Copper Island Fine Homes
2479 Marine Place V0E 1H1 Sorrento, BC, Canada

HAPPY NEW YEAR DEMOLITION! These days, more and more of our projects involve tearing down an existing home and creating something beautiful and modern in its place. That's exactly what we've just started in Scotch Creek. With all permits in place, we've started dismantling the cabin you see below...and once that's done, we'll be building the stunning new two story home you see in the conceptual drawings underneath. Read more at www.copperislandfinehomes.ca.

WHAT A YEAR! If you're wondering who that is with us in the photo, well, his name is Fergus...a furry little Bernedoodle who seems to be ecstatic about being the newest addition to our family. He's bringing big smiles to our faces this Christmas as we work our way through Greg's health issues (he's on the mend and working towards a full recovery), the strangeness of this holiday season in the midst of a pandemic, and all of the other challenges we've faced in 2020. To our family and friends, stay safe and warm! And to our clients, staff, valued trades and suppliers: thank you for your commitment and incredible efforts to make this year such a successful one despite its challenges. Merry Christmas, and here's to better days ahead! - Greg and Tracy Vistisen

IS YOUR FURNACE KILLING YOUR SEPTIC FIELD? If you have a high efficiency gas furnace that’s draining into your septic tank, the answer is yes unless you’ve got a condensate neutralizer. When your high efficiency furnace burns natural gas, one of the by-products is water. And while it’s technically clean, it’s acidic enough to corrode pipes and kill those good bacteria working overtime in your septic tank. The condensate filter that you see in the photo is the answer it’s ...placed inline in your furnace’s drain system and works by boosting the pH level of the condensate to safe levels. The BC Building Code does not require acid condensate filters, but we’ve been installing them for many years to protect the life of your septic field and reduce long-term homeowner maintenance costs. It’s just another way that we put the fine into our award-winning new homes and renovations. See more

STRONG AS STEEL: Sometimes, you need something a little stronger than lumber. That’s the case at one of our current lakefront builds in Eagle Bay. Our clients wanted an expansive, panoramic view of the lake from the great room. That much glass on one wall sometimes requires structural engineering. To ensure that the wall of glass has enough strength to withstand the occasional high strength windstorms we often get, our engineer prescribed a steel moment frame steel beams an...d columns connected to form an incredibly strong and rigid wall section. The photo below shows portions of the frame being constructed at Econospan in Chase. We’ll look forward to showing you another photo of the completed frame after it’s installed in this stunning home. Here at Copper Island Fine Homes, we are firm believers in structural (and geotechnical) engineering and innovative solutions like this steel moment frame it’s all about providing peace of mind for us as builders, and, more importantly, for our clients, who want to ensure their new homes stand the test of time and elements! See more

WORTH THE WAIT! It's another happy hand-off here at CIFH. COVID-19 and delays in the permitting process put us behind schedule right out of the starting blocks with this new lake view build, but our clients haven't been impacted at all - and they couldn't be happier with the end product. For the full story and more photos, visit www.copperislandfinehomes.ca.

IT'S AN EASY GAME... Nothing makes us happier to give away some cold, hard cash, which is exactly what our General Manager, Marcus Picton, did this Tuesday. Local resident Glenn Ford aced the 9th hole during Men’s Day, and Marcus rewarded his accuracy with $500 dollars (which, hopefully, was enough to cover his bar tab). Congratulations, Glenn, on a fine shot. It’s an easy game when you don’t have to putt, isn’t it? The hole-in-one sponsorship is just part of our longstanding... support of our local community through golf tournament sponsorship. Since 2011, we’ve sponsored Men’s and Ladies’ Nights at Shuswap Lake Estates and Talking Rock golf courses, as well as special events at the Salmon Arm Golf Club. It’s a great way to say thanks to our local residents while supporting a healthy outdoor activity particularly in the midst of a pandemic. See more

CHAOS? Thats what it looks like. But George Doyle of D & L Backhoe Services takes a surgical approach to demolishing a home. As one of our prime excavation contractors, hes done a few for us over the years. This latest demolition will make way for a stunning new waterfront home in Eagle Bay. Read about it at www.copperislandfinehomes.ca.

HIGH DRAMA! Check out this soaring great room at one of our current lake view projects above Eagle Bay Road. Superb masonry work by Marcus Buhrig, along with exquisite beam finishing and installation by carpenters Mark Orchard and our own finisher extraordinaire, Chuck Beaton, add to the drama. Learn more at www.copperislandfinehomes.ca.

