Ontario Home Builder - Spring 2014

ohba.ca

spring 2014 | $5.00

ohba prepares for a provIncial election this spring P.45

Family Portraits

Green Machine

Three and four generations deep, these companies build more than homes— they’re building legacies

Gimme Gimme

Enerquality’s Awards of Excellence winners

P.65 What do today’s Buyers covet most?

P.76

Stop! Thief!

PREVENTING jobsite THEFT brandon, carley and ward campbell

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P.85

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Table of contents

76

93 Columns 9 One Voice By Joe Vaccaro Time to educate, advocate and vote 19 Human Capital By Dr. Chris Bart Building employee engagement 21 Marketing By Jacqueline Schifano Chairman of the billboard 23 Health & Safety By Jeanne Bank Setting a new standard for scaffolding 27 Technology By Ben Hulse Private social networks for your building 110 Outside the Box By Avi Friedman Curb appeal’s essential elements Departments 11 Ontario Report Steve Paikin at Industry Leaders’ dinner, 2014 events calendar, Institute of Building Excellence, OHBA honours Harry Herskowitz 29 Top Shelf Putting the right tools in your hands

36 features

36 All in the Family

examining a multi-generational labour of love

45 ELection direction

ohba has laid the groundwork, no matter who wins

52 Letter perfect

a font of information to help you create the ideal ad

58 the efficiency expert energy guru gord cooke has seen it all

65 empowering moments

highlights from this year’s enerquality awards gala

76 What Buyers want

93 Better Building A new angle on flat-roof skylights, ecofriendly products, international colours are trending and radiant heat is a hot choice

what’s atop Homebuyers’ wish lists this year?

103 Product Focus It’s open season on windows and doors

protect your Business from jobsite theft

www.ohba.ca

85 missing in action

ontario home builder spring 2014

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The official publication of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association Spring 2014 | Vol. 30 Issue 2

editor

Ted McIntyre ted@laureloak.ca associate editor

Norma Kimmins, OHBA art director

Erik Mohr graphic designer

Tania Janthur copy editor

Barbara Chambers contributors

Jeanne Bank, Dr. Chris Bart, Gord Cooke, J.P. Donaldson, Avi Friedman, Tracy Hanes, Bill Hulse, Elaine Kapogines, Steve Maxwell, Joseph Nakhla, Dan O’Reilly, Jacqueline Schifano, Cory Smith, Joe Vaccaro PHOTOGRAPHY

Rodney Daw, Sandra Ozkur, Mike Watier PRESIDENT

monitored with our 5-point inspection

Wayne Narciso publisher

Sheryl Humphreys, ext. 245 sheryl@laureloak.ca

in our prompt after-sale service in our superior quality and competitive pricing

advertising sales

Tricia Beaudoin ext. 223 tricia@laureloak.ca Cindy Kaye, ext. 232 cindy@laureloak.ca Published by

Laurel Oak Custom Publishing www.laureloak.ca

www.ohba.ca

Tel 905.274.5020 Fax 905.274.7110 www.tristucco.com

info@ohba.ca

Ontario Home Builder is published six times per year (Winter, Spring, Renovation, Summer, Fall, Awards).

All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher © 2014. Single copy price is $5.00. Subscription Rates: Canada $12.95 + HST per year, USA $29.95 USD. Mail payment to:

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FAST EXCITING

one voice

Anticipating an election Time to educate, advocate and vote

By Joe vaccaro

photo: rodney daw

As the Ontario government puts the finish-

ing touches on its 2014 Budget, many political pundits and media commentators are predicting its eventual defeat in the Legislature, triggering an election—perhaps as early as this spring. And while nobody can say that’s a sure thing, the Ontario Home Builders’ Association is mindful of the Boy Scout motto: “Be prepared.”

Over the past year, OHBA has met with the leaders of the three major political parties in Ontario: Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne, Official Opposition leader Tim Hudak of the Progressive Conservatives and New Democratic Party leader Andrea Horwath. During these meetings we had an opportunity to outline our priority issues and concerns while discovering where the leaders stood on those very issues. Our feature story on page 45 outlines some of the positions of each party on topics of concern to our industry and forecasts what agenda or “narrative” each will likely focus on in an election campaign.

And while the party leaders may have an understanding of some of the issues, you can bet that many of their candidates don’t. A key goal for OHBA is to get the word out about how vital the residential construction, professional renovation and land development industries are to the economic well-being and future of the province. We want to educate candidates about issues that impact the industry’s ability to remain robust and strong.

www.ohba.ca

To that end, OHBA has prepared a dozen “action sheets” on a variety of issues of interest to the industry. Employing an “ABC” approach of “advocacy, background and campaign,” we are confident these action sheets will be great tools for members and local associations in their advocacy work while engaging and communicating with candidates from all political parties in their community.

Topics include everything from apprenticeship ratios to implementing the Growth Plan. Each action sheet (available at ohba.ca) explains our industry’s position on various issues, some background to lay the groundwork and suggestions of how the issues will likely play out in the campaign.

But while OHBA will supply effective tools to support industry advocacy work—we need our local associations and members to step up and get involved. Whether meeting personally with candidates, organizing candidate debates or communicating with local media—we need individuals and locals to get involved and initiate discussion about issues of importance to our industry.

This is a call to action in the next provincial election. OHBA will provide the tools, support and expertise, but we need our members—those who know their communities and businesses best—to be in the room, presenting our case. You can count on OHBA’s help to assist you to do just that—and we hope we can count on yours. OHB

OHBA has prepared a dozen action sheets on issues of interest to the industry.

Joe Vaccaro is the CEO of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association.

ontario home builder spring 2014

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Ontario Report

Retiring Tarion Chair Harry Herskowitz (left) with OHBA Past President Rob Cooper (centre) and current OHBA President Eric DenOuden.

Herskowitz honoured as retiring chair of Tarion OHBA has honoured Harry Herskowitz with a special recognition award for his outstanding contribution and leadership with Tarion Warranty Corporation. Herkowitz, who has served on the Tarion board since 1999, leading the board as chair since 2008, will retire from that position in April this year. Herskowitz was presented with the award at OHBA’s 2014 Industry Leaders’ Dinner January 27 at the Westin Prince Hotel in Toronto.

A graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School, Herkowitz is a partner at DelZotto, Zorzi LLP, where he is head of the firm’s real estate department.

www.ohba.ca

He has been honoured with numerous awards over the years from various organizations, including BILD, the Ontario Bar Association and the Canadian Condominium Institute.

In presenting the award, OHBA Past President Robert Cooper noted, “Over his many years of service, Tarion, OHBA, our industry and consumers have benefitted greatly from Harry’s keen analytical mind, his constructive arbitration skills and his vast expertise and knowledge about our industry, the law and the New Home Warranty Act. As chair, he led the organization with character, integrity and great wisdom.”

CMHC board appointment for OHBA Past President Congratulations to Brian Johnston, who has been re-appointed to the board of directors of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) for a further three-year term. He was first appointed to the board in 2008. A past president of OHBA, Johnston is the Chief Operating Officer of Mattamy Homes and former president of Monarch Homes. His previous positions include member of the board of directors for EnerQuality and Tarion Warranty Corporations.

ontario home builder spring 2014

11

Ontario Report

Preparing for the provincial budget

The upcoming Ontario budget will likely be an “election-ready” budget, potentially setting the stage for a spring election. Ontario’s home builders, land developers and professional renovators continue to generate economic growth and create jobs, with CMHC having forecasted 60,800 housing starts in 2013 and 60,300 in 2014.

The OHBA pre-budget submission, which is available at www.ohba.ca, delivered a number of key messages and priorities to the provincial government:

TVO’s Steve Paikin was the keynote speaker at the 2014 Industry Leaders’ Dinner.

TVO’s Paikin talks politics at Industry Leaders’ Dinner OHBA welcomed Steve Paikin, anchor and senior editor of The Agenda with Steve Paikin, the flagship current affairs program of TVO, as its keynote speaker at the association’s annual Industry Leaders’ Dinner.

The award-winning journalist, author and broadcaster provided entertaining and informative insight about political leadership in Ontario today and in years past.

In addition, event attendees were delighted to receive personally signed copies of Paikin’s latest book, Paikin and the Premiers. In 2013, he was appointed Chancellor of Laurentian University and made an Officer of the Order of Canada, and earlier this year Paikin was invested as an appointee to the Order of Ontario.

1. The government faces massive taxation revenue leakages due to the underground economy. OHBA is very supportive of the Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit. However, OHBA continues to advocate for a more broad-based home renovation tax credit at both the provincial and federal levels to encourage the use of legitimate contractors and to fight the underground economy.

2. OHBA is encouraged by the significant infrastructure investments the province has made over the past few years. OHBA recommends that the province continue to make strategic investments in core infrastructure to support investment-ready communities.

3. As new home prices inevitably increase over the long term, it is important that the provincial government review the $400,000 HST threshold on a regular basis to protect housing affordability and choice for new-home buyers.

4. OHBA noted its support for amending the Ontario Building Code to allow for six-storey wood construction that would provide more housing design and building options for developers while also supporting Ontario’s forestry sector.

OHBA Institute of Building Excellence Do you ever think back to when you first started in this industry? All you wanted to do was build beautiful homes and create world-class renovations. Running your business seemed simple back then. Today we have regulatory changes, codes that seem to be forever updating and new financial and accounting requirements that we are expected to know and understand. It seems never-ending and keeping up

12

ontario home builder spring 2014

can be a challenge.

The OHBA Institute of Building Excellence can help. Three new courses— Project Management and Supervision; Financial Planning and Management; and Service and Tarion Warranty requirements—are now available and ready for your company designate. Content is current and easily accessible online, 24/7/365, through our web-

based training at www.learnyourliving.ca.

Courses are accessed and assignments completed online with virtual instructor assistance. Once complete, the student attends a half-day in class and writes the final exam. It’s easy and affordable at $350 per course.

Check out the IBE Course Calendar and make the choice to learn your living.

www.ohba.ca

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Ontario Report

Waterloo welcomes Olympic gold medallist The Waterloo Region HBA’s 23rd Annual Industry Luncheon will feature Jon Montgomery, Olympic gold medallist and host of Amazing Race Canada.

Experience Jon’s passion, spirit and sense of humour as he recounts how he embraced the challenges and dangers of skeleton racing on his path to Olympic victory. OHBA members from across the province are invited to be inspired, enlightened and motivated at what promises to be a sellout event, so order your tickets soon!

DATE: Friday, April 11 TIME: Networking @ 11 a.m.; Lunch @12 p.m.

VENUE: Bingeman’s Marshall Hall TICKETS: WRHBA Member Rate: $84 + HST; Non-Member Rate: $94 + HST; Corporate Table (8 people) $650 + HST

Olympic gold medallist and host of Amazing Race Canada, Jon Montgomery.

Contact Event Coordinator Julie Burdett for tickets or for further information at (519) 884-7590 or at julie-burdett@wrhba.com.

Local Association Golf Events 2014 Date

Association

Contact

Contact Phone number

May 29

BILD

Tiffany Kohl

(416) 391-3446

June 3

Greater Ottawa

Nicole McCallion

(613) 723-2926 ext. 222

June 3

Brantford

Fred DeCator

(519) 755-9690

June 4

London

Lois Langdon

(519) 686-0343

June 4

Seaway Valley

Nathaniel Cardinal

(613) 932-5326 ext. 303

June 5

Waterloo Region

Julie Burdett

(519) 884-7590

June 10

Niagara

Lynda Busch

(905) 646-6281

June 12

Peterborough & the Kawarthas

Holly Richards-Conley

(705) 876-7604

June 17

Hamilton-Halton

Cindy McIntosh

(905) 575-3344

June 17

Quinte

Linda Wikkerink

(613) 970-2216

June 19

Sudbury & District

Laura Higgs

(705) 671-6099

June 20

Lanark-Leeds

Darlene Fendley

(613) 523-5656

July 9

Stratford & Area

Ross Dale

(519) 271-4795

July 16

Saugeen Country

Lisa MacDonald

(519) 589-6866

July 17

Simcoe County

Sheila Hissa

(705) 728-5030

July 24

St. Thomas-Elgin

John Gundry

(519) 476-5811

August 12

Durham Region

Anita Devries

(905) 579-8080

September TBA

Windsor-Essex

Dennis Gerrard

(519) 948-3247

September 1

London

Lois Langdon

(519) 686-0343

September 5

Haliburton County

Aggie Tose

(705) 457-6901

September 9

Waterloo Region

Julie Burdett

(519) 884-7590

September 11

BILD

Tiffany Kohl

(416) 391-3446

September 11

Guelph & District

Stacy Cooper

(519) 836-8560

September 18

Greater Ottawa

Nicole McCallion

(613) 723-2926 ext. 222

September 22

OHBA (Ottawa)

Sajida Jiwani

(416) 443-1545 ext. 222

September 25

Peterborough & the Kawarthas

Holly Richards-Conley

(705) 876-7604

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ontario home builder spring 2014

Jeff Paikin of New Horizon Homes and past president of HHHBA has been honoured as 2013 Hamilton Citizen of the Year.

Builder named Citizen of the Year Congratulations to Jeff Paikin, who was named Hamilton Citizen of the Year for 2013! Jeff is president of award-winning New Horizon Homes, past president of the Hamilton-Halton Home Builders’ Association and co-owner of the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) Hockey Team.

Honoured for his involvement in numerous philanthropic endeavours, including City Kidz, the Children’s Aid Society, Joseph Brant Museum, Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation and the Eva Rothwell Resource Centre, Jeff is also behind the annual B’nai Brith Sports Dinner, which has raised millions for Mohawk College, the YMCA and Shalom Village.

Giving back to the community runs in the Paikin family. His mother Marnie and father Larry have both been inducted into Hamilton’s Gallery of Distinction (in 1997 and 2011, respectively).

www.ohba.ca

Reliance applauds all women in construction Thanks to Carla Agostino and others like her, women are building on a foundation of success in construction.

Carla Agostino works as a Key Account Manager in the Builder New Construction division at Reliance Home Comfort, and we’re extremely proud that she’s on our team.

Nobody personifies the Reliance philosophy of excellence, collaboration and professionalism better than Carla. But she’s not alone when it comes to women breaking new ground in the construction industry.

That’s why we’d like to thank all of the women who bring their enthusiasm and knowledge to residential construction and applaud them for everything they do.

The future of construction looks brighter because you’re building it today.

reliancehomecomfort.com

Ontario Report

Local Association Events 2014 Date

Event

Association

Contact

Contact Phone Number

March 20

Hall of Fame & Industry Luncheon

Hamilton-Halton

Cindy McIntosh

(905) 575-3344

March 21-23

Sudbury Home Show

Sudbury & District

Laura Higgs

(705) 671-6099

March 21-23

Windsor Home Show

Windsor-Essex

Dennis Gerrard

(519) 948-3247

March 23

ACE Awards

Simcoe County

Sheila Hissa

(705) 728-5030

March 28-30

Quinte Home and Lifestyle Show

Quinte

Linda Wikkerink

(613) 970-2216

March 28-30

STEHBA Home, Garden & Outdoor Living Show

St. Thomas-Elgin

John Gundry

(519) 476-5811

April 1

Renovation Design Contest

London

Lois Langdon

(519) 686-0343

April 4-6

Stratford Spring Home Show

Stratford & Area

Ross Dale

(519) 271-4795

April 4-6

Blitz Build

Greater Ottawa

Nicole McCallion

(613) 723-2926 ext. 222

April 11

Industry Luncheon

Waterloo Region

Julie Burdett

(519) 884-7590

April 16

DRHBA Awards of Excellence

Durham

Anita Devries

(905) 579-8080

April 24

Awards of Distinction

Hamilton-Halton

Cindy McIntosh

(905) 575-3344

April 25

BILD Awards

BILD

Tiffany Kohl

(416) 391-3446

April 25-26

Parade of Homes

Stratford & Area

Ross Dale

(519) 271-4795

May 8

President's Industry Luncheon

London

Lois Langdon

(519) 686-0343

May 13

NHBA President's BBQ

Niagara Home Builders' Association

Lynda Busch

(905) 646-6281

May 22

Business Industry Luncheon

Guelph & District

Stacy Cooper

(519) 836-8560

May 29

Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chair Challenge

Peterborough & the Kawarthas

Holly Richards-Conley

(705) 876-7604

June 18

SABA Awards of Distinction

Stratford & Area

Ross Dale

(519) 271-4795

July 9

22nd Annual Charity BBQ

BILD

Tiffany Kohl

(416) 391-3446

August

Parade of Homes

Windsor-Essex

Dennis Gerrard

(519) 948-3247

September

Golden Hammer Awards

Windsor-Essex

Dennis Gerrard

(519) 948-3247

September 17

BILD & OHBA Condo Seminar

BILD

Tiffany Kohl

(416) 391-3446

September 18-21

Fall Home Show

BILD

Tiffany Kohl

(416) 391-3446

September 21

Stephen's Ride for Humanity

BILD

Tiffany Kohl

(416) 391-3446

October 1

Awards of Creative Excellence Gala

London

Lois Langdon

(519) 686-0343

October 3

12th Annual SABA Industry Luncheon

Stratford & Area

Ross Dale

(519) 271-4795

October 4

Housing Design Awards

Greater Ottawa

Nicole McCallion

(613) 723-2926 ext. 222

October 5

Parade of Renovations

London

Lois Langdon

(519) 686-0343

October 16

Economic & Housing Outlook 2015 Breakfast

BILD

Tiffany Kohl

(416) 391-3446

October 17

Residential Awards of Excellence

Sudbury & District

Laura Higgs

(705) 671-6099

October 24-26

New Homes and Reno Expo

Chatham-Kent

Lorie Gore

(519) 358-1248

November 5

Sales and Marketing Awards

Greater Ottawa

Nicole McCallion

(613) 723-2926 ext. 222

November 7

Kawartha Awards of Distinction

Peterborough & the Kawarthas

Holly Richards-Conley

(705) 876-7604

November 14

BILD Party for Humanity

BILD

Tiffany Kohl

(416) 391-3446

November 14

SAM Awards of Distinction

Waterloo Region

Julie Burdett

(519) 884-7590

November 20

Golden Hammer Awards

St. Thomas -Elgin

John Gundry

(519) 476-5811

For a complete list of local association events, visit ohba.ca.

16

ontario home builder spring 2014

www.ohba.ca

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human capital an organization is measured through the eyes of the customer on every single activity, regardless of how big or small. Everyone is therefore depending upon them to do their job with excellence or else the whole organization could fail.

2. Say “thank you”—and mean it! At the

Engaging concepts Increased profits are just a compliment away

By Dr. Chris Bart A business strategy for home builders

or contractors can be pretty straightforward—find an unmet need in the marketplace and develop a plan to satisfy it better than your competitors. But in the everyday grind of the real world, delivering on that strategy day in and day out in a manner that will build customer loyalty and referrals is one of the most difficult and enduring problems faced by leaders.

Research shows that regardless of the economic circumstances, a workforce that is enthusiastically willing to give more than just what is required to hold onto their jobs contributes to better business performance. It also helps to fulfill the company’s mission statement.

Conceptually, this all makes sense. But practically, it can be tough to do. Why? Because according to a Conference Board of Canada survey, 55% of employees are dissatisfied with their jobs. Consequently, the opportunity exists for many companies to enhance their performance by improving employee engagement.

