Building Your Dream Home: Choosing a Squamish Builder

Squamish is a vibrant and growing town that is attracting new residents faster than new homes can be built. Living in Squamish encourages an active lifestyle, with roughly 27,000 residents enjoying outdoor activities and its focus on health and wellness.

Nestled in the heart of the stunning Sea-to-Sky corridor, Squamish, BC is a small town with a big personality. Squamish offers a unique quality of life that attracts people from all over the world. From breathtaking natural landscapes to a thriving arts community, and a focus on sustainability and wellness, there are countless reasons why Squamish is a great place to call home. 

Here are some reasons to choose a Squamish builder, select your neighbourhood and build your dream home in Squamish.

A few reasons to build your dream home in Squamish

Outdoor Recreation: Squamish is known as the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada, and for good reason. The town offers endless opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, snowmobiling and backcountry skiing.

Access to Nature: Squamish is surrounded by some of the most beautiful and accessible wilderness areas in North America, including Stawamus Chief Park and the Sea-to-Sky Gondola, Alice Lake Provincial Park, Porteau Cove Provincial Park, the Brackendale Eagle Reserve, Squamish Estuary and Squamish River, Brohm Lake and many more.

Scenic views: The town is surrounded by stunning natural landscapes, including the Squamish Chief mountain, Howe Sound, and the nearby Garibaldi Provincial Park.

Community spirit: Squamish is known for its tight-knit community, where residents support each other and work together to make the town a great place to live.

Family-friendly: The town is a great place to raise a family, with excellent schools, safe neighbourhoods, and plenty of activities for kids.

Great weather: The town experiences a mild climate with warm summers and mild winters, making it a comfortable place to enjoy outdoor activities year-round.

Proximity to Vancouver: Squamish is just an hour’s drive from Vancouver, making it easy to access the city for work, shopping or entertainment.

Growing economy: Squamish is experiencing rapid economic growth, with new businesses and job opportunities popping up regularly.

Cultural diversity: Squamish is home to a diverse community of people from different cultures and backgrounds, making it a welcoming and inclusive place to live.

Active arts scene: The town has a thriving arts community, with events and exhibits showcasing local artists and musicians.

Festivals and events: Squamish hosts many festivals and events throughout the year, including the Squamish Wind Festival, the Squamish Music Festival, and the Squamish Farmers Market.

Health and wellness: Squamish offers a range of health and wellness services, including yoga studios, fitness centres, and holistic healing practices.

Sustainable living: Squamish is committed to sustainability, with a focus on reducing waste, promoting eco-friendly practices, and protecting the natural environment.

Rich History: The town has a rich history, dating back to the indigenous peoples who lived in the area for thousands of years, the logging boom established around the head of the Howe Sound in the 1800s, the Britannia Mine that opened 1905, to become one of the largest mining operations in Canada, and several cultural sites and museums to explore.

Squamish’s five primary neighbourhoods

Squamish can be divided into five primary neighbourhoods, each with its unique character and charm. The is usually a modest inventory of building lots and land for sale on the MLS in Squamish, and builders tend to work closely with Realtors® who have their eyes on a few potential tear-down properties.

1. 1. Hospital Hill & Valleycliffe: Nestled at the foot of the stunning Stawamus Chief mountain, Valleycliffe is a picturesque neighbourhood with great views of Highway 99, Downtown Squamish, Howe Sound and the Stawamus Chief. As the southernmost community, Valleycliffe provides direct access to the Sea to the Sky Highway, without any intersections heading south, which cuts about 20 minutes off the Vancouver commute each way. With its unique blend of natural beauty, community spirit, and convenient amenities, Valleycliffe offers easy access to parks, trails and rock-climbing routes, and a high quality of life that has drawn many people to call it home.
   2. Downtown Squamish: Downtown Squamish is the cultural and commercial hub of the town, with a lively atmosphere and a variety of shops, restaurants, and amenities. Downtown Squamish and Downtown South are experiencing rapid growth, as several new condo and townhouse developments pop up each year, drawing young professionals and families seeking the adventurous outdoor lifestyle Squamish offers. The Squamish Oceanfront Development will extend Downtown, offering residential, commercial, and industrial opportunities on the Oceanfront peninsula over the coming years. The trail network along Squamish’s waterfront provides access to hikers as well as kiteboarding, windsurfing, and paddleboarding enthusiasts.
   3. Central Squamish: Central Squamish neighbourhoods include Garibaldi Estates, Tantalus Road, Northyards, Dentville and Brennan Park/Loggers Lane. Garibaldi Estates is a well-established community with a mix of residential and commercial properties, offering a variety of amenities such as restaurants, shops, and services. Tantalus Road is located along the Sea-to-Sky Highway, offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains and Howe Sound. Northyards is a rapidly growing area with a mix of commercial and residential properties, attracting young families and professionals. Dentville is a historic neighbourhood, known for its charming character homes and proximity to Downtown Squamish. Finally, Brennan Park/Loggers Lane is a family-friendly community, home to Squamish’s largest recreation centre, parks, and schools.
   4. Garibaldi Highlands & University Heights: Garibaldi Highlands is an exclusive family-oriented mountain community, known for its spectacular panoramic views, proximity to outdoor recreation, and luxurious homes. University Heights is a newer development that caters to families and professionals, and is home to Quest University, one of Canada’s leading liberal arts schools. Properties in Garibaldi Highlands and University Heights tend to be on the higher end, with spacious single-family homes and townhouses dominating the market. The neighbourhoods feature several parks, schools, and amenities, including a grocery store and a pharmacy. The shops and restaurants of Garibaldi Estates are a five-minute drive.
   5. Brackendale: Brackendale is located at the north end of Squamish. It’s popular with skiers and snowboarders because it’s only 30 minutes away from Whistler. Known as the “eagle capital of the world,” Brackendale is home to the largest concentration of bald eagles in North America. It offers a mix of old and new construction, single-family homes, duplexes and townhouse complexes, making it a great option for families or anyone looking for a quieter lifestyle. Brackendale Elementary School and Don Ross Middle School are situated on the north end.

