Renovation Realtors
Contractor Software
Pickup Trucks
page 20
page 28
page 40
Should You Get Your Licence?
Never HEARD of it!!!
Waste of TIME!!!
Comparing Four Leading Systems
CANADIAN
We Review 2016 Models
I am TOO BUSY!!!
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
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THE MAGAZINE FOR PROFESSIONAL RENOVATORS AND CUSTOM HOMEBUILDERS
Its for LOSERS!!!
.ca 15-11-13 2:04 PM
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OW
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S T S* .
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CONTENTS
Licensed to Sell
20
features
28
Real Estate: Should You Get Your Licence? 20
SOFTWARE Reviews PICKUP TRUCK REVIEWS:
Showing Their
MUSCLE
40
A look at the pros and cons of a contractor getting their real estate papers. By Rob Blackstien
Contractor Software Reviews 28 We review four major systems that can help renovation contractors leverage their businesses. By Greg Peterson
Pickup Truck Reviews: Showing Their Muscle 40 Pure horsepower and torque remain the hallmarks of the 2016 model year, while fuel economy remains a priority. By Bill Roebuck
www.canadiancontractor.ca
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CONTENTS
Shore House
departments Online
6
How to put the Canadian Contractor icon on your smartphone,
Editorial
34
8
Our cover is Rob's fault. By Steve Payne
Voices
10
A sampling of contractor posts from CanadianContractor.ca. Topics include renovation tax credits, workers’ comp and how to stop homeowners from cherry-picking your pricing.
Site Notes
Ideal Plumbing & Heating 49
14
What to expect from Trudeau Jr.; HomeStars and TrustedPros toughen up on fake reviews; Quebec and Calgary fly-by-nighters; Project manager faces jail.
Subtrade Profile
18
Stuff We Like
18
An interview with Mark Sanecki, Ideal Plumbing & Heating. By John Bleasby
Creative Eye: Shore House, Dunrobin, Ontario 34 A close-up look at last year’s Best Custom Home award-winner from the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association. By John Bleasby
Stuff We Like
58
49
A look at ‘smart’ controls for hydronic heating systems. Plus: Smartphone addiction on your crews. By Steve Maxwell
What Would You Do? 58 This month’s case study features a rich kid who doesn’t want to play by the rules.
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What Would You Do?
www.canadiancontractor.ca
15-11-11 3:01 PM
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ONLINE
Visit us online
canadiancontractor.ca HOW TO GET THE CANADIAN CONTRACTOR BUTTON INSTRUCTIONS FOR ANDROID • Google Canadian Contractor on your mobile device. • Open the link to canadiancontractor.ca • When the page opens, tap the menu button on the lower left corner of your screen • Select ‘Add Shortcut’ • Go back to your device’s screen and locate the Canadian Contractor icon. (It may appear on one of your later pages)
WATCH THE VIDEO
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CONTRACTOR.ca BUILD | GROW | PROFIT
Volume 16, Number 6 November/December 2015 canadiancontractor.ca | Tel: 416 442 5600 |
Editor Steve Payne spayne@canadiancontractor.ca
80 Valleybrook Drive, North York, ON, M3B 2S9
Contributing Editors Rob Blackstien, John Bleasby, John Caulfield, Mike Draper, Kim Laudrum, Steve Maxwell
Canadian Contractor, established in 2000, is published 6 times a year by Annex Business Media. ISSN 1498-8941 (Print) ISSN 1929-6495 (Online)
Art Director Lisa Zambri Publisher Rob Koci rkoci@canadiancontractor.ca Account Coordinator Tracey Hanson thanson@@annexbizmedia.com Circulation Manager Beata Olechnowicz bolechnowicz@annexbizmedia.com
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Mike Fredericks, President & CEO Annex Business Media Tim Dimopoulos, Vice President Annex Business Media PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT #40065710 Circulation email: lmalicdem@annexbizmedia.com Tel: 416-442-5600 ext 3547 Fax: 416-510-5170 Mail: 80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, ON M3B 2S9 Subscription Rates Canada $45.95 per year Outside Canada $83.95US per year Single Copy Canada $9.95
From time to time we make our subscription list available to select companies and organizations whose product or service may be of interest to you. If you prefer not to receive this information, please contact our circulation department in any of the four ways listed. Annex Privacy Officer privacy@annexbizmedia.com Tel: 800-668-2374 No part of the editorial content of this publication may be reprinted without the publisher’s written permission. ©2015 Annex Publishing & Printing Inc. All rights reserved. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
www.canadiancontractor.ca
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EDITORIAL
Voices
OUR COVER IS ROB’S FAULT By Steve Payne
Google: “Never heard of it” They have 69 per cent of the world’s 3.2-billion internet users. Somewhere over 2-billion people. Facebook: “Waste of Time!” There are 1.5 billion Facebook accounts, globally. Twitter: “I am too busy!” 316-million accounts in the world. LinkedIn: “It’s for losers!” Yes, 97 million of them. CanadianContractor.ca? Well, we are not quite up there with the big boys yet. But we do have the leading website for renovation contractors in Canada. Now we’ve launched an easy-to-load shortcut button to our site that you can put on your phone. It’s that CC thing on the cover. Oh yeah, the cover. Robbo (Rob Koci, publisher) really wanted the entire cover to be about this button, for this issue. Obviously that would have looked horrible.
”
Google has a small lead on us. We’re only 2-billion people behind.
”
Steve Payne Editor
spayne@canadiancontractor.ca
“If you let me do the cover, I won’t do my usual editorial opposite yours this time,” he said to me. “You can trust me to make it look tasteful. It won’t be embarrassing.” “Forget it,” I said diplomatically. “It’ll be a disaster.” Editors look after the actual words and pictures in a magazine. I’m the editor. Publishers look after the dollars and cents of a book, including the advertisers. They also are the bosses of the editors. Rob is the publisher. So, you can see how that power struggle worked out. Rob got the cover and I get to complain about it here. If you think it’s the worse cover we have ever run, feel free to go to CanadianContractor.ca and click on “Tell Us Your Story.” You can vent about it there. See you online!
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VOICES
HELLO PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU, GOODBYE HOME RENOVATION TAX CREDIT During the recent federal election campaign, both the Conservatives and the Green Party promised to institute a permanent Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC). But it’s pretty obvious the Liberals, with a large majority, and housing policies aimed at affordable housing, won’t be bringing the HRTC back. Here are some posts about that.
Previous HRTC caused him “a lot of grief” As a handyman, here is my experience with the last HRTC (2009). People got $10,000 worth of work done, thinking that they were getting a dollar off their taxes for every dollar spent. That was wrong! It was a tax credit and when they put it into their income tax return it gave them a break of only a few hundred dollars, not $10,000. Many people were very upset because it was not well explained and they felt misinformed. The winners were the home renovator, with the extra work, and the federal government, since the job had to be tax-paid to get the credit. In the end, the homeowner spent $10,000, paid the tax ($1,300 in Ontario), and got a few hundred dollars back at tax time. I like a win/win situation on a job and this was not it! The HRTC caused me a lot of grief from people who really could not afford to do the work in the first place but did not want to miss out by missing the deadline. As for the election result, sounds like some great moves by Justin Trudeau and the Liberals. Looking forward to growth in Canada in all sectors. Wayne Jackson
Not in favour of the HRTC in the first place I’m not excited about government grants since that money actually comes from all of us. We are where the government gets that money from! So people do home renovations and we are all to help to pay for them? Even people who need renovations but can’t afford to do their own? Why should our tax dollars pay for this? Donna Bross
Instead of the HRTC, just cut the red tape It’s great that all the parties seemed to support affordable housing and its construction, but I don’t see anyone promising to reduce red tape and other local/provincial barricades to actual building. An affordable seniors housing project we are working on in Barrie, Ont. was delayed at the municipal level for 18 months. There have been endless inspections and soil samples. The site plans and MOE paperwork have driven the owner completely mad. He swears he will never build here again. So are the (politicians)
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really for building affordable housing? Or is it just something they fill their fart catchers with? Mark Mitchell
WSIB PREMIUMS: A CONTINUING RIP-OFF Workers compensation premiums, especially Ontario’s WSIB, continue to irritate our readers. Here is a post from an Ottawaarea renovator who wonders why his mechanic brother pays half what he does.
