Question 1

What types of projects do you handle?

Accepted Answer

We specialize in custom residential projects in Greater Sudbury and Northern Ontario. Our work falls into three main categories:
New Custom Homes: Ranging from high-quality standard builds ("Code-Plus") to Certified Passive House and Net-Zero Ready homes.
Major Renovations & Additions: Deep energy retrofits, second-story additions, and complex layout transformations.
Secondary Units: Design and build of garden suites, laneway homes, and legal basement apartments.
Flexible Services: You can hire us for Design-Only services (planning and permits) or for our full Design-Build / Construction Management service where we manage the entire build for you.

Question 2

What is your design-only fee?

Accepted Answer

Our design-only fees cover the architectural planning phase only (concept through to permit drawings).
Standard Custom Homes: Generally range from $2.50 to $3.50 per heated square foot.
High-Performance / Passive House: Quoted by proposal due to the advanced energy modeling and detailing required.
Renovations: Quoted based on the project parameters with a fixed lump sum or hourly rate.
Note: These fees are for the creation of the construction drawings and permit application. They do not include construction management or building costs.

Question 3

How do you charge for a Design-Build project?

Accepted Answer

We simplify the process with One Fixed Service Fee.
For Design-Build projects, we combine our Architectural Design, Energy Modeling, and Construction Management services into a single, fixed price for our professional services.
What this means for you: You know exactly what our expertise costs from Day 1. There are no hourly billings for our time and no surprise management markups later.
The Construction Costs: The actual costs for materials and sub-trades are separate. These are budgeted transparently and paid directly, so you never pay a markup on materials, only for the labor and materials used.

Question 4

What if I only want the Design?

Accepted Answer

We are happy to provide Design-Only services if you already have a builder. In this case, we will quote a fixed design fee based on the square footage and complexity of the home (typically $2.50 - $3.50/sq.ft. for standard builds).

Question 5

Why should I choose Design-Build instead of bidding my plans out to different builders?

Accepted Answer

The traditional method (hiring a designer, then bidding the plans to multiple builders) often creates an adversarial relationship that puts the homeowner in the middle. Here is why Design-Build is safer for custom projects:
Budget Security: In the traditional model, you often don't know the construction cost until the design is finished—only to discover the bids are over budget. With Design-Build, we price the project while we design it, ensuring your home matches your financial reality from Day 1.
No "Low Bid" Trap: Bidding wars often reward the contractor who misses the most details or plans to use the cheapest materials to get the job. For High-Performance homes, the "lowest bidder" often lacks the expertise to execute the critical air-sealing and insulation details you are paying for.
Total Accountability: In the traditional model, when a problem arises, the Builder blames the Designer and the Designer blames the Builder. You pay for the fix. In our model, we take full responsibility for both. There is no finger-pointing, just solutions.

Question 6

How do we start working together?

Accepted Answer

Every project begins with a conversation to ensure we are the right fit for your goals.
For New Custom Homes: We start with a free 30- to 60-minute initial consultation, available by phone or video call. This discussion helps us understand your vision, budget, and site requirements before we commit to a proposal.
For Renovations & Additions: Because existing homes are complex, we require an on-site meeting to see the structure and discuss specifics in detail.
Consultation Fees:
Within Greater Sudbury: The initial consultation is complimentary.
Outside Sudbury (up to 1 hour): A flat travel fee of $150.00 applies.
Remote Locations: For sites beyond 1 hour, travel fees are calculated based on time and distance. (Note: Any applicable meeting fees will be invoiced prior to the scheduled appointment.)
The Next Step: Following our consultation, we will provide you with a detailed Design Proposal, outlining multiple options that align with your budget and design preferences.

Question 7

Where are you located?

Accepted Answer

We are based in Hanmer, Ontario, just north of Sudbury’s city centre.
Service Area: As a BCIN-registered firm, we are licensed to design projects anywhere in Ontario.
Remote Work (Design-Only): Thanks to modern technology, we can easily collaborate with clients across the province for New Custom Homes, as these start from a blank slate.
Renovations: For additions and renovations, we generally recommend staying within the Greater Sudbury area. These projects typically require on-site visits to document existing conditions, which can make long-distance travel less cost-effective for the client.

Question 8

How are consultations conducted?

Accepted Answer

Since we operate as a boutique office, we offer flexible meeting options to suit your schedule:
Virtual & Phone: For your convenience, the majority of our initial consultations are conducted virtually or by phone.
In-Person Meetings: If a face-to-face meeting is required, we are happy to meet you at a local coffee shop or directly at your residence/building site.
Travel Fees: For site visits or meetings outside the City of Sudbury, a travel fee may apply to cover time and mileage.

Question 9

What is the typical timeline for a project?

