CC - May - June 2019 by annexbusinessmedia

Why We Love Composite Decks

Steve Maxwell on the new synthetics

Page 10

A Creative Build in Newfoundland

A place to retire on The Rock

Page 18

How to Put Up a Fabric Shelter

Keeping your stuff out of the weather

Page 23

Page 12 YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE

Ottawa contractor Steve Barkhouse on the power of delegating and building a real team

Protecting Roofs and Reputations up to 210 km/h.

What keeps you up at night? Is it the howling wind, or worry over what it might be doing to your reputation? Wake up to peace of mind with IKO’s Dynasty Shingle featuring ArmourZone™. You’ll sleep better knowing your rooﬁng jobs are covered by a 210 km/h (130 mph) Limited Wind Warranty1. The ArmourZone is an oversized 1-1/4” wide nailing area reinforced by a tear-resistant, woven band inserted into and extending beyond the common bond. It makes nail placement easy and helps prevent pull through in high winds. So go ahead. Elevate your game with IKO Dynasty Shingles. You’ll sleep easier, and your customers will too. To learn more, 1-855-IKO-ROOF (1-855-456-7663) or visit rooﬁngelevated.com

Creative Eye

What’s On Deck 10

As building season opens up across the land, Steve Maxwell talks about why composite decks can be a superior choice.

COVER STORY: Steve Barkhouse 12

How the owner of Amsted Design-Build, Ottawa, built one of the largest renovation firms in North America.

Creative Eye 18

A place to retire on The Rock. This month’s photo essay looks at a project in Eastport, Nfld., four hours north of St. John’s.

Steve Maxwell 22

The most important pair of words any contractor can say; How to put up a fabric storage area to keep your stuff out of the weather; In-floor electrical heating.

Outspoken contractor comments from our

Cover Photo: Larry Arnal

VIDEOS FOR PRO RENOVATORS AND HOME BUILDERS

Canadian Contractor has hundreds of videos online for serious residential construction professionals

ALL ABOUT FASTENERS VIDEO SERIES

Sponsored by ITW Construction Products Canada

In this collection of videos, Rob Koci talks to experts from ITW Construction Products about the different uses of specialty fasteners in the Canadian renovation and custom home building industries. Topics include failure mechanisms for screws and bolts, mechanical versus chemical bonds for anchors, concrete pins and thermal bridging solutions.

CANADIAN CONTRACTOR SITE TIPS

BUILDWIRE VIDEOS

ARE YOU A CAT SINGER?

By Rob Koci

Self-awareness is critical to delivering value: for the employee to deliver value to the company they serve; for the business owner to deliver value to the marketplace.

We love to watch those who utterly lack self-awareness. Think of American Idol contestants. You’ve seen them: big-eyed, loud, brimming with self-confidence. As they walk on stage, they believe without a shadow of a doubt that they are about to become one of the most popular – and richest – singers in the whole wide world.

And then the singing begins: it’s a cacophony of brawling cats, nails on a blackboard. We, the audience, both cringe and delight at the prospect of the soon-coming judgment by a trio of professional truthers. And we know that the contestant will respond with a shrill denial, tears, and the gulping commitment to press on with their “dream.” We tell ourselves that we would never be so lacking in self-awareness.

But how self-aware are you really? Could you possibly be The Cat Singer on a talent show and not know it? Are you chasing a dream you have no business chasing?

The good news is that there is a judge sitting in front of you that is more than willing to help you with your self-awareness. It’s called the marketplace. The marketplace will tell you – using your financial results and the size of your prospects list – in no uncertain terms whether the dream you so feverishly dream is really for you.

Listen to the marketplace. Your success is wrapped up in it. Then allow your marketplace-driven self-awareness to lead you to a place where you can best deliver value. You’ll know if you got it right because the marketplace will confirm it with the same enthusiasm it used to expose your inner Cat Singer.

With that, I am very happy to point you to the announcement on page 9 of role changes in our team here at Canadian Contractor. I will be returning to the editor’s chair that I occupied from the founding of this magazine in 2000 until 2013, to do what I do best. It’s where I belong.

GET MORE DONE™** with 200+ PRODUCTS in the DEWALT 20V MAX* line. All tools come with upgraded features, superior ergonomics and use Lithium-Ion batteries. For extreme performance, step up to the XR® series and get advanced electronics, extended runtime and faster application speeds.

QUEBEC VERSUS ONTARIO

The Ontario College of Trades is supposed to be on the way out. But it is still irritating contractors in the province.

Why isn’t Quebec open for business, he asks The following nformation is taken from the Ontario College of Trades’ website. Please read, Ontario contractors. Quebec residents who hold valid equivalent certificates of qualification or competence issued to journeypersons or apprentices in the Province of Quebec in the Quebec equivalent of six compulsory Ontario trades are exempt from section 2 of Ontario College of Trades and Apprentices Act. Meaning they are not required to be members of the College in order to work in the compulsory trade for which they hold the Quebec certificate. This is how this so called Ontario College of Trades discriminates against Ontario tradespeople. Apparently Quebeckers have more rights then Ontario trades working in Ontario. Are they special? This is disgusting.

APOINTOF DIFFERENCE

Invest just a few hours – and enjoy lunch with us between sessions – at this special hydronics conference and trade show

Session #1 12:00 – 12:30

Learn how to sell your clients on the beauty, safety and increased property value of a properly installed snow and ice melt system.

