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It Takes a Family
to Raise a House
Warkentin Custom Homes focuses on quality, family,
and giving back.
by Jim Chliboyko
Build & Renovate
Spring 2009
Walter Warkentin started Warkentin Custom Homes in 1985, but has been
building houses “his whole life,” says his daughter Melanie
Snow. Along the way, the former framer brought members of his family
into the firm, one by one, including Snow. To paraphrase the
old Hair Club for Men ad, she’s not just a client
(she lives in a Warkentin
home herself), she became the firm’s vice-president. Other family
members – like sister
Amy, and matriarch Carol – are involved, too.
Currently, their main geographic focus tends to be north of the city,
in the bedroom
communities of East St. Paul, Birds Hill, Stony Mountain and Stonewall.
Setting seems to be an important consideration for Warkentin
and company. They’ve
got a display home at
McBeth Landing, a newer development on the western bank of the Red
River in the north of Winnipeg, in between the Chief Peguis Trail and
the Perimeter Highway.
There’s another built home nearby on Foxrun Place, one that’s
conspicuous with the
sweeping patterns of etched glass on its front doors and the dramatic
outdoor lighting.
The area itself is on a gentle slope that goes down to the mature
trees of the riverbank, with the lights of Henderson Highway apartment blocks winking over the
treeline.
 "We’re also working on a new development in Stonewall that
Genstar is developing,” says Snow. “It has water features, mature trees and larger
lots.”
"We’re pretty selective of where we like to build,” says
Warkentin seller Mark Penner.
Warkentin is selective in other ways, too. They aren’t a huge
firm. Rather, Snow says
they like to concentrate on building 15 to 20 homes over
the course of a year. The company is a Certified Master Builder,
is a member of the New Home Warranty Program, and was
acknowledged as having the gold medal-winning show home at last fall’s
Parade of Homes. Having that sort of controlled growth is a benefit,
says Penner.
"During the Parade of Homes, as soon as people walk in the doors
of our places, they can tell the quality right off
the bat,” he says. “Our
reputation is built on quality.”
Getting a custom home built, in the Warkentin manner, is
a comprehensive six-step
process. First, there are the nine (suggested) plans
to browse, whether they are for bungalows, cabovers or
two-storey homes. But home owners aren’t just
limited to what’s on the website. "There’s quite a scale of homes we can do,” says Penner. “We
don’t just force buyers
into A, B or C.”
Then, after the initial offer to purchase, there is
the de
sign stage, the beginning of construction, the framing
and rough-ins, drywall installation
and painting, then, finally,
possession. The first four steps involve meetings between
the
homeowners and the various tradespeople to work out
the
details of the options chosen.
"We try to make the process as simple as possible.
Every client gets time with an interior designer, and
they can choose anything from
colours to entertainment options. It
takes the stress away, and makes it a fun experience,” says
Snow.
"We hire the trades ourselves. We’ve been
working with some of our tradespeople
for over 20 years. The quality that they
supply is the quality we want. We know the home is
going to be built well, and that quality is what we’re
after.”
 The firm is also committed to good environmental design.
In addition to the homes’ Power Smart
features, Warkentin installs
things like Energy Star appliances, high-efficiency
furnaces and low-flush toilets.
"We build a lot of Power Smart Gold homes,” says
Snow.
"
The home in Stonewall is a Power Smart Gold home. Energy
efficiency is becoming more important to our customers. People
are starting to become really environmentally conscious,
they’re taking small steps, like eco-friendly
bamboo flooring, low-VOC paints,
efficient lighting. There are more options,
in terms of what you can do, these days.” The family’s interest isn’t
confined to just building homes,
however.
The Warkentins were vacationing in the Dominican Republic
several years ago, on their annual winter retreat, and,
as some do, they brought along a suitcase of clothes and
supplies to donate to the local community. They were encouraged
to deliver the donation in person, to a poorer neighbourhood
in a north coast city called Sosua. That experience
must have made an impression, as that initial effort
has grown into an impressively large initiative.
"Walter and Carol have started a charity called Dominican
Connection International,” says Snow. "Together
with their group, they’ve
started a school. They’re
adding a grade every year.
