Let the sun shine in A look at solar heat gain Pg. 24
A focus on personal priorities created Walker Home Construction Page 14
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THE HAMMER
Leor Marguiles is a partner at commercial real estate firm, Robins Appleby. He joins The Hammer to discuss the factors driving a spike in project delays and defaults and suggest ways that small contractors can deal with the uncertain conditions. Bottom line: stay out of court.
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ISSN 1498-8941 (Print) ISSN 1929-6495 (Online)
Editor Patrick Flannery pflannery@annexbusinessmedia.com
Audience Development Manager Beata Olechnowicz bolechnowicz@annexbusinessmedia.com
Media Designer Curtis Martin
Group Publisher Danielle Labrie (226) 931-0375 dlabrie@annexbusinessmedia.com
CEO Scott Jamieson sjamieson@annexbusinessmedia.com
BUILDING ON BUDGET
Expert insights for controlling costs
Akeen eye for detail is required for construction and renovation projects of all shapes and sizes – and not just when it comes to finishes. Budgets and financial allowances are an important piece of the puzzle for both contractors and their clients, and must be properly managed to keep the project on track.
David Kenney and Joey Fletcher, builders and owners of BroLaws Construction, have been renovating houses since 2016. Now, as the company focus turns to building custom homes, the brothers-in-law and HGTV personalities share a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into budgeting and managing project costs.
How do you typically determine a budget for a project? What costs and factors are considered?
Managing your crew labour and timelines is essential for determining and maintaining a project’s budget. To stay on track, every Sunday night our crew receives a list of goals for the week that we are counting on them to complete. It ensures everyone is on the same page and balances our projects when we have multiple on the go. If one project is ahead, then we may move someone to another job.
What strategies do you use to control costs during a project?
We build allowances into all our projects and each trade has a budget and an allowance to work within. Sometimes they go over and sometimes they go under. That cost is directly transferred to our client. It helps us not to overcharge for those “just-in-case” moments. Materials can also be a driver to
reduce costs by buying products in bulk, earning credit card points, and leveraging rewards to decrease the hard costs to the business. For example, we frequently shop at our local Home Hardware Building Centre, earning Scene+ points on the Scotia Home Hardware PRO Visa Business Card that we can redeem for day-to-day supplies, helping us save money.
How do you handle unexpected expenses or changes in project scope?
This is very common in any renovation or build and communication is key. You never know what you are going to find when you open a wall, so we advise that you have 10 to 15 per cent of your project cost set aside for anything unexpected. During the project, we run an addition/ subtraction sheet that is shared with the homeowner to keep track of cost and remain on the same page.
What do you look for in suppliers and vendors to help you manage costs effectively?
Supplier communication is everything. Being able to quickly get accurate estimates on material costs helps firm up our project estimates to avoid incurring extra costs. Our Home Hardware
Building Centre recommends new products that help us manage our client’s costs, as well as supplies that might outperform what we had previously been using. Having solid product knowledge goes a long way with your client.
Why is access to credit so essential for contractors/business owners?
Credit cards are essential to keeping our business running smoothly. We look for a credit product that allows our employees to be supplementary cardholders, so they can get materials when they need it. Credit also keeps us ahead, so we don’t have to hound our clients for payments to keep up with the cost of an active project. We signed up for the Scotia Home Hardware PRO Visa Business Card as it was designed for small businesses, specifically those in home improvement. The credit program offers limits up to $500,000, which is a gamechanger when you’re working on a custom home build.
Our advice to fellow contractors is to stay on top of your credit. Using credit is a smart way to invest back into your business and can help track and manage expenses. Don’t spend what you don’t have, and use credit and loyalty programs, like the Scotia Home Hardware PRO Visa Business Card, as a tool to earn Scene+ points on the materials you’re purchasing at Home Hardware.
When considering a financial partnership, what factors are important to you and your business? Rewards matter most. A close second would be flexibility on payments. Our business is busy. We are onsite every day, so it’s not the easiest to remember to make those payments. With the Scotia Home Hardware PRO Visa Business Card, there is a 21-day grace period, competitive interest rates, and no annual fee.
Learn more about the Scotia Home Hardware PRO Visa Business Card at Scotiabank.com/PROVisa.
By Patrick Flannery Editor
” Life proceeds in sharp curves, sudden stops, rapid accelerations, precipitous drops, arduous rises and even terrifying leaps.
”
I’M BACK
When you’re a kid, life can look like a straight line. The predictable progression from one grade to the next through school creates the illusion that there’s a natural order leading us from one thing to the next, with each successive position growing organically out of the last. Each year brings another incremental advancement drawing toward some well-defined pinnacle of achievement.
It doesn’t take long once you’re out of that comfortable track to learn that’s not the way the world works at all. Life proceeds in sharp curves, sudden stops, rapid accelerations, precipitous drops, arduous rises and even terrifying leaps. For instance, my journey out of school included a relatively aimless hiatus living near a beach and working in a bar; winters driving all over Hell’s half-acre doing taxes for farmers; selling an industrial dry-cleaning service; selling CNC machine tools (more driving); getting married and moving to Windsor; having two kids; selling advertising; writing advertising; doing tech support for a telecommunications company; writing web copy; editing a wood manufacturing magazine; editing a flooring magazine and finally, now, producing media content for equipment rental stores, window and door manufacturers and commercial glaziers. Not exactly how I drew it up.
And it looks like I’m not at the end of the twisty trail yet. Back at the end of 2019, I was offered the chance to add this wonderful publication to my resume, taking over about half way through 2020 with the help of my heroic associate editor, Sukanya Ray Ghosh. She was too good and got promoted away about a year later. Then Alex Mackenzie came along and did a great job but was also too good to remain as an associate and moved on to a full editor role elsewhere. Ditto my next associate editor, Daniel Real-Chin. By 2022, it was becoming clear that this channel needs a steady focus from someone dedicated primarily to it, as former editors Steve Payne and Rob Koci had been for so many years before. The contracting business demands a much broader expanse of knowledge and relationships than the subtrades. Even just covering it is a full-time job. So we put Kaitlin Secord in place and let me turn down a side path back to my other three channels. This worked well and Kaitlin worked wonders learning the market, producing terrific content and building the relationships any magazine needs. But good work gets noticed and now we’ve had to say goodbye to Kaitlin as she goes on to an exciting opportunity at Designlines Magazine.
So my road since 2020 has come full circle and I’m back in charge of content here at Canadian Contractor. It was tough to let go the first time, so I’m excited about the chance for another kick at the can. Helping me to help you will be the remarkable Macenzie Rebelo, our new associate editor who I hope will be able to make Canadian Contractor her special focus.
Let’s see where things go from here. As always, I need your input and feedback to make this channel as useful to your business as it can be. Please reach out however you want with any suggestions, feedback or to share your own stories. This is your industry B2B channel and I’m thrilled to be a part of it again.
