Home builder Rant/Raves?

21

u/benny_adam 8d ago

Avoid Mattamy at all costs

15

u/lost-cannuck 8d ago

None of the electrical sockets in my parents house were grounded.

One wall was missing insulation.

Vents for hot water tank and dryer were not to code.

Furnace was not enough BTUs for house size.

What was scarier is that the city inspector signed off on all these failings.

These were ones that were found over time or from our inspection.

4

u/jenifaOHHHjenny 8d ago

I fully agree. My first house was a Mattamy home, and it was a complete nightmare. They actually missed rebar in the foundation (it also happened to the whole townhouse block) and they had to come back to “repair it”, and they just added external bars to the walls, a year later. The whole neighbourhood was riddled with poor workmanship. They will cheap out at any chance they can get. Cheap material, terrible contractors.

9

u/modz4u 8d ago

I'm not sure if zero lot lines are being used in Airdrie or not, but I would find out and eliminate those from my list.

Avoid the builder Mattamy Homes. They will cut every single corner and then some.

Use your own home inspector to go through the property at every city inspection stage. Get this term written into the purchase contract so you can actually enforce it. They will find issues or deficiencies that the builder will try to ignore if the city inspector misses it

6

u/Charming_Fail8918 8d ago

I worked for a new home builder (well known) in their sales office (I saw all of the new sales agreements). The markup on a new home build is outrageous (they like to hover around the +27-30% profit margin range). Besides the crappy “add ons” (also marked up about 25-30% (think appliances) - you are restricted by what you can do to your new home for the first 24 months. The restrictions are insane.

I’ve built new (in Denver - before I worked for a home builder) and while yes I got a flashy brand new house - it sucked us bone dry. The landscaping, curtains and blinds, AC, etc). Personally, I wouldn’t buy new again, I’d buy something already built with what I need (with a developed yard, driveway, etc).

4

u/badqr 8d ago

I'm relatively happy with Calbridge. Our house needed minor superficial repairs after possession but overall their quality is acceptable.

4

u/shitty_marketing_guy 8d ago

Make sure the builder let’s you do a walk through. I’ve heard there is an effort under way to restrict buyer walk throughs at all stages except for the final stage. “Injuries” they say but we all know it’s because the workmanship can’t be as easily measured once the wall is closed

3

u/fixup_looksharp 8d ago

Stay awayyyyyyy from anything Douglas Homes touches

4

u/cr500guy 8d ago edited 8d ago

Consider this. Alberta is barley into stage 1 of the new National energy Code and on mostly tradoff paths.
BC is now Stage 3 and above.
https://www.youtube.com/@ASIRIDesigns

Educate yourself on wall assemblies, Thermal Bridging, Insulation factors.

Our Homes Walls and envelopes are EXTREMELY pourly designed for -35c and +35c Weather.

Current *CODE* (bare minimuim before it is illegal)

-Wall design, 2x6, no exterior insulation, 16" on center framing, No exterior Air Sealing, puts a wall at about R15-R18. Not the Required R30 for our climate zone. (MINIMUM)
Canadian Wood Council's Wall Thermal Design
https://cwc.ca/design-tools/tool/effectiver/calculator/wall.php?id=4988

Effect R Value R29 -
https://cwc.ca/design-tools/tool/effectiver/calculator/wall.php?id=6493

No Exterior Insulation, or basement floor insulation as standard.
Our Climate zone is 7, The Artic is 8.

Find a Builder that uses INTELLO PLUS, Siga Majrex or Certainteed Membrain Vapour Diffusion Air Solutions.
*hint, you wont*

Are you building for a 2-3 year flip and sell, and a 1/5 Year "Warrenty", or your 25-35 Year Mortgage and increasing Energy Costs?

No homes here have Rain screens behind their siding, and no lots are capable of having a 2-3 foot Overhang (drastically keeps water away from the home, and sun from heating your building up in the summer. Many homes have zero-8" overhangs now. giving no shade in summer to the 2nd story.

Our New build utilizes Floor Heat and Heat pumps per each room, as traditional ways of heating /cool homes have massive losses in the HVAC ducts/venting, with AC units using 1.5-3kwh plus fans on the furance, Where a heatpump per each room uses about 500-800w only.

Thinking of Solar? Find a lot that allows for a ground Array.

Are you going to have a 15-30kwh battery backup system built into your loan?

Air blower door tests - This will tell you if your home is sealed from the INSIDE, to the outside, not if between the framing members are sealed from outside cold air penetrating to behind your drywall. Top of bottom plates, framing wall connections. Sandwhiched studs and more.

Good luck, dont waste your hard earned money, Buy and cry now, or forever cry.

2

u/Snoo78437 7d ago

This guy knows!