Mechanic brother pays 3.49 per cent versus his 8.49 per cent I was in my office yesterday calculating my current WSIB payment when my brother/landlord stopped by. He operates a mechanical garage in the same building as me. His garage employs himself, two full-time mechanics, one full-time counter guy and one part-time counter guy. His workers’ comp for the past three months was $950. His rate is 3.49 per cent. I, on the other hand, employ myself, five full-time staff and one part-time office staff. My WSIB for the same time frame was $4,950 and my rate is 8.49 per cent. We draw similar salaries from our companies. I have to pay WSIB on my salary; he does not. All in all, we run very similar companies with staff of similar pay and skills. Honestly, both groups have the same risk of injury. The only injuries our staff have incurred have been cuts to the hands. My brother charges $95 per hour labour and marks up parts from his wholesalers at 30-50 per cent. We, on the other hand, buy materials at suppliers that will sell directly to the homeowner for the same price so it’s difficult to mark things up. And homeowners think we are overcharging them at $65 per hour. My brother’s customers bring their problems to his location, we have to go to our clients! Anyhow, I digress. When I ask any of my subcontractors (painters, drywallers, electricians and plumbers) what they pay, it’s always in the 3-4 per cent range. No one pays more. So my question is, why me? WSIB calls me a homebuilder. I’ve never built a home. Not once. Not even my own. So who decided I should be classed that way and what experience or background do they have to determine that? And, honestly, don’t homebuilders today sub just about everything out? To the tradespeople listed above that pay a fraction of the percentage that I pay? I’m asking for feedback from the Canadian Contractor community because anytime I call WSIB I get told that’s just how
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VOICES
it is. It’s not debatable. I understand WSIB’s role in society. I just don’t understand the logic in determining what the rate should be. Ottawa Renovator
“My rate is 7.51 per cent” I’m a small drywall business owner and my workers’ comp rate is 7.51 per cent. It’s hard to add that amount to every job, working for homeowners, since they usually go with the lowest price. I recently cut my hand and was out for seven weeks and all they gave me was $1,900. When I asked them why, they said it was based on my last three months, but my last three months were very slow. I had two big jobs that I was doing and couldn’t finish with the injury, so I was out lots of money but they didn’t seem to care at all. I’m really not sure why we can’t just pay a reasonable monthly payment like car insurance and not based on how much we make. Brent Larouche
Prairie renovator pays 2.43 per cent I have a one-man reno company on the prairies that does everything from garages to interior finishing. My WCB rate is 2.43 per cent, down from 3.43 per cent after ten years of claim-free service. I am covered minimally (my choice) but any subs that do not have coverage themselves are covered by my WCB when working on my sites. You guys in Ontario are getting screwed. I never want to advocate “underground ” trades but it’s a no wonder there is a problem at those rates! Bruce
HVAC contractor in B.C. pays 1.4 per cent I just got my premium assessment in the mail yesterday. We service and repair commercial refrigeration and air conditioning in B.C. Our rate is 1.4 per cent. That is after a discount for having no claims. I think you guys in Ontario are getting ripped off. Derek
THE PERILS OF LINE ITEM PRICING The following post was in response to Mike Draper’s “Seven Deadly Sins of Renovation Sales” in the last issue. Mike recommends a “line by line” Scope of Work, when giving a quotation. But he adds, “(This) should be consolidated to the least number of lines possible.” Look what happens if you give too much detail…
After giving a very clear price to my client, they want an inch-byinch, dollar-by-dollar breakdown. I have been used many times in the past to get numbers – and then I get dropped. Should I put my foot down or just do the breakdown? I have already spent a week on this large estimate with no deposit yet. Cherry Picked
Here is the reply from Mike… Line by line pricing of too much detail is not a good idea as the homeowner will review each line and potentially question any that they feel are too high. The Scope of Work should be line by line, yes, but pricing should be by phase, room or category. The contractor needs to explain to the client that the way they price work is by the scope of the project - not each and every line of the project. The owner should be focused on the total value of the renovation, not each item. Unfortunately, when a homeowner wants line by line pricing they are usually trying to cherry pick out the items they think they can get cheaper, yet those items might be the higher margin items for you. If clients do succeed in taking parts of the project away from you, you will find it really distracts from production. Such a request during quoting signals a homeowner who will most likely be tougher to deal with. Stand your ground on your pricing and move on if the client insists on line by line pricing. Mike Draper
VICTORIA DOWNING ON IRATE CUSTOMERS Victoria Downing, president of Remodelers Advantage, the contractor training firm in Maryland, frequently posts business tips on our site. A very popular recent one gave tips on dealing with angry customers. Here is a response…
“Sometimes you just have to walk away” I think many readers who are veteran tradespeople have dealt with their fair share of irate customers. Sometimes you just have to walk away because it isn’t worth it. The biggest takeaway from your article for me is to simply listen to the customer. As you mentioned, this gives them the opportunity to vent which can really help to neutralize the situation. Another point you mentioned is to communicate. I do this and I do it often. It really helps to avoid many issues before they even arise. Lastly, if part of the solution requires you to take action then you had better do it! Dave
“Should I put my foot down or just do the breakdown?” Thank you for the article on sales. Here is my question for Mike.
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SITE NOTES
What to expect from the Trudeau government
HomeStars, TrustedPros target fake online reviews
Now that they have been elected with a majority, expect the Liberals to be busy writing cheques re: their multi-billion dollarsworth of campaign promises. But don’t expect any funding for a Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC). The idea of a permanent HRTC (15 per cent of renovation spending up to $5,000) was introduced by Stephen Harper – seemingly out of nowhere – on the second day of the election campaign. A similar program had run very successfully in 2009 (when the spending limit was $10,000). A permanent HRTC was, perhaps surprisingly, also a major policy plank for Elizabeth May’s Green Party. The program would probably cost about $1.5-billion a year, before factoring in how many projects would now be tax-paid projects rather than under-the-table projects. The Liberals made little reference to Harper’s HRTC promise during the campaign, while the NDP consistently mocked the idea as being, in essence, just a boutique tax credit for rich people. (Mulcair said: “You can’t renovate a home you do not have.”) Below is a recap of our writer John Bleasby‘s summary of the Liberal’s campaign promises, as they affect our industry. As Bleasby points out, the Liberals focused most of their housing platform around affordable housing and seniors housing, most of it rental. • The Liberals pledged $125 million per year in tax incentives for landlords and developers to build and renovate rental units in order to make investment in affordable housing and residences for seniors. • The Liberals pledged to increase the new residential rental property rebate on the GST to 100 percent, eliminating all GST on new capital investments in affordable rental housing. • The Liberals pledged to direct the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the new Canada Infrastructure Bank to provide financing to support construction by the private sector, social enterprises, co-ops, and the not-for-profit sector of new, affordable rental housing for middle- and low-income Canadians. • The Liberals pledged to increase Ottawa’s existing Home Buyers’ Plan to help more Canadians finance the purchase of a home and by allowing Canadians impacted by sudden and significant life changes, such as job relocation, the death of a spouse, marital breakdown, or a decision to accommodate an elderly family member, to access and use money from their Registered Retirement Savings Plan to buy a house without tax penalty. • The Liberals pledged $500-million to the provinces for skilled trades training.
HomeStars and TrustedPros, two of the leading contractor review websites in Canada, have ramped up the methods by which they attempt to reduce the amount of fake reviews on their sites. Fake negative reviews posted by competitors, and fake positive reviews posted by firms trying to dilute negative reviews from customers, are just two of the types of untrustworthy reviews that show up on everything from restaurant review sites to travel sites – and also in the residential contracting industry. In conversation with Canadian Contractor, the CEOs of both TrustedPros and HomeStars spoke of dedicated teams of real people who read every incoming review, often confirming with both the consumer and contractor that actual work was done. All reviews, good or bad, are sent to the contractor prior to posting. Online marketing experts advise not to ignore negative reviews. “Even after a (negative) review goes up, the company can and should engage the review on-line to indicate their willingness to resolve any shortcomings,” says HomeStars CEO Nancy Peterson. “It indicates a willingness to respond, which will be viewed positively by other readers.” HomeStars, attempting to practice what it preaches, maintains a review listing for itself. The firm interacts on-line with anyone posting less-than-stellar reviews of their services. At TrustedPros, CEO Max Sheppard says, “If the contractor is able to provide documentation that clearly proves the comments are factually false, we have no problem either altering or removing that review.” Both firms have publicized their enhanced methods of rating contractors. Trusted Pros describes their new 'TrustScore' system as “a stringent five-point rating system that grades contractors’ performance along 14 verticals before assigning them an aggregate score." The rating criteria include authenticity of reviews; supplier, creditor, and employee complaints; transparency of business practices; endorsement by peers; time in business, etcetera. For its part, HomeStars calls their contractor performance rating system ‘Scorecard’, and combines it with a 'HomeStars Recommendation Meter.' Nevertheless, in spite of these improvements, there is no guarantee that these two firms – or others – will be able to eliminate all fake reviews. “No website may ever be able to sniff out every fictitious review,” Sheppard says. “People looking for shortcuts and loopholes will always find ways to bypass the best detectors and plant deceptive reviews.” Canadian Contractor recommends that its contractor readers
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SITE NOTES
immediately contact any online review service that posts a negative review about them that seems to be suspiciously planted or deliberately deceptive. For legal reasons, the Canadian Contractor website cannot not publish the names of individuals who contractors feel have posted fake reviews about them, including homeowners, unless they have been convicted of a legal offence.
Quebec TV ads warn public about under-the-table renovations Quebec’s residential construction authority, the RBQ, (Régie du bâtiment du Québec) ran an extensive advertising campaign last month which warned the public about under-the-table contractors. “No license, no invoice, no legal recourse,” was one of the messages (in French: the advertising did not run in English). The RBQ said the campaign had three objectives: promoting the quality of professional construction, letting people know what protection they benefit from when the contractor has a license and fighting against undeclared work and tax evasion in the home improvement field. Two television commercials – made in a humorous tone – ran from early September until October 26 on major Quebec French TV networks and specialized networks. Banners and advertisements have also been posted in various websites. You can see the commercials and get more information – only in French – at www.maprotectionreno.ca.
Project manager may do five years in jail for swing stage deaths Ontario crown prosecutor Rochelle Direnfeld has recommended to a judge in a Toronto court that the project manager in charge at the infamous Toronto apartment building swing stage collapse on Dec. 24, 2009, Vadim Kazenelson, face up to five years in prison for criminal negligence. Testimony during his trial showed that Kazenelson knew the four workers who fell to their deaths – and the one other worker who was severely injured – were not tied off. The swing stage broke in half at the 13th floor of a Etobicoke apartment building where Metro Construction was doing repairs. “I want to be begin by apologizing for the incident,” said Kazenelson, during his sentencing hearing appearance in October. “I am going to live all my life with that pain,” Kazenelson said. He was found guilty in June of this year of four counts of criminal negligence causing death and one count of criminal negligence causing bodily harm. His sentence will not be delivered until at
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least January. The workers who died - Aleksey Blumberg, Alesandrs Bondarevs, Vladamir Korostin and foreman Fayzullo Fazilov – were migrant workers from Latvia, Uzebekistan and Ukraine, with ages ranging from 21 to 40 years old. One worker who survived, Shohruh Tojiddinov, was the only man to be tied off when the swing-stage collapsed. He testified that Kazenelson asked him to lie about the incident to investigators. The swing stage disaster was a major catalyst for changes to Ontario’s “Working at Heights” training requirements. The Canadian Association of Renovation and Home Services (CARAHS), is certified to deliver the new legally-required training modules (www.carahs.org).