The housing budget
The 2024 Canadian federal budget was unveiled April 16. Here are highlights of particular interest to home renovation and custom homebuilding contractors. Several measures designed to incentivize homebuilding could affect our businesses, though the impact will fall mostly on the tract building sector. Many of the federal proposals are limited to encouraging the provinces to take various actions, since housing is a provincial jurisdiction.
Carbon rebate
Businesses with under 500 employees in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and the four Atlantic provinces will get a new refundable tax credit returning $2.5 billion in collected carbon taxes.
Lifetime capital gains exemption
Capital gains on the first $1.25 million in sales of small business shares will be tax-exempt, up from the present $1 million. The exemption will be indexed to inflation going forward,
Reduced capital gains inclusion
The so-called Canadian Entrepreneurs’ Incentive reduces the inclusion rate to 33.3 per cent on a lifetime maximum of $2 million in eligible capital gains for business owners. Over time this will increase to $3.25 million when selling all or part of a business.
Opening public lands to development
The budget promises to “overhaul” the Canada Lands Company’s policies to make it much easier for federal land to be sold or leased to developers for homebuilding. The measures included bundling properties for transfer, selling federal land for $1, allowing development on actively used property and renovating existing buildings for residential use. The budget also proposes to sell or lease land owned by Canada Post and National Defence for housing development.
Money for development infrastructure
The budget promises to launch a new Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund within Infrastructure Canada. This will flow money directly to municipalities to help them build water, wastewater, stormwater and solid waste infrastructure to service expanded development. This money is set to flow only if provinces agree to certain actions including allowing more housing units per property, freezing development charges and pre-approving designs from the federal Housing Design Catalogue.
Funding for alternative
building practices
The budget sends $50 million to Canada’s Regional
Development Agencies to support innovative construction approaches, such as designing and upscaling of modular homes, the use of 3D printing, mass timber construction and panelized construction. The budget also says Natural Resources Canada will look into ways to streamline inspection and approval of projects using these technologies.
Return of the Catalogue
Budget 2024 proposes to fund the development of its Housing Design Catalogue for up to 50 housing designs, such as modular housing, row housing, fourplexes, sixplexes and accessory dwelling units that provinces, territories and municipalities could use to simplify and accelerate housing approvals and builds. It’s an idea dating back to the postwar building boom.
Adding a granny suite
The budget proposes to provide $409.6 million over four years, starting in 2025-26, to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to launch a new Canada Secondary Suite Loan Program, enabling homeowners to access up to $40,000 in lowinterest loans to add secondary suites to their homes.
Boosting apprenticeship
The budget includes money for the Apprenticeship Service to help create placements with small and medium-sized enterprises for apprentices. There is also funding for a Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness Program to encourage Canadians to explore and prepare for careers in the skilled trades.
Recognizing foreign tradespeople
Budget 2024 includes money to streamline foreign credential recognition in the construction sector.
Greener Homes 2.0
The budget allocates $800 million over five years, starting in 2025-26, to launch a new Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program that will support the direct installation of energy efficiency retrofits for Canadian households with low- to median-incomes. It will also be complemented by CMHC’s Greener Homes Loan program, which provides interest-free loans of up to $40,000 for energy efficiency home retrofits. The first Greener Homes program was not meanstested and ended abruptly in February when it ran out of money significantly ahead of schedule.
Home energy labelling
The budget proposes to develop a national approach to home energy labelling listing information about a home’s energy efficiency.
RenoMark recognizes outstanding members and projects
The Building Industry and Land Development Association announced the winners of the 2024 RenoMark Awards. Started in 1999, the awards recognize professional renovators and custom homebuilders who are members of the RenoMark program for their quality of work, innovation, customer service and industry leadership. BILD received 96 submissions in 18 categories, including the prestigious Renovator of the Year and Custom Home Builder of the Year categories. Submissions were evaluated by 15 industry professionals from across Canada who served as volunteer judges.
“We saw a significant number of very high-quality and unique submissions this year, so the competition was fierce and it was no easy task for our judges to decide the winners for the 18 categories,” said Dave Wilkes, president and CEO of BILD. “All of the 2024 finalists and winners truly embodied the excellence and professionalism of our RenoMark members and we are so grateful to all who submitted their incredible work. For consumers choosing to renovate, I encourage you to select a RenoMark renovator to receive best-in-class service and quality of workmanship.”
The RenoMark program connects homeowners with professional renovators
Toronto-based construction firm BRIKS
Design Build Group won RenoMark Awards’ Renovator of the Year with projects such as this recent Trinity-Bellwoods renovation.
and contractors who have agreed to abide by a stringent code of conduct, which promises a superior level of service and customer protection that is higher than the common industry practice. The top honours in the 2024 RenoMark Awards went to Briks Design Build Group, which was named Renovator of the Year. Marvel Homes Development won Best Overall Custom Home, Jodabi Global won Best Overall Space Renovation and Norseman Construction won Best Overall Home Renovation.
These are the winners in the Space Renovation categories:
• Best Basement Renovation – Eurodale Design Plus Build
• Best Washroom Renovation – Jodabi Global
Ottawa eyes PFAS bans
According to a government of Canada website, the ministry of Environment and Climate Change is considering adding a group of chemicals known as PFAS to its list of toxic substances. This would allow the government to restrict, control or ban the use, transport, disposal, storage and research of the substance. Some older PFAS that were largely already out of use have already been added to the list. PFAS is the acronym for per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals. They have been used in a wide range of products since the 1950s for chemical and thermal stabilization and to make items non-stick, flame-resistant and resistant to stains. Many building materials and interior decor items incorporate PFAS. The concern about the chemicals arises from their
• Best Kitchen Renovation Under $100,000 – Jodabi Global
• Best Kitchen Renovation Over $100,000 – MenAtWork
These are the winners in the Home Renovation categories:
• Best Renovation (No Addition) Under $300,000 – Jodabi Global Inc.
• Best Renovation (No Addition) Over $300,000 – Norseman Construction
• Best Renovation (Addition) Over $500,000 – A. Mather Fine Homes Inc.
• Best Innovative Renovation (Residential or Commercial) –Woodsmith Construction Inc.
• Best Universal Design/Renovation [Acclaimed] – Inspire Homes
These are the winners in the Condominium Renovation Categories:
• Best Condominium Renovation Under $200,000 – Sunnylea Homes Ltd.
• Best Condominium Renovation Over $200,000 – Eurodale Design + Build
The award for Best Commercial Renovation went to JY Construction. For custom homes, Pine Glen Homes was awarded with Best Custom Home Over $2 Million and Marvel Homes Development for Best Custom Home Under $2 Million.
