Contractor Advantage January / February 2016

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

CEILINGS WITH STYLE LUMBER MARKET FORECAST INSULATION INNOVATIONS

New Columns Inside On the Jobsite Supplier Spotlight Leaders in the Limelight What’s Trending

The ONE. Make No Mistake.

It’s DuPont Tyvek .

TM

®

DuPont™ Tyvek® is the one that delivers the best balance of properties to repel wind and rain, yet allow breathability. The one with local DuPont™ Tyvek® Specialists. The only one backed by the science, strength and warranty of DuPont™.

DuPont™ Tyvek® Weatherization Systems. An integrated product line including weather resistive barriers, sheathing tape, window and door flashing.

The one proven to work on today’s complex walls.

DuPont™ Tyvek® The ONE. Copyright © 2015 DuPont. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™ and Tyvek® are trademarks or registered trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. is a Canadian member-owned, Lumber, Building Materials and Hardware buying group representing over 300 member locations across Canada.

Contractor Advantage Magazine is the exclusive publication of Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. featuring quality Castle vendor brands available at Castle Building Centres locations.

Visit castle.ca to find a Castle location in your area.

Editorial Director Castle Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. Jennifer Mercieca Publisher - JAD Media Group Inc. Dan Alexander Managing Editor Teresa Christine Art Director Aram Stamboulian Contributers Teresa Christine Nestor E. Arellano Lawrence Cummer Melissa Campeau

Advertising Inquiries Jennifer Mercieca Director of Communications Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. 905-564-3307 jmercieca@castle.ca

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016 Volume 21 Issue 1

Material Contact Susan Brook Vendor Marketing Coordinator Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. 905-564-3307 sbrook@castle.ca Published and designed exclusively for Castle Building Centres Group Ltd.

by JAD Media Group Inc. About Contractor Advantage

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

3

Contributers in This Issue

Lawrence Cummer Lawrence Cummer is a freelance writer with 20 years of experience writing for trade periodicals, business and communications agencies. He is former senior writer and editor of the technology trade publications Network World Canada and Communications & Networking Journal, respectively. As well, he has been a senior contributor to a wide variety of publications.

Lawrence has been a frequent writer for Castle Building Centres’ Contractor Advantage since 2009, as well as its IDEAS and Rough Construction publications. Lawrence currently follows a broad range of business topics, including information technology, telecommunications, security, entrepreneurship, occupational safety, and home construction and general contracting. He can be reached at lawrence.cummer@hotmail.com.

Melissa Campeau Melissa Campeau is a Toronto-based journalist who regularly contributes to such publications as Yardstick, the OUR HOMES series of magazines, Mortgage Journal, Financial Post and National Post. She lives in Toronto with her husband, six-year-old son and one-year-old puppy. Daily living in a “quirky” century house with an active first-grader and an accidentally destructive 50-lb dog means you’ll often find tradespeople and contractors on hand, as well.

Nestor Arellano Nestor Arellano is a Toronto-based journalist who has written extensively about the Canadian construction industry for Contractor Advantage, Rough Construction and Ideas Magazine for more than eight years.

Throughout his career, Nestor has also covered the workplace health and safety, foodservice and hospitality, technology, as well as the defence and military procurement industries.

Eric Bloom Eric P. Bloom is the President and Founder of Manager Mechanics LLC, a nationally recognized speaker and author of the forthcoming book Productivity Driven Success: Hidden Secrets of Organizational Efficiency. He is also a nationally syndicated columnist, certified executive coach, and an Adjunct Research Advisor for IDC. He is also a past president of National Speakers Association New England. For more information on Eric Bloom please visit: www.ManagerMechanics.com and on Twitter at @EricPBloom.

Paul Rhodes Paul Rhodes is a partner of Crowe Soberman LLP. His professional experience includes construction, manufacturing and real estate and internal audit engagements.

Paul is a member of the Toronto Construction Association and can be reached at prhodes@soberman.com or 416 963 7217.

A Note From the Editor During a recent home renovation, my contractor told me that good buildings come from good people. That’s certainly true for the entire editorial team here and the countless contributors that have worked, and will continue to work, tirelessly to build a better and continuously evolving Contractor Advantage. This magazine is a collaborative effort and my intention as the managing editor is to try and honour the foundation and shape of the magazine while creating a more animated narrative that is crisp, clean and vibrant. As we bring this to life, our hope is that we bring the success of Contractor Advantage to new heights. The ‘fresh face’ will have renewed column concepts, feature ideas and page designs to name just a few alterations. Every post, every note, every day we are committed to sharing the very best in products and innovation as well as expert insight and best practices from across Canada. With every change comes a new spirit and I want you to know that our new team will work collectively toward the common goal of producing the very best Contractor Advantage every issue.

- Teresa Christine

4

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

Contributors

What’s Inside?

7 News & Notes

A fresh new look

8 What’s Trending

The growth of going green

19 On the Jobsite

Manage the jobsite using effective delegation

23 Introducing Decoding the Code

10

Lumber Market Forecast Suppliers see growth potential for 2016 as uncertainty fails to dampen the spirits of Canadian lumber producers and distributors.

Catch up on the latest code changes

32 Supplier Spotlight

IKO Industries Limited

35 Money Matters

Effective cash flow management

50 Product Platform

New & improved products

57 Leaders in the Limelight

Introducing Leaders in the Limelight

58 Tech Talk

Simplifying tasks with apps

24

Ceilings with Style Once considered a low priority, designers and architects are increasingly realizing the impact of ceilings on both form and function.

60 Design Talk

Make it with moulding

On the Cover

Photo courtesy of CGC Building Vocon Partners, LLC. Cleveland, OH Office Interiors Sub Contractor Architectural Interior Restorations, Inc. Cleveland, OH General Contractor Welty Building Company Ltd. Cleveland, OH Office

38

Insulation Innovations Improved insulation products and better installation are key components to meeting rising code requirements and homeowners battle against rising energy costs.

USG Distributor FBM Wholesale Parma, OH

Contents

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

5

INTRODUCING

COMMERCIAL GRADE DOOR HARDWARE

Repairs Projects Special order available | tellmfg.com Available now through your Castle dealer

News & Notes

A Fresh New Look Written by Jennifer Mercieca Editorial Director at Castle Building Centres Group Ltd.

Every new year brings aspirations of renewal, growth and opportunity, so what better time for Castle to introduce a newly designed Contractor Advantage.

Contractor Advantage made its debut back in 1998 as a newsletter style publication available to contractors exclusively at Castle Building Centre locations.

The magazine has since matured into four thriving publications with over 30,000 subscribers nationwide and an evolving demographic. We are proud of its growth and the array of National and Multi-National Castle supplier partners that continue to find value and a competitive advantage by advertising in our publications.

As we enter 2016 with a fresh, innovative publishing and editorial team at the helm, this first issue will reveal a revamped magazine sporting a sleek, contemporary look and feel including clean lines, updated graphics and easier to read layouts. We will continue to bring readers relevant content and feature articles with enriched editorial that will engage the evolving Contractor Advantage demographic.

News & Notes

Look for these great new columns in 2016 • Technology Tools for the contractor in “Tech Talk” • Building Codes explained in “Decoding-the-Code” • “On the Jobsite” highlighting tips and tricks of the trade • A showcase for the hottest in home improvement in “What’s Trending” • “Product Platform” featuring the latest and greatest products from our supplier network In addition to these, each issue will also include “Leaders in the Limelight” profiling an up and coming or highly successful Castle member location and the “Supplier Spotlight” column highlighting a loyal supplier partner and advertiser whose product offering continues to bring value to our member locations.

You will also notice a difference in aesthetics. Castle takes our corporate responsibility seriously and to ensure that we are doing our part to help support the Canadian economy and care for the environment, our publications will now be printed on FSC paper.

We are excited about the new Contractor Advantage ...hope you are too!

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

7

The Growth of Going Green Written by Teresa Christine Managing Editor at JAD Media Group Inc.

Building material manufacturers worldwide continue to make sustainability pledges to their customers. Many have invested time and research into re-inventing products to offer more energy efficient, healthier and environmentally conscious options.

