01
Continuous Insulation
A well-insulated enclosure helps maintain stable interior temperatures throughout the seasons.
How Berm Builds
Our Approach
We look at the home as one complete system. Insulation, airtightness, windows, ventilation, structure, and finishes must work together.
01 — Building Science First
Decisions Based on How a Home Performs
Our decisions are based on comfort, moisture management, energy performance, durability, and indoor air quality — not only appearance.
Rather than looking at insulation, windows, ventilation, waterproofing, and structure as separate components, we consider how they interact with one another.
Some of the most important parts of a home are the parts you eventually never see. Berm focuses closely on the assemblies behind the finished home — from foundation connections and wall systems to windows, roofs, air barriers, insulation, and flashing.
Our objective is simple: build the enclosure correctly before covering it.
Before Drywall
02 — The Building Envelope
One Continuous Protective Layer Around Your Home
A high-performance building envelope separates the controlled indoor environment from Ontario's changing outdoor climate.
01
Continuous Insulation
Reducing heat loss through walls, roofs, foundations, and structural connections.
02
Airtight Construction
Creating a continuous air-control layer around the building to reduce drafts, uncontrolled heat loss, and moisture movement.
03
Thermal-Bridge Reduction
Carefully detailing areas where structure or materials could otherwise conduct heat through the enclosure.
04
High-Performance Windows & Doors
Selecting and installing windows and doors as part of the building envelope — not simply as openings in the wall.
05
Moisture Control
Managing rainwater, vapour, and drainage to support a more durable building enclosure.
06
Proper Flashing & Water Management
Using properly designed drainage planes, flashing, membranes, and transitions to manage rain and moisture.
The Envelope
The Details You Cannot See
Once drywall and finishes are installed, much of the building envelope disappears from view. Before that happens, Berm pays particular attention to critical areas such as air-barrier continuity, insulation transitions, window and door installation, flashing and water management, foundation-to-wall connections, roof-to-wall connections, mechanical and electrical penetrations, and exterior-envelope transitions.
These details may be hidden when the home is finished, but their performance can affect comfort and durability for years.
Performance is won at the connections.
03 — Passive House Principles
Proven Principles. Applied Thoughtfully.
Berm integrates Passive House principles into the way we think about custom home construction — giving us the flexibility to build both certified Passive Houses and high-performance conventional custom homes.
02
Airtight Construction
A continuous airtight layer limits uncontrolled air leakage and improves comfort, efficiency, and moisture control.
03
Thermal-Bridge-Free Design
Structural connections, balconies, foundations, windows, and cladding attachments are detailed carefully to limit unwanted heat transfer.
04
High-Performance Windows & Doors
Better frames, glazing, installation, and air sealing help improve comfort near windows while reducing energy loss.
05
Balanced Ventilation with Heat Recovery
Heat-recovery ventilation provides controlled fresh air while recovering energy from outgoing stale air.
Passive House principles applied to better custom homes.
04 — From Design to Construction
What Working With Berm Feels Like
A disciplined process from the first conversation to the day you move in.
Discovery & Goals
We begin with your goals, lifestyle, site, architecture, comfort expectations, and performance objectives.
Design Coordination
Working alongside your architect or our trusted design partners, we refine drawings, coordinate budgeting, define scope, and prepare a detailed construction agreement.
Building-Envelope Planning
Critical building-envelope assemblies and transitions are considered before construction begins — structure, insulation, windows, mechanical systems, membranes, and exterior finishes are reviewed as interconnected systems.
Preconstruction & Budget
Permit submissions, material selections, trade coordination, and procurement of long-lead items including windows, millwork, and specialty products.
Construction
Construction focuses on workmanship, sequencing, airtightness, water management, and thermal continuity — managed through scheduled milestones, progress updates, quality control, and transparent communication.
Quality-Control Testing
Where appropriate, performance can be supported through inspections, airtightness testing, commissioning, and quality-control reviews.
Handover
A detailed pre-occupancy walkthrough identifies and resolves outstanding items before final handover — and our relationship continues after move-in with warranty coverage and responsive support.
05 — Craftsmanship & Verification
Precision Is Part of Performance.
High-performance construction requires more than specifying premium materials. It requires careful execution:
- Air-barrier continuity
- Window-to-wall connections
- Proper insulation installation
- Waterproofing transitions
- Blower-door testing
- Site quality control
- Mechanical-system commissioning
At Berm, craftsmanship is not only about what looks beautiful. It is about building every layer with purpose.
Performance comes from details you may never see after the walls are closed.
Quality Control