To learn more about the winners, visit renomarkawardsgta.ca.
resistance to breaking down over time, causing detractors to dub them “forever chemicals.” Studies have shown buildups of these chemicals in soil, water, animals and humans, inciting worries about what could happen if they continue to accumulate in the environment. A public comment period on the Risk Management Scope document concluded last summer. The ministry now has 24 months to prepare a proposal for PFAS to be added to the toxic substances list. Should PFAS be banned, many common products Canadian contractors use could become unavailable or more expensive. Industrial chemical giant 3M settled U.S. lawsuits for over $10 billion last year over PFAS contamination of drinking water.
Andison appointed CEO of OHBA
The Ontario Home Builders’ Association has announced the appointment of Scott Andison as CEO. Within the Ontario government, Andison served in critical roles in the ministries of finance and education and, more recently, as the executive director of Health System Strategy at the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Beyond his direct government service, his tenure as president and CEO of the Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario added to his leadership experience, particularly in advocacy and association management within the housing sector. In this capacity, Andison balanced member interests with governmental policies, spearheading initiatives that promoted sustainable growth and regulatory improvements on behalf of members.
“We are exceptionally pleased to welcome Scott Andison as OHBA’s CEO. His extensive experience in both the private sector and within the Ontario government equips him with a unique perspective and set of skills that are ideal for leading our association,” said the OHBA board president, Dave Depencier. “Scott’s proven leadership, combined with his strategic vision and deep understanding of both the governmental and private sectors, will propel OHBA and the interests of our members forward.”
BUILT FOR ALL KINDS OF CANADA
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Andison expressed his commitment to leveraging his diverse experience for the benefit of OHBA, stating, “I am honoured to take on the role of CEO at the OHBA. My experiences across the private sector and within the Ontario government have prepared me to lead this association effectively. I am very excited for the opportunity to direct my experience and passion to support Ontario’s developers, builders and renovators to build the housing choices that Ontarians need and can afford.”
In this new chapter, the OHBA is set to navigate the challenges and opportunities facing the residential new home construction industry with renewed vigor, ensuring that the association remains an important force. To facilitate the transition, Neil Rodgers will pivot into a strategic advisor capacity over the next several months, working daily with Andison. “On behalf of the board of directors, I want to thank Neil for his commitment and dedication to OHBA over the last several months in serving as our interim CEO. He fulfilled a critical role in stabilizing the operation, building relationships within the association community and advancing our government relations strategy to ensure housing supply remains the top priority for all levels of government,” said Depencier.
Can’t
justify Step 5
Having just built a new home in Penticton, B.C., the extra costs of going green and building a home that exceeds the current recommended B.C. energy step program adds up pretty darn fast. We did some of our research and calculations and made the determination that a fully electrified home in Step 5 was simply just not worth the cost of investment at this time. We settled on a Step 4 rating and chose to utilize a natural gas furnace that modulates with a central heat pump. Plus we really love the cozy feeling of natural gas heat on chilly Okanagan winters without relying on costly and expensive electric baseboard heaters to supplement the inefficient heat pumps at temperatures below freezing. We also worry about the electrical grid with more and more e-cars and e-homes taxing the grid. Not sure if we are there yet to instill consumer confidence regarding the grid and return on investment.
– Kevin Wahl
Slab construction becoming more feasible
Just saw your note on building houses without basements. The technology has changed over the last several years and this is certainly possible even in northern climates. There are now better high-strength steels and better designs to provide structural slabs on grade. The proper use of insulation is also one of the best ways to build buildings on grade without a basement.
– Howard Doucette, Harrington and Associates
Archaic rules choke labour supply
I cannot speak to the other trades, but the apprenticeto-journeyman ratio drastically needs to be changed in the electrical trade from 1:1 to two apprentices for every journeyman to fill this inevitable void. We receive at least 10 resumes every week from young individuals who are dead serious about pursuing a career in the electrical trade. The interest is clearly there but they are stymied by this archaic ratio. Changes need to be made very quickly if we want to get more apprentices into the system on their path to becoming a skilled journeyman.
– Ken Edwards
Safety gear not so safe
I’ve been walking roofs for over 35 years now and I find that ropes and harnesses present more danger on a pitched roof than anything else. I wear them only if the pitch and the surface don’t allow me to walk it. Just yesterday, I fell three times and had my back wrenched even more because of
the ropes. When I started in roofing, (residential, pitched), ropes and harnesses weren’t even a thought much less a requirement. I trained myself to be aware of everything dangerous about the job and the roof. I won’t wear them if I don’t have to.
– Darren B.
Build smaller and faster
A great way to reduce housing costs would be to develop strategies to enable the construction of smaller homes. I believe many people would welcome the availability of 1,000to 1,500-square-foot homes.
– Rick Hjelholt
What about e-car fire risks?
I don’t see any mention of protecting the garage from potential fire resulting from the use of lithium-ion batteries. Thermal runaway is something the firefighting community is starting to think about. When a fire starts in a garage, it can take significant amount of time before an alarm inside the home sounds. I think the statistic is that half of garage fires are reported by passers-by, and therefore can be heavily involved before an interior alarm sounds. Consideration should be given to installing fire detection in garages connected to the alarms inside the home so earlier warning can be provided.
– John Ward
Using fire-resistant materials to combat wildfire damage
These specific suggestions (eg. flame-resistant roofing) are smart and easy substitutions to make, especially when the options are to dispense with petrochemical-based materials that have low initial cost – such as typical asphalt – but already have a higher lifetime cost, even aside from being of greater fire risk. Similarly, plastic (PVC/vinyl) siding (often installed over foamed plastic continuous insulation!) is an open invitation to flame spread for which there are multiple better, easy substitutes that could improve a homes’ potential to resist ignition while simultaneously providing a lower lifetime cost-of-ownership. It is interesting – and a worrisome harbinger for the future – how fossil fuel-induced climate change is forcing a reconsideration not just of heating, cooling and insulation approaches but even the basic means and methods with which we build.
