Contractor Advantage January / February 2014

COMPLIMENTARY

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

ALSO:

Kitchen Change Staffing Insulation

+ + +

CA N A DA’ S M AG A Z I N E F O R P R O F E S S I O N A L C O N T R AC T O R S

ENTRY CODES

PLUS: FLOORING FAVOURITES LUMBER INNOVATIONS ®

Just another case of window envy.

With good looks and available state-of-the-art features like our leak-free V-Weld technology, it’s no wonder our windows attract attention. A variety of styles and price points ensures that we have the right fit for any project. Next time you’re building, choose our Canadian-made windows and doors to take full advantage of our commitment to on-time delivery and after-sales support. Just don’t be surprised if the job site attracts some attention.

Visit allweatherwindows.com to learn more.

PROUD TO SUPPORT CANADIAN ATHLETES MEGAN DUHAMEL AND ERIC RADFORD IN THEIR PURSUIT OF GOLD IN 2014.

CA

CONTENTS

Features

Generation next / 18 More Canadian youth see the value of building trades.

Colleges and contractors play a key role in training them.

22

Kitchen change / 22 As it continues to evolve into an entertainment centre, a kitchen with leading-edge appliances is the must have for homeowners.

Your new entry code / 28 Regulations for doors are changing. Learn how to spot the products designed to meet the new standards, plus discover the latest trends driving door design and style.

Inside

Lay it again, Sam / 33

28 38

When it comes to flooring, some old favourites such as oak, walnut and maple are poised for a comeback in 2014.

NEWS WATCH / 5 NRC releases new reports PRODUCT SHOWCASE / 9 New and improved products BUSINESS STRATEGIES / 12 Budgeting basics SMART MONEY / 13 Understanding OAS deferral ECONOMICS 101 / 15 Invest in yourself LEARNING CURVE / 17 How to compete better January/February 2014 Vol. 18 No. 1

Editorial Director Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. Jennifer Mercieca Managing Editor Paul Barker Art Director Mark Ryan

Castle Building Centres Group Ltd., with building supply outlets in every province, is Canada’s leading supplier of lumber and building materials to professional contractors, builders and renovators.

Publications Mail Agreement #40006677 Return undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: 100 Milverton Drive, Suite 400 Mississauga, Ont. L5R 4H1

Contributors Nestor E. Arellano Lawrence Cummer Victoria Downing Stefan Dubowski Walt Grassel Paul Rhodes David Chilton Saggers John G. Smith

Lumber innovations / 38 From its use in mid-rise residential building to a foray into foundations to its role in sustainable building, innovation is breathing new life into lumber.

The air up there / 43 Keeping the rain out is one thing. Roofs also need a chance to breathe.

Advertising Enquiries Vendors whose products are carried in Castle Building Centres stores have the opportunity to advertise in

Contractor Advantage

For more information or to reserve space in the next issue, contact: Jennifer Mercieca Director of Communications Phone: 905-564-3307 Fax: 905-564-6592 E-mail: jmercieca@castle.ca

Published and designed exclusively for Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. by Business Information Group Material Contact: Jessica Jubb 416-510-5194 Copyright 2012

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 3

Comfort by Dow

www.insulateyourhome.com 1-866-583-BLUE (2583)

Continuous Insulation

Attic

Penetrations

Windows & Doors

Water-Resistive Barrier

Take comfort in knowing that Dow insulation, air sealant and accessory solutions help builders and contractors offer homeowners long-term thermal performance, moisture management, durability, energy savings and improved indoor air quality by protecting the home from entry of dust, allergens and pests. Dow products also can exceed building codes, prevent callbacks and save installation time.

Feel good about your construction projects…get more comfort from Dow. ®™ Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow

Below Grade

CA

NEWS WATCH

Four new NRC research programs launched

BY PAUL BARKER

T

he National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has launched four new research programs to help the construction industry develop, validate and facilitate the market adoption of new products and systems.