Calgary contractor-conman faces 30 more charges Kieron Warren was back in court in late September. The previously-convicted contractor-criminal pleaded not guilty to another 30 charges of fraud under the Criminal Code and Alberta’s consumer protection law for allegedly taking $160,000 from customers in Calgary and Okotoks between October 2011 and June 2012 and not finishing the jobs. Warren had previously pleaded guilty in February 2015 to charges involving six families with estimated losses between $300,000 and $400,000. Warren was operating a company called Hillcrest Renovations when he committed those offences between Oct. 1, 2007, and Aug. 27, 2010. He was placed on probation for three years, ordered to report to court, and to pay back $42,900 to three victims. In November 2014, he fined another $8,000 for operating without a licence and for failing to refund customers when he didn’t complete work. In this most recent string of charges, Warren and his mother Greta were operating under the name of Kreate Kitchens. They face criminal counts of fraud over $5,000 and theft over $5,000. These include: operating as a prepaid contractor without the required provincial licence, failing to provide a contract that complies with the legislation, failing to refund consumers within 15 days of the consumer cancelling the contract, misleading a consumer, and misrepresenting when goods or services would be supplied. Warren is also is charged with one count of failing to provide a copy of the signed contract to the consumer. The trial will begin March 14, 2016. Under Alberta’s Fair Trading Act, the maximum penalties are a fines of up to $300,000 or three times the amount obtained from the offence, whichever is greater, and up to two years in jail. cc
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SUBTRADE PROFILE
PRIDE OF INSTALLATION An Interview with Mark Sanecki, Ideal Plumbing & Heating, Hamilton, Ontario By John Bleasby
M
ark Sanecki joined his brother’s Hamilton, Ont.-area firm, Ideal Plumbing & Heating, in 1998. After working his way through all aspects of the business for the better part of a decade, he then purchased the company with business partner Mike DiPietro in 2007. Today, they operate a successful team of six technicians on the plumbing side alone. What’s changed since you bought the business? A lot of the policies and procedures are the same. We’ve probably taken licences, training and accountability a bit more seriously. It seems to be a good business model. We’ve moved away from full contracting of bathrooms, etc. and almost tripled our business by focusing on what we do best. Do you do new install work as well as service? Absolutely. And big jobs, too. We’re currently on a 31-unit seniors residence. But we’ve stayed away from cookie-cutter type development work. There’s no pride of installation and no contact with owners excited about their new homes.
similar situation. What standards for behavior and appearance should customers expect? Our technicians have to look and behave professionally at all times. We can get into messy situations and we don’t want our plumbers appearing messy at the next job. They carry spare clean shirts, spare boots, and jumpsuits if they’re going into a crawlspace. We wear shoe covers and use drop-cloths. We want homeowners to know that we respect their homes. Plumbing services are heavily reviewed on HomeStars. How do you handle the occasional poor review? Unfortunately, people are often more willing to go public with negative experiences than positive ones. We want customers to be 100 per cent satisfied. Most of the time we know about a problem before it hits HomeStars, so we will go back on HomeStars to let people know how we tried to rectify the situation.
How do you retain good staff? We look after them. It’s hard to find good workers so we compensate at what we feel is an above-industry standard. We also, for example, match contributions to their pension plans, but let them develop their own plans through an independent financial planner.
You mention you are a 24/7 plumbing service. We answer our cellphones directly. It’s probably our number one competitive advantage. If people have a problem, they want to talk to a competent person right away, even after hours. No one wants to leave a message and wait around. Even five minutes can seem like two hours in a panic. We know who’s on call and who to dispatch, so we offer a two-hour, after-hours emergency service.
Tell us about your training. We service not just what we install but what others have installed, so we want our technicians to be familiar with every type of piping, for example. We train internally as well as through manufacturers’ courses. We learn from our mistakes. When something happens, we meet to discuss how to avoid a
What else matters in your marketing? The days of the Yellow Pages are over. We’ve switched over to Google and their strategic ad placement using customer locations. We do some radio, local papers, and support local sports teams to reinforce our on-line presence. And, of course, people talk. cc
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15-11-11 3:02 PM
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REAL ESTATE
LICENSED TO SELL Less than one percent of Canadian contractors also hold real estate licenses. That’s surprising, given the advantages that being able to buy and sell your own properties can give you. By Rob Blackstien
W
e’ve all seen The Property Brothers — the television show featuring real estate agent Drew Scott and his brother Jonathan, the renovator, who team up to find homes they can buy, renovate and flip. Oh sure, these handsome siblings bring in the ratings on the W Network, but opinions vary widely about how rooted in “reality” this show and others of its ilk are. Still, the basic idea of a contractor and real estate agent combining forces -- whether that means getting your own license, bringing a real estate agent on staff or simply teaming up with one in some form -- has its allure, and there are those that have managed to differentiate themselves from the pack by implementing this strategy. Take Ian Szabo, for instance. His career has taken the unlikely path of professional chef to renovator to author/TV personality to educator to real estate agent. His work as a renovator begat TV appearances, which begat videos about how to flip homes, which begat a book about flipping homes, and in turn led to him starting Flip School, which teaches contractors or laymen how to renovate
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homes for profit — in other words, create real life Property Brothers. Szabo did all this before becoming a successful agent with Keller Williams Energy Real Estate, a Whitby, Ont.-based brokerage. Now he uses his real estate acumen, renovation expertise and contractor partner and connections to help his clients get the best bang for their buck. On the selling end, that means advice about what type of renovation work will pay off in terms of resale value and what won’t. On the buying end, that means helping spot issues that will come up on the home inspection and providing valuable insight to his clients about how much extra will need to be poured into any given home to meet the specific requirements of the buyer. A typical real estate agent — while well versed in the resale value of specific reno projects — is not necessarily trained to provide any realistic advice about how much work needs to be done after the purchase, Szabo exlains. That agent may also be bound by law from offering much more than an opinion.
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REAL ESTATE
Avoiding Conflict of Interest The term “conflict of interest” is one you hear a lot when discussing
LICENSED TO SELL
how contractors can integrate themselves into the real estate world. The conception is that a realtor -- regardless of background -- cannot provide construction advice (as opposed to offering an opinion). Joseph Richer, Registrar of the Real Estate Council of Ontario, has offered clarity on the issue. All registrants are bound by the law (the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act, 2002 and its associated regulations, including the Code of Ethics). The Code of Ethics states that a registrant shall demonstrate reasonable knowledge, skill, judgment and competence in providing opinions, advice or information to any person in respect of a trade in real estate. Additionally, a registrant shall advise a client or customer to obtain services from another person if the registrant is not able to provide the services with reasonable knowledge, skill, judgment and competence or is not authorized by law to provide the service. In a nutshell, this means that if the registrant does not have a reasonable level of knowledge regarding a particular real estate service, they must advise their client to obtain that service elsewhere. If that service is covered by a regulatory framework (as are many construction trades), then the registrant can’t provide that service unless they have the necessary license, registration or qualification. Richer notes that “there is a big difference between ‘awareness’ or ‘familiarity’ and true ‘knowledge’ and ‘skill.’ So for a contractor that also is a real estate agent, what are the boundaries? “I think where the line basically comes down to is if you’re the realtor and you’re selling the house to the client, all I can do is basically ballpark some numbers,” says Clarke. “I can’t say ‘oh, this kitchen is going to be $55,000.’ If they buy the house and hire a contractor and he says it’s $75,000, they can probably come back to me and say ‘well, we wouldn’t have bought the place if we knew it was going to be that much.’”
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But here’s where you can start to build lifelong relationships with your customers as they go through the various stages of life. Imagine this scenario: A young couple has just bought their first home and need some work done on it; they call you in to do some renovation work. You do the project on time and on budget, proving your trustworthiness and skill in the process. Ten years down the road, the couple has two kids and needs to upsize. Now, you’re ready to switch gears and be their real estate agent. You already have a comfort level with each other, so there’s a shorthand there. You advise them on any work that needs to be done before they put the house on the market — using your real estate expertise to focus on projects that will pay for themselves with resale value (this can be offered as billable service in situations in which you are not actually going to list that home yourself). You call in your contractor partner to provide them with specific quotes. Once the work is done, and the house is on the market, you’re now showing that family new homes, and the cycle is nearly ready to begin anew. So for contractors that enter into some kind of affiliation with a real estate agent, there are opportunities in terms of market accessibility and establishing a competitive advantage. Szabo explains that the transition from contracting into real estate makes sense for contractors that are on the tools now but realize they can’t do this job physically forever. And then there are contractors who are fed up making $10,000 while building a $50,000 basement apartment that will be a source of revenue for years for their client. “I think the big thing is you’re getting paid for what you know, and not what you can do,” Szabo says. While a contractor is is paid largely for production, with a large number of risk factors, a real estate agent is “getting paid by helping you close a transaction or purchase a property based on my experience, not what I can produce.” Yes, there are still negotiations on the real estate front, but Szabo insists he makes more money with less effort. Let’s say in an average month, he sells five houses with a $10,000 commission each; that’s $50,000. “For me to make $50,000 profit on a reno, and let’s say I’m using
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REAL ESTATE
LICENSED TO SELL
basement suites for an example, I’d have to do five of those.” Now imagine completing five of those in one month. “And the liability associated with that is huge,” Szabo says. Szabo has an arrangement whereby he sells the homes and his general contractor friend John runs the renovation projects. Being a real estate agent with contracting know-how is a “huge” competitive advantange, Szabo says. “My whole business is based on that.” His clients want to redo the carpet upstairs and it will cost $7,000 at Home Depot. “Oh, my guy can do it for $4,000,” Szabo might offer, for example. “You’re helping people make a positive decision.” Going down this road in any form allows the contractor to suddenly branch out into new services such as design, staging, furniture moving, temporary rentals during renovations, etc. Suddenly, the contractor is more of a one-stop shop. But do not enter into this thinking real estate is something you can dabble with in your spare time. There is major work involved, and it’s definitely a full-time undertaking, Szabo explains. “The misconception is you get your license, you go out there and all these people want to buy houses from you.”
