Project Specs

Location: Canmore, Alberta
Climate Zone: Cold
Building Type: Single Family Residential
Project Phase: Under Construction
Certification Type: Low Energy Building
Year of Construction: 2023
Gross Floor Area (m2): 325
Treated Floor Area (m2): 325

Project Description

Self-built, single family home with detached garage. Slab on grade, two-storey with loft “upside down” house with kitchen/dining/living area, primary suite and office on second floor. House constructed using ICF for foundation and main floor walls with custom glulam moment frames and exposed CLT roof/ceiling for the second floor and loft.

Encountered numerous challenges related to supply chain issues and delays, coupled with steep cost escalations primarily driven by COVID-19 and the war in Europe. Also underestimated the effort and cost involved in the complex design including mass timber, timber framing and cantilevered structure, not to mention building through a cold Canadian winter. Cost increases led us to undertake much of the work ourselves to complete the design as planned.


Thermal Envelope

Exterior Wall: Main floor ICF is Nudura XR35 with an additional 2" Rockwool comfortboard 80 on exterior. Second floor is 2x8 framing filled with rockwool comfortbatt with OSB sheathing taped as vapour barrier on interior. Soltex mento as exterior WRB with an additional 6" of Rockwool comfortboard 80.
Basement Floor/Floor Slab: 10" of EPS foam with Stego membrane under 4" concrete slab. Footing forms made with 3" type 3 EPS foam and wrapped back to ICF frost wall to eliminate any thermal bridge.
Roof: CLT roof covered with Adhero membrane, 12" Rockwool comfortboard 80, cross strapped and sheathed with OSB, followed by additional WRB membrane and standing seam metal roof.
Window: Optiwin purista windows and Raico curtain wall

Mechanical System

Ventilation: Zehnder Q450 ERV
Heating/Cooling: Mitsubishi PUZ-HA30NKA heat pump and air handler
Domestic Hot Water: Rheem PROPH80