They sponsor the children, they provide a meal a day
and vitamins, and access to medical services.”
Relationships back at home are important to the company,
too. Building a custom-built home can be a thorough process,
but in the time it takes to put a home together, some
strong relationships have been known to develop.
 "We
work with people for six months-plus, so we get to
know them well,” says Snow.
Handing someone the
keys to their
new home, can evidently be an emotional experience.
Says Snow, “Especially, when you give someone
the keys to their home for
the first time, and they are
crying.”
Penner, the agent, agrees. “It’s a good
feeling, especially when you’re a custom
builder, people are involved in the
process every step of the way. It’s fantastic
to see happy people walk into their dream home.”
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Personlized Design
Style Manitoba
Spring 2008
Hot on the heels
of its Gold-Medal winning showhome from last fall’s
Parade of Homes, Warkentin Homes has another treat ready for the Spring
Parade. The 1,742-square-foot bungalow at 107 McBeth Grove will include
such features as countertops in quartz and maple cabinets in a Portobello
stain, Kitchen Craft’s newest colour.
The display home is located in McBeth Landing, an attractive development
nestled between historic McBeth Park and Red River Boulevard. River views,
mature trees and ample green space make this area a true paradise. Families
and empty nesters alike will enjoy being within walking distance of a
natural forest on one hand and all the amenities on the other.
Warkentin Homes and McBeth Landing are a perfect fit. A smaller scale
development with a variety of lot choices - riverfront included - McBeth
offers the kind of possibilities the builder enjoys. Warkentin prides
itself in selecting lots and developments that will complement their
custom designs. They are well known for their achievements in Pritchard
Farm Properties and Pritchard Farm Southlands, as well as in Stony Mountain
and Stonewall, where they first built up their business of 25 years.
“StoneRidge Meadows will cater to those professionals in Winnipeg
who want to be close to the city but live a country lifestyle,” says
Melanie Snow, Vice-President at Warkentin, adding that the treed setting
and large lots offer exciting possibilities. “You can do a house
that’s a lot wider with potential for a side garage so your house
is the main attraction.”
 Warkentin’s focus is on originality, functionality and detail
inside and out. Every customer is accorded design time with the company’s
award-winning interior designer. “We want to give customers as
effortless and enjoyable an experience as possible,” says Snow. “We
really try to be customer-focused so that each design is personalized.”
This includes offering ‘age in place’ options, such as easy-entry/exit
bathtubs and preparing a home for wheelchair accessibility. “Age
in place enables seniors to stay in their home as long as possible,” Snow
points out. Whatever the design, combining quality construction with
competitive pricing is a Warkentin guarantee.
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Goodbye to Blah
Warkentin Home stands out in sea of madness
Todd Lewys
Winnipeg Free Press
March 22, 2008
Sometimes, custom home builders can fall victim to an insidious malady
known as 'The Blahs'.
When that affliction takes hold -- as it has been known to from time
to time, despite best efforts to remain immune -- the interior of a home
may well look very ordinary, like virtually every other home dotting
the street, with no tangible difference in colours, styling or materials.
It's a malaise the designers at Warkentin Custom Homes refuse to give
into.
"We want our homes to stand out, so our designers work hard at
doing the little things that will show off our homes," says Royal
LePage's Mark Penner, sales representative for Warkentin. "Our goal
is always to be innovative, to do things differently than people have
seen before. That's how you show what a real custom home builder can
do."
The first way the designers attempted to differentiate 107 McBeth Grove
from other contemporary open-concept design was by incorporating subtle
changes in direction.
"This home has a lot of different lines and angles," says
Penner. "That adds interest and an element of mystery -- even though
it's an open-concept design, there's also enough division so you don't
feel like you're living in one big, wide-open space. There are also details
like a textured glass cutout in the wall separating the dining room from
the foyer. It not only adds style, but light and a feeling of added space."