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One prominent renovator that is currently toying with the idea of teaming up with a real estate agent is Calgary’s David Litwiller. “I think it would just be a kind of verbal, loyalty agreement sort of thing," Litwiller says. "All my real estate stuff is going to come to you, and if you hear of any renovations or can help promote them, that’d be great. Bring the renovations to me.” Although Litwiller is not pursuing the idea of hiring a real estate agent on a full-time basis, he does acknowledge that it’s not dissimilar to hiring a tile man or a drywaller. It’s just another service in the contractor’s toolbet. “And it’s on staff,” Litwiller says. He sees the value in the symbiotic relationship that could exist. A real estate agent has a customer that wants a home, but they don’t like the colour of the paint and the flooring needs to be hardwood. Litwiller can imagine the real estate agent’s answer: ‘Well, I can get out a contractor and he can talk money with you on the spot. Would you be interested in talking with that person before you make this purchase?’ It’s an ideal scenario for the real estate agent as well, as their success hinges upon being able to overcome obstacles to the purchase. A contractor at the ready will help keep those prospects in the sales funnel, thereby maximizing the closing potential. As for the dream of emulating the reality TV model, Litwiller is pragmatic. “They talk about their budgets on these shows, but I’ll tell you quite frankly, they’re about 25 per cent of what I would need to do the same thing,” he says. “They talk about the client gaining in equity in the house, and they talk about timelines that they do it in, and on and on it goes. Reality television, they must have a team of about 10 people that concentrate on that one $100,000 job, just organizing it and making
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REAL ESTATE
LICENSED TO SELL it work for TV. I don’t know. It’s not reality.” One contractor that got his real estate license and is attempting to juggle the two careers is J.D. Clarke of Calgary. He runs Rejuvenations Ltd., a renovation company, and also works for broker ReMax iRealty Innovations. Clarke got his start as a renovator and then followed his then wife’s footsteps into real estate. They teamed up with her handling the real estate side of the business and him as the contractor, coming in to dress up her houses a bit, make them more presentable and ideally more desirable than the competition.
How to Become Licensed Thinking of getting your real estate license? Check with the organization that oversees the process in your province, but in Ontario, here are the steps and costs involved, as per the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO):
Complete four courses run by the Ontario Real Estate Association Real Estate College within 18 months. The current cost for the program is $1,820.
Graduates apply for their initial registration with RECO.
The current fee is $350 for two years, plus an annual insurance premium ($417 for 2015). At this stage, you’ll disclose that you’re a contractor.
After registration comes a 24-month articling period
during which salespersons must become employed with a brokerage and complete two required courses and one elective course. All registered real estate professionals must be employed with a brokerage even after articling is complete to maintain registration. Cost for the articling courses: $1,360.
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“I guess I just have two passions, to be honest,” Clarke says. Clark's sister, a marketing manager, has been urging him to rebrand as "renovation realtor" because it will give him a niche and help him differentiate himself from other real estate agents. Clarke has already seen the revenue potential here as he’s been contracted by some clients to help them find a house that is the ideal balance between what they need and what they can afford (after factoring in whatever renovations need to be done). He helped guide them through the process and find the perfect fit for them, while being paid consulting fees for his time. Clarke is mindful to approach projects with caution based on the potential conflict of interest that’s inherent in being both a real estate agent and a contractor. “If I sell a place to a client, he’s my client as a real estate agent. I don’t necessarily say ‘okay, I’m going to be your contractor’ and take over the contracting work,” he explains. In that instance, Clarke uses his affiliates; he helps them out, they help him out. “It works really well.” Clarke cites the lower hanging fruit (financially speaking), and the reduction of physical wear and tear on his body as the two biggest advantages being a realtor offers over his contractor life. Where he feels like he really adds benefit to his clients because of his expertise in both fields is when he can guide them to spend their renovation budgets in the wisest manner. “I help the client along by saying ‘look, let’s not put the money there, let’s do some of this stuff properly so it will have resale value down the road.'” When Clarke is the realtor and passes the contracting work off to his partners, he’ll still maintain a certain visibility. “I’m still kind of there, where a lot of realtors are ‘well here’s your house, here’s your keys, here’s your gift basket, have a great life.’ Whereas this way, there’s a little bit of follow through and if I help with the contractor work, it’s better exposure for me in the long run.” And that’s what it’s all about regardless of which hat he’s wearing on a particular project -- putting his clients’ interests first. cc
T
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SOFTWARE REVIEWS
Leveraging your contracting business through systems "The lack of systems if the main reason why small businesses remain small," says Renovantage founder and president GREG PETERSON. Here, he reviews four major construction management systems. By Greg Peterson
T
he number one reason to introduce systems into your renovating or custom home building business is to do ever more with ever less. Systemizing your business allows you to delegate tasks to lower level employees and ensures that work is done the same way every time, regardless of who does the work. Systems allow you to transfer your knowledge, skills, processes and procedures to others who can now do the work instead of you having to do everything. The lack of systems is the main reason why small businesses remain small. Without systems, your business will be ownercentric and everything will have to go through you. Therefore, your business will only be as good as you are. The lack of systems leads to mistakes. Here is an example of what can happen without systems. A little over five years ago I was renovating a townhouse in Oakville, Ontario. One day I met with the contractor, the plumber and the lead carpenter on the job site to go over the plans for the master bathroom. I gave the plumber and the lead carpenter the shower set I had purchased and we discussed that the shower was to have a toe tester and a 2-foot bar for a sliding handheld shower. The contractor told them how to prepare the shower wall with blocking for mounting the bar and where to put the plumbing. A
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week later I met the contractor back on the site after the job was mostly complete and the ceramic tile had been installed. Lo and behold, the toe tester was still sitting in the box and the plumber had not done the rough-in. He asked the lead carpenter about the blocking and was told that he had forgotten to put it in. How and why did it happen? Everybody understood what was to be done, but nobody wrote anything down. There was no system for the contractor to communicate with the trades in writing as to what work was to be done. There were no checklists for the plumber or carpenter to reference to make sure they did the work correctly. The contractor did not have a follow-up system to verify that the trades did the work correctly. They were all working from memory and “out of their heads.“ Research shows that correcting a mistake costs ten times as much as doing the work correctly in the first place. You don’t have to make many mistakes on a project before you’ve lost most or all of your profits. The lack of systems leads to low productivity, project delays, lost profits and dissatisfied customers. My experience in working with renovation contractors over the last 10-plus years is that most do not utilize automated systems to run their businesses. Some utilize spreadsheets for lead tracking and estimating. Some have manual forms that are
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used for processing paperwork. Very few have a well documented system that they can train others to implement. As a result, the business owner/contractor is “the centre of the universe” in his or her business and everything must flow through them. With a well documented system and a process for determining customer needs and note taking, the person who makes a sales call (typically the owner) must also prepare the estimate and proposal. After the sale has been made, if your business does not have a formal sales-toproduction turnover process, the person who made the initial sales call must also manage the entire production because that person was the only one with all of the information. At Renovantage, we believe that systems, employees and owners all have a specific role in operating the business. • Systems run the business • People run the systems • Owners lead people As a business owner, your role is to make sure that systems have been developed and implemented. In addition, your role is to ensure that employees are properly trained and that they follow the systems and procedures exactly as intended. If you don’t introduce a system, you are the system and you will never be able to delegate effectively. You will just keep doing, doing and doing and be constantly run off your feet.
REVIEWING THE SYSTEMS I recently completed a review of automated software systems that were specifically designed for renovators and custom home builders. There are many different systems available on the market today, with a wide range of features and functionalities. I started with a high level specification that focused on the major problem areas that contractors experience in their operations. The biggest problem areas are: • Lead tracking and follow-up • Estimating • Project management • Client selections • Accounting and job costing • Employee time reporting for payroll and job costing The first step in the evaluation of the software programs was to compare their functionality to the high level specification. I initially evaluated 13 different software programs. The following systems were considered to be too complex for small contractors and were primarily targeted at large commercial, industrial or production builders: Constellation, Jonas, Dexter + Chaney, Sage 100/300, Procore and Viewpoint. Smart Contractor and RSU (a proprietary system) did not have sufficient functionality and did not make our short list. Our initial short list included BuilderTREND, Co-construct, UDA, Corecon and BuildTools.
BuildTools was dropped from the short list because of a negative review from one of our users who found it difficult to use even though most of the functionality required was available. Following is my analysis of the four programs that made our short list. Each category was rated from 0-5 based on the functionality and features provided. Estimating, Project Management, Selections Management, Accounting Integration and Time Cards were considered to be the most important required functionality and received double the weighting and were rated 0-10.
