Custom homes are specialized and unique with character and class while incorporating the personality and lifestyle of the owner. Photograph: Courtesy of Shorline Construction

Welcome back to our nine part series. In previous issues of Cottage Home and Property Showcase, we’ve covered everything from selecting the lot, architect and builder to digging the well and choosing the type of foundation. We are now ready to build! 
Part six of our journey will touch on windows, doors and kitchens plus stick frame, timber frame and log homes. 
This series has been designed, not only as an interesting and informative first read, but as a timeless resource. If you have just joined us, check out our website www.cottagehomeshowcase.com for parts one to five. We welcome your comments and suggestions.

No surprises
This is the moment the client first sets foot on the floor of their dream home. The value of experienced professionals becomes fully appreciated with a completed basement, the sub floor framed and the site back-filled.
A walk around confirms the great view, the access and the exposure exactly as planned, no surprises – except perhaps how vast the floor appears without walls!
It has been, for many, a leap of faith in the builder’s ability to get it right. It’s not easy to imagine elevation grades and size before construction begins. Tangible results prove the value of due diligence and careful selections. The client is now confident that more of the same can be expected.

Windows and doors
Long before wall framing begins, the first major decision pertains to window and doors. It sounds easy but it is much more involved. The choices are unlimited.
These are not shelf items. They need to be ordered well ahead of time. Delivery must be scheduled to match construction projections.
“Consultations between window experts, the builder and homeowner identify needs and expectations,” states Eleda Ward, of Window Works.
“The architect plots nominal window sizes taking into consideration balance, proper lighting, ventilation and costs,” adds Jeff Hodges, of Muskoka Window and Door Centre.
“But the builder needs to know the actual size and since sizes differ depending on the company, window selection is one of the first decisions in the building process.”
“People are getting away from the norm – the standard picture window we saw 20 years ago,” says Rick Hebert, also of Window Works.
“They want something interesting, exciting and different from everybody else. They’re looking at shaped or geometric windows, non rectangular windows, oval shaped and camber tops.”
Ward adds, “We’re seeing a trend back to wood windows, which is what we call the old Muskoka look. Natural wood on the interior and aluminum, or vinyl, clad on the exterior surface for a maintenance-free finish is popular.”

Windows open your home to the outdoors and provide functionality with the elegance and style equal to fine furniture. Photograph: Courtesy of Muskoka Window and Door Centre

Richard Clement, of Clement Aluminum and Vinyl says: “Most window manufacturers make windows with UV protection. Low-e reflects the sun’s rays and protects the furniture and drapes from ultra violet rays. Together with argon gas, injected into the cavity between the windowpanes, they double the R-value of the window.”
Innovative and technological advances include an easy-to-clean glass. “A coating in the glass is activated by sunlight,” explains Hodges. “When the rain hits the glass, it comes off like a clean sheet reducing water spots by 99 per cent.” Another option available is a vinyl sheet on the new windows. It stays on until dry walling is completed keeping the new windows clean.
Custom homes with high ceilings call for eight-foot doors. For low maintenance, doors come in all-wood with a clad exterior. Another choice is a fiberglass door, which can be stained to look like wood but without similar properties. Wood doors can move and swell with moisture.
Informed decisions regarding windows and doors cannot be made without a full understanding of the different types, finishes, colour, hardware, shapes and almost limitless custom options.
A visit to a showroom will educate. Invest the time; it pays off. Quality windows and doors set the tone and will represent about 10 per cent of the cost of the home. Don’t get it wrong.

Kitchen design is becoming more elaborate and eclectic with new ideas and innovations. Photograph: Courtesy of Woodsmiths of Muskoka

Raising the walls
As the walls are raised and rooms defined, the home will start to take on a “feel.”
Light entering through window openings will vary with exposure and the time of day. The second floor and roof now define the volume.
Site visits and walk-throughs confirm all is as expected or suggest minor changes and improvements that were not previously apparent. This is normal in a custom home. The little things are so much easier to see on site than to envision from drawings.
If the architect and client have worked well together and communications were as they should be, there will be no surprises, only pleasant confirmation that many hours of design and consultation have paid off. There is no feeling like it. It is positive and exciting, just the way it should be!