Session #2 1:30 – 2:00

Surely this is a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms? Equality rights are supposed to apply for every Canadian and landed immigrant. Does Quebec allow Ontario trades people to have the same advantages? All of us trades people in Ontario are been treated like second class citizens, or pure idiots, under this disgusting system. Where is Premier Doug Ford? Why aren’t these matters being addressed?

Questo

LOT LEVIES AND FEES

Online, Casey Edge of the Victoria Residential Builders Association, wrote last month about how governments are hitting up homebuilders for development fees as a way to keep taxes lower, contributing to affordable housing shortages.

Casey Edge’s article was exactly right

I just read Casey Edge’s article on government downloading. Exactly right, Casey. I sat through the North Cowichan Council

Learn about the cost-savings, increased efficiencies and application flexibility (even on second floors with wood frame construction) of thermal mass overpours. See products from: The International Centre Mississauga, ON September 19, 2019 Register for FREE using promo code CdnContractor

meeting on Wednesday, listening to council scrambling to keep the tax increase below 3.05 per cent. It was to be 3.50 per cent but (surprise) the growth rate was 1.35 per cent instead of the predicted 1.25 per cent. Council said that if we can find $30,000 somewhere we can reduce it to 2.95 per cent. I asked immediately after that circuitous debate, “Why are we taxing 0.5% for the Climate Action Energy Plan (collected since February 2013)? The CAEP Reserve Fund in 2018 was $492,000 – with no real plan to “reduce emissions” in North Cowichan. We have a shortage of homes! Solutions?

Joyce Behnsen

Reply from Casey Edge

Hi Joyce. The best defence is to educate the public and elected officials on the housing facts supported by the numbers. Basically that’s all I do. It requires research but I’m prepared when bureaucrats and politicians use housing for political purposes and more revenue: which is almost always.

Casey Edge

CANADIAN CONTRACTOR

Canadian Contractor is pleased to announce the following role changes among its senior staff.

Rob Koci, who has been Publisher of the magazine since 2013, has been appointed to the expanded role of Editor. Meanwhile Steve Payne, Editor of the magazine since 2012, will move over to the advertising side of the business as Accounts Manager.

With his new role, Koci is moving back into the editor’s role that he first filled in 2000 when Canadian Contractor was launched. A residential contractor for 20-plus years before helping to launch the publication, Koci has also worked as a TV contractor and in radio. Payne is well-versed in serving the needs of Canadian Contractor’s advertisers and sponsors, having held the role of Publisher himself from 2000 to 2008.

* Sponsored Editorial *

TRANSFORM HOMES FASTER WITH METRIE COMPLETE® MOULDING AND TRIM

Projects rarely come with unlimited budgets or indefinite timelines, so your time and resources are valuable.

Metrie Complete is a patented, pre-painted moulding solution that can shave days off your project’s timeline. The durable factory finish, smooth surface and color matching accessories ensure professional results every time.

Did you know? When comparing traditional primed moulding to pre-painted, you can save up to 6 days on the jobsite using Metrie Complete®. Additionally you have the potential to save up to $1,000 in labor and materials costs.*

Metrie Complete pre-painted moulding is ready to install, thus reducing the number of steps and additional supply and labor costs associated with a traditional moulding installation.

Additional benefits include:

• Reduced costs—no on-site painting required and fewer people needed to finish the job.

• Consistent color and factory finish—reduces call-backs and the need to reschedule trades due to inconsistent results.

• Decreased jobsite clean-up.

To ensure that the finish looks flawless after installation, the patented Metrie Complete solution offers finishing accessories

that have been expertly color-matched to the pre-painted trim. These accessories include caulking to help you seal joints and a wax stick to fill nail holes so that they blend in smoothly with the durable painted finish.

If you are looking to save time without sacrificing a quality look and feel, consider Metrie Complete pre-painted moulding for your next project. For more information and to locate a distributor near you, visit Metrie.com

*Comparison based on a 2,185 square foot home and a painter’s cost of $1.15 per square foot.

Steve Payne

Rob Koci

3REASONS SYNTHETIC DECKS ARE BETTER

Non-wood deck materials can boost your bottom line

By Steve Maxwell

Synthetic

lumber is a low-maintenance wood substitute for the walking surfaces of decks, docks, porches and gazebos, and there are three reasons this stuff makes business sense. I installed synthetics for the first time in 2001 and I like them now more than ever.

Reason#1: Clients Are Happier

I talk to hundreds of homeowners each year about decks, and the most common story I hear goes like this: The homeowner gets a new, expensive wooden deck built. The homeowner is very pleased with the appearance at first. Then, after a couple of years, the homeowner has grown weary of failing wood deck finishes and resents the maintenance it demands. Many people regret having ever built with wood in the first place.

Reason#2: You’ll Make More Money

All else being equal, there’s more markup to be made on a deck with a higher price tag. Good synthetics aren’t cheap, and the higher estimates they result in should translate into more profits for you. Another thing about synthetics is that the material is more consistent than wood and more predictable. You don’t need to order more to allow for the inevitable bad boards you’d get with lumber. There’s no risk of call-backs for slivered, split, or deck boards that go wonky as they dry. And unlike lumber, you can store excess synthetic deck materials outdoors indefinitely without deterioration. I store mine on their edge, with a small space between each one for air circulation and drainage.

