Blue Water Concepts

Blue Water Concepts We help our clients Design, Build and Renovate their way to better homes and living spaces.

We are focused on building to the highest standard through innovative designs and professional thinking. We remain dedicated to both our clients and our employees, allowing us to create effective collaborations resulting in successful projects. We take pride in a job well done and nothing says a job well done like a satisfied client. We develop lasting relationships with our clients built on trust

in a line of work where hard work and acute attention to detail in both construction and design make all the difference.

06/07/2026

Got questions? We’ve got answers.⁠
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Blue Water Concepts owner Mike Van Capelle is kicking off a new FAQ series that breaks down common building and renovation questions. ⁠
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No jargon, no pressure, just real talk.⁠
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We’ll be tackling a new topic in each video.⁠
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This week, we answer: "Why do construction projects go over budget?"

Follow along and tune in for the next one!⁠
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If you’ve got a question, drop it in the comments! 👇⁠
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If you have been eyeing a lot in Squamish or Whistler with a steep slope and incredible views, here is something worth k...
06/05/2026

If you have been eyeing a lot in Squamish or Whistler with a steep slope and incredible views, here is something worth knowing before you fall in love with it completely.

Building on a steep lot is a genuinely different undertaking than building on flat ground. Not impossible, not even necessarily a dealbreaker, but different in ways that matter a lot for your budget and timeline.

A few things that come into play that most people do not think about upfront:

#1 A geotechnical assessment is usually required before anything else. This is an engineering study of the soil and slope conditions on your specific site. It tells you what kind of foundation you need, whether retaining walls are required, and how water needs to be managed around the home. Skipping this step is one of the most common ways steep lot projects run into expensive surprises.

#2 Access and logistics cost more than people expect. Moving materials up or down a steep slope takes more labour, more time, and sometimes specialized equipment like cranes. Simple tasks that are straightforward on a flat site become more complex when gravity is working against you.

#3 Water management is critical. On a steep lot, rainwater moves fast and needs somewhere to go. A well-designed drainage system is not optional; it is one of the most important things you can build into the project from the start.

The good news is that steep lots also offer some of the most architecturally interesting opportunities in the corridor. Tiered homes that step down the hillside, perched homes with sweeping views, and outdoor spaces that would not be possible on a flat lot. When the design works with the terrain rather than against it, the results can be spectacular.

We have built on some challenging sites across the Sea to Sky and know what it takes to do it well. We have also written a full article on the topic covering costs, structural considerations, and design approaches.

Read more: https://bluewaterconcepts.ca/building-on-steep-lots/

People who walk through one of our Passive House builds for the first time almost always say the same thing: "It just fe...
06/03/2026

People who walk through one of our Passive House builds for the first time almost always say the same thing: "It just feels different in here."

No cold spots near the windows. No drafts when the wind picks up outside. The air feels clean and quiet in a way that's hard to put your finger on until you've experienced it.

The Clark Road home we built here in Squamish has a total annual heating and cooling bill of $145. Not a month. A year.

We share that number because we think more homeowners in the Sea-to-Sky deserve to know this is achievable right here, not just in Europe, not just in high-end architecture magazines. We've built it. We've tested it. We know how to do it again.

If you've ever been curious about what high-performance construction actually means for your day-to-day comfort, we're always happy to have that conversation.

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Project: Clark Road Passive House
Design: Blue Water Concepts
Builder: Blue Water Concepts
Photographer:

06/01/2026

Discover our 10-Step Client Process | Step 8: Class B estimate.

Once your drawings are ready for permit submission and you are happy with the design, we move to the Class B estimate. This stage provides a comprehensive line-item cost breakdown that captures every facet of the project.

Our estimating department dives deep into the details, considering all materials, labour, and subcontractor quotes to ensure it's as accurate as possible. In the industry this is considered a quantity survey take off of the project. We utilize an estimating software that has data from all our past projects to help produce these detailed estimates. This exercise aims to be within ±10% of the actual cost at completion, setting the expectation for a transparent financial pathway as we move closer to breaking ground.

Curious about how we guide you through every step of the process? Learn more about our client process on our website!

How long should a well built home last?A wood frame home with a concrete foundation, properly built and maintained, can ...
05/29/2026

How long should a well built home last?

A wood frame home with a concrete foundation, properly built and maintained, can last 100 years or more. That is not marketing language, it is a widely documented benchmark in construction.

The caveat is the words "properly built." Longevity comes down to the quality of the materials, the care taken during construction, and how well the home is looked after over time. A home built quickly with cost as the primary driver will not perform the same way as one where every detail has been thought through and considered.

In the Sea to Sky, climate adds another layer to this. Moisture, temperature swings, and snowload all put pressure on a building envelope over time. Getting the details right during construction, how water is managed, how the structure breathes, how materials are selected for the local conditions, directly affects how long a home holds up.