Green building has always been cost effective but the latest trend of “greening” or retro-fitting of existing buildings and homes has captivated and influenced mainstream markets.

This suggests that the share of green building in Canada’s construction market is likely to see significant increases, creating strong opportunities for firms in this market to capitalize effectively on this shift. While the overall level of green involvement in Canada is slightly below those reported by the U.S. the degree of growth in “greening” anticipated in the next three years is much higher now in Canada and demonstrates the relative sophistication of the green building market in Canada.

Although there is some scepticism that LEED will keep dominating the green space, according to a survey conducted by McGraw Hill Construction, over half of those surveyed for GREEN BUILDING ACTIVITY IN CANADA, reported that over 30% of the projects they build are currently green, with over 70% expecting at least that level of green construction by 2017. The respondents were made up of architects, general contractors, developers and engineers, of various size construction firms who believe the numbers will continue to rise in an effort to please their eco-conscious customers.

CertainTeed announced recently that they were the first company in the gypsum manufacturing industry to offer Health Product Declarations (HPDs) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for drywall products. The newly published HPDs and EPDs provide scientifically robust and transparent information about environmental performance and third-party verification to confirm the true sustainability of a product. The declarations

8

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

Manufacturers like CertainTeed have recently pledged to strengthen their commitment to product transparency and creating healthy interior environments.

What’s Trending

What’s Trending

also allow products to contribute towards points in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building projects.

“CertainTeed ceilings and insulation product divisions were also industry-first in their categories for EPDs and HPDs — with the new gypsum certifications, building professionals can be confident our complete interior system solutions are compliant with sustainable program requirements,” said Dave Engelhardt, president of CertainTeed Gypsum. “We will continue this commitment to environmental responsibility with products that have a

11%

proven material impact on indoor energy use, air quality and acoustics.”

To download the new gypsum EPDs and HPDs and to learn more about sustainable building materials’ impact on occupant well-being, visit the new “Information is Power” product transparency resource web page at www.certainteed.com/gypsum/sustainability.

The Percentage of the 200 Respondants by Province

19% Not Sure

21%

Under $1 Million

Respondants

by Firm Size

$1 Million to Under $10 Million $10 Million to Under $250 Million 26%

23%

What’s Trending

$250 Million or More The percentage of 200 respondants by firm size is indicated in the adjacent chart above.

• Ontario 36% • British Columbia 20% • Alberta 17% • Québec 12% • Saskatchewan 6% • Manitoba 5% • Nova Scotia • New Brunswick 2% • Northwest Territories / Newfoundland and Labrador 1% each

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

9

LUMBER MARKET FORECAST

Uncertainty fails to dampen spirits of Canadian lumber producers and distributors.

Written by Nestor Arellano

Feature Story: Lumber Market Forecast

With the expiration of the Canada-U.S. Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) this October, a minor slip in Canadian housing starts and the sudden scarcity of top selling species recently, the local lumber market entered a period of uncertainty this fall.

Some lumber producers and distributors, however, chose to focus on the brighter side of the story.

“A lot of manufacturers and distributors are not sure how a new SLA will turn out for them,” according to John Taylor, AFA Products Inc. branch manager in Ontario. “However, with the expired agreement companies are shipping their lumber south of the border like crazy and taking advantage of the absence of duties that may last for a year.”

This is good news for businesses selling to the U.S. but unfortunately, this has resulted in a shortage and higher prices for certain products in Canada.

Canadian companies refused to let these developments dampen their mood and instead reported that they are looking to potential growth opportunities in 2016.

Consider the view of Paul Sheasgreen, the British Columbia-based national lumber procurement manager of CanWel Building Materials.

“The softwood lumber agreement provided some level of comfort with regards to the mechanics and market reaction,” he said. “Now, the industry will likely have no agreement in place until the end of next year…there will definitely be some volatility.”

While there may be “a bit of a panic,” the expiration of the SLA may be an opportunity for CanWel to fine-tune its strategy, he said.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

11

You know it never, ever just stays in the bath.

New ESSENTIEL vinyl composite flooring is sturdier, stronger and more waterproof than ever. It’s now available in seven different ultra durable finishes from natural stone to hardwood. With the glueless easy click “5G Lock Technology”, the plank and tile formats make quick work of any room. Even in the ones that see more of the traveling duck.

For more information about Essentiel, contact us at taigabuilding.com Innovation, from product to distribution, makes us leaders in the category. Whatever it takes.

Mixed outlook Material costs for Canadian lumber companies are expected to go up by 8.7% by the end of 2015, according to the Conference Board of Canada (CBC), but it also foresees the local wood industry benefiting from the weaker Canadian dollar and the ongoing recovery in the U.S. housing market.

Cost increases that exceed revenue growth will push down pre-tax profits to 0.2% or $1.4 billion in 2015.

However, rising production and higher prices mean industry revenues are set to reach nearly $29 billion for 2016.

“The continued recovery in the U.S. housing market is supporting increased demand for Canadian wood products, leading to an 8.7% increase in export volumes,” Michael Burt, director of industry economic trends at the CBC, said in a recent statement.

“However, while production should remain strong over the next five years, growth is set to eventually slow due to timber shortage in B.C. and soft growth in demand from China.”

While increased production is in the forecast, Burt also warned of risk factors that threaten the local industry in the medium term such as timber supply constraints brought about by a mountain pine beetle infestation in B.C. He said these could cause some companies to close their plants.

Under pressure Supply appears to be the top concern of Canadian lumber distributors.

For instance, the price of 2” x 4” random wood lengths in Eastern Canada has gone up from $4.20/bf just one week after the SLA expired, according to Taylor. It has become harder to locate cedar and SPF (spruce, pine and fir) as well.

“OSB (oriented strand board) is almost hard to find and prices shot up from $200/1,000sf to $300/1,000sf in the past four weeks,” reported Taylor.

The SPF shortage could be traced to lumber demand in the U.S., said Sheasgreen.

“Supply has become tighter because mills in the west are moving away from SPF and producing hemlock and fir instead which are in demand in the U.S.,” he said.

Exports to Asia are likely causing an impact as well. Over 90% of log exports to Asia for the last five years have been from Western Canada. For example, log shipment from B.C. to China rose from 100,000 cmb in 2007 to 3.4 million cmb in 2014.

Logistics is another industry sore spot, according to Michael Sivucha, vicepresident of commodity supply for Taiga, since there is currently a truck

Photo: Wood Works

Feature Story: Lumber Market Forecast

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

13

driver shortage disrupting the supply chain for example.

“Other potential constraints to growth include credit and skilled workers,” Sivucha added. “Demand could outstrip the ability of both to keep up.”

US demand continues to shape market With the expired SLA, 2016 is going to be a “potential free trade on lumber,” according to Sivucha.

“The exchange rate and weaker Canadian dollar has the largest impact on lumber and OSB where a lot of cross-border trade exists,” he said. “Americans will continue to have greater purchasing power than Canadian buyers. As a result, the U.S. will set the tone for commodity pricing going forward in 2016 and beyond.”

The recovering American housing market and relatively flat Canadian housing starts also mean that the

U.S. market for wood products will drive demand and pricing for wood products.

“Due to higher pricing and improving demand, Canadian manufacturers will see greater revenue,” said Sivucha.

“This could also translate into greater revenue for the likes of Taiga which sells OSB, plywood and lumber.”

Opportunities and innovation While some Canadian businesses have taken a “wait and see” position, others like CanWel are looking to turn the situation to their advantage.

“We are focusing more on larger contract business rather than spot business,” said Sheasgreen. “From a procurement standpoint there is less volatility when volume and price are set for the year.”

He also said CanWel is taking note of what appears to be a shift in customer preference from commodity lumber to

more expensive, high-end “appearance wood products.”

Other opportunities are also opening up for the local lumber industry, said Steven Street, technical adviser for Wood Works. Wood Works is a program of the Canadian Wood Council that is focused on increasing the use of wood in commercial and institutional construction.

In January this year, changes to the Ontario Building Code allowed the use of wood- frame for six-storey buildings. Previously wood frames were only in one to four-storey buildings.