Reason#3: You Face Lower Liability

Protecting your clients from wood deck regret is the biggest reason it makes sense to promote synthetic deck materials. While budget-minded clients have no choice but to stick with pressuretreated lumber, synthetics make way more sense for anyone considering higher-end materials. The thing to explain to your clients is that the cost of synthetics delivers more than just a rotproof building material with an unlimited lifespan. Your clients are also buying their way out of all future refinishing hassles and expenses associated with real wood. They’ll also never have to live with the nagging feeling that, “Oh, I really should get that wood deck refinished.”

Wooden decks are one of the financially riskier projects you can take on, especially when reality clashes with the expectations of a picky client. With synthetics you won’t hear complaints from clients such as. “Oh, I thought the finish would be darker than that” or “that stain you put on last fall has peeled off – what will you do about it?”. By eliminating the need for finishing, you take one big wildcard out of the deck building game. Synthetics also extend and simplify the deck building season because you don’t need great weather for finishing.

Synthetic materials aren’t for every outdoor project you tackle, but they can make your working life better in more ways than one. cc

BEYOND ORDINARY WARRANTY

Our Deckorators decking and porch ﬂ ooring warranty is the ﬁ rst of its kind: 25-year Structural, 25-year Stain & Fade and 25-year Limited Removal & Replacement. That’s right. We have you covered on removal, replacement

When you have conﬁdence in your product, you stand behind it.

behind it.

Voyage Tundra

Voyage Sierra

Voyage Mesa

Voyage Costa

AIMING HIGH

Interview by John Bleasby

Amsted owns four residential properties around the Ottawa area. The firm uses them to demonstrate their design-build excellence, as well as operating them as satellite offices for their design and sales teams. Barkhouse calls them “Living Rooms.”

SteveBarkhouse is the third generation of his family to make a living in the construction business. But that doesn’t mean anything was handed to him – he started out small and on his own with his entrepreneurial spirit as his major asset. Today, Steve’s Ottawa-based company, Amsted Design-Build, is a multiple award winner that completes up to 30 projects each year. Plus, Steve is co-owner, with long-time friend Kirk Haw, of a highly successful sister company focusing on insurance restoration.

Many contractors set out to be as successful as Steve Barkhouse, yet fall by the wayside. Canadian Contractor asked Steve to tell us why he thinks he has succeeded.

Looking back, do you imagine your success could have happened any other way than it did?

The simple answer is “no” because if I changed anything, would I be where I am today? I graduated from university during the

How Steve Barkhouse, owner of Amsted DesignBuild, Ottawa, built one of the largest renovation firms in North America

Photo: Larry Arnal

recession of the early 1990s and I couldn’t find a job. So I started up on my own. I love where I am today. However, I truly believe than that had I worked for someone else first, I would have been a great employee. I probably would have become very comfortable working for somebody else, and if they were fair to me I probably would have just stayed with them. On the other hand, it might have made my journey easier and quicker to have learned from someone before going on my own. When I think of my team now and how many hurdles, holes or ditches that I am able to help them avoid, it’s because I've already done that and I have already made that particular mistake.

This is an issue of mentorship. That’s right. When I started out, a mentor would have been ideal — someone I could count on to give me really good advice. And that would be my advice for anyone starting out today, for sure,

whether it’s a mentor or a peer group. The mentoring I’ve received over the years through the peer groups Remodelers Advantage and, more recently, Next Level has transformed my company. You get to see how other companies are struggling with the exact same issues, trying to reinvent the wheel. There’s just no need for that.

What do you say to a young person trying to maintain their entrepreneurial spirit in the face of a major setback early on?

I don't think I’d have to say anything. If they are a true entrepreneur, they will understand that mistakes are part of the game. They won’t fear them. They will have the passion, persistence, and ambition to overcome their mistakes and to learn from them. They will recognize that these are not character flaws or personal failures, just mistakes, and they will put them behind quickly and move on. If you don’t think you’re going to

Each “Living Room” facility has its own design style, reflecting the company’s ability to meet a wide range of customer tastes.

get tested, don’t go into business. I sit on the board of Algonquin College and I can tell you, Algonquin is trying to bring the spirit of entrepreneurship into all their courses. Businesses want to hire entrepreneurial people who have the ability to learn, to really understand the problem, to listen to the client, and find solutions creatively. Perseverance and courage are big, big things that every business needs.

Some people say it is now impossible to develop a five- or ten-year business plan because of the fast-changing nature of the industry. What do you say to that?

I say, bull****! The best thing that my partner and I ever did was to write down our vision and core values a long time ago. We check them every year to make sure they’re still accurate and represent us properly, and we ask our staff to confirm it. We make every decision, especially the major ones, based on those visions and core values. We always ask ourselves if they are taking us where we want to go, and if they making us who we want to be.

A TRUE ENTREPRENEUR WILL UNDERSTAND THAT MISTAKES ARE PART OF THE GAME. THEY WON'T FEAR THEM.”

Can you describe how that planning process works?

It’s important to have a personal plan first, because it tells you where you want to be personally, who you want to be, and where you want to go. To me, a business is a part of your life. It needs to mesh with your personal plan. My business partner Kirk and I each have one. We’ve probably had them for 20 years, and we look at them three or four times a year. Then we created our business plan to support our personal plan. We have what we call a tenyear target. It’s bullet points, generalizations. It’s pretty clear: we project what the revenue is going to be, where it’s going to come from, and what the team will look like. Then we have a threeyear picture. That tells us where we have to be in three years in order to be where we need to be in ten years — that’s a little more detailed. Then we say, “If that’s where we need to be in three years what do we need to do this year to get there?” That is even more detailed. We adjust that annually, move everything out one year, and reset. It’s a vision, it's a budget, it’s a plan.