GREAT HOUSE FROM EVERY ANGLE! Were rolling out a new photo and photo storage program for our clients that uses the Insta360 ONE X 360 degree camera (https://www.insta360.com/product/insta360-onex). Along with our recent purchase of a lightweight drone, this incredible camera will allow us to capture better images of our projects throughout the various construction phases and keep clients and homeowners updated with the most useful visual information. The 360 degree function allows the camera to take a single photo that is more compelling than, say, five shots in each room. And its also useful for video tours. Its just one more way that Copper Island Fine Homes is meeting the challenge of building for clients who arent able to be here in the Shuswap because of the pandemic or any other reason.

CHECK OUT OUR LATEST PROJECT! We couldnt be more pleased to have our crews on the job as we start this new waterfront build on Eagle Bay Road. Well be demolishing an existing home and replacing it with what you see below. Its one of those challenging projects that brings out the absolute best in our exceptional staff and sub-trades. Read the full story at www.copperislandfinehomes.ca.

ISO...STORAGE SPACE WANTED! Do you have a secure storage space that youd like to lease or rent? Copper Island Fine Homes is seeking a covered and lockable storage space thats approximately 400 square feet, ideal for storing miscellaneous residential construction materials (tarps, construction doors, heaters, de-humidifiers, etc.) and located in the Blind Bay, Sorrento, Eagle Bay or Scotch Creek areas. Ideally, were looking for a space thats available for long-term rental or lease. Please message us or call Greg at 250.833.8718 if you can help!

BIRDS EYE VIEW: Introducing our newest construction tool -- a Mavic Mini camera drone. And no, this foldable high-tech device is not a toy. A camera drone is incredibly useful to us. Weve been using them for house plan locating, finished exterior views of our homes, construction update photos, roof and chimney inspections, assessing lake views from treed or challenging properties, steep slope assessments, dangerous tree assessments, landscaping and retaining wall design, and much more. Thats not to say we wont use it for some photos of our staff and team get-togethers, however (when thats finally allowed again)!

BACK IN THE OFFICE. Our admin staff, who have been diligently working at home, have officially returned to the office -- but with social distancing, hand washing, surface sanitization and all WCB safety precautions in effect. Were making other adjustments in response to the pandemic as well. Were currently meeting clients at their lots and in the office around our boardroom table with social distancing in effect (naturally, we have contingency plans in place for any COVID r...esurgence. Our online Virtual Budget Planner and Design Selection Planner are both working very well with current and prospective clients. Meanwhile, activity and client interest have dramatically picked up. A crisis always has a positive -- we worked hard to adjust our systems to respond to our clients needs and have come out the other side a much stronger and effective company, ready and able to serve. See more

COSY. Thats the feeling you get when you see a home just after insulation has been completed. Were at that stage with one of our current projects, a stunning lakeview home on Eagle Bay Road. See the full story at www.copperislandfinehomes.ca.

A CLEAR CHOICE: Heavy frameless glass shower enclosures are almost always included in a Copper Island Fine Home. And when we need this type of glasswork, we invariably turn to one of are valued sub-tradesmaster craftsman Michael Lindblad, owner of Copper Cove Glass & Aluminum. Below are photos of two bathrooms Michael recently completed as part of an extensive CIFH renovation on the North Shore. When it came time to add the glass, we simply handed off the entire job to Michael. As you can see, he performed his usual magic, creating flawless and elegant enclosures of 10mm glass. Read the full story at www.copperislandfinehomes.ca, and learn more about Copper Cove Glass & Aluminum at www.coppercoveglass.com.

NOW THATS A POLISH! The basement slab of our first ever project in Sicamousa resort home on the shores of Mara Lake, with RV storage and laundry facilities on the lower levelis now beautifully polished. The project is now a week ahead of schedule. Read more at www.copperislandfinehomes.ca.

PROCEEDING WITH CAUTION USING ONLINE TOOLS. The BC government has given the green light for construction to continue during this pandemic. Here at CIFH, were doing everything possible to keep building for our current clients at this extremely difficult timeand finding ways to keep the new home aspirations of new and future clients viable and alive. Top of mind for us is the safety and health of our clients, employees and sub-trades. One way were doing this is using our hard-won expertise in connecting with clients remotely or virtually before and during the construction process. Learn more at www.copperislandfinehomes.ca.

ADDRESSING COVID 19: The Shuswap is known for its tranquility and a slow pace of life thats not often interrupted by large world events. But the Covid-19 virus knows no boundaries, and no one is immune from the threat, including those in our community. Thats why were taking steps to do our part when it comes to flattening the curve and minimizing the impact. Read more at https://www.copperislandfinehomes.ca/project-updates/

PUTTING THE LID ON! It always feels like a major milestone on any new house when we get trusses landed and the roof sheeted. Heres a birds eye look at one of our new projects in MacArthur Heights - our crew hard at work, enjoying the Shuswap views while they get ready for shingles next week.

