Braun Custom Builds

10/16/2026

A great week by the team! This week was filled with a little bit of everything, and although it was a short week, felt like there was a lot that got accomplished…… Preliminary design presentations, pre tender site meetings, demolition, framing, waterproofing and backfilling, siding, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, spray foaming, permit approval, permit application, earthworks preparation for a new garage, radon mitigation, boathouse restoration, and some custom carpentry to fit some reclaimed antique church wall panels in a cottage. We couldn’t do it without all of our great team members! Have a great weekend everyone

10/14/2026

🏡 BEFORE YOU TEAR IT DOWN, LET’S LOOK AT WHAT’S POSSIBLE!

Love your property, but your cottage isn’t meeting your needs anymore?

Before deciding to demolish and rebuild, it may be worth exploring what your existing cottage could become.

At Braun Custom Builds, we help cottage owners evaluate their options—whether that’s renovating, adding on, upgrading the foundation or starting fresh.

🔨 Some important things to consider:

Existing foundation and structural condition

Septic system and servicing requirements

Layout and opportunities for expansion

Insulation and energy efficiency

Property setbacks and site conditions

Overall construction costs and budget

💰 Sometimes renovating makes sense. Other times, rebuilding is the better investment.

The key is understanding your options before making a major financial commitment.

Through our preconstruction and feasibility services, we can assess your property, explore potential solutions and develop preliminary budgets to help you make an informed decision.

🏡 Planning a cottage project for 2027?

Let’s visit your property and see what’s possible!

BRAUN CUSTOM BUILDS
Design • Build • Construction Management
Three Generations of Quality You Can Trust.

🌐 brauncustombuilds.ca

10/13/2026

🔨 TRIVIA TUESDAY 🔨

Let’s test your building knowledge!

What is the main purpose of a header above a window or door opening?

A) Provide a place to attach the trim
B) Carry the load above the opening to the framing on either side
C) Prevent drafts around the window or door
D) Keep the opening square during construction

👇 Drop your answer in the comments! We’ll reveal the correct answer later.

Braun Custom Builds
Design/Build & Construction Management
Trust us to build your dream!

CottageConstruction

10/11/2026

10/07/2026

🏡 DON’T START WITH A QUOTE. START WITH A PLAN.

One of the first questions we hear when someone is considering a new cottage or major renovation is:

“How much is this going to cost?”

It’s an important question—but getting a reliable answer takes more than a set of preliminary drawings and a quick price per square foot.

A successful project starts with a plan.

At Braun Custom Builds, our preconstruction process works through the important decisions early:

📐 DESIGN
What are you trying to build, and how should it function for your family?

🔎 FEASIBILITY
Does the project make sense for the property? What challenges could affect the design, schedule or cost?

📏 ENGINEERING
Structural requirements, site conditions, septic considerations and other technical details need to be understood.

🪟 SELECTIONS
Windows, doors, flooring, cabinetry, plumbing fixtures and finishes can have a significant impact on the final budget.

💰 BUDGET
As the design develops, so should the budget. This allows us to identify potential cost issues early—when changes are much easier to make.

📋 PERMITS & APPROVALS
We help coordinate the information required to move the project toward construction.

🔨 CONSTRUCTION
Once the planning is complete, everyone has a much clearer understanding of what we’re building, what it should cost and how we’re going to get there.

Design → Feasibility → Engineering → Selections → Budget → Permits → Construction

The goal isn’t simply to get to construction as quickly as possible.

The goal is to get to construction prepared.

Good preconstruction can reduce surprises, improve decision-making and help ensure the project you’re designing actually aligns with the investment you’re comfortable making.

If you’re considering a new cottage, addition or major renovation in 2027, now is a great time to start the planning process.

Let’s start with the plan—and build from there.

Braun Custom Builds
Design • Build • Construction Management
brauncustombuilds.ca

10/06/2026

🏡 PLANNING TO BUILD IN 2027? START NOW.

If you’re hoping to build or complete a major cottage renovation in 2027, now is the time to start planning.

A successful construction project begins long before the excavator arrives.