1. Lead tracking and follow-up (CRM) Why it’s important. In my experience, a typical sales process consists of a telephone pre-qualification call, a site visit and measurement-taking with the prospect, and then the preparation of an estimate which is delivered via e-mail. After this, tyically the contractor waits and waits for a decision. The problem is that it takes at least seven or eight “touches” before the prospect is ready to sign a contract and write a cheque. Most contractors do not have the time or systems to stay in touch with the prospect during an elongated sales process. Required functionality. The minimum required functionality includes the ability to capture all prospect contact information such as the name, address, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, the source of the lead and the like. Once the contact information is captured, the CRM system should track follow-up dates and tasks, record lead status and define next steps. Ideally, the CRM system would include drip marketing functionality that would stay in contact with a prospect automatically during the sales process without any effort on the part of the contractor and his staff. In addition, research shows that 80 per cent of prospects who do not make a decision today will purchase from somebody within the next two years. Therefore, it is desirable that the software have mass marketing functionality to send information such as a monthly newsletter to all unconverted leads and past clients on an ongoing basis. Evaluation results. All four systems have the basic content management and lead tracking functionality required. Only BuilderTREND has the drip marketing and mass marketing functionality desired. Category winner: BuilderTREND
2. Estimating and proposal generation Why it’s important. As a contractor, you make your profit when you sell a job. You don’t make profit doing the work. You only lose profits during production. I rarely hear contractors tell me that their projects came in under budget and they made more money on a project than they had initially estimated. It almost always costs more. Therefore, detailed and accurate estimates are essential to
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SOFTWARE REVIEWS
running a profitable construction business. The average contractor only wins one job for every three or four proposals generated. The ability to generate estimates quickly will result in significant time savings. Required functionality. The minimum requirements for estimating
include the ability to either import or create a cost book database of frequently used items. The estimating program should use standard accounting cost codes and integrate with the accounting system for tracking job costs and comparing budget to actual. Once the estimate is complete, the information should be
Category Feature BuilderTrend Co-construct Corecon UDA Customer Relationship Manaagement Lead Tracking Lead Reporting Task Assignment Task Follow-up Drip Marketing Campaigns Mass Marketing Campaigns Website Integration Overall Category Rating 5 3 3 3 Estimating and Proposal Generation Customizable Costbook Database Importable Costbook Database Requests for Information: subs and suppliers Sub-contractor Bid Management Re-usable templates Item Assemblies Bill of Material Proposals CAD Integration Digital Take-off integration Standard Cost codes for job costing and accounting integration Multi-user estimating Contract Generation Overall Category Rating* 4 3 10 8 Project Management Workflow Management Weather Tracking Project Scheduling and Updating Critical Path Gantt Charts Calendar View Project View View Multiple Projects Sub/Supplier View: Mulitple Projects Multiple Predecessors Resource Allocation Purchase Orders Change Orders Standard Cost Codes Job Costing Cash Flow Forecasting Daily Logs Customer Portal Subcontractor/Supplier Portal Automatic Notifications of changes Task Assignment and Tracking Invoicing Schedule and Track Payments Punch Lists User Dashboards Overall Category Rating* 8 8 10 8 30
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transferred to a proposal and a contract for customer presentation and approval. It is also desirable to build templates that can be re-used to speed up estimating. Once a job has been awarded, the estimating system should generate a bill of materials for ordering. Advanced estimating systems will also allow for digital takeoffs Category
and CAD integration, item assemblies and bid management in order to send request for quotations to suppliers and trades and then to evaluate those bids. Evaluation results. Both the Co-construct and BuilderTREND systems include basic estimating systems that do not include-
Feature BuilderTrend Co-construct Corecon
UDA
Selection Management Make Selections Online Online Selection Approval Allowance Management Coordinate Selections with Schedule Reconciliation to Budget/Allowance Automatic Notifications Overall Category Rating* 10 8 0 10 Time Cards Mobile Clock In/Out Job cost Entries Overall Category Rating* 6 6 10 8 Accounting Integration Integrate to QuickBooks Desktop Integrate to Quickbooks Online Overall Category Rating* 4 4 10 10 Paperless Office Photos Documents Correspondence Blue Prints Online Overall Category Rating 5 5 5 5 Customer Service Warranty Requests and Management Send Customer Satisfaction Surveys Overall Category Rating 5 3 3 3 Custom Branding Overall Category Rating 5 5 4 4 Operating Environment Desktop/Server Cloud Mobile: Iphone, Ipad Mobile: Android Mobile: Blackberry Mobile: Windows Phone Multi-user Capable Microsoft Office Integration Permission Management/Security Overall Category Rating 4 4 5 4 Grand Total: Weighted 56 49 60 63
*Note: Estimating, Project Management, Selections, Timecards and QuickBooks Interface given double weighting due to the critical core features required
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assemblies nor will they produce a bill of materials and purchase orders. They both function similarly to an Excel spreadsheet and allow you to input your cost items and to develop custom templates. Corecon and UDA both have robust estimating systems that are fully functional and allow you to import industry cost databases such as RS Means. You can also customize with your own costs. Category Winner: Corecon has the strongest system for estimating, with UDA a close second.
3. Project Management Why it’s important. Managing projects during construction is the most time-consuming aspect of contracting. It’s also where most of the mistakes are made and profits are lost. Without an efficient and effective project management system, the owner/contractor will spend most of their time managing the hundreds and thousands of details and will be unable to delegate tasks to others. The owner ends up spending all of their time managing the job instead of managing the business. Required functionality. The most important components of the project management system include scheduling, issuing purchase orders, processing change orders, job costing, task assignment/ follow-up and subcontractor and client communication. The client should be able to access the system via a portal to see the status of their project, the current schedule, and review and approve change orders and invoices. Evaluation results. This was an interesting category. All four systems were very strong and contained all of the required functionality. However, it was clear that each of the systems approached project management from a different perspective. For example, Co-construct places significant emphasis on client communications. Their system is very easy to use and assures that things don’t slip through the cracks. BuilderTREND comes at it from a project scheduling and resource allocation perspective. Corecon’s strength is in job costing and comparing actual to budget. UDA has a balanced approach and includes good functionality in each area. Category winner: Corecon narrowly edged out the other systems on the strength of their job costing and accounting components.
4. Selection management. Why it’s important. In my experience, the single biggest factor that results in delays and projects not being finished on time is the result of clients not making their selections in a timely manner. And when they make their choices at the last minute, it’s not unusual to find that products are out of stock or can’t be
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delivered in time for the scheduled installation. Sub-trades need to be rescheduled. By then they may have already started another job and won't be available for a week or two, resulting in further delays. Another important aspect concerning selections relates to costs relative to budget and the subsequent billing for changes and extras. Evaluation results. Corecon does not have selection management capabilities. The other three systems have similar functionality and capabilities. Category winner: BuilderTREND and UDA tied for first place in this category over Co-construct on the strength of their capability of sending reminders and automatic notifications to homeowners regarding selections that are required in the future or past due.
5. Time Cards Why it’s important. Tracking employee time and job cost information is critical to staying on budget. Getting accurate time card data is necessary for accurate payroll processing. Required functionality. We were specifically looking for mobile entry by employees of their time on the job and allocation of costs to the job function. Evaluation results. BuilderTREND and Co-construct have basic functionality that is somewhat manual in nature. Co-construct has just released new mobile functionality. Corecon and UDA have strong mobile systems that are easy to use. Category winner: Again Corecon narrowly edged out UDA on the strength of their job cost capabilities.
6. Accounting Interface Why it’s important. In order to have an efficient system that eliminates double entry, the software needs to integrate with the accounting and bookkeeping system. The elimination of double entry not only saves time but improves accuracy. Required functionality. Since QuickBooks is the most commonly used accounting software package, integration with QuickBooks is required. Evaluation Results. All four systems automatically integrate with QuickBooks online version. However, QuickBooks desktop is the most commonly used system. Only Corecon and UDA integrate automatically and seamlessly with QuickBooks desktop. Category winner: It’s a tie between Corecon and UDA.
7. Paperless office Why it’s important. Keeping track of numerous papers, notes, meeting minutes, e-mail correspondence, documents, blueprints and photos can be an impossible task for a contractor.
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Required functionality. The paperless office environment should have all documents and correspondence in one place where it can be accessed by the contractor, employees, trades and suppliers and clients. Evaluation Results. All four systems have the same functionality and excel in this category. Category winner: It’s a four way tie!
8. Customer service Why it’s important. After the job is complete there are always warranty requests and deficiencies to correct. Getting feedback on customer satisfaction is an important component for continually improving your business and receiving repeat business and referrals. Required Functionality. We were looking for the capability of receiving, documenting and managing warranty requests, assigning the tasks to the appropriate individual, sub-trade or supplier and then following up to ensure timely completion. It was optionally desirable to have the system send and score customer satisfaction surveys. Evaluation results. All four systems have excellent warranty administration and management functionality. Only BuilderTREND has built in customer satisfaction survey capabilities. Category winner: BuilderTREND
9. Custom branding Why it’s important. Since all of the systems have a customer portal, it’s desirable for the customer to access a system that is branded with the contractors name and logo. Required Functionality. Customer and sub-trade portals Evaluation results. All four systems have the ability to custom brand the customer and Sub-trade portals. BuilderTREND and Co-construct even go as far as creating custom branded sales literature and a sales video that helps the contractor explain the benefits of their project management system. Category winner. It’s a tie between BuilderTREND and Co-construct.
10. Operating environment Why it’s important. It’s critical that the operating environment support multiple devices and operating systems and that the information be accessible both in the office and in the field by multiple users. Users should be able to bring their own device, eliminating the need for contractors to provide a standard device to all employees. A cloud based platform will allow access by anybody from anywhere with an internet connection.
Required Functionality: A cloud based system that allows access from anywhere with an Internet connection. Support for all Apple and Android products required, with support for Windows phone and Blackberry desirable. Evaluation Results: All four systems are cloud based systems that allow multiuser access from the office and the field. All four support Android and Apple devices. UDA has a slightly different approach in that the basic system is desktop/server based with specific information pushed to the cloud for remote access. It’s a different design, but it works fine with little user involvement. BuilderTREND and Corecon integrate with Microsoft Office, which is a convenient feature. Category Winner: Corecon is the strongest, but all of the others are close behind and meet the functionality requirements.
Conclusion Overall, it is our opinion that UDA offers the best overall feature content and meets all of the required functionality. It has a strong feature set in estimating, project management, selections management, time cards and accounting interface with QuickBooks desktop. If Corecon had a selection management component, it would have likely come out on top. Corecon has the strongest estimating and cost control components. Co-construct has the best client communications functionality, but its lack of an estimating system and inability to integrate with QuickBooks desktop lowered its overall rating. BuilderTREND also meets all of the required functionality. Its estimating system is not as robust as UDA and Corecon and its inability to integrate with QuickBooks desktop hurt its overall score. However, its drip marketing and mass marketing capabilities will be attractive to many contractors. Any renovation or custom home builder would benefit from implementing any of these programs. All of them have an excellent set of features and would significantly enhance the systemization of a contracting business. Depending on a contractor’s priorities, each product excels in a specific area that may be best suited to your needs. All of the products have won awards and have received excellent user reviews, which can be seen at www.softwareadvice.com/construction. Greg Peterson is Co-Founder and President of Renovantage Inc. Renovantage is Canada’s leading provider of support services and business coaching to renovators and custom home builders. For more information, you can reach him at gregpeterson@ renovantage.com.
