The Conscious Builder’s entry in the 2024 RenoTour Parade of Homes is small but mighty.
This 1950s bungalow has certainly been given a design upgrade, but more impressive is the attention to the bones of the home. From the exterior cladding and the wall assembly to the interior, basement and attic, this home has had an overhaul to create a comfortable, quiet and efficient home that also looks good.
The RenoTour Parade of Homes is presented by the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) and RenoMark (a national program that identifies professional contractors who have signed on to a code of conduct that protects the homeowner).
This home is one of nine that can be seen in person on Oct. 6. There is no charge, and the tour map can be found online (or scan/tap the accompanying QR code). You can also pick up a map in person at the GOHBA booth at the Ottawa Fall Home Show (EY Centre, Sept. 26-29).
If you can’t make the in-person tour, 3D virtual walk-throughs of most of the homes will be available afterwards at RenoTour.ca.
Here’s more info on The Conscious Builder and its project from company founder Casey Grey (edited for clarity).
Q: Why did you join the tour this year?
A: We’ve had entries in previous years, and there is a lot of value in the conversations we have with visitors. It’s also a great opportunity to show people what’s possible and get more involved with our community.
We get to talk to people who are there to learn and maybe they are thinking about their own renovation or build. Pictures can be deceiving, and this is an opportunity for people to get to know us and see the work of our great tradespeople firsthand.
Q: Why choose this project for the tour?
A: This home is a great example of what a lot of our current housing stock needs. It’s a 1950s-era home, which we retrofitted with a new wall assembly inside and out and completely updated the interior (including the basement).
Not only does it look fantastic, but we improved the indoor air quality, made the home more comfortable and reduced the energy consumption. We have a lot of “befores” in Canada; this is a great example of an “after” for a family home.
Q: What can you tell us about this project?
A: We had the opportunity to give the home a beautiful facelift on the exterior by removing the brick façade and rebuilding the wall assembly with a new weather/air barrier, exterior insulation and beautiful new siding choices. The windows were upgraded to triple-glazed fibreglass windows. With the landscaping they’ll be doing, you won’t recognize the home from its previous exterior!
Insulation was topped up in the attic and we sealed the air leakage spots we had access to. The interior is also a dramatic new space as we removed the chimney and fireplace, did some engineering and restructuring with interior wall framing, replaced interior insulation and old floors and created a new, redesigned kitchen for the homeowners.
The interior upgrade even carried through to the basement. Lastly, the HVAC for the entire home was upgraded and we added an ERV for 24/7 fresh air. It’s truly a second life for this home.
Q: What kinds of things should visitors watch out for when they tour the project?
A: There was so much done to the place, you’ll see a classic family home updated with beautiful quality finishes, but also you’ll feel the quiet, fresh and solid feeling of a well-built, airtight, efficient home.
Q: What do you expect to have on hand for visitors?
A: The homeowners may be in and out, but we’ve provided them with the option to hit the spa while people check out their home. I will be there with some of my crew to show people around and talk about the work we’ve done on the place, the challenges it presented, and the materials and building science we applied to the project.
We will feature some before shots so you can get a sense of how thoroughly this house has transformed. We’ll have a few other treats, too, so make sure you stop by this one.
Q: Tell us a bit about your company.
A: The Conscious Builder started about 14 years ago but I have been in residential construction in Ottawa for over 20 years. The team has grown over the years! We became The Conscious Builder after I found out my wife and I were having a child, and I started thinking about what I would be leaving behind for him.
That’s when we really started to focus on what we now call high performance homes. That was the beginning of learning about building science, and it led us to building to net zero and passive house standards, which have become our specialty.
We have become a trusted source for construction knowledge and have even created a YouTube channel featuring our projects, materials and details, and an online academy with courses focused on helping other contractors do the same.
Even if a homeowner isn’t interested in a certification, they will benefit from our focus on building science and the result will be a healthier, more comfortable, more efficient home.
Q: What’s the value of this tour for those who will visit the homes?
A: Whether they are thinking about their own future projects, wondering what their neighbours’ renovations look like, or looking for inspiration, the tour will help them see and feel what is possible with the right team and proper planning.
You won’t find a better chance to get a feel for local builders and their work, and even chat with other homeowners in your community about their projects. It’s a great way to get out and around Ottawa and get some insight (literally!) into what is possible.
