Congratulations to our very own John Doig!  He is now a Certified Passive House Tradesperson!  We are very pleased to have him join this network of professionals looking to build better, and more efficient homes for the City of Vancouver!  For more information on Passive House please visit: https://www.passivehousecanada.com/about-passive-house/​

From our family to yours, we hope everyone gets a chance to spend time with their loved ones and takes some much needed time to rest and recharge this holiday season!  
May your holiday season be merry & bright. 

We will be closed from Dec 24th-Jan 1st, we will re-open on Jan 2nd, 2018.

We're proud to announce that this summer, JDL Homes / 1910 Construction Group celebrated 13 years in business!  Thank you to all of our past and current clients for trusting us with their projects.  Whether it's a new build or a major renovation we strive to deliver excellence and peace of mind.

We've been nominated for the Top Choice Awards and would like to invite you to vote for us as the 2019 Top Home Builder in Vancouver!  Please vote for us and fill out the short questionnaire at:  
https://www.topchoiceawards.com/vote?survey_id=dZqopA
​Voting is open November 1st, 2018 to January 2nd, 2019.  Thank you in advance for your continued support!

In recognition of Remembrance Day, we will be closed on Monday November 12th, 2018.

Are you planning on building a duplex in Vancouver? Here's a brief list of benefits and drawbacks to consider.

What is a Duplex?
A duplex is a single residential property with two dwellings under one roof and a dividing wall between the two living spaces. Each side of the wall is a completely separate home, with its own entrance, parking space, yard and amenities. Usually duplexes are on one title, meaning both halves must be sold together, however, there are times when a duplex can be subdivided into two separate titles and each home sold separately.

What Are the Benefits?

• Value added to the property.
• Potential for multi-generational living (family closeness).
  
• Great option for downsizing for future retirement.
• Potential for rental incomes.
• Ability to stratify and sell one or both units of the duplex as an investment.
• Go through the building process only once while technically building two separate units.
• While not official, there is discussion that the city may allow basement suites in each duplex unit; increasing income potential.

What Are the Drawbacks of Building a Duplex?

• Construction costs of building a duplex generally costs more as there is two of everything IE. services, millwork, countertops, plumbing fixtures, & lighting fixtures etc...
  

As you can see the benefits greatly outweigh the drawbacks for building a duplex in Vancouver.
If you're considering building a duplex, contact us today to discuss your project.

What is a laneway house?
A laneway house is a smaller, detached home located where the garage would normally go on a single-family lot which includes a parking accessory (either inside or out).  Unlike coach or infill houses, you cannot stratify or subdivide to sell the laneway house separately; it rides with the property like a basement suite.  Currently, the maximum permitted floor area for a laneway house depends on the size of the lot it’s built on, but not counting allowable exclusions, they may not exceed 83.6 square metres (900 square feet).  Laneway homes typically end up being between 700 and 1,000 square feet if you include the exclusions.

Can I build a laneway house on my property in Vancouver?
You can build a laneway house on any lot 32 feet or wider in any RS single family zone in Vancouver.  Having said that, there are certain requirements & restrictions, one of the primary ones is that you need at least 16’ distance from the main house to the laneway.  If you are not sure if your home is in an eligible zone, call 3-1-1 or you can look up your zoning online, using VanMap an online tool created by the City of Vancouver.

There are many options out in the market for siding materials today.  In this blog post we take a look at the pros and cons of fiber cement siding and why we choose to use the popular brand James Hardie.

THE PROS
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• COST SAVINGS: ​​Fiber cement costs less than wood, doesn’t attract pests, and resists water absorption to help protect against mold, swelling and cracking—buying you more mileage for your dollar.  It can be ordered in primed or pre-finished in one of their standard colours which is factory applied; therefore, a final coat will need to be applied on site, saving you time!

 

• CLIMATE SPECIFICITY: James Hardie is a low maintenance product as they engineer their siding and trim products for specific climates, ensuring that you get the best performance for your region.  It's hail-damage resistant and non-combustible (unlike vinyl) which is perfect for any side yard applications,  especially in the City of Vancouver where the bylaws that govern fire prevention are very strict.

 

• DESIGN OPTIONS & COLOUR THAT LASTS: Their fiber cement product is available in an array of standard colours which incorporates their baked-on ColorPlus® Technology which has greater resistance to fading, chipping and cracking, meaning less maintenance for you.  You can get the material in shingle, lap siding, panels, or board & batten format.  They also offer the materials in a smooth or cedarmill (wood grain) finish.  As a result, you can mix and match wood siding with fiber cement and it will look cohesive.

 

• GREAT WARRANTIES​: Below is a breakdown of the warranties for their products:

1. Color – 15 years
2. Cement board for exterior use – 10 years
3. Cement board – lifetime
4. Lap siding, shingles, panels, soffits – 30 years
5. Trim – 15 years
6. Weather barrier, flashing, seam tape – 10 years

THE CONS

• INSTALLATION & LABOUR COSTS: Hardie siding requires more planning, a larger labor force, and takes a bit longer to install due to its composition. It weighs about 300 pounds (100 square feet) compared to 60-70 pounds for vinyl siding.  The material itself is also more expensive compared to vinyl.

 

• Maintenance: It has to be re-painted periodically. Hardie board’s ColorPlus® Technology covers paint and labor for peeling and chipping of their finishes for only 15 years.  After that you're responsible for regular painting maintenance for your home.

 

• CORNER TRIMS REQUIRED: As we are unable to miter Hardie siding we are required to install corner trims which may be restrictive on the overall look of the home you're trying to achieve.

As you can see the benefits of James Hardie fiber cement siding greatly outweigh the cons.  This is why JDL Homes uses this material on majority of our projects.  For more information on this product please visit their website, here.