“Canada is on track to become one of the largest urbanization markets in the world by 2020,” said Dr. Morad Atif, general manager of the construction portfolio at the NRC at the recent Construct Canada conference in Toronto.

The programs will make it possible to extend the lifespan of Canada’s 75,000 highway concrete bridges, construct economical and safe 5 to 12-storey wood buildings, and retrofit buildings such as offices, retail stores and schools to significantly reduce energy consumption, it said in a release.

The four are: Critical Concrete Infrastructure, Mid-Rise Wood Buildings, High Performance Buildings and Building Regulations for Market Access.

Further information is available at www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.

Meanwhile, in 2014, IIDEX Canada and Construct Canada will co-locate to create North America’s largest annual exposition and conference focusing on the design, construction and management of real estate.

Scheduled to take place Dec. 3-5, the combined events will occupy all of Metro Toronto Convention Centre and will be Continued on page 7 Construct Canada 2013 held in December attracted 24,000+ attendees, 1,050 exhibitors and 450 speakers.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 5

Book By March 1st and you could

†Maximum value of $5,000. Ask for details.

win your† order

Saving money. it’S the warmeSt feeling.

Kohltech.com

The Kohltech winter window event. on now.

Get inspired by the most outstanding value of the year on all energy-efficient Kohltech windows, entrance systems and patio doors.

CA

NEWS WATCH

held concurrently with seven other events: PM Expo, DesignTrends, HomeBuilder & Renovator Expo, Concrete Canada, The Toronto Real Estate Forum, Construct International and National GreenBuilding Conference.

Construct Canada and IIDEX Canada organizers say they will collaborate to create a “seamless event that will be called The Buildings Show, while maintaining their long standing identities, branding, programming and management.”

The decision to co-locate all nine expositions and conferences was based on a desire to maximize greater value for attendees, exhibitors and the design and real estate industry.

“Co-locating these related shows and educational forums enables the creation of a very dynamic one-stop opportunity that will benefit all the professionals who play any role in designing, creating and managing the built environment,” said George Przybylowski, vice president of Informa Canada, the organization which produces and manages IIDEX and Construct Canada.

The 2013 edition of Construct Canada, which took place in December attracted an estimated 24,000 attendees, upwards of 450 speakers and 1,050 exhibitors.

Scott Debenham (l.) with Rockfon and Jonathan Ram with Roxul Inc. pose for a photograph on the show floor.

All Weather Windows honoured for energy efficiency All Weather Windows was recently named 2013 Energy Star Manufacturer of the Year in the fenestration products category in recognition of its efforts to promote energy efficient products.

Winners of Energy Star Market Transformation Awards were announced by Joe Oliver, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, in Ottawa on Nov. 18, 2013. The awards recognize outstanding utility providers, manufacturers, retailers, advocates and home builders who have led their respective industries in pursuit of energy efficient products and processes.

“All Weather Windows is committed to providing energy

efficient products that reduce environmental impact and reduce heating costs for our customers,” said Tracy Nadiger, director of marketing at All Weather Windows.

“We are extremely proud to be recognized by an organization that enables Canadians to save their hard-earned money and protect the environment at the same time.”

This is the third time in the last four years that the manufacturer was awarded the honour, having received it in 2010, 2011 and been awarded Participant of the Year in 2012.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 7

CA

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Building Blocks

+

Innovative Products for Today’s Renovators CERTAINTEED EXPANDS CEILING PANEL LINE

CertainTeed Ceilings has added 17 additional sizes in various trim choices to its Symphony line of ceiling panels for a total of 85 new design options.

The new panels are available in both imperial and metric to offer more flexibility when designing high-performance ceiling systems to complement any space. In addition to the new sizes, all Symphony mineral fibre and fibreglass ceilings panels now feature a low-VOC formulation and enhanced Overtone finish that contribute to sustainable, healthy indoor environments and offer a brighter, more monolithic appearance.

