COMMON QUESTIONS FOR FUTURE LINDAL OWNERS.
Our philosophy is based on a belief that the human spirit thrives in a highly personalized home that reflects the passions and priorities of the homeowner.
WHAT IS THE LINDAL BUILDING SYSTEM?
Our homes are pre-engineered, Post & Beam structures, with all of the materials for the structure delivered to the site for assembly and finishing by local contractors. Each home is designed and engineered for the specific conditions of the site, making efficient use of resources and materials.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE MATERIALS PACKAGE?
We provide all of the design, engineering, architecture, dealer services, and the materials for the structure, including lumber, architectural-quality posts & beams, siding, windows, exterior and interior trim, exterior and interior doors & hardware, stairs, railings, decks, and many other related materials. Everything is packed efficiently in rail containers that are offloaded and trucked to your site (delivery is included).
HOW ARE THESE HOMES DESIGNED? DO I NEED AN ARCHITECT?
No. Our package includes architecture and engineering services. We start with gathering your requirements as to the type of design and size you want to build and reviewing the features of your site (always with an eye on the budget!). A great way to get going is to review the Lindal Planbooks, which are available as free downloads on Lindal.com We can also work with Lindal’s in-house design team, Lindal’s architect partners or our customers’ architects to produce the concept sketches.
WHAT ARE SOME UPFRONT COSTS?
If you are building a Classic Lindal or Lindal Elements, Bear Creek Cedar Homes offers free consultations. The design services are a modest $1.50/SF which is entirely refundable when you order your Lindal Home. For a Lindal Architects Collaborative home, there is a fee to make limited changes to the architect’s designs as shown in the Planbook. For a Turkel Design, there is an upfront design fee of $5.00/SF for changes to the designs in the Turkel Design Portfolio, or a $10.00/SF fee for a completely custom design.
MANY OF YOUR DESIGNS HAVE FLAT ROOFS, IS THAT OKAY IN THE SNOW AND RAIN OF VANCOUVER ISLAND?
Yes. Many Lindals with flat and low-pitched roofs have been built in cold locations throughout North America (and the world). Each home is specifically engineered for the local conditions, including snow load, so Lindal’s engineers take that into account when they determine the sizing of the posts and beams. And no roof is truly “flat”; the roof is framed flat, but Lindal provides a tapered insulation that allows water runoff while appearing “flat”.
WHAT ABOUT GREEN BUIDING?
As a resident of Vancouver Island, we are as green as possible! Lindal is “Green from the Ground Up” in our efficient use and delivery of sustainable materials, smart placement of the home on the site, use of modern construction techniques, advanced HVAC technology and insulation methods, and if desired, alternative energy and off grid capabilities. Building your Lindal is an opportunity to create a highly energy-efficient home that will reward you with comfort, lower utility bills, and increased value.
OK, SO YOU SUPPLY THE PRECUT PRESTAINED MATERIALS, BUT WHO PUTS IT UP?
As part of our dealer services, we maintain a database of qualified contractors, and if none is available where you will build, we help research local contractors.
We often use an experienced framing crew experienced in Lindals to frame and side the home, with the finishing work done locally.
If you have a contractor who you know or who has been recommended to you, we will interview him/her, go over the Lindal plans, and help ensure that they are capable. We review all bids with you and do our best to help you obtain the lowest price for quality work.
OK, SO HOW LONG DOES THIS ALL TAKE?
The design process takes as long as you need it to, but once the order is placed you can figure on about 10-12 weeks for Lindal to prepare the plans and deliver the materials on site.
The construction phase has many variables, but will typically be 5-12 months depending on the weather, size, and complexity of the home.
WHAT MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE?
You have many choices in the types of siding, windows, trim, hardware, etc. Almost limitless. From Shou sugi bahn to hardy board. There are several different styles of siding, ranging from Composite or Metal to Lindal’s beautiful Western Red Cedar. Windows can be vinyl, cedar, or aluminum clad (aluminum exterior and cedar interior). The architectural grade Posts & Beams are fir; the structure uses a combination of dimensional and engineered lumber. Our subfloors are high-grade plywood, and we typically use plywood instead of OSB or other man-made materials for roofing and sheathing. A supplier list is available to all our customers.
WHAT ARE MY DESIGN CHOICES?
Literally infinite! If you can think it, we can build it.
We offer the timeless Classic Lindals, and the modern Lindal Elements, Lindal Architects Collaborative, and Turkel Design for Lindal Cedar Homes. Because of the Post & Beam design and efficient delivery system, the designs of our homes are not constrained by “road width” or structural limitations like pre-fab or modular homes. We can create walls of glass soaring into the sky and open floor plans that maximize living enjoyment.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS?
We start with a preliminary design session to learn about your objectives, where you plan to build, and your budget.
If you don’t yet own land, we will help and guide you in making a smart purchase decision, including visiting the potential site with you.
Once your land choice is made we will review the particular characteristics of the land to suggest optimal designs, best locations and orientation for the home.
We will review the local rules and regulations that will apply to your project. We believe that the design must respect the land and make the best use of it.
Once the land is set, we can proceed with the design. If you choose a Classic Lindal or Lindal Elements, the design is developed by you and Island Cedar Homes. If you opt for a Lindal Architects Collaborative home, Lindal interfaces with the architect to make changes that you desire (and that will work best with the site). If you choose a Turkel Design, there is an interactive process between you, Island Cedar Homes, and Turkel Design.
Once the design is set and you have chosen the materials specifications (e.g. siding, windows, trim, etc.) we can price the Lindal Materials Package, and develop a budget to estimate all the expected building costs. If you decide to proceed with an order, we take a 15% deposit on the cost of the Lindal Materials Package, and Lindal prepares all of the plans and construction documents.
Once the order is in, we also start bidding the project to local contractors.
When you are ready (building permits, foundation and financing if applicable), you can order the materials delivered to the site!
OK, HOW MUCH IS IT?
the “Turnkey” cost of a Lindal home is based on the cost per square foot of living area for everything that goes into and under the home, including foundation, the Lindal Materials Package, construction, HVAC, fixtures, cabinets, countertops, appliances, etc. – we mean everything needed to build, power and finish a quality home with quality details, except for the cost of the land and preparing the site.
The turnkey range for an average size (2500SF)
Classic Lindal or Lindal Elements, $275-$300/SF
Lindal Imagine Series and Lindal Architects Collaborative: $300-$350/SF
Turkel Design: $350-$400/SF.
Of course, the range depends on the design (e.g. number of windows, siding/window types) and the finishing choices you make.