This is something we think about on every project. Building a home that is still performing well in 50 or 75 years is not accidental. It is the result of decisions made early, before a single wall goes up.

Most people hiring a builder for the first time have never heard terms like Class D estimate, change order, airtightness...
05/27/2026

Most people hiring a builder for the first time have never heard terms like Class D estimate, change order, airtightness testing, energy modelling, or permit strategy. And honestly, why would they?

Building or renovating a home is one of the biggest financial decisions most people will ever make. Staying genuinely informed throughout that process, knowing where your budget stands, where the schedule is at, and what decisions are coming up, is what separates a project that feels in control from one that doesn't.

A few things we think every client should expect from their builder:
- A preliminary estimate early in the design phase, before the design and your budget no longer align
- Weekly project meetings that cover budget to date, remaining budget, schedule and upcoming critical decisions
- A clear change order every single time something shifts, with a plain language explanation of what it is, and what it costs and schedule impacts

There are a lot of talented builders in Squamish. What Blue Water Concepts has spent years building alongside the craft itself is a set of processes that help clients stay informed and in control from the first conversation to the day they move in.

About 90% of our work comes from referrals and repeat clients. We think that's the best indication that the way we work is actually working.

Before we started the Kintyre renovation, this house was leaking air at a rate of 7.89 ACH. Air changes per hour. It's a...
05/17/2026

Before we started the Kintyre renovation, this house was leaking air at a rate of 7.89 ACH. Air changes per hour. It's a measure of how much conditioned air a building is losing and how hard your heating system has to work to keep up.

After the renovation, it tested below 1 ACH.

To put that in plain terms, this is now a house that holds its temperature, breathes filtered fresh air, and costs a fraction of what it used to, to run. Back to the studs, new insulation, exterior insulation wrap, new windows, and a heat pump. Everything done in the right sequence, with the right detailing.

How did we get there? It starts long before the blower door test. The airtightness of a home is the result of hundreds of small decisions made during design and construction. How the air barrier is detailed around every window and door opening. How penetrations for plumbing and electrical are sealed. How insulation is installed without gaps or compressions. None of it is visible once the walls are closed. All of it matters.

The blower door test at the end of a project like this is always a bit of a moment for our team. It's the number that confirms everything done inside those walls, the parts nobody will ever see, were done properly.

You don't see airtightness. You just feel it, every single day you live in the house.

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Project: Kintyre Major Renovation
Design: Blue Water Concepts
Build: Blue Water Concepts
Photos: Den

3 takeaways from a recent project review worth sharing. On a recent custom home build, three main takeaways that led to ...
05/13/2026

3 takeaways from a recent project review worth sharing.

On a recent custom home build, three main takeaways that led to a very successful project stood out:

1. Small design changes early on can dramatically improve long-term performance and livability. Don't overlook these.
2. Bringing trades into the conversation as early as possible always leads to a smoother, more successful build for everyone involved.
3. Clear and concise communication matters more than pretending construction is “smooth” all the time.

We don’t aim to pretend every build is without its challenges; we aim to learn from every lesson and apply it to the next project.

We are always learning and always refining.

If you’re considering building, what questions are on your mind right now?

05/11/2026

Discover our 10-Step Client Process | Step 7: Detailed Design Phase

This is where the magic happens, and things get fun.

You’ll collaborate one-on-one with our in-house design team to turn your ideas into a thoughtfully crafted design that reflects your vision and goals. Every detail is refined, from big concepts to the smallest finishes.

You can expect:
→ Detailed design drawings
→ An accurate and detailed Class B cost estimate
→ Greater confidence moving forward

This phase brings clarity, creativity, and accurate budgeting together. We're setting the foundation for a successful project!

We have been chatting with a lot of homeowners lately who are weighing their options. With the real estate market doing ...
05/08/2026

We have been chatting with a lot of homeowners lately who are weighing their options. With the real estate market doing what it is doing, many people are debating whether they should sell and buy to get the space they need or if renovating makes sense.

It got us thinking as a team about how we can best support people through these big decisions.

The thing is, selling in Squamish comes with a real cost that is easy to underestimate. Realtor fees, legal costs, property transfer tax on your next purchase, and then paying for someone else's renovated home. That's before you factor in leaving a neighbourhood you actually love.

Sometimes, selling is absolutely the right call. But if you love your location and your home is just no longer working for you, a major renovation lets you completely customize your environment around how you actually live.

A kitchen that works for your family.
A layout that finally makes sense.
Energy upgrades that bring your monthly costs down for years to come.

If you are considering a renovation or just have questions about what it takes, what it costs, or anything else related to your property, get in touch. That conversation is always free.

Address

1091 Commercial Place, Unit 111
Squamish, BC
V8B1B5

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+16043898554

Website

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