Unlike many of today's new home designs, 107 McBeth is different in
several other ways: there's a separate, front-oriented dining room that
is big enough to provide room to move, but small enough to be intimate;
there's a nice colour contrast in the form of dark oak hardwoods (which
run through the 1,742-square-foot bungalow's entire main level); light
chocolate brown walls with white baseboards; and dark oak capping on
wall niches thoughtfully placed at the entrance to the kitchen/great
room and bedroom wings, as well as on the one-third walls that define
the lower-level stairwell.
"We're really pleased how the floor plan turned out -- the dining
room is bigger than it looks, and with four piano windows (in addition
to a large picture window), it's a bright, warm space that flows well," he
says. "From there, the walls angle off into the kitchen/great room
area. You can see a bit of both rooms, but not everything. That was done
purposely so that you want to see what's in there."
Again, Warkentin's designers went out of their way to create a space
that -- through the use of different finishes, materials and angles --
had plenty of character, style and utility.
"One of the first things people notice is that the cabinetry has
a different finish on it. It's called Portebello on maple, and features
a creamy beige matte finish that goes extremely well with the brushed
nickel handles, grey quartz countertops and dark oak hardwoods. Although
it's a galley kitchen with island, the aisles are wide enough so you
can open the drawers and have another person get by," Penner adds. "We
put a dark stain (charcoal) on the island to make it stand out. There's
an eating nook for three to four, plus a large area for a dinette for
four at the rear of the kitchen."
Mere steps away is the great room, which is angled off nicely
with a big window on its rear wall to let in loads of natural light.
Once again, the angled walls add definition, interest and intimacy.
However, it's the corner fireplace that proves to be the real eye-catcher.
"It's meant to be another departure from the norm," he
says. "The gas fireplace is set in beige cultured stone (with
grey and copper highlights) -- the colours really pop out at you
while still retaining a warm feel. There's also a custom entertainment
centre with mocha stain on oak, with plenty of drawers and shelves.
Young families and young couples really like the design elements
in this area."
Last but not least is a separate bedroom wing that houses all
three bedrooms. Mercifully (that is, for parents of young children),
the enormous master bedroom is set well away from two good-sized
kids bedrooms; with ample room for a king-sized bed, two end tables,
a dresser or two -- plus a mid-sized walk-in closet -- the bedroom
is plenty big. As nice as it is, it's the ensuite that's the star
here. |
Size: 1,742 sq. ft.
Minimum Lot: 50' x 120'
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Price: $409,900 (including land net GST)
Key Features: Innovative design featuring subtle angles to
provide definition between spaces; formal, front-oriented dining
room; open-concept kitchen/great room area with unique Portebello
maple cabinets, dark oak hardwoods, lots of windows and corner
gas fireplace set in tri-coloured cultured stone; large master
bedroom with luxurious ensuite; massive lower level with minimal
teleposts, large windows. |
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"Simply put, it's a great spot to get away from it all. It has
a huge jetted tub (set beneath a big privacy windows), oversized shower
enclosure, grey quartz counter top and dark, long maple vanity and a
beige ceramic tile floor. It has a very private, luxurious feel, and
is a place where you can really go to re-energize," Penner says. "It
really adds to the home's wow factor."
With another 1,700 square feet of living space on the lower level --
and a PowerSmart designation -- 107 McBeth Grove is a viable option for
young families looking for a practical, stylish and innovative home.
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Pursuing Paradise
Bedroom communities offering homeowners serenity and savings
are minutes from Winnipeg’s downtown
By David Square
Spring Parade of Homes
Winnipeggers in ever-growing numbers are swapping the benefits of an
urban lifestyle for the serenity, safety and savings of country living.
Bedroom communities on the city’s outskirts and in nearby municipalities
are showing tremendous growth and there’s no reason to believe
the urban exodus will cease any time soon.
“My wife and I just moved into a home on property we purchased
at Rockwall Estates on the edge of Stonewall built by Warkentin Homes,” says
Bobby Baker, 34, an RCMP constable who spends about 25 minutes commuting
to his job in downtown Winnipeg.
“It takes many people who live in south Winnipeg longer to get
to work than me,” Mr. Baker says.
He says Stonewall is a wonderful place to raise youngsters as it is
practically crime free and there are lots of young professional people
and families in the area.