You’ve developed a design-build team that can handle many concurrent projects. That must take great skill at delegating and not trying to constantly be a Superman?

As I have grown my business and as it has matured, I’ve found it very difficult not to rush in with my cape on. I have to constantly ask myself if maybe I have created a problem in order to solve it, or if I’m not letting my team make the mistakes that I was allowed to make, learn from them and get better. Am I always solving problems so that, as a result, my people stop trying to solve problems and don’t grow? Am I stifling their growth? You

The Amsted team have won several prestigious awards in recent years.

BUILD SMARTER, BUILD STRONGER

NUDURA ICFs complete the building envelope in one building step.

Building codes today demand buildings and structures be built with greater energy efficiency by utilizing continuous insulation.

NUDURA insulated concrete forms allow you to complete the building envelope with one building product for a stronger and more efficient structure.

ICFs give you the opportunity to build residential, commercial, and a variety of other build projects while achieving the demands of todays building codes.

www.nudura.com/training | 1-866-468-6299

can become a little addicted to being a superhero. I need to be a coach, a mentor, a supporter, and a cheerleader. I can be Superman underneath but I don't need to feel that ego rush. Those days are gone. In fact, it can hurt the company. I need to step back, be more like Clark Kent, and let the team grow. As a result, they've become a lot better than me — and that can be a little humbling at times!

How do you find the good people that allow you to delegate so successfully?

I don’t want to be flippant, but when you have as many faults as I do, you always need to hire people that are better than you at certain things. And when you have the right people and you have the right culture, and the right people driving it, it’s contagious; it's a magnet that attracts other like-minded people. I would say what I did was fairly modest. Early on, I went to a few people I felt were wonderful and said, “Why don’t we all get together, and do what we’re good at.” They brought the culture and together we built the culture. It goes back the core values I mentioned earlier. The people we hire have to fit into those core values and they have to want to go where we want to go. And I think that since we're pretty open about what it is we do, where we want to go, and who we want to work with, those are the people who apply.

How do manage to retain those good people?

We survey our team every year and we’ve found the

PERSEVERANCE AND COURAGE ARE BIG, BIG THINGS THAT EVERY BUSINESS NEEDS.”

biggest reason they work at Amsted is because of the team. Compensation comes in somewhere around number nine. That said, you have to pay your people appropriately. But you don’t have to overpay them, and if you do overpay them, it’s not going to guarantee that they're going to stay. In fact, it could have the opposite effect.

So if it’s not the money, it’s the culture?

It’s the culture, for sure. Of course, the culture of the company demands of itself that you pay fairly, because your culture is respect, your culture is fairness, your culture is identifying good work and a commitment to quality. So it just follows that you’re going to pay appropriately. And of course, you have to provide opportunity. If you don’t provide anyone any growth, and they want growth, they’re going to leave. I find this particularly with young people. Young people believe they’re not going to have a career. With that mindset, they are quick to move. If your core values and culture don’t line up with their core values, they’re going to leave you. cc

Each “Living Room” includes an area for Amsted’s designers to meet with clients.

Last year’s winner of the ITW projects contest: Stephen Cartwright

Last year, contractor Stephen Cartwright of Canadian Waterfront Services, Ltd. won $5,000 of GRK fasteners and a Paslode nail gun. Stephen sent us photos of this beautiful boathouse and boat port he built for a client at Gloucester Pool, Muskoka, Ontario. If you’ve got your own completed project that used GRK fasteners — no matter what type of construction it is — let us have a look. You, too, could win the grand prize.

Contractors: Terry and Trevor King, St. John’s, Nfld.

Design: Woodford Sheppard Architecture, St. John’s, Nfld.

The building was restricted to 18 feet wide, the maximum available I-beam length, a decision that was both economical and efficient.

PHOTO: JULIAN PARKINSON

RETIREMENT ROCK ON THE

By John Bleasby

new build on a one-acre lot, four hours north of St. John’s, Newfoundland

MostCanadians from elsewhere imagine Newfoundland as a largely craggy landscape with small settlements hugging the shores of naturally protected harbours. Yet, there are notable exceptions such as the town of Eastport, four hours north of St. John’s near Terra Nova National Park. The area has its share of outport heritage, of course. However, Eastport has been a popular vacation summertime destination for decades largely because of its sandy beaches and tall trees.

Chris Woodford and Taryn Sheppard, two young architectural partners, were in the first year of their practice in 2013 when they were approached by a couple looking for a design meeting their anticipated post-retirement lifestyles. “The clients were going to downsize from a larger home in St. John’s,” said Woodford. “This was to be the last house they would build.”

The one-acre lot near the town had been in the family for some time. Whereas rocky outcrops might be expected in many parts of Newfoundland, upon inspection it was soil erosion that was the issue confronting the designers. Woodford described how a steep embankment dropped off towards Eastport beach and the water. “A few old birch trees were removed to give the house a view to the ocean, but we decided to leave the existing vegetation as much as we possibly could.” The remaining mature trees would also protect the house from storms that occasionally blow in from the ocean with ferocity.

