Follow the Construction of a Multi-Generational Home in Outaouais!
Welcome to our brand new blog. We invite you to join us on the exciting adventure of building a multi-generational home nestled in a sublime natural landscape as part of the Boisé Ste-Élizabeth project, in Cantley, Outaouais.
We will discuss the various stages of the journey that transforms our clients’ vision into an exceptional living environment for two generations. You have certainly seen a house being built in your neighborhood. We see the walls rise, close, and then be clad… But how do we get to that point? What happens behind the scenes before the first shovel of earth?
We will discuss the design phase, where ideas come to life on paper, and the design that allows for customizing spaces and giving them a soul. We will also show you how crucial planning is for managing a project and every one of its small details, and finally, we will illustrate the stages of construction itself, that ultimate moment when your project comes to life before your eyes and becomes tangible.
Join us for practical tips and inspiring stories.
Delve with us into the realization of this unique multi-generational project dubbed the HarmoNid!
Follow the evolution of the HarmoNid! Here are some photos.
The Construction of a Multi-Generational Home Begins with a Well-Thought-Out Concept.
Ready to delve into the first chapter of our multi-generational home construction adventure?
Like many things, it starts with a concept. Our clients, great admirers of their current home which they designed and built a few years ago, wanted to draw inspiration from it for their new multi-generational project.
Within a few meetings, our clients share their vision with us through well-annotated plans and sketches. Subsequently, the architectural technologist joins the team and we prepare the first preliminary plans. Collaboration with the clients continues through a series of revisions to refine every detail, ultimately resulting in THE plan that reflects all of their ideas and vision.
We unveil this captivating design phase in images, an exclusive look at the entire creative process.
Starting from the annotated plans and sketches…
To arrive at the final preliminary plans approved by the clients…
The Design Phase: Customization and Harmony
With the expertise and guidance of Marie-Andrée from K&M Design, the design phase of our multi-generational home construction project takes shape. Clients are at the heart of this process: each generation adds a unique dimension to their living space by customizing every detail according to their individual needs and desires.
With Marie-Andrée and our supplier partners, the selection of materials becomes an enjoyable yet thoughtful process for our clients, ensuring visual cohesion and a unique aesthetic. The focus is on quality, durability, and the expression of clients’ personal preferences.
By preparing detailed plans and elevations, it helps clients gain a comprehensive vision of their design, and it simplifies things for us, making project management easier as well.
Design plans and material selections…
Elevation plans for the fireplace, shower, and bathroom vanities…
Marie-Andrée’s passion for design is contagious, and we are privileged to have her on our team. She contributed to an excellent article project detailing the benefits of working with a designer when planning new construction.
We invite you to read this article on our website if you would like to learn more!
The next step before construction begins? Planning, stay with us!!
Thorough Planning Leads to Success!
In construction, planning is often referred to as the pre-project phase. It is an essential step to ensure the smooth progress of the project.
The permit application must be submitted early in the process so that planning can continue while the municipality processes the application within the prescribed deadlines, which typically vary between 30-60 days.
Submitting a permit application can seem like a real headache with all the forms, documents, and details to include. At Harmonie Construction, our project manager, who is well-versed in the matter, handles it!
To build a multi-generational home on a large plot in the Boisé Ste-Élizabeth project in Cantley, more than just a building permit was required. A septic permit, a well permit, and a certificate for the access driveway were also needed, and more…
After consolidating the file, our project manager proceeded to the online services on the Cantley website to submit all permit applications, and the task was complete.
While awaiting the processing of our permit applications, we maintain momentum, and project planning continues with the preparation of construction plans and specifications.
Taking into account every detail of our clients’ personalized concept and design, we prepare the construction plans and specifications, which will be the cornerstone for our construction team. In a project like this with two distinct dwellings, there is no shortage of details.
Flooring plans…
Kitchen plans…
Lighting plans….
Ultimately, the plans and specifications for this project totaled over 120 pages. Hats off to our project manager! (He probably woke up in a cold sweat once or twice thinking, “#@!% Did I forget something?”). It is meticulous work, and every detail is important to ensure the project runs smoothly until the end and that our clients’ vision is realized.
Another indispensable element in planning is the construction schedule. The hammer and level are for erecting the framework. The construction schedule is the tool that facilitates the coordination of work among different trades and ensures that each member of the construction team is present at the right time.
With the plans, specifications, and construction schedule completed, the construction team has everything in hand to prepare their game plan for the groundbreaking, where we break ground and the real fun begins… The excavator is on its way, so stay with us for the rest of the story!
Breaking Ground! – Excavation and Foundation
Finally, the time has come to break ground! This is where we begin to see the transformation of the land into a living environment. It starts with clearing the land for the access driveway, the house, the well, and the septic system. By strategically cutting trees, we preserve the wooded character of the land.
Once the land clearing is complete, we move on to stripping, where tree stumps and the layer of vegetation are removed from the ground. Next, the access driveway is created, which will be used by trucks to bring in and remove materials needed for excavation, and the excavator digs the basement and prepares the excavation base for the foundation’s installation.
With the excavation base ready, finally, the construction of this magnificent multi-generational home begins with the installation of foundation footings and French drains. Subsequently, the foundation walls are put in place, and we can now see the impressive footprint of the house taking its place on this exceptional plot.
Are you interested in a multi-generational home? Take a few minutes and answer our questionnaire to see if you have a multi-generational profile.
Before the lumber is delivered and the framing team begins work, a few steps remain. The exterior perimeter of the foundation walls must be waterproofed, and rigid insulation is installed on the interior perimeter. The final step is backfilling. The area around the foundation is backfilled with sand to ensure proper drainage, and the interior of the foundation is backfilled with 3/4 clean stone in preparation for the concrete slabs of the garage and basement.
With the backfilling complete, we move on to the most anticipated stage by our clients: framing, where we see the structure rise from its foundation. The material order is on site, and the framing team is ready for the next chapter!
