FAQ — Building a High-Performance Home in Ontario | Starlit Homes

Q: How long does it take to build a custom home in Ontario?

Plan for roughly 12 to 18 months from first design meeting to move-in. Design and permitting usually take a few months, and construction on a typical custom home runs 8 to 12 more, depending on size, site conditions, and how quickly municipal approvals come back. Locking in the lot, plan, and envelope spec early keeps the back half of that schedule predictable.

Q: What does Starlit's design-build process look like?

One team carries the project end to end: discovery and vision, schematic design, design development and permits, construction, then handover with a final blower-door test and full performance documentation. Because the designers and the builders sit in the same room, performance decisions get made on paper, where changes are cheap, instead of on site, where they aren't.

Q: Do I need to own a lot before contacting Starlit?

No. We build on your lot anywhere in the London region, and we also have lots available at the Ausable Bluffs Enclave in Ailsa Craig, on Sheldabren Street and Queen Street. If you're still lot-hunting, talk to us before you buy — orientation, soil, and servicing all affect what a high-performance home will cost on a given site.

Q: Can I customize an Ausable Bluffs floor plan?

Yes. The 12 plans are starting points: layouts, elevations, and finishes can all be tailored to how you live. The one thing that stays fixed is the performance spec — continuous insulation, triple-glazed windows, ERV ventilation, and a verified airtightness result on every home.

Q: How much does it cost to build a custom home in Ontario?

Industry estimates for custom builds in Southwestern Ontario typically run from $250 to $500+ per square foot, depending on the lot, design complexity, and finish level. Those are market ranges, not Starlit quotes — treat any per-square-foot number as an estimate to verify against real drawings and a real site.

Q: Is a high-performance home worth the higher upfront cost?

A better envelope — more insulation, better windows, careful air-sealing — does cost more on day one. What you get back is measurable: less energy to heat and cool, more even temperatures, quieter rooms, and a home that holds its value as energy codes tighten. Our 2026 guide walks through the trade-offs in detail.

Q: What's the difference between Ausable Bluffs and Zenith Bespoke?

Ausable Bluffs is our new-home community in Ailsa Craig, with 12 floor plans from 1,420 to 2,400 sq ft. Zenith Bespoke is our ultra-luxury programme: fully custom Net Zero estates starting at $1.5M. Both carry the same tested envelope standard; the difference is scale and scope.

Q: What is a NetZero home?

A NetZero home is designed and built so it can produce as much energy as it consumes over a year, usually with the addition of solar panels. The envelope does most of the work: airtight construction, continuous insulation, and efficient mechanicals shrink the energy load until renewables can cover it. Starlit is a CHBA NetZero Certified builder.

Q: What is building science, and why does it matter?

Building science is the study of how heat, air, and moisture move through a home. It matters because most construction failures — mould, drafts, condensation, high bills — are physics problems, not workmanship problems. A builder who designs for those forces up front delivers a home that stays durable and comfortable for decades.

Q: What is a good blower door score?

Lower is tighter. The Ontario Building Code allows roughly 3.5 ACH50 for new homes; a strong high-performance result is under 1.5. We guarantee 1.5 ACH50 or better on every home, and our portfolio average is 0.85 — every result verified by a blower-door test before handover.

Starlit Homes

Starlit Homes™

FAQ

FAQ: Building a high-performance home in Ontario

Costs, timelines, airtightness, warranty coverage, and our Ausable Bluffs community — the questions we answer most, in one place.

High-Performance Homes

London · Ailsa Craig, ON

These are the questions we hear most from people building a high-performance home in Ontario — what it costs, how long it takes, what a good blower-door score looks like, and how our Ausable Bluffs community in Ailsa Craig works. Short answers below, and every one links to a deeper page where we show our work.

Process & Timeline

How a Build Comes Together

Cost & Value

What It Costs, What It Returns

Performance & Building Science

The Numbers Behind the Homes

Ausable Bluffs & Communities

Where We Build

Warranty & Service

After the Keys

Still Curious

Ask us the hard questions

The best questions come from your specific lot, budget, and plans. Bring them to a consultation — we'll answer with numbers, not brochure language.

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