Designed for commercial environments such as schools, hospitals and office buildings, CertainTeed says the new panels ensure superior acoustical performance and healthy indoor air. In addition to sound absorption, they offer high light reflectance, humidity resistance and contain between 39 and 43% recycled content.

Visit www.certainteed.com for more information.

+

MINWAX FLOOR FINISH DURABLE, CLEAR

Minwax Ultimate Floor Finish is a durable topcoat for floors that, the company says, provides a crystal clear finish.

Based on a professional formula, the topcoat is ideal for any hardwood floor and also for use over light-coloured wood and stains. Recoat can be done in only two hours, and no sanding is required between coats, allowing a full project to be completed in one day. It is a Greenguard Environmental Institute-certified product for indoor air quality.

Minwax Wood Finishing Cloths wipe on stain and finish in one step, for a fast and easy way to finish wood.

These pre-moistened cloths apply the stain or finish (in natural oak, maple, chestnut, dark mahogany or walnut) and then excess is removed with a clear rag. The finish dries in one hour, and a second coat can be applied for a deeper colour and sheen. One pack covers 50 square feet, and clean up requires only soap and water.

Further information is available at www.minwax.ca.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 9

WHAT YOU’RE REALLY INSTALLING IS A REFERRAL.

When you install a Steel-Craft door, you’re installing more than just a door. With a patented WeatherLock system, the highest quality insulation and weather-ready hardware, it’s Steel-Craft’s superior engineering that makes the difference.

WEATHERLOCK

CLIMACORE

DURAWARE

Our patented system overlaps the interior and exterior skins, keeping moisture out and extending the life of your door.

We have the highest quality insulation between the panels which provides higher R-Value, better strength and consistent protection from the elements.

Every Steel-Craft component is made by Steel-Craft. Track, hinges, and rollers are made to handle our weather.

THE DOOR WITH MORE. A personalized Door Designer awaits you at Steel-Craft.ca

100% CANADIAN

CA

+

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

GAS-FREE FRAMING NAILER EQUIPPED WITH LITHIUM ION BATTERY PACK

DeWalt’s new gas-free cordless framing nailer, the XR Lithium Ion, combines the company’s brushless motor technology with its new 20V MAX 4.0AH lithium ion battery pack to give it the power to drive a 90mm ring shank nail in cold temperatures.

Unlike nailers that rely on combustible fuels, the XR Lithium Ion Framing Nailer maintains a consistent performance throughout the life of the tool, according to DeWalt.

It also saves money related to costly gas canisters and is not tied to a single nail brand.

The brushless motor does not generate the friction and heat of a traditional brushed motor, reducing wasted effort and maximizing runtime for the tool, while the new battery pack means even heavy users

should only have to recharge their battery once a day, the company says.

The battery is also interchangeable with over 20 other DeWalt tools and can be easily swapped out if required.

The nailer provides two firing modes: bump and sequential, and is ideal for heavy-duty woodworking professionals. Design features include a tool-free depth adjuster, a profiled nosepiece for good visibility and grip when firing at an angle, and fault indicator lights.

Available with or without a battery kit box and charger, the XR Nailer comes with a three-year limited warranty, one-year service contract and 90-day money-back guarantee. It retails for $549 with the battery kit and $429 without. Visit www.dewalt.com for more information.

In the next issue of

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE CA N A DA’ S M AG A Z I N E F O R P R O F E S S I O N A L C O N T R AC T O R S

• Ceiling installations • Landscape designs • Water and energy conservation • Engineered wood • Exterior paint and stains • Tax tips: 2014 season

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 11

CA

BUSINESS STRATEGIES

Budgeting Basics

Your budget is your plan for profit and the road map that you will follow throughout the year.

BY VICTORIA DOWNING

I

feel that your budget is one of the most important tools that you have to help you and your company be successful. Basically, it is your plan for profit; the road map that you will follow throughout the year with the planned destination of profit (woo-hoo!)

Those business owners who work without a budget are really just drifting along, allowing the marketplace to dictate where they will end up.