Beautiful interiors are a result of the expertise and talent of the architect and builder plus their ability to communicate with the owner. Photograph: Courtesy of Cedar Coast Homes

Types of homes in Muskoka
The building’s frame, or envelop, will likely consist of one of three types.
• Stick Framing: The conventionally framed 2'' x 6'' walls and custom framed or truss roof.
• Timber framing: Large intricately joined timbers forming the structural framework of the walls and roof.
• Log Homes: Buildings made from round or square logs carefully crafted to fit together one on top of the other.
Some homes will be a combination. Each offers unique characteristics and limitations; each requires an entirely different set of skills to craft and erect.
Stick frame
Stick Frame is characterized by 2" x 4" or 2" x 6" vertical studs spaced 16" apart for the interior and exterior walls of the home. The outside of the exterior walls is clad with plywood and the spaces between the studs are filled with insulation. 
The roof consists of dimensional lumber generally 2" x 12" spaced 16" apart, clad with plywood with the spaces between filled with insulation or it may consist of engineered trusses to form the building envelope.
“Once the actual building process begins it moves along fairly quickly,” states Doug Fitzmaurice, of Fitzmaurice Brothers. 

“We give a list to the owner regarding the decisions that must be made in the upcoming month and we suggest various people that offer the different products.
“To keep the proper chain of events all working in sequence and to make it work properly for a lot of different trades, decisions must be made at the right time. 
“There are so many options. I can send my client to five different stores and there will be variations in each of the five to consider. Visiting trade shows such as the Cottage Life Show, the year prior to building, helps. Being armed with ideas and brochures is a huge benefit once the process starts.”
Gary Clark, of Edenlane Homes also works in the stick frame style: “We design our homes to look like they are built into the ground, rather than sitting on top and we suggest colours that blend with the landscaping and topography.
“We specialize in the old architectural style with quaint windows, severe heavy roofs and dormers, all in the old turn of the century style.”

Grant Watkinson, of Shorline Construction, builds stick frame and says, “Ideas come from many places including clippings from magazines. I often tour with my clients to view actual completed homes. Each custom home is so unique. Attention to detail is vital and has been appreciated by our clients over time.”
“Viceroy Homes have over 100 models that fit most people’s needs,” says Roger Kolbuc, of Muskoka North Building. “Innovative designs, vaulted windows and cathedral ceilings give owners, at the very least, a great starting point.”
Specializing in stick frame, Chris Ember, of Cottage Country Construction says: “As the building process proceeds, we encourage and welcome owners to come on site. They may want something changed once they actually see it. Their involvement is an asset. Decisions are on going.”

Timber frame
Typically, timber frame homes are manufactured off site and delivered in sections to the contractor. They’re built using square timbers and traditional mortice and tennon joinery. The wood frame of the house is detailed and exposed on the inside.
“A timber frame home has that ‘wow’ factor, with massive timbers, and the artistry of the joinery,” states Ron Downey of Muskoka Timber Frame.
“There are timber frame structures standing today that date back hundreds of years,” he adds. “In the early years, craftsmen cut and shaped the timbers by hand.
“We use hemlock, douglas fir and white pine. The finish of the timber can be dressed, rough sawn or hand hewn. Our joinery is mainly done in the traditional way of the old world craftsman.”

Timberframing is impressive with its massive timbers, detail and artistry inside your home. Photograph: Courtesy of Cutting Bros. Inc.

Lawrence Cutting, of Cutting Bros. says: “Clients will come into our shop with their plans and we advise them on what will, and will not, work. Timber framing is our niche. We design, engineer, manufacture and install timber frame and we co-ordinate the manufacturing of the timber frame with the timing of the installation.”
Timber Frame can be done structurally or decoratively. “When the Europeans first came to North America, timber frame was the structure.” continues Cutting. “Now timber frame often compliments the structure. You still have to have the R-20 and the R-40 walls and roof and the weather proofing.
“What they were doing back in the 1900s would not pass the new building codes. With large structures, when the timber is under a lot of stress or tension, it may require steel helpers. We have engineered a method to conceal the steel joinery to keep the true traditional look.”
Says Simon Hirsh, of Hirsh Log Homes: “Most frames of the timber frame home, are stood up and then covered on the outside with structural insulated panels (SIP) that create the walls and roof. The walls are then sided usually with stone or wood siding.”