And it’s worth the effort. Employees www.ohba.ca

who are both passionate about their jobs and emotionally bonded to their organizations are willing to give that elusive discretionary effort that drives a more intense strategic focus, higher efficiency and better productivity. Accordingly, eliminating workplace alienation and creating an engaged workforce have become the new mantras for progressive builders and contractors. Just follow these three steps: 1. Make sure they know what to do and why. Be extremely clear about organiza-

tional goals and obsessively communicate to employees how their work —both collectively and individually—contributes to the organization’s success and, in particular, its mission. Everyone wants to feel important and to feel that what they do matters. Those feelings are not always so easy to obtain, though, especially for those with boring and repetitive frontline jobs. But it is the responsibility of the “nearest leader” (i.e., the immediate supervisor) to help those individuals see the higher purpose in their work and that

top of the list of practices that increase an organization’s level of employee engagement is the simple act of regularly and sincerely thanking employees and praising them for their work. Publicly acknowledging exceptional work is especially key, though rewarding routine and commonplace efforts is also encouraged, such as for good attendance. One organization I know gives each of their team leaders $100 per week for undefined team-building activities, with the only restriction being that the activities must occur outside normal working hours. The idea is that if a team leader can strengthen the personal non-work bond between team members during off-hours, then asking for job-related favours at work will not seem like such an imposition, because it’s now a friend—someone you’ve grown to like—asking for help.

3. Development and training. Finally, most employees want to know that they have avenues for advancement in their organizations if they choose to pursue them. This means there must be career development and training opportunities at every level, and supervisors should be required to regularly discuss ways to assist interested employees. Nowhere is this more important than for staff at the bottom of the ladder.

Great organizations search for ways to gain a competitive edge. Many are overlooking an effective strategic weapon standing right in front of them: their workers. Creating an inspired and engaged workplace requires a leadership team—top to bottom—that understands and values its importance. And when you create this culture of engagement, it won’t be long before your competition’s customers choose to do business with you. OHB Dr. Chris Bart, F.C.A., is the author of A Tale of Two Employees and the Person Who Wanted to Lead Them, a top-10 bestseller in Canada for nine straight years. corporatemissionsinc.com ontario home builder spring 2014

19

Marketing

An example of effective signage: Menkes Developments’ “Noir”, a 2012 Awards of Distinction finalist.

Chairman of the board

Just because you have a big, bright sign doesn’t mean it’s getting noticed

By Jacqueline Schifano Try something: Pick up a magazine and

flip to an advertisement. Stare at that ad for five seconds. Now close your eyes and try to precisely recall that ad. What was it an image of? Was it lively and full of colour or was it simple, black and white?

Were there people in it? Most important, what was the advertisement selling?

In billboard advertising, this is especially true. You have a maximum of five seconds to sell your product to pedestrians and commuters alike. If you’re going to make an impression amid a sea of billboards, you need to stand out. To do this, you must be aware of your immediate environment. A landscape surrounded by trees will look completely different in February than it will in May. Developers and marketers also should consider buildings, hydro towers and any other objects that might distract from your signs.

Colours and materials should be carefully considered when creating a great billboard campaign. Reflective vinyl and www.ohba.ca

lighting are vital options to consider, especially during our long Canadian winter nights. Consider your sign’s position in relation to the sun as well. You don’t want your sign obscured by a rising or setting sun during rush-hour.

Sign technology has become quite advanced. Some printing materials can fluctuate with the weather or temperature to bring a new creative spin to a sign.

Colours and messaging can vary based on extended sun exposure, while some ad campaigns have used printing methods that can reveal a completely different image during rainfall. Some vinyl can absorb UV rays during the day and glow phosphorescent at night. These options are more expensive, but the advantage often more than justifies the cost.

Colours also change based on seasonal trends, but it’s been nice to see developers pushing the envelope and introducing vibrant colours in their ads.

Reds tend to fade fastest but are most

eye-catching, while a black font on yellow is most legible. As a rule, brown, white and pastels should be avoided, as they tend to fade quickly or tarnish easily. Again, you must be aware of your surroundings and what the competition in the area is doing to make sure your sign is clear, concise and impactful. If four other developers are using forest green, then using an opposing colour scheme may be the most effective and simplest way to separate yourself from the fleet.

One rule all marketers and developers should keep in mind when developing a billboard is to keep the copy simple.

Don’t try to tell the whole story on your signage. There’s only so much information a person can process in five seconds, so don’t bog them down. The rule of thumb is eight words or less: the product name, price point, logo and contact number/URL. Save the lengthier messaging for the other marketing pieces.

Keeping the messaging bold and on point will save the integrity of the sign and spare builders the potentially daunting costs of continually re-patching their signage. A good marketing team should be able to deliver great signage with strong branding, where the only patch required will change the messaging from “Now On Sale” to “Sold Out.” Another way to get noticed is to do something other than a typical billboard dimension. Rounded or irregular shapes tend to make people take notice after being accustomed to a barrage of rectangles. Cut-out lettering and tack-ons can help make a drive-by ad really jump out.

Just as a sign that incorporates moving parts is bound to be noticed before a static sign, thinking outside the box to highlight the unique features of your development can really pay off. Different is good. A strong marketing team will help illuminate the key selling points of each project and should come up with great, new, eyecatching ways to get purchasers hooked.

Remember, you’ve got five seconds to hook your audience. Get them interested, get them registered, get them to buy into your community. If your signage can stand out in the sea of billboards, you’ll really be the biggest fish in the pond. OHB Jacqueline Schifano is the Communications Manager at Madhouse Advertising Inc. in Toronto. ontario home builder spring 2014

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Some ThiNgS SimpLy Need To be doNe righT. WALLTITE offers superior comfort and long-term savings.* ®

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As per Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC) reports for medium density spray polyurethane foam posted December 2011.

WALLTITE is a registered trade-mark of BASF Canada Inc. ECOLOGO is a trade-mark of Environment Canada; GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified is a registered trade-mark, and GREENGUARD Children and Schools is a service mark, of their respective owners; all used by BASF Canada Inc. with permission. © 2014 BASF Canada Inc.

Health & Safety There are a wide variety of scaffold types and configurations that are in use today. For example, a job in a process industry or power generation plant where work progresses in sequences with separate trades is quite different from the construction of a house, where the form of a scaffold is being continually changed by the crew that uses it to build a masonry wall. CSA Z797 provides comprehensive requirements, as well as alternative options (as long as equivalent protection is provided as determined by a competent person, or, where applicable, a written procedure is set in place). The code includes over 45 figures with accompanying terms and definitions.

Some of the highlights include:

On solid ground

CSA’s Z797 standard provides valuable guidance for scaffolding

By Jeanne Bank The headlines are rife with serious—

and fatal—injuries involving falls from scaffolding, ladders and suspended work platforms. Despite strict legislation, it remains a common occurrence in Canada. At the time of this writing, an 18-year-old man had just sustained spinal injuries after he fell from scaffolding at a construction site in Vancouver. A week earlier, a Nova Scotia worker died after tumbling from the same scaffolding a fellow worker had fallen off just a month prior. And only days before that, Ontario’s Court of Appeal assessed a www.ohba.ca

$750,000 fine to a construction company after four migrant workers plunged to their deaths from scaffolding on Christmas Eve 2009.

Every one of these mishaps was preventable. Vital reading in this regard is the Canadian Standards Association’s Z797-09 Code of Practice for Access Scaffold, which provides practical information for the safe assembling, use, altering and dismantling of scaffolds. Key hazards addressed include falls, collapses, over-turning and incidents arising from material handling.

The supervisor shall be knowledgeable and experienced in the particular scaffold application and the workers trained in its use. Examples of items to be considered include the allowance for adverse weather conditions, the required load rating and protection from contact by vehicles or machines.

Inspection is an important requirement throughout the life of a scaffold installation. Extensive guidance is provided on the inspection of its components prior to assembly, particularly for the planks that form the platform. An assembled scaffold shall be inspected prior to initial use and thereafter on at least a daily basis. The results of the inspections shall be documented and communicated to the users.

CSA Z797 describes a tagging system that informs users of the safety status of a scaffold on a continual basis. The tags also inform the user of the duty rating of the scaffold as a reminder to avoid overloading. There was recognition that such a system might not make sense for situations where scaffolds are changed continually as they are used, with the installers and users working in close cooperation. Consequently, criteria to be used to develop an equivalent method are given.

Electrical hazards and protective measures to be taken are addressed, including situations where electrical charges can be induced on the scaffold itself or on metallic materials that are being ontario home builder spring 2014

23

Health & Safety hoisted onto the scaffold.

There is general guidance on the assembly of components, followed by particular requirements for situations such as a scaffold that either hangs from an overhead support, is arranged to move on wheels or is nailed together from timber.

Also covered is the 3-to-1 maximum height-to-width rule, as well as requirements for solid foundation, tying to structures, use of guy wires, allowable deviations from the vertical and engineering where a tarp can magnify the effects of wind. Some scaffold installations require the involvement of an engineer. These include a scaffold with a partial or full enclosure, a powered hoist or a cantilever or bridge configuration. The requirements for accompanying documentation are provided.

The lifting, transporting and reuse of an assembled scaffold is a practice that is observed but typically is not specifically addressed in standards or regulations.

CSA Z979 lists the main risks and calls for caution.

Fall protection, as discussed above, is a key issue and the code addresses cautions and solutions, including options for safe access to levels, techniques during construction and procedures for personnel who are lifting or receiving materials to a platform. Included is a prefabricated guardrail system that is raised to the next platform level prior to occupancy to provide continuous protection during construction of a scaffold.

Guidance provided includes timely inspections, carrying out corrective actions and adherence to allowable platform loadings.

Also addressed are items to be included in theoretical and practical training, along with methods of verifying comprehension and skill development.

To view this document, register for free on CSA Group’s new online Communities (https://community.csagroup.org). Once you register on the site, click on the OHS View Access icon, which will provide you access to OHS CSA standards that have been referenced in federal, provincial and territorial legislation and regulations. To purchase a copy, visit shop.csa.ca. OHB

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ontario home builder spring 2014

info@my-designstudio.com 4250 Weston Rd. Suite 208 Toronto ON, M9L 1W9

Jeanne Bank is the Standards Manager Occupational Health & Safety at CSA Group. www.ohba.ca

Are you ready?

We are.

New standard for

Working at Heights Training Train with IHSA and be confident that you’ll be compliant.

The Ministry of Labour’s Chief Prevention Officer has released a Working at Heights Training Standard. It lays out what each worker needs to learn when taking mandatory working at heights training.

IHSA’s Working at Heights—Fundamentals of Fall Prevention is a robust program that meets the new standard.

Learn to teach IHSA’s Working at Heights course yourself. Take our Working at Heights Instructor Workshop to become an IHSA-registered instructor.

Together we can stop falls from killing Ontario workers.

For more information about the standard and IHSA’s programs, visit ihsa.ca/fallp

Markant by ACO

Residential & Landscape Products

Markant by ACO is a range of building & drainage products designed

Suitable Applications

for the residential landscaper & do-it-yourself enthusiast.

• Residential driveways Markant by ACO offers solutions including: trench drains made of either plastic or

• Patios

polymer concrete, point drains, drain mats with a variety of grates & reinforcement

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for grassed and graveled areas to allow for vehicle trafc.

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The products offer the same quality & design excellence as ACO’s commercial

• Entrances

products but are designed to meet the demands of the residential customer.

• Golf Cart paths

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ACO Systems, Ltd. (877) 226-4255 | www.acocan.ca

technology

Making new connections

The rise of private social networks for condos By joseph nakhla Just a few years ago we hit a tipping

point; for the first time in history more than half the world’s population lives in cities. Communities should be flourishing, but as density increases so does obscurity. Our new vertical neighbourhoods are designed for efficiency and security. Picket fences have been replaced by concrete walls and there are few opportunities to share resources, experiences, and contribute to the community.

Each building in our cities is an unrecognized village. Hundreds live metres apart in a single structure, with few means to connect and realize the potential of a collective. Social and economic opportunities—perhaps even a chance to contribute to environmental sustainability—are going untapped. From borrowing a cup of sugar and sharing tools, to trading talents and finding friends, there are practical, social and human reasons to know the people around you. Perhaps there’s a guitar teacher a few floors above, a new tennis partner down the hall or a www.ohba.ca

plumber to fix that broken garburator.

Despite our increasingly connected culture, connecting with our neighbours is challenging. But what if we applied social network design patterns at a local building level? What if your building had a private social network?

When Microsoft launched its social network “So.cl” (pronounced “social”) in late 2012, it invited users to “discover people with like interests and connect over topics you love.” Now imagine if you could discover people with like interests in your own building. This changes everything. Technology becomes the spark for meaningful, local relationships and potentially transformative connections.

Products like Yammer are proving the potential of the private social scaffold when applied to businesses big and small.

Hootsuite CEO Ryan Holmes suggests we will continue to see dramatic growth for more niche social networks with deeper, more focused functionality. As social products continue to become more

specific and exclusive, the social neighbourhood could be next. Take NextDoor, a private social network for suburban neighbourhoods. It’s having success as a neighbourhood watch integrating with local emergency and police departments.

Another is bazinga!, the private social network and utility for buildings. (Full disclosure: I’m the founder of bazinga!). This platform links residents, boards, building staff, property managers and developers to create a more connected community.

Communication channels are more clear and collaborative, and neighbours have a unique social channel to share and connect with those around them. It also fills a clear need for many communities, especially in large buildings with multiple staff. There is too often ambiguity concerning who to contact for a new key fob, a warranty issue or a billing change. Digital platforms can guide you to the right contact.

New homebuyers are taking note. So are developers. Thought leaders are using social technology to differentiate their properties and ultimately their companies. The promise of community is clear added value. In sales centres across the country, the next generation of digital platforms are generating excitement and incentive, much as an attractive amenity would. An interface to organize your home and connect with your community will become a valuable feature.

Where there is no digital resource, residents are taking matters into their own hands. They are posting to Facebook and Twitter with questions, comments and complaints. Fortunately, many developers are becoming proactive in managing social media and are complementing their efforts with a private social network to provide updates, information and answers to common questions that are specific to each development. Adoption of private social networks is consequently increasing rapidly. They are contributing to increased efficiency and resident satisfaction. They are replacing the home manuals, corkboards and community newsletters of the past, and paradoxically, are bringing human relationships back into the places we now call home—our vertical neighbourhoods. OHB Joseph Nakhla is the founder/CEO of bazinga!

Technologies; joseph.nakhla@mybazinga.com ontario home builder spring 2014

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Smart, compact space heating and DHW! w Ne Introducing the new generation Vitodens 200-W and the new Vitodens 222-F – featuring advanced Viessmann technology and performance in a small footprint.

New! Award winning control unit Both gas-fired condensing boilers feature an intuitive user-friendly, menu-driven Vitotronic control offering multi-line text and graphics on a high-contrast, backlit display for easy readability in all lighting conditions.

VITODENS 200-W Extended application range with increased capacity up to 530 / 4240 MBH (single / cascade) 9 models with input ranges from 12 to 530 MBH Combine up to eight boilers in single prefabricated cascade system VITODENS 222-F Floor standing configuration and zero side clearance requirement saves space and simplifies installation

*Based on a temperature rise of 70 °F (50 °F to 120 °F). Information subject to change.

2 models with input ranges from 12 to 125 MBH DHW heating system comprised of plate heat exchanger and storage tank New!

Fast heat-up time with innovative Storage Tank Loading System for a 10-minute peak flow of 60 gallons (model B2TA-35 only)* Continuous DHW draw of 3.3 GPM* It’s time to experience the outstanding quality and

Vitotronic 200 control with

comfort that you expect from Viessmann – and all the

graphic user interface

benefits that come with innovation.

www.viessmann.ca 1-800-387-7373

ace Idea Pllders i for Buv ators o n e R &

top shelf

Smart, fast basement walls

DRIcore SMARTWALL helps contractors finish basements up to five times faster. Unlike conventional construction methods, SMARTWALL’s OSB framing, R16 insulation and primed drywall skin combine into an all-in-one, high-performance wall assembly, with panels that simply lock into place. dricore.com

Finding your range

Fisher & Paykel Appliances’ new 30-inch range platform meets the demand for the most specified dimension in the North American market. The four different 3.6 cubic-foot, stainless steel models, ranging from gas-on-gas to induction, feature the company’s usual premium cooking experience and design aesthetics. On all models, the bottom drawer is a warming drawer, except the gas oven, which serves as a storage drawer. fisherpaykel.com

Flat as a pancake

Coming this fall, Bostitch’s six-gallon oil-free pancake compressor is ideal for trim and finish applications, including installing moulding, cabinetry or window/door casings.

Portable, yet powerful enough for multi-tool use, it delivers up to 2.6 SCFM at 150 PSI. The integrated control panel helps protect vital components from tough jobsite conditions. $209. bostitch.com

www.ohba.ca

ontario home builder spring 2014

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top shelf

Let there be light

Made in Canada since 1955, Columbia presents the Fixed Curb Mount Double Glazed Skylight with industry-leading LoE³ Neat glass. Neat glass has an extremely smooth surface that reduces water spotting and streaks and a self-cleaning titanium dioxide layer that uses the sun’s UV rays to break up organic material. There are six additional Energy Star-qualified glazing options suitable for all climate zones in Ontario.

Control from afar

Distributed in Ontario by National Energy Equipment, Nexia Home Intelligence allows you to run a home by smartphone, adjusting the thermostat, scheduling lights, unlocking and locking the door, viewing live video—even getting alerts when someone enters a house or when it’s time to change your furnace filter.

columbiaskylights.com

nexiahome.com Saving energy and saving money

With new low-rise Building Code changes requiring the supply and installation of a 7-day setback thermostat, Home Corp Services is making life easy on home builders by now including its new Home-Stat thermostat with every rental water heater. Proven to reduce combined energy savings by 28%, this exclusive high-tech, all-in-one programmable model enables homeowners to manage their heating, cooling and water heating with no additional wiring. homecorpservices.com

Packing a powerful cordless punch

A charging radio with bluetooth

Milwaukee Tool has introduced the first charging radio that brings the power of Bluetooth to the jobsite. The M18 Jobsite Radio/Charger ($249) allows you to stream rich, full sound wirelessly from over 100 feet away. It also serves as a convenient charging station for Milwaukee M18 batteries and portable electronic devices, with a USB port that charges most portable electronic devices over 50% faster than any competitors. milwaukeetool.com

DeWalt’s new Gas-Free Cordless Framing Nailer combines the company’s brushless motor technology with its new 20V MAX 4.0AH li-ion battery pack to produce the power to drive a 90mm ring shank nail in cold temperatures.

Two firing modes: bump fire or sequential mode. dewalt.com

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ontario home builder spring 2014

www.ohba.ca

1

2

3

Build Bell into the plan.

Partner with Bell and we’ll bring our innovative technology into each home of your development. With Bell, your customers get Fibe™ TV – the best TV service. They’ll also enjoy speed, security and Wi-Fi with the best Internet combo on the market, and the most reliable Home phone1 service, adding incredible value for home buyers.

To learn more, please email fibreforbuilders@bell.ca

(1) Applies to traditional copper-based (excluding fibre-based) wireline telephony; compared to cable telephony and based on a continued service during extended power outages at customer’s home. Fibe is a trade-mark of Bell Canada.

top shelf

A faster foundation for success

Wall and floor panels built from TRS Components are built in a controlled environment using precision laser technology to ensure that each panel is square, properly sized and a perfect fit with companion panels. When delivered, each panel is labelled and accompanied by detailed instructions for setup sequence and placement, which results in faster installation. trscomponents.ca

Made to measure

Stanley’s most versatile tape rule ever, the new 25 foot FatMax auto-locking model includes 11 feet of standout with a blade that automatically locks at the length to which it is extended. A customizable hook system allows users to configure their tape for the right application. $29.99. stanleytools.com

Air-Purifying Hardwood Grand openings

Schlage’s Broadway door lever series includes the Greenwich model (pictured) from its Decorative Collection. Featuring a lifetime finish and mechanical guarantee, as well as the highest residential security for a lever product, this sleek model is guaranteed to fit on existing, standard pre-drilled doors. schlage.com

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ontario home builder spring 2014

Literally making living spaces healthier from the ground up, the first-of-its-kind Pure Genius smart hardwood flooring by Canadian manufacturer Lauzon improves indoor air quality by as much as 85%. Activated by natural or artificial light and by the movement of air, it continuously breaks down airborne toxins, creating a constant supply of pure air in the home. lauzonflooring.com

www.ohba.ca

the perfect match

Some things in life are meant to be together. Knife and fork. Salt and pepper.

