A man's home is his (steel) castle

If you’re in the market for a new home, and if you fancy the idea of a house built with a steel frame instead of a wooden frame, a new Sault business partnership can help you.

Evolutiondeck, Topline Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling and AES (Algoma Energy Solutions) Solar are currently building a cluster of homes with steel frames on Batchewana First Nation territory.

The joint venture between the three companies is known as SPX Homes, and started up in summer 2016.

The manufacturing plant for the modular homes has been certified to manufacture in Sault Ste. Marie. 

“There’s no wood involved, except for the flooring,” said Steve Cormier, SPX co-owner, speaking to SooToday.

“There are no mildew problems if you have no wood…its a stronger house because you can actually build up five storeys before any moisture is involved, and the fire resistance is way better,” Cormier said.

So, what do the steel framed houses cost?

“They are competitive in cost to traditionally built houses, we provide premium materials and finishes, and we’re within five per cent of the cost of a traditional home,” said John Naccarato of Evolutiondeck.

“It depends on the size and the design, but typically we can deliver a house for around $175 a square foot.”

The Batchewana First Nation project has led to 15 to 20 new jobs.

Naccarato’s Evolutiondeck business in itself, highlighted by SooToday in March, 2016, is also doing well, the builder said.

SPX is excited about the First Nation project.

“A big thing we’ve achieved is our certification as a modular home builder (in November, 2016) which means we can actually sell these buildings throughout Canada in compliance with the building codes,” Naccarato told SooToday.

The Batchewana project consists of three duplexes for a total of six units.

The units are about 80 per cent completed and will be ready for occupancy within the next two weeks, Naccarato said.

The entire project should be done by the end of March.

“The SPX building envelope is an unsurpassed system that provides a longer lasting structure, higher energy efficiency, improved indoor air quality and protection against moisture…these are super efficient homes which are thermally efficient and very low cost to operate, and everything we use is a maintenance free finish.”

“SPX has a full steel diaphragm that provides a sealed barrier to the weather and exterior pressure, keeping cold and moisture from penetrating the wall cavity, and so removing any chance for mold,” Naccarato said.

“The technology itself comes through Evolutiondeck and is being sold throughout North America, SPX established as a partnership that builds modular homes,” Naccarato said, adding the company sold its first package in the U.S. (in the St. Louis area, specifically) last year.

The addition of solar panels will be ideal to the Batchewana First Nation homes and other isolated areas, Naccarato said.

“We anticipate building another 20 houses this year…custom homes, a house on an island, the First Nation program is continuing, and then we also have some other custom homes we’ll be building around northern Ontario, and at least a couple in Sault Ste. Marie this year.”