The second level includes a protective overhanging ledge on the southern side. An ICF crawl space provides a low-ceilinged walk-out space for storage and mechanical needs. (PHOTO: WOODFORD SHEPPARD)

The clients had very specific design criteria. Given that the house needed to address an anticipated retirement lifestyle, main level living space included a bedroom and a master bath, with secondary accommodation on the second level. The idea was that, for the time being, the owners would use the second floor loft as their own private bed and bathroom. However, should stairs become an issue later, their private space requirements would be ready for them on one single level. Energy-efficiency was important as well, not so much as an environmental statement as an effort to address reduced cash flow in retirement. Finally, for budgetary reasons, the house needed to be less than 2,000 sq.ft. — it ended up at 1,650 sq.ft. plus a 350 sq.ft. garage.

It was important that the building envelope also address the climatic conditions specific to this region of Newfoundland. Temperatures rarely rise above 25 degrees in summer, dropping to minus 10 in winter. Rainfall is considerable — averaging 1191 mm over 212 days a year, versus 786 mm over 136 days in Toronto, for example. Snowfalls can also be extreme, with daily accumulations often exceeding 20 cm. By contrast, Toronto rarely has daily snowfall exceeding 6 cm.

Not surprisingly, Woodford Sheppard incorporated a number of Passive House concepts into the design. “We weren’t formally trained in this. It’s just the kind of thing you learn if you’re paying attention,” said Woodford. “If you work with the site and the

Overhangs protect the main floor from overheating in summer while allowing solar gain into the building in winter.

(DIAGRAM: WOODFORD SHEPPARD)

elements, that’s half the battle.” This approach meant the design minimized, or even eliminated, the need for many mechanical heating and cooling systems found in standard houses. For example, the long, narrow east-west orientation encourages natural ventilation, with opening triple-glazed windows and

The design incorporates an East Coast flavour with clean modern lines, heightened by the use of prefinished pine siding.

(PHOTOS: JULIAN PARKINSON)

large overhangs positioned to minimize solar gain in summer. As a result, there is no need for air conditioning. At the same time, the window positioning allows warming in winter when the sun angle is lower. Therefore, the house requires only a heat pump and a propane fireplace during the cold months.

The exterior walls are insulated to R32 using fibreglass batts between the 2x6 studs with 1.5 inches of rigid insulation added to the exterior over the plywood sheathing to provide added R-value and important thermal breaks. The pre-finished pine siding was installed with rain screening at the base to cope with the high levels of regional precipitation. The roof has an R40 rating, achieved through a combination of blown cellulose under the flat roof sections and rigid foam under the steel sheet roofing on the sloped sections. The Insulated Concrete Forms used for the foundation walls created a warm, unfinished crawl space for storage and mechanical runs.

“The house feels a lot larger than its 1,650 square feet because of the open space above the kitchen, which visual connects the upstairs loft area with the open living area below,” said Woodford. This was made possible by restricting the building to a width of 18 feet, the maximum length of locally available wood I-joists. Allowing these joists to run unsupported across the full width resulted in considerable design freedom when it came to the open layout of the interior space — another example of Woodford Sheppard’s efficient design and economical use of materials. cc

In addition to a bedroom and bat, the second floor loft also includes a private reading area. (PHOTO: TOBIAS ROMANIUK)

The full width, unsupported joists and trusses allowed for an open main floor layout (PHOTO: WOODFORD SHEPPARD)

BTHE TWO MOST IMPORTANT WORDS IN YOUR CONTRACTING CAREER

By Steve Maxwell

ack in the 1990s, I had the chance to interview dozens of construction company owners over a period of years for ongoing articles I wrote in a magazine called Carpenter. Every business owner I talked to had begun their working lives as journeymen carpenters in the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners (UBC), but by the time I spoke to them they owned construction companies of various sizes and persuasions. The people who made time for my questions were busy, often employing dozens of people doing amazing projects.

One question I always asked near the end of each interview was simple, but useful: “What’s the single most effective thing you’ve done to make your business successful?” The most unexpected answer is the most valuable in my experience and it has nothing to do with management methods, hiring practices, project bidding, tool management or any of the other things that a good construction business depends on. The secret of success cited more than once came down to something your parents should have taught you… say thank you, out loud and often.

THE BENEFITS OF THE ‘THANK YOU’ MENTALITY CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.

politeness has become rather extraordinary. One reason to say thank you is because it makes people remember you for next time. Whether you realize it or not, your clients do you a favour every time they choose to work with you. They’ve said “no” to other contractors they could have worked with, just like they could have said no to you. The fact that you were chosen is something you must never take for granted. All else being equal, people choose to do business with those they like. Saying thank you makes you more likable.

The second reason to say thank you may be the most important of all. The act of genuinely speaking these words keeps you humble. It’s a personal reminder that this dirty old ball of rock we live on would keep spinning just fine if you and your business disappeared tomorrow. Mutual consent is the hallmark of a free market economy and you can’t take the opportunity to work for granted. In a very real sense, I consider it a privilege to work for clients and you should, too. Saying thank you is an affirmation to yourself that even successful builders are dependent on others. We all are.

I know this sounds too simple to matter, but I’m reminded of the power of the “thank you” mentality every time I encounter someone who uses it on me. Saying a sincere thank you is one of those things that doesn’t seem like much to the person offering the words, but it usually means a lot to the person on the receiving end.