Quebec gave builders a similar green light last year while British Columbia changed its building code to allow six-storey wood frame buildings back in 2009.

The movement is a game changer, according to Street.

Photo: Wood Works

14

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

Feature Story: Lumber Market Forecast

There’s Lumber.

And Then, There’s Better.

Because LP SolidStart products are available in longer lengths than traditional lumber, they offer greater design flexibility, faster installation and less waste. They’re typically lighter in weight as well, making them faster and easier to work with. The elimination of knots and voids means no time wasted cutting lumber on-site.

LP® SolidStart® Laminated Strand Lumber (LSL)

LP® SolidStart® Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL)

LP® SolidStart® I-Joists

• Stronger than the lumber it locks together • Easy to gun in the cold, won’t drool in the hot weather • Stays flexible to keep your floors quiet

DISTRIBUTED BY:

BUILT FOR

Photo: Wood Works

For builders, especially those focusing on small-scale condos and low-rise office buildings, it means substantial savings because wood costs as much as 20% less than other construction materials such as steel and concrete.

For lumber manufacturers, it means a boost to a struggling industry. In Ontario alone, 60 lumber mills have closed down and 45,000 jobs were lost during the last decade.

Wood frames will eventually find their way into higher buildings, said Street.

For example, cross-laminated timber (CLT) is going to be used along with concrete and steel in the construction of a 13-storey building in Quebec in the spring of 2016.

The University of British Columbia has also approved the construction of an 18-storey student residential tower made out of CLT, Glulam and nail laminated timber (NLT). The first floor of the building will be concrete, but the other 17 floors of the $51.5 million project will be built with wood.

“Wood manufacturers should keep a close watch on these two projects and the amount of traction they will generate,” said Street.

Photo: Wood Works

While the sales of dimensional lumber remain strong, the use of engineered wood in hybrid projects like these will be an indicator of what types of wood products they should focus on in the near future, he added.

“The outlook for the future is brighter than it has ever been in years,” said Street.

16

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

Feature Story: Lumber Market Forecast

MAKE IT GREAT – WITH GENTEK. As a leading manufacturer and distributor, Gentek offers an inspiring selection of premium sidings and decorative accessories that create exceptional results. We combine artistic vision and advanced technology with our nearly 50 years of industry expertise to provide beautiful products, superior quality and outstanding customer service. From your simplest project to your greatest challenge, together we’ll make it great!

SEQUOIA® SELECT ULTRA-PREMIUM VINYL SIDING • Low-gloss finish with natural cedargrain texture • 4 classic profiles and 28 colours for greater design options • Ultra-premium .046" panel thickness • Full-roll nailing hem and exclusive Advantage Lock™ system • Windload tested up to 407 km/h (253 mph)* • Lifetime limited, non-prorated, transferable warranty† with hail and fade protection

Ul t ra -Pre mi um V i ny l S i di ng *Windload performance may vary by profile design. †See printed warranty for complete details. Not all colours are available in all profiles.

INTERIOR EXTERIOR APPLICATIONS

SAGIPER PVC CLADDING

EASYROCK NATURAL-LOOKING STONE

• Replica-wood vinyl panels let you achieve custom-crafted elegance • Applications include exterior cladding, soffits, covered decks, front veranda areas, interior ceilings (basements, bathrooms, coffered ceilings), interior walls and more • Tongue-and-groove corrugated PVC planks are wrapped in a high-quality exterior vinyl coating that’s virtually maintenance-free • Water absorption 0.04% – perfect for high humidity areas • Available in standard and special order colours

• Organic stone elegance in a faux stone panel that’s easy to install • Highly durable; designed for exterior or interior applications • Lightweight – 1 lb. per sq. ft.; no load support required • Waterproof, resists mold and mildew, and won’t decompose in dirt • Available in a variety of colours and textures

1001 Corporate Drive Burlington, ON L7L 5V5 www.gentek.ca Make us a part of your home.

Just another case of window envy.

With good looks and available state-ofthe-art features like our leak-free V-Weld technology, it’s no wonder our windows attract attention.

Visit allweatherwindows.com to learn more about our Canadian-made windows and doors.

On the Jobsite

How to Manage the Job Site Using Effective Delegation Written by Eric Bloom President & Founder at Manager Mechanics

The construction process is a multifarious enterprise. It involves many different responsibilities and suppliers from initial planning through execution. The necessary tasks, roles and responsibilities of the owner, architect engineers, construction managers, contractors and subcontractors can be organized in numerous ways to fulfill a construction project. While there are many factors that can contribute to reduced results, there are two key success factors: effectively managing and delegation.

The effective management of construction projects today requires

On the Jobsite

knowledge of modern management.

Since construction jobs are relatively labour intensive, managers understand that manpower is their main resource which makes effective delegation even more important. One of the great things about being a manager is that you can delegate various types of tasks to others instead of having to do them yourself. This may sound like a rather cavalier statement, but it’s true. As a manager, to do your job efficiently and effectively, you must delegate various types of tasks to your staff. If you don’t delegate, you will be overworked and your staff will be underutilized. In fact, you do a disservice to your staff if

you don’t delegate because this inhibits your staff’s ability to learn new things and grow as professionals.

Like all management activities, delegation must be done in a thoughtful, ethical and forwardthinking manner. To that end, consider the following tips when delegating tasks to your staff, contractors, vendors and others.

1. Clearly define what can and cannot be delegated As a manager, be mindful of what should and should not be delegated.

For example, specific tasks may contain proprietary information that

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

19

should not be shared at your staff’s organizational level. There are also tasks that your team members may not be qualified to perform, thus setting them up for failure. Lastly, don’t just dump unwanted activities onto your staff to get them off your plate. Your team will eventually figure this out and it will hurt your credibility as their manager.

Delegation is a powerful tool to maximize your team’s productivity, enhance their skill set, help them grow professionally and free you up to perform higher level tasks. All that said—make sure that you are delegating the right tasks for the right reasons.

2. Create a prioritized delegation plan Now knowing what to delegate, your next step is to develop a plan outlining what tasks should be delegated to which staff member. When determining who gets which tasks, you should consider the following: • Who is fully qualified to perform the task

20 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

• Who could perform the task with proper instruction and mentoring with the goal of enhancing their skill set • Who should not be given the task because of their professional weaknesses and/or specific political situations/reasons • Who deserves the task based on seniority, past performance and relevant considerations • The visibility and importance of the task to your department and/or company Delegating the right tasks to the right people is not always easy or popular, but if you do it with transparency, fairness, consistency, and for the good of the company, your staff will learn to respect your decisions.

3. Provide clear instructions and define specific expectations There is nothing worse than being delegated a task, not given instructions on how the task should be performed, not told what is expected, working diligently to complete the task, and

then being told it isn’t what they wanted. Give specific instructions as to what needs to be done and your expectation of the ending result. This combination of instructions and expectations provides the correct delegation framework and establishes criteria as to how your employee will be judged when the task is completed.

4. Provide a safety net When delegating tasks—particularly if it’s a new experience for the employee being assigned the task — as the manager, you must be willing to provide an appropriate level of management support to help assure success, for both the employee and the task.

A safety net is an environment of help and protection by: • Providing the needed resources and training • Allowing time to properly perform the delegated tasks • Helping employees navigate company politics • Provide instructions on how tasks should be performed

On the Jobsite

5. Let go and allow people to do their work If you delegate a task and then micromanage it to the extent that you have actually performed the task yourself, it’s not delegation. Neither should you totally divest yourself from the delegated task because, as the manager, you are still ultimately responsible for all work performed within your department. The trick is to walk that fine line between being overbearing and non-participatory.

6. Be mentoring and instructive This step provides direct instruction and advice to the person performing a specific delegated task. This type of task-based instruction is a “learning moment,” namely, just in time training on how to perform a specific task or how to deal with a specific situation.

The level of instruction and advice to be provided should be based on the

On the Jobsite

combination of the person’s specific experience and the task difficulty and political ramifications.