Performance and style. Introducing the Fisher & Paykel 36" Gas on Steel Cooktop and 30" Built-in Oven. Combining the total flexibility of the cooktop’s 5 burners and ultimate performance of the oven’s 10 cooking functions and AeroTech™ cooking system, together they deliver complete cooking capability to support the most avid chef. Matching stainless steel is combined with quality cast iron and black reflective glass. At last, the perfect match in style and performance.

Fisher & Paykel Appliances Canada, Inc, SOFA International Centre, 6900 Airport Road Suite 207, Mississauga, ON L4V 1E8 905.569.4001

6370_FPG

fisherpaykel.com

top shelf

Faster, thinner floor-warming

Ditra-Heat is the first electric floor-warming system that directly incorporates uncoupling technology to provide heated ceramic- and stonetiled floors that are not susceptible to cracking.

Heating cables are easily snapped into place on top of the uncoupling mat with no clips or fasteners. The installer has complete flexibility on where the cables are placed, so every installation can be customized. schluter.com

Covering the open range

Venmar has launched its fourth generation of Jazz range hoods, combining superior venting ability with a sleek European look of stainless steel and glass that integrates halogen or LED lighting, electronic push button controls and blue LED backlighting, all at an affordable price. venmar.ca

Getting a footing on warm, dry basements

When basement walls are insulated to their full height, moisture problems can crop up.

Delta’s Footing Barrier, a three-ply impermeable membrane, is simply placed on top of the freshly poured footings before foundations are poured.

It creates a capillary break between footer and foundation that keeps groundwater from wicking up and accumulating in basement walls.

It’s a tankless job Rinnai’s Ultra Series condensing water-heater technology combines the benefits of traditional tankless water heaters with even greater

energy savings, incorporating two innovative heat exchangers to achieve optimum water-heating value from every cubic foot of natural gas or propane. A Scale Detection System detects lime scale buildup and alerts the user when maintenance is required. rinnai.com

cosella-dorken.com

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ontario home builder spring 2014

www.ohba.ca

Spring.. at last!

When planning your new builds this spring, think Napoleon for your home comfort products. ®

FurNACeS & FireplACeS MAde iN CANAdA When you build your homes with Napoleon products, you can rest assured your home buyers are warm and comfortable with years of reliable and quality built fireplaces and gas furnaces.

Napoleon is the #1 preferred fireplace and HVAC brand for builders throughout Ontario. Canadian made products for Canadian built homes.

1.800.461.5581 napoleonheatingandcooling.com

napoleonfireplaces.com

napoleongrills.com

Kenmore Homes founder James O. Kaufman (second from left) with partners Jack Lowrey (far left) and Les Rylett (far right).

Gary and Jamie Adam of Pioneer Craftsmen.

Robert, David, Christina and John Giannone of FRAM Building Group.

Harry Sifton founded Sifton Properties in 1923.

Brandon, Carley and Ward Campbell of Starward Homes.

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ontario home builder spring 2014

Frank Giannone, future president of FRAM Building Group, formed by his father Giovanni in 1981. www.ohba.ca

For these home builders, it’s been a multi-generational labour of love

By J.P. Donaldson

There’s an old saying: The first generation builds it, the second makes it a success and the third destroys it. Whoever crafted that expression never met these nextgeneration builders and renovators, each one determined to carry on and build upon their family’s legacy through continued hard work, dedication to the residential housing industry and an ongoing commitment to excellence. They represent just a few of the hundreds of family-run home-building companies across Ontario.

Giovanni Giannone emigrated from Italy to Canada in 1957, the third generation of a family of general contractors from southern Italy. After brief employment as a mason, he began his own masonry company in 1959, with a little home building on the side.

In 1981, following the graduation of Frank, his oldest son, Giovanni created FRAM Building Group (named after his four children: Frank, Ralph, Antionetta and Mariana), with Frank as president. Today, FRAM is an award-winning company renowned for its creativity in planning, designing and building premier residential and mixed-use communities across Canada and the United States.

The fifth generation has now started to enter the company. All of Frank’s four children have been involved with FRAM throughout the years. Two now work full-time: Christina, as a project manager for the Development and Marketing division, and John as a project manager and site super. The youngest, Robert, will be joining the company following completion of his Master’s degree from NYU. “There was never pressure to enter into the family business from the older generations,” says Christina. “We were always taught that hard work pays off, and the encouragement we received from family focused more on obtaining proper education for something we were passionate about.” Three of the siblings studied programs at university that related to the industry; the fourth, David, became a chiropractor.

“I always knew this industry was for me,” says John. “As a child I was in awe when I had exposure to the real construction site.

When I was old enough, I was handed my first pair of construction boots, hardhat and a broom, and was instructed to sweep the units’ floors of our then newest development. I truly was learning the business from the bottom up. ” The same holds true for the youngest sibling. “Growing up, www.ohba.ca

I always had a desire to do what my father did, even though I wasn’t fully clear on it,” notes Robert. “As I grew, my understanding of what my father and grandfather did became clearer: originally thinking they were construction workers, then home builders, then housing developers. Finally, my understanding has developed to where I see my father and grandfather today: community developers.”

In 1961, Arnold Hendriks, a husband and father of six, left his job at a construction supply store to start a small renovation business, relying on the carpentry skills he had learned in his native country, Holland. In later years, Arnold’s wife, Barbara, became involved in the clerical end of the business. The firm grew through the years with Arnold taking on larger renovations as time passed. His son, Ron, began working with his father during school holidays, and joined the business on a full-time basis in 1978. Before long, projects began to include custom new-home construction, along with renovation work that was increasing in scope and scale.

Arnold and Barbara partially retired in 1993, and Ron’s wife, Yvonne, took over all of the clerical duties. In 2000, Ron and Yvonne become sole owners of the business.

“My parents (Ron and Yvonne) felt a tremendous sense of honour and desire to carry on the family legacy,” says Darren Hendriks.

“My dad also knew he had the experience and expertise to continue offering the same high level of quality Homes By Hendriks had become so well known for.”

Darren started spending his summer breaks working with the business in 2002. In 2008, after completing his post-secondary education in Business Administration –Operations Management, he joined the company on a full-time basis. “We had a long-term succession plan where I would gradually take over the business ontario home builder spring 2014

37

The Niagara region lost one of the pillars of its community when Ron Hendriks (centre) passed away last August. But Homes by Hendriks has continued its momentum through son Darren, and Ron’s wife and company co-founder Yvonne.

until my parents eventually retired,” he says.

All that changed in 2012, when Ron was diagnosed with a terminal illness. He passed away in August 2013 at the age of 52.

“Our four- to five-year plan turned into a four- to five-day plan,” Darren relates. “Fortunately, I’d done a lot of training and taken a lot of classes; for example, I was part of the pilot program for EnerQuality’s Green Renovator project. And my father was the consummate teacher and mentor who instilled in me a hard-work ethic and a strong value system. On any given day, when I’m dealing with a stressful situation, I think, ‘What would my dad do?’ and I can always find the answer.”

In 1955, James O. Kaufman, a WWII Navy veteran and tool and die maker, set his sights on becoming a home builder. Today, Kenmore Homes is a successful family business spanning—so far— three generations, with over 12,000 units built and sold, and three busy regional offices in Niagara, London and Kitchener-Waterloo.

The third generation entered the family business in the 1990s, with Kris joining in ’96 as a labourer and Jennifer coming aboard in 1998 in an administrative capacity. Today, Kris serves as the construction manager, while Jennifer has taken on the role of Project Manager for Niagara Housing.

“I more or less fell into the role I have today,” says Jennifer.

“When the PM opportunity opened up, I took an extensive job leap, but I had the right grooming and future support systems in place to ensure that I would have a successful transition, and I was definitely encouraged to take on the position by my father, James.”

Despite her relative youth, Jennifer admits to being “somewhat conservative,” although she’s not opposed to slipping in some fresher ideas on occasion. “It definitely helps that I am within the age range of our target market for most of our housing projects, and being a female in a largely male-dominated industry has brought change in itself.”

Her brother Kris, meanwhile, cites family guidance as having paid big dividends in his development. “I am very fortunate to have started my career working alongside my grandfather and father,” 38

ontario home builder spring 2014

Kris says. “Each and every day I was able to learn something new from the two of them. I could also recognize the slight differences in their leadership style, but I came to realize that their core beliefs and values were always aligned.”

Asforworkingtogether Kenmore Homes founder James on a day-to-day basis, both O. Kaufman (left) passed away in acknowledge that it’s not 2012, but his legacy is carried on by son James K. and his granchildren. always smooth sailing.

“There are no courses to teach you the skills needed to work in a family-run business,” Jennifer observes. “But in the end, we have a common goal: ensuring we carry on the legacy our grandfather started. That’s the driving force that keeps us working together.”

A fully integrated real estate company involved in the construction, ownership and management of office, commercial, industrial and residential properties, Menkes Developments Ltd. was founded in 1954 by Murray Menkes, who initially carried on business as a developer of single-family homes. While the company has remained family-owned, it has expanded significantly through the years, branching out into other areas of real estate.

Menkes is now one of the largest private Canadian developers of residential, industrial and office properties, with real estate ventures spanning the Greater Toronto Area.

In 2008, the first representative of the third generation entered the family business with the addition of Jared Menkes as director of development in the high-rise residential division.

Jared was followed by his cousins: Jason, in 2010, who assumed the role of portfolio manager in the office, industrial and commercial division; and Adam, in 2012, the company’s development manager in the low-rise residential division. In addition, Sean Menkes signed on in January 2013 and will be working in commercial property management.

“I decided to enter the business because I have always had an interest in real estate,” admits Adam, one of the newest additions to the firm. “I made it known as early as grade school that I

Celebrating its 60th anniversary, Menkes Developments has evolved into one of the largest private Canadian developers of residential, industrial and office properties. (L to R) Jared, Adam, Steven, Peter, Alan and Jason Menkes.

www.ohba.ca

FRAM Building Group

Early 1900s

1990 – present

1988 – present

1947 – 1966

1993-2010

1995 – present

1970 – present

Jonathan Kaufman

Giovanni Giannone, Francesco Giannone

James J. Kaufman

1981 – present

1996 – present

Giovanni & Frank Giannone

1983 – 1992

Antonietta Serrafero

Kris Kaufman

1998 – present Jennifer Kaufman

1983 – 2010

Mariana Giannone

2000 – 2006

Menkes Developments Ltd.

1954 – 2013

Murray Menkes

2005 – present

1976 – present

2007 – present Christina Giannone

2008 – present John Giannone

Alan Menkes

1982 – present Steven Menkes

1982 – present Peter Menkes

2008 – present Jared Menkes

Homes by Hendriks Inc.

1961 – 1993

Arnold Hendriks

Late 1960s – 1993 Barbara Hendriks

1978 – 2013

Yvonne Hendriks

2002 – present Darren Hendriks

Kenmore Homes

1955-2008

James O. Kaufman

1972 – present

Paul Meier

Glen Sifton

1989 – present Richard Sifton

Reid’s Heritage Group of Companies

1997 – 2012

Sherene (Sifton) Davidson

1947 – 1980s

2009 – present Matthew Robertson

1947 –1980s

2010 – present

George Reid

Karen Sifton

1947 –1980s

2013

Albert Reid

Victoria Sifton (summer student)

1947 –1980s Bill Lang

2013

1978 – 2000

Cameron Sifton (summer student)

Orin Reid

1978 – present Jane Reid

Starward Homes

1995 – present

1906

2010 – present

Charlotte Reid Blevins and Tim Blevins

E.B. Ratcliffe

2012 – present

Scott Reid and Shelley Reid

1996 – present

Late 1940s

Jason Menkes Adam Menkes

2014 – present Sean Menkes

Ron Hendriks

1992 – present

Doris Sifton

Melville Reid

David Giannone (summer student) Robert Giannone (summer student)

Jamie Adam

2000 – present Brian Reid and Heather Reid

2000 – present Pioneer Craftsmen Ltd.

Michelle Reid Bigelow and Brent Bigelow

1953 – 2010 Ken Adam

Gary Adam

Sifton Properties Limited

1979 – present

1923 – 1965

1980 – 2013 Glen Adam

Late 1940s

Bettina Campbell

1950 – present Charlie Campbell

1979 – present Ward Campbell

1979 – present

1968 – present

Marie Adam

Ed Ratcliffe, Jr.

Harry Sifton

1946 – 2005 Mowbray Sifton

Lydia Campbell Szostak and Jan Szostak

2003 – present Brandon Campbell

2008 – present Carley Campbell

James K. Kaufman

www.ohba.ca

ontario home builder spring 2014

39

wanted to join the company. My father, grandfather and uncles encouraged me and ensured that I was exposed to as many elements of the company as possible, from construction to development to building management. I wanted to join the business for many different reasons; apart from my overall interest in the industry, I am very close with my family and always relish the opportunity to work with and learn from them.”

That closeness has translated into a positive working relationship, one that Adam believes is priceless. “I am very lucky to work with my father, uncles, cousins and brother. There is no shortage of support, mentorship and guidance. I also had the privilege of working with my late grandfather, which was really special. Having the historical context of the company and industry from three generations is truly unique and will no doubt prove invaluable to the careers of myself, Jared, Jason and Sean.”

In 1953, Ken Adam found that the life of a farmer didn’t always provide the stability and quality of life that he wanted for his family, so he decided to put his interest in building to work and started constructing and renovating homes. As his two sons Gary and Glen got older, they too joined the business. Gary, in particular, enjoyed the unique working relationships he built up with his renovation clients, and after purchasing the company in 1979, he concentrated exclusively on renovations.

Gary’s son, Jamie, was first introduced to the family business as a summer student in 1988. “After high school, I spent some time on the jobsites, before continuing with my formal education at Conestoga College, graduating from the General Business Program,” says Jamie. “Working out on the jobsite provided many valuable lessons, but I really felt I would be happier working on the estimating and sales aspects of the business, which was what prompted my return to college, and then return to the business in 1993 upon graduation. Since then, I’ve been a part of everything from administration to accounting, to sales, and now I’m the president.”

In 2011, Jamie and his business partner, Paul Meier, purchased the company. Today, Pioneer Craftsmen is one of Waterloo Region’s premier design/build/renovation firms, with a full in-house professional design staff and a team of 24 lead carpenters, apprentices, project managers and designers—all with a focus on mid- to high-end full-service renovations.

In addition to a home constantly under renovation, Jamie’s earliest memories involve business discussions between his father

(L to R) Marie Adam, Gary Adam, Paul Meier and Jamie Adam of Waterloo’s Pioneer Craftsmen. Representing generation No. 3, Jamie purchased the company along with business partner Paul in 2011.

40

ontario home builder spring 2014

and grandfather during weekend visits. “I learned that it’s incredibly important to be able to leave work at work, and home at home.

Every family business faces these challenges. Ken passed away in 2010 and I do miss seeing the pride in his smile whenever we had the opportunity to discuss the business. My mother has also been an integral part of the business for many years. Working with both parents has allowed me the opportunity to debate many ideas, while receiving some great advice from differing points of view.”

Scott Reid (back row, second from left) and Tim Blevins (back row, right) were instrumental in keeping Reid’s Heritage Group in the family after the sudden passing of company president Orin Reid in 2000.

When brothers Melville, George and Albert Reid, along with their friend, Bill Lang, began building wartime bungalows in Guelph under the name of Reid and Lang, they couldn’t have imagined that they were also building a legacy. Nonetheless, by the 1970s, the second generation had entered into the business. “My father Orin (son of George) operated the business from our basement, and my mom, Jane, would clean the houses before they were sold, with me and my sister Charlotte tagging along,” remembers Scott Reid, vice-president.

In 1978, Orin and Jane launched Reid’s Heritage Homes, building in Guelph, Cambridge and Kitchener-Waterloo. The business boomed in the 1980s and survived the recession in the 1990s. “I spent my summers doing service work, while Charlotte worked in the office doing accounts payable,” says Scott. “My dad was gradually setting us up to work on our own.”

The plan changed when Orin passed away suddenly in August of 2000. “It was a very difficult time,” says Scott. “Tim Blevins and I were in our early twenties, faced with two choices: wind down the company or work together with our family and persevere in the business. We chose the latter and, together with our siblings and respective spouses, formed Reid’s Heritage Group of Companies.”

That third generation includes Charlotte and Tim Blevins, Scott and Shelley Reid, Brian and Heather Reid, and Brent and Michelle Bigelow. Today, all of them, including mother Jane, remain involved in the business in some capacity. Through it all, Scott and his brother-in-law and president Tim Blevins have tried to maintain a family culture, while leading by example.

“We’re the first people to come in the morning, and the last to leave,” Scott notes. “We try to attract the people who have www.ohba.ca

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istrative assistant, and with Victoria and Cameron Sifton as summer students. It’s safe to say there will be no generation gap in the family business.

E.B. Ratcliffe was a man of vision. In 1906, he started building homes in Hamilton, with his other business pursuits including Bartonville Block and Stone. Later, when his children Charlie, Bettina and Ed Jr. took over, they changed the name to Abbotsford Homes, with Ed Jr. going on to form a stone It’s been 91 years since Harry Sifton constructed his first house in London, Ont. Today, the Sifton manufacturing business, Angelstone (now clan has a fourth generation that has entered the company fold. known as Arriscraft International). In 1979, the third generation took over and changed the same work ethic, and we’ve been successful at hiring a great the name to Starward Homes. The company has been building team. The people we work with are an extension of our family; homes in Hamilton and the surrounding area under the Starward that core philosophy translates to the homes we build. When our banner ever since. tradespeople, suppliers and employees in the field see that we are In 2003, a fourth generation entered the picture with the 100% invested, it raises the bar.” addition of Brandon Campbell in the role of sales representative, followed by Carley Campbell in 2008 as a designer. Today, Brandon is Starward’s vice-president, while Carley manages the award-winning design studio, which opened in 2012.

In 1923, Harry Sifton built his first house at 587 Rosedale Ave“I honestly never thought I’d do anything different,” says nue in London, where it still stands today. His introduction of Brandon.

“When I was five we did a major addition/renovation building several homes at one time on speculation proved so to our home, and we moved next door to live with our grandparpopular that from 1940 to 1948 construction grew steadily to ents while the work was going on. I spent all my time watching 20 homes per year. and learning what the trades and workers were doing. They even Five hundred houses later, Harry passed the torch to his son, made me a white hardhat; I knew from that point forward that’s Mowbray. Under this new leadership, the company began assemwhat I wanted to do.” bling large tracts of land, positioning Sifton Properties for a fullThe same holds true for his sister. “I was always told I could scale foray into land development and diversified construction. be anything and do anything, but when it comes down to it, I am The company now boasts 650 employees in five Southwestern interested in the housing industry,” says Carley. “When all the Ontario cities, and has branched out to include the building and little girls were dreaming of their wedding dress, I was designing management of residential rentals, office commercial space and retirement living. my dream home in my mind. Now that I am the design manager, In 1970, Mowbray’s son Glen entered the family business.

I get to design every day and I love it.”

