FAQ

Q.How much will my project cost

A. Every home or business we build is unique. There are a number of factors to consider when budgeting for your custom home. Some considerations are:
• the size of the lot
• the square footage
• the finishes that are chosen
• whether the basement will be finished
To discuss costs for the project you have in mind, call KulKon in confidence or send us an email.

Q. Does it make more sense to buy land and build, or gut and renovate?

A. When envisioning your new home, it’s important to mentally walk through a sketch of the floor plan and ask yourself what would fit your lifestyle, leaving room for growth. If you are generally satisfied with the size of your current home, but feel it needs modernizing or perhaps a modest expansion (such as adding another storey), then a major renovation could be indicated.

If, on the other hand, you picture adding a great room or an Olympic pool to your property but are constrained by a small property, you may need to consider selling your current property and purchasing a new lot.

Every situation is different. KulKon provides a consulting service that can help you review all your viable options and decide which is right for you.

Q. Should I buy LAND bEFORE coNTACTING A bUILDER OR tALK TO A BUILDER BEFORE BUYING LAND? wHAT DO i NEED TO kNOW?

A. You should speak to KulKon before buying land because KulKon can point out any potential issues with the property such as bad soil conditions and discuss any land prep work such as clearing of trees, grading, utility lines and the like, that might be required. KulKon provides this professional consultation at no additional charge.

Q. Can you help me find land to build on?

A. We can work with you directly to help you find the perfect property for your custom home using either our favorite Real Estate Brokerage or yours. We can also help with issues regarding the suitability of soil, grading, trees, zoning and other crucial issues, if required.

Q. What about Budget, how does that work?

A. We go over every aspect of building your home and detail the costs of every part of the construction process for you. We provide you with an itemized budget so you have a very clear understanding of how much the build will cost before we begin construction. Cost areas include:
• Permits
• Service connections
• Utilities
• Site preparation
• Foundations/footings
• Framing
• Exterior roofing and finishes
• Concrete and drain
• Rough in services
• Drywall
• Millwork
• Interior finishes
• Landscaping
• Miscellaneous (examples include duct cleaning, final clean up, floor covering etc.)
Everything is included in the final budget. With KulKon, there are no surprises.

Q. What are the benefits of Caesar stone or granite for counter tops?

A. Benefits Caesar Stone:
Caesar Stone is one of several companies that manufacture engineered composite quartz. These quartz counter tops are compiled of 93% stone-like materials and 7% binders that are either plastic-like (polymeric) or cement-based. Caesar Stone is very attractive and durable. It is also scratch, stain, crack, heat and burn, as well as mold and mildew resistant and is very low maintenance. Caesar Stone is a nonporous material so spills and other debris can be wiped away with ease. Caesar stone is permanently sealed, so once it is fabricated, resealing services are never required. The manufacturing process allows a much wider range of colours than you’ll find in natural stones such as marble or granite. The appearance of the finished engineered stone is rich and luxurious.

Benefits of a Granite:
Granite is a natural product taken directly from the earth and sliced into sheets. It is also an extremely hard surface which makes it wonderful for cutting and placing hot items on. Once the granite is sealed, it is stain resistant. The various minerals within granite add depth and character making every granite top unique. The colour of the granite will never fade. Similarly to Caesar Stone, Granite is very attractive, durable, scratch, stain, crack, heat and burn resistant, mold and mildew resistant and is very low maintenance. It is also nonporous so liquids and foods to not penetrate the natural stone, keeping it sanitary and easy to clean.

Q. Solid Hardwood floors vs. Engineered hardwood

A. There are so many decisions to be made when designing your new home, major renovation or addition. Hardwood flooring is a popular choice amongst homeowners as it provides the home with a warm and inviting feel. We are going to help you with your decision making process by providing you with some helpful information on solid hardwood floors verses engineered hardwood floors and the pro and cons between them.

Solid hardwood floors are made from planks of single pieces of wood with tongue and groove edges.
They are available in a variety of sizes, 3/8 to ¾ inches thick, and commonly found widths are anywhere from 3.35 to 5 inches. Wider widths are also available, anywhere from 5 to 11 inches or greater and are referred to as plank flooring. Red oak, white oak and maple are common hardwood flooring choices.

Pros for Solid Hardwood Flooring
- Solid hardwood floors are extremely durable and will last a very long time
- Can be sanded and stained many times
- Wood can vary in length and width, but usually comes ¾ of an inch thick
- This solid wood comes unfinished. It is then installed, sanded and finished on site
- Many types of wood to choose from (red oak, white oak, maple) etc.
- Depending on the type of wood, colour can deepen and look richer over time
- Since the floor will be completely sanded before finishing, it can be made perfectly smooth and flat.
(There will be no ridges between the boards when laid)
- Can choose whatever finish, colour, stain and number of coats as well as sheen levels
- Solid wood floor can be sanded and refinished over and over again, restoring the surface to its original
beauty
- Very durable and will last for generations
- Easily cleaned and maintained.
- Simple to repair

Cons
- Not appropriate for all areas. Can warp or buckle when it is humid or come in contact with moisture
- Not ideal in rooms such as basements, bathrooms and kitchens for that reason
- Sanded and finished onsite, the job can take several days for staining and drying time
- Can hold up other trades from working
- Dust and chemical fumes can be unpleasant and unhealthy

Engineered Hardwood Floors

Engineered hardwood flooring is a combination of several layers of wood/plywood glued together in an overlapping pattern. This overlapping pattern makes the flooring strong and very durable. The top coat is a layer of real hardwood glued onto the top and is finished at the factory with many coats of a highly durable finish. On site is where the flooring is nailed or glued into place.

Pros
- Ease and speed of installation.
- Engineered flooring can be installed almost anywhere, including over concrete.
- The flooring is either nailed or glued into place. This is a rather quick and clean process
- The cross-grain pattern resists expansion and contraction caused by changes in temperature and
moisture.
- This product is very durable
- It looks like solid hardwood because the top layer is solid wood.
- Can be refinished once or twice.
- This product has many coats of a very durable aluminum oxide finish which is applied at the factory.
Will last for many years

Cons
- If the sub-floor has any irregularities such as height variations, the engineered hardwood will not lay flat.
- Customers are limited to the manufacturer’s choice of colors and finishes
- Hard to repair. Difficult to match the look of the damaged floor with the same color and grain of new
engineered planks
- Life of the floor is not as long as a solid wood floor. Can only be refinished once or twice.

Q. Heat Recovery Ventilation Systems (HRV)

A. A ‘tight’ house refers to a house with a large amount of insulation, thermal breaks, and high quality windows. This tight house may be a great thermal package, but without a controlled system to deal with the air inside, it can be a trap for humidity, pollutants and staleness. It can be a breeding ground for mold to grow, which is a serious issue with many new ‘tight’ houses. Quality builders are turning to Heat Recovery Ventilation systems (HRV) to improve the air quality in new homes. An HRV running continuously will exhaust stale, polluted and humid air and introduce fresh dry warm air into the home’s atmosphere. It transfers heat from that stale damp exhaust air to preheat the fresh incoming air, thus reducing condensation that can cause mold and mildew. It is not enough to open a window, switch on an attic or furnace fan or use a heat pump to resolve a tight house situation. These solutions are uncontrolled and allow warm air to exit and cold air to enter which wastes energy and promotes mold growth.