7. Give credit to those doing the work As a manager, you should adhere to the philosophy of “it’s the team’s success or my failure.” This philosophy causes you to raise the visibility of your staff’s good work within the organization which is motivating them and helps instill loyalty in your staff toward you.

This approach also helps remind you that you are ultimately responsible for both your team’s growth and your department’s productivity and performance.

8. Actively solicit feedback from your team Asking the members of your team if they believe you have delegated the right tasks to the right people has the following advantages:

• Helps you grow as a manager by learning how you are perceived as a manager • Helps improve your team’s performance by providing you with insights on better ways to delegate and support your staff • Shows your staff that you are willing to accept their suggestions, making you more approachable as a manager For those not comfortable delegating tasks to others, be willing to go outside your comfort zone. Your willingness to take this leap will enhance your department’s productivity, enhance your managerial ability, and help your team expand their knowledge and skill.

This article has been prepared for general information. Specific professional advice should be obtained prior to the implementation of any suggestion contained.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

21

INTRODUCING

Premium Roofing Products IKO takes beauty and weather protection to new heights.

TM

with

ArmourZone

Limited Lifetime1 Architectural Shingles

Get in the ArmourZone with IKO DynastyTM • Peace-of-mind for the homeowner • Ease of installation for the contractor/roofer • Upsell opportunities for you - Part of a “Good/Better/Best” product option package when offered with IKO’s shingle line-up AvAilAble in 7 HigH Definition Colours!

Here’s a closer look at how IKO DynastyTM shingles with ArmourZone are built to perform.

Release Tape prevents shingles from sticking together in the bundle.

Algae Block ceramic copper coated granules. This built-in algae resistance inhibits algae growth, which can cause unsightly black stains on your roof.

Tear-resistant, Reinforced Woven Band provides fastening strength over a greater surface area of the shingle, helping to prevent nail heads from pulling through the shingle in high winds.

Fastlock Sealant 5 strips of our tough sealant are used in the construction of the DynastyTM with ArmourZone shingle.

Our FASTlOCK modified bitumen sealant strip is formulated to be thick and aggressive to promote a strong bond and extraordinary performance with radiant heat from the sun.

1-1/4”

THIS IS THE ARMOURZONE! Dual nailing lines, top and bottom, 1-1/4” apart, guide installers to DynastyTM shingles’ wider nailing surface for correct nail placement. Nails applied in this area ensure fastening power for proper product performance.

Colour Featured: Appalachian

For additional information on our full line of premium roofing products please call:

1-855-IKO-ROOF (1-855-456-7663) or visit our website at www.iko.com Canadian owned and operated

See Limited Warranty for complete terms, conditions, restrictions, and application requirements.

This article contains a preservative to prevent discolouration by algae.

1 2

©Copyright 08/15 -MR3A002

Decoding the Code

Introducing Decoding the Code Written by Joana Ifrim P.Eng. Director at Canadian Construction and Engineering Inc.

Canada’s National Code System is developed on behalf of the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC) by the National Research Council (NRC) and sets out minimum requirements related to their scope and objectives, including but not limited to National Building Code, National Fire Code, National Plumbing Code and various others.

How does this impact you?

Depending on the scope of your project, whether it is a new build or a renovation, the impact can be minimal to extreme. It is important to check the building codes as they pertain to your project in your province or territory of residence as well as obtaining the appropriate building permits.

Decoding the Code

What can you do to stay compliant?

Each province has adopted its own version of the building code so it is always beneficial for each aspect of a construction project to verify whether your plan is according to code.

The National Research Council of Canada has a great informative website listing in detail all findings as well as locations to purchase code guidelines.

Final word.

Throughout each issue of Contractor Advantage in 2016, Decoding the Code, will focus on a specific featured product category and bring you up to speed on important code information and recent updates or code revisions. The column will also include helpful tips to help you avoid falling behind in best practices.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

23

CEILINGS WITH STYLE

Once considered a low priority, designers and architects are increasingly realizing the impact of ceilings on both form and function.

Written by Melissa Campeau

Feature Story: Ceiling Novelties

Photo courtesy of CGC

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

25

In the recent history of architecture and design, wall and floor finishes have tended to steal the spotlight.

Between wallpaper, paint, paneling, hardwood and tile choices, few designers put decisions about ceilings at the top of their priority lists.

Lately, however, the focus is shifting.

Designers are realizing the profound impact a ceiling can have on a room’s look and function.

“We’re seeing a lot more demand for specialty ceilings,” says Dave Woodcock, Product Manager, Ceilings with CGC. “Previously, a ceiling might

have been the last thing a designer thought about, so it was the last thing budgeted for.” He adds, “Now what we’re finding is there’s quite a bit of thought and budget put into ceiling designs.”

What’s the buzz?

person sitting next you,” says Mike Bielak, Sales Manager, Canada with CertainTeed Ceilings. Today, that’s changing. “With an aging population and a keener understanding of acoustics, there’s been a trend back to controlling sound,” says Bielak.

Back in the 1980s, building design took a turn toward the open concept, particularly in the hospitality industry.

Generally, though, there weren’t corresponding adjustments to ceiling design to offset the uptick in noise levels. “In those spaces, it’s difficult to carry on a conversation with the

Often, newer offices are outfitted with a suspended grid, then panels of varying materials are inserted to

The same trend is true in today’s wideopen office spaces. To keep noise levels down and protect privacy, ceiling technology can provide a careful balance of functions.

Photo: CGC

26 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

Feature Story: Ceilings with Style

CGC Interior Panel & Finishing Solutions

USING ANY OTHER LIGHTWEIGHT BOARD COULD COME BACK TO BITE YOU!

Whether it’s because they’re easier to lift, carry and install, or because of the potential productivity gains and safety enhancements, there are a lot of reasons to learn more about the most robust portfolio of lightweight panels available.

CGC LIGHTWEIGHT PANEL SOLUTIONS

PERFORMANCE

1/2" CGC SHEETROCK® BRAND ULTRALIGHT PANELS

The lightest drywall panel available in Canada

1/2" CGC SHEETROCK® BRAND ULTRALIGHT PANELS 54"

9 foot ceilings with reduced joints

5/8" CGC SHEETROCK® BRAND ULTRALIGHT PANELS FIRECODE 30®

Strength and abuse resistance of a thicker panel

5/8" CGC SHEETROCK® BRAND ULTRALIGHT PANELS FIRECODE® X*

For all fire-rated wall and ceiling assemblies

1/2" CGC SHEETROCK® BRAND ULTRALIGHT PANELS MOLD TOUGH®

Water and mould resistance

CGC DUROCK® BRAND CEMENT BOARD NEXT GEN

Water and mould-resistant tile substrate

* Not available in all regions © 2015 CGC A USG COMPANY and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. The trademarks CGC, DUROCK, FIRECODE, FIRECODE 30, MOLD TOUGH, SHEETROCK, THE LEADER IN LIGHTWEIGHT INNOVATION, IT’S YOUR WORLD. BUILD IT., the CGC logo, the design elements and colours, and related marks are trademarks of USG Corporation or its affiliates.

INSIST ON CGC SHEETROCK® BRAND ULTRALIGHT PANELS. Unlike imitations that claim lightweight, only CGC Sheetrock® Brand UltraLight Panels deliver on the exacting standards you’d expect from The Leader in Lightweight Innovation™. Our patented lightweight products feature proprietary core and paper technologies, resulting in superior quality and the lightest gypsum panel of any manufacturer.

If you’re using other lightweight gypsum panels, you’re putting the job and your business at risk.

Choose to install CGC Sheetrock® Brand UltraLight Panels so callbacks never leave a bad taste in your mouth. See why all lightweight is not created equal at cgcinc.com/sheetrock-ultralight

handle the sound, either by absorbing it, blocking its transmission to other areas, or both. “There are panels that provide high NRC (noise reduction coefficient) ratings as well as CAC (ceiling attenuation class) ratings,” says Bielak.

A product with a high NRC rating will generally offer a quieter space, while one with a high CAC rating will keep sound from traveling. “In a hospital, for example, you wouldn’t want a conversation you’re having with a doctor to carry into the room next to you,” suggests Woodcock. “That’s where the CAC would come in.”