SAY HELLO TO OUR NEW GM! Were pleased to introduce our new General Manager, Marcus Picton, who joins us after a highly-successful 20 year career in construction managementten years of which was in his native UK, with the last ten years spent in Calgary. He was the clear choice to fill the position, which we created in response to the increased management workload brought by 15 years of successful expansion. In his new position, Marcus will have varied responsibilities covering most aspects of our business, including general management and planning, day-to-day operations, human resources, and sales and marketing. Hell report directly to Greg Vistisen, President and Owner. Read more about Marcus and his qualifications at www.copperislandfinehomes.ca.

CAN A NEW HOME COMPANY DO GREAT RENOVATIONS? Absolutely. At least, we can. And weve proven this with our track record of satisfied renovation customers, and Keystone Awards for renovations from the Canadian Home Builders Association (CHBA). Thats why were acknowledged by RenoMark, a marketing program established in 2001 and delivered in partnership with the CHBA. Our RenoMark Mark of Excellence makes it easy for homeowners to identify Copper Island Fine Homes as a renovator who has agreed to provide a superior level of service. Learn more at www.renomark.ca.

HOW DO OUR CLIENTS REALLY FEEL ABOUT US? We really want to know, even if its not always what we want to hear. Thats why were raising the bar on ourselves. Weve signed up with www.guildquality.com, a customer satisfaction survey company that specializes only in the new home industry. If youre a current or future client, please expect to be asked for your permission for Guild Quality to contact you. And if youre a past client, wed also like to know how well we did building your home, even if youre not totally satisfied. After all, we cant strive for perfection is we dont know where weve made mistakes. This is truly a soul-baring exercise, as all results and feedback will ultimately be made public (although total anonymity is guaranteed for those who participate). Thanks in advance!

Thank you. It really was our pleasure. Working with fantastic homeowners with vision as well as providing an opportunity for our team and sub-trades to demonstrate both their passion and talent. Well done by all!

TECHNOLOGY=PEACE OF MIND. Weve been using this little unique gadget (https://www.giatecscientific.com//smartrock-maturity-meter/) for over a year now to ensure were taking care of our concrete properly during winter pours. Sensors are buried in the rebar before the pour, and then we can see critical temperature and curing data on our smart phones. This allows us to make decisions about how long we keep forms and insulated blankets in place to maximize our concrete strength in the winter. This extra step is not required by Code nor enforced by building inspectors or structural engineers, but its one more way Copper Island leads the pack!

TRULY A TEAM EFFORT: We dont win Keystone Awards without having incredible sub-tradesthe skilled men and women who also make their homes here in the Shuswap, and work alongside our staff on every one of our projects. Thats why we like showcasing our sub-trades here on our Facebook page. This weeks shoutout is to North Shuswap Masonry, owned and operated by Gunnar and Cheryl Keuris. Gunnar is a journeyman red seal tradesman with more than 30 years experience. He started hi...s career in the mid-80s as a bricklayers labourer. He worked diligently at his apprenticeship and attended four years of trade school, then spent time working on the Coast until he moved his young family to the Shuswap in 1996. Thats Gunnar in the photo, working on a natural stone fireplace with distressed wood mantle at one of our projects on the water near Scotch Creek. The photo speaks for itself, but well simply add that Gunnar is a fantastic craftsman who should be extremely proud of his work. You can see more at www.nsmasonry.com or https://www.facebook.com/northshuwapmasonry. See more

TROPHY HAUL! Copper Island Fine Homes was a huge winner at the Canadian Home Builders Association Central Interior 15th Annual Keystone Awards Gala, held on Saturday February 1, 2020 at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops.The sold-out event recognized and honoured the outstanding achievements made by those within the Central Interior Region of British Columbia home building industry over the past year. When it was all over, Copper Island had won three coveted gold awards: Most Unique Design (a wine room in one of our homes), Best House between $1.5 - 3 million, and Best Customer Service. See the full story at www.copperislandfinehomes.ca.

HELLO, SICAMOUS! Weve had the opportunity to take on projects in Sicamous over the years, but its only recently that weve been confident in our capacity to work that far afield. So were happy to be taking on our first client in Sicamousa businessman from Calgary who sought us out after having heard about our reputation and quality workmanship. The project involves removing an existing garage foundation and replacing it with a larger foundation and rental cabin, with RV storage and laundry facilities below. Read more at www.copperislandfinehomes.ca.