After five years of working outside of the company, his younger As for working with multiple generations, they both say it’s brother Richard came on board in 1989. Today, Glen is the comgreat, “most of the time.” “We feel an extra sense of support and pany’s chairman, while Richard is president. pride. It’s not just our coworkers, it’s our family; and it’s not just “I don’t ever remember being asked if I wanted to be in the our jobs, it’s our life,” Brandon says. “On the flip side, it’s hard business; I think it was more of an expectation,” says Richard. to shut it off when we’re not in the workplace; many family din“Looking back, I don’t know if it was my parents’ expectation or ners, vacations and celebrations have turned into business dismine, but here I am, running the family business. cussions, especially when you get all three living generations in “During Glen’s tenure as president, in the downturn of the the same room.” late 1980s/early 1990s, his direction was to preserve capital,” Richard adds. “On the other hand, I came in with the opportunities of a growing economy and we are working to grow again in our business units.

“I never really had the pleasure of working under my father directly; he had moved on when I came into the president’s role.

However, working with family is never easy. Some have ownership, some work in the company and some are simply family members. I have been fortunate enough to wear all three hats.

You always have to know which hat you are wearing when you are addressing an issue.”

Beginning in 2009, a fourth generation has entered the business, starting with Matthew Robertson in the role of land Bettina and Charlie Campbell helped found Abbotsford Homes in Hamilton. technician, followed by Karen Sifton as the maintenance admin 42

ontario home builder spring 2014

www.ohba.ca

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election direction Courting Ontario voters in the days ahead

By Joe Vaccaro

W

hen exactly can Ontarians expect to go to the polls? Your guess is as good as anyone’s, but the consensus is this spring or early summer.

Elections provide an opportunity to ask tough questions and demand clear answers. Demanding the answer is often easier than getting the answer, but sometimes the questions themselves and the issues they raise “establish a narrative,” as the pundits would say. They set the campaign direction and the eventual government mandate for the priorities of the province.

Ever since Premier Dalton McGuinty won a minority government on October 6, 2011, Ontarians have been waiting for an election. While we were waiting, Premier McGuinty retired from www.ohba.ca

politics and the Ontario Liberal Party elected Kathleen Wynne as their new leader, and the 25th Premier of Ontario.

Under the new Premier, the Ontario minority government successfully avoided a general election with the passage of the 2013 provincial budget. But as the reality of minority politics has set in at the Legislative Assembly, we have seen MPPs retire, triggering by-elections.

It is true that by-elections provide voters an opportunity to vote with impunity against the government, knowing that in the morning the Premier is still going to be Premier. Still, in a minority situation it does serve to help opposition parties test their campaign messages and build momentum towards a general election. ontario home builder spring 2014

45

In the seven by-elections (six Liberal MPPs, and one PC MPP retired), the governing Liberals held on to two seats, with the PCs retaining one seat and winning one seat from the Liberals, and the NDP winning three seats—all from the governing Liberals. The most recent February by-elections in Niagara Falls and Thornhill, won by the NDP and PCs respectively, have put everyone on election alert. And with a spring provincial budget expected, should the opposition parties vote against the budget, it would trigger a general election.

In the event of an election, what can we expect? Over the past year, OHBA has had meetings with all three party leaders and their advisors, learning a great deal about their position on various issues of interest to the residential construction, professional renovation and land development industry.

What we know Liberals The governing Liberals launched two significant consultations on the Land Use and Planning System and the Development Charges Review (including parkland, Section 37 and voluntary payments). OHBA has responded to both and we continue to meet with the government to advocate for our members.

The Liberals introduced changes to the Ontario Building Code effective January 2014, and also gave notice to new changes that come into effect on January 2015 and January 2017.

The 2012 Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit, which sup-

Premier Wynne’s 2014 budget will likely support the three themes of her government: investing in people, infrastructure and business. Should the budget be defeated, it will trigger a general election.

ports home improvements for seniors, fulfills a 2011 Liberal campaign commitment.

There is a long list of legislative, regulatory and policy items coming forward, including a new Provincial Policy Statement, the Growth Plan and Greenbelt Review, and the incorporation of six-storey wood construction into the OBC.

getting planning right from the start Despite recent consultations on Ontario’s Land Use Planning and Appeals System, many provincial politicians and candidates running for public office may not know much about how it all works or, sometimes, doesn’t work. Over the past decade the Land Use Planning System has evolved significantly for our industry. It has shifted from Smart Growth to the Growth Plan and now to a new focus on investment-ready communities and employment centres.

It’s complicated, yes, but it’s important that all candidates from all provincial parties have at least a basic understanding of how the land-use planning and appeals system works and how it could be improved. And OHBA’s response to the recent consultations is a good place to start. So here is a bit of a primer to help candidates understand how to make the system fair, effective and accountable.

Municipal leadership Every development application must work through a public planning process and eventually to the floor of municipal council for a public vote.

Municipal councils must ensure that their municipal planning documents, including Official Plans and zoning bylaws, are

46

ontario home builder spring 2014

up-to-date and consistent with the Planning Act and provincial planning legislation, regulation and policy.

The conflict created by outdated municipal Official Plans, zoning and provincial planning policy generates unnecessary conflict between developers, municipalities and citizen groups.

Get it right from the start Improvements need to focus on getting it right at the beginning of the planning process to reduce conflicts and appeals at the back end of the process.

Municipalities must ensure local Official Plans and zoning bylaws are up-to-date to effectively implement provincial planning policy and to line up with long-term infrastructure and transit investments.

Modernized municipal zoning bylaws would provide greater certainty, resulting in fewer appeals to the OMB. This would also increase public awareness and create a more efficient planning system that supports provincial goals for strong communities, a strong economy and a healthy environment.

Fairness and accountability in the planning system The public planning process needs to operate

within a framework that instills confidence and establishes clear and consistent rules in the development of new neighbourhoods.

Efforts are needed to help existing residents understand how their evolving neighbourhood complies with clear and consistent development requirements.

The residential construction, professional renovation and land development industry need the public planning process to provide certainty and consistency when submitting new community applications or a substantial renovations permit.

Take the Politics out of Planning The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) is an impartial, quasi-judicial administrative tribunal that is responsible for adjudicating land-use planning disputes that render decisions based on expert evidence and provincial policy.

OMB ensures that planning decisions are based on evidence rather than the political judgment of municipal council.

OHBA strongly supports its continued role in the residential construction and development process.

Mike Collins-Williams is the Director of Policy for OHBA.

www.ohba.ca

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There were two reports to government on how to fund Metrolinx’s $50-billion dollar Big Move transit plan. Among the recommendations are transit tolls and taxes, including a 15% Metrolinx development charge.

Progressive Conservatives The Leader of the Official Opposition, Tim Hudak, has repeated his commitment to abolish the College of Trades, adopting a 1:1 ratio for all trade apprenticeships, eliminating the current mandatory WSIB requirement under Bill 119, as well as supporting home ownership for Ontarians.

The 2013 PC white paper Building Great Cities affirmed that “Cities should decide for themselves where their future growth will go. The intensification demands of provincial planning policy should not override local decision-making.”

The paper further notes, “We will retain the Ontario Municipal Board to balance the concerns of individual citizens, developers and cities.”

PC leader Tim Hudak has introduced his Million Jobs Plan, with a focus on job creation by bringing energy costs down, reducing taxes and debt and cutting red tape to create one million jobs in eight years.

New democrats The Leader of the third party, Andrea Horwath, has not actually released any specific policy on industry issues, but the NDP has stated a clear desire to abolish the OMB and to limit municipal urban expansions and legislate inclusionary zoning powers for municipalities. Individual NDP MPPs continue to push to rewrite Tarion’s board structure, the Condominium Act and the Development Charges Act. This is a brief overview of where OHBA finds the Ontario polit-

new neighbours tax 101

48

Built into the price of every new home is a combination of government-imposed charges that include permit fees, Section 37 charges, parkland dedication cash-in-lieu charges, voluntary charges and development charges. The cumulative effect of all fees and charges amounts to a tax on new neighbours, which includes new-home owners and new employers. This is why OHBA recommended that the Development Charges Act should be renamed the “New Neighbours Tax Act.” We believe the name of the Act should reflect the truth of who really pays—new neighbours.

OHBA’s final submission to government on DCs and other fee levies on new-home owners and employers was over 400 pages long and has numerous recommendations, but for the purpose of discussing the issue with candidates in a provincial election, focus on the core themes of affordability and fairness, transparency and accountability.

it compulsory for municipalities to set up DCs in a transition phase before a new DCs bylaw is introduced. The framework would give new neighbours the information they need to secure their mortgage.

AFFORDABILITY AND FAIRNESS New neighbours do their fair share to contribute to municipal, provincial and federal growth-related costs. In fact, development charges contributed a record $1.8 billion to government revenue in 2012. This is an increase of almost 40% over the $1.3 billion collected in the previous year and doesn’t even include money from Section 37, Parkland Dedication cash-in-lieu or (in)voluntary charges that municipalities charge new neighbours.

According to CMHC, these charges add up to 17% of the cost of a new home in Hamilton, 16% in Waterloo and, according to a report by Altus Group, in the GTA the average government-imposed charge for a new single-detached home is roughly 22.6% In order to eliminate uncertainty and the burden of an unexpected DC increase, we recommend that the province make

ACCOUNTABILITY Better accountability is needed. Industry stakeholders go to great lengths to review the “numbers” and process that municipalities use to come up with a development charge, and we know from experience they can be wrong. For example, after a review of DC charges by the HHHBA, it was found that DCs were inflated to the tune of $520 for a single-family home.

As experts of this industry, we feel our association would be most qualified to assist in the creation of a best-practices manual related to DCs in partnership with the province and municipalities so that we can be even more effective at building complete and quality communities.

ontario home builder spring 2014

TRANSPARENCY DCs, parkland dedication, Section 37 and voluntary charges account for a growing share of municipal revenue, but municipalities don’t always spend this money on the capital projects necessary to support growth.

Each municipality’s DC reserve fund should be the focus of a yearly public meeting to inform new neighbours about the infrastructure their payments contributed to. These meetings should cover construction schedules and estimated completion times for all projects that receive DC funds. The province would pass a law to make these meetings mandatory.

Stephen Hamilton is Manager of Government Relations for OHBA. www.ohba.ca

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ohba action sheets

OHBA has prepared ‘action sheets’ on a variety of issues of interest to the residential construction, professional renovation and land development industry.

Employing the “ABC” approach of Advocacy, Background and Campaign, these action sheets will be great tools for members and local associations in their advocacy work while engaging and communicating with candidates during the provincial election expected this year.

Topics include:

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath would like to abolish the OMB and limit municipal urban expansions and legislative inclusionary zoning powers for municipalities.

There’s also interest within the party to rewrite the Development Charges Act.

ical parties on some of the issues that matter to our industry and our members. However, in a general election, it is unlikely that these issues will be front and centre. They may influence the narrative that the leaders are currently creating, a narrative that they hope is their winning message to secure the Premiership.

Recent polling puts the three provincial parties in a dead heat—in a range of 29%-33%. As for the popularity of the leaders, it's again a dead heat, with Ms. Horwath leading most polls followed by Premier Wynne and Mr. Hudak.

What do we expect to hear from the parties and their leaders during an election campaign?

THE NARRATIVE Premier Wynne’s campaign will centre on the 2014 Budget, expected this spring. The budget allows the Premier to clearly define the priorities of the government and challenge the opposition to respond. If the budget is defeated, we are into an election.

Expect a budget that supports the three themes that Premier Wynne has been promoting: investing in people, infrastructure and business. Specifically, since the Metrolinx and Golden reports, the Premier has consistently said that transit will need to be funded through new revenue tools.

OHBA members interact in all of these themes. Whether it is fighting for apprenticeship ratios to be lowered as an investment in people, or supporting provincial funding of core infrastructure like roads, sewers and transit, or creating planning certainty so that OHBA member businesses can operate in a predictable business environment, these themes do have an impact on our industry.

Tim Hudak has introduced his Million Jobs Plan, with a focus on job creation by bringing energy costs down, reducing taxes and debt and cutting red tape to create one million jobs in eight years.

The PC leader’s narrative focuses heavily on the economy and jobs.

Our industry continues to be a job creator in the Ontario economy and this narrative supports a number of industry and OHBA recommendations. Mr. Hudak’s earlier proposal to modernize Ontario labour laws has found a vocal and organized union oppo 50

ontario home builder spring 2014

• Zoning and Official Plans • Supporting Transit Expansion • Parkland Dedication • Section 37 Density Bonusing • Condo Act • WSIB Bill 119 and Rate Group Adjustment

• Implementing the Growth Plan • College of Trades • Underground Economy and the Renovation Sector • Apprenticeship Ratios • Infrastructure – the Road to Prosperity • HST and New Housing

All these reports are available online at ohba.ca.

sition that has made him their target. Regarding transit funding, Mr. Hudak continues to promote subways as the best option for Toronto, along with provincial support for transportation across Ontario without new revenue tools.

Ms. Horwath's political approach continues to focus on pocketbook issues, such as lowering car insurance rates, along with demanding the inclusion of a “fairness” surtax on Ontario’s wealthiest in the 2012 budget. This approach has served her well in by-elections, growing her party's seat count from 17 to 21 seats. Ms. Horwath has also identified small business as an NDP constituency. In fact, it was only with the support of the NDP that the government earned legislative approval for the Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit. The NDP continues to be vocal opponents of the OMB, Tarion’s board of directors and Ontario’s current planning approach. This is consistent with the NDP’s 2011 campaign platform, where it promised to stop “sprawl” and to stop government back-room deals to exempt developers from growth limits.

The day before the 2014 Legislature returned to session, Ms. Horwath issued a letter to the Premier stating she will oppose any new taxes, tolls or fees that hit middle-class families with a focus on making their lives more affordable, not more expensive.

The question is, are the leaders speaking to the voters or at the voters? The narrative only works to capture voters’ attention if it resonates and speaks to what is important to them. A recent IpsosReid poll offered respondents 12 choices; a full 24% of respondents said jobs and the economy are the most important issues facing the province, followed by healthcare (11%), government accountability (11%), public transit (3%) and the environment (3%).

The stage is set with the 2014 budget—the characters have found their marks and the scripts are written. But the ending is left for the audience—the voters of Ontario—to determine. OHB www.ohba.ca

Create a lasting impression...

A ‘font’ of information to help keep your next campaign on target

By Ted McIntyre

52

ontario home builder spring 2014

www.ohba.ca

Whether your ad

and Adi Developments. “We are really building a branding package. The marketplace is very crowded and competitive and you’re is running as a website banner, as a full page in a glossy magalooking for that distinctive voice, look and personality. Somezine or sprawled across a giant billboard, the point is always to thing as seemingly innocuous as a typeface becomes extremely send your readers a message—to be impactful and memorable. important in my mind, because it works its way through almost But even the most carefully chosen words will be lost on readevery aspect of the campaign. It’s going to be seen on signage, on ers if their particular font does not complement the message. print matter, on web-based materials...”

That specific assortment of alphanumeric characters Depending on whether the focus is urban, contemporary can carry the subliminal impact or traditional, it can take the of a cannonball. Or it can miss the designer’s font choice in diverse mark entirely. To those who say, directions, echoes Coni Kennedy, “The typeface is irrelevant, so long creative director at Toronto’s L.A. as the message is clear and legible,” Inc., which took top honours for try reciting a eulogy at a friend’s the Best High-rise/Mid-rise Ad funeral in a Hawaiian shirt and Campaign at the 2013 OHBA pajama bottoms. You may well Awards of Distinction for its have laboured long and hard over Pace developments project by the selection of your heartfelt Great Gulf Homes. “For Pace, we words, but you have framed your picked an extra-bold font.” Kenmessage poorly and it will, in all nedy notes. “That campaign was likelihood, be received by blank quite aggressive initially—very stares and deaf ears. hard-sell, broker-driven, low If you want the message to price point. It was very urban. The be taken seriously, font matters. typeface we chose, Gotham Black, Just as one chooses the approprireally lent itself to being stacked; ate outfit for the task at hand, be the letters sat quite nicely on top it a business suit or a swimsuit, so of each other. It was strong visudoes the font set the tone. Conally. But we could also use it on one sider the social media response to line, and because it was so thick we the announcement of the groundcould actually put images inside breaking discovery of the Higgs the letters.” boson (or “God particle”) at CERN, Although the words in an ad the European Organization for are meant to convey a message, Nuclear Research, in 2012. Arguthe font choice in this case allowed ably the most significant scientific the building-block-like font to advancement in 40 years, the slide become a design element unto presentation was made in Comic itself, seemingly supporting the Sans. Criticism over the bizarre structure of the building tower font choice followed within secinserted into it. The in-your-face onds, and an hour later, “Comic font selection “also worked very Sans” was trending higher than well with the edgy headlines of “God particle” on Twitter. the campaign we were using, with Although a momentous scientific event, CERN’s discovery of It’s not like there’s a shortage expressions like, ‘The best f ’n the Higgs boson (or “God particle”) was presented in the of options. Since Johannes Gutendowntown condo,’” says Kennedy.

Comic Sans font. berg developed the first moveable Sometimes the architecture type in 1440, more than 100,000 itself suggests a particular style typefaces have been created of type. “One of the projects we around the globe—a number that is growing daily. That’s why worked on was called 12°, a small building on Queen Street font choice is typically better left to people who do this sort of in Toronto, where the logo and the font choice basically came thing for a living. from the building, the second floor of which was rotated 12 Mark Bulloch is one of the partners and creative directors degrees, almost like Jenga,” says Kennedy. “The type treatat Drive Agency in East York. “When choosing a font, you have ment was done on a 12-degree angle, which was kind of cool to start at the very beginning of the process—what product is for that project.” being sold, what market are we selling it in and who’s the audiDrive Agency has also allowed architecture to inspire. ence that we are targeting?” says Bulloch, whose firm’s loyal cli“For a condo called Rise at St. Clair West and Bathurst, we ents include Tridel, Menkes, Reserve Properties, Sundial Homes used Univers Ultra Condensed, because the tall, thin nature

“What product is being sold, what market are we selling it in and who’s the audience that we are targeting?”

www.ohba.ca

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Typecasting Different fonts have subtle differences in the messages they deliver.

Do you want a sophisticated narrative, or are you looking for a more clear, blunt message? What’s the best font of all? The one where readers don’t notice the font choice, but totally get the message.

Buy this house

Ideal for body copy in printed material, serif fonts like Times are classic, elegant and have the sense of telling a story. While individual letters stand out better, it’s typically harder to read serif fonts online.

SS Buy this house!

Sans serif fonts like Arial are clean, friendly, modern and easy to read in all formats—particularly online. They suggest a value-driven, in-your-face marketing approach.

Serif Font

Sans Serif Font

of the font reflected the height of the building and the name,” notes Bulloch.

With so many typefaces to choose from, though, how do you begin your search? Generally speaking, fonts can be broken down into two categories: serif and sans serif. Serifs are the small features or flourishes at the end of strokes within letters—think calligraphy. Typefaces without serifs are referred to as sans serif (from the French sans, meaning without). Those fonts have clean edges and no protrusions.

While there is no consensus as to which is easier to read for basic body copy, there is agreement among the design community that serif fonts generally look more formal, so appeal to a higher-income, more sophisticated demographic, while more value-driven buyers are attracted by a simpler look with bolder colours. Adam Christink of Toronto’s Madhouse Advertising cites client Daniels Corporation, whose FirstHome communities in Mississauga target the first-home buyer. “Since it’s an entry point into the marketplace for most, we typically select a big, bold, clean and simple font—usually sans serif, like a Helvetica or Univers,” says Christink. “For a more high-end project, like Quintessa in Kleinberg, we tend to use more of a script font or something more traditional; maybe a Times Roman serif.”

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In a regrettable Asian cross-promotion, Pepsi’s upper-case A resembled an R. So instead of “PEPSI x AAPE,” to many, the message read “PEPSI x RAPE.”