Form with function Today’s panel ceilings designs are a long way from the perforated panels installed in the 1970s and 1980s.

Satisfying the need for better acoustics doesn’t mean a corresponding sacrifice to style.

“One trend we’re seeing is the demand for smoother, cleaner finishes,” says Bielak. “Designers are looking for more of a drywall simulated look. They want cleaner lines, brighter, whiter tiles, along with better sound absorption coupled with the ability to block out sound from other spaces.”

It’s a shift that goes beyond public spaces. “We’re seeing the same trend in residential use, as well. In media rooms, for example, the demand for higher quality materials is on the rise,” says Bielak. A consumer with a heightened awareness of the quality of his sound system is likely to carefully consider the acoustics—and

esthetics—of the room’s ceiling. “In the past that wasn’t something that the average consumer was aware of,” says Bielak. “As they become better educated about what’s available, they start to gravitate toward the high-performance products with cleaner lines.”

Sound cloud While panels provide effective sound management, they can also be a flexible design tool. Varying the ceiling height in specific areas—lowering it over a cluster of desks, for example to spot-treat a potentially noisy zone — can add visual interest to an open space.

“We’re seeing an increased demand for cloud designs,” says Woodcock.

Photo: CertainTeed Ceilings

28 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

Feature Story: Ceilings with Style

Photo: CGC

Feature Story: Ceilings with Style

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

29

“These are free-floating acoustical panels built into formations—either above certain workspaces or areas that might be particularly noisy.” The edge details on the panels can be sharp or rounded, and the clouds can be layered for a three-dimensional look, allowing designers and architects a little creative leeway.

Floating panels also bridge the best of two worlds: Designers maintain an edgy, industrial feel, since duct work and high ceilings are still visible, but the “clouds” offer the acoustical benefits of a paneled ceiling.

Warm it up with wood Another popular trend in residential ceilings is now making its way to public spaces, as well. “We’re seeing demand for wood ceilings a lot lately,” says Woodcock. “I’ve seen them installed in hospital waiting rooms and smaller meeting rooms; anywhere you want to add some warmth and some calm.”

Where a private home would typically install a tongue-in-groove wood ceiling, a more public space would be likely to use a suspension system where

wood-finish beams of varying widths and sizes fit into a grid. More than good looks, a wood ceiling can offer sound-management benefits, as well.

“We’re not just installing flat panels.

Each of our products has perforations that help with managing acoustics,” says Woodcock.

Going green Clients are increasingly concerned about the sustainability of those wood products—and all ceiling products, for that matter.

More and more, they’re asking suppliers for FSC-certified wood products, or requesting panels made from recycled materials.

Many manufacturers not only offer these products, but will provide an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) to customers. An EPD quantifies the environmental impact of a product; including the acquisition of raw material, the end product’s energy use and efficiency, and any emissions to air, soil and water.

“We make sure our products all have high recycled content, and that we source as locally as possible to reduce

greenhouse gasses with transportation, so our carbon footprint is minimal,” says Woodcock.

It pays for manufacturers of ceiling products to think green. Architects are increasingly vying for high Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) ratings—an international system that recognizes excellence in green building. When they can work with ceiling product manufacturers who offer sustainable or recycled materials, and who can back that up with EPD information, they can increase their LEED ratings and create healthier buildings.

Spotlight on the fifth wall Whether today’s ceilings are crafted to be greener, flatter, whiter, more acoustically effective or architecturally interesting, there’s little argument that they’re top of mind. In both industrial and residential settings, designers and architects are giving ceiling treatments their due attention, and improving both the form and function of the buildings they work on, in the process.

Photo: CertainTeed Ceilings

30 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

Feature Story: Ceilings with Style

WHY SWEAT?

WE DON’T.

With CertainTeed MemBrain™, you’ll never have to sweat about mould or mildew.

Moisture is the bane of every builder and a hidden risk of every building. Lurking in the wall cavity, moisture creates ideal conditions for mould and mildew growth.

Made from advanced material that changes its permeability with the ambient humidity conditions, CertainTeed’s MemBrain Smart Vapour Retarder acts like a traditional vapour barrier to protect wall cavities and provide a continuous air barrier system.

It also allows building envelope systems to dramatically increase the drying potential during seasonal climate changes, preserving the long-term health of the home.

sustainableinsulation.ca

CER-2018/0215

IKO Industries Limited Written by Teresa Christine Managing Editor at JAD Media Group Inc.

IKO has been supplying Castle Building Centre locations with premium quality products and expert service for over 25 years. Established over 60 years ago, IKO remains a family-run business, engaged in the manufacture and sale of asphalt roofing, waterproofing and insulation materials. It is a vertically integrated company, producing many of the raw materials used in manufacturing its shingles, such as mineral stabilizer, roofing granules, fiberglass strands, and fiberglass mat. Most key components are manufactured within IKO’s family of companies, under its own stringent quality assurance. This provides superior quality assurance over all of its finished products.

IKO manufacturers many forms of asphalt shingles at its facilities in North America and Europe. Its premium architectural shake and slate shingles set the standard in durability and design. With over 50 years of experience IKO’s quality is second to none. The IKO family of companies has over 25 manufacturing plants throughout North America and Europe.

www.iko.com

32 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

Supplier Spotlight

Supplier Spotlight Photo: IKO

Supplier Spotlight

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

33

GET REAL REWARDS FOR ALL YOUR PURCHASES Get the Castle Consumer Card or Commercial Card and Enjoy 1% Castle Cash Rewards**

Consumer

Apply Now and Start Earning Castle Cash Today* *Subject to credit approval. See cardholder agreement for additional details. **Castle Cash is given as a $10 reward certificate towards the purchase of Castle merchandise for each $1,000 spend at participating Castle Store locations.

Money Matters

Top 10 Tips for Effective Cash Flow Management Written by Paul Rhodes, BSc, MA, ACA, CA, Partner, Crowe Soberman LLP, Chartered Accountants

When the economy is booming, the construction industry typically follows. Unfortunately, the opposite is often true as well. The nature of the industry itself also means that when contractors have significant volumes of working capital tied up in individual projects, when a problem occurs, it can have a drastic effect on the contractor’s available cash and, at worst, ability to continue operations.

Construction companies need to maintain significant working capital balances. The following top 10 tips will help maintain effective cash flow management practices.

Money Matters

Establish a line of credit A line of credit should be put in place by Management, even if it is not expected to be required for the foreseeable future, in order to give a safety margin for times when cash reserves become depleted. Having a line of credit already in place will avoid the need to request one when it is required imminently. If it is left too late, the terms offered by the bank may not be favorable.

Maintain a cash flow forecast Cash should be managed using a cash flow forecast at the corporate level, which incorporates individual project

cash flows. By identifying future financing needs early, Management will be able to proactively seek additional funding or take corrective action before it is too late.

Perform credit checks on the owner The resources of the project owner should be investigated to ensure the owner has adequate cash resources available to fund the construction.

Such a credit check could include: reviewing the owner’s loan agreement or the commitment letter they have with their bank, reviewing the owner’s audited financial statements and assessing the commercial viability of

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

35

the completed project. In addition, the terms of the draft contract should entitle the contractor to periodically receive information relevant to the owner’s financial ability to complete the project.

Understand the billing and payment schedule A detailed understanding of the contract terms for progress billings and payment terms should be obtained prior to bidding for the work to ensure you are not financing the owner’s project. This information should then be incorporated into a cash flow

36 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

forecast for the project to assess the amount of working capital that will be tied up by the project and ensure you have the resources required before committing to the work.

Review the whole contract Certain contractual terms, other than the billing and payment schedule referred to above, can have significant implications on the project’s cash flows, and it is important that these effects are understood. Such terms include: project milestones, change orders and concealed or unknown site conditions. If these terms in the

proposed contract differ from those typically used, the contractor should carefully weigh their effects before submitting a bid.