There are important decisions to work through first:

📐 Design & drawings
🏡 Site evaluation
💧 Septic requirements
🧱 Structural & engineering considerations
📋 Permits & approvals
🪟 Product and finish selections
💰 Preliminary budgeting
🔨 Construction planning & scheduling

At Braun Custom Builds, our preconstruction process helps bring these pieces together before construction begins.

One of the biggest benefits?

Understanding what your project is likely to cost before getting too far down the road.

We’ve seen how frustrating it can be for homeowners to spend months developing plans, only to discover that the finished design doesn’t align with their construction budget.

Our approach brings design, construction knowledge and budgeting together early in the process.

We can help evaluate your property, understand what you’re trying to accomplish, develop the design, identify potential challenges and establish realistic preliminary budgets as the project develops.

By doing this work now, you have time to make thoughtful decisions, adjust the scope if necessary and get your project into a much stronger position for construction in 2027.

Already have drawings? That’s okay too.

We can review an existing design, discuss constructability, provide preliminary budgeting and help determine the next steps toward getting it built.

If you’re thinking about building a new cottage, completing a major renovation or adding onto your existing property in 2027, don’t wait until spring to start the conversation.

Let’s use the winter to get the planning done.

Contact us to learn more about Braun Custom Builds’ Preconstruction Services and how we can help take your project from an idea to a construction-ready plan.

Braun Custom Builds
Design • Build • Construction Management
brauncustombuilds.ca

10/01/2026

Throwback Thursday | Commercial Storefront Renovation

More than a decade ago, our team completed this commercial storefront improvement, combining important building maintenance with a major exterior facelift.

The project addressed key components such as roofing, flashing, entry door systems and exterior cladding, helping protect the building and extend the life of the structure. At the same time, we wanted the improvements to add some architectural character rather than simply replacing what was there.

We incorporated decorative timber brackets, a new sign band and warm cedar accents to soften the commercial façade and give the storefront a more inviting, finished appearance.

It’s always great looking back at projects like this and seeing how thoughtful design and proper building practices can work together—and how well those improvements can stand the test of time.

Built to last. Designed to look good doing it.

DesignBuild HaliburtonCounty

09/30/2026

🧡 EVERY CHILD MATTERS 🧡

Today, Braun Custom Builds recognizes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

We take time to remember and honour the children who never returned home, the Survivors of residential schools, and the families and communities who continue to carry their impact.

Today is an opportunity to listen, learn, reflect, and better understand this important part of Canada’s history.

Every child deserves to feel safe, valued, loved, and at home.

Every Child Matters. 🧡

— Braun Custom Builds

09/29/2026

ICF PROGRESS - The crew is working hard on this addition/renovation. This includes a basement under the existing foundation, as well as a large addition. This is going to be come a beautiful cottage to create many family memories!

Braun Custom Builds
design/build - construction management

09/28/2026

🏡 LOVE YOUR PROPERTY—BUT NOT YOUR COTTAGE?

You love the lake.
You love the view.
You love the neighbours.
You love the memories.

But maybe the cottage itself just isn’t working anymore.

The kitchen is too small. There aren’t enough bedrooms. The layout feels dated. You need another bathroom. The basement isn’t being used. Or maybe the whole cottage simply needs a fresh start.

Before you consider moving, let’s look at what your existing property could become.

At Braun Custom Builds, we can help you explore the possibilities—from interior renovations and additions to major cottage transformations.

Sometimes the right solution isn’t starting over.

It might mean opening up the main living area, adding a primary suite, finishing the lower level, expanding toward the lake, improving outdoor living space, or developing a plan to complete the work in phases.

Our process can start with a visit to your property to understand what you’d like to change, assess the existing cottage and discuss what’s realistically possible.

From there, we can help with:

🔨 Renovations & additions
📐 Design & preconstruction
🏡 Cottage transformations
💰 Preliminary budgeting
📋 Construction management
🛠️ Complete project construction

You already have the property you love. Let’s talk about creating the cottage you want.

Thinking about renovating this winter or planning ahead for 2027?

Send us a message or contact Braun Custom Builds to start the conversation.