Tried and true

Of the myriad of choices out there, a trusted handful of fonts serve as workhorses for many designers. “There are maybe five or six I see used a lot: Myriad and Helvetica, which are both great for general printing; Gotham; Verdana; and then Times and Garamond, which are two great serif fonts,” says Jennifer Sproston of Toronto’s Madhouse Advertising. “My go-to font, if I’m in a rush and the client doesn’t have a big budget, is Myriad, a humanistic sans serif font. It is very readable and there are lots of different weights to it, so it’s quite versatile across web, print, signage and other mediums.”

“I try to find unique fonts for each project, but in the 25 years I’ve been at this, fonts like Helvetica, Garamond, Futura, Franklin and others are bound to come up, because they are among the classics that have been around longer than I have,” adds Bulloch.

While some fonts are tried and true, designers also keep watch for the hottest trends. Like the fashion industry, styles change, and something as simple as a typeface can suddenly look dated. Thankfully, modern technology—in the form of software and countless websites—provides ample assistance for those searching for just the right look. “If you have a theme line for whatever project you’re working on, you can type it in and it will show you that phrase in multiple fonts,” explains Bulloch. “So you can test how your words look in any number of ways.”

And if you’re curious what the phrase looks like from a distance, “some billboard companies have software so that you can view the billboard from the perspective of the car driver 100 feet away,” Bulloch notes. “When you’re 18 inches away from what you’re working on, you need to sometimes step away from your computer and put (those words) in the proper context.” www.ohba.ca

Designers also have to be careful to review the entire alphabet before deciding upon the chosen typeface for a campaign.

Sometimes you discover that your perfect font isn’t so perfect, and a particular letter has to be to altered to make a word more legible. For example, were you to print the word “fit” in a fairly common font known as Myriad Pro Bold Condensed, the cross of the “f” merges with the dot on the “i”. “If you have that on five-foot-high signage, your eyes will go right to it and it will just look weird, so you have to go in and customize it to separate the two letters,” says Sproston.

Missing out on little details like that can have regrettable consequences. During a 2013 cross-promotion between Pepsi’s Hong Kong division and Japanese clothing maker A Bathing Ape, a limited run of camouflage cans, t-shirts, electronics and umbrellas were emblazoned with the new branding using Pepsi’s traditional sloping text.

Apparently, everyone involved with the campaign failed to notice that the upper-case A in that Pepsi font looks a lot like a capital R. Consequently, instead of “PEPSI x AAPE,” the promotion to many people appeared as “PEPSI x RAPE.” Skilled manipulation of letters, however, can produce unique results. Madhouse recently created a new logo for real estate investment firm KPG. The Neutraface 2 font utilized allowed Madhouse to reconfigure the vertical line in the letter P to resemble a pointed fencepost.

Make the right font choice initially and a message can be imprinted into a cultural mindset. If you were to look at such iconic brands as CNN (a custommade font), BBC (Gill Sans) or Coca-Cola (Spencerian Script) in a completely different font, you might not even recognize the famed corporate acronyms.

Of course, people don’t just recognize the font of an iconic logo; they remember the particular colour with which it’s associated, such as John Deere green, Home Depot orange, Cadbury purple or UPS brown. “You picture that company logo in your mind within a couple of seconds of hearing the brand name,” says Bulloch.

Madhouse laboured over the perfect yellowish hue for its Lewis Honey project in Aurora, as well as using red—which represents fortune in Chinese culture—in its Dragon Condos project on Spadina Ave. in Toronto. Red was also the key colour in L.A. Inc.’s Pace campaign. “We had a limited budget, so we did a lot of just two-colour applications, with the red and black.

And red is a statement maker,” notes Kennedy.

It’s all part of conveying the proper tone for your message, whether your intent is a subtle whisper or a deafening shout from the mountaintop.

Subliminal effects

Admittedly, some do take the importance of font selection to extremes. The Swiss font Helvetica, used in such logos as 3M, American Airlines, GM, Jeep, Microsoft and Panasonic, to name a few, has a cult following—a fact acknowledged in the 2007 documentary of the same name. Canadian blogger Mike Battista (phronk.com) believes there is an unreasonable obsession over the subject—something exemplified by the graphic design community’s uproar over the use of Papyrus for the subtitles in Avatar.

“These people remind me of wine snobs,” Battista told the BBC a few years back. “They can detect all these subtle notes and flavours, but the average person probably won’t notice all these tiny flourishes on a font. When you’re reading an article you’re not thinking about the font.”

Not so fast, says Drive Agency’s Bulloch. “Every industry in every facet of our society has people devoted to looking at that minutia and those types of subtleties, and the world is better place for it. If you didn’t have that, cars would be clunkers and furniture would fall apart. People don’t notice all the subtle engineering decisions that go into a BMW, but they sit behind the steering wheel and they enjoy a great experience getting from point A to point B, because you have those people who fuss over the details.

And it’s not about the consumer having to figure out how many thousands of hours were spent designing a door that goes ‘clunk’ properly when you close it, or any of those thousands of design decisions that go into any product.

Generally speaking, people don’t notice those differences. But on a subliminal level they do, and they also notice poor choices.”

“We are not just picking the typeface of the day,” says L.A. Inc.’s Kennedy. “There’s a lot of thought that goes into it. If you get it right at the very beginning of the project, it just works. It carries through to all the graphics and all the touch points. And if you don’t get it right, it simply may not work. And it has to be able to work in multiple media, from web design to signage. Sometimes the client wants little giveaway items, so it has to work as small as on the side of a pen.”

Certainly companies such as Disney, LinkedIn and hulu appreciate such details, having employed consumer surveys to determine the right typeface for their respective logos.

“I don’t expect people to come up to me and say. ‘Wow! Brilliant font choice!’” Bulloch adds. “Ultimately, we want consumers to buy our clients’ products. And we recognize that all the little tiny decisions that we make, including the fonts we use in their ads or their logos, can have a big effect on that decision.” OHB

“Generally, people don’t notice subtle differences.

But on a subliminal level, they do, and they also notice poor choices.”

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www.ohba.ca

A longtime energy evaluator discusses the evolution of new-home building techniques

By Gord Cooke

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www.ohba.ca

In the past year, I have been fortunate enough to travel

to eight of the 10 provinces to speak with builders specifically and the industry in general about the compelling trends in energy-efficient, highperformance homes. On each trip or at each event, I inevitably get to chatting with at least one person who recalls being the first builder in their area/city/ province to construct an R-2000 home. This affords me the opportunity to swap stories about how I bought a “blower door” in the late-1980s essentially to help sell heat recovery ventilators to those early pioneering builders.

In the ensuing years, I suspect I have personally done thousands of airtightness tests and energy evaluations on primarily new homes, and now there are dozens of enthusiastic, helpful certified energy evaluators across the country providing similar services to the new-home building industry. Just in time too, in my opinion, as the building industry continues to respond to the ever-increasing expectations of homebuyers regularly TV-schooled 48 minutes at a time, not counting commercials, on every aspect of the homeowner experience.

Two years ago, I did an energy audit in a new home and was surprised that the homeowner had purchased his own $4,000 infrared camera and taken the online thermographer course to help ferret out comfort problems he was experiencing. Just this week I learned there is a $350 computer app for that. How important will the services of a knowledgeable, credible, qualified energy evaluator/auditor/rater be in a world where everyone has access to an infrared application for their smartphone?

At our little company, Building Knowledge, we are very appreciative of the opportunity to work closely with over 50 builders in the province who understand that it’s not just about meeting the energy efficiency requirements of the building code, but rather using the basic building science behind the requirements of codes and voluntary green building programs such as Energy Star for New Homes, R-2000, LEED for Homes or GreenHouse to strive for homes that are simultaneously healthier, safer, more comfortable, more durable and more affordable.

Over the years of those thousands of onsite performance tests and advanced efficiency simulation models and our association instituting great programs such as R-2000 and other energy evalu www.ohba.ca

ators, we have learned a lot. I recall documenting in an audit report of R-2000 homes for Natural Resources Canada the comments of one homeowner that her asthmatic son seemed to be doing better—taking less medication—since moving into her new R-2000 home. Subsequently, Health Canada sponsored a study of more than 100 homes and reported that people who moved into R-2000 houses found that their health improved more than those who moved into conventional houses. Another example of the contribution of the energy evaluation community is the findings of thousands of evaluations done in Energy Star-qualified homes since 2005 regarding the sizing of furnaces. These collective results were the driving force behind the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institutes petition to have the old 1990 version of the CSA F280 Standard for HVAC equipment sizing reworked. With the full support of OHBA, the new 2012 version slated for code adoption in January 2015 will improve comfort delivery in new homes with smaller equipment and less ductwork.

From these experiences, the one thing that I can say with certainty is that I see a clear and encouraging trend in this industry toward building more efficient and durable homes.

In fact, I have never been so encouraged and proud of being part of the new-home building industry as I am right now.

Leading builders today are proactively seeking new technologies, strategies and products well in advance of code changes to ensure they are ready to respond to those rising expectations of consumers. Case in point: We are working this year with at least five mainstream builders who endeavour to build net-zero-energy homes (homes that only use as much energy as they produce themselves onsite). ontario home builder spring 2014

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Cooke was a prominent figure at the 2014 Builder & Renovator Forum Feb. 27 at the Hilton Hotel & Suites Niagara Falls, including moderating a stellar cast at the “Bringing Innovations to Market” seminar.

The challenges presented along a path of continual improvement are significant but very manageable. The research done since the 1970s and the resulting building science discipline that came out of it are quite clear on the elements and requirements, and many present great opportunities for builders: optimized HVAC systems, advanced framing and lower energy bills for homeowners, combined with low interest rates that help offset the incremental costs of highperformance buildings.

The many practical solutions available to builders can be grouped into three broad categories: improved education and training, the use of appropriate materials and technology, and the adoption of improved building techniques. Let’s start with education and training. Although it may sound like a nobrainer, in my experience it’s something our industry needs to commit more heavily to over the next three to five years. The critical element of training is the understanding of houses as a whole, as a system—how the individual work of dozens of contractors and thousands of components work together. I am reminded of a large builder (500+ homes a year) who set out to meet the airtightness requirements of the Energy Star for New Homes programs. They wrote air-sealing requirements into scopes of work, completed detailed drawings and trained the site supervisors, but still the blower door test results were, on average, 200% too high. Finally, they made every trade contractor—insulators, framers, electricians and HVAC installers—working on their sites come to a 90-minute training session. Over the course of five days, 200 contractors came in—40 each morning—arms folded and eyes rolling, as we talked about the need for tighter enclosures. Some were kind enough to verbalize that age-old misconception that we build ’em too tight, that walls have to breathe. It wasn’t until they felt the air whistling through electrical outlets and around plumbing stacks during a blower door test that it started to have meaning. They were asked, “If you were buying this home, exactly how many of these holes would you like to have in your walls and attics?” At that point they were finally ready 60

ontario home builder spring 2014

They wrote air-sealing requirements into scopes of work, completed detailed drawings and trained the site supervisors, but still the blower door tests were 200% too high. Finally, they made every contractor come to a 90-minute training session. to listen to the sound building design principles behind the goal of enclosures that are airtight but vapour permeable, or, in other words, “breathable.”

Within two weeks, the contractors responded for that builder and cut the air leakage rates in half at no additional cost and their homes have met Energy Star requirements ever since.

Like every other manufacturing business, leading home builders have found that a commitment to responsible, interactive, 90-minute training sessions every three months reduces warranty issues, identifies helpful process changes and, perhaps most important, reinvigorates the workforce, reminding them that the work they do is important. It is well known that knowledge breeds enthusiasm.

You can also take advantage of a new app called Construction Instruction that I’ve been involved in to help communicate construction methods to trades (constructioninstruction. com). It provides simple instruction for various construction tasks, communicating proper techniques with video and animation. This app is particularly useful for sidestepping language barriers and bridging knowledge gaps common in tradebuilder communication.

Certainly the appropriate use of new materials and technologies can also dramatically improve the overall performance of new homes. Changes in window technology are a good example. Everybody seems to want more and bigger windows, allowing people to feel as though they’re outside without having to actually go outside. This presents a performance challenge, as sometimes windows allow helpful energy in (sunny winter days) but lose energy (winter nights) or add to air conditioning loads in summer. Managing these intermittent loads, in light of homeowners’ desire for ever-narrower comfort expectations, can be daunting. Fortunately, most window manufacturers have four or more window glazing options available that allow specific choices of low emissivity coatings for different climate or orientation needs. Those huge west-facing windows may need a very low solar gain coating to avoid overheating, while the south windows with good summer shading potential www.ohba.ca

we live out of drawers

We live life out of drawers and a good cook is a tidy cook. If kitchens are being redesigned around drawers, it makes sense that dishwashers are as well. After all why shouldn’t cleaning up be as enjoyable as cooking itself?

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Cooke has long been one of the province’s leading HVAC experts and is also a regular instructor at the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas.

could use a high solar gain coating to capture “free heat” in winter. This is just one example of how builders will be using the finer points of new technologies to simultaneously improve energy efficiency and comfort.

Another example is the move towards energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) versus heat recovery ventilators. In the early days of energy-efficient homes the challenge was to get rid of excess moisture from the inside air in winter. Now, with the much wider use of air conditioning systems, there is a need to avoid bringing in excess moisture in summer. Thus, while ERVs were historically used in the southern U.S., there are now applications for this technology in areas of Canada that have high summer humidity loads, like Toronto. ERVs do a better job of managing or balancing moisture levels in homes, showcasing another example of how the appropriate use of new materials can help fine-tune performance to match homeowner expectations.

Finally, there are opportunities to rethink and refine building techniques. Advanced framing is one of those muchtalked-about but misunderstood techniques. Although it has been studied since at least 1974, it has never been widely implemented, even though it can simultaneously lower job costs and improve overall performance. I recall driving four builders to Chicago 15 years ago to push on walls, jump on floors and speak to a builder that was using advanced framing in a production setting. That builder reported savings of $300-$400 per house in materials. More important, he was very excited that nail pops, drywall cracks and siding attachment issues had also been reduced. He observed, “Remember the game ‘Pick-up Sticks,’ where the goal was to take out pieces of wood that didn’t affect the overall pile? That’s what advanced framing is—just take out pieces of wood that you don’t really need.” Two of the builders on that trip immediately implemented advanced framing techniques on their sites in Ontario and have reaped the benefits ever since. The other two builders couldn’t overcome the process challenges—essentially training and education issues that take four to five homes to get used to—and never did master the advanced framing method.

Another building technique that will undoubtedly gain 62

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Advanced framing is one of those much-talked-about but misunderstood techniques.

Although studied since at least 1974, it has never been widely implemented, even though it can simultaneously lower job costs and improve overall performance. prominence in the next few years is to find ways for existing products to accomplish more than one task. Insulated sheathing is a prime example. Codes are moving toward higher levels of insulation and require an emphasis on “total thermal effectiveness”—not merely the nominal insulation level between studs, but the thermal performance of the entire assembly. Thus, a continuous layer of insulation over the studs has a great incremental value. Moreover, rigid foam insulation can also be an excellent, intuitive air barrier. Rather than spending even more time on caulking inside poly air barriers, there are real advantages to using foam sheathing as an effective exterior air barrier.

Again, this requires training of new trades, framers and perhaps siding contractors as air barrier advocates, but the results can be compelling. We recently performed an airtightness test on a builder’s home before any interior insulation or drywall, and because of proper installation of the exterior insulation, the airtightness was already well below Energy Star requirements.

Similarly, products like sheathing membranes or housewraps that typically are just shingled and lapped to provide an effective air barrier could be detailed more effectively with joint tapes and sealants to become effective air barriers. The smaller heating loads of houses leads to opportunities to use hot water air handlers, feeding off underutilized water heaters, rather than traditional furnaces. These are just a few examples of the many methods high-performance builders have used to refine building techniques to simultaneously improve the health, safety, durability, comfort and energy efficiency of new homes.

I joined the building industry in 1984 and over those 30 years it has been fun to learn and participate in the progress our industry has embraced. The next 15-20 years, as we all strive toward the end goal of homes that only use as much energy as they are able to produce themselves, will afford even more opportunities for learning and development. Knowledge breeds enthusiasm—enthusiasm for a vital, noble industry that builds homes for generations of families. I appreciate the opportunity to be a small part of it. OHB Gord Cooke is the president of Building Knowledge (buildingknowledge.ca). www.ohba.ca

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Empowering Moments Empire Communities heads the list at EnerQuality Awards

By Cory Smith In a world where innovation often separates the best from the rest, the ability to employ ingenious, often groundbreaking solutions in the pursuit of energy efficiency is big business for companies in the residential building and renovation industry. Those taking the lead in energy-saving practices were acknowledged Feb. 27 at the 14th annual EnerQuality Awards of Excellence Gala at the Hilton Hotel & Suites in Niagara Falls.

www.ohba.ca

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IT TURNS OUT THAT GREEN AND GOLD GO WELL TOGETHER. To all the gold winners at EnerQuality’s 2013 Awards of Excellence, we offer our congratulations. To our amazing partners who helped make the event possible, we offer our thanks. And to everyone in attendance, we hope you had an exceptional evening.

FAR LEFT: Andy Goyda of Owens Corning presents the Building Innovation and Excellence award to John Sloot of Sloot Construction; TOP LEFT: Sean Brady of OPA presents the Partner of the Year award to Dorothy Stewart, Michelle Vestergaard, Shannon Bertuzzi and Margaret Ward of Enbridge Gas; TOP RIGHT: Corey McBurney of EnerQuality; BOTTOM CENTRE: Evaluator of the Year Mark Rosen with presenter Alison Minato of The Minto Group.

“The future of development, homebuilding and renovations is being written by the innovators,” said EnerQuality President Corey McBurney. “The awards recognize the leaders in our industry who have embraced quality and sustainability as core values.”

Heading the cast of 11 winners was Empire Communities, which claimed the prestigious Ontario Green Builder of the Year, as well as being nominated for the Building Innovation Award (which it won in 2012) and Energy Star for New Homes Builder of the Year – Large Volume.

Midhaven Homes (Large Volume) and Doug Tarry Homes (Mid-Volume) were named EnerQuality’s Energy Star for New Homes Builder of the Year, which acknowledges builders that have made a corporate commitment to energy efficiency by labelling their homes under the Energy Star for New Homes program.

Taking top honours in the Building Innovation category was Sloot Construction, which built the first Energy Star home to meet the new ESNH V.12.1 specifications in Canada and has set a goal of building affordable net-zero homes. Owner John Sloot called the www.ohba.ca

award, which recognizes a builder that has demonstrated technical excellence while implementing high performance building practices, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “It’s incredible. For the hard work to be recognized like that, I feel honoured to be able to be part of these innovations. It gets me motivated.”

Sloot, who has owned the Guelph-based company since 1978, described it as a victory not only for himself but “for the guys who make it happen.”

Larry Brydon, Ozz Electric, honoured as the Energy Star for New Homes Champion of the Year, feels similar pride.

“It’s a wonderful award to win,” said Ozz’s VP of business development, Larry Brydon, whose award recognizes an individual for their outstanding contribution to the success of the Energy Star for New Homes program. “I’ve been involved with the program since its inception in Canada and sit on the board at EnerQuality, and I believe this is one of the best programs to assist the builders in achieving higher levels in energy efficiency—not only for the Energy Star program, but for building code requirements. ontario home builder spring 2014

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2013

EnerQuality Awards of Excellence Winners BOTTOM LEFT: Steve Snider Construction project; TOP LEFT: Accepting Leader of the Year honours are Darlene Fraser of Eastforest Homes, Jim Dunstan of Union Gas, Eastforest Homes’ Rick Martins and Owens Corning’s Andy Goyda, joined by CHBA’s Gary Sharp; TOP RIGHT: Presenter Shannon Bertuzzi of Enbridge with Energy Star for New Homes Champion of the Year Larry Brydon of Ozz Electric.