Follow billing procedures closely Any deviation from the billing procedures requested in the contract documents may give rise to delays in payment being received. Contractors should ensure that owners also follow the contractual payment terms; when progress bills are not paid on time contractors should follow up immediately by either phone or in writing to enquire when payment

Money Matters

will be received. If progress payments are consistently being delayed, the contractor should immediately consult with their legal counsel to determine a suitable remedy and avoid any adverse outcome.

Avoid disputes Disputes can be avoided by following the contract specifications and by performing quality work. If disputes do arise, the deficiencies should be corrected promptly to avoid delays in the payment of progress billings.

Where this is not feasible or cannot be done, you should agree with the customer or their consultant to treat the bills for any disputed work separately so that payments for other work are not also delayed.

Control the company’s growth A strategy often seen in the construction industry is to maximize the level of sales; this can mean that low margin work is undertaken which can easily erode the company’s overall profit margin and therefore working capital. The strategy should be to maximize net earnings and that can be achieved, in part, by:

Money Matters

• only taking on projects that have sufficient gross profit margin to make them worthwhile; • making steady incremental increases in the size of individual projects undertaken; and • closely managing the expenses below the gross profit line.

Obtain payment security Or, if payment security cannot be obtained and the contractor has doubts about the creditworthiness of the customer, the contract should not be entered into.

Advance the collection of holdback

Cash flow management is described in greater detail in CCA 28 A Guide to Improving Cash Flow in the Construction Industry and in CCA 50 A Prime Contractor’s Guide to Project Financing and Payment Security which are available from your local construction association or from the Canadian Construction Association (CCA).

This article has been prepared for general information. Specific professional advice should be obtained prior to the implementation of any suggestion contained.

This may be achieved by breaking up a long term contract into several shorter distinct contracts, so the holdback will become payable earlier due to the earlier date of substantial completion.

By following these steps, you should be well positioned to avoid the consequences of unexpectedly running out of cash and on your way to operating a successful and profitable business.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

37

INSULATION INNOVATIONS

Achieving efficiency and comfort.

Written by Lawrence Cummer

Feature Story: Insulation Innovations

Photo courtesy of Johns Manville

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

39

t

r

AC

m i t t ed Par

ne

om

Sin c

e 1977

Mounting code requirements for higher-performing, energy-efficient homes has prompted many builders to turn to innovative insulation solutions to improve comfort, lower energy costs and offer softer living. Not only can builders benefit from this practice, but keen contractors should consider this during renovations as well.

These escalating requirements are reflected in Canada’s evolving code, eco-system. While each province and territory has constitutional authority over constitution, their codes are greatly influenced by, and in some cases influence, the National Model Construction Code. The 2015 edition of the National Energy Code (expected to be published the end of 2015 or early 2016) will see the introduction of numerous changes, improving on the 2011 code that itself called for a 25% improvement over previous versions.

This ever-escalating focus on energyefficient buildings has a sort of leapfrogging effect as one standard in the works tends to improve on the coming one and so on, experts say.

“Building codes have been around forever and trying to change them is like moving a mountain,” says Gino Allegro, Canadian sales manager for Johns Manville’s Building Insulation division in Winnipeg. He says representatives of NAIMA, the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association, to which his company and other insulation vendors belong, work diligently with Ottawa, and Washington in the U.S., to help the authorities understand what can and should be done.

“The bottom line is, we’re all just trying to make sure the homes being built—or those being renovated as

well—cost the owners less to operate on a permanent basis. Whether it is heating and maintaining that heat throughout a home or cooling it off through air conditioning, this is done by insulation.”

Current building codes generally call for R values of R-50 in the attic, R-24 on above-grade exterior walls and R-14 in the basement, but more changes are on the horizon, notes Paul Williams, contractor lead at Owens Corning Building Materials Group. Moving into 2017, upgrades to codes will require an R-60 in the attic and likely R-20 in the basement, he suggests, while requirements for above-grade external walls will remain unchanged.

“The big change, though, will be in the actual methodology in how the homes are being built. Whereas before contractors would be using OSB on

T:10.875”

Photo: Johns Manville

Feature Story: Insulation Innovations

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

41

Photo: Owens Corning

the outside of the homes, what we have seen in earlier iterations, is that three of five prescriptive packages [in the code] have an XPS (extruded polystyrene) outside of the home itself.

Photo: Knauf Insulation

“So whereas before you would only essentially use a sheet of plywood on the outside, what you will have now is a sheet of foam that offers thermal value, helps to eliminate thermal bridging— the surface conduit through which cold becomes drawn to warmth—and the bigger thing, something we have been working with contractors and builders on for the last decade or so, is the reduction of air exchange.”

That tighter seal plays a major role, Williams notes, in creating a more energy-efficient home; even though such airtight homes naturally call for heat recovery ventilation (HRV) to help them breathe, in the long run, the result is still a net positive for both homeowners and the environment.

42 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016 CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

Feature Story: Insulation Innovations

“At the end of the day if we can all reduce our energy consumption, and be the front-runner in reducing the greenhouse gasses that are causing ozone depletion and the issues we are dealing with on a day-to-day basis, it’s all positive.”

Education first Meeting new energy codes is not as simple as stuffing or spraying in new, advanced product. It also requires education, something Jeff Brisley, senior vice-president of marketing and business development at Knauf Insulation, says his company is heavily invested in. Knauf has been building a bigger and more robust education program, incorporating building performance specialists to help builders, he says.

“The demands being put on builders and contractors to meet the changes in codes, means we need to be focused on a number of things. First, one of the most difficult tasks, is educating builders and contractors on how to adapt to the changing codes and what are the most cost-effective yet high-performing solutions to comply with the code, and how can we costeffectively provide solutions that are above code for those builders who want to differentiate their finished product.”

Of course, educating the homeowner to understand the value of betterperforming homes is a constant challenge for governments, builders, contractors and insulation manufacturers alike. NAIMA makes resources available to help

homeowners understand their options, but those resources tend to be stumbled upon when homeowners are already looking for them.

“Insulation is not sexy. Homeowners should care, but they often don’t care.

They care more about countertops and hardwood floors. Contractors need to know, though, that code is going to change and homes are going to become more efficient. This is on a governmental level,” Williams notes.

As such, contractors must become familiar with the wider range of solutions available, how to install them properly, and would be well served by being able to explain their value to homeowners during any renovations or upgrades.

Photo: Knauf Insulation Feature Story: Insulation Innovations

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

43

Photo: Owens Corning

One initiative to help builders differentiate their new higherperforming homes and buyers better understand that value is Natural Resources Canada’s EnerGuide rating, an iteration of which Williams says the government is considering having placed outside all homes. He likens it to EnergyStar mark and performance data found fairly universally these days on appliances.

“They are doing trials with it, and the hope is to have a program in place in the next year or two,” he says. “New construction—and actually even older homes—will have a plaque on the outside that have a value or range scale.

Say a buyer is looking at three or four homes, a 5-, 10-, 20- and a 30-year-old home, each would have the amount of energy typically used in kilojoules

44 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016 CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

listed on the outside of the home, so they’ll know if say an older home has been upgraded and actually performs better.

“Home buyers will actually have an idea of how much energy the home will consume before making a purchase decision.” The program could play a big part in helping homeowners begin to recognize the value of well-built, well-insulated homes while offering motivation for builders to want to stand out through energy-performance. (See “EnerGuide Ratings” on page 48.)

Filling in the gaps Higher-density batt insulation can do a lot towards meeting the letter of building codes, but when it comes to actual performance, thermal bridging

and leaks in air barriers must also be reduced. In a sense, a home’s insulation system is as good as its weakest link.

As such, manufacturers have placed a lot of focus on developing products that complement their traditional batt or blown-in insulation.

Johns Manville, for example, offers a complete line of spray polyurethane foam (SFP) insulation to insulate those hard-to-reach places and improve thermal and energy-efficiency. It also provides air, moisture and sound control, Allegro says. “You could spray an entire house. It would be expensive to do that, but you’d get this incredible insulation value. In most cases you’d use it for the awkward areas such as the house’s rim-joists.”

Feature Story: Insulation Innovations

ONE TOUGH AIR BARRIER SYSTEM FOR TODAY’S CODES & BEYOND.