www.canadiancontractor.ca
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CREATIVE EYE
Shore House Dunrobin (Ottawa), Ontario Project Architect: Samantha Schneider, Christopher Simmons Architect, Ottawa
This weekend home on the Ottawa River won a Best Custom Home award from the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association
Builder: Maple Leaf Custom Homes Dunrobin, Ontario By John Bleasby
This year-round ‘weekend home’ replaced an older stone cottage in the established residential neighborhood of Dunrobin, 35 km northwest of downtown Ottawa. The striking design that you see here won over the judges of the last year’s Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association awards competition. It was named Best Custom Home in its size category. Privacy on the 100-foot-wide property, with its panoramic eastern view over the Ottawa River, is maintained by mature trees, landscaping and the orientation of the house’s footprint. The client family required a home that would accommodate the needs of adults, children and dogs, thus calling for rigorous finishes such as tile on the floors of the main level and polished concrete on the lower level. The use of bamboo on the floor of the master bedroom, for cabinetry in the master bath, on stair treads, and as a panel accent on the kitchen island, was at the direction of the client. Project architect Samantha Schneider explains: “The clients definitely Continued on next page
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LESS IS MORE
Blending natural and industrial materials
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CREATIVE EYE
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CREATIVE EYE
Shore House Dunrobin (Ottawa), Ontario Continued from previous page
wanted minimalist, but with natural touches, natural materials, nothing too cold.” This attraction to straightforward design and “juxtaposition of natural and industrial materials” resulted in the relatively low construction cost of approximately $200 per square foot. The 3,100 square feet of total living space is divided almost equally between the main and lower levels. The master bedroom, en suite and walk-in closet are on the main (street) level, with two bedrooms on the lower level. The open concept for seating, eating and cooking on the main level feels connected to the casual conversation area on the lower level due to the glass stairway guards. Natural light and all-season river views flow through the massive glass walls on both floors. Due to shale conditions of the sloped site, foundations were a bit shallower than normal. Furthermore, the lower level had to be built above the river’s flood levels according to provincial and conservation authority setback requirements, both from the high water and the top of bank marks. “We did slab-on-grade, and then used rigid insulation as horizontal frost protection,” Schneider explains. The lower level and foundation walls are poured concrete, with 2x6 frame Continued on next page
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CREATIVE EYE
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CREATIVE EYE
Shore House Dunrobin (Ottawa), Ontario Continued from previous page
construction used for the main level. The walls are insulated with fibreglass batts in stud spaces, plus 2-inches of rigid foam on the exterior under the siding, for a total R32, thus offsetting the enormous amount of low-E glass used at both levels. The furnace used for the main floor’s forced air heating was also upgraded, as was the HRV system. A radiant heat (fluid system) was chosen for the lower level. The flat roof is canted slightly inwards, allowing an internal roof drainage system and eliminating the need for external eaves and downspouts, thus enhancing the clean exterior lines. The roof deck is sheathed in a SBS modified bitumen membrane with a reinforcement of non-woven polyester or glass mat. The underside of the roof deck was insulated with spray foam beyond the R31 minimum required for restricted attic spaces such as this. The siding's horizontal line is achieved by use of individual horizontal boards of stained eastern white cedar laid with a Ÿ" gap over a black plastic membrane, thereby providing a surface relief effect on the exterior walls while maintaining the waterproof integrity of the building.
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CREATIVE EYE
www.canadiancontractor.ca
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TRUCKS
Showing Their
MUSCLE
>>
Pure horsepower and torque remain the hallmarks of new light-duty pickups while manufacturers remain mindful of fuel economy.
By Bill Roebuck
It’s another year of ongoing improvements for many models in the fullsize, light-duty pickup truck market. Lighter-weight aluminum body parts have been making big news since last year, especially with Ford’s mostly aluminum 2015 F-150. Despite the lighter weight of aluminum components versus steel, pickups across the board remain pretty heavy vehicles, which makes it a big challenge to improve efficiency in a category that’s not known for sipping fuel. Ongoing is the muscle-flexing to be at the top the strength game with horsepower, torque, payload, towing capacity and overall performance. Let’s look at what’s new in full-size pickups from the various light-duty pickup truck manufacturers.
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TRUCKS
FORD F-SERIES
>>
Last year, Ford chose to up its game in the pickup truck market by focusing on vehicle weight. The result was a newly redesigned 2015 F-150 with an aluminum cab and cargo box, providing a vehicle weight that was up to 700 lb. less than the previous design. As a bonus, the high-strength military-grade aluminum alloys Ford used are resistant to dents, dings and corrosion. Those changes got attention: The truck was named the 2015 Canadian Truck of the Year by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). For 2016, the models get a bit of icing on the cake, with new Special Edition Appearance Packages with unique wheels, graphics and finishes available on the XLT and Lariat models. As well, a new Pro Trailer Backup Assist helps make backing up a trailer easier. This technology allows customers to steer a trailer instinctively by turning a knob inside the truck left or right to indicate direction; using cameras, the truck controls the steering and vehicle speed for you. Also now available is a Compressed Natural Gas/Propane gaseous fuel prep package on 5.0-litre V8-equipped F-150s, with the aim of reducing operating costs and tailpipe emissions compared to gasolinepowered models. (Ford claims this is the only light-duty pickup capable of running on compressed natural gas or propane.) Here’s the specs for 2016, which are the same as the 2015 models. F-150s are available in rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel drive configurations, with a maximum payload of up to 3,300 lb. Four engines are available: a 2.7-litre EcoBoost V6 with 325 hp and 375 lb.-ft of torque; a 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 with 365 hp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque; a 3.5-litre V6 sporting 282 hp and 253 lb.-ft. of torque; and a 5.0-litre V8 offering 385 hp and 387 lb.-ft of torque. The maximum available tow rating is 12,200-lb., and fuel economy is as low as 9.2 L/100 km highway. Ford also offers its range of Super Duty F-250, F-350 and F-450 models. They are available in 15 different versions. The lineup boasts a maximum towing capacity of 31,200 lb. Changes made for 2016 models are minor and include an optional four-corner LED warning strobe light kit.
www.canadiancontractor.ca
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TRUCKS
The 2016 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel has been named the overall winner of the latest Canadian Truck King Challenge. It won both the Full-Size Truck category and the overall Canadian Truck King title. Light-duty pickups last faced off in the 2014 edition of this event, where the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel also won. In the 2016 Canadian Truck King Challenge, the Ram competed against the revised 2016 Chevrolet Silverado and the 2016 Ford F-150. 2016 brings two new models to the Ram line-up, including a new top-of-class Ram 1500 Laramie Limited model and an all-new Rebel with a special off-road design. Both have a new front grille design. The Rebel includes standard air suspension for increased ride height, 33-in. tires, skid plates and tow hooks. Although the exterior design is unchanged from 2015 models, all 2016 Ram 1500s have a new centre console layout and optional bed lighting. Configurations include Regular Cab, Quad Cab and Crew Cab, three box lengths, and 2WD or 4WD versions. A wide array of combinations is available — in fact, the Canadian spec document describing them all
runs to 25 pages. The Ram’s focus is on fuel economy this year, with its 3.0-litre EcoDiesel V6 engine delivering 240 hp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque and fuel economy as good as 8.0 L/100 km highway. This engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Towing capability of this powertrain combo is up to 9,200 lb. Other available engines include a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 that offers 305 hp, 269 lb.-ft. of torque and fuel economy as efficient as 9.3 L/100 km; and a 5.7-litre Hemi V8, producing 395 hp and 410 lb.-ft. of torque, and using fuel-saving cylinder shut-off to provide fuel economy as efficient as 10.9 L/100 km. The eight-speed automatic transmission is available with all powertrains. A six-speed is standard with certain models. Ram also offers a full line of heavy-duty versions of its pickups, where the maximum tow rating reaches 31,210 lb. New for 2016 are a rear camera display that can be switched between the radio and the rearview mirror, optional pickup box lighting, and the Park-Sense Front/Rear Park Assist system to help drivers manoeuvre the trucks.
RAM TRUCK
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www.canadiancontractor.ca
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TRUCKS
NISSAN TITAN
>>
Nissan is taking the light-duty pickup game more seriously with its all-new 2016 Titan with a Cummins turbodiesel engine. The model is expected to be available in Canadian dealerships in early 2016. It’s noteworthy that Nissan says the new Titan is really neither a light-duty nor heavy-duty pickup, providing more power than a half-ton truck, but without the costs and overall capabilities of a three-quarter-ton rig — lying somewhere in between those two in an as-yet undefined mid-duty category. A newly designed Titan has been anticipated for quite some time. The current design has been around since 2004, and the long-planned launch of a replacement has been delayed for a wide variety of reasons (one being the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in 2011). For the current 2015 models, the Titan full-size half-ton pickup remains available in King Cab and Crew Cab body styles in a 4x4 configuration, along with two wheelbases and three bed lengths. Unique features are Wide-Open rear doors in the King Cab that open nearly 180 degrees for unobstructed rear cab access, and an integrated, lockable bedside storage compartment. The 2015 model continues with an all-aluminum 5.6-litre V8 engine mated to a five-speed automatic that produces 317 hp and 385 lb.-ft. of torque. Towing capacity ranges up to 9,500 lb. and payload is up to one ton. Fuel economy is rated at 14.3
L/100 km highway. The Cummins-powered 2016 Titan XD has already been shown at the Detroit and Toronto auto shows. The XD gets a Cummins 5.0-litre V8 turbodiesel engine producing 310 hp and 555 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s a very impressive torque number! With heavy-duty-like capabilities such as an available towing capacity of more than 12,000 lb. and a maximum payload capacity of 2,000 lb., Nissan says the new XD also will have the fuel-efficiency and affordability of a half-ton pickup. The engine is mated to a heavy-duty six-speed automatic. Compared to the 2015 model, the company says every component in the new truck has been bolstered and strengthened for added stiffness, vertical and lateral bending, as well as torsional rigidity. A high-strength steel, fully boxed, full-length ladder frame handles all this. A goosneck hitch — built into the frame — sits in bed of the truck, yet the ball is removable when all you need is a flat bed. The 2016 Titan will be available in three cab configurations, three bed lengths, two frame sizes, three powertrain offerings (including 4x2 and 4x4) and five grade levels. It eventually also will be offered with V8 and V6 gasoline engines.
www.canadiancontractor.ca
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TOYOTA TUNDRA
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The Toyota Tundra full-size pickup was refreshed for 2014 and basically is a carry-over for 2016. It’s available in 10 models in four grades and a total of 25 configurations, New this year, all Tundra models with the 5.7L i-Force V8 engine get a standard tow package. It includes an added trailer brake controller and 144-L fuel tank — said to be the largest in its class. The tow package also includes a heavy-duty tow hitch receiver, 4+7 pin connectors, supplemental transmission cooler and a transmission fluid temperature gauge. Engine options include a 4.6-litre V8 producing 310 hp and 327 lb.-ft. of torque, and a 5.7-litre V8 with 381 hp and 401 lb.-ft. of torque, both mated to a six-speed transmission. Towing capacity ranges up to 10,800 lb. and maximum payload is 1,895 lb. Choices include 4x2 or 4x4 models. Fuel economy is rated as low as 13.0 L/100 km highway. Safety features include a standard backup camera on all grades, and an optional Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert. There is no heavy-duty model of the Tundra.
www.canadiancontractor.ca
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Robinson
DuraStyle Wall-Mounted Duravit Rimless® Toilet A wall-mounted toilet enhances your bathroom with a clean and modern design and takes up a minimal amount of space. Combine the convenience of a wall-mounted toilet with Duravit’s new DuraStyle rimless design for efficient flushing and optimum hygiene: the open and easily accessible rim area makes it easier to keep the bowl clean. This model can also be combined with the SensoWash® shower-toilet seat.