Accepted Answer

The timeline varies significantly based on the size, complexity, and type of service you choose:
Permit Drawings (Simple Projects): For smaller renovations or garages where design is straightforward, the process is fast—typically taking 3 to 6 weeks to produce permit-ready drawings.
Custom Home Design (Design-Only): For a completely unique custom home, the design phase (from consultation to final construction drawings) generally takes 12 to 24 weeks or more, depending on revisions and municipal approval times.
Design-Build Projects: If you hire us to manage the entire project from concept to move-in, expect a timeline of 12 months or more. This includes the initial design phase, pre-construction planning, and the physical build time required to meet our quality standards.

Question 10

How do you ensure the quality of your designs & construction?

Accepted Answer

We believe quality is intentional, not accidental. We ensure high standards through a tiered approach:
Smart Detailing (All Projects): We never just design to the "minimum." Even for our standard custom homes, we apply "Code-Plus" principles—using better detailing for air sealing, water management, and insulation than a typical builder. This ensures durability and comfort without the cost of full certification.
Advanced Modeling (Passive House Only): For our High-Performance projects, we take it a step further. We use PHPP (Passive House Planning Package) to scientifically model and predict the home's energy consumption before construction even begins.
Active Construction Management: Regardless of the performance level, quality control happens on-site. As your Construction Manager, we supervise the critical stages of the build to ensure the trades execute the details correctly, protecting your investment from hidden defects.

Question 11

What sets your firm apart from others?

Accepted Answer

Most firms are either "Designers" who don't know the cost of construction, or "Builders" who don't understand the science of design. We are the bridge between the two.
Total Accountability: We don't just hand you a set of blueprints and wish you luck. As your Construction Manager, we take responsibility for the entire project. If a problem arises on site, we don't blame the designer, because we are the designer. We simply fix it.
Financial Transparency: Unlike a General Contractor who gives you a fixed price and hides their profit margin in the materials, our model is 100% open book. You see every invoice, and you know exactly where every dollar goes.
Practical Expertise: We are one of the few firms in Northern Ontario with Certified Passive House expertise. However, we don't force that strict standard on every client. We use that advanced knowledge to make every home better, ensuring you get a durable, efficient home that fits your budget, without paying for certifications you might not want.

Question 12

Will I be able to visualize my home in 3D before construction?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We build your home virtually before we build it in reality.
Virtual Prototyping: We don't just create "renderings"; we construct a detailed 3D model of your entire home. This allows us to verify roof lines, stair clearances, and structural connections to ensure the design works in the real world, not just on paper.
No AI / No Fake Images: We do not use AI tools to generate fantasy images. Every 3D view you see is manually built by our team using professional architectural software.
The Benefit: You get a reality-based look at your future home. If you see it in our 3D model, you know it can actually be built that way.

Question 13

How do you handle project changes or revisions?

Accepted Answer

Our philosophy is simple: We want the design to be perfect before we pour concrete.
All-Inclusive Design: Our design packages are comprehensive. We do not charge for design revisions or changes during the planning phase. We work with you until the layout and look are exactly right, without the stress of hourly billing.
The Design-Build Advantage: Because we are managing the construction, we view the design as a tool to get the build right. If a design change is needed—even late in the process—we typically absorb that design cost.
Minimizing Site Changes: By investing heavily in the design upfront (at no extra cost to you), we ensure the plans are flawless. This drastically reduces expensive changes once construction begins. If you do decide to change a physical material or layout during the build, you simply pay the actual cost of the work—we don't charge you a penalty to update the drawings.

Question 14

What is Passive House design?

Accepted Answer

Passive House design is a rigorous, voluntary standard for energy efficiency in buildings. It focuses on creating structures that maintain comfortable indoor temperatures with minimal energy use for heating or cooling. Key features of Passive House design include:

Superior Insulation: High-performance insulation materials and techniques are used to minimize heat loss.
Air Tightness: The building envelope is carefully sealed to prevent drafts and air leakage.
High-Performance Windows: Windows are designed to minimize heat loss while maximizing natural light and solar heat gain.
Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery: Advanced ventilation systems ensure fresh air while recovering heat from exhaust air.
Thermal Bridge-Free Construction: Design and construction details eliminate thermal bridges, which are areas where heat can escape.

These features work together to create buildings that are not only energy-efficient but also comfortable and sustainable. The result is a significant reduction in energy consumption and a smaller ecological footprint.

Question 15

Can you help with renovation projects?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We specialize in major renovations, additions, and "Energy Retrofits."
Transformations: Whether you are adding a second story, building a rear addition, or completely reworking your main floor layout, we design solutions that respect the character of your original home while modernizing its function.
Performance Upgrades: We don't just make it look better; we make it feel better. We can upgrade your home’s "envelope" (insulation, windows, and airtightness) to drastically reduce drafts and heating bills, applying the same high-performance principles we use in our new builds.
The Renovation Advantage: Renovations often uncover hidden surprises once walls are opened. Our Construction Management model is the safest way to handle this. Instead of a contractor padding their bid to cover "unknowns," you pay the actual cost of the work required, with total transparency every step of the way.

Frequently asked questions