In the words of our clients, their home didn’t feel like “them.” It had poor energy efficiency, structural deficiencies, and was simply not meeting their needs. The clients had a clear sense of creative direction, and so together we planned and executed an extensive full-house deep retrofit. The result is a forever home with very high energy efficiency and an abundance of timeless character.
Our clients were very well educated in regards to deep energy retrofits and had clear performance targets they hoped to achieve when retrofitting this house. They also had a clear sense of how the house was not providing for their needs, and brought strong and well-developed aesthetic preferences to the table. Both of these formed the basis for the design process.
After exploring their ideas as well as their technical aspirations, we concluded together that the solution would be a full interior rebuild and a full exterior retrofit, which would allow for a brand-new interior layout and radically increase the home’s thermal efficiency. Even though the cost of the retrofit/renovation was comparable to new construction, the clients decided to preserve as much of the old house as possible.
The result is striking and simple — a home with a much lower carbon footprint than a new home and so much more character and soul. It’s a reflection of both their values and their sophisticated personal style, incorporating objects and ideas in unexpected and creative ways all across the home.
Have we peaked your interest or got you thinking about a project you have in mind? Follow the links in our bio to learn more about our work and to get in contact with us.
#buildingbetterpeoplespaces #winnipegbuilder #deepenergyretrofit #dogsofinstagram #interiordesign
At Roost Custom builders we have been mindful of how our values impact the ways in which we build. We get curious about not just what you want to build but also why you want to change your space. Furthermore we prioritize performance, efficiency, and sustainability. Building with these values in mind ensures that what we build will endure. Check out the link in our bio to learn more about how we build!
#buildingbetterpeoplespaces #winnipegbuilder #sustainabledesign #deepenergyretrofit #greenbuilding
Old houses need finesse.
Over the last century or so the bones of this home have sagged and settled into the topography we encountered when we started to dig into this project. When faced with floors that are uneven or sagging people are often tempted to install beams and teleposts in the basement and take the chiropractor approach of moving things back into alignment. There are circumstances where that is the right approach but it is important to understand the consequences of doing so. This house is not collapsing, it has come to an equilibrium. When we try to change the structure and shape of a home it then needs to settle into a new equilibrium. This is why a few years after a major renovation you might see some drywall cracks, or doors might start sticking, the house is finding its new way of being.
This flooring project is part two of this main floor renovation. We started with the kitchen and dining room and in that process it was necessary to flatten the floor. Continuing on to this living room, in order for us to match the flooring height and even out the topography we decided the best approach was to remove the existing subfloor, shim each joist individually, and lay new subfloor on top. This approach maintains the home’s equilibrium, allows our finished floor to be installed within manufacturer’s specifications, and strengthens the floor system as a whole. This kind of work can be tedious and challenging but our team puts tremendous amounts of care into ensuring that your old home is well taken care of.
#buildbetterpeoplespaces #winnipegdesignbuild #oldhouselove #winnipeghomes #carpentry
Sometimes you don’t need to add on to your home to create dramatic change. On this Lindenwoods interior refresh we were able to create an airier, light filled space with better flow. We removed a wall, relocated the laundry space, adjusted the kitchen layout, replaced the windows, repaired wall surfaces and installed all new floors and finishes. By the time we were done this 1980’s home had a new lease on life.
Just as with deep energy retrofits where approaching the entire envelope of the home at the same time makes for a better result, updating the whole interior of a home in one go offers benefits in terms of efficiency and continuity of design and feel. Since our homes function like systems it often surprising how much of a home needs to be in scope for a project like a kitchen or bath to be done properly. Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC, structure can all cause projects to spread into adjoining rooms. In whole home refreshes, like this Lindenwoods home, we take the opportunity of needing to do minor repairs in every room to update and refresh each space to avoid the cost and hassle of coming back multiple times to tackle each project individually.
If you would like to update your home, head over to our website to fill out a contact form to get the process started!
#winnipegbuilder #woodkitchen #vaultedceiling #buildingbetterpeoplespaces #newhomeoldhouse
Meet Kristen!
