Editor,
Tip: The foundation and building envelope is most important.
In this climate always provide good roof overhangs and proper drainage.
Drainage is utmost priority. Get the water away from the house. It bloody well rains here.
Always check building codes. They are there to advise you and protect and add value to your investment.
Always, always hire a professional tradesman or hire someone with several references. Remember, following the building code protects your investment and enhances occupation of that rental suite you may have available to a potential tenant.
Research your project. Get several estimates. There is lots of information on the Internet about roofing, foundations, and building envelopes (the bit that keeps you dry or from sweating to death).
This is not California. Don't make the mistake a lot of developers made locally by building to southern California design codes. (Gee we all saw that coming, it bloody well rains here.) But they didn't know.
Avoid flat roofs. If you want that extra ceiling height, reverse the slope so at least the water has somewhere to drain.
House prices are always overpriced. Always. Assume that you'll pay too much and make sure that at least the foundation is solid and that the walls are straight and structurally sound. That way you have a basis upon which to improve your investment and get equity yes say it it excites you equity.
Proper weather tight/watertight, double-pained windows are great - make sure they are sound and seal well.
South facing walls should be well sun resistant. Shade the buggers. Tress, larger overhangs, whatever it takes. You don't want the siding to bake. It will buckle and crack and leak in the winter rains. It bloody well rains here.
Building permits ensure that you do the job right. Once you have those permits, the city is obliged to follow through that the job is done right.
Remember their inspectors follow code. The code is your best pal. So who is the inspector? Your pal. Too many fly by nights out there.
Concrete is strong under compression and weight, useless under tension without steel re-bar in it. One wonders why patio decks on the ground cracks when not done properly.
Always make sure that concrete slabs on grade have proper mesh/re-bar enforcement and that there is non-organic fill compacted under. Yep, get some drainage around there too it bloody well rains here.
Oh, please cement your fence post at least two feet into the ground and at least one quarter to one third of the total post length should be in the ground. Make the concrete to about three inches above the ground level (get the water away from the post).
I'm tired of seeing fences falling down or crooked just a few years after being built. Cedar does rot, and so does pressure treated post.
It bloody well rains here.
Stephen D. Harbin
Squamish