The act of creating a budget makes you think through a variety of business issues until you develop a plan that feels right and delivers the desired results. It is really not that difficult to do.

I like to start with overhead. Overhead includes things that you have to pay for whether or not you have a project in production: rent, professional fees, marketing and more. It should also include a salary for the owner. If you are not sure what your overhead is, start with last year’s.

Look at the end of the year Profit and Loss Statement and use the same overhead categories. Create an overhead spreadsheet to help you as you work on this. Review each line item and determine whether the expense will stay the same, needs to be increased for some reason, may be decreased, or if it will disappear.

For example, you might have done a new Website last year so your marketing budget was high. This year, the marketing budget can be decreased since you will not have the large expense of the Website.

For the first run through, go ahead and create an overhead that will support all of the things you want to do this year. If you would really like new software this year, go ahead and put it in. We will see later if you can afford it.

It is easy to create a budget on paper when removing the expense is as easy as pushing delete. It is much harder to remove an expense when the money is already gone.

Go through your overhead expenses line by line. I like to work with my team on their areas of responsibility. For example, my office manager does the first run through on the expenses for the administrative department. Then I review it again, making small adjustments along the way.

It is great and necessary to know your overhead, but we are not really interested in building a company that only produces enough to cover overhead, are we? Indeed not. We want a company that covers overhead and produces a healthy profit.

Let us choose a dollar amount to add as profit. To determine how much to add, use this rule of thumb: 10% of revenue.

If you produced $1,000,000 last year, add $100,000 to the overhead to represent profit in this budgeting process.

Now you have a total dollar amount (overhead and net profit) that represents the gross profit dollars that your company must produce this year. In other words, your goal is to produce X gross

Victoria Downing is president of Remodelers Advantage Inc. and is a leading authority in the remodeling industry.

She has authored and co-authored several industry books, including The Remodeler’s Marketing PowerPak. She can be reached at victoria@remodelersadvantage.com or by phone at 301 490-5620 ext. 105.

12

|

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

profit dollars from the work you do to cover overhead and net and reach your financial goals.

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE USING A FICTIONAL COMPANY:

RENOVATORS INC.

This company has projected their next year’s overhead to be $350,000.

They want to earn a net profit of $100,000. This means that Renovators Inc. will have to produce a total of $450,000 gross profit dollars to reach their annual goal.

This company targets a 24% Gross Profit Margin when pricing their projects.

To determine how much revenue this company will have to sell and produce, divide the gross profit dollar goal by the expected gross profit margin. $450,000/24%= $1,875,000.

Renovators Inc. has to sell and produce $1,875,000 in revenue to reach their budget goals.

If the owner said, “Yikes, that’s too much! There is no way we can sell and produce that much!” he has a couple options: Decrease the gross profit dollars needed (overhead and net profit) by reducing overhead.

Increase the gross profit margin at which you are selling the project.

Your homework is to play with this formula and see if you can find the right balance between the Revenue, Overhead Dollars and Gross Profit Margin for you and your company.

CA

SMART MONEY

Understanding OAS Deferral Canadians can now press pause on their OAS pension claims until 70.

How does it work and when does it make sense for you?

BY PAUL RHODES

O

ld Age Security (OAS) is a pension that is available to eligible Canadian seniors once they apply to receive the benefit.

Eligibility typically starts at age 65, but recent changes allow individuals to delay receiving the benefit for up to 60 months.

This article will review the effects of the deferral rules and also the circumstances in which deferral is beneficial.

The value of the benefit is adjusted for inflation quarterly and is currently approximately, $6,600 per year. The benefit is reduced where income exceeds a defined threshold and for income above a maximum amount it is eliminated entirely. For 2013, the OAS benefit is generally reduced where net income exceeds $70,954 and is completely eliminated where net income exceeds $114,793. Therefore if your income exceeds $114,793, applying for OAS is of no benefit.

