Every year, hundreds of families move into their dream homes in the Sea-to-Sky corridor, only to discover something’s not right. Cold spots in winter. Humidity and condensation that won’t quit. Energy bills that surprise you every month. You didn’t sign up for that.
You’ve put everything into this place. You’ve trusted builders, architects, and contractors to deliver a home where your family actually feels at home. But too often, “custom-built” just means someone followed the standard playbook. It doesn’t mean it’ll perform.
Poor insulation. Air leaks you can’t see but definitely feel. An HVAC system that’s either oversized or undersized. Thermal bridging in the frame that bleeds heat. These aren’t abstract technical problems. They’re drafts on your neck in January. They’re noise keeping you awake. They’re wondering if the utility bill is wrong. They’re your family’s comfort and your wallet taking the hit.
If you’re planning a new build or significant renovation in Whistler, Squamish, Pemberton, or the North Shore, you deserve better than industry-standard guesswork. You deserve a home that actually works.
A home is the one place where everything should just work. No drafts breaking your concentration during rare quiet moments. No noise bleeding through the walls when you finally sit down. No mystery costs on the utility bill. Time is your most valuable asset and a poorly performing home wastes it.
Your home is a long-term investment. Energy inefficiency isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s financially irresponsible. You expect your builder to deliver exactly what was promised: performance, durability, and value that lasts decades without surprises.
A home that leaks energy, relies on fossil fuels, or uses wasteful construction methods contradicts the values of a high-performance home. You want a low-carbon footprint without sacrificing comfort or blowing your budget.
Standard construction practices in BC often don’t deliver actual high-performance homes. We see it all the time.
Many builders promise energy savings but skimp on airtightness and insulation where it counts. They use outdated building assemblies that don’t meet BC’s Step Code requirements, but do so cost-effectively. They rush timelines, and the result is deficiencies that cost thousands to fix later. They treat “green building” as a luxury add-on instead of a baseline expectation.
The outcome? Families settle for homes that look great on Instagram but underperform in real life. Homes that cost more to heat and cool. Homes that demand constant repairs. Homes that never deliver the comfort or sustainability they were promised.
At RDC Fine Homes, we believe every family in the Sea-to-Sky corridor deserves a home that is healthy, comfortable, and built to last. No compromise.
We’ve spent years refining a building process that delivers high-performance homes designed for BC’s unique climate, your lifestyle, and your long-term financial goals. Our approach combines solid building science, clear communication, and obsessive attention to planning and details.
We don’t over-promise. We show our work. We follow through.
We don’t guess. We engineer. Every RDC home is designed with airtight building envelopes that we test and verify, so you actually eliminate drafts and heat loss instead of just hoping they go away.
We use advanced insulation strategies, including continuous exterior insulation, to keep your indoor temperature consistent year-round. No more cold bedrooms in January or hot upstairs bedrooms in July. High-performance windows and doors reduce thermal bridging—the hidden heat loss through frames and fasteners. And balanced ventilation systems (HRV or ERV) deliver fresh air without wasting the energy you’ve paid for.
Your home stays comfortable in every season. Quiet, consistent temperatures. Clean indoor air. You can actually focus on what matters instead of managing drafts and noise.
You get predictable energy performance, which means lower operating costs and higher resale value. Your home meets or exceeds BC Energy Step Code requirements without costly upgrades down the road.
A low-carbon home that uses 50–70% less energy than standard builds. Sustainable materials and systems that align with how you actually want to live.
We’ve built a project management system that keeps your build on schedule and on budget. No surprises. No excuses.
Accelerated timelines with phased milestones and real risk management. Value engineering that doesn’t mean cutting corners—it means maximizing quality while controlling costs. Weekly communication so you always know what’s happening and why. Trade engagement that ensures every subcontractor is aligned with our high-performance standards, not just their own timeline.
Delays cost money and stress. We’ve built our reputation on delivering projects on time and without deficiencies. Ask our clients. Our referrals are our number-one source of new business. That tells you everything you need to know about how we perform.