“As a company, this positions us as leaders, not only within the Energy Star program but within the builder community,” Brydon added. “We’re always out there to support our builder partners.”

Mark Rosen of Ottawa’s Building Energy Incorporated was named Evaluator of the Year for his service to Tartan Homes and for his outstanding contribution to advancing EnerQuality programs. Under Rosen’s guidance, Tartan Homes has moved to the leading edge of the industry in offering ESNH homes under the new V.12.1 standard.

“It’s a huge recognition for all the work we’ve done the last few years,” said Rosen, who was celebrated for his proactive involvement in providing updates of the latest changes, trends and technology in energy efficiency and green building practices to his clients.

On the renovation side, Steve Snider Construction got the nod for the 2013 Green Renovation Project of the Year. It’s been nearly 30 years since Snider waded into the R-2000 training pool. Now he’s starting to lap the field. “It was a bit of a learning curve to go from code-built homes to R-2000, so once we got past 68

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Energy Star for New Homes Builder of the Year (Large Volume)

Midhaven Homes Energy Star for New Homes Builder of the Year (Mid-Volume)

Doug Tarry Homes

Ontario Green Builder of the Year

Empire Communities

Building Innovation

Sloot Construction

Energy Star for New Homes Champion of the Year

Larry Brydon, Ozz Electric

Evaluator of the Year

Mark Rosen

Best Green Marketing Campaign

Midhaven Homes Green Renovation Project of the Year

Steve Snider Construction

Partner of the Year

Union Gas and Enbridge Gas Distribution Leader of the Year

Eastforest Homes, Union Gas, Owens Corning, Building Knowledge Hall of Fame Award

Ross Elliott

www.ohba.ca

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LEFT: Corey McBurney of EnerQuality and Kathryn Elliott of Homesol accept the Hall of Fame award for Ross Elliott; MIDDLE: Green Renovation Project of the Year winner Steve Snider of Steve Snider Construction; RIGHT: Industry Partner of Year winners Union Gas Dianne Lobo-Pires, Jim Dunstan and Deborah Lane.

it, we didn’t turn back,” said Snider, recalling the 1985 energyefficiency pilot project. “We took that and ran, and to this day I have no intention of going back. That’s the standard for us.”

The award, given to a renovator who demonstrates superior innovation in energy-efficient and green-building practices in a renovation project for an existing home, highlighted the work the firm conducted on a 45-year-old dwelling in Whitby. “It’s an honour to win any award, but to win a green renovation award sets us apart from the average renovations,” said Snider, who also copped EnerQuality’s R-2000 Builder of the Year in 2012.

It takes teamwork to advance an industry, and Union Gas and Enbridge Gas Distribution were worthy winners of the Partner of the Year award, which recognizes the EnerQuality partner who goes above and beyond for builders— providing design, construction and marketing support for building energy-efficient green homes.

Described as “brilliant” by one evaluator, Union Gas’s Optimum Home program has brought greater awareness of airtightness, the F280 standard of energy efficiency and the sizing of heat equipment and ducts, and has also helped unite builders with the rest of their team in that common pursuit. Apart from influencing high-volume builders to produce high-performance homes through the program, the company launched two new educational workshops last year to support all builders in the Union Gas franchise.

For its part, Enbridge’s Savings by Design program, helps residential builders construct new homes 25% more energy efficiently. Approximately 30 builders have gone through the program since its mid-2012 launch. Beyond its Integrated Design Process, Enbridge provides builders with $2,000 per home for up to 50 homes to help offset energy upgrades and audit costs.

Union Gas also combined with Eastforest Homes, Owens Corning and Building Knowledge for Leader of the Year hon-

ours. The award recognizes these companies’ extraordinary commitment, advocacy and leadership in driving the growth of energy efficiency and green building in Ontario over the past year.

“It’s the culmination of two years of really hard work by all the professionals behind the scenes,” said Jim Dunstan, senior account manager for energy conservation at Union Gas. “This is a testament to the success of our Optimum Home Program.”

An early adopter of green-building practices, Eastforest Homes has continued to exceed Energy Star specs. The company provides up-to-date Energy Star training, including quality controls and best practice standards for its construction, sales, subcontractors and Design Studio staff.

The other two companies to garner Leader of Year accolades share a similar tradition. Owens Corning has contributed in multiple ways, including forward thinking and consistent delivery of cost-effective solutions to the builder community.

Gord Cooke, meanwhile, one of Building Knowledge’s principals along with his wife Linda, has become a champion of home energy efficiency since the company was incorporated in 1986.

Ross Elliott, a director of Passive Buildings Canada and a past director of EnerQuality, claimed the Hall of Fame Award for his work in inspiring owners, builders and designers to create the most energy-efficient homes possible over the past 30 years. Elliott is a certified passive house consultant and a LEED-accredited professional. Trained as an energy auditor in 1979, a certified energy evaluator for Energy Star and R-2000 and a qualified air systems and radiant hydronic design technician, Elliott knows green building from the ground up. He has provided research and training for several major organizations, including Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Natural Resources Canada and Ontario First Nations Technical Services, and has presented at numerous events, including the U.S. Passive House Conference, Affordable Comfort and GreenBuild.

It takes teamwork to advance an industry, and Union Gas and Enbridge Gas were worthy co-winners for Partner of the Year

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Here are some of the other big winners from enerquality’s gala event:

Nikki Bettinelli, Paul Golini , Stephen Doty and Carrie Alexander of Empire Communities.

Ontario Green Builder of the Year WINNER: EMPIRE COMMUNITIES Saying that you’re ‘going green’ is one thing; following through on the commitment to the level of Empire Communities is quite another. Named the 2013 Ontario Green Builder of the Year, which recognizes one outstanding home builder that has led the residential building industry in environmental responsibility, Empire has been rewarded for staying the course after its past successes. This award is sponsored by the Ontario Home Builders’ Association.

“It’s been a journey and it’s great to receive an award like this as a testament to the hard work, not only of the architects, designers and consultants, but also the people onsite who make it happen,” said Paul Golini, executive VP and co-founder of Empire Communities. “The devil is in the details when it comes to green, and it takes a lot of discipline onsite and consensusbuilding between the trades, the supers and the site personnel to make sure our homes meet the stringent requirements of Energy Star. We’re happy to be there—obviously, with the support of the sales and marketing teams—to make sure our homeowners understand what they’re buying and fully understand and enjoy the benefits of the green homes we deliver to them.”

Based in Vaughan, Empire has been delivering on its promise to customers in Southern Ontario for more than 20 years. Spe-

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cializing in building master-planned communities that are all of the Energy Star standard, the company has earned a reputation for outstanding attention to detail and customer service. Beyond Energy Star standards, Empire’s ECO2 initiative sees a Green Team of experts educate homeowners about how their home runs efficiently so that savings begin as soon as they move in.

In addition to its EnerQuality award, Empire has received the President’s Award from the Ontario New Home Warranty Program for Outstanding Service and Achievement, the Ontario Community of the Year Award for its Wyndfield Community in Brantford and, most recently, the Green Builder of the Year Award from both the Hamilton Halton Home Builders’ Association and BILD. “We were definitely one of the trailblazers (when it comes to going green),” said Golini, whose company has been part of Energy Star and EnerQuality since 2007. “It was easy to make the decision, but it wasn’t easy to make the transformation. It took a concerted effort on behalf of many people in the company to make it happen. It’s something that was years in the making. Once you get there, because we’ve won this award before, it’s easy to go off track. So it’s great to be able to win it again, because it shows our determination to stay the course.”

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ENERQUALITY’S ENERGY STAR FOR NEW HOMES BUILDER OF THE YEAR – MID-VOLUME BUILDER WINNER: DOUG TARRY HOMES array of energy-saving features that offer superior comfort and St. Thomas-based Doug Tarry Homes appears to have taken a economic value to homebuyers. As part of its pledge to promote stranglehold in the Energy Star for New Homes Mid-Volume Energy Star in its marketing and sales, all new developments category. “We’re so honoured to be consistently considered at consistently feature the brand in the company’s advertising, the top end of what we’re building in the industry,” said comsite signage and model home brochures. In addition, a detailed pany owner Doug Tarry after taking a remarkable fourth trip description of the Energy Star for New to the podium as a builder of the year.

Homes program is included on the Doug Renowned in Southwestern Ontario Tarry website. for quality and integrity in residential The company has also partnered with the construction, Tarry has long been an advonew, more efficiently sized Canadian-manucate of green building technologies. As a factured Dettson furnaces, which are being past president of OHBA, he observed in an tested and monitored in the Doug Tarry interview following last year’s EnerQualHomes Discovery Home as part of the Union ity awards that building sustainably goes Gas Optimum Home Program. well beyond reducing the industry’s enviWhile he appreciates his most recent ronmental footprint. “It’s about making award, Tarry promises not to rest on his laua corporate commitment to internal and rels. “It really helps to define our consistency external change, challenging employees and it helps to be able to show our customand customers to do things differently and ers that it’s third-party verification. I think look for green solutions,” he noted. that’s one of the most incredible parts of it.”

Each new Doug Tarry home includes an Doug Tarry of Doug Tarry Homes.

ENERQUALITY’s ENERGY STAR FOR NEW HOMES BUILDER OF THE YEAR – LARGE VOLUME BUILDER WINNER: MIDHAVEN HOMES “It’s very important to us with respect to our commitment to our customers and providing them with an energy-efficient home,” noted Midhaven project manager Rebecca Evans of her company’s Energy Star for New Homes Builder of the Year award.

It marked one of two EnerQuality honours for Midhaven, whose Fresh Living program earned the company Best Green Marketing Campaign. The program gives homeowners an opportunity to participate in a green environment by including eco-friendly amenities like a retractable clothesline or push mower and being able to grow their own garden. “We’re making it easy for them to live a fresh, eco-friendly lifestyle,” Midhaven marketing and service specialist Kristina Petrie said. “We’re including it as a standard and going a step beyond by also doing the GreenHouse program.”

As with Mid-Volume Builder winner Doug Tarry, Midhaven has not only mastered the implementation of the program in all of its production, but has successfully leveraged the program to support its business. Of the 103 homes built by Midhaven Homes last year, all were Energy Star-qualified. The two-time Ontario Home Builder of the Year, which was also named the Durham Region Home Builder Association Green Builder of the Year in 2013, has racked up 33 awards since 1998.

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On the building site, Midhaven runs a fully integrated waste management plan and reporting system, with an 89% diversion from landfill through recycling, re-using and sorting of solid construction waste. All contractors working on Midhaven’s sites are partners in its waste-reduction initiative, and the company uses a GreenHouse specification checklist to verify all requirements are being met.

“We’re taking it a step further and putting the lifestyle not only into the home, but the community,” said Petrie.

Gerry Dennis of Reliance Home Comfort presents Best Green Marketing Campaign award to Midhaven Homes’ Kristina Petrie and Rebecca Evans. www.ohba.ca

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WISH LIST

What trends will turn lookers into buyers this year

By Elaine Kapogines

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While it may not be quite as ephemeral as the fashion industry, trends come and go like the tide in the world of interior design. Catching the right wave at the right time, though, can supply a great deal of momentum, dazzling potential homebuyers with the latest colour schemes, accents or enhancements. Among those trends beginning to take hold is the vintage look, which first emerged in the wedding and fashion industries a few years ago and is now seeping into interior design as homeowners clamour to distinguish themselves from the crowd with eclectic, one-of-a-kind pieces. Glamour and drama are also sweeping aside the more subtle, muted style we’ve seen in recent years. Although simple, modern lines are still in vogue, homeowners are now looking to add a pop of drama with black walls and metallic accents. Bathrooms are a huge focus, driven by both the spa experience and aging-in-place trend. And home automation is no longer a Jetsonslike fantasy—more and more products are hitting the marketplace to help homeowners control practically every system in their home from a smartphone. And as homeowners continue to embrace “enviro-chic,” the outdoors is coming in, with large windows, raw wood and natural textures as go-to design features.

Our expert panel highlights what will have everyone saying, “That’s so 2014!”

Prycon Construction’s kitchen (left) incorporates great natural light while meshing modern design and wooden flooring. Above, quartz countertops from Monarch Group’s Picasso Condos.

Black and white and bronze all over

“Greige” has permeated interior design over the past few years, but it seems that homeowners may be shifting their former neutral tastes to something a little bolder. In a recent poll by remodelling and design platform Houzz, 74% of homeowners admitted to liking black rooms. From kitchens and bathrooms to exterior paint, black is the new greige. And on trend with more glamour and drama, navy blue is also making a comeback in reaction to the colour’s recent return to the fashion runways. Design bloggers are also predicting the rebirth of brighter hues, with the influx of such colours as acid www.ohba.ca

yellow, turquoise and “radiant orchid,” the latter of which has been identified by the Pantone Color Institute as “2014 Color of the Year.”

“Clients finally appear to be losing their fear of vibrant colours,” says Chuck Mills of Chuck Mills Residential Design and Development. “Their use in home interiors is becoming more and more common.”

Jamie Adam, president of Pioneer Craftsmen in Kitchener, agrees. “Younger couples are looking to create unique spaces,” he says. “I’m finding more clients are asking us for help in really making their home reflect their personalities and aren’t so concerned with what the resale market may think of their home.

Bold colours and combining unique materials and textures to create a-one-of-a-kind space seems more important than ever.”

White is also making a bigger splash. White walls can sometimes seem unfinished or too stark, but with the increased emphasis on clean and simple, white is the perfect way to add a modern flair to a room while allowing those trendy vintage textures and dramatic colours to stand out.

Metallic accessories and accents, including lighting, fixtures and hardware, are also predicated to be hot in 2014.

The Houzz Kitchen Remodeling Survey, for example, found that tile is still the top choice for backsplashes, but metal and stainless steel options are becoming increasingly coveted due to their sleek appearance and easy-to-clean appeal.

And it’s not just one metallic hue that reigns supreme; it’s all about mixing and matching different metallics to create that eclectic feel. ontario home builder spring 2014

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Game of Thrones

A view from the island—part of Eurodale’s eclectic Olympic Reno, an OHBA and CHBA finalist for Best Renovation.

Modern sleek meets vintage chic

Vintage chic will continue to gain steam as it incorporates the “reuse, recycle” mentality of the green-minded homeowner— just check out Pinterest and you’ll get the idea. Wood grain is still the go-to texture for flooring but will gain popularity in other design elements, including fixtures and furniture, especially raw wood and natural edges. The Houzz survey identified butcher block as the third-most-popular countertop choice.

While hardwood still holds the most appeal for homeowners, laminate is gaining popularity, and with the addition of rustic options that resemble reclaimed barnboards or whitewashed farmhouse planks, this affordable flooring can fit nicely into a retro design. “Where affordability is an issue, buyers more than ever are willing to accept the new laminates, which look so much like hardwood and are so durable,” says Frances Martin-DiGiuseppe, principal at Q4 Architects in Toronto.

Although minimalist design still tops the homeowners’ wish list, 2014 is about successfully marrying modern with vintage and eclectic. “Modern/contemporary design is definitely on the rise,” says Mills. “Sleek, clean and simple lines, especially in the kitchen and bathroom, still rank high for customer requests.” Design bloggers seem to agree that strategically placed vintage or reclaimed pieces will soften a potentially cold, über-modern space. Mixing and matching high-gloss whites and dramatic blacks with more natural textures like linen, wood and organic cottons will be right on trend this year.

In the kitchen, consumers are gaining enthusiasm for classic and retro-style faucets. And colour choices like brazen bronze, antique copper, distressed gunmetal and black satin are popping up, adding even more of a rustic feel to an Old World-style faucet.

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Over the past few years, many homeowners have been diverting their attention—and cash —to the bathroom. “Spa-like ensuite baths with features such as walk-in showers, heated floors and elegant, free-standing tubs are still all the rage,” says Chuck Mills, and it seems like this will still be trending through 2014.

According to Houzz’s 2014 Winter Bathroom Trends Study, 60% of bathroom renovations are occurring in the master bath. More than half of those surveyed say they are gutting their bathroom and starting from scratch—the key motivator being to upgrade features and fixtures. Exposed toilets with high-efficiency options top the homeowners’ wish list.

Traditional two-piece toilets will still remain the most popular choice, but many younger homeowners are opting for wallmounted or tankless options. In a recent Houzz poll, nearly two-thirds of respondents said they would even include a urinal in their home!

Another shift in the paradigm is the humble bathtub, with over 40% surveyed choosing to forego the tub altogether. For those opting to include it, the theme is “go big or go home.”

More than half will chose a statement piece like a free-standing or drop-in tub, while more than 20% will go with a spa or jetted tub. “We are seeing more and more freestanding tubs with sculptural qualities and fewer built-ins,” says MartinDiGiuseppe. “Big corner tubs are disappearing and it seems tubs are not always required in smaller ensuites where space is a premium. Many buyers would prefer an oversize glass shower and double or separate vanities.”

Bathroom colour schemes echo those of the rest of the house, with white being the go-to choice for cabinets. Silver faucets still rank as the most popular, but stainless is gaining momentum, as is the trendy oil-brushed bronze option.

Great Gulf Homes’ King Oaks development features distinctive and memorable master baths, including this Duravit Starck freestanding tub. www.ohba.ca

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As our lives are transformed by the mobile computing world, clients are starting to ask for more comfortable ‘zones’—places to sit back, get comfortable and work. this year’s “green building mega-trends.” Home automation is gathering momentum, specifically in terms of automation for energy efficiency using cloud-based systems. He goes so far as to call 2014 “the year of the Cloud.” Yudelson also predicts that we’ll continue to see more net-zero homes as builders try to distinguish themselves from mainstream green. And we will also see an increased focus on greening existing buildings, solar power and water supply conservation.

The Nest thermostat can automatically save money while you’re away and can be controlled from anywhere using a smartphone, tablet or computer.

From Smartphone to smarthome

Once upon a time, there was such a thing as having to manually adjust the controls in your home. If you wanted to turn the heat up, you walked to your thermostat and turned it up. Well, those days are gone. Homeowners live and die by their smartphones and that technology is now increasingly being translated into the home. From our phones, we are now able to control independent systems throughout the home, from lighting to locks to appliance. One such hot item is the Nest, arguably the smartest thermostat and smoke/carbon monoxide detector on the market. And with Google’s new acquisition of the company, the sky’s the limit on what this technology will be able to do.

The recent 2014 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas also identified home automation as a rising trend, proving the term “internet of things” is a growing industry, not a passing fad.

Adding smart elements to a home flows nicely into the “green” theme. From something as simple as motion-sensing faucets to more sophisticated “smart” appliances, these seemingly futuristic features are taking energy efficiency to a new level and will continue to become the norm.

Owners are also not just looking for builders to include the newest gadgets; they want a comfortable place to play with their tech toys. “As our lives are transformed by the mobile computing world, clients are starting to ask for more comfortable ‘zones’—places to sit back, get comfortable and work or play on their tablets and mobile devices,” says Pioneer Craftsmen’s Adam. “It’s not so much a room that people are asking for, but rather a special little place within the larger living space that people want to go to but not miss out on the daily family activities. And this special little zone needs to be inspiring too.”

Green is the new green

Are you sick of hearing about green building? Well, brace yourself, the trend is not going anywhere in 2014. As builders continue to adjust to the new Ontario Building Code, green builders will need to step up their game if they want to stay ahead of the pack. Recently, Jerry Yudelson, author and leading eco-friendly building consultant, released his predictions for 80

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Efficiency meets style with this attractive space from the Minto Group.