Available at
Vancouver Coquitlam Kamloops Penticton Edmonton Calgary Saskatoon Brandon Winnipeg •
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www.robinsonlightingandbath.com
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TRUCKS
>>
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GENERAL MOTORS GM continues to offer a pair of nearly identical full-size pickups, the GMC Sierra 1500 and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and it has brought out a newly refreshed design for them for 2016. But wait, didn’t we just see a redesign of this model two years ago? Yes, and those 2014 models also gave customers the choice of three new EcoTec3 engines, more safety options and a restyled passenger cabin. This year’s update includes a new, bolder front-end design and a sculpted hood to provide the truck with a wider, more substantial look. The 2016 trucks offer a variety of optional grille and body-coloured bumper options. Other features of the new trucks include expanded availability of the existing eight-speed automatic transmission, a new MyLink2 display featuring Apple CarPlay3, and optional safety technologies such as Lane Keep Assist, High Beam Assist and Low-Speed Collision Mitigation Braking. Engine choices include a 4.3-litre V6 with 285 hp and 305 lb.-ft. of torque, a 5.3-litre V8 with 355 hp and 383 lb.-ft. of torque, and a 6.2-litre V8 producing 420 hp and 460 lb.-ft. of torque. Maximum trailering capacity is 12,000 lb. Payload capacity can be as high as 1,980 lb. Models include a crew cab, regular cab model and double cab, in seven trim levels, in 4x2 or 4x4 configurations. Work Truck models feature black bumpers, door handles and outside mirrors, and a 40/20/40-split vinyl bench seat; a high-wear seat
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cloth is available on all trim levels. A handy feature is the step-in assist depressions in the corners of the rear bumper to make it easier to climb into the bed, no matter if the tailgate is up or down. Also, the engines use cylinder deactivation to boost fuel economy, which rates as low as 9.9 L/100 km highway. High-strength steel is used in the frames for strength with less weight. Aluminum alloys also have been used to reduce the weight of engines, front suspension components, hoods and other parts. The 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 was named the Best New Pickup by the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) and the Chevy Silverado was named the 2014 North American Truck of the Year. The Silverado HD and Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty models carry over from 2015. The 3500HD can tow up to 23,200 lb. Even in these short descriptions, there are a lot of numbers to contend with. When you’re ready to buy, you’ll likely want to talk to the truck experts at local dealerships to spec out a model that fits your specific needs. Bill Roebuck is a voting member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), which produces the annual Canadian Car of the Year and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards.
www.canadiancontractor.ca
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Never compromise form for function Or function for form—instead, go with the company that delivers both—go with JELD-WEN. Whether it’s a small, replacement slider or a wall of windows for a living room, you can count on our products to look and perform their best. With a variety of performance options and a huge selection of finishes and styles, we offer well-made products that are beautiful, reliable and easy to install so you can meet the highest expectations of your customers—and never compromise a thing.
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To learn more about window and door styles that perform, visit jeld-wen.ca
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T:9” S:8.5”
WORRY ABOUT THE JOB AHEAD
NOT THE TRAILER BEHIND Offers Best-In-Class Conventional Towing.* Advanced Towing Technologies such as Trailer Sway Control, Tow/Haul Mode and available Diesel Exhaust Braking. Chevrolet is the Fastest Growing Pickup Truck Brand in Canada.**
*Requires 3500HD Crew Cab Dual Rear Wheel 4WD with available Duramax 6.6L Turbo-Diesel V8 engine. Before you buy a vehicle or use it for trailering, carefully review the trailering section of the Owner’s Manual. The weight of passengers, cargo and options or accessories may reduce the amount you can tow. Comparisons based on wardsauto.com 2015 Large Pickup segment and latest competitive information available at time of printing. Excludes other GM vehicles. **Based on percentage growth in total Canadian sales of mid and full size pick-up trucks, calendar year to date (January to June, 2015), as reported by CVMA. ©2015 General Motors of Canada Limited. All rights reserved. Chevrolet® Chevrolet emblem® Chevy™ Duramax® GM® Silverado®
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T:10.75”
S:10.25”
CHEVY SILVERADO HD. TRUE NORTH STRONG.
DIABLO
Moisture Grabbers
Laminate Blade
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STABLE How a Canadian hydronic heating control system delivers more comfort for less money Page 52 www.canadiancontractor.ca
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P RO D U C T S , T E C H N O L O G Y & T I P S F O R C O N T R AC TO R S
B:11”
T:10.75”
S:10.25”
SMART AND
STEVE MAXWELL’S
STUFF WE LIKE
CONCROBIUM
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MAXWELL’S MIND
How Much Do Smartphones Really Cost? By Steve Maxwell
F
or every situation you hope to create, there’s likely to be a negative, unforeseeable and unintended result that also shows up in the end. This is the law of unintended
consequence, and it’s everywhere. Driving habits and car design are a case in point. Popularization of anti-lock braking and fourwheel drive should have made road travel safer, but it didn’t. People drive more aggressively when vehicles are built to safer standards, erasing some of the gains we could have enjoyed. In 2008, Airbus introduced the new A380, an airliner quieter than any other in history. The idea was to improve passenger experience, but it didn’t work. A quieter plane let the sound of well-used washrooms waft into the aisles. The sounds of crying children, coughing and conversations came through all the louder. Airbus recalled these early A380s and devolved the design to allow more naturally occurring, engine-generated “white noise” to bring passenger comfort back to where it had been. During the 1980s, Chinese ladybugs were introduced to control aphids in parts of Canada. Today these have turned into an invasive species, breeding and eating native North American species into oblivion. The imported ladybugs are rude, too. They find their way into homes, clothes drawers and vehicles in a way
When Steve Jobs set out to “change the world” by popularizing smartphones, he envisioned a world with easy access to communication and information. That’s a great goal and it’s a reality today. But I doubt even Jobs, visionary that he was, imagined a generation so addicted to their little screens that it cut mental focus and productivity by hours each day. How much does it irritate you that nearly every young worker you hire comes with a phone addiction that steals as much time from your projects as a chain smoking habit? And now that we’re talking about phones, are you brave enough to track how many hours a day get wasted on yours? How much do phones really cost you? Depending on who’s delivering the statistics, North Americans spend 2 to 4 1/2 hours a day looking at little screens. What’s the cash value of that across society? The thing about the big unintended consequences of life is that none of us have any control over when they hit the world. Little guys like us didn’t start these balls rolling, we just have to live with the results. So maybe your first step is to outlaw phones for everyone on your jobs except during breaks. Will the world really come to an end if Facebook goes unviewed during the workday or calls go to voicemail for a few hours?
steve@stevemaxwell.ca
that old-time lady bugs never did. www.canadiancontractor.ca
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MAXWELL’S S t u f f We L i k e
SMART AND
STABLE How a Canadian hydronic heating control system delivers more comfort for less money
By Steve Maxwell
H
ot water heating is gaining popularity in Canada because it delivers more comfortable heat with less noise and airborne dust than forced-air systems. There’s one big problem, though. Hot water systems have a tendency to over-shoot thermostat settings, making rooms too hot. By the time an ordinary thermostat or floor sensor registers that a room has risen to the set point, there’s still significant thermal energy stored in the hot water in floor pipes or wall radiators, ready to move into the room and overheat it. The flip side of this is the problem of lag times. It can take longer for hydronic heating systems to bring rooms up to set point temperatures because it takes time for heat to move from the water to the room. Either way, the result is room temperatures that aren’t always right, but a Canadian system solves both these problems perfectly
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MAXWELL’S S t u f f We L i k e
Four years ago I installed two hydronic heating systems in two buildings on my own property. One system used a regular wall thermostat with floor sensor, and another used a smart control system by a BC company called tekmar (www.tekmarcontrols.com; 250-545-7749). I’d heard good things about this company and I wanted to test the claims myself before recommending their system. I’ve monitored both systems closely and the difference in temperature stability has been dramatic. Room temperatures in the building with a conventional hydronic thermostat regularly vary 3ºC to 4ºC beyond the set point, while the tekmar system always maintains room temperatures within less than 0.5ºC of the set point. Smart controls can also save as much as 30 per cent in heating costs compared with traditional thermostats used for radiant hydronic heating systems. In fact, without smart controls, many of today’s most efficient condensing boilers can’t live up to their full efficiency potentials.
Smart in Two Ways At its most basic level, smart hydronic controls harness two powerful ideas – outdoor temperature reset and indoor temperature feedback. Outdoor temperature reset gathers input from an outdoor temperature sensor to adjust the operating temperature of a boiler or the water flowing through a mixing valve. The colder it is outside, the hotter the water flowing through the floor or radiators. This works a lot like responsible driving. If you hammer the gas pedal every time a stop light turns green, blast along at full power all the time, then stand on the brakes to stop when the light turns red again, you’ll burn more fuel and wear out your truck faster. Standard thermostatic controls are like gas-guzzling, jack rabbit driving. Outdoor reset is like an accelerator for your heating system
Indoor temperature feedback offers another comparison to driving, too. Looking ahead when you’re on the road is one of the best ways to save fuel and wear on your vehicle. Coasting as you see a yellow light in the distance makes more sense than speeding along at the maximum limit, then slamming on the brakes at the last moment when you’re at the red light. In the same way, giving your car some gas ahead of time, when you can see that stopped traffic ahead of you will be moving by the time you get there, saves gas and smooths the ride. Indoor temperature feedback uses information gathering from floor and outdoors sensors and is to hydronic heating control systems what forward-looking driving is to road travel.
www.canadiancontractor.ca
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MAXWELL’S S t u f f We L i k e
Life With Smart Controls
In practice, the Tekmar system is smart enough to call for hot water flow even when room temperatures haven’t necessarily dropped to the set point. It learns the cooling rates of a given room at specific outdoor temperatures and anticipates heating needs ahead of time. The system often cuts off the flow of hot water before room temperature has reached the set point, knowing that temps will creep up and hit the set point just the same.