“There are good schools, excellent parks and many places to shop
or dine,” adds Mr. Baker who, with his wife Jana, a nurse, plans
to set down roots in Rockwall Estates.
Mr. Baker says he and his wife checked out 25 references from Warkentin
clients before they decided to build a house in Rockwall Estates.
“There wasn’t a single negative comment,” he says,
adding that he and his wife were bowled over by the honesty of the builders
and quality of the homes.
“There was always a foreman on the job site to make sure everything
was done right,” says Mr. Baker, who estimates it cost about $20,000
less to build in Stonewall as compared to the city and 50 per cent less
in taxes.
Melanie Snow of Warkentin Homes says the final stage will begin this
spring when 23 lots priced at about $45,000 to $50,000 will be developed
with sewer, water, gas and hydro included. Lots are about 65 feet by
120 feet, she says.
The company still has a few available in the current stage priced from
$41,000 to $55,000.
Ms. Snow says houses in Rockwall Estates are priced from $200,000 to
$350,000-plus, including a lot.
Minimum living areas in Rockwall Estates are 1,200 square feet for a
bungalow, 1,700 square feet for a two-storey house and 1,000 square feet
for a bi-level home.
A show home in the current development is a 2,030 square foot, two-storey
contemporary building with a kitchen featuring granite and glass accents.
Floors include tile and hardwood and cork in the bathrooms. A main element
is a fireplace with floor to ceiling tiles.
“We’re willing to build a person’s dream home,” says
Ms. Snow, adding that Warkentin Homes is the contractor for Rockwall
Estates.
The proceeds from the sale of the show home will be donated by developer
Walter Warkentin to indigent people living in the Dominican Republic,
she says, adding that tradespeople helped by donating time or materials
to the project.
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Power Smart Home Plus
Winnipeg Free Press Sunday Homes
April 3, 2005
“Trying to be as green as we could be.”
When Ed and Melanie Snow were planning their dream house, they wanted
a Manitoba Hydro Power Smart home for the additional comfort and energy
savings. But by the time they moved in, their house was even more Power
Smart than they originally set out to be.
They asked their builder, Warkentin Custom Homes, to make the necessary
modifications to the house they wanted, so it would meet the technical
requirements to qualify as a Power Smart home.
“We now have R-50 in the attic, R-20 in the walls, and R-24 in
the basement,” says Melanie.
“The house is wrapped in Tyvek, so drafts don’t blow away our heating
budget. We have compact fluorescents, thicker insulation around our hot water
tank, and the car plug is on a timer. Our heat recovery ventilator creates a
fresh-air feeling in the house. It also keeps humidity at a comfortable level
that is good for us and good for our wood floors.”
On top of these features, which are standard for a Power Smart home, they requested
more energy efficiency measures.
 “We
were trying to be as green as we could be, for optimum comfort and energy
savings.” The house is illuminated by roughly double the number
of compact fluorescents specified for a Power Smart home. Toilets are
low-flush, for water savings. All appliances are Energy Star rated, and
the house is heated by a high-efficiency natural gas furnace.
All windows are triple-pane. The ones on the south side of the house
are argon-filled and low-e to take advantage of the sun’s warmth
in winter and limit heat gain in summer. Outdoor lighting is on a “smart” timer
that accounts for latitude and time of year to turn on lights at dusk
when they are needed.
After they moved into their 1800-square-foot bungalow last October,
the house underwent a blower door test to confirm its energy efficiency,
which is part of the evaluation procedure to qualify the home as a Power
Smart Home.
 Ed
Snow says the house earned an EnerGuide rating of 82. “The Hydro
evaluator who ran the test told us he’d never seen a rating this
high yet!” In order to qualify as Power Smart, the home must meet
an Energuide rating of 77.
With the successful completion of the blower door test, they were eligible
to receive either a $1000 voucher toward a front-loading clothes washer
or a $600 rebate on their electricity bill. They chose the rebate because
they already had a front-loading clothes washer.
'Our bills for October, November, and December averaged just over $100
for each of those months, which is phenomenal for a house this size,” says
Ed.