Still small

In recent years, as a way to offset high land and construction costs, we’ve seen the trend towards small, smaller, smallest.

Expect it to continue in 2014. In 2012, CHBA reported that the average size of a new home was 1,900 square feet, down significantly from 2,300 square feet in the mid-2000s. And last year we saw the advent of the “micro-condo” in Toronto with Urban Capital’s “Smart House Condos,” a development where units will start in the mid-$200,000s for a 300-square-foot unit.

But we’re not only seeing square footage shrinking, but also lot size as well, as builders try to utilize the limited available land while still meeting the consumers demand for a four-bed, 2.5-bath home. Mattamy Homes currently offers 30-foot lots, with only one of their nine current Ontario communities offering lots beyond 45 feet. In a number of the Mattamy communities, a buyer can purchase a 2,200-square-foot, four-bedroom home on a 30-foot lot. Minto is similarly offering 31-foot lots.

Multigenerational space

The aging-in-place trend is also gathering steam. Baby boomers are saturating the marketplace, and meeting their www.ohba.ca

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demands should be a consideration for anyone looking to tap into this lucrative demographic. “Many homeowners are demanding features that will allow them to stay and enjoy their home for many years,” says Adam. “They love their home, but certain aspects just aren’t functioning as well as they could.” Incorporating something as simple as full-depth rollout drawers in the kitchen, raised or lowered work surfaces, or wall-mounted sinks in bathrooms to accommodate wheelchairs can demonstrate an understanding of the needs for an aging population without sacrificing style.

In the bathroom, new products continue to facilitate the aging population, such as extra-height toilets—a great addition for someone with knee problems or Daylight streams in from multiple angles, seamlessly blending indoors and outdoors in this spectacular who need the assistance of a chair. And family room setting from David Small Designs’ David’s House. scraping the deep, spa tub for an open, no-threshold shower will make it easier and much safer for many older homeowners.

An open-concept main floor is right on trend as well and can make life easier for someone with mobility issues. “Many empty nesters are opting to create larger, more family-friendly spaces because they accommodate larger family get-togethers,” says Adam, adding that these rooms are taking on “a much more informal feel than we have seen historically.”

Christopher Simmonds, an Ottawa-based architect who specializes in holistic and sustainable design, agrees that such spaces are gaining traction, making this particular feature great for resale to the younger generations when the time comes. “People want informal ‘great rooms’ integrated with a casual dining area and large kitchen,” Simmonds notes. “What was the living room now becomes designated as an ‘away dows and more connection with outdoor living spaces. This room’—am office/den space or media room.” means better quality windows that are more energy efficient.

While two-storey homes are still the standard floorplan for Often they run from floor to ceiling. so there has to be special a new build, including a bedroom and ensuite bath on the main attention to detailing and structure.” And it’s also important to floor can be very appealing to a homeowner who struggles with consider some of Ontario’s unique features when choosing the stairs. Also, by having the master bedroom on the main floor, right windows for the space. “People like the idea of roll-away the upstairs becomes a great space for guest rooms, for bedor fold-away glass walls,” Simmonds adds, “but this brings up rooms and play areas for grandkids, or for more private areas issues of finding technology that is going to perform well in for older “boomerang” kids. But when working with a two-stoOntario’s climate.” rey design, especially for production builders, Ottawa-based Tending to Ontario’s seasonal critters is also important, architect Linda Chapman suggests including a rough-in for an including “drop-down insect screens to keep out the mosquielevator, which will make that addition easier on the hometoes and inquisitive squirrels,” Simmonds says. owner once they move in.

The inclusion of larger windows also means more to look at Let there be (natural) light outside, so builders should put some thought into landscaping, While recent years have witnessed indoor living spaces headadvises Simmonds. “The outdoor spaces and landscape need to ing outdoors, with large living room-style patios popping up be designed to integrate with the home. Homeowners want a in homes large and small, this year sees homeowners focusing seamless experience of indoor-outdoor living. We find that for on bringing the outdoors in. “Natural light, large windows and custom home clients an outdoor entertainment area is a key creating an outdoor feel to the indoors is becoming increaspart of the design. For subdivision builders, our homes now ingly important,” notes Adam. “One thing clients have been feature much larger amounts of glazing at the rear yard.” requesting lately has been big, tall windows with transom panSuffice it to say that while homeowners, more and more, elling,” echoes Linda Chapman. will be looking outside in, home builders must continue to Simmonds also agrees. “People are focused on bigger winknow the latest trends inside out. OHB

Natural light, large windows and creating an outdoor feel to the indoors is becoming increasingly important...

One thing clients have been requesting lately has been big, tall windows with transom panelling.

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OHBA acknowledges with gratitude, the support of our sponsor partners

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Large sites sometimes call for elaborate security measures. UCIT Online Security utilizes multiple weapons against crime, including aerial crane cameras (top left), which are overseen by central monitoring stations. Putting people on the ground is also effective, although manpower alone isn’t always enough to secure a site.

F

rom copper piping to kitchen appliances to tools and heavy equipment, construction sites provide a treasure trove of goods for opportunistic thieves.

“Theft has definitely been a problem over the years for most builders, especially builders that have larger community sites where it’s tough to control access,” says Paul Golini Jr., vice-president of Empire Communities. “If you are building 20 houses on a street and there’s only one access into the project, then it’s easier to control. But if you’re building a master-planned community and 200 to 300 homes in a larger format, it’s difficult to control.”

At Empire’s sites throughout the GTA and beyond, Golini has found thieves will “steal anything that can be extracted from a home and put in a truck, including furnaces, fireplaces and appliances. It’s very rare that you have theft in terms of lumber and bricks—it’s the high-value items. As soon as copper prices went up, we saw an increase in copper thefts.”

Not even charitable organizations that help low-income families achieve home ownership are immune. Terry Petkau, director of building services for Habitat for Humanity Canada, says theft is common at many Habitat build sites. “This has always been a problem, but it’s increasing,” says Petkau. He said theft and vandalism on build sites has forced Habitat affiliates to take action, including installing cameras, alarm systems or additional lighting.

“Why would someone do such a thing to a Habitat project?”

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asks Petkau. “There is signage at our sites and our identity is very clear from Day One. The culprits are quite aware of who they are impacting.”

Petkau says thieves may justify their actions by believing that Habitat didn’t pay for the materials, so it’s not a real loss. He says more than 50% of Habitat affiliates (there are 31 in Ontario) have reported some kind of incident.

“Those costs are real and when materials are donated, we can’t go back to the supplier and request replacements. We have to purchase those materials,” says Petkau. “Or we can go to our insurance company and make a claim, but often we have to pay a deductible of up to $2,000 or more or face a higher premium, and that means we have to make a decision whether to make a claim, pay the deductible and face higher premiums, or pay out of pocket www.ohba.ca

S O U L O F T H E C I T Y S E R I E S : T H E R E D R O C K E T. A N E N D A N G E R E D S P E C I E S ?

SOUL OF THE CITY TORONTO STAR “More subways!” It’s a refrain heard over and over, while the plan calls for more LRTs. The future of streetcar is far from certain, but the place it holds as a symbol of a people-friendly city will remain forever – perhaps because looking out a subway car offers just a flashdance of grey concrete streaming by.

For charm, and the view, the Red Rocket wins, hands down. It’s got soul.

The Toronto Star knows its readers, many of whom ride “The Better Way.” Check it out: 70% more women and 48% more 25-54 year-olds read the Star than our closest competitor.* When the spread in readership is that great, you can bet advertisers know it too. When you place your media, place it where the people are. Advertise in the Toronto Star and on thestar.com *Source: NADbank Fall 2011/Spring 2012, Toronto CMA, Weekday Readership

Stop! Thief!

Ten preventative measures builders can take to discourage construction site theft Whether it’s an outside agency or your own employees, it’s hard not to have something go missing at some point in time. But there are some preventative measures every builder and contractor can take. Here are 10 tips from UCIT Online Security’s Sidney Sommer and Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association equipment theft consultant George Kleinsteiber:

It’s one thing to take precautions, but simple signage can also help dissuade would-be thieves. At top right, copper continues to be a hot item at jobsites.

1. Have a fenced-in or secured storage area. If things are left out in the open, people don’t think of it as much as theft. They are less likely to cut a lock and steal from a secured area.

2. Have a locking storage system for tools.

for new materials. Then we have to have volunteers come in to clean up and do the added work.”

With up to 200 Habitat builds occurring at any time across the country, whether it’s the renovation of older homes or new builds, Petkau notes that the costs of theft can add up. Anecdotally, the price of preventative measures, whether it’s security guards, monitoring cameras, fencing or other means to prevent theft, could be in the range of $5,000 to $10,000 per build. When the cumulative costs are compiled, that kind of money could provide up to 10 more Habitat homes for families across Canada, says Petkau.

“It affects your insurance rates and it also affects closing dates,” says Golini. “It’s not a strike or an act of God, so Tarion typically doesn’t look at theft as an excuse to delay a house unless it’s a major theft. If a furnace gets ripped out of a house, it can affect a closing by two weeks. It’s something that affects the homebuyer too. They are not in possession of the home yet, but they feel violated.”

Building materials, appliances and tools are not the only targets. The Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association (OSWCA) equipment theft consultant George Kleinsteiber, a retired OPP constable who worked in the auto theft section, specializing in heavy equipment theft, has seen everything from backhoes to large graders stolen from sites. The OPP estimates that that between $15 million and $20 million worth of construction equipment goes missing every year in the province.

“The stories are unbelievable,” says Kleinsteiber, who has gone as far as Dubai to recover purloined machinery. “Some thieves steal right in front of people’s eyes in broad daylight.

One guy pulled up to a site where four different builders were building. He started a grader and loaded it on to a truck. Everyone thought it was the other company’s machine. Nobody could 88

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3. Keep construction sets well lit and install motiondetector lighting.

4. Use deterrents such as security guards or video monitoring services.

5. Install signs such as “No Trespassing,” “Thieves Will be Prosecuted,” or signs that indicate the site is being monitored.

6. Develop a security plan and share it with key personnel.

7. Keep a careful inventory of equipment and materials and account for all at the end of the day.

8. Schedule deliveries of materials to minimize theft risk.

For example, have copper delivered as close to installation as possible. Don’t have appliances, furnaces, etc., delivered on a Friday so they will sit onsite over the weekend.

9. Watch for suspicious activity onsite. Some thefts occur in daytime in plain sight.

10. Record serial numbers and VINs of tools, equipment and machinery.

For tips on preventing machinery theft, visit stolenheavyequipment.com.

www.ohba.ca

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even identify the guy who stole it other than saying he drove a red truck! The owner lost $360,000 in one machine.”

Eye in the sky New technologies, however, can help curb the problem. “Construction site theft is certainly something that has to be looked at,” says Jim Ritchie, vice-president of Tridel, a major Toronto area high-rise builder. “We had traditional security, but we’ve moved to new technology with a company that uses motion sensor cameras. It’s quite effective.”

Empire Communities also uses video monitoring, says Golini.

“Those companies are able to monitor sites 24 hours a day and they typically alert us as soon as a Stolen items go far beyond simple tools and copper wiring. On occasion, six-figure machinery has been purloined off the theft happens and call the police. lot. In one case, a $360,000 grader was loaded onto a truck and driven away in broad daylight.

It has served us well. Typically in the past, the industry would hire security guards, but the cameras work well for most builders.” workers’ tools as other common targets. “We see so many thefts and Tridel is one of about 80 builders across Ontario that uses it’s pretty exciting when the police show up and catch them in the UCIT Online Security, a company founded a decade ago. Manag- act,” says Sommer. “The most memorable ones are guys who hide ing director Sidney Sommer, who previously worked for a German onsite and the police bring in the canine unit to find them.” aerospace company that was designing a video black box to record He says most thieves are small-time crooks, but “we definitely flight data, used his acquired knowledge of digital video to cre- come across big rings, but they tend to stay off our sites because ate UCIT. His company uses high-tech surveillance cameras with they have figured out that our system works.” Surveillance promotion sensors and real-time monitoring and works with local vided by UCIT helped police crack a major copper theft ring operlaw enforcement. UCIT’s Toronto monitoring facility employs ating in the Hamilton area. more than 60 operators and has natural gas generators on hand While it definitely helps with after-hours theft, Sommer says in case of a power failure. His services are approved by major insur- most clients have also reported a dramatic drop in daytime thefts ance companies as a valid replacement for onsite guards. on sites monitored around the clock. The OSWCA is also find“A lot of builders use security guards to keep their insurance ing that new technologies are successfully thwarting thefts of companies happy,” says Sommer. “But realistically, for low-rise machinery from sites. “Touch wood, but right now the theft rate construction, it’s hard for a security guard to secure a site prop- is at the lowest it’s been for a long time,” says Kleinsteiber. “First of erly because of the sheer size. And things can get stolen during all, manufacturers have started to install GPS and other anti-theft the day when the guards aren’t there.” devices on new equipment. Second, owners have finally seen the Sommer says costs vary for his company’s services, depending light and are doing pro-active things like installing GPSs.” on the size of the site and the number of cameras installed, but Kleinsteiber says the GPS systems are well hidden and built into video surveillance will set you back 25%-50% less than hiring the electronic control module system, which makes them difficult security guards, he claims. UCIT won’t have cameras on every to disable. With other equipment, owners can pay about $400 to house, but will cover all walkways and entrances. “We have a lot of have a GPS installed that can notify their cell phone if the machinsites with 12 cameras or some with 60 or 70 cameras if it’s a huge ery is moved more than a specified distance. The technology will site. We have one site in Upper Unionville with four builders who also allow owners to immobilize their equipment remotely. are building 600 to 700 homes.”

The OSWCA has been actively working to promote theft preThose countermeasures are worth the investment. “We have vention and recovery through information it shares with memon average four arrests a week,” says Sommer. bers, offering rewards to report thefts that lead to arrests and Their primary target? Copper, says Sommer. In 2013, the Elec- through a guidebook it distributes to law enforcement agencies. trical Safety Association describes copper theft as the fastest grow“Finally contractors are listening to us,” says Kleinsteiber. ing crime in Canada. “It’s as good as cash,” Sommer says. “Any scra- “The worst guys are landscapers and pool installers, who have pyard will give you cash for it (they are currently paying around $3 only one or two machines and think no one’s going to steal them. a pound for copper wire). Guys will rip wiring out a house and may But we see more little backhoes going than big pieces of equiponly get $50 for it, but they’ve created $5,000 worth of damage.” ment. Whether it cost $3,000 or $30,000, it’s worth spending No. 2 on the hit list is lumber, with lighting fixtures and trades- $399 and installing GPS.” OHB 90

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Eco-friendly building products that grow themselves

By GARY WOLLENHAUPT Soon, home builders may be growing

Bright ideas Lively shades from the Far East to South America inspire in 2014 From antique golds, vibrant reds and

spicy oranges to jewelled blues, emerald greens and rose-infused violets, Canadian-based CIL cites the colours of the Far East, Mediterranean and South America among the most popular in home decor this year. “While many people opt for neutral tones as the safest bet, those who go with lively shades of paint often never look back,” says Alison Goldman, brand manager for CIL paint, a brand of PPG Architectural Coatings.

“An event like the Olympic Games games was a wonderful opportunity to see what colours are trending worldwide and to get inspiration for home decor ideas,” Goldman adds, explaining that transforming a living space can be an economical undertaking. “All you www.ohba.ca

need is a can of paint, a paint brush, and a few accessories to infuse exciting international flavour into any room.”

For a Far East feeling, try incorporating a mixed palette of deep reds, warm browns, rustic oranges and golden yellows, both on the walls and through furnishings. If you’re looking for a Mediterranean feel, bring elegant Parisian panache into your home through pastel blues and cream, while the excitement of Spain can be visually reproduced through rich, warm colours like deep oranges and vibrant reds topped with colourful wall textiles and mosaic tiles. The vibrancy of Brazil, meanwhile, can be replicated with such energetic tones as Exotic Bird orange, while adorning walls with boldcoloured artwork.

their own insulation right in the walls of the home. And bricks could grow in a mould rather than bake in a kiln.

Manufacturing traditional construction products like bricks and insulation consumes a lot of resources. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that residential and commercial building contributes up to 40% of landfill wastes, with 40% of global carbon dioxide emissions being linked to the construction industry. Also, the building products industry is a large consumer of non-renewable materials and embodied energy.

To reduce the environmental impact of building, scientists and entrepreneurs are creating products that are grown, not made. Two of the winners in the recent Cradle to Cradle Product Innovation Challenge show how renewable biological resources can give buildings a whole new shade of green. The goal of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute is to chart a path for products that can be created from safe materials, that are built with renewable energy and that are completely reusable. ontario home builder spring 2014

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One of the innovation winners, American-based bioMason, has developed a brick made from bacterial byproducts that cement sand particles together in a matrix that’s strong enough to use for homes. It takes only about five days for bacteria to create a natural cement similar to coral that binds aggregate into a brick. That’s without the heat and raw materials required for masonry bricks. About 40% of the cost of a masonry brick is in the fuel for kiln firing. The bio brick process can use waste products such as urea and common bacteria grown with salt and yeast extracts.

The creators are experimenting with using seawater to bring the product to remote areas short on fresh water.

Another winner, New York’s Ecovative, has created a mushroom insulation material that uses agricultural waste products like plant stalks and seed husks bound together with mycelium, a fungal material. The fungus can be grown in a mould or inside a wall cavity, providing rigid structural insulation for the home’s walls. It can also be used as spray-on foam insulation, blown onto a wall in a structure. The re9:54 AM sulting insulation is fire-resistant and fully compostable, and does not contain formaldehyde or other potentially harmful volatile organic compounds.

The material can also be used as a compostable packaging. After you open your parcel, you can chuck the packing foam into the garden.

Other bio-based building products are in the works as well. Bacteria engineered to thrive in dry climates is helping to create a concrete that can repair itself. The bacteria are mixed into the concrete and release calcium carbonate, similar to limestone, as part of their waste process. The material fills in holes and cracks in the concrete, making it last longer and reducing maintenance costs.

Of course, homes have been built with natural products—like wood, earth, and straw bale—for centuries, but the future could mean growing your home, or parts of it, right on the spot. And biologically based materials could make green building the natural way to go.

Reprinted from blogs.ptc.com www.ohba.ca

Beautiful numbers for Beautiful Heat Beautiful Heat, Canada’s not-for-profit

association dedicated to educating Canadians about the option of residential radiant heat, recently engaged energy analyst ICF Marbek to complete the Energy and Comfort Study, measuring energy consumption of radiant heat versus forced-air systems. Based on the results from energy simulations of different home types, in six regions of Canada, annual energy savings of up to 18% could be realized with radiant heat.

“Anecdotally, we have had homeowners tell us that radiant heat has saved them as much as 30%-40% percent on their annual heating bills,” says Simon Fedema, chairman of Beautiful Heat.

“As with any home, setting an ideal temperature is the domain of the owners and personal comfort levels can fluctuate greatly. With this study, we have modelled the dominant styles of homes and local climates in key regions across Canada to establish a national average that represents the baseline energy savings Canadians can realize with the installation of radiant heat.”

In existing homes built before 1980, national averages revealed energy savings of 12% (16.6GJ) and 5% (4.1 GJ) in two-storey and one-storey homes, respectively, and within new homes, savings of 10% (10GJ) and 5% (3GJ) were noted. That translates into an annual savings of $40-$136 in new homes and $54-$232 in existing homes. www.ohba.ca

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better building When multi-zone controls were enabled with a 1ºC reduction in basements and living rooms overnight and in bedrooms in the day, savings increased to an average energy of 10.6% (10.8GJ) in new two-storey homes and 12.4% (17.8GJ) in existing homes. With a more aggressive 4ºC reduction, energy savings in new homes grew to a whopping 15.1% (15.5GJ) and to 17% (24.5GJ) in existing homes.