Choosing a Squamish builder

If you are planning to build a high-performance, sustainable Net Zero Ready house, a Passive House certified home in Squamish, or simply want to adopt best practices for new construction, Coast Essential can take your dream project from design to move in.

Work with our in-house designer to take your home from sketches to floor plans and elevations. We will take care of the permit process, working with the engineers and the planning department to make sure your new build or retrofit fully complies with local bylaws and BC Building Code specifications.

Squamish renovations and remodels

Home renovations are an exciting way to modernize and enhance the aesthetic appeal of your living space. We can help you create a more functional, comfortable, and stylish living environment. Aesthetic home renovations include cosmetic updates such as painting, updating the floor coverings, adding new light fixtures, installing new countertops, and replacing outdated appliances.

If your home spaces need changes to layouts, flow and functionality, a more comprehensive home makeover is needed. Remodels often involve structural changes such as reworking floor plans, moving walls, removing walls to create open floor plans, or adding new spaces, While these projects can involve a greater investment and longer timeframe, they can have a dramatic impact on the functionality, enjoyment and value of your home.

We will work with you to design and construct significant alterations and additions to your home to help meet changing needs while adding value to your property.

Net Zero home design and construction in Squamish

Net Zero homes, whether new or existing buildings produce as much clean energy as they consume. They are up to 80% more energy efficient than a home built to conventional standards. Designing a Net Zero house is based on a combination of energy-efficient building design and materials, including high levels of insulation, air-tight construction, and energy-efficient appliances and lighting, with the use of renewable energy sources such as solar panels and geothermal heating and cooling systems.

Squamish homeowners stand to benefit significantly from a Net Zero home. They significantly reduce energy consumption, resulting in lower energy bills. Energy-efficient features such as triple-paned windows, high levels of insulation, and air-tight construction reduce heat loss and prevent drafts, meaning that less energy is required to heat or cool your home.

Net Zero homes also improve indoor air quality and comfort. The air-tight building envelope and super-insulation reduce the infiltration of outdoor air pollutants, resulting in a healthier living environment. Additionally, the built-in filtered fresh air system reduces allergens and asthma triggers, keeping dust, pollen and air pollution outside where they belong.

Net Zero homes are an environmentally sustainable option that can significantly reduce your carbon footprint. They contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and help to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The Government of Canada prioritizes sustainable building design and renewable energy. Transitioning Canada’s existing building stock to net zero over the long term is one of 9 core sections in their 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan. The District of Squamish publishes updates to its District Requirements, as Net Zero homes become an increasingly desirable way to future-proof not only new construction but retrofit existing homes as well.

The BC Energy Step Code, and achieving Net Zero Ready by 2032

The Province of British Columbia introduced energy efficiency as a BC Building Code objective in 2008. The BC Energy Step Code allows designers and builders to comply with its requirements using either a “prescriptive” or a “performance” approach.

To comply with the BC Energy Step Code, builders must use energy software modelling and on-site testing, demonstrating that both their design and the constructed building meet the requirements of the standard. To accomplish this, they may use any type of material or construction method.

The high-performance staircase outlines five-step requirements for Part 9 residential buildings, from the current BC Building Code requirements to “net-zero energy ready” by 2032.

A BC Step Code 5 compliant, “net zero ready” home is built to the very same standard as a net zero home. The only difference is the solar or wind power renewable energy source has not yet been installed.

At Coast Essential we aim for the highest construction standards for thermal efficiency and air tightness. Integrating renewable energy through the use of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, and both air-source and ductless heat pumps, as well as biomass fuel sources and energy recovery technology.

Upgrading your home to net zero with a deep energy retrofit

According to the EPA, about one-third of the greenhouse gases are produced by existing buildings. As a society, we can’t address climate change and the inefficiency of older homes by building new net-zero homes. Deep energy retrofits can bring the homes people are living in today up to net zero.

Featured Squamish high-performance renovation project

Squamish Deep Energy Retrofit

This project was a High-Performance renovation, that took an early 1980’s home into modern architecture and Near Zero energy building. Coast Essential conducted all architectural design work, construction management and services on this project.

It was a unique renovation that took an approach to achieve Green Built Canada platinum certification. It was a complete remodel and restructure to improve the views and entertaining, while hitting deep energy efficiency targets.