High performance isn’t just about lower energy bills. It’s about creating spaces that make daily life better.
Acoustic comfort: We design assemblies that reduce noise transmission. Critical for families with active kids or professionals working from home. Quiet matters when you’re paying attention to what matters.
Indoor air quality: Advanced ventilation systems filter out pollutants and allergens. Your family breathes healthier air—especially important in the Sea-to-Sky during wildfire season.
Thermal comfort: No more cold floors or drafty hallways. Every room feels consistent and comfortable. That’s what a well-built envelope actually delivers.
Smart integrations: Connect smart thermostats, lighting, and home automation that match your lifestyle without adding unnecessary complexity or tech headaches.
We stand behind every home we build. Our certifications (Holmes Approved Homes, Georgie Awards) aren’t just badges on a website. They’re proof that we’ve earned recognition for doing things the right way.
More importantly, our clients refer us. That’s the real measure. When families trust us enough to recommend us to their friends and colleagues, we know we’ve delivered on our promise. Referrals are how we grow because they’re how trust actually works.
Ready to start planning your new build or renovation?
Before you break ground, ask your builder these 10 essential questions. Their answers will tell you whether they’re actually equipped to deliver a home that performs.
1) Airtightness: Will your builder test and guarantee airtightness? Specifically, an ACH50 of 1.5 or better?
If they won’t commit to testing, that’s a red flag. You can’t manage what you don’t measure.
2) Insulation strategy: What R-values are being specified, and how will they handle thermal bridging?
Thermal bridging is where heat sneaks out through studs, fasteners, and framing—it’s invisible but real. If your builder hasn’t thought through how to minimize it, you’re leaving comfort on the table.
3) Ventilation: Is a balanced HRV or ERV system included? And more importantly, is it designed for your climate conditions?
A system sized for Toronto won’t work the same way in Whistler. Context matters.
4) Windows and doors: What U-factor and Solar Heat Gain (SHGC) ratings will be specified?
These numbers directly affect your heating and cooling costs. Don’t let them brush past this.
5) Building envelope: How will water management and vapour control be handled?
Moisture is the enemy of durability. If your builder treats this as an afterthought, you’ll pay for it later with mold, rot, and callbacks.
6) Step Code compliance: What Step Code level will your home achieve, and what’s the cost?
In BC, the Energy Step Code is the baseline now. Know where your home sits and what it costs to get there. Has your builder optimized your build to meet Step Code or simply copied a design from a previous build?
7) Energy modelling: Will the builder provide third-party energy modelling and blower-door testing?
Don’t accept promises. Demand data. Third-party verification means someone independent is checking the work.
8) Timeline and budget: What systems are in place to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery?
Ask them specifically how they manage risk, track milestones, and communicate delays. Their answer tells you a lot.
9) Trade coordination: How does the builder ensure every subcontractor understands high-performance building?
A great envelope falls apart if the trades don’t understand why they’re doing what they’re doing. This is where execution happens.
10) Warranty and follow-up: What warranty is provided, and how will deficiencies be addressed?
Get it in writing. Know how long they stand behind the work and what happens if something fails.
These questions aren’t about being difficult. They’re about making sure your builder speaks the language of high performance, not just the language of marketing.
A builder who can answer these questions clearly, with specifics, has done this before. They’ve thought it through. They’ve learned from mistakes. They understand that a high-performance home requires coordination, planning, and obsessive attention to detail from day one.
A builder who hedges, gives vague answers, or promises to “figure it out as we go” is still operating on the standard playbook. That’s fine if you want a standard home. But if you’re investing in high performance, you deserve a builder who’s already refined the process.
Here’s the bottom line: These 10 questions will separate the builders who understand high-performance building from the ones who are just learning. Ask them. Write down the answers. Compare them across your shortlist.
And if a builder pushes back or gets defensive about the questions, that’s your answer right there.
At RDC Fine Homes, we don’t just build houses. We build healthy homes for happy families.
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See how we’ve helped families across Whistler, Squamish, and the North Shore build homes that perform.
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