Living with smart hydronic heating controls is as easy as enjoying exceptionally smooth room temperature levels in winter. But if you watch thermostats closely you’ll see the system actually learning how to make this happen in a particular home. For the first day or so after I powered up my smart heating controls for the first time, room temperature overshot the thermostat set point by 2º to 3ºC, as is often the case with conventional hydronic thermostats. But after the smart system gathered information about how fast particular rooms heated up and cooled off given various outdoor air temperatures, surprising things began to happen. It wasn’t long before room temperatures became amazingly stable, regardless of outdoor conditions. It’s common for temperatures to remain within a 0.5ºC range, even in the spring as outdoor temperatures rise significantly higher over the course of a few hours after sunrise.
Smart Controls for Smart Boilers When it comes to heating systems, condensing boilers have the ability to vary the heat they put out. This is like a car having a variable accelerator by design. Older boilers have no “accelerator” and are either OFF or running full blast. The ability that a boiler has to vary heat output ability does offer efficiency gains, but this is useless if that condensing boiler is only connected to a simple thermostat that just switches ON or OFF. Variable calls for heat are needed to make use of variable output boiler capability. Many homeowners have been sold on condensing boilers with efficiency levels that promise 90 per cent plus, but this is true only if that condensing boiler is hooked to a smart control system. Without this feature that same boiler will probably only hit real-world efficiencies in the mid-80 per cent range. There’s one other thing that smart control systems do to lower heating costs. Thermostats from different rooms talk to each other as a network, balancing the various calls for heat depending on what the system has learned about how quickly rooms heat up and cool off, as well as the relative temperature of neighbouring rooms, and the various thermostat settings. By slightly delaying
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or advancing calls for heat to minimize the number of times a boiler comes on, greater efficiencies are gained. It’s impressive to see how smart controls operate in the real world, and in my experience the tekmar system has been perfectly reliable while yielding very stable temperatures. Just don’t get the mistaken impression that all this sophistication is for people obsessed with technology. It’s really for any client who likes to save money and enjoy an exceptionally comfortable home. And isn’t that all of them?
www.canadiancontractor.ca
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MAXWELL PRODUCTS
MAXWELL’S PICK
CONCROBIUM Moisture Grabbers Excess humidity is never a friend of contractors. It rusts tools and makes spaces musty, moldy and rotten. That’s why I took notice of an up-andcoming moisture-busting technology that’s hitting the construction scene here in Canada. It’s something like those little white moisture-absorbing pouches in the bottom of beef jerky bags, but bigger. Generically called “desiccants”, these are materials that absorb water from the air, lowering humidity. The idea has been around for a while, but a new Canadian product called Moisture Grabbers promises to do a better job. Remove the plastic covering from a Moisture Grabbers pouch, shake it up, then set it aside to draw moisture out of the air. Can something like this really make a difference? Yes, but within limits. Moisture Grabbers can’t compete with an electric dehumidifier, but they’ll keep any size of toolbox dry. The product also performs within enclosed spaces such as closets, bathrooms, cabinets, pantries and any 8-foot tall room up to 125 square feet. Each pouch works for about 6 months, absorbing enough moisture that it’ll get noticeably heavier. The product is non-toxic so you can throw it out safely when it’s done. Costs less than ten bucks at The Home Depot for 3-pack of regular size pouches or one extra-large pouch.
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MAXWELL PRODUCTS
MAXWELL’S PICK
DIABLO LAMINATE FLOORING BLADE Laminate flooring dulls carbide blades faster than any other wood product. I know because I’ve learned this lesson the hard way. The tough, aluminum oxide coating on laminates is abrasive and it eats carbide for breakfast. Even a new carbide blade only lasts a half-dozen cuts through laminate before it’s hurting. That’s why Freud and Pergo partnered on their thin-kerf Diablo Laminate Flooring Blade. It’s the first of its kind for use in chopsaws. Instead of just straight carbide teeth, the anti-kickback design includes polycrystalline diamond cutting edges. I used the 12” D1216LF model on a recent laminate flooring job and it worked flawlessly. Crisp cuts, no flutter and no noticeable reduction of blade effectiveness after dozens of cuts. I can’t verify manufacturer claims that this blade lasts 75x longer than carbide, but it is certainly one tough blade. Available in 10” ($149) and 12” ($199) these blades can be resharpened by any shop equipped to handle polycrystalline diamond (PCD) teeth. Also useful for all types of wood and bamboo flooring, including that prefinished stuff that’s also so tough on carbide.
EDITOR'S PICK
FUSION STONE THIN STONE VENEER “Fusion” is defined as “a merging of diverse, distinct, or separate elements into a unified whole.” So it is with Fusion Stone: the coming together of the beauty, strength, and maintenance free characteristics of traditional stone with the ease of installation and affordability of stone veneer. Fusion Stone is available in three distinct systems, all backed by a lifetime guarantee. It is an easy and budget-friendly way to beautifully upgrade any home or business. The thin stone veneer is easily installed with the included stainless steel clips and screws. Perfect for everything from exterior walls, BBQs, and planter boxes to interior fireplaces, kitchen islands, backsplashes, and feature walls. With its proven consumer appeal and compelling margin opportunity, Fusion Stone is a great product for contractors to recommend to their clients. www.fusionstone.ca
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www.canadiancontractor.ca
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WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
The Permitless Rich Kid Mitch’s carpentry crew are working for one headstrong young man WHAT SHOULD MITCH DO?
By John Bleasby
M
itch and his three-man carpentry crew are working on their largest and renovation project ever: fixing up the old Henderson mansion for the new owner. It’s a 4.2-acre estate with an iron security gate, completely hidden behind trees. Mitch figures his guys will be there for several months. Mitch’s crew are just one the many trades on site: an electrician, a plumber, a mason and a roofer are all coming and going. The owner, Ryan, owns a large tool and die company with contracts all over the world. With 500 employees, it is the town’s largest employer. Ryan, son of the founder, is as brash and arrogant as any 32-yearold kid who has ever been made heir to a vast fortune. Ryan is acting as his own GC on the project. He pays Mitch for time and materials every other Friday, based on Mitch’s invoices. Mitch and his crew were, in fact, called into replace another carpentry firm that Ryan kicked off the job. “They forgot who is boss here,” Ryan told Mitch. “Don’t you
forget, OK?” Interior walls have been removed, ceilings torn down; even an exterior brick wall off the kitchen has been blown out to make way for a garden greenhouse that Ryan’s wife wants. Although Mitch is working to an architect’s design on all this, very quickly Mitch learns that Ryan has not obtained a single permit. When asked about this, Ryan waves Mitch off: “That’s none of your concern, Mitch. And if anyone comes around, I know a lot of people on council and they’ll look after me.” Mitch is worried that if there are any problems, his firm could be in trouble. Furthermore, given the time Mitch has blocked off for this job, he’s afraid that even a short site shutdown could leave his crew unemployed and unable to find work for a while.
1. Continue working and trust Ryan’s confidence and connections. 2. Tell Ryan that he cannot continue the project unless there is a building permit. 3. Ask Ryan to give him some sort of guarantee or compensation should the site be shut down. 4. Report Ryan’s project to the town in order to preserve his reputation as a by-the-rules operator. 5. Talk to some of the other sub-trades on site and ask how they feel before making a decision. 6. Some other course of action (explain).
What would you do if you were Mitch? See the options at right.
LAST ISSUE’S WINNER – “FRIENDS AND PARTNERS” In our last case study, shortly after giving him some added supervisory responsibilities and a small hourly raise, Dave’s Shankovitch’s long-time friend and carpenter Pete has suggested that he become a partner in Dave’s growing contracting business. However, Dave has discovered that since then, Pete has changed his on-site conduct. For example, he’s appears to be overstating his hours on his time sheets, leaving early on Fridays, and doesn’t seem to have the same work ethic as before. Dave is concerned, and wonders if Pete is really partnership material.
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Here is the winning answer (edited) from Marc Esposito of Fusion Homes, Guelph, Ontario. Option #3: Speak to Pete at the first reasonable opportunity. Outline the problem with the time sheets and offer Pete a chance to explain. “The entire issue revolves around managing expectations. Dave needs to explain his performance expectations now that he has given Pete a raise in pay and more responsibility. In fact, Pete could be taking that extra hour in the morning to organize himself for the day now that he has new responsibilities on site that require more advanced planning. If so, Pete needs to let Dave know that, and what kind of support or job modifications he needs as a result of these added responsibilities. As friends and colleagues they need to have a mature, face-to-face discussion.”
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www.canadiancontractor.ca
HOW TO ENTER Send me your choice of alternatives, along with a brief explanation to: jbleasby@canadiancontractor.ca
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INTRODUCING THE NEW FORD TRANSIT
THE MOST VEHICLE CONFIGURATIONS IN ITS CLASS.* OPEN FOR
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OF DIMENSIONS The Transit van and wagon are available in two different wheelbases, three different lengths and 3 different heights. That makes it easy to choose one that will t you and your business exactly. And if that’s not enough, it’s also available as a chassis cab and cutaway.
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With an available cargo ceiling taller than some basketball players, the Transit High-Roof van has loads of room for boxes, tools and you. That comes in handy if you want a mobile workshop that lets you stand up straight. And the advantages just keep piling up.
THE NEW 2015 TRANSIT
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Vehicle may be shown with optional features. *Class is Full-Size Vans. Opening height is 74.3 in. ©2015 Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. All rights reserved.
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