Kristen is an architect and Roost Custom Builder's Project Planner. When you sign up to work with us Kristen is the one who will meet with you to get your project from dreams to ready to build plans.
Kristen is a talented artist and will often hand draw initial conception drawing. She also paints with oil and watercolour in her spare time.
She also enjoys team sports and is often busy coaching and playing a wide variety of sports, from volleyball to curling.
At Roost we are proud to have Kristen on staff and if you trust us with your project we know you will have a great experience working with her.
#Architect #Iwantedtobeanorthodontist #designbuild #winnipegbuilder
If you have been leafing through Efficiency Manitoba's latest mailer or browsing their website you might have come across a profile titled "HOW OUR HOME ENERGY RETROFITS HELPED LINDSAY SAVE ENERGY & MONEY."
This is a project that we completed in 2023 and were very happy with the 70% reduction in energy use that was achieved.
This is a great article about the potential for deep energy retrofits and gives some information regarding resources that Efficiency Manitoba has for those of you interested in doing this kind of project. We have a link to the article on our profile so go check it out and let us know if you would like to start planning your project!
#deepenergyretrofit #sustainabledesign #winnipegbuilders #buildingscience #winnipeghomes
@efficiencymb@lindzaur
Thinking of an energy upgrade to your home? Whole home deep energy retrofits, like the one we recently completed in South Osbourne, are an effective way to revitalize your home or building and make it as good or better than a new build.
On this project we were able to make an old leaky home warm and comfortable while also greatly reducing the amount of energy it takes to do so.
As Jon says in the video deep energy retrofits are very involved renovations, but when you take on the whole house as one we are able to deliver a much better product, both in terms of energy efficiency as well as quality and cohesiveness of the finishes.
If you are thinking about a renovation and you are curious about deep energy retrofits head over to our website and fill out the contact form, we would love to talk to you about the possibilities for you!
@amcfoam@hollyhockconstruction
#winnipegbuilder #deepenergyretrofit #greenbuilding #woodsiding #buildingscience
Here is a sneak peak at the finished photos from our river front high performance build! This new home brings together energy efficient details and stunning furniture and finishes put together by our project coordinator Dara to create a comfortable and calming space that will be a joy to inhabit. Stay tuned to our website to see the full spread!
#energyefficient #winnipeghomes #waterfront #passivehouse #oak
Meet DeLayne!
DeLayne (he/they) is a carpenter and site lead here at Roost Custom Builders. He was inspired to get into carpentry 13 years ago when he was unsure what he wanted to do but knew that he wanted some of the practical skills his brother and father had. His favourite thing to do at Roost is finish carpentry and fine detail tasks. Outside of work DeLayne gets hyped about dance and specifically swing dancing.
At roost we are proud of the team we have assembled and if you work with us you will get to see why!
#winnipegbuilder #dancer #greatemployees
We had beautiful weather for putting up this roof. Cool, crisp, and sunny is perfect framing weather.
Thanks to @mrboomtruck for supplying the telehandler!
#roofframing #rooftrusses #telehandler #homeaddition #winnipeghomes
Prepare prepare prepare! One thing that experienced trades people have over diy warriors is the understanding of how every step in the process impacts the next step and ultimately the final product. Making this floor flat now will make the flooring install much easier and faster and the final product will be substantially nicer and mire durable.
#kitchenremodel #renovation #carpentry #flooring #futurefriendlyhomes
2016 was a wild year for Roost Custom Builders. We were entering our 5th year as a business and were taking on bigger and bigger jobs. We rescued a home from a fly by night contractor, found endless amounts of scrap metal in a basement floor, massive underground plumbing trees and so much more. Over the last ten years styles have changed, tools and building products have improved, and our team has grown and changed. But what hasn’t changed is our commitment to not just making spaces look stunning but to making them functional, comfortable, and sustainable. We look forward to the next ten years. With lots of exciting new projects coming down the pipe we are work at increasing the positive impact we have on our world through our commitments to performing quality work, being a safe and supportive work place, and combating climate change through our work on Winnipeg’s existing housing stock. Stay tuned for more…
#2016 #2026 #highperformancebuilding #winnipegbuilders #designbuild