Log homes
Hirsh adds, “People are often surprised when they find they are not limited to certain types of layouts for a log home.
“We can accommodate most any style, layout, or shape of home. Although there are typical styles that lend themselves to log homes, we can offer contemporary, pioneer or a lodge style cabin from rustic to extremely elegant. Most of our homes are built with western red cedar, but we also use fir, pine and antique wood.”
Hand-hewn log homes can be built in four main styles. Scandinavian full scribe with round logs and no chinking, cope style with round logs and chinking, piece en piece with a mix of vertical and horizontal logs and dovetail style with square logs and chinking.

Log homes, while they have typical layouts, are not limited to certain styles and shapes. Photograph: Courtesy of Hirsh Log Homes

Post and beam
Post and beam is a grey area between timber frame and log homes. It’s a hybrid and can be log post and beam, or, timber post and beam. (Timber means square cut and log means round logs)
Hirsh explains: “Post and beam does not use traditional joinery and incorporates conventional means of construction. This can save money and allows for flexibility in design.”
States Carey Cain, of Casey Construction: “In a recent project, we built the home as a structurally sound stick frame home. Then we went on the inside and simulated with real pine posts and beams.
“Economically sound, we avoided subjecting the post and beam structures to the elements. We closed in the home with stick framing, windows, shingles and insulation. Because the posts and beams inside were not structural, we could put them wherever we wanted. We had more options and versatility for the post and beam look.”

Ready for the roof
“Enviroshake is taking the place of the traditional cedar shake roof due to cost and maintenance,” states Kevin Browne of NorStar.
“The second growth of cedar is not producing the same big redwood trees. In the past, cedar was red with plenty of tannins. Now cedar is more of a blonde colour with less natural oils to protect the wood from exposure to the elements.” 
Enviroshake is impervious to the weather and to pine needles, which have an acid effect on the cedar.

“It has a lifetime guarantee, no maintenance and from 100 yards away you cannot tell the difference between a cedar shake roof and enviroshake,” claims Browne.
“With asphalt roofs, it’s vital to ensure all conditions for warranty are in place,” he adds. “We use grace ice and water shield six feet up from the eaves.”
Water runs down the roof as the ice melts due to heat loss. When it hits the bottom two feet of roof overhang, where there is no heat, it can freeze causing ice damming. Grace ice and water shield prevents the water from penetrating the roof structure.
“There are several different choices in asphalt, or fiberglass, shingles,” states Clement. The shingles come in various textures and colours and can have a layered cedar shake look.
Metal roofing has a number of different profiles including ribs and shakes. With no maintenance, they’re a lifetime roof, more conventional and less expensive. The final choice in roofing is basically dependent on cost, the ‘look’ and maintenance.
Insulation

Enviroshake is becoming one of the popular choices in roofing for custom built homes due to its many advantages. Photograph: Courtesy of NorStar Exteriors

