A Home with a Difference
Gordon Hemsworth mis a third-generation home builder working in and around Victoria, British Columbia. His company, established in 1989, is primarily involved in custom new home construction and residential renovation, however they have also taken on some commercial projects.
With a staff of eight, Hemsworth Construction has earned recognition in their market as an ICF builder. Since their first ICF project in 1999, the company has built five ICF homes, the most recent a 16,000 sq, ft. resident on the Saanich peninsula.
Here’s what Gordon Hemsworth had to say about his experience as an ICF builder:
How did you decide to start building with ICF?
“In a way, we fell into it. Our first ICF home was built for a client who had family members in Ontario who worked in the ICF business. They asked us to use this system for their home, so we looked into it. I was a bit skeptical at first, but once we began building with ICF, we really liked the system. We also learned about ICF through the CHBA of Victoria where we are members, the Association had the cement industry do a number of presentations to the members.”
“One of the things that really made a difference was the training support we got from our ICF supplier, ARXX. All of our staff have taken the ARXX training programs and seminars and have been certified by ARXX. That also helps to bring us clients who look into ICF and are referred to our company because of the certification.
How do prospective clients react to the idea of ICF construction?
“We build mostly higher-end custom homes, so we deal with clients who have usually spent a long time planning their project. I try to get clients to consider ICF when they are designing their home. I find I get a pretty good reaction to the system, more and more people are receptive to the idea.
“With the leaky condo fiasco in British Columbia, clients are very interested in concrete construction that can’t rot. They see all the wood frame buildings with tarps over them as the walls are replaced.
“Let’s face it, the West Coast can be a challenging place to build a home. With concerns about leaky condos, environmental protection, earthquake protection, and allergies and environmental illnesses, there can be a lot to worry about. I try to work with my clients to openly and honestly assess innovative ways to meet these challenges.
“People feel really comfortable in these homes. They are easy to heat and most of our homes also have in-floor radiant heat, which adds to the comfort. That leads to word-of-mouth promotion, which is great for our company.”
How does being an ICF builder work for you from a business perspective?
“From a business standpoint, building with ICF works well for us. Our clients are concerned about quality and we are being recognized as a builder who can deliver quality. A lot of our ICF jobs come to us, because we’re training and have a reputation for using this system. For instance, we are looking at another ICF home right now that the architect brought to us. We’ve become recognized as the company that does this type of work, so we stand out, it gets us recognition.”
