To give you an idea of what a self-build home journey looks like, we recently met with Caroline Jacques, a businesswoman actively involved in her community. Despite a busy schedule, she and her partner Yan—also very busy working in the construction industry—took on the challenge of building their own home.

Let’s discover their home and their journey.

Thank you, Caroline, for taking part. Your home is beautiful. Tell us about your project.

A self-build involves many steps and a lot of planning. Our story began with the purchase of a piece of land in January 2022, which required the demolition of an old existing building.

Client devant leur terrain — *Big day for buying the land!*

What other steps were involved, to give readers an idea?

In June, Excavation Germain Daigle carried out the excavation work, and in July we officially began framing the house.

We received our Isothermic delivery in August and proceeded with the installation of the elastomeric membrane with Toiture Lajoie. Other key steps followed, including drilling the artesian well with F. Lapointe Québec in September, electrical work by N. Faucher Électricien, followed by Plomberie Jeancar and Mission Ventilation.

It’s a lot of details and coordination, but it gives a good picture of the key stages anyone embarking on a self-build can expect. You end up developing close relationships with your suppliers—which is why choosing trustworthy partners is essential. In that regard, we were truly fortunate!

How many doors and windows are in your home?

We have 13 windows, 2 patio doors, 2 garage doors, and 4 entry doors. Lots of openings for lots of natural light!

Lots de fenêtre livrer dans la résidence en construction — *Delivery day for our doors and windows*

Personne installant une fenêtre Isothermic — *Isothermic window installation by Yan.*
Credit: **Caroline Jacques**

How would you describe the architectural style of your home?

We worked with Conception Archipel, who designed our contemporarystyle home. We had fallen in love with the Bonneville 2020 Maison Enfant Soleil, and Stéphanie Giroux was able to draw inspiration from it and adapt it to our needs.

Cuisine intérieur — Credit: **Caroline Jacques**

Salon de la maison vu sur l'extérieur — *The plants are not at risk of lacking sun!*
Credit: **Caroline Jacques**

Your home is stunning. What inspired your interior design choices?

As a real estate photographer, I visit more than 500 homes per year. My husband also works for PFJ Construction, building and renovating many homes.

We therefore had a strong sense of what we liked—and didn’t like. Léa Fillion Designer (cabinetry and vestibule plans) and Infini Design JRL (color coordination and Art Béton feature wall) contributed greatly.

We wanted a zen and welcoming space for family and friends. We played with colors, textures, and materials to create warmth. That said, it’s our stunning windows overlooking the forest that truly steal the show!

Vu sur la fenêtre dans la cuisine donnant sur la forêt — *Who wouldn't dream of a window with a view of the forest?*
Credit: **Caroline Jacques**

How did you come to choose Isothermic products?

Very simply! Yan is used to working with Isothermic products through his employer’s construction business. There was no hesitation—it had to be Isothermic. For the excellent product quality, ease of installation, fast production times, and outstanding delivery service.

Vu sur la fenêtre dans une salle de bain — Credit: **Caroline Jacques**

Which window, door, and patio door models did you choose?

The windows are white PVC inside and out, with sliding models in the basement and casement windows on the main floor. One window is a nonstandard model measuring 102 inches wide by 108 inches high and weighing 152 kg!

The living room patio door includes a transom above it to increase glazing even further. The primary bedroom patio door provides direct access to the back terrace. The front door is a very simple model with a large glass panel and two sidelights. The contemporary-style garage doors are the Standard+ model.

Vu sur l'entrée de la maison, de la porte et les deux fenêtres. — Credit: **Caroline Jacques**

Vu sur la salle à manger et les fenêtres entourant la pièce. — Credit: **Caroline Jacques**

Did you use Isothermic’s certified installer service?

No, since my husband is accustomed to installing them himself!

Vu exterieur de la maison — Credit: **Caroline Jacques**

How long did the full construction take?

Nine months, from excavation to exterior cladding.

Building a dream home takes a lot of energy. What are you most proud of?

We’re extremely proud of having completed this project as a couple. Yes—I had my tool belt on and participated in every step except the exterior cladding. We worked every weekend and only 5–6 weekday evenings. The support of our family was invaluable, and we’re very grateful.

The most difficult part was sticking to the original plan and budget, and resisting the “while we’re at it…” temptations. It was also challenging to put family and social activities on hold during construction. A sacrifice that truly paid off!

Our advice for couples considering a self-build: communication! We wouldn’t do anything differently. We planned the project carefully and chose quality materials and qualified contractors for the tasks we couldn’t do ourselves.

– Caroline Jacques

Thank you to Caroline Jacques of Groupe Vision 360 for her collaboration on this blog article and for trusting our company.

A Self-Build Project That Inspires!