Owens Corning™ FOAMULAR® CodeBord® Air Barrier System is another innovative solution providing long term energy efficiency performance and comfort for homeowners.

1-800-GET-PINK® or visit owenscorning.ca

THE PINK PANTHER™ & © 1964-2015 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved. The colour PINK is a registered trademark of Owens Corning. © 2015 Owens Corning. All Rights Reserved. 73% recycled content is based on the average recycled glass content in all Owens Corning fiberglass batts, rolls and unbonded loosefill insulation manufactured in Canada. SCS certified. GREENGUARD Certified products are certified to GREENGUARD standards for low chemical emissions into indoor air during product usage. For more information, visit ul.com/gg.

Photo: Johns Manville

A step down from SFP and up from traditional batt insulation, but for only a small cost difference, is the company’s JM Spider spray-in fibreglass insulation. On the market for years, this year JM Spider started to use a water-based adhesive to spray fibreglass insulation into wall cavities where it gets at every nook and cranny.

The product will fill 2x4 cavities up to an R-15 thermal rating and 2x6 cavities up to R-23 and it is a self-recyclable system, easier to use and less messy, Allegro says. “It’s a really great solution for basements,” he adds, although not exclusive to that use.

Air-sealant is, of course, a critical piece of the insulation puzzle, Brisley points out. To address this, Knauf will this year introduce to the Canadian market its EcoSeal System, an environmentally-friendly, affordable water-based sealant. Since EcoSeal is elastomeric, it will move flexibly during the home’s inevitable expansion and contraction, while traditional caulk-type sealants might crack.

Photo: Owens Corning 46 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016 CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

Feature Story: Insulation Innovations

A Complete Home Protection System That Outperforms Expectations Your first upgrade should be comfort Insulating and air sealing new or existing homes is the easiest way to avoid the air leaks and moisture intrusion that can lead to structural issues such as mold and decay. Blanketing homes in a continuous layer of insulation and air sealing gaps and cracks around the home creates an air-tight, moisture resistant structure that provides long term: • Home comfort

• Durability

• Improved indoor air quality

GREAT STUFF PRO™ Gaps & Cracks

• Lower monthly utility bills

STYROFOAM™ Brand CLADMATE™ Extruded Polystyrene Foam Insulation

GREAT STUFF PRO™ Window & Door GREAT STUFF™ Window & Door

GREAT STUFF™ Gaps & Cracks

GREAT STUFF™ Pond & Stone

FROTH-PAK™ Foam Sealant GREAT STUFF PRO™ Pestblock GREAT STUFF™ Pestblock STYROFOAM™ Brand SM Extruded Polystyrene Foam Insulation

www.insulateyourhome.com ®™ The DOW Diamond Logo is a trademark of The Dow Chemical Company © 2015

The company has also introduced a water-based adhesive for use with its blown-in UltraFit DS. The adhesive helps the insulation to achieve more complete coverage when compared with being blown behind netting, Brisley says. And because it is waterbased, clean-up is easy and waste is eliminated; however, surface temperature then does become a consideration. This leads back to the importance of contractors becoming educated on their insulation options and their application.

Of course, heat rises, and the number one area to insulate well is the attic.

For that, or to top up existing attic insulation, Williams points to his

company’s AttiCat loose fill insulation.

Also on the market for years, instead of laying batts or rolls, Owens Corning’s AttiCat uses expanding blown-in fibreglass (the company’s familiar Pink insulation). The blowing machine fluffs the insulation along the length of the hose, adding millions of tiny air pockets that give it insulating power, and because fibreglass insulation doesn’t settle, it keeps the same energyperformance over years. “It’s very simple to use, and two people can do a top up of an attic, taking it from R-30 to R-60 in only a half day.”

peek into their client’s attic and begin the discussion with them around the savings they would experience if their home had better insulation. It is an opportunity to add value and be more of a trusted advisor, and it shows the pride they take in their work. “It’s a simple, easy and competitive thing to do.”

To that end, Williams suggests all contractors—not just drywall, framers and insulation installers—give a quick

EnerGuide Ratings EnerGuide ratings are a standard measure of a home’s energy performance based on standard operation assumptions, so houses can be compared against each other.

The home’s energy efficiency level is rated on a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 represents a home with major air leakage, no insulation and extremely high energy consumption and 100 being one that is airtight, well-insulated, sufficiently ventilated and requires no purchased energy. A rating of 80 is excellent, according to National Resources Canada.

Typical Energy Efficiency Ratings* Type of House

Rating

New House build to building code standards

65 - 72

New house with some energy-efficiency improvements

73 - 79

Energy - efficient new house

80 - 90

House requiring little or no purchased energy

91 - 100

* Source: National Resources Canada

48 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016 CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

Feature Story: Insulation Innovations

NEW AND IMPROVED

Fiberglass Insulation Castlegard® products meet the highest safety, performance and quality standards. Castlegard® Insulation is made with natural products and is Formaldehyde-free, offering a healthier and safer indoor air quality. Castlegard® insulation is a cost effective home insulation solution for your home with proven safety and performance ratings.

The EcoLogoTM ensures that your Castle insulation product is the environmentally friendly choice.

Castlegard® products can be found exclusively at your local Castle Building Centres location across Canada.

MANUFACTURED IN CANADA BY

The Environmental Choice” certifies that your energy-saving and eco-friendly insulation product has exceeded the highest health and sustainability standards.

PRODUCT PLATFORM

Latest & greatest products available at local Castle Building Centres

Product Platform

Product Platform

CHECK THEM OUT

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

51

Barn-Door Decor Add Style To Your Rooms While Gaining Space!

Introducing Onward’s new line of Decorative Interior Barn Door Hardware. Choose from our selection of 6 models to make a statement as unique as you are. Applications for single interior doors are quick and easy to install on existing door frames.

Onward Hardware www.onwardhardware.com 1 800 387-6392

Hardware includes one-year limited warranty.

Rustic • Visible rail system for solid wood sliding doors • Rail with heavy-duty nylon rollers in flat black finish

Industrial • Visible rail system for solid wood sliding doors • Rail with heavy-duty nylon rollers in stainless steel finish

52 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

Product Platform: Barn-Door Decor

Studio • Visible rail system for solid wood sliding doors • Rail and door hangers made of stainless steel for a sleek look • Rubber coated rollers for smooth quiet operation • Bidirectional soft-closing system

Urban • Visible rail system for solid wood sliding doors • Rail with heavy-duty nylon rollers in satin aluminum finish

Contemporary • Concealed rail system for MDF and solid wood sliding doors • The satin aluminum trim and end caps included in this kit conceal the rail and rollers for a modern look • Bidirectional soft-closing system

Traditional • Concealed rail system for MDF and solid wood sliding doors • The included MDF trim and end caps are designed to conceal the rail and rollers. They come primed and ready to be painted or veneered for a truly personal touch • Bidirectional soft-closing system

Product Platform: Barn-Door Decor

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

53

Makita 8 ½” Sliding Compound Miter Saw with Laser and LED Work Light Since 1958, when Makita introduced its first power tool, they have developed and manufactured a complete range of portable electric, cordless and pneumatic power tools as well as a gasoline-powered line of outdoor equipment. Each Makita power tool is built with the finest materials and subjected to strict quality control examination, including a test run under power before leaving the factory. Check out the latest...

8 ½” Sliding Compound Miter Saw with Laser and LED Work Light Model No: LS0815FL High Cutting Capacity and Dust Extraction Rate Up To 12” Cuts In 2x Material

54 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016 CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

• Offers High Cutting Capacity With Reduced Weight And Size • Electric brake for increased operator safety • Soft start feature gradually increases speed to eliminate start up shock • LED job light illuminates cutting area for increased accuracy and precision • Factory calibrated class II laser enables accurate alignment of blade and cutting line • Bevel Capacity of 48o left or 5o right • Mitre Capacity of 50o left or 60o right with positive stops at 0o, 15o, 22.5o, 31.6o and 45o • 2 stage safety switch for increased operator safety • Ergonomic vertical soft rubber grip for vibration absorption and comfortable operation Product Platform: Makita

Leaders in the Limelight

Introducing Leaders in the Limelight Written by Jennifer Mercieca Editorial Director at Castle Building Centres Group Ltd.