– Ben Polley, Evolve Builders
Coming Events
June 11 – 12
CHBA Net Zero Leadership Summit Vancouver chba.ca
June 12
An Introduction to Construction Risk Management Online ldca.on.ca
Sept. 12 – 15
BILD Alberta Conference Jasper, Alta. bildalberta.ca
Sept. 22 - 24
OHBA Conference Niagara Falls, Ont. ohba.ca
Oct. 9
Housing Summit 4.0 Online rescon.com
Oct. 21 – 25
CHBA Fall Meetings Ottawa chba.ca
Oct. 23 – 24
BuildEx Alberta Calgary informaconnect.caom
Dec. 4 - 6 The Buildings Show Toronto informaconnect.com
2025
Feb. 26 - 27
BuildEx Vancouver Vancouver informaconnect.com
March 11 – 14
CCA Annual Conference Quebec City cca-acc.com
ADMIRABLE
BUT HARD TO JUSTIFY
by Richard Lyall
Thequest to incorporate energy efficiency measures into new homes to meet net-zero targets is an admirable goal that the residential construction industry is working diligently to achieve. However, it is wise to question whether the costs of such actions are indeed rational. We at RESCON did just that with a case study that compared two approaches that could represent the future of energy efficiency in new homes. The conclusion was that the added benefits associated with increasing energy-efficiency measures do not always justify the added expense. While there is a move to fully electrify all new buildings and homes to meet net-zero targets in order to combat climate change, evidence from the demonstration project indicated there are concerns because the energy savings that result from these moves have limited impact on utility bills. We found that building to net-zero standards could add up to $50,000 to the price tag of a new home but save the consumer only $600 per year on utility bills. That’s not much in the way of savings for such a substantial investment, especially if you amortize the initial amount over the life of a mortgage. The findings were important because we are in an unprecedented housing crisis and the residential construction industry is facing a perfect storm of issues. Housing supply is actually falling at exactly the wrong time, which will further exacerbate an already dire situation. It is not wise to add more costs to housing without due consideration as to whether
they really make sense.
In the case study, analytical comparison methods were used to quantify, verify and compare data on the real-world performance of two occupied and nearly identical homes that were halves of a semi-detached house. The actual performance data collected was compared to their annual energy-use simulation computer models. One of the semis was all-electric and designed to achieve net-zero energy. The other was a low-carbon home. Findings showed discrepancies between the actual annual energy-use performance of the homes and the software simulation. The homes consumed more energy than had been forecast. Importantly, the study also found that moving too far beyond the current building code requirements for energy-efficiency measures can result in a negative return on investment. The study corroborated a similar case study that was presented by NRCan in 2023 and highlighted the need for a more thorough and ongoing analysis.
The results are concerning because many of our major policy decisions, such as changes to building codes, are based on assumptions derived from software models, meaning our climate strategy with respect to what is required of new homes and buildings might be misguided. Many of our codes and standards are focused on policy but the intended outcomes of the policy and technical code changes that can happen as a result are never backtracked and verified.
This study made some inroads into that issue. However, as was noted, a deeper dive is needed. Incorporating
energy-efficiency products into new homes that will make it more complicated and costly to build them –and more difficult for consumers to afford them – must be scrutinized. Such moves will only make it more difficult to reach our housing targets. The residential construction industry is already recognized as a leader in adopting more energy-efficient building practices. Steps to impose more energy efficiency measures without further study and analysis would only serve to exacerbate an already strained housing market. The residential construction industry is already dealing with crippling taxes, fees and levies that add as much as 31 percent to the cost of a new home, putting home ownership out of reach for many.
Moving too quickly in adopting energy efficiency measures without proper consideration of the merits could lead to other problems, namely, that we might not have the trades to do the work. A new report by BuildForce looked at what effect the push to eliminate carbon emissions in residential, commercial and institutional buildings could have on already-tight construction labour markets. The report, called Building a Greener Future, noted that the transition will create jobs but construction labour markets are already strained and have been operating at capacity. The push for more energy efficiency measures in new homes could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. To successfully incorporate energy efficiency measures into new homes, we will need a larger construction workforce than has been anticipated and a corresponding increase in incentives to keep the cost of measures under control. Homebuyers already face significant headwinds. If we are going to incorporate more energy efficiency measures in new homes, we will have to ensure we have the workforce and the data to show the strategy makes sense. cc
Richard Lyall is president of the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON). He has represented the building industry in Ontario since 1991. Contact him at media@rescon.com.
DO AS I SAY
NOT AS I DO
by Steve Ryan
I’m a typical teacher: do as I say, not as I do. My day job, if you want to call it that, is counselling contractors on business practices and running a professional operation. A central theme in all of this is that both contractor and their customer will be much better off when certain fundamentals of business are maintained. But we have just wrapped up an extensive kitchen renovation and I am going to confess that I broke, or allowed to be broken, quite a few of those rules that I preach as being so critical to success in construction. Thankfully, the project was a success, and we are very happy with the result, but there is a lesson here worth sharing. We got away with it, but that doesn’t mean we did it right. Along the way somebody paid a price either through stress, wasted effort or in real dollars.
Lesson 1: While goodwill and patience should be present in any project, depending upon it to smooth over poor practice is a risky strategy.
Before going on, I will offer a few words in my defense. I dropped my guard on some bedrock rules – like starting out with a clear scope and contract – because the initial plan was for a gentle facelift. Silly me! When did a kitchen makeover ever start small and stay that way? We engaged a designer, and we did have a formal agreement with them, but it was limited to colour and finish selections. Of course, once that conversation starts, the wish list grows and at that point the horse is out of the barn. We slipped sideways into a modified floor plan, lighting plan, additional cabinetry and a larger, more
complex countertop. To her credit, the designer contributed a lot more advice and insight than our agreement stated, without any additional charge.
Lesson 2: Make sure your contract reflects what is really going on. Change orders, as essential as they are, sometimes aren’t up to the job. If a project scale fundamentally changes, perhaps it is time for a new contract that addresses the new reality.
Did I say change orders? Simply put there was no such thing. Lots of changes but none of them documented. The root cause here was that there was no formal scope to reference. As clients, we were given too much freedom to make decisions on the fly. I mentioned the role patience and goodwill played in the success of the project and here is where it showed in spades. Cabinet and countertop fabricators graciously re-drew their plans as we went through different interpretations. I could feel their pain though, worrying about whether their work would align with the other’s. We, in turn, were taking it on faith that undocumented changes would not be an opportunity to tack on big additional charges. All in all, a real recipe for mix-ups.
Lesson 3: Document, document, document. Everyone who touches the project stands to lose big if they don’t have a clear and precise design to work toward. It should be obvious enough that that didn’t happen here. Get decisions made in a timely way and compel (guide) the client to know where they are going before work starts.
Lesson 4: Sometimes a client needs some tough love. Perhaps, when our wish list expanded, our designer should have put on the breaks, recognized
this as a project that needed a general contractor and called for an agreement that reflected that. Perhaps I am the reason that didn’t happen because of the dreaded “work supplied by owner.” We would replace the floor ourselves. We would arrange some minor plumbing and electrical work and do painting and a tile backsplash. This was enough to turn any scope into something of a Swiss cheese. It went smoothly but probably because we were always clear on our obligation to dovetail with the timeline of other trades. I had a few sleepless nights worrying about being ready for what tomorrow would bring, but it always got done. You know that isn’t typical.
Lesson 5: Beware of work supplied by owner. Some contractors refuse to expose themselves to that risk and, if you are one of them, I respect your position. Things worked for us but I was always conscious that our failure to meet commitments would derail everyone else.
