FAQ

We specialize in custom residential and small building projects in Greater Sudbury and across Ontario. Our work falls into four 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 of garden suites, laneway homes, and legal basement apartments.Small Buildings: Triplexes, fourplexes, and small commercial buildings.Flexible Services: You can hire us for design only (planning and permits), or add construction support, where we stay involved while your builder builds. We answer your builder's questions, clarify details, and review the work on site.

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.

Every project begins with a conversation to ensure we are the right fit for your goals.For New Construction: 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 Greater Sudbury: Travel is charged based on distance and travel time. We confirm the amount with you in writing before the appointment is booked. Phone and video consultations have no travel charge. (Note: Any applicable travel 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.

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.

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.

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.Construction Support: Support begins once your builder is hired and continues through the build. The build itself runs on your builder's schedule, which depends on the size of the home, the season, and trade availability, so confirm it with them early.

We believe quality is intentional, not accidental. We hold 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 improves 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 model and predict the home's energy consumption before construction even begins.Construction Support (Optional): Your builder is responsible for the work. If you add construction support, we answer your builder's questions and visit the site at key stages, such as air sealing, insulation, and window installation, to review that the details are being built as designed and flag concerns early.

Good homes come from design and construction working together. We bring construction knowledge to the design, and we stay available once your builder starts work.Qualified and Registered: Rob Fleury is an Accredited Architectural Technologist (M.A.A.T.O.) with the Association of Architectural Technologists of Ontario, a BCIN registered Small Buildings designer, and a Certified Passive House Designer, with over 22 years of residential design experience.Drawings Made to Be Built: We detail every project so your builder can price it and build it with confidence. Details like air sealing, water management, and insulation are resolved on paper before anyone is on site.Involved When It Counts: Add construction support and we stay involved during the build. We answer your builder's questions, clarify details as they come up, and visit the site to review the work. Your builder stays responsible for the construction.Practical Expertise: We bring Certified Passive House expertise to Northern Ontario, where few firms offer it. However, we don't force that strict standard on every client. We use that advanced knowledge to make every home better, so you get a durable, efficient home that fits your budget, without paying for certifications you might not want.

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.

Our philosophy is simple: we want the design right before construction starts.Full Design and Construction Support: Our design packages are comprehensive. Each package includes 3 floor plan options. These are 3 layouts to choose from, not 3 complete designs. Once you select a direction, we refine it with you, and 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.Changes After Design Approval: If a change is needed after the design is approved, or once construction is underway, we will review it with you and confirm any fee in writing before we update the drawings.Minimizing Site Changes: We invest heavily in the design up front, and with construction support we stay available to answer your builder's questions as they come up. This helps reduce costly changes once construction begins. If you decide to change a material or layout during the build, your builder will price the physical work. Any change to the drawings is quoted separately, as above.

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.

Yes. We specialize in major renovations, additions, and "Energy Retrofits."Transformations: Whether you are adding a second story, designing 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 design upgrades to your home's "envelope" (insulation, windows, and airtightness) to help reduce drafts and heating bills, applying the same high performance principles we use in our new builds.The Renovation Reality: Renovations often uncover hidden surprises once walls are opened. We start with an on-site review of the existing structure to reduce unknowns. With construction support, we help you and your builder work through what is found and update the drawings as needed.