Castle Building Centres Group is proud to be home to so many highly successful and innovative lumber, building material and hardware “Independents” in Canada.

“Leaders in the Limelight” is a new column featuring a cross section of progressive and highly successful Castle member locations nationwide.

Hear their stories of strength, resilience and success as they rise to the top through strong leadership, teamwork and a vision of success.

Look for the first story in the March/April issue of Contractor Advantage.

Leaders in the Limelight

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

57

Simplifying Tasks with a Selection of Apps Written by Aram Stamboulian Creative Director at JAD Media Group Inc.

The landscape of mobile technology in the construction industry is constantly changing to meet the multitude of tools available in today’s market.

More and more, mobile applications are becoming part of everyday life as they efficiently and effortlessly help us organize daily life and make even the most daunting tasks seem as simple as clicking a button.

Even in their most basic form, applications can be an asset and provide support. Trades, open communication and let’s not forget the all-important weather forecast can be used to help you plan for whatever the heavy day throws at you

58 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016 CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

and the best part is most of these are available right out of the box on most devices. News feeds for trade rumors are available any time across multiple devices and the same goes for weather forcasting, set these up and they are guaranteed to make any project timeline much easier to manage. For all open communication such as group channels to communicate between the entire team, a separate app may need to be installed but these are very easy to come by and are free to use most of the time (Apple devices provide these functions by default). Utilize these basic apps to get any project moving large or small.

Keep in mind, when it comes to project stakeholders, an accurate measurement of where money is being allocated and where a bulk of time is being spent can be crucial to a project’s success and to ease the minds of those running the operation. Find the perfect financial application to set up all the right budgets and time tracking. There are a ton of them on the market, some free to use and some more sophisticated apps that handle a little bit more than the basic needs. Using a paid for app might be the best option depending on which makes the most sense to your company due to having a dedicated team devoted to the functionality of

Tech Talk

Tech Talk

the app. You may be paying for the initial download of the app but its job is to save you more money in the long run.

to monitor regular service and have your entire operation running like a well oiled machine, even the machines themselves!

Along with using apps for jobsite efficiency, they can also be used back at the office to make sure project milestones are being set. Apps that synchronize calendars and time throughout the day can dramatically help plan what the next comparable project will look like in terms of time for completion. Keep in mind, synchronized calendars are always available on any device and are also offered through Google as a service for the entire team. Some can also support tasks like vacation requests, ensuring all information is kept in order and nothing is missed.

Remember, not every app will work for you, but taking the time to get to know an application can save you

quite a bit of time out in the field and always remember, a paid app may cost you money instantly but will always save you money in the long run if you choose the right one.

Finally, apps can also be used to track assets. How is your equipment performing? Where is your equipment and who is using it? Track it all with an app. Have your staff log all damages, performance, location and time in use

Tech Talk

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

59

Photo: Moulding Warehouse

Make it Magazine.

Make it with Moulding.

Written by Teresa Christine Managing Editor at JAD Media Group Inc.

In today’s competitive construction and real estate market, builders, contractors, designers and home owners alike are constantly looking at ways they can increase their property value. Design elements, like moulding, are a fairly cost effective way to enhance any room or space.

Tammy MacKay, Vice President of Moulding Warehouse, a Castle Building Centres location, believes that “a home should look beautiful before you put anything in it.

Beautiful mouldings will add value to your home on resale but also give it a warm and welcoming feeling before you even begin to add your own personal affects.”

60 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

Moulding offers a variety of styles and materials for every décor. From the classic elegance of traditional moulding to the sophisticated styling of crown and accent moulding, it can add warmth and character to a living or family room setting, create a conversation piece for your entire kitchen or bring out the simple charm of a cozy bedroom haven.

There is little else that can quickly transform the interior of a room like decorative moulding can. Builders and contractors once included a lot of decorative trim with their homes, and while the practice became less common towards the end of the last century, it has been making a comeback as they realize how

much moulding does to improve the ambience, feeling and quality of a room.

“Because it’s part of the room, decorative moulding changes the feeling of a space, making it more elegant” says MacKay. “But it also changes specific aspects of a room.

For example, large rooms with high ceilings can look cavernous and cold.

But using wide crown mouldings across the top, with baseboard moulding and door and window casing, create a cozy, textured feeling of warmth and quality. Moulding can be used to make a doorway look taller, windows look higher, or rooms seem longer. Older homes are often found with wider decorative mouldings and this gives these homes real character.

Design Talk

Design Talk Photo: Moulding Warehouse

You’ll be amazed by how much more luxurious a home can look with the simple addition of wider casings, deeper baseboards and crown mouldings” Tammy believes that moulding “gives a finished and cared-for look that people love. Real estate agents and builders tell me that adding moulding is worth its weight in gold when it comes time to sell - clients fall in love with the feel and warmth of rooms that moulding helps to create.”

The current trend of “what’s old is new again” has prompted those in the design world to try and leverage design fundamentals and basic principles in the market. “My first home was a cookie cutter house in a

Design Talk

large subdivision. When we put that house on the market there was 3 other homes for sale on the same street exactly like mine. After interviewing three realtors, the fourth one told me she could get $30,000 more for my home if I installed some crown in the main rooms and some decorative panel moulding down the hall into the entranceway and dining room. I made the rather small investment and my house sold for $26,000 over list price in just over a month on the market,” says MacKay. Moulding can do a lot more than just be pretty ornamentation. If used properly, following time-tested rules about space and placement can make a room seem more balanced and comfortable. It may not always be

obvious why a room feels that way, but a good builder will know what they did to balance out the room, and make the most of what was there, or to solve problems that the room might otherwise have with height or space.

Some of the more popular mouldings are: • MDF (made from medium-density fiberboard). Known for being economical and easy to install, they come primed and ready for paint delivering great results with a minimum amount of fuss.

• Crown; installed at the top of the wall along the ceiling. Available in many different sizes and a wide variety of styles, crown moulding can range from simple and elegant to elaborate.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

61

Photo: Moulding Warehouse

• Baseboard moulding, running along the bottom of walls, can be made from a flat board topped with a narrow base cap, or bought as a single piece with the top edge routed with a decorative profile.

• Quarter-round (also called shoe moulding) is used at the seam between the baseboard and the flooring.

• Chair rail goes flat against a wall, usually around 24 to 36 inches high - about the height of a chair, though sometimes it’s better to put it lower (for lower ceilings).

• Beadboard or bead moulding is used to create wainscoting along the lower portion of walls. Beadboard is typically topped with decorative trim.

• Colonial trim is used most often in casings around windows and doors.

Whether you are in the process of building or designing a house, or you already have a home and want to retro-fit some rooms, there is no doubt that the design benefits and return on investment are worthy of a crown.

Nova Scotia based Castle Building Centre location Moulding Warehouse Ltd., is a is a leading manufacturer and distributor of quality, primed MDF mouldings, crown mouldings, trim moulding, and other decorative manufactured mouldings including interior pre-hung doors, hardware and accessories.

62

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2016

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

Design Talk

Never compromise form for function Or function for form – instead, go with the company that delivers both – go with JELD-WEN. Whether it’s a small, replacement slider or a wall of windows for a living room, you can count on our products to look and perform their best. With a variety of performance options and a huge selection of finishes and styles, we offer well-made products that are beautiful, reliable and easy to install so you can meet the highest expectations of your customers – and never compromise a thing.

To learn more about window and door styles that perform, visit jeld-wen.ca

LOOKS GOOD. WORKS HARDER.

Contemporary Series Cedar At Steel-Craft, we overengineer every part of our garage doors to ensure they work hard from the inside out. That’s because we know you want a door that doesn’t just look good – but performs even better.

Contemporary Industrial Series

Therm-O-Dor Series

THE DOOR WITH MORE. For a complete list of products and specs, visit Steel-Craft.ca

Elite Series Walnut

Esteem Series Black