What would I change if I had it to do over? As far as the outcome, I wouldn’t change a thing. But there were so many opportunities for things to go sideways, I am very grateful we didn’t suffer any of them, mostly due to the goodwill and patience of those who worked with us. What I would say, though, is this project should have been paused and redefined. It should have been subject to an appropriate contract and scope. The result would have been fewer changes while in process and those changes would have been properly documented and costed. We made it through, but I’m not sure we deserved to. cc
Steve Ryan is the founder of MMI Professional Services. steveryan@ mmiproservices.com
LIFE FIRST
Balancing business, community and family has given Walker Home Construction a strong base.
By Kaitlin Secord
Striving to achieve a career in an industry where he was truly passionate, while desiring to be a good father, Les Walker found himself at a crossroads.
Becoming a single father at the age of 21, Walker found it challenging to navigate the industry. With little understanding from employers of his role as single father, he felt at times there was no acceptance for his situation.
“There was this turmoil inside of me that said, ‘Okay, well, this isn’t working out, it’s only going to destroy you’. This voice told me to go out on your own and take that risk. And I knew that voice was right: I was either going to fail as a businessperson, because I’m not as good as I think that I am, or I’m going to figure it out and be successful and excited about what I get to do every day. Either way, it allowed me to put my values first.”
Listening to that voice in his head, Walker set out to start Walker Home Construction in 2009. Today, he has nearly a 40-person team and serves communities throughout the Yukon.
A member of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, Walker found himself supported and celebrated by his community.
“They have done things for this company that have put me in the place to succeed. They opened doors for us, and I had to walk through the door and prove that I deserve it,” he said. “Those moments of generosity and faith were
immense. They have more faith in me than sometimes I have in myself.”
Growing up in the Yukon, Walker is familiar with the terrain and what’s inherent to the Yukon’s construction industry.
“Ninety per cent of our work is in Whitehorse, but 90 per cent of this work is also in the community, away from our home. There’s a lot of travel and managing things from a distance. Most of the communities we work in are
Les Walker made a tough choice to go out on his own as a contractor in 2009. Employers in the industry were unwilling to accommodate his needs as a single parent.
further than where supply companies in town will deliver to, so that leaves us with an additional challenge while trying to provide this population with
the housing it desperately needs.”
A lot of construction businesses in the Yukon close for the winter, but Walker Home Construction does not. This is
an added obstacle to the issue echoing across the industry in Canada: labour.
Walker notes that navigating the issue of staffing can be difficult, noting that it is not an easy task to find carpenters willing to work in the extreme conditions of a Yukon winter.
Capacity is an issue too. With only 40,000 residents, the Yukon’s pool of carpenters and tradespeople is exceptionally limited.
“You’re dealing with these extreme elements, you’re trying to create stability in your employees’ lives, you’re trying to build a customer base where they have faith in you. And you’re juggling all these things at once. And it’s kind of like a symphony of things. But I’m a Yukoner, so bring it on.”
What’s working for Walker
Seeing employees as people is a core value at Walker Home Construction. Walker understands all too well what the additional stress of an upset
As a member of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, Walker has appreciated the support of his community.
foreman or lost wages can add to an already-stressful circumstance.
“You don’t know what kind of day they’ve had, how their life is going outside of work, and all of these things need to be taken into consideration as to how you treat people.”
Walker gives graces, understands mistakes are made and encourages his employees to ebb and flow within their careers. He has seen this pay off time and time again, with positive relationships being his key to success.
“Construction is a fickle game and seeing how many people have had faith in me because of ways I’ve been able to be there for them is a great feeling. For people to say ‘I’m going to shift my career and come to work at Walker Home Construction because I trust in this institution, and I trust in the vision’ has been the greatest ‘aha!’ moment for me. I’m doing this well and I’m doing right by everyone involved.”
Mentoring the next generation With the goal of supporting the next generation, Walker has been focused on providing opportunities for up-andcoming tradespeople.
Alongside Yukon University and First Nation’s communities, Walker Home Construction has a few initiatives in place to achieve this goal.
“What we are focusing on now is the
mentorship programming, working with First Nations and the university. Now that we’ve become established, we can pull those young people in and make this a landscape of opportunity for them rather than something they fear or don’t feel comfortable pursuing.”
The trades go beyond putting up walls and hammering nails, Walker
said. With so many other opportunities in the field, he aims to broaden the horizons of those he mentors. He believes there is a wide scope of skills, gifts and talents that can be applicable to the trades. All it takes is the fundamental skills.
These fundamentals are typically taught in trades school through
Walker’s focus on people extends from his approach to employees having difficulty through his extensive work developing and encouraging new tradespeople.
From simple beginnings, Walker has grown to a team of 40.
modules, moving through them from week-to-week to hone in on the skills required to start a career.
Walker has noticed that while these building blocks for success are crucial, incoming tradespeople can forget what they learned by the time they get to flex their skills on the construction site.
“In the practical world, you might not use a certain module for eight months. So yes, they could have aced the test, but then, for example, they don’t build stairs for eight months and they can’t remember how to calculate the risers. This can slow down the process of the job. What I’ve found was that we don’t have the ability to train them on site with the capacity that they need.”
To combat this slowdown, and to help apprentices become self-reliant, Walker Home Construction has begun to create videos for on-site refreshers. Accessible through their website, the refresher modules are around a minute long, helping to remind apprentices of what they need to know, allowing for confidence building and improving workflow on the jobsite.
“All we’re doing is creating a path for them to say, here’s your information. Here’s a database of information that’s easily accessible to you,” said Walker.
Alongside government funding, Walker Home Construction is working alongside the apprenticeship teachers at Yukon University to design and critique the videos.
“We want them to be reflective of the curriculum the students are learning, so when they are referenced later on it’s clear and helpful,” said Walker.
Walker Home Construction also has a prefab shop, where they invite younger people to come in and understand what it is they can do with a career in construction.
Walker Home values
Walker wants to meet and value people where they are at –both his employees and his customers.
“I realized is you don’t have to be the best, the most educated person in the room. If you come with integrity, and you’re willing to learn, you’re going to attract people that are educated and strong and they’re going to teach you and they’re going to grow. This isn’t a competition, it’s a community,” said Walker.
As far as these values translate into business, Walker’s goal is to help his clients achieve their dreams. He understands that for a lot of his clientele, this is their first time building or renovating a home and with that can come a haziness. He believes it is his team’s responsibility to use their experience and expertise to help them navigate the expectations, stress and successes that come along with these projects.
Building houses for Walker is more than just about profit, it’s about “making somebody’s dream come true.”
His ultimate goal for Walker Home Construction has always been to have fun, build strong relationships, continue to grow and be of service to creation. cc
THE FUTURE IS MODULAR
As housing demand continues to exceed supply, modular housing may become an important solution.
