THE READING ROOM
Knowledge worth
building on.
Thoughtful guidance for the decisions that shape a house project.
ILLUSTRATED FIELD NOTEPlanning / 01
Write a house-building brief your team can use
A practical method for turning household priorities, site information and unresolved decisions into a useful house-building brief.
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ILLUSTRATED FIELD NOTEHiring / 02
Compare house-builder quotes without losing the scope
Build a like-for-like comparison that makes omissions, allowances and unresolved design decisions visible before you choose.
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ILLUSTRATED FIELD NOTEPlanning / 03
Build a house budget that keeps uncertainty visible
Separate known commitments, unresolved allowances and genuine risks so a headline construction price does not become the whole budget.
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ILLUSTRATED FIELD NOTEHiring / 04
Choose a house builder through evidence and useful conversations
A practical hiring process for checking project fit, delivery people, previous work and the proposed working relationship.
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ILLUSTRATED FIELD NOTEProfessional practice / 05
Coordinate house design before details reach the site
A practical method for resolving document versions, interfaces and unanswered questions between designers, builders and homeowners.
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ILLUSTRATED FIELD NOTEProfessional practice / 06
Manage house-building changes before they become surprises
Keep requests, technical review, approvals, pricing and implementation connected when a house design changes.
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ILLUSTRATED FIELD NOTEProfessional practice / 07
Keep house-building quality records that answer real questions
A practical record structure for observations, inspections, product information and issue closure through a residential build.
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ILLUSTRATED FIELD NOTELiving in your home / 08
Prepare a new-house handover that supports living there
Plan demonstrations, documents, outstanding items and follow-up so the household understands the home it receives.
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ILLUSTRATED FIELD NOTERegions / 09
British Columbia: check the builder, the home and the warranty
BC Housing Licensing & Consumer Services administers residential builder licensing and new-home warranty oversight.
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ILLUSTRATED FIELD NOTERegions / 10
Alberta: connect the builder licence with the property record
Alberta’s Residential Protection Program maintains builder and property registries.
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ILLUSTRATED FIELD NOTERegions / 11
Manitoba: investigate the contract instead of assuming a provincial warranty
Manitoba’s official legislative history identifies the New Home Warranty Act as repealed without ever having come into force.
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ILLUSTRATED FIELD NOTERegions / 12
England: keep planning and building control on separate tracks
Planning permission and building regulations approval address different questions.
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ILLUSTRATED FIELD NOTERegions / 13
Scotland: build the programme around the warrant and completion evidence
Scottish public guidance says self-building a home requires planning permission and a building warrant.
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ILLUSTRATED FIELD NOTERegions / 14
New South Wales: match the licence and compensation cover to the contract
SIRA states that home building compensation insurance is required for home building construction or renovation projects exceeding $20,000 including GST unless exempt.
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ILLUSTRATED FIELD NOTERegions / 15
New Zealand: identify who will do restricted building work
New Zealand’s Building Performance guidance explains that restricted building work must be done or supervised by an appropriately licensed building practitioner.
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ILLUSTRATED FIELD NOTEBuilding science / 16
Cold-climate houses: agree the moisture strategy before construction
Natural Resources Canada’s Keeping the Heat In explains building-science principles and retrofit approaches, including air sealing and moisture management.
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