In addition to energy savings, ICF Marbek looked to estimate the average temperature reduction that could be realized through the consistent temperature that is provided by radiant heating without sacrificing occupant comfort.

They found that to maintain an ideal heat set-point (which provides the same level of comfort) in one-storey homes, owners could set their thermostats an average of 2.2ºC lower in new and existing structures. In two-storey homes, that number increased to 3.1ºC in both types of dwelling.

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Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design In his new book, Happy City, Vancouver

author Charles Montgomery examines the intersection between urban design www.ohba.ca

and the emerging science of happiness.

The book shows the striking ways that our cities can influence our thoughts, feelings and actions. The message is as surprising as it is hopeful: Doomsayers have warned that action to tackle the urgent challenges of climate change and energy scarcity will lead us into decades of hardship and sacrifice. But evidence in Happy City and Montgomery’s own projects suggest the opposite: that using cities to save the world can simultaneously make us happier.

David Suzuki called Happy City “a brilliant, entertaining and vital book.

Montgomery deftly leads us from our misplaced focus on money, cars and stuff to consider what makes us truly happy. Then everything changes—the way we live, work and play in humanity’s major habitat, the city.”

After decades of unchecked sprawl, more people than ever are moving back to the city. Dense urban living has been prescribed as a panacea for the environmental and resource crises of our time. But is it better or worse for our happiness? Are subways, sidewalks and tower dwelling an improvement on the car-dependence of sprawl?

Montgomery finds the answers to all those questions and many more during an exhilarating journey through some of the world’s most dynamic cities. He meets the visionary mayor who introduced a sexy lipstick-red bus to ease status anxiety in Bogota; the architect who brought the lessons of medieval Tuscan hill towns to modern-day New York City; the activist who turned Paris’s urban freeways into beaches; and an army of American suburbanites who have transformed their lives by hacking the design of their streets and neighbourhoods.

The book will change the way you think about urban life. Its thesis suggests that the happy city, the green city, and the low-carbon city are the same place, and that we can all help build it.

“It was only a matter of time before someone figured out that if there were new things to say about happiness and a new interest in the evolution of urban life, the two subjects could be linked together,” writes Alan Ehrenhalt of the New York Times. “That is what Montgomery has set out to do. To an admirable extent, he succeeds.” www.ohba.ca

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By Steve Maxwell Faster installations and more reliable

performance are the trending virtues in skylights these days, but things are less streamlined when it comes to flat roof situations. There’s more to installing skylights here than on sloped roofs, but that’s changing.

One of the best reasons to consider skylights is how they boost your reputation. Homebuyers respond to emotion, and no other single home design feature delivers as powerful a sense of wellbeing as ample overhead sunlight, waves of fresh air and a more expansive room experience. And when homeowners feel good in the houses you build, those good feelings get airtime, brightening your reputation in the process.

All of this is fine, except that the technicalities of flat-roof installations include two headaches, both of which have to do with curbs. Installing skylights on flat roofs traditionally involves a sitebuilt wooden curb made of 2x6 or 2x8 that gets the skylight up above the roof surface. After fastening this curb to the deck, the outside needs to be flashed with a waterproof membrane that meshes with the rest of the roof. Later on, the inside of the curb gets finished and joined to the surrounding ceiling, but not before insulation goes on.

In our cold climate it’s always a best practice to insulate the warm side of a wooden curb in a condensation-proof www.ohba.ca

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way. A 1 1/2”-thick wooden curb doesn’t offer enough insulation to prevent condensation on the interior face of the curb during cold weather. That’s why at least an inch of extruded polystyrene foam is necessary, with water-resistant drywall over top, just in case condensation drips from the glass. None of this is rocket science, but it does take considerable time and skill.

As the skylight industry becomes more refined, easier-to-install flat-roof skylights are coming on stream. The Velux CFP (fixed pane) and CXP (openable pane) models are a case in point.

They’re the only residential flat-roof skylights with a built-in, insulated curb, though this exclusive nature probably won’t last for long since built-in curbs make installations so much faster and more reliable.

There’s no need to build a wooden curb, and there’s no need to add insulation on the warm side of that curb. In the case of the Velux models, just torch the curb onto the roof, or ‘membrane’ it into the roof treatment, and that’s it!

The hollow PVC curb is filled with foam and the inside face is also flared at a 60º angle. This might not sound like much, but flared openings make a surprising difference in how much light comes in compared with square-edge, wooden curbs. A polycarbonate or acrylic cover sits on top of the double-glazed sash, offering extra protection and reduced rain noise.

Regardless of how you install them, skylights are trending because they make people feel good. And the better you can build feel-good homes, the better off you’ll be. www.ohba.ca

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NKBA releases 2014 design trends report Cleaner lines and contemporary looks

will be hot for 2014, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s 2014 Design Trends Report. Released last month during the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas, the report contains the latest design trends and predictions, as reported by hundreds of kitchen and bath designers from across North America.

According to the research, consumers will be cleaning up their kitchens in 2014, at least from a design standpoint. “ While transitional styles are still number one, we see kitchen design trending more contemporary this year, with clean, simple lines; less clutter and little ornamentation,” said NKBA President John Petrie.

The report highlights other trends:

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• Contemporary will be the fastest growing kitchen style in 2014, with 62% of respondents saying it’s on the upswing after ending 2013 in second place. Transitional maintained a very small lead as the top look for kitchens.

Shaker styling is a solid third, due in part to its versatility, lending itself to traditional or contemporary.

• More than half (56%) of respondents included accessible and/or universal design and easy-maintenance features in their kitchens, and demand is expected to continue.

• Two-thirds of NKBA kitchen designers incorporated docking and/or charging stations in their kitchens, as well as a desk or home office area. Some 56% included a flat-screen TV. These trends show no signs of powering down.

• Outdoor kitchens continue to be popular, with 43% of respondents designing them in 2013 and 41% expecting an increase in 2014.

• 63% of respondents specified energy-saving appliances in 2013, and 60% expect to see more of the same this year. Almost 40% of designers specified www.ohba.ca

water-saving kitchen faucets in 2013, and 47% expect the market to expand.

• Furniture-type pieces were specified in kitchens by eight out of 10 respondents in 2013 and 56% expect to do more in 2014.

• Some 70% of respondents see quartz countertops increasing in 2014. Almost a quarter specified countertops with recycled materials and 40% expect the trend to accelerate in 2014.

• Wood, the most specified flooring in 2013, will grow even more in 2014.

• Glass, now No. 3 for backsplashes, is predicted to grow in popularity in 2014.

• Satin nickel, now the most popular faucet finish, is expected to continue to flourish in 2014, as will polished chrome.

• Stainless steel is the most popular sink material, with porcelain enamel a distant second. Granite composite, now No. 3, is expected to grow in 2014.

Kitchen features in demand include induction cooktops, steam ovens, French-door refrigerators, bottom freezer refrigerators, touch-activated faucets, electronic (no-touch) faucets and LED lighting .

In the fading column, NKBA members are doing fewer kitchens with highly ornamented Tuscan and Provençal looks. Distressed and/or glazed finishes are also less popular, as are country/rustic styles. They expect to use fewer electric cooktops and porcelain enamel sinks in 2014.

On the bathroom side, North American tastes are shifting to the more contemporary, spa-like, accessible and easy to maintain.

“Spa bathrooms and zen-like retreats are definitely desired aspects of today’s bathrooms, driving a more contemporary aesthetic,” says Petrie.

The ascendency of contemporary style is a major shift in the NKBA’s annual survey. As recently as a few years ago, traditional styling represented three-quarters of the bathrooms designed by NKBA members. While still representing 62% of 2013 bathroom projects, traditional bathrooms are now trailing contemporary (68%). And while grey was the third-most popular bathroom colour in 2013, it’s expected to be by far the fastest-growing tone in 2014. OHB www.ohba.ca

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product focus

Grand openings With spring around the corner, here are some windows and doors to help usher in the season

By Dan O’Reilly

After a seemingly endless winter, we all look forward to embracing spring. In the case of builders, that means choosing the right doors and windows that will generate buyer attention and provide long-lasting durability for their purchasers.

A random survey of manufacturers indicates that, while homeowners are concerned about energy efficiency, they also want doors and windows that will accentuate the beauty of their homes. www.ohba.ca

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product focus

UNIQUE LOOKING By installing the patented Uniqwood line of windows from Casa Bella, builders have a dualadvantage product to market to purchasers. With its pinewood interior frame, the Uniqwood creates a warm aesthetic within the house, while its vinyl exterior eliminates maintenance problems. Winner of an industry award for innovation, the window is offered in a variety of styles including simulated single-hung, casement, bay and bow. Also available are several stainable wood finishes such oak, pine, cherry, mahogany and walnut. casabellawindows.ca

Screens are extra-wide Builders and renovators can now easily screen very large oversized door openings. Able to span openings up to 24 feet wide and 10 feet high, the Centor Architectural Screen provides protection from the elements while preserving views.

The unified multi-function screen system serves as both an insect mesh and a solar filter. It can be opened or closed from any height on the handlebar, completely retracts into the door jamb when not in use and can be easily operated with one fingertip. Centor screens are available with professional installation through Ontario Screen Systems Inc.

Colour your world Just as a frame draws attention to a piece of art or a favourite family photograph, the use of colours on doors and windows emphasizes a home’s architectural beauty. That is underlying principle behind Pella Windows and Doors’ decision to add more colours and options to its line of Impervia fibreglass windows and patio doors. The Black and Morning Sky Gray options are available for both interiors and exteriors. A special feature is a dual-colour frame option, which allows for different colour combinations on the same door or window. The new colours are available on both standard and customized products.

ontarioscreens.com/centor

pella.com

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OHB ad 4.5 x 4.875:Layout 1 11-09-28 3:52 PM Page 1

Craftsmanship. Style. Performance.

Carefully crafted with outstanding quality, superior functionality and unmatched performance; all backed by the best warranty in the business. It’s easy to see why more architects, contractors and homeowners specify Strassburger Windows and Doors.

1-800-265-4717 or visit www.strassburger.net Kitchener Head Office and Showroom 2101 Shirley Dr., Kitchener ON N2B 3X4 519-885-6380 1-800-265-4717 Barrie Office and Showroom 18 Alliance Blvd., Unit 2, Barrie ON L4M 5A5 705-812-4923 1-866-796-7023

Vinyl windows, patio and entrance doors for the replacement, renovation and new-construction markets

FIT Program Confirms Qualifications of Window and Door Installers The importance of using certified window and door installers can not be over-emphasized.

A qualified installer will have the experience and judment to make a factory-built window fit correctly in existing openings without impacting performance.

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product focus

No leaks with V-Weld design Using what it describes as groundbreaking technology, All Weather Windows has designed and set up a manufacturing process to eliminate air and water leaks in its V-weld Apex product line. Unlike conventional windows that use mechanical mullions joined with gaskets and silicone, which contract and expand, these windows are fusion-welded together, leaving no cracks or gaps that water can seep through. The benefits of this production method include a superior frame integrity and better performance, says the company. allweatherwindows.com

Windows offer panoramic views Featuring slender frames with sashes that are completely hidden, Zola’s new PanoramicView aluminum-clad wood windows offer sweeping views, effortless operation and premium durability. There are two versions. The Tilt & Turn window comes as a single unit, either left- or right-hand hung, or as double French units. The Corner Lift-Slide model is a corner piece—one wide of which is fixed glass, while the other is a lift-and-slide unit. Available with self-retracting sliding insect screens, the Corner Lift-Slide comes in sizes up to 11 feet high and 38 feet long. Both models are equipped with German-manufactured concealed hinges. zolawindows.com Door is practical and pleasing Combing the benefits of a vinyl-clad exterior with the beauty of a natural maple, oak or pine interior, the energy-efficient Liberty 4-Lite gliding door from Pollard Windows is sure to generate curb appeal. Providing wide views of the outdoors, the 4-Lite facilitates the easy movement of furniture and accessories in and outside of the house. Available in two- or four-lite configurations with a four- or eight-inch rail height, it comes standard with Low E/Argon-filled glass and a dual-point locking mechanism for superior security protection. The manufacturer also carries an all-vinyl version. pollardwindows.com

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We’re BIG on Big Productivity Our lOcatiOn may be small tOwn... but Our expertise and service are nOt.

New Model 324J Compact Loader

The RCLLP Difference Experience Value Dedication

Contact Huron Tractor to experience the outstanding maneuverability, travel speed, breakout force, reach and stability of the new 324J.

HuronTractor.com 10 Northumberland Street, Ayr

HUT-3X40307OHBA-4C

www.rcllp.ca

Developer Surety Commercial Surety Contract Surety Developer Surety Commercial Surety Contract Surety Developer Surety Commercial Surety

Contract Surety Developer Surety Commercial Surety Contract Surety Specialty Insurance Developer Surety Solutions Built Commercial Surety Your Way Contract Surety Developer Surety Commercial Surety a step above Contract Surety Developer Surety Commercial Surety Learn more at www.trisura.com

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luxury residential elevators expertise, installation and customer service second to none

1.888.423.4865 2 Walker Drive Brampton

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savaria.com

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product focus

Classic doors WITH new features Designed to evoke the timeless appeal of wood, Therma-Tru’s Fiber-Classic Mahogany collection of doors feature enduring strength. Now the manufacturer is rolling out an array of interchangeable new features. Creating a unified, cohesive and attractive exterior appearance, these embellishments are sure to catch the attention of potential homebuyers. The new additions have the same deep mahogany graining and high-definition panel embossments as the original line. Of special note are the sidelites, which are available in different shapes and designs including decorative and clear glass. thermatru.com

The look of wood As part of its ongoing efforts to provide a wide range of options and accessories for its window and door products, Window City has introduced a new interior stainable laminate in the Heritage Maximum Collection. It gives homeowners the look of handcrafted wood and enables them to stain the laminate to match their interior decor. The product is one of several the company has rolled out. Just one example is the new black and dark bronze exterior capstock colours. windowcity.com

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customizABLE windows With Ply Gem Windows’ 1500 Vinyl Collection, builders can customize their windows to meet the specific design needs of their clients. Not only are there three frame options (brickmould, bevelled and flat), builders also have three colours to choose from. They include white, beige or clay. A number of multiplegrille, simulated divided lite (SDL) and shape options can also be selected. While it may not matter much in Ontario’s fairly uniform climate, energy-efficient features can be also selected based on market needs, customer preferences and climate zones. The 1500 is available 12 “Mitten by Ply Gem” branches in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. mittenbp.com

An interior solution When a builder or renovator is called on to make interior changes at the last minute by a demanding purchaser, the L-shaped Room Divider from the Sliding Door Company may be the perfect solution. Equipped with silver frames and 5mm tempered frosted glass, it can be used to create a second bedroom. The company also makes other products for interior applications, such as closet doors and wall slides. slidingdoorco.ca

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product showcase

Leak-Bye

The Interior Foundation Drainage System Be sure to use the Leak-Bye interior foundation drainage system. Used by award-winning builders, Leak-Bye diverts inside moisture from foundation leaks and condensation to the floor slab drainage system below.

Leak-Bye, your best defense against water penetration.

Leak-Bye Incorporated

RR#3 Mt. Forest, Ontario N0G 2L0 ATTN: John Plume Toll Free: 1-800-393 LEAK (5325) Tel: (519) 323-4123 Fax: (519) 323-4793

Beaver Valley Stone offers the largest selection of natural stone and precast products in Ontario, including flagstone, both random and saw cut. We also have many different types of drywall, ledgerock, natural stone steps and sills. Our precast concrete products include patio slabs, sills, steps and curbs. We also offer a wide selection of interlocking paving stones and retaining wall systems, from a variety of manufacturers.

Accessories available.

25 Langstaff Road East, Thornhill, ON L3T 3P7 Phone: 416-222-2424 or 905-886-5787, Fax: 905-886-5795 www.beavervalleystone.com

Visit One of Canada's Largest Outdoor Displays

Maintenance-Free Vinyl Decks & Fences No Stains No Pains No Deck Washes No Water Sealers • Durable • comfortable • choice of colours & Styles • lifetime Beauty • Non-Skid Surface • lifetime Warranty

Build with freedom Dealerships available throughout Ontario Exeter, Ontario 1 -888-644-2844 www.almarvinyl.ca

Build with charming Fresco Building Stone TM

arriscraft.com

Luxury Custom Renovations Custom Bathrooms • Kitchens • Wine Cellars • Built-ins Dressing Rooms • Custom Millwork 416.806.2232 • info@torontocustomconcepts.com www.torontocustomconcepts.com 1750 The Queensway Suite#1101 • Toronto, ON • M9C 5H5

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OUT side THE BOX

Skin deep Setting the tone for great curb appeal Dr. Avi Friedman Along with the swelling of size of

Dr. Avi Friedman teaches architecture at McGill University.

He can be reached at avi.friedman@ mcgill.ca.

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Canadian homes, the facade area has also mushroomed. Compared to homes of earlier decades, newly built dwellings have lost some of their grace. The primary reason lies in the need to allocate up to 40% of the front elevation area to a single feature—the garage door. There is little room left for anything else.

And then there is the ongoing search for a winning style. Over the years a blend of modern and Victorian styles have dominated the residential landscape. Very little effort has been taken to explore other styles.

So, what makes the façade of a home pleasing? A good design, of course, but beyond that there are common principles that will make an elevation attractive, regardless of style. First, the overall facade must be well-proportioned. The ratio between width and height should be well thought out; one single feature should not dominate.

The effect of the garage should be minimized. The desired place

ontario home builder spring 2014

for a garage will be at the rear, the side or, at the very least, recessed from the main structure. It can be nicely integrated with the main structure, with rooms or a terrace built on top of it.

The roof should also be well designed. Its height, overall area, shape and slope angle must create a nice composition with the elevation and not be loaded with features.

The number of dormers, gables, chimneys, as well as the extent of the roof overhang and eaves, can be kept to a minimum.

Appropriate windows, their type, material and colour are another consideration that can add curb appeal. I often see homes whose façade resembles a window company catalogue. Two varieties at the most should be selected.

The same goes for an entry door. Its style and placement will often have a critical effect on how the entire home appears. Central entrances are often more desirable, and recessing the door or having a canopy or a porch built over it will

always add a touch of domesticity.

Next are the exterior claddings.

Along with meeting the client’s budget, exterior materials need to match a home’s overall shape and style. Stone can make a home look heavy, while brick will add a sense of lightness. Siding will stretch a house and make it look wider. In our cultural connotation, metal or vinyl siding often resonates as less stylish.

Appropriate landscaping adds the final touch. We often view the front yard as an independent entity from the elevation itself, yet there should always be a relationship between our chosen landscape and the home’s design.

Like the elements of an orchestra, however, a home’s facade should be considered as part of a harmony with other homes on the street. Pleasant streets are those whose homes—modern or traditional—respect a hidden set of common guidelines. When each is well designed and complements the others, the melody can truly be something to behold. OHB

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We Build Communities

Ontario Provincial District Council

With over 65,000 members across Ontario, LiUNA is committed to building communities throughout the province. Our members are employed in all sectors of the construction industry: building our roads & bridges, installing our sewers & water mains, developing our pipelines, channeling our energy sources, and expanding our recreation facilities, hospitals & schools.

LiUNA’s biggest contribution to building communities exists in the low rise residential construction sector. Represented by LiUNA Local 183, it is the largest residential construction Local in Canada, with more than 40,000 members and retirees. Local 183 is the leading source for skilled Labourers, who have built homes for Ontario families for decades.

BUILDING OUR LABOUR MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP FOR OVER 30 YEARS

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