A Quick Update

Last post we showed you that our floor truss system was almost done. Since then it's been completed, we have our first floor exterior walls up, and we're starting on the first floor interior walls. We've also got some of the backfill done, and our plumbers are just finishing up the rough-in plumbing in the basement.

As you can see we're at the stage where things are starting to progress very quickly.

Next week we'll be back with video so you can see how everything looks. In the meantime, feel free to take a drive past the site and see for yourself!

We Almost Have a Floor!

Things are sure starting to move fast now. Last post we showed you that the materials for our floor truss system were on-site and ready to go. As you'll see this time, it's very close to being completed!

In this video you'll also see the basement walls that are going up at the same time. Back when we discussed our footings, we talked about the curved wall that will reach up from the basement to the top floor. Here you can see it actually starting to take shape!

A Hive of Activity!

Things are really beginning to get rolling now! As you'll see in this video, there is quite a bit more activity around our home. Materials are on site and the crew is getting ready to put our floor truss system in place. Once that's done we'll backfill the excavated area around our basement which will make working on the home quite a bit easier!

We've also parked a small work trailer on the street out front of our site. If you're doing something similar, make sure you check with the city first to see if a permit is required (or your trailer may not be there when you show up to work the next day!)

Filling in the Foundation

With our Superform in place we are now able to pour the concrete for our foundation. As we've talked about in past posts, building in an existing residential area can pose a few extra challenges that a new area might not. In this case getting big trucks into our site is impossible. There's simply no room.

The solution? Bring in a pump truck.

As you'll see in this video, the pump truck uses a giant arm to pump the concrete from the cement trucks into our Superform. The hose on the arm of the pump truck reaches over the site without having to move the trucks. A small crew then manually guides the end of the hose over the Superform to ensure that the foundation is filled evenly.

Have a look!

Is it a Bird or a Plane? No, It's Superform!

Now that we have our weeping tile and gravel in place around our footings, we can really get going on the build. As you'll see in the video, our Superform walls are up and our site is starting to look less like a giant hole and more like the beginnings of a new home!

Superform is a more innovative and energy efficient way of building a foundation for your home. Typically foundations are built using temporary wood forms which are removed once the concrete has cured. The great thing about Superform is how easy it is to use. Basically using Superform is like playing with a giant set of Lego bricks. Each piece is preformed and then stacked into place to create the form for the foundation. As you'll see in the video, the end result is a hollow structure that's ready to be filled with concrete.

Another advantage to Superform is that it's also an energy efficient insulation. Since it ends up on the outside of the wall as well as the inside it helps to block the cold before it even reaches your foundation.

Tom Firth, Centennial General Manager, goes through a few more details in this video. So sit back, grab your popcorn, and get ready to learn!

Weeping Tile - Not as Sad as it Sounds!

Now that the footings have been poured, the next step is weeping tile and gravel. For those of you who aren't familiar, weeping tile isn't really tile at all - you won't find it in our in-store Stone Tile gallery! It's actually a small pipe full of tiny holes that is placed around the footings. It's also sometimes called a foundation drain.

The weeping tile is put in place to make sure that any water that seeps to the base of the home is redirected away so that it doesn't pool around the footings and cause damage. Gravel and a porous stocking are put over the weeping tile to make sure that sediment is filtered out to keep the pipes from getting clogged.

You may notice a few things about our footings that are a little different than you might have expected. Tom Firth, General Manager of Centennial, goes over this in a bit more detail as he narrates this video.

Cement Shoes

We all know how important a good foundation is to the structural integrity of a building, but did you know that a good foundation also needs a good foundation? It's true. Before the foundation is ever poured, the footings are put in place to help distribute the weight of the finished home.

We've put together another video to give you some more information and a look at our footings. The video will also talk about some of the issues that you may encounter while building a new home in an existing area. In this case, because our new home will be wider than the old one, our excavated area comes very close to the neighbouring fence lines. As you'll see in the video, all the rain we've had lately has washed away some of the sides of our hole exposing the fence posts. We will definitely be fixing these as the build continues, which brings up another tip for you - always be a courteous neighbour. New home builds can be a little disruptive for established residents, so be sure you're communicating with your neighbours and make sure that you clean up after yourself.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

If you've lived in or around Saskatoon for the past few weeks, you already know how much rain we've had. In fact, it's been a record spring for rain. By the end of May, we were already up to 115mm of the stuff (normal average is 78.3mm)!

Fortunately, this wasn't us...

It doesn't take a meteorologist to figure out that these aren't the best conditions for building a new home. Just another reminder that despite your best laid plans, you have to be prepared to adapt your timelines to any eventuality.

Home Is Where the Hole Is

Well, we've cleared away the old house to make room for the new, but it's not as simple as just jumping right into framing. The next step is making sure that the area is excavated properly for the new house. Once again, we brought in the big machinery to do the heavy lifting for us.

Take a peek at our latest video that features our General Manager, Tom Firth, giving some tips about things to keep in mind when excavating in a residential area.


As mentioned in the video, it's important to always keep an eye on the big picture. The heavy machinery going into and out of the site will likely chew up the sidewalk to the point where it will have to be replaced. We've made sure that equipment only enters and exits in one place - the same place that we'd have to redo anyway when we put in the new driveway. Just one more helpful hint!

Bringing Down the House

Let's face it, building a house is very hard work. It requires a lot of coordination and planning, and even then you have to be prepared for the unexpected. Unplanned events like rain delays and equipment availability can make scheduling a real juggling act. Don't despair though! There is fun to be had as well. Demolition, anyone?

But before you just start knocking down walls, remember that safety is always the number one concern. Make sure that all your services are disconnected, overhead power lines are accounted for, and make sure the house is clear of people before you knock it down!

We've put together a video to show you the process. A word of warning, though - this video contains educational content!

Step One: Out With the Old...

When we looked at the old rental house at 1109 Temperance Street before knocking it down, we realized that it was full of items that still had value. Because we do our best to be environmentally friendly, we couldn't just haul them off to the dump to sit for the next million years, so we called Habitat for Humanity.

If you're not familiar, Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing safe and affordable housing for those who may not otherwise be able to afford it. They accept donations of any reusable building materials, which can then be bought at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore as an inexpensive materials option (with the proceeds going to fund the various Habitat programs).

We were able to save 2 fridges, 2 stoves, a toilet, a dishwasher, assorted bathroom hardware, and yes, even the kitchen sink (2 sinks, in fact)! These items will now be available for resale at the ReStore, and not adding to the already enourmous piles at the dump.

If you've got some reusable building materials that you are looking to get rid of, or you're in the process of getting ready to demolish an old house, we encourage you to check out Habitat for Humanity. Just follow the link to find out more, and stand with us as we work towards a better future for everyone.