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It's the time of year to sit back and appreciate the blessings of the last year.
When you're in such a reflective mood, don't forget your home as a major blessing. Canadians are among the best-housed people in the world.
The new Canadian home is well-known for being comfortable, energy efficient, healthy, spacious and durable and has increased in popularity dramatically in recent years.
Through the team efforts of builders, renovators, makers of building products and materials and related service providers, our wood-frame home has been carefully developed to suit our demanding and varied climate. Canadian new home professionals are building homes and communities around the world, from
Canadian construction techniques and building products are among the world's most advanced. Energy-efficient const-ruction, including superior insulation and building envelope, high-performance windows, and state-of-the-art heating, cooling and ventilation, has created homes that can withstand winter cold and mid-summer heat, while leaving the indoor air fresh and healthy.
The spacious, open design of Canadian homes is an additional attraction, along with a sophisticated selection of high-quality finishing products, such as wide varieties of exterior cladding, and pre-finished interior components including kitchen and bath cabinetry, flooring types and styles and a dizzying variety of plumbing fixtures and kitchen and laundry appliances.
Our technological know-how goes hand-in-hand with good management. Canadian builders and renovators know how to achieve cost-effective designs and on-site efficiency. Canadian-trained crews are generally highly skilled and work cohesively and quickly. As a result, value and quality are built right into new homes and home renovations, from foundation to finishing, here in
However, our international reputation goes beyond construction and technological expertise. What most Canadians take for granted -- availability of mortgages at reasonable interest rates, low down payments, mortgage insurance, building codes and standards, and new home warranty -- all contribute to Canada's place at the forefront of housing affordability, quality and choice.
In essence, the Canadian housing system ensures a reasonable opportunity for all Canadians to own a home, with the confidence that their home is healthy, safe and durable, and that their investment is well-protected.
Many countries, including
The Canadian professional new home building industry -- setting the standards for excellence in homes across the globe. Truly a blessing.
** Jim Vanderhoeven is president of the London Home Builders' Association.