There are two reasons regularly saying thank you to clients, employees and suppliers makes a positive difference in your business. This is especially true in today’s world where ordinary

When should you say thank you? Pretty much whenever you can. In addition to a personal thank you every time a client pays you, thank your employees and subs when you pay them, too. Sure, officially speaking, the “thank you” is the payment you’re giving them, but why not make it more personal? It’s no extra trouble, and it builds your reputation as a decent, polite and reasonable person. And heaven knows, our world sure needs more people like this right about now, doesn’t it? cc

OUT OF THE WEATHER

How to choose, erect and manage a fabric shelter storage space

By Steve Maxwell

Sheltered storage space is always in short supply, but as true as this is, it doesn’t mean your trailers, machines and equipment need to sit outside and rust. A fabric shelter can make all the difference. Also called temporary shelters or portable garages, this kind of structure uses hoopshaped metal frames to support a tarp that keeps rain, sun and snow off equipment and building supplies. In 2010 I set up a heavy-duty fabric shelter at my place and it’s performed pretty much flawlessly ever since. Perhaps my experiences can help you.

Choosing a Fabric Shelter

The unit I bought was a 16’ x 30’, angledwall shelter made by a Canadian company

called Cover-Tech (http://www.cover-tech. com; 888-325-5757), and I chalk the longterm success of this shelter up to three things.

First, it’s well made. The thick fabric and large-diameter galvanized pipes used to make the hoops are more than up to the job. There are other shelters out there that are as good as what I’ve got, but I’ve never seen any that are better. The only technical issue in nine years has been that one of the fabric doors wore through in places where it was rubbing against the metal frame. Other than that, there’s never been the slightest bit of trouble, even on the harsh, windy, exposed island location I have it set up on.

The second reason for success is that I

invested time and a little money building a decent, well-drained base before erecting the shelter. This is more important than many people realize, especially if you’ll be using the shelter as part of a busy contracting business.

The third reason for success is that I’ve

learned the tricks of managing a fabric shelter properly. It’s not always the same as with an ordinary wood-frame structure, and as you’ll see, the reasons come down to moisture, wind and blowing snow.

As you’re shopping for a shelter, there are some optional features you should know about. The most valuable in my experience is having roll-up doors at both ends, not just one. Having access to both ends makes it much easier to put stuff in and get it out. Another thing to consider is optional hold-down straps that go over the shelter, anchoring into the ground on each side. Not all companies offer this, but it delivers an added level of strength and wind resistance.

All shelters use some method to secure the fabric over the frame and tighten it, and most use a series of laces that thread through grommets in the fabric and around the frame. I paid a little extra for a system

that uses ratcheting strap clamps to secure the fabric and draw it tight. Besides being more effective than laces, the ratcheting system is easy to snug up later, if the fabric ever gets loose.

Tips for Installing a Fabric Shelter

You could simply erect a shelter on undisturbed ground, but that probably won’t perform well with all the traffic you’ll have going into and out of the thing. Who wants a muddy floor with ruts and holes? Creating a raised, solid, well-drained base is a better option. It’s the single biggest thing you can do to get your fabric shelter up and running optimally, and in my case this work started with some sharpened 2x2 wooden stakes. Hammer these into the ground at all four corners of the area you want to make level for your pad, plus more stakes every 10 feet or so along the sides. Use a transit to mark the tops of these stakes for sawing off level, then use the sawn top ends as reference when you’re putting down fill and compacting it. I used limestone screenings under my shelter, sloping this fill down when it got past the leveling stakes, extending 6 to 10 feet beyond the footprint of the shelter. Have the fill for your base dumped in or near the pad location, then use a loader tractor or skid-steer loader to spread it around evenly. You’ll compact the fill surprisingly well if you intentionally drive over all areas of the fill as you level it. This should prevent settling, though you’ll eliminate all risk of settling if you let your pad sit for several months before erecting your shelter.

Managing Your Shelter

Each shelter company has their own assembly instructions, but few tell you what to expect when it comes to managing the shelter once it’s up. What’s to manage you say? Moisture is the big thing. Since these

shelters are surprisingly air tight when installed properly and the door is closed, moisture can migrate up from the ground or come in on wet equipment, making interior humidity levels too high. And when outdoor air temperatures cool down outside, it can cause airborne moisture to condense on the inside of the tarp and the metal hoops enough to rain down on your stuff. This

to open them up. Either way, check inside and see how the “weather” in your shelter looks, especially as fall cools to winter, and winter warms to spring. Visible moisture on the walls is a sign that you need more ventilation.

As with any shelter, you need to be aware of the door. When windy weather arrives, it’s important to close the door and

dynamic can even happen when it stays below freezing for long periods of time in winter. The sun will raise internal shelter temperatures above freezing during the day (even when it’s below 0ºC outside), triggering the condensation cycle even when you might not think it can happen. Ventilation is the simple solution, but the question is how to provide it.

The most effective approach involves leaving the shelter door open whenever wind and weather permit. Some shelters have screened ventilation openings up in the gable ends, though many require you to cut the tarp in front of the screen

secure it shut. Many shelters also rely on the door being closed to give the structure racking resistance during strong winds. My own shelter came with bungee cords for keeping the door closed under normal conditions, plus ratcheting strap clamps for cinching the door down extra tight in a windstorm.

