HawthorneVillager.com

So we went for our first Appt. a couple of weeks ago and I was wondering if some of the upgrades we got are even needed. Did anyone do any of the following upgrades and why or should we not bother getting these upgrades done.

-Insulate 8 Ft Garage Door
- Fireplace Fan Kit
-Thermostat Control Fireplace
- Safe and Sound Interior Door for Laundry Room which is located in second floor
- Ventilation System with Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV)

Lee

We got all of those and I think they're worth it personally.

The first one isn't just insulating the garage door, it's replacing the cheap wood-like (particle board?) standard door with a steel insulated one. The standard door is pretty crappy and will need to be painted after some years and then replaced as it rots out. If you'll be in the home for 10+years get the steel door for sure. Way less maintenance and it's cheaper than doing it aftermarket. But if you're going to flip the home in a few years then stay with the standard door as it'll be the next guy's headache and not yours.

We got the thermostat and blower and like it. Personal preference on the thermostat but it's convenient.

The safe and sound door in the laundry is a good addition. Keeps the noise down and, almost as importantly, it's got a wood core so is strong enough to hang heavy attachments on the back of it. A good place to keep your central vac hose and attachments or other heavy stuff you want to keep handy but hidden.

Not sure about the last one ... is that a separately offered upgrade now? I think it was part of the standard homes before.

Good luck and enjoy your new home!

Hi MiltonLeo,

Thanks for the advice. Yes the HRV – Heat Recovery Ventilator is an upgrade now.

HRV is a standard Mattamy home feature. No need for upgrade.

Oh ... that's not cool ... I wonder why they changed it ... if you don't mind me asking, what kind of house did you buy and what phase did you buy in? I bought less than a year ago and my HRV is included.

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xNAD!NEx

N and S, your woodliliy is a regular Mattamy model, the HRV is included. I believe Lee bought a sprit model which does not have HRV as standard.

We bought a Plan 13 in Phase 3. We have friends that bought the same house in Phase 2 and they had to pay for the Energy Star option. Debby from the Sales office verified that in phase 3 - 30', 34', 36' Lots that its now included in the price.

So they might have switched around some of the options. Energy star is now included but HRV is now an option in Phase 3.

Hi Badboy09,

You are correct, we purchased a Spirit model, that makes sense now. So for the people who do have HRV, is it worth paying for it? Do you see significant benefits?

Lee, how much does it cost to get the HRV?

An HRV sounds like a good thing to have in the winter ... but I don't think it's a 'must-have' ... especially if you have a budget ... I don't have one now and if it wasn't included in my new home I wouldn't have known it existed or cared ... IMO, it's all just a bunch of fancy stuff that houses and families survived without before ... It's just one more thing to maintain and possibly repair in the future

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xNAD!NEx

In terms of the fireplace fan kit, I highly recommend it if you would like to enjoy the heat from your fireplace in addition to just having it as a focal point in the room. It really makes a difference.