By David Godkin
The options for modular design and construction are well established. If you’re an owner who wants a permanent modular structure, for example a suburban home, your local manufacturer will be happy to supply it directly to you.
Meantime, Ted Redmond will rent you any number of relocatable modular structures on hand at Black Diamond Group in Edmonton - from mobile classrooms (Redmond’s team serves 12,000 across the continent) to northern Ontario modular mining and southern U.S. migrant camps.
But Redmond is also the freshly minted president of the Canadian branch of the Modular Building Institute. The good news, he says: $500 million in Ottawa’s latest budget to support rental housing, notably using innovative construction techniques that include modular housing manufacturing.
Some of that money will fuel standardized modular design and draw attention to the cost effectiveness, timeliness and sustainability of
the industry. Said Redmond, “The recognition on the government side is starting to come as is recognition on the owner side.”
It will all go a long way to demonstrating the value of modular applications to a broader, potential clientele, added Redmond. “They’re warmer, airtight structures with better HVAC capability for a good, well-built building.”
Traditional contractors may still need a little convincing. A good start might be a survey of contractors last year comparing modular cost effectiveness with site-built construction. Almost half saw a 10 percent cost savings on modular over conventional construction projects, said Redmond.
“Speed of construction and schedule completion rates from other studies typically show modular construction was from 25 to 50 percent faster. And a lot of these factories are putting out five to 10 modular structures per day.”
This reduces contractor uncertainty
around scheduling and is estimated to cut the cost of a project by 65 percent. On the sustainability side, contractors have seen construction waste reduced by about 77 percent.
“In the case of Black Diamond,” said Redmond, “we ask how a modular structure can be adapted for the next use.” For any general contractor considering jumping in and doing that well, “you need to design it as a modular project from Day One.”
Away from the factory door
Daniel Engelman, founder of Edmontonbased Honomobo, won’t argue that point. Engelman spent 10 years in custom infill construction before his firm transitioned completely to modular in 2015, for example, garden suites, garage suite structures and carriage houses. Few companies have experienced as much instant recognition from so sudden a strategic shift.
“We designed some very small, 320- to 740-square-foot units, sent those
conceptual designs out into the market via press release and we went viral,” Engelman said. Up to 150 enquiries day came in from large architectural platforms “from all over the world.”
Scroll forward eight years and 90 percent of Honomobo’s work finds its way into the U.S. On either side of the border, however, the job is no longer trying to sell modular units at the factory door for owner pickup, permitting and installation.
“What we found over the years is that you need to take care of all the logistics, permitting, site engineering, foundation construction and installation. Or at least provide a good pathway for the owner. ”
Where Honomobo is a little different, Engelman said, is 95 percent of its work is residential sold directly to the consumer. At the centre of its value proposition: simplicity and speed. Engleman also understood the natural tension between square footage and livability.
“Making a room bigger we call ‘cheap’ square footage because you’re not adding more plumbing fixtures or expensive things. You’re just adding more ceiling and floor essentially which drives down that cost per square foot.” That metric drives everything, Engelman added.
From basic smarts to smart technology
You know a niche contractor takes another step up when it becomes indispensable. That’s the case at Calgary-based Karve Builders Canada. Where modular construction is concerned, said its president and CEO Aaron Joyes, not just any general contractor will do. “Contractors that take on a multi-story project call us to execute
the modular portion of the project.”
“We’ll close the assets up, leave, and they’ll complete the exterior siding, scuppers or interior work like drywall painting.” Pity the contractor who tries doing it all without the requisite experience and knowledge of modular construction, Joyes added.
“Typically what we see is the contractor struggles because they don’t understand the steps required to ensure modules are properly sequenced during placement.”
While advanced technology is no substitute for construction smarts it could help the accomplished modular builder. Digital software solutions and robotics, for example, are slowly gaining a foothold in the industry, though their full application is some time away. Another case in point: augmented reality.
“Augmented reality can be used to show the trade where wiring or plumbing go and how to hook it up,” said Redmond. “That’s going to be a key part of the future,” Engelman agrees, citing Honomobo’s full 3D imaging to rough out the inside units before they install the drywall. “We can then reference augmented realty for a virtual walkthrough of the home. That is going to become more and more common.” cc
Not exactly living in a tin can. Modular homes can be outfitted with just about any trim and finish you can use in a regular house.
Modular building is also good for quick commercial construction. Like if you want to make office space for a gold mine in northern Ontario.
A GREEN ROOF
A 2023 CARE Award winner shares their story on becoming boutique craftspeople.
By Gordon Wornoff
Taylor McCarthy, owner of Frontera Homes in Victoria, B.C., spoke to Canadian Contractor to share the secret recipe for his team’s award-winning build, “The Irving Grotto” – a remodel with a green roof – and their highefficiency renovation, “The Fernwood Net Zero.”
Please tell us about the origins of these massive, striking renovations. With The Irving Grotto, the existing house was nothing special architecturally - an older stucco house in a beautiful part of town with gorgeous views of the ocean. Bruce Greenway of Greenway Studio was the designer, with whom we’ve worked before. Landscapes are the driving force behind his designs. We added a family room/dining room that abuts a cliff, with an entranceway tucked into the stone.
One of the challenges we faced was that we couldn’t find a window supplier that had a thin enough rail style that Bruce was happy with, so we essentially built the windows. We bought the glazing, then we had to rout and rabbet all the posts to fit the glass in and install the trim work on top of that. It’s not only tricky, it’s risky. We incorporated a curved wooden bench on the inside that fits perfectly against a masonry wall in behind that follows the natural rock structure. There were a lot of materials meeting together.
For the Fernwood Net Zero, the clients were a couple from Chicago, and they interviewed several other
contractors before they hired us. I think we got the job because we had that hybrid: being able to execute the traditional character finishing they wanted, while making it as green as possible.
The architects had never done anything green like that before, but they created a wonderful design. So, between our experience and the energy modeller we hired, we thought, if we add a few things we can knock this out of the park and make it a net zero. And in the end, we did, and this building produces a heck of a lot more energy than it consumes.
I wonder what role the rugged BC landscape plays into your designs, your clients, your staff, and your mission of high-efficiency, environmentally sustainable projects. How would your company look different if it were in Manitoba or the East Coast?
When I finished university, I had already worked for years as a carpenter in Montreal and Ottawa, and I had always been interested in sustainability, as broad as that sounds. I got my LEED accreditation and thought I could dovetail that into building green homes and so forth. I started working
as a sustainability consultant for a big developer in Ottawa. The reality was I mostly chased subtrades around for paperwork.
I did the Heritage Carpentry and Joinery program through Algonquin
College out of Perth, Ont., and worked a few years in Ottawa after that. People talked about building green, but we never had clients approach us and say, “We’d like to go Passive,” or, “We have LEED goals.” Nothing like that.