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS: Thats the reality of building in the Shuswap. This is perfectly illustrated in this photo taken during the excavation for our newest custom home in MacArthur Heights. Operator Darcy Lessard of Lessard Excavating had barely scratched the dirt when he uncovered a huge outcropping of shale rock. Fortunately, Darcy made short work of it with his rock hammer, avoiding costly blasting expenses. Read more at www.copperislandfinehomes.ca.

BACK TO WORK: Warmer weather and retreating snow are the ingredients we needed to move forward with this new project on Eagle Bay Road. The break in the weather sees us back onsite, working hard with installation of perimeter and roof drains, installation of foundation insulation, and backfilling inside and outside of the foundation with structural fill. The photo on the left also provides a sample of the views the owners can expect when were done late this summer -- picturesque sunsets over Copper Island.

Member Feature: Copper Island Fine Homes Copper Island Fine Homes Inc. is not a bulk builder. They work on a limited number of projects at one time, with a foc...us on quality and customer satisfaction. Using proven and innovative techniques, quality construction materials and finishes, and the areas most talented trades and craftsmen, Copper Island Fine Homes takes each project to full completion on time, on budget, and to the highest possible standards. https://bit.ly/2QvFQOB See more

Baby, its cold outside... Photo snapped by Dean Friesen, Copper Island Fine Homes Project Manager, at one of our job sites in MacArthur Heights yesterday morning, with temperatures hovering in the minus 20s. Dean reports that he was happy to be working inside.

West Coast Wrap Up It doesnt always happen, and sometimes there are circumstances beyond our control (for example, winter snow storms -- its hard to work without hydro!). But we always strive to finish a project on time. With a month to go, were right on schedule with this stunning West Coast style home in MacArthur Heights. Read more at www.copperislandfinehomes.ca.

Snow? What snow? Winter construction at its finest! We poured this new foundation on Eagle Bay Road just before Christmas, and then wrapped it, forms and all, with insulated tarps and left it snug and warm over the holidays. We took the tarps off all of it last week, and not surprisingly, discovered it has cured beautifully. The show must go on, snow or no snow!

Concrete floors: who knew they could be this beautiful? Well, we did...but this might be the best weve seen. The photo is from a house that we recently completed on the Shuswap North Shore. The concrete has been perfectly stained, polished, sealed and cut into tiles by Ken Whitehead, owner of http://www.cementfeet.com, based in Canoe. A big shoutout to Ken for his outstanding work!

Its been a great year... ...and it was all made possible by our incredible staff, our amazing sub-trades and partners, and, of course, all of our clients -- past, present and future. We couldnt be more grateful! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to one and all! - Greg and Tracy Vistisen

Home for the holidays! What could be better than handing off a brand new custom home to its new owners during the week of Christmas? Thats exactly what well be doing this week, as weve brought this stunning North Shore lakefront beauty to completion just in time for the holidays. This project has been an absolute joy for us to work on. Our clients have been exceptional, and their West Coast style home has amazing features and finishes that reflect their excellent taste -- you can see some of the highlights in the photos. Our thanks to our staff and our superb sub-trades for making this home the perfect Christmas present for our clients.

Award Finalists...Again! Weve been selected as a finalist in seven categories of the 2020 Canadian Home Builders Association (Central Interior) Keystone Awards. Well have to wait until February 1st and the awards gala at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops to find out how many awards well win, but were extremely proud of the homes that have been selected as finalists, two of which are shown in the photos below. Heres a quick rundown of the awards were in the running... for: - Best Single Family Detached Home: $500,000 to $750,000 - Best Single Family Detached Home: $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 (in collaboration with All by Design Inc.) - Best Single Family Detached Home: $1,500,000 and over - Best Innovative/Special Feature: New or Renovated - Best Interior Design New or Renovated (in collaboration with All by Design Inc. And Raw Elements) - Best Housing Design (in collaboration with All by Design Inc. And Raw Elements) - Best Customer Service by a CHBA CI Member Builder Check back in early February to see how we do!

Inside Job! Our crews are now working in comfort on the North Shuswap, as we move into interior finishing at an extensive update of a lakefront home. We worked hard to get locked up on this project before winter weather arrived, and our efforts paid off, as snow and freezing temperatures have once again become our reality. Safe from the elements, we were able to proceed with insulation, which has been wrapped up. In turn, thats allowed us to move into the drywall stage, and ...the entire home has now been boarded, and taping and finishing are now underway. The finished home will be beautiful, with plenty of the original structures charm on display along with all the modern touches, conveniences and efficiencies of new construction. The owners will be enjoying their new home and its beautiful views over the lake by spring.