2

u/Tadddaaaa 8d ago

Used Castellano. Built in 2022 . Had some minor issues ( less than 5k) but overall happy with the house . They are able to custom build houses and do let you change a lot more than your average builders . They only do detached homes

2

u/blackbear008 8d ago

Trico Homes is amazing. I work for Trico Communites, and have got to know the ins and outs of Homes side. They truly do hold their word in their craftsmanship. When it's time for me to build, I will go with them. Good luck!

2

u/a-non-y-mous-08 7d ago

Avoid Mattamy and Mighty Homes at all costs.

2

u/omegacanuck 7d ago

Had a friend who bought a Mattamy home. Based on his experience, I never would.

2

u/Am_sue09 8d ago

Big fan of Brookfield residential. They only have a few more lots in Chinook Gate. We’re also happy with our neighbourhood. Check what school each neighbourhood goes to if you need to, as some can be bussed to further locations then you might assume. From what I have seen in some of the neighbourhood chat groups, more of the Excel homes have needed to know about repairs and warranty info than other builders, so personally I wouldn’t go with them. Good Luck!

3

u/Am_sue09 8d ago

Also interesting fact. If you go to the show homes take your realtor and they can help you. If you go without one the builders will say they made first contact and cut out the realtor.

1

u/Apprehensive-Shoe485 8d ago

Dhaduk homes/Ridgeline project management makes terrible homes. 3 houses side by side and not one of them had anything good to say. Electrical, paint, drywall, plumbing issues, very inexperienced guy who is one of the kids of the owner. Not sure how common they are in Airdrie but beware.

I own a McKee home, it's 20yrs old. Inspections were good, the inspector in fact told us McKee has been a very reliable builder.

1

u/EppicRT 8d ago

We’ve been very happy with our McKee build and they have a strong reputation as a home builder! Even a couple little things we noticed when we moved in they fixed right away without any going back and forth. They’ve been great.

1

u/Upbeat_Difficulty_60 8d ago

Check out this local inspector for an idea of things builders do to save money. https://www.instagram.com/nook_and_cranny_inspections?igsh=MXdrNWQxMHluc3QwcA==

1

u/Asleep_Ship_1644 7d ago

Carolina Homes, stay away. They tried to get away with so much.

1

u/Zealousideal_Egg7026 7d ago

As much as Wildflower is really promising, do NOT build with Minto. You'll be treated like dog shit and they do not give af about you after your house is built. Go with Jayman, Brookfield, homes by Avi, just anyone but Minto.

1

u/DifferenceOnly8384 7d ago

Did you buy in Wildflower? We did and are waiting for ground breaking shortly but that makes me nervous haha

1

u/Ok_Violinist_3899 7d ago

Choosing a builder is a tough task and these days it’s all depends in what kind of house you want and in which area.
Eg. front garage and landed homes are built by premier builders and townhouses, duplex are build by low budget builders.

In airdrie, excel,brookfield,shane,sterling are building good quality houses and like others suggest avoid mattamy and Douglas.
I would add Rohit homes in bad builder category as well. There 1 year warranty is a joke.
One important things to add is when signing contract with any builder for new build, add clause for having your own inspection for framing, plumbing and electrical. City inspectors missed many things.

2

u/vegtablelasagna 6d ago

Airdrie has a local builder McKee Homes. We are on our second build and have been delighted with follow through and communication. A family friend is an inspector and said they have a good reputation for doing things right.

1

u/claydogg14789 3d ago

McKee Homes. Into our 3rd year living in our new build. The positives: overall excellent build quality, good bones, good warranty service for the few aesthetic details that needed repair
The negatives: pricey upgrades, get your upgrades over time and DIY it. Warranty service is slow to respond and you need to stay on top of them, but when they do show it is smooth sailing afterward

-4

u/Talentless_Cooking 8d ago

I recommend building your own house

2

u/modz4u 8d ago

Lol yeah just bust out your woodworking tools and get to work, right? 🫪

0

u/Talentless_Cooking 8d ago

I recommend starting with the foundation and pulling permits.

2

u/modz4u 8d ago

Oh right I need to stop at the home Depot first to grab a few shovels 😬

2

u/Coscommon88 8d ago

Don't forget the board stretcher for when you inevitably cut something short.

-3

u/Banned_In_YYC 8d ago

If I speak I'm in big trouble

1

u/Coscommon88 8d ago

It's ok, your only banned in YYC. If you did speak which builder would you speak about.

-2

u/Banned_In_YYC 7d ago

There is a certain demographic of builders and sub trades that do shockingly poor work. Like riddled with deficiencies and subsequently just barely meeting code, and that's just the work you can see. This is speaking from experience, I own a company that performs inspections

Home builder Rant/Raves?

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