In the last issue, we addressed insulation for the foundation/basement. Now we look at insulation for the walls and roof. Many choices exist.
“Insulated concrete forms (ICF), is a mass of concrete encapsulated in layers of expanded polystyrene (EPS) and can be taken right to the roof,” states Brian Higgins, of Cottage Country Construction. “We are sold on it for the whole house. Our niche is the customer who wants an insulated concrete form, energy efficient home.”
Rick Hallam, of Tobin Building Systems says about ICF: “Because it’s a concrete wall, as opposed to a wood wall, it doesn’t move with the wind. The home is silent, fire and weather resistant. ICF produces a solid, strong wall.”
Richard Clement, of Therma Seal Insulation, uses the Blow in Blanket System (BIBS) for insulating exterior walls and ceilings. “It eliminates any voids, or gaps, that lead to heat loss and support mould growth,” says Clement.
“The insulation material we use is a fiberglass insulation and it’s formaldehyde-free. All roofs must have ventilation, except when you use polyurethane, which is sprayed on.
“It’s called a hot roof application but it’s not recommended in this climate because of ice build up. Ventilation is as important as insulation, to prevent ice.
“We use polyurethane foam in certain circumstances such as crawl spaces, in 2'' x 4'' walls to achieve an R-20 and in cathedral ceilings if you have only a 6'' cavity.
“Timber frame cathedral ceilings are sprayed with polyurethane foam as they are being built. The builder then sheets and shingles the roof right behind us.”

The interior of custom homes posses detail and charm, characteristics of experienced custom builders. Photograph: Courtesy of Shorline Construction

Prepare for mechanical rough-ins
Once the roof is complete and watertight, the windows and doors installed, the building is no longer subject to the vagaries of the weather.
It is not too soon to start the process of interior design and decorating. Furniture layouts need to be confirmed for this will determine many of the electrical decisions to be made, particularly lighting.
Kitchen design needs to be finalized and site measurements taken so plumbing, electrical and venting requirements can be installed in exact locations. The same applies to bathrooms, wet bars and laundry areas.
“As soon as plans are available, owners start to look at all the different products they will put into their new homes, and kitchens are one example,” states Reno ReCoutt, of Northern Buildall’s Kitchen Centre.
“We offer a full range of kitchens and we talk with the client to determine the style and ‘look’ they want to achieve. We listen to their needs and wants, discuss appliances and trends and we get a good idea of what will work and what won’t work in their given space. Every kitchen is different than the next. There are no cookie cutter kitchens.”
Mike Smith, of All About Kitchens, states, “Getting in early gives flexibility. The design of the kitchen in the original architectural drawings may not necessarily be the best set up for you.

“Kitchens and appliances are becoming more elaborate. They have a more decorative, eclectic look with a cottage-feel and yet the elegance of the city.
“With the various home design shows running on TV, people are coming to us with more innovative ideas and requests for their new kitchen.”
Don MacLean of Woodsmiths of Muskoka says, “We ask people to make a ‘wish list’ and a ‘must have’ list. The ‘wish list’ may be pie-in-the-sky items that may, or may not, fit. Space and budget are often the determining factors.
“Appliances are on the ‘must have’ list. “We don’t need complete information. We do need to know if you’re going to have a separate cook top and a wall oven, or, a slide in range. What about a wine chiller or a bar sink?”

Your dream of a lifetime unfolds in front of your eyes as the walls, windows and roof are completed. Photograph: Courtesy of Fitzmaurice Bros. Carpentry

Smith adds: “Elaborate focal points such as range hoods designed to make a statement, drawing your eye to the stove area, are popular. The kitchen is often seen as a space to entertain. This means you want to make sure there is enough room for people to be in the kitchen area and feel a part of the food preparation, but still have enough room to work.”
MacLean adds, “25-30 per cent of the time we can modify the kitchen floor plan, if we see the plans in advance of construction. Once the framing and interior walls are in, we have a predetermined space.
 “We then do a site measurement and meet with the electrician and plumber to mark out exactly the best location for the receptacles, ducting etc. Not to do this could mean costly changes or compromises.”

Framing inspection
Wainscoting or vertically applied MDF board will require horizontal girths to be installed at the correct heights in walls. Decorative beams will need blocking in place at attachment points.
Chases may need to be built in which to run plumbing pipes or ductwork. It is absolutely necessary that these decisions are made and all components of the framing are in place before mechanical rough ins begin.
Framing inspection under the Ontario Building Code is now due.
In the interest of scheduling, priority has been given to the inside framing components. In our next issue we proceed to the exterior of the home. Join us! There is still a long way to go!

Photograph: Courtesy of Brian Hoar Inc.

Top of Page

---

Return to A Nine Part Series - Table of Contents