become familiar with some of the more common deck designs. One of the most popular designs is the platform deck. Platform decks are recommended for level areas as it sits low to the ground.
The first thing one must consider regarding backyard deck ideas is the materials to be used. The four most common types of materials are pressure-treated lumber, redwood or cedar, aluminum, and composite materials. Each has its pros and cons, and careful consideration is important before you decide which one you will incorporate into your design. Pressure-treated lumber can make your deck look classic with a hardwood finish, but it is high-maintenance and prone to warping. Redwood and cedar are durable but can end up being very expensive. Aluminum is an excellent choice when it comes to durability, but it also comes with a hefty price
Higher than a platform deck is a raised deck. As it sits higher, you need to include railings not only for aesthetics but also for safety. A freestanding deck is more suitable for properties that don’t allow for a directly connected deck. You can also have two-story or even multilevel decks if your home’s geographic contours allow. @Home on the Coast | 12
Choosing the Right Materials
Thinking of adding a new deck to your home this summer? A deck is an excellent way to utilize unused space and allows you to appreciate your backyard. It will likely encourage you to spend more time outdoors. If you have unused space at the back ( or front or side) of your home, why not create an exciting new deck for a unique and attractive new outdoor living and entertainment space. Here are a few ideas to inspire your inner designer.
tag. Composite materials are easy to maintain and are available in a wide selection of colours and textures. Your deck will most likely become the centrepiece for entertaining. Casual dinners with your friends or family get-togethers. Planning will ensure that it is designed to host a variety of events. Installing lighting, an outdoor sound system, and a kitchen or a bar will add to the ambiance. You may want your deck to have more than one purpose – as a space to relax alone, a place to entertain guests, or a quiet spot to spend time with your family. One way to visually divide parts of your deck is with the use of furniture. For example, place a dining table in one section intended for enjoying meals and a separate seating area where you can chill while having a drink. Small picnic tables are a great idea to accommodate children and allow adults a bit of breathing space at meal times.
@Home on the Coast | 13
Building a new home on BC’s Sunshine Coast or renovating an existing home? Call the Professionals at HWH Contracting Ltd. Specialists In New Home Builds,renovations, & Commercial Projects Exacting And Reliable Work Guaranteed Homeowners Participation and Opinions Always Welcome New Home Warranty Fully Licensed And Insured Twenty + Years Experience on the Coast. Serving The Sunshine Coast From Langdale to Pender Harbour & Everywhere In Between
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Outdoor Furniture Ideas Speaking of furniture, choose pieces that will go with the style of your deck. For example, look for furniture with curves or complementary shapes if you have a contemporary deck with geometric patterns and hard angles. Cast-aluminum furniture works well because it is lightweight and can be easily shaped with curves to complement the deck’s rigid design. Furniture made of wrought iron is a popular choice for something more durable. You will have more options for wood furniture; there is a vast assortment to choose from. For a traditional deck, wooden furniture is a good choice for a more rustic look. Some popular options are redwood, cedar, mahogany, or teak. These are great for covered decks as inclement weather may damage the wood and make the cushion wet. If you’re designing a more open deck, go for light, folding chairs and tables so they can be easily stored if needed. For something a bit more tropical, try mahogany or bamboo tables and chairs. Couches and loveseats made of these will add an element of elegance to your deck. Modern wicker furniture is another great option and is designed to be lightweight and is often weather resistant. Most wicker chairs and sofas have cushions, which can be removed when needed and stored during rain.
@Home on the Coast | 15
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Deck Railing Ideas The deck railing is the element that ties your design together. You can choose railings that match your deck’s main material or create a more eclectic look by mixing different materials. There are several different types of materials and a wide price range to choose from. You can opt for composite or vinyl railings if a maintenance-free deck is a priority. Some of these are available at your local home improvement centers as kits that are easy to install, making them perfect for DIY projects. For a more premium-looking but more expensive deck railing, you can install glass or plexiglass, which provides an unobstructed view beyond your deck. If you decide on the glass, be sure it is tempered and shatter-proof glass, and to prevent birds from crashing onto them, consider going with tinted glass. If you want a backyard deck with a more rustic appeal, try using metal railings. Most metal railings are made of either aluminum or steel. Choose aluminum if you want something rust-proof. For a more modern look, consider installing a cable railing system. These are often composed of stainless steel cables with posts made of wood, composite, or metal materials. No matter the design of your deck railings, make sure that you follow your local building codes that set standards for height, grades, and sizes.
@Home on the Coast | 17
Acacia Homes Building a Better Future Tyler Schmidt Architecture Dolf Vermeulen Photography
A
cacia Homes is a family-run construction business owned and operated by Lindsay & Jeremy Kermath, and their two children all of whom were raised right here on the Sunshine Coast. As a relative newcomer in the custom home building industry on the coast, Acacia Homes is rapidly building a stellar reputation for craftsmanship, quality materials, and most importantly transparent communication with their clients.
