The Chilliwack Progress Wednesday, April 20, 2016 “The Fraser Valley is blessed with fairly temperamental weather: summer feels just hot enough, and in winter, our backyards and rooftops aren’t devastated by baseball-sized snowballs. But if you have a humdrum patio or a neglected deck, you are missing out on the joys of using your outdoor space year round that the weather allows for. Maximizing the use of open air spaces that are functional and enjoyable is a great way to expand the experience of your home. That’s exactly what Best Builders recently accomplished when they transformed an uninviting backyard space in Delta.”
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“Homeowners are now able to equally enjoy the four distinct seasons that BC has to offer without worrying about the weather forecast.” By Nicolle Hodges
“The patio door was worn out, the exterior siding was damaged, and the pressure treated wood decking was rotting and had seen better days,” says project manager Matt Corbet. “The patio area wasn’t somewhere that our clients wanted to sit and relax, and that was our end goal – to create a destination that begged to be enjoyed. To do that, we had to remove the old decking, the siding, and the old sliding door, and then find a way to update and modernize the look of the brick fireplace.” The budget originally discussed was for $40K but due to minor changes during construction and the additional excavation costs to properly install the new footings, the budget rose to approximately $70K. In order to renovate the area from drab to fabulous, the team at Best Builders began by meeting the customer on site to
determine their needs vs. their wish list, and then put together a design for them based on their budget. After finding out that the client’s family valued the ability to cook, dine, and socialize in the space, they put together a concept drawing showing the posBefore: sibilities and options available to them. Once they had a good idea of a final image, the team drew up the design showing the clients what it would look like specifically when tied in to their home. After that, the project was good to go. “Our client was inspired by Douglas Fir timber beams and wanted them to be the focal point of the new covered porch. With the cedar soffit and underside of the ceiling, the combination makes for a warm and comfortable feeling when sitting underneath. The inspiration behind this outdoor area was a west-coast retreat, very Whistler-esque,” says Corbet. “We used unexposed, oversized rough sawn timbers to compose the post and beam construction. We dug down a bit, and built up the surrounding area in Allen blocks to create a sunken patio look. We used paving stones instead of wood or synthetic decking not only to promote the longevity but to keep with the outdoor west-coast feel. We chose to show- fer without worrying about the weather case the timber connectors as the black forecast. “They now have a serene retreat where powder-coated fasteners and connectors really draw attention to the color and they can relax after work, or the ability to gather together with friends and relatives beauty of the timbers.” According to Corbet, the most com- to enjoy a meal, but most importantly anmon trends for outdoor living spaces are other gathering space for their family to functionality. For instance, these home enjoy the beauty of the west-coast all year owners are now able to equally enjoy the long,” says Corbet. four distinct seasons that BC has to ofIn general, people don’t want to have
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to worry about a crazy amount of upkeep throughout the year, so Corbet says utilizing products such as cedar, which naturally contains oils that repel water naturally and allows the product to last over time. “If budget allows there are usually requests for a fireplace or infrared ceiling mounted heaters to keep our clients warm once the sun goes down and to
keep the patio welcoming into the fall and winter,” he says. “Increasingly, there is a desire for exterior televisions and entertainment areas combined with an outdoor cooking space so that sports fans can make their meals, and enjoy the game in the yard as well as their homes. Finally, no matter the bells and whistles that people choose, everyone wants a large enough space to share and enjoy with friends and extended family.” Corbet’s final piece of advice for people considering an outdoor living space is to figure out what exactly you are looking for using a reputable builder. “Get your vision written and drawn on paper, and then have it priced out and build your budget,” he says. “You need to ensure that your dream will fit realistically within your financial needs and schedule. Once this gets determined, then you can get to work.” For over 15 years, the Best Builder team has offered clients a complete professional homebuilding package, thanks to their extensive knowledge and experience in design, contract procedures, project management, and trade skills. Best Builders employs skilled in-house carpenters and experienced administrative support to ensure project deadlines and budget goals are respected. This year, amongst their eight GVHBA Ovation finalists, this project is nominated for “Best Outdoor Living Space”, with the awards announced on April 23rd. For the past several years, Best Builders has been nominated for the “Custom Builder of the Year” award with the Vancouver and BC Home builders associations.
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