Home and Cottage Design & Construction

Patrick and Bert Bongers answer a variety of questions submitted by potential cottage owners.

In this session contract questions like 'Is there an up-front payment?', 'What about insurance?' and others, are considered.

THIS WIDE OPEN CONVERSATION will focus on the design planning process and good construction management. Partners Bert and Patrick Bongers have each been building 'on the lakes' for over 30 years. As this video demonstrates, they share a wealth of professional and personal experience in a friendly, easy going manner, helping families design and build a cottage they will love for generations to come.

There are two main activity hubs within CedarCoast: the first is Design/Construction from scratch and the second is the fully insured Project Management of lakefront cottages.

As Bert says, "We like to take on 'progressive' projects that may feature energy efficiency, special home comfort, accessibility, sustainability and the unique relationship between the cottage and its surroundings."

Discussion points covered in this video:

1. How much time does it take after our first conversation to 'breaking ground'? The length of time spent initially depends on how prepared you are, as the prospective owners, to start the project. Do you have a property in mind? Is the site ready for building? How far along is your family in your own cottage design process? One issue to consider is that quoting times and municipal permit waiting periods vary considerably in 2021 - and that getting accurate estimates are an integral part of the design process.
2. What's the expected cost per square footage of a cottage near Huntsville? Site working costs in Huntsville are as variable as anywhere else! Material and specifications affect the overall spend. Investigations to discover the favourability of septic systems, driveway slope and installations, well water, site work and infrastructure will all contribute to costs in one way or another. The cottage itself can be estimated quite accurately when the customer knows what they want. Determining what's important to the customer helps the accuracy of both the design and budgeting processes in the overall engagement.
3. Watch videos of completed CedarCoast projects on Vimeo and YouTube! Some will include upscale kitchen appointments, expensive flooring, innovative heating systems... and may even include Butler's Pantries in the basements, complex timberwork, designer cabinetry, and floor to ceiling fireplaces. All these enhanced specifications add to the cost.
4. Where do you typically build? How do I find a Project Manager in Central Frontenac, near Kingston, Ontario? We try to take on projects within an hour and a half of Gravenhurst. You can find professional project managers further afield by asking local municipalities, neighbours, designers and lumber stores for referrals. Ask each prospect for a sample quote. The depth of experience, details included and the willingness to communicate with you quickly can lead to a project manager who is perfect for you and perfect for your prospective cottage.
5. Communication is key. How does CedarCoast keep its customers apprised of the progress of each project?  We include 24/7 access to every building detail with photographs and supplier updates via our BuilderTrend software. This engenders proactive conversations with clients online, without the need for them to visit their property multiple times during construction stages.
6. We have an older cottage on Belle Park Island. We would like to replace it with a simple cottage, perhaps 2 bedrooms on each of 2 levels. Nothing too big or too fancy... Now what? Site features like the direction of natural light, privacy from neighbours, site topography, etc. must be integrated into any suitable design solution before any real consideration of process or timing can be undertaken. Although anything may be possible, understanding the needs and tastes of our customer guides us in this conversation.
7. When should we approach a builder? When and how to start the design process? Now! The design phase will give you the confidence you need to start planning without censuring your ideas or your expectations at the start. It will also enable you to have fun while brainstorming with the entire family.
8. The process of design works to find opportunities to improve budgeting too. Ask yourselves, 'What makes this a great place?' We find that in many instances this early creative process will help illustrate and resolve differing visions and will lead to a new appreciation of what's really required to 'make your cottage your own'.
9. The design contract as a necessary and valuable first step. One cost consideration might be resolved by estimating how much 3D rendering will be required to ensure that the clients understand the volume and space of their plans.
10. Three necessary information points at the beginning. We recommend downloading the CedarCoast  SmartPlan because it's a great way to keep track of your wish list. The structure of the process is clearly laid out. This makes individual decisions easier.
11. Floorplans are counter-productive, we believe. No single plan is perfect for you and perfect for your property.
12. Start with what you know. Electronic scrapbook making, with Pinterest, Haus, Instagram will help to make sure everyone is heard. Let the kids join in!
13. The budget is the third necessary piece of information. Any designer will need to have a firm grasp on what you want to spend before beginning.
14. How are payments staged? Should we expect a large up-front fee or deposit? Usually there isn't a point where a large payment must be met, however when purchasing logs or other specialized materials a payment may be required before proceeding.
15. The construction contract can only begin when the design has been finalized. Some contracts may include a financial partner, in which case specific milestones will be set and achieved prior to payments. We may recommend up to 8 or12 stages of payment.
16. What should we consider when building requires an insulated slab sub-foundation? We have experience with Ontario's rocky islands, shores and slopes. A basement may be 'good to have' but a wet basement is not. We often advise clients to consider in-floor heating to ensure their cottage is warm and cozy.
17. Accessibility targets ensure the home will be welcoming to everyone regardless of age or life situation. We designed and built a home on a single level from the roadway to the backyard barbeque, i.e. no steps! It features wide doors and hallways, roll-in showers, lowered drawers and shelves for those in wheelchairs. Designing for aging populations may include an elevator. We call these considerations 'multi-generational design' and we simply  incorporate ageless thinking, as a necessary part of family planning in everything we do.
18. Insurance questions are handled differently by many builders. You must consider limiting risk and liability during your build. Included in CedarCoast contracts is an all-risk, all-peril liability policy. Talk to your home owners insurance company before you build. Risks to avoid when pulling your own permit are a necessary conversation to have with any prospective builder.