But when I moved to Victoria, it was completely different. Victoria’s climate makes it much easier to achieve those efficiency targets. There’s more of a green slant out here, I mean, the Green Party is from Salt Spring Island essentially, right?
I put myself through Passive House training, and I’m about to put one of my carpenters through Passive House training, as well as another guy. There are a lot more discussions about these types of things. I’m sure it’s happening in Manitoba or Ontario as well, but it’s twofold. There’s the interest we as carpenters have in this type of building, and there’s the client interest as well.
We have a project coming up. It’s an older character home for a retired couple. We’re lifting the house, removing the siding, adding exterior insulation, wrapping the house in an airtight envelope. We’re going to get pretty darn close to Passive with an existing house, which doesn’t happen very often. But they’re willing to spend a little more
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and take the extra time to go through an integrated design process.
Your website mentions heritage restoration and the cultural value of homes. What are your aims with that type of work?
I do think history is important to any town in Canada. We’re still a fairly new country, so wherever we can save something that’s significant to our heritage, I think that’s important. If you look around at any city that has old character homes like Montreal or Ottawa or Victoria, there’s a heck of a lot more 1950s, ‘60s, ‘70s stucco and concrete – kind of drab homes – than there are these beautiful old wood homes, which are the ones that interest me. These character homes have already stood for 100 years and if there are no major structural issues I believe it’s better to keep these homes
than to landfill them. If you can find the right clients with the same priorities, it’s really worth it. Esthetically, they stand the test of time. They’re beautiful, they’re classic and they always will be beautiful. I admit I’m biased towards old wooden homes but they give neighbourhoods a value that you can’t put a price on.
Does having a niche help or hurt you?
When you have a niche, you want to be better than average, if not the best. And if you’re up there in the top tier, you’ll have work coming to you. And I’m not saying we’re the best, I can promise you we’re not. I totally look up to a lot of other builders. But you hear a lot about boutique hotels, right? We’re like boutique craftsmen. We have great clients, we do beautiful work on interesting jobs that win awards and
we’re doing well.
The other thing about a niche is you really have to love your niche. In a perfect world, each year we would do one net zero or Passive-driven new build – just as green as you can be. And then one large heritage restoration that added some green elements but really focused on traditional trim and stain-grade carpentry. Someone may call us for a character build, but they don’t care about installing solar panels or an airtight barrier, or triple pane windows. On the other hand, we just did a very green project, but it was a super modern square box. We liked it, but from a finishing standpoint I wouldn’t say my trim guys found it as challenging as an older character home. They’re not always in the same conversation, so we don’t want to niche ourselves to just be the heritage guys, or just be the green guys.
How big is your company and how many projects a year do you take on?
It’s myself and anywhere between six and eight carpenters. We’re a company of 10 and under. We predominantly have two larger, year-long projects per year, and then three or four smaller renovations that range between three weeks to a few months. I don’t really see much need to grow. I definitely don’t have any dreams of being a massive company because I really love the craft and being detail-oriented, being on-site with the guys, chatting with the owners and architects, being a part of the process.
There will probably be some inevitable growth. Maybe a few more people for larger scale jobs, and a couple people helping with administration. I always thought
that being a design/build firm would be interesting, but that in itself is a niche and then you’re always working with the same types of design. I think we all prefer to work with different architects, designers, new people. Of course we’ll take return clientele, but we like to change things up and keep it interesting for ourselves.
When you reflect on your career, what are some key points you learned along the way?
Somebody told me once, “You have to make your own passion.” Everybody has this point in their career where they’re feeling bored or stuck. The beauty of carpentry is there’s always room to do something different.
When I was working in Montreal, I was stuck in a loop working for a contractor doing kitchens and
bathrooms and kitchens and bathrooms. I remember walking up three flights of stairs in the middle of winter with a mitre saw in my hands, worrying about parking and just thinking, “What am I doing? Is this it for the rest of my life?” It was just by chance that I came to Victoria and that transition really renewed my passion for what I thought carpentry could be.
I’m not saying you have to stop working or go back to school for 10 years. But if you’re willing to do a night course in something you’re interested in – like timber framing, or woodworking – where you learn wood types, stain types, or different styles of joinery, these are the types of things that can drastically change your outlook on something and renew a passion and maybe lead to that next step that you need. cc
LET THE SUN SHINE IN
Control of solar heat gain is a complex issue for net-zero design.
By Chris Smith
Recently, I found myself knee-deep in net zero builder training, and it was nothing short of an eye-opener. We’re on the cusp of a seismic shift in how we approach building and renovating homes, all thanks to the upcoming move to a National Building Code. Imagine this: over 2,000 changes are set to roll out over the next half-decade transitioning us from a patchwork of provincial codes to a unified national standard. At first glance, many of these updates won’t stir the pot too much for us renovators. Yet, there’s a handful that we need to zero in on. The crux of it all? We’re steering towards homes that are not just energy-efficient but are entirely reliant on electricity. In a world where heating and cooling your home with electricity could soon be more cost-effective than using natural gas, the vision is clear: a future where homes are able to be selfsufficient. This means an all-electric home has the potential to draw its power from other sources than just the grid and possibly provide power if needed. This pivot isn’t just about keeping up with codes; it’s about reimagining our role in building homes that stand up to the climate challenges of the future. That’s where things get technical, especially when discussing the solar heat gain coefficient for windows. This little metric will become a big deal in our quest for energy-neutral homes. It’s all about balancing how much sun we let in, ensuring our well-insulated, airtight homes can stay cool without overworking the AC. So, let’s dive deeper into why
SHGC is a key player in this new era of building better, more sustainable homes.
The nitty-gritty on SHGC
So, what’s the fuss about SHGC, and why is it suddenly a metric you need to be familiar with? In simple terms, SHGC measures how much of the sun’s energy passes through your windows and turns into heat inside your home. It measures the window’s ability to create a greenhouse effect in your home. With the push towards net zero homes, where the aim is to balance energy consumption with production, managing solar energy becomes crucial. Fortunately, there is an SHGC rating that you will need to get very comfortable with in the coming years. For now, you will have to request it, but eventually it will be prominently displayed on every window sticker. What should we aim for? The new harmonized codes are expected to set SHGC requirements that reflect our
unique seasonal extremes, so it will vary depending on your location. While the exact numbers are still under wraps, the general consensus is to aim for an SHGC value of around 0.30 to 0.40 for most residential windows. This range is designed to minimize the effect of solar heat gain during our increasingly hotter summers. Now, you might be wondering, 0.30 to 0.40 of what exactly? Without getting too technical, the rating ranges from zero to one, with one indicating the most heat gain possible for a window and zero indicating the least. So, in essence, we need to aim for a 60 to 70 percent reduction in solar heat gain with all our windows to meet these requirements.
