How We Build Custom Homes
Straight Up Construction is an Integrated Design Process (IDP) builder. That means design, engineering, budgeting, and construction all happen under one roof, with one team, from the first conversation through to handing you the keys.
The difference between our approach and the traditional model is when you learn the real cost of your project. In a traditional process, you hire an architect, pay for drawings, then take those drawings to a builder for pricing. If the number comes back over budget, you redesign, re-engineer, and start over.
In our integrated process, the people designing your home are the same people who will build it. Cost and engineering feasibility are evaluated from the first sketch. You make informed decisions throughout, not reactive ones at the end.
What you get with every custom home project:
- Design and construction managed by one company, one point of contact
- Real cost feedback during design, not after you have paid for drawings
- Engineering feasibility confirmed before pen hits paper
- Structural engineering for local snow load and frost depth requirements
- BC Energy Step Code compliance designed in from day one
- Real-time project tracking through JobTread
- Complete handover package: permits, warranties, drawings, specifications, manuals
- 2-5-10 year home warranty on every new home (BC Housing licensed)
What Does a Custom Home Cost in Revelstoke?
Custom home construction in Revelstoke typically runs $500 to $750 per square foot, with luxury builds reaching $1,000+ per square foot. On a 2,500 square foot home, that is $1.25M to $1.875M for construction, not including land.
That range is wide for real reasons:
- Site conditions: Steep slopes require more complex foundations. Rocky terrain means blasting. Difficult access roads add cost to every delivery and trade visit.
- Size and complexity: A simple rectangular home costs less per square foot than one with bump-outs, dormers, and multiple roof pitches. The most cost-efficient homes have the simplest geometry.
- Finishes: The gap between builder-grade and luxury finishes on a 2,500 sq ft home can easily be $150,000 to $250,000.
- Logistics: Specialty materials travel the Trans-Canada through Rogers Pass, Glacier National Park, and 3 Valley Gap, all of which can close for avalanche control in winter. Unplanned delays are part of building in a mountain community, and getting product into Revelstoke on schedule takes more planning than a Lower Mainland or Okanagan build.
Revelstoke is still competitive compared to other BC resort towns. Whistler runs $600 to $1,000+ per square foot for similar builds.
The Build Process
Our integrated design process follows six steps. The budget conversation happens at the same time as the design conversation, so there are no surprises.
Step 1: Qualification Call (15 minutes)
A short conversation about your lot, budget range, timeline, and project scope. We figure out if we are the right fit. Not every project is, and we will tell you honestly.
Step 2: Discovery Call (2 hours)
An in-depth conversation to walk through your lot details, scope, timing, priorities, lifestyle requirements, and early budget signals. By the end of the discovery call, both sides have enough information to decide whether to move into a pre-construction agreement.
Step 3: Pre-Construction Agreement
You put down a deposit. Our team begins design and planning:
- Site assessment: soil conditions, slope, access, utilities, setbacks
- Design development: floor plans, elevations, material selections
- Cost feasibility at every stage, so the design stays within your budget
- Structural engineering and energy modelling for Step Code compliance
- Variance, rezoning, and development permits through City of Revelstoke when required
- Detailed budget so you know what you are spending before construction starts
Step 4: Budget Approval
We present the full budget. You review it. We adjust if needed. When the numbers work, we sign the construction agreement and lock in the scope.
Step 5: Construction
- Building permits applied for at this stage, once the budget is approved
- Exterior work is phased into the April-to-October window (foundations, framing, roofing, envelope). Winter work is possible but not optimal and can add cost
- Goal: reach lock-up before winter. Interior work continues year-round
- Typical timeline: 9 to 12 months of construction from groundbreak to move-in, on top of 6 to 9 months of design and 6 to 8 weeks for building permit review
- One point of contact managing trades, inspections, materials, timelines
- Real-time tracking through JobTread
Step 6: Handover
- Complete project book: all permits, warranty documentation, drawings, specs, manuals
- 2-5-10 year home warranty activated through an approved provider under the BC Housing's Licensing and Consumer Services
- You walk away with a complete record of your home, not just the keys
Who We Build For
Local families building their permanent home. You know Revelstoke and the climate. You want someone who understands both and will manage the process without surprises.
Relocating from Vancouver, Calgary, or Toronto. Selling in an expensive market, building for the lifestyle. Our process works even when you cannot visit the site every week. One team, regular updates, no gaps to manage.
Second-home and vacation property buyers. The resort market is growing. RMR is expanding, the Cabot Pacific golf project is in development, and Revelstoke is exempt from BC's Speculation and Vacancy Tax. For out-of-town builds, our integrated process and project management tools make remote oversight practical.
About Straight Up Construction
Straight Up Construction was founded in 2005. Nathan Weston, a 4th generation Revelstoke resident, joined the company in 2016 and is today its owner and operator. Nathan is a Red Seal Journeyman Carpenter with an Applied Project Management Certificate from SAIT. The company has delivered 200+ projects across Revelstoke and the surrounding region since 2005.
Nathan currently serves as Vice President of the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce Board and sits on the Chamber's Advocacy Committee. He is also Vice Chair of the Community Futures Board. His past community service includes the Advisory Planning Commission, the Economic Development Commission, and the City of Revelstoke Financial Focus Group for Municipal Budget Review.
Credentials:
- BC Housing Licensed Residential Builder
- 5.0 average Google Reviews rating
- CHBA Member
- Red Seal carpenters on every project
- JobTread project management with real-time client access
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to build a custom home in Revelstoke?
Typical construction runs 9 to 12 months from groundbreak to move-in, on top of 6 to 9 months of design and 6 to 8 weeks for building permit review. Exterior work is planned into the April-to-October window, so timing your start matters. Winter work is possible but not the preferred window and can add cost.
Can you build my home if I live out of town?
Yes. Many of our clients build from Calgary, Vancouver, or the US. Our integrated process gives you one point of contact for everything. You get regular photo and video updates, scheduled calls, and real-time project tracking through JobTread.
What warranty do I get on a new home?
Every Straight Up home carries the 2-5-10 year home warranty: 2 years on materials and labour, 5 years on the building envelope, 10 years on structural defects. The warranty is issued through an approved provider (Pacific, National, Travelers, or another licensed provider) under BC Housing's Licensing and Consumer Services program.
Do I need a separate architect?
Not with our integrated design process. We handle design and construction under one roof. If you already have plans from an architect, we also work as a general contractor on projects with existing drawings.
What is the advantage of your integrated design process over hiring an architect and builder separately?
You learn the real cost of your project during design, not after. When the designer and builder are the same team, cost feasibility and engineering feasibility are part of every design decision. This eliminates the common problem of finishing architectural drawings only to discover the project is significantly over budget.
What is the minimum project size you take on?
Our custom home projects typically range from $1.25M to $2.5M+. For renovations and additions, our minimum is $500K (full structural work only).
Client Testimonials
"Nathan made the whole process SO easy for us. Every person we met with through him and companies we were matched with were so helpful and detailed. Honestly, the hardest part of building a home with these guys was moving!"
— Custom Home Client, First-time Build
"The Straight Up team made us feel comfortable every step of the way, providing detailed follow up, professional advice, and an overall sense of calm in what could otherwise be very hectic."
— Custom Home Client, Building from the US
"It was the most painless way of building a house. We just had to show up, describe what we wanted, make choices, and let Nathan and his associates handle the rest."
— Custom Home Client, Design-Build Project