@Home on the Coast | 18
Broad visions. Careful thought. Hand-crafted design. 604.989.8743
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info@acaciahomes.ca @Home on the Coast | 19
We value thinking that goes beyond aesthetics, to a fundamental understanding of the needs of our clients.
Serving The Sunshine Coast & Gulf Islands
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arT is FOr everyOne! JOin us. Inspiring exhibitions and local artisan gift shop. Fun volunteer opportunities and GPAG member benefits. Open Thursday ThrOugh MOnday, 11aM - 4pM Free adMissiOn and parking gpag.ca 431 Marine drive, gibsOns
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According to Lindsay “One of our main focuses is on client communication. We meet regularly with the homeowners to assure that they are receiving updates consistently and regularly. This ensures that everyone is on the same page throughout the entire process” Acacia Homes are also committed to crafting the highest quality sustainable high-performance homes and choosing only the best performing building materials and products. Through their extensive collaboration with talented tradespeople and other local resources including designers and architects, Lindsay and Jeremy bring together an A-team of building professionals who share their passion for designing and building beautiful and energy-efficient homes that are
built to stand the test of time both aesthetically and in functionality. Jeremy would like to express gratitude to their hardworking team of builders, as well as feeling fortunate enough to work alongside master fabricator James at Coastal Steel, a local custom metal fabricating company that worked on this featured project, and others. Also a big thank you to Tyler Schmidt the multi-talented architect who was responsible for the design of this spectacular home in Secret Cove. Acacia Homes are currently working on their first residential custom home development project and look forward to continuing to build more high-end multi-family projects in the future.
@Home on the Coast | 21
@Home on the Coast | 22
Modular Home Sales Booming in BC
Demand for modular homes is booming in BC as firsttime homebuyers and downsizers increasingly embrace this more efficient and affordable construction method. While modular construction is only now entering the mainstream here in Canada, this method has been common practice in several other developed countries worldwide for some time now. @Home on the Coast | 23
From tiny homes to high-end singlefamily dwellings, factory-built housing can be built faster, cheaper, and with less disruption than traditional on-site construction methods. Modern designs and aesthetics also appeal to a younger demographic, while the stigma surrounding modular housing is fading. We are seeing an increase in the 25- to 45-year-old buyers because they didn’t grow up with the modular homes that we have today. Today’s factory-built homes are modern, energy-efficient, and most importantly, more affordable than traditional on-site construction methods. A growing number of modular home companies are now catering to a higher-end market by designing and creating more @Home on the Coast | 24
energy-efficient houses with modern architectural design elements.
facing labour and material shortages as they scramble to keep up with demand.
Gord Rattray, executive director of Manufactured Housing Association of BC, says modular housing is the way of the future.
According to Joel Lutz of Amco Homes on Vancouver Island ( represented by EcoFab Modular Homes on the Sunshine Coast), Moduline, one of the largest builders in BC, has a current waiting list of six to seven months. Although a house can be finished in as little as eight weeks from the time it hits the production line, the increased demand has created an imbalance in supply and demand.
“Looking forward, we’re looking at densification, including modular laneway housing. That, and multistorey developments, are the evolving trends today,” said Rattray. “I believe modular homes over the next 20 years will increase drastically because they have a dedicated workforce, they’re built-in plants, and the quality is constantly improving.” Demand is growing in leaps and bounds in BC to the point where businesses serving the market are
Communities, industry partners and housing societies are beginning to pay closer attention to modular construction as they continue to explore viable alternatives to address the lack of affordable housing in the province.
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Lunch & Dinner Daily
Sunshine Coast Real Estate Statistics by Russ Qureshi
All segments of the Sunshine Coast Real Estate market have shrunk both in dollar volume and unit sales. At the time of writing this report the Bank of Canada had just announced another .50% increase in the prime rate with warnings of more increases to come. The British Columbia Financial Services Authority has made its’ recommendations to the Provincial Government with regard to consumer protection measures the government wishes to implement. Interestingly, they clearly said the recommendations will likely have unintended consequences and do very little for housing affordability. The latter will have an even more pronounced cooling effect on the market, at least temporarily, while the industry, and Buyers and Sellers, adapt to the new rules. Meanwhile, let’s see how last month rolled out.