Understanding the SHGC rating is one thing, but the real challenge comes when you combine our love of large windows with additional insulation and airtightness requirements. By continuing to use today’s windows, you risk creating unintentional sauna rooms
come summer. As much as we love the sun, we don’t necessarily want our clients to live in a greenhouse. That’s where SHGC comes into play to help you make better window choices. Choosing a lower SHGC-rated window lets us keep our homes comfortable year-round without sending our energy bills through the roof. There are lots of options out there, from stickers to as many panes as you want, and each has its pluses and minuses. No one size fits all, so it will be a good idea to get to know your energy advisor as he or she will be a crucial partner in your home development.
Remember the days when doubleglazed windows were all the rage? Well, move over because triple-glazed windows are about to take the spotlight. These aren’t just any windows, they’re like the VIP section of energy efficiency. With an extra layer of glass and gas fill, they significantly dial down the SHGC, making them perfect for our net zero aspirations. Plus, they come with the added bonus of keeping the
heat in during our infamous Canadian winters. The problem is, of course, they aren’t cheap, so prepare to add some extra costs to your window budget for this upgrade. But here’s where it gets even more interesting. It’s not just about picking the right type of window, it’s also about where you place them and how you shade them. Window orientation and shading strategies, like overhangs or even leafy trees, can make a huge difference in managing that solar heat gain. East and west-facing windows can turn your living room into a midday sauna, while north and south-facing ones can be your best bet for consistent, comfortable light without the heat overload.
As we gear up for the new building code and its emphasis on SHGC, it’s clear that the future of building and renovating homes in Canada is bright – figuratively speaking, of course. We’re not just building houses, we’re crafting ecosystems that support sustainable living and energy independence. It’s a
bold new world out there and, as builders and renovators, we’re at the forefront of this change. Embracing the changes to SHGC requirements isn’t just about compliance, it’s about being part of a larger movement toward sustainability and resilience in the face of climate change. We have a unique opportunity to lead the charge, creating homes that not only stand the test of time but also contribute to a greener, more sustainable future for thre country. So, as we navigate these changes together, let’s keep our eyes on the prize: building homes that are as kind to the planet as they are to our wallets. The journey to net zero homes is filled with challenges, but it’s also ripe with opportunities to innovate, to improve and to redefine what it means to call a place home. Let’s not forget the role of smart design in window orientation and the clever use of shading to keep our cool, literally and figuratively. It’s about making informed choices, one window at a time, to build not just houses, but homes for the future. cc
24_003856_Canadian_Contractor_JUN_CN Mod: April 23, 2024 9:41 AM Print: 05/02/24 page 1 v2.5
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FALL OR BURN?
Andy is renovating a second-storey bedroom in a beautiful cottage in the Muskokas. The owners have requested big windows with low sashes to maximize their view of the lake. Diligent professional that he is, Andy consults his handy building code to make sure he designs the wall to regulations.
Opening his Ontario building code Section 3.3.4.8, he notes that second-storey windows with sashes less than 1,070 millimeters above the floor must not open wider than 100 millimetres in order to prevent children from falling out.
Flipping to Section 9.9.10.1, he notes that bedroom windows must not have sashes more than 1,000 millimeters above the floor. And the windows must be able to open at least 380 millimetres in order to allow egress in case of fire.
Andy is no physics professor, but he’s pretty sure it’s impossible to have a window open at least 380 millimetres without it also being able to open 100 millimetres. That means any window he puts in is going to be in violation of one section of the code or another. Clearly, people have been putting second-storey bedroom windows in Ontario houses for some time without both these sections being enforced.
Last edition’s winner: Tom Thomas
Frank and Stirling came into conflict when Stirling wanted to modernize their operation. Tom Thomas wins the DeWalt Brushless Drywall Screwgun with this thoughtful reply:
It’s clear that Stirling and Frank have a great relationship. Frank has developed this company over decades and recognized that Stirling had the dedication, the experience and the management skills to maintain the company’s outstanding reputation.
Frank recognizes Stirling’s abilities and feels confident to share more management with him. The transition of power (change) can be challenging for anyone. There will be hiccups and it will be important for Stirling to take extra time to have meetings with Frank to keep him informed. Timing of a special meeting is critical; it should be done when all is well with no pressures. Stirling should prepare notes for this meeting with emphasis on all the key changes that have happened under Frank’s leadership and how these changes have made the company grow. When Frank can see how he adopted some of these new technologies, he may be ready for the next step. “We’ve built better homes faster and we’ve saved thousands of dollars and still maintained that quality you strived for. We’ve increased profitability and more importantly we’ve passed some savings off to our clients.”
Stirling now needs to ask Frank to meet with him on occasion so Frank can clearly see that his baby is still growing and the reputation that he built is second to no one. Stirling needs to promise that Frank’s baby is as important to Frank as it is to Stirling. Change is constant and new methodologies must be the fore front of this company’s vision. Stirling will need to spend that extra time making sure to find a way to show Frank these new technologies are vital to continued growth.
What should Andy do?
1. Put limiters in the windows so they won’t open more than 100 mm. No little monkeys getting hurt on a fall on his watch. Hope the building inspector doesn’t know about Section 9.9.10.1.
2. Let the windows open freely. Fire safety first. Hope the building inspector doesn’t know about Section 3.3.4.8.
3. There are devices that limit window opening that can be deactivated in case of fire. They are mentioned in other Canadian codes, but not in Ontario. Install those, hoping the building inspector will be satisfied.
4. Tell the owner he has to build a deck on the exterior wall so the fall out the window is less than 1,800 millimetres.
5. Tell the owner he has to install a sprinkler system in the bedroom.
HOW TO ENTER
If you have a solution to Andy’s dilemma, email your entry to pflannery@ annexbusinessmedia.com and put “Andy’s Dilemma” in the subject line. Include your email information in your response. Please don’t post your response in the comments section on our website.
Entries close August 30, 2024. The winner will be announced in the Fall issue.
YOU COULD WIN
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UP TO 22% BETTER ENERGY EFFICIENCY
DURABLE VINYL AND ALUMINUM CONSTRUCTION, RESISTING WEATHER AND DAMAGE
ALUMINUM-CLAD EXTERIOR, OFFERED IN AN ATTRACTIVE SELECTION OF COLOURS
Welcome in the beauty and brightness of spring with JELD-WEN®’s newest addition to the JWC8500 window series. This innovative window offers exceptional energy efficiency, a low-profile design and remarkably robust frame. This intentional engineering gives you cool, comfortable, and quiet interior spaces, expansive views and long-lasting performance. Our newest JWC8500 hybrid option exceeds performance, in all regions of Canada, offering an aluminum-clad exterior finish with an exquisite selection of colours to choose from.
