CHBA Blog

The kitchen is the heart of the home and a natural gathering place. Homeowners are embracing the kitchen as an entertainment area and looking for ways to make hosting easier and more enjoyable for all.

In 2015, the local Home Builders’ Association in Edmonton, Alberta (CHBA-Edmonton Region) began an initiative called the “Renovation Month Days of Service.”

Net zero homes are an excellent option for those looking for a comfortable, energy efficient space. By producing as much clean energy as they consume, net zero homes are up to 80% more energy efficient than typical new homes.

Nothing ties together a room better than fabulous flooring. Feel like your space needs an upgrade? Get some inspiration from these finalists of the 2019 CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence.

There’s more to upgrading your home’s flooring than simply choosing the material you like and having it installed. The perfect flooring will look good and be practical. Here are three things to consider when choosing to update your floors.

For nearly two decades, Cardel Homes has been working with Dreams Take Flight to help realize the dreams of children across Canada.

For anyone planning a home improvement project, like a kitchen renovation, finding the right contractor for your project can often be bewildering. You want someone who knows what they are doing, has the track record to prove it, and a lot of happy clients to back this up.

Sooner or later, every furnace ‘dies’. Ideally, you don’t want to wait for the unfixable breakdown to happen in the dead of winter before shopping for a replacement. Begin your research before you’ve got an emergency and you’ll have time to choose a furnace and service company wisely.

After purchasing a 100-year old home, the new home owners decided to undertake a whole-home renovation. The house needed upgrading and one of the new owners had a medical condition that made indoor air quality very important.

This project involved a rental property that needed renovations to an addition. The planned changes were not complex, and for most professional renovators would have been a relatively small project. There was a 2-storey addition in place. The original goal for the project was to install a new foundation and a new first floor while retaining the second-floor room.

In January 2014 a single mom with a young daughter had a problem with ice damming on their roof which caused a major leak and damage to the attic, bathroom, kitchen and dining room. Their insurance company evaluated the project and made a payout of $20,000 so that she could get the necessary repairs done.

This homeowner hired a friend-of-a-friend for a basement renovation and to do some exterior refinishing. Although no contract was signed, an advance payment was made to the “contractor,” and he started work. The basement was gutted and the resulting debris piled in the backyard. The exterior of the home was partially replaced, and then everything ground to a halt.

Most Canadian roofs develop at least a little ice each winter, but if this gets more than a couple of inches thick around the eaves it can cause leaks. A build-up of ice like this is called an ‘ice dam’ and can be a problem because as water pools behind the dam it can work its way under shingles and cause leaking into the home.

The Canadian Home Builders’ Association celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2018 and is proud of its history of building and supporting communities across the country. Together with the Renovation & Supplier’s Council, the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association (GVHBA) contributed to this history through its renovation of the Easter Seals House 3rd Floor Lounge.

Does your house cost a fortune to heat and cool? Should you switch energy sources? Get a new furnace? While all these questions are valid, they are not the most important ones. The main issue is something more basic — how fast does your house lose energy?

When homeowners repair or renovate, cash deals are all too common. No contract, no paperwork, nobody’s the wiser. Contractors shave their prices by eliminating taxes; consumers pay less and get a better deal. Or do they?

The Canadian Home Builders’ Association celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2018 and is proud of its history of building and supporting communities across the country.

Chances are that your furnace has the capacity to heat your basement and the above-ground levels of your home to the comfort level you expect. So why are so many finished basements cold in winter?

When homeowners repair or renovate, cash deals are all too common. “Pay me cash” contractors shave their prices by eliminating taxes and consumers pay less and get a better deal. Or do they?

The holidays are a time to come together and celebrate with family and friends. But for families who are struggling to make ends meet, the holidays are particularly stressful – especially for those with children.

The Street Culture Project is a non-profit, registered charity in Regina, SK, providing housing access, skill development and personal support to street involved youth.

Home renovations may seem daunting during the planning stages but with the right contractor & these 3 tips, you and your family can enjoy a hassle-free home renovation.

In 2016, the Purcell family hired Naikoon Contracting to build a home for their family that required several special features.

The Canadian Home Builders’ Association celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2018, and is proud of its history of building and supporting communities across the country. The Hamilton-Halton Home Builders’ Association (HHHBA) commemorated the occasion by giving back to their neighbourhoods in a big way: they raised $75,000 for local charities.