“Power Smart homes are expected to save up to $350 a year in energy
costs for an average size home. That figure may be quite conservative
in our case.”
Walter Warkentin, of Warkentin Custom Homes, says more and more of
his customers are asking for the Power Smart upgrade.
“They’ve heard about Power Smart and they want the increased
comfort and savings, and now it even makes more sense with Manitoba Hydro’s
Power Smart New Home Program.
“They are also quite knowledgeable,” he says. “They
expect the builder to take the additional care, such as the intricate
and involved process of properly sealing the house that is needed to
build a Power Smart home.”
He says part of the attraction is the ease of the Power Smart upgrade
and the convenience in working with the builder to meet the Power Smart
standards.
“We take care of the paperwork, make sure the house meets the
required technical Power Smart standards, and arrange for the blower
door test. All the customer has to do is agree to the Power Smart upgrade,
which represent a very small percentage of the overall cost of the house.
“Then they can take their pick of a $600 rebate on their energy
bills or $1000 toward a front-loading washer.
“That may be the toughest decision they have to make!”
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Building for the future
Home Builder helping less fortunate
By Chad Scarsbrook
Friday, September 23, 2005
The Stonewall Argus
If you’re in need of a new home and would like to help a good
cause in the process, Walter Warkentin has a deal for you.
Warkentin Homes, a family business that has been building houses in
Stonewall since 1985, is in the process of putting up a new 2.030 square
foot residence in the new development on Ernie Webb Bay. When the house
is sold next year, all proceeds will go to support the poor people living
in slums in the Dominican Republic.
About four and a half years ago, Warkentin and his wife Carol made their
annual trip to Sosua, a city near Puerto Plata on the north coast of
the Dominican Republic. While many vacationers fall in love with Sosua
and its beach, the Warkentins were drawn to the other side of the beach.
“Tourist never see this part of Sosua,” Walter Warkentin
was saying earlier this week. “They see the hotels and the nice
houses and shops but on the other side of the beach, there’s the
slum area. (Tourists) always get dropped off on the nice side of the
beach.”
Hauling a suitcase of used clothes and school supplies, the 55-year-old
saw something on the other side of the beach he will never forget.
‘Friendly people’
“There were so many friendly people and a real neat church,” he
said. “They were all very excited. I think what touched us about
these people is that they are a lot more satisfied with life. I mean,
they have trouble feeding their kids and all that kind of stuff. But
they’re a lot more satisfied with life. The faith in God they have
is amazing. They don’t have faith in their own resources because
they don’t have any resources. That’s what made it special
for us.”
Now Warkentin, who estimates putting up about 150 houses over the years
in Stonewall with the help of his wife and daughters Melanie and Amy,
wants to pay back that friendship by putting up another house – and
paying only for their costs.
“My daughter Melanie, who’s also my business partner – her
husband (Ed) came up with the idea of building a show home. He asked
the trades and suppliers to help out as much as they can.”
So with the help from electricians, plumbers, lumber suppliers and others,
the new house is scheduled to be completed by Dec. 1. The home will be
much different from the three-room huts many in Sosua live in. There,
families of six huddle in two bedrooms.
“ The huts are six feet apart,” he said. “They can’t
plant anything because they have no land and their neighbour is six feet away.”
Employment options in the area are also limited.
“There seems to be no middle class there, you’re either
very poor or very rich,” said Warkentin. “There are some
tourism (jobs) but beyond that, 60 per cent of Dominicans aren’t
employed. They either stay at home, get into the drug scene or get into
the sex trade.”
That’s why sending school supplies each year is such a priority
for Warkentin. He said attending public school is free as long as students
have uniforms, shoes and school supplies. If the families can’t
afford it, the children can’t go to school.
Significant amount
Warkentin expects a significant amount to be raised by the house’s
sale although the final price is yet to be determined. Real estate agent
Heather Becker said she’s excited about its sale.
“It’s a great home,” said Becker. “It’s
got a lot of extras and is a very streamlined, contemporary design.”
The four bedroom, 2 ½ bathroom house will have a custom-designed
kitchen, hardwood floors, a fire place and will be fully alarmed. It
will be put up for sale next year.
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