Made to Last Blog

Our Blog

exterior framing windows and deck

BuilderTrend: The Best Software For Your Homebuilding Experience

We live in a digital world. Everything is connected, accessible, and easily stored. Your home building or remodelling experience should be just as effortless. The best contractors use digital tools and platforms to keep your project running smoothly, on time and on budget. The industry gold standard among these tools is BuilderTrend. At Made to […]

Read more
Yellow modern farmhouse front exterior from side

JOB POSTING – BOOKKEEPER

Made to Last is offering a challenging and rewarding career opportunity for an experienced Bookkeeper. Made to Last Custom Homes Ltd. is a growing residential construction company, located in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, BC.  Our company has been in operation since 2011, and primarily builds quality custom homes.  Read more about our company […]

Read more
Kitchen facing ocean views in Cowichan Valley home

Why Are Building Material Prices Increasing?

If you are considering building a home, you may have heard about the increasing cost of building materials. While the price of lumber catches most of the headlines, and thankfully has dropped quite a bit recently, costs are very fluid and rising in other categories. The rate of change that the construction industry is currently […]

Read more
Custom home renovation bright raspberry island

Time for Some Home Maintenance and Improvement

As we reach Spring on Vancouver Island, it’s always a good time to look around the house and think about home maintenance.  Perhaps you hope to host family and friends at your home in the coming months. Or maybe you are considering selling your home. Regardless, home maintenance is an important thing to keep up […]

Read more
Chemainus oceanfront custom home exterior

The High Performance Custom Home: Building Beyond the Standard

What is a High-Performance Home? With energy costs rising, an increased concern for the environment, and a focus on comfort, homebuyers are more often turning to high-performance homes to meet their needs. High-performance homes use less energy and are more comfortable and healthier to live in than traditionally built homes. You may already be familiar […]

Read more
Quamichan Net Zero Home open concept kitchen

JOB POSTING – Communication & Marketing Administrator

JOB POSTING – COMMUNICATION & MARKETING ADMINISTRATOR Made to Last is offering a rewarding career opportunity for an experienced Communication & Marketing Administrator. Job Summary The Communication & Marketing Administrator is responsible for supporting the Owner and General Manager with the day-to-day marketing and administration of Made to Last, with a focus on ensuring positive, […]

Read more
Quamichan Net Zero Awards

Quamichan Net Zero – A National Finalist

Made to Last Custom Homes is excited to announce that one of our projects is a finalist for the 2023 Canadian Home Builders’ Association’s (CHBA) National Awards for Housing Excellence. The CHBA National Awards are the premiere competition for new homes and renovations in Canada. Quamichan Net Zero is a finalist for Best Custom Net Zero Home. […]

Read more
Quamichan Net Zero Home front exterior

Net Zero Home Building & Design – Do They Save You Money?

Made to Last Custom Homes built the Quamichan Net Zero Home on the shores of Quamichan Lake in Duncan. This is the Cowichan Valley’s first officially labelled Net Zero Home. “Net Zero” means that this home produces as much energy as it is consuming. This is partially thanks to the solar panels on the roof.  But […]

Read more
two workers looking at construction plans inside home foundation

What is the Cost Per Square Foot to Build a Custom Home?

One of the most common questions we hear as home builders is “What does it cost per square foot to build a home?” With many builders, such as those developing spec homes, you are dealing with fixed plans. Many choices are not offered to the homeowner. Made to Last builds custom homes. This means the […]

Read more
Renovation to oceanfront custom home

Bare Point Custom Home Renovation

When Bare Point Custom Home began construction in 2018, the homeowners always planned to complete a future project. The goal was to add to the home and renovate a portion of the existing home after a few years. The original build focused on affordability. But, an addition that would include a secondary suite and garage […]

Read more

Get Your Free Homebuilding Resource Guide