How We Build
Ferguson Brothers Contracting Ltd. brings a set of approaches to residential work on the North Shore: a permaculture-minded way of handling site and landscape, Passive House building-performance principles, and aging-in-place design. These are standards we build by and actively pursue — not certifications we claim to hold.
What We Mean by "Approach"
These aren't badges on a wall. They're ways of thinking we bring to a project when they fit it. Some we've worked by for years; others are standards we're formally pursuing.
We'll always be straight about which is which — what we currently hold and what we're still working toward. The point isn't to label the company. It's to build you something that performs, lasts, and keeps working long after we've gone.
The Approaches We Bring
Permaculture
Reading how water, grade, and soil already move on a property, and building site and landscape work that goes with them.
Read more →Passive House
Building-performance principles — a tight, well-insulated envelope and controlled ventilation — for low energy use and steady comfort.
Read more →Aging in Place
Design that keeps a home safe and usable for the long term — step-free access, safer bathrooms, single-level living.
Read more →Common Questions
Are you a certified Passive House or aging-in-place builder?
We apply the principles of both and are actively pursuing formal certification. We won't claim a credential we don't currently hold — if a standard matters to your project, we'll tell you exactly where we stand.
Do I have to pick one of these approaches?
No. Most projects just borrow what fits — a drainage plan that works with the site, a tighter building envelope, a bathroom that'll still work in twenty years. We bring what makes sense for your project.
Does building this way cost more?
Sometimes, up front. The real question is whether it pays back — in lower energy bills, a site that manages its own water, or a home you don't have to leave as you age. We lay the trade-offs out honestly.
Talk About Your Project
Tell us what you're planning and we'll give you a straight read on it. We respond within one business day.
Talk About Your Project ↗ Request a Consultation