It’s usually true that it’s easier to buy things than it is to store and take care of them properly. A fabric shelter might not seem as exciting as a new quad, a tractor, mini-excavator or the equipment you store inside, but a good shelter is at least as important as the stuff being protected. cc

MAXWELL’S PICK

SIMPSON STRONG-TIE BTH BRICK TIE

Conventional brick ties are one of those common construction details that strikes me as just barely good enough to do the job. The Simpson Strong-Tie BTH brick tie is different. It’s the best example I’ve seen of a high-end tie that’s also economical and widely available. Large air space capacity is one reason why. The BTH can accommodate wider-than-usual spaces between the masonry and the underlying wall frame. It’s the only option I’ve seen for tying brick veneer or manufactured stone to a wood or metal framework with up to a 3” air space between. Strength is another reason the BTH impresses me. Unlike regular zig-zag brick ties, the BTH is angled in cross section, creating a tie that’s rigid both in compression and tension. It’s also easy to bend the nailing tab on the BTH to customize it for different air space gaps. Just determine a desired gap width, then bend accordingly before

VARATHANE

PRO FINISHER OIL BASED CLEAR FINISH

If you’ve been finishing wood with urethane for any length of time, you know that it has become significantly more difficult to get good results. As government regulations squeeze excellent urethanes out of existence, they’re being replaced by fast-drying, low-VOC water-based formulations that seem engineered to leave behind brush strokes and hardened bubbles. Varathane Pro Finisher urethane is entirely different. It’s one of the few oilbased urethanes still on the market and it’s every bit as good as the outstanding urethanes of the 1990s. In fact, it’s even better than any of my previous favourites. The main claim to fame is that this stuff doesn’t form bubbles as you brush it on, and it dries slowly enough to flow out. That’s not to say that it’s slow drying, either. Dry to the touch in six hours, Pro Finisher quickly forms a rock-hard film so it sands well between coats. No gummy residue clogging up the 220-grit sandpaper from this stuff. As with all urethanes, I prefer a satin or matte finish because it shows imperfections much less prominently than semi-gloss or gloss formulations. You won’t be disappointed. It works just as well on floors as it does on cabinets and trim. About $75 per gallon in most hardware stores. cc

using a screw or nail to anchor the tie to the frame. The BTH brick tie is available from Simpson Strong-Tie dealers. I had to wait a week or so for my local building supplier to get a case in for me, so think ahead. cc

SMALL WHEN YOU DON’T!

Everybodyuses ladders, and we all have the same complaints. “Ladders are too heavy!” “They take up half of my garage to store!” “They are too big for my car!” “I don’t have a ladder rack!” Or, “I have a ladder rack and hate it!” Telesteps has solved all these problems with our OSHA certified, ANSI 14.2 tested telescoping ladders. Made from non-recycled aircraft-grade aluminum, these ladders are durable and lightweight.

Telesteps offers several sizes of extension ladders, from A-frames and step stools that range from Type 1- 250lb ratings, to Type 1A- 300lb ratings, to Type 1AA- 375lb ratings. Built for commercial, industrial and home use, Telesteps is a must have tool in any tool box, workshop, jobsite and home.

Telesteps ladders range from 10.5 feet (14-foot reach) to 14.5 feet (18-foot reach). They can also be opened in one foot increments, starting from the bottom. When retracted, most are only 27”-32” high, and they weigh from 18-29 lbs.

Easy to use, easy to carry and easy to store, Telesteps ladders can fit in the backseat of a car, are great in confined spaces, and can be stored in a coat closet or pickup cab. No ladder racks are needed to transport these precision-manufactured tools to the jobsite. FYI, half of the ladder injuries in the USA occur when lifting a ladder off a ladder rack or carrying a heavy ladder around jobsites. Using a Telesteps telescoping ladder helps to remove this risk, since you won’t need a ladder rack any longer.

Telesteps owners know the value of being able to carry a small ladder under one arm into a home or business, pop it up quickly, do their work, pop it down again, and leave without damaging doors, walls, windows, and people. Telesteps extension and A-frame ladders are used by painters, roofers, framers, building

Telesteps telescopic ladders

inspectors, solar installers, cable and security alarm installers, farmers, janitorial and building maintenance workers, etc.

The Telesteps black tactical ladder is used by the U.S. military and paramilitary and is popular with law enforcement and outdoorsmen/hunters. Telesteps has a great track record, and we offer the best warranty in the ladder industry: one full year.

FACT: Did you know that Telesteps is the original manufacturer and inventor of the telescopic ladder? Telesteps is the only OSHA-certified telescoping ladder on the market. Some have tried to copy this successful ladder, but besides not having OSHA stickers, they cannot copy the patented one-touch release system, patented pivoting silicone feet, professional wide steps for ease of use, and elliptical railing system, which provides extra engineered strength. Telesteps engineered climbing products are the most portable and easy-to-store ladders in the world. Our quality is unparalleled.

Big when you need them, small when you don’t! cc

TOASTIER TOES

Electric in-floor heating is ideal for warming cold feet

By Steve Maxwell

Sincewe’ve all survived another Canadian winter, you might have clients coming to you wondering what you can do about the perennial cold feet they endured again. Bathrooms, basements, floors over crawlspaces and those notoriously cold bedrooms over garages are all likely sources of suffering, and electric in-floor heating is part of a solution you should know about.

Mat-style in-floor electric heating systems have been available for years, but most of the versions I’ve worked with aren’t customizable for each job, nor are they particularly reliable. And when electric in-floor heating stops working, that’s a big headache for you because all the flooring probably needs to come up to repair the bad mats.

Electric in-floor heating systems aren’t usually powerful enough to heat spaces entirely on their own, but they’ll make your client’s feet a whole lot happier.