Detached homes sales are down in dollar volume by 22% compared to this month last year to $66,600,000 and unit sales and down by 35% to 55 homes sold in May. The number of available listings is up 16% to 212...This means our sales success ratio is 26%. While we still consider this sales success ratio a “seller’s market”...,with the increase in inventory and reduction in sales, this percentage has halved since last month. Year to date shows us down 12% in dollar volume to $340,000,000 and unit sales down 26% to 283 homes sold in 2022 so far. The average home price is up by 19% to $1,200,000. Condos and Town Homes are down in dollar volume by 28% to $11,525,000 and unit sales by 33% to 20 homes sold in May. The number of available listings is down 22% to 39 condos and/or town homes available for sale. This means our sales success ratio is 51%! This segment of the market, due to lack of inventory, continues to be a sellers’ market. Year to date we see that dollar volume is down 24% to $56,000,000 and 1 - 815 North Road - Gibsons
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Land only is down 67% in dollar volume to $5,150,000 and down 68% in unit sales to 9 land only property’s sold in May. Inventory is down significantly from last year. 47%, to be exact, to bring available inventory to 65 lots. This means the sales success ratio for this segment of the market is 14% putting it firmly in “balanced market” territory. Year to date we see dollar volume down by 12% to $59,000,000 and unit sales down 31% to 93 lots sold in 2022. The average price for a piece of land is up 26% to $635,000. I’ve noticed far fewer multiple offer scenarios playing out and sellers are starting to negotiate off of their asking price! The soft spot seems to be between 1.3 million and 2 million. Lower than that is brisk and, surprisingly, the higher end continues to chug along very nicely. For market information contact your realtor. For market intelligence contact Russ Qureshi at ReMax City Realty @ 604-741-7119 or russ@coastlifestyles.ca
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@Home on the Coast | 27
Planning Your New Dream Yard
If your summer wish list includes a relaxing escape in a private sanctuary right in your backyard, here are a few suggestions on how to make that happen. First, make a detailed inventory of your space. Are you starting with a blank slate or an already established landscape? Try to locate a map of your property either online at the local municipal website or refer to your original plan. This is can be a valuable tool to use when planning the layout for your new dream yard. Make a copy of your property plan and draw out everything that exists in your yard currently. Once you have done that, make another copy and go stand in places where you envision you will be spending the majority of your time. Make careful notes of things you see and prioritize what you love, what you like, and the things you could do without. Now that you have your property mapped out, it’s time to get inspired! Explore your neighbourhood and make notes of interesting designs of other people’s yards. Snap a picture or two for inspiration. You will start to notice a trend of favourite colours, features and plants. These pictures are a great @Home on the Coast | 28
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resource to investigate online and find out what that plant with green leaves and white flowers was that smells so wonderful. Once you’ve compiled this information it becomes easier to begin to create your own plan for your new dream backyard. Don’t stress out if it all seems a bit daunting at first and remember, you can always complete your project in phases there’s no hurry so enjoy the journey. And last but not least, bring your maps, pictures, and ideas to your local garden centre to speak with their gardening professionals. They are quite knowledgeable and will be thrilled to help you achieve your dream yard. Happy planning! Angela Koop
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The Evolution of Affordable Housing When we think of evolution in technology we often think of industries like telecommunications, computers, or medicine – but what about construction methods? One of the greatest advancements in precision construction over the past few years is the modular home.
Modular Vs. Conventional Homes Conventional or stick built homes are constructed almost entirely on-site, building from the ground up from foundations to fixtures. Modular homes, on the other hand, are built off-site in a factory setting. They are then trucked to the site and transferred on to a foundation or in the case of more than one module, connected and sealed on site.
While differing in many aspects from traditional builds, modular homes are value-appraised the same way as their built on-site counterparts, have the same insurance premiums and taxes, and qualify for the same home loans. Temporary or Permanent The versatility and speed of the process means that modular homes can be used as long-term, temporary or permanent facilities. Modular
@Home on the Coast | 30
homes – which can also be referred to as factory-built, system-built, or prefabricated – are fully customizable and vary in style and size. Modular Vs. Mobile Homes Modular and prefab homes are not the same as mobile homes, though they often tend to be confused as all belonging to the same style of home. A mobile home has wheels and can be transported from one location to another; however, you do not pick up your modular home and bring it with you when you move! People often confuse modular with mobile in thinking that modular homes are what you find in a trailer park. Modular home design has come a long way in the past decade and many architects and designers now specialize in modular homes design. Yes, modular houses are built in a facility, but they don’t all have the same cookie-cutter look. Modular homes can be customized to the homeowner’s unique needs and style – everything from the layout, to the materials used, to the finishes can be personalized. Cost Savings Modular homes can be more affordable than site-built homes, not only in terms of production and
building costs, but also in the long term. Their energy-efficiency means that monthly bills/expenses are substantially less than regular builds. The surprise costs associated with construction delays are also averted since the factory assembly process offers more control over schedule and the cost is fixed. Since the building process happens within a factory setting, the building materials aren’t exposed to the elements during construction, which keeps them from warping or developing weaknesses or issues with mould from water damage.
Time Savings
In Conclusion
When the weather outdoors is extreme and traditional sites are shut down, pending homeowners of a modular home can have peace of mind that a team of skilled labourers are still busy constructing their home with no fear of delay or materials being compromised by the weather. Modular homes are also considered a form of ‘green’ building, so, they are a perfect alternative for the environmentally conscious.
Modular homes generally have a higher quality-control standard than traditional builds and are strong, energy-efficient home options. •
Modular homes are permanent structures and can be built on a cement slab, crawl space, or basement.
•
Loans for modular homes are the same as site-built homes.
•
Modular homes can be customized for accessible or assisted living needs.
•
Modular homes can be as much as 50% less cost than the cost of a stick built home.
@Home on the Coast | 31
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