Installed in strategic places wherever it matters most in bedrooms, bathrooms or even just in front of the couch, electric in-floor heating systems offer a lot more flexibility for retrofitting spaces at economical prices.

DITRA-HEAT is the easiest to install and best-warranted cablestyle electric in-floor system I’ve worked with. I’ve never had DITRA-HEAT let me down. The system includes a dimpled plastic underlay that’s made for heating cables to snap in only where you need it. Anchor the special DITRA underlay to the floor with thinset mortar, pop the cable in place from a spool around cabinets, appliances and other areas that need no heat, then cap the whole thing off with more thinset and tiles. A time-of-day thermostat allows your clients to pay only for the heat they need, and independent control of floor temperature lets them dial in just the right amount of floor heat relative to room temperature.

If you’re ever asked to warm up one of those cold, over-the-garage bedrooms, you’ll need to do more than just put wires in the floor. Two inch-thick extruded polystyrene foam sheets make great floor insulation. Cover the existing subfloor with the foam, then fasten a 5/8” plywood subfloor on top, secured with screws driven down into the existing floor and joists. There’s no need for strapping. The foam is dense enough to support the new subfloor. Install electric in-floor heating and new flooring and your clients will be a lot warmer.

Is the ceiling of the garage under the bedroom open and uncovered by drywall? Spray foam insulation applied to the underside of the floor between joists will warm the bedroom a lot if your client would rather not insulate from above. It takes a 3” depth of closed cell foam to function as a vapour barrier in Canadian conditions. cc

w w w . p a i n t s u p p l i e s d i r e c t . c a

Fred’s cold feet (two contests in one)

By John Bleasby

Fred Kennedy has been with RJ Custom Homes & Renovations for 20 years, the last 12 as a site super. He’s enjoyed the job – and the generous salary. However, he’s become a bit restless lately and has decided a change of career is needed.

Fred approached company owner Rolly Jones and asked for a new role as a salesperson. Jones welcomed the idea of change and decided to promote a younger person to fill Fred’s site super job. A few days later, Rolly presented Fred with his new employment contract. Fred’s previously comfortable salary had been replaced with a low base with a sales commission for any new business signed. Now Fred is having second thoughts. He wonders if he can support his family without knowing his exact income. He’s asked to speak to Rolly about maybe getting his old job back.

How should Fred prepare for the meeting? How should Rolly respond?

See the options at right.

LAST ISSUE’S WINNER – The young gunslinger

In our March/April contest, framing team leader Dennis Sherwood is feeling challenged by Jerry, a young apprentice who keeps telling Dennis that there are better ways of doing things. Dennis’s boss says that the new kid might, indeed, have ideas worth considering. As a result, Dennis is feeling undermined on two levels, leaving his authority over his crew at risk.

Almost every respondent felt that Jerry has over-stepped by showing a lack of respect for Dennis and proper process. Some felt a reprimand was in order. Several felt a private meeting between the two would clear the air and direct Jerry to show more deference. At the same time, the majority believed that there were benefits to having a young apprentice on the team and some potential value to his suggestions.

Is there a way to combine the knowledge base of both employees? Our winning entry said yes. “Happy, productive construction teams are those with good leadership, not bosses keen on exercising their authority,” wrote Michael Janzen of Grunthal, Man. “It is Dennis’s responsibility as the team leader to maintain or improve that production. If he can listen to Jerry’s ideas and use the ones that will help while reminding him to appreciate the system that was in place when he joined, he will be showing true leadership that will not go unnoticed by his boss.”

Congratulations, Michael! You will receive a DEWALT 20V MAX* Tool Connect™ All-Purpose LED Light, courtesy of Stanley Black & Decker Canada.

DILEMMA 1: WHAT SHOULD FRED DO?

1. Be prepared to sign the new contract and to work hard. A salary with commission is standard for sales work.

2. Decline the contract offer and look elsewhere for a new job as a site supervisor.

3. Ask to be given his former salary and no commission.

4. Something else (please explain).

The best contractor-submitted entry, as judged by our panel, will WIN the new FLEXVOLT™ 60V MAX* Dust Extractor (DCV585). Retail value approx. $489.

DILEMMA 2: HOW SHOULD ROLLY RESPOND?

1. Respect Fred’s wishes and give him his job back.

2. Agree to maintain Fred’s former salary.

3. Tell Fred that it’s too late now. Either accept the new position or look for work elsewhere.

4 Something else.

The best contractor-submitted entry, as judged by our panel, will WIN a DeWalt Atomic 20V MAX LithiumIon Brushless Cordless Compact Drill/Impact Combo Kit. Retail value approx. $249.

HOW TO ENTER

You may send entries for both Dilemmas. Please email them to jbleasby@canadiancontractor.ca. Along with your answer, please give a short (max. one paragraph) explanation.

Entries close on Thursday, July 4. The winners will be announced online July 9 on our website.

TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO NEW HEIGHTS AND LENGTHS.

With the dependable versatility of Transit, plus the power and capability of F-150, Super Duty® and F-650/F-750, Ford’s lineup of commercial vehicles makes achieving your ultimate business goals possible.

KEY FEATURES

• Super Duty has best-in-class* max. payload of 7,640 lbs

• F-150 has available class-exclusive^ features like Pro Trailer Backup Assist

• Transit has 3 lengths, 3 heights and 64 cargo congurations

• Transit Connect has a compact footprint, and a maximum cargo space of 145.8 cu ft†