Beginning on July 1, 2013, you may choose to delay receipt of OAS for up to five years beyond the normal benefit start date of age 65. In exchange, for each month of delay your monthly pension payment will be increased by 0.6%. If you delay for the maximum period of time allowed, you will begin to receive your pension at age 70, and your annual pension will be 36% (0.6% multiplied by 60) higher than it would otherwise be. Based on the current annual OAS benefit calculations (ignoring inflation adjustments), an individual can receive $8,976 per year, rather than $6,600.

Whether this tradeoff is beneficial will depend on your particular situation including: your health, current and future income level and your retirement plans; however, where your income is currently above the OAS maximum amount ($144,793 for 2013) and is expected to fall below the threshold ($70,954) beyond age 70 then the benefit of delay is clear. Under these circumstances, if you apply for OAS today your benefit will be eliminated because your income is too high. If, on the other hand, you delay your application for OAS, although you will not receive a current OAS benefit, your future potential OAS benefit will increase. In such future year when your income is lower, your OAS benefit will not be clawed back and your OAS entitlement will be higher than it would have otherwise been.

As you can see, there is a benefit to delaying receipt of your OAS benefit where your net income currently exceeds the OAS threshold and is expected to be below the threshold in the future (such that the benefit is not clawed back at all).

By way of examples, these conditions may be met under the following circumstances: Where an individual has the ability to earn income at his or her discretion.

For example, a business owner is able to extract corporate funds in excess of the OAS threshold beyond the age of 65.

Therefore the application for OAS can be timed to coincide with the decision

Paul Rhodes is a partner at Soberman LLP. His professional experience includes providing assurance and advisory counsel to a number of clients in construction, manufacturing, real estate and internal audit engagements. Paul is a member of the Toronto Construction Association.

to cease extracting corporate funds at such a high level.

Where an individual has chosen to work beyond 65 years of age. The OAS can be applied for in writing up to 11 months before the date on which the individual wishes payments to start. OAS can be timed to commence on retirement, as earned employment income ends.

Where an individual earns income from a one-off source which is not expected to be earned again in future. For example, a capital gain on the sale of a family cottage.

Where an individual retires at age 65 but continues to receive income payments for a limited period (for example, where an individual has unused sick-leave credits that are paid out after retirement).

If you have started to receive OAS payments but wish to benefit from the deferral, you may request that your OAS pension be cancelled provided that you have been receiving the pension benefits for less than six months. The request must be made in writing and must be received

by Service Canada within six months of the first payment of OAS benefit. You will be required to repay the benefits that you have received but can reapply for OAS at a future date. In this case, your deferral benefit will be calculated based on the number of months between July 2013 and the date that you start to receive OAS, or the month of your 70th birthday, if that is sooner.

With some careful planning (particularly where a private company or other sources of discretionary income are involved) there may be an opportunity to receive a larger OAS benefit at a future date and to keep a larger proportion of that pension.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 13

CA

ECONOMICS 101

Invest in Yourself

Spending the time and money to better yourself will make you happier, enrich others, improve your career and boost business.

BY WALT GRASSL

K

arl and Bob were good friends when they attended college. After they graduated from college, life happened and they slowly lost contact. They reconnected at their 20 year reunion. They were working for similarly sized companies and had the same work ethic; however, for some reason, Karl was two levels higher in his organization than Bob. At lunch a month later, Karl mentioned he had attended a training seminar the past weekend. Bob lamented that, with the downturn in the economy, his company cut back on training, and he has not been to a seminar in years. Karl shared that his company had cut back on training as well, but that he paid for the training himself.

Bob looked at Karl with a puzzled expression and said he did not understand how someone would pay for training out of his own pocket. It was an expense he could not afford and, besides, if the company did not pay for it, it must not be too important.

Karl has the right attitude about investing in himself. Your talent is your best asset. Karl proceeded to explain to Bob the four benefits from investing in yourself:

1

Investing in yourself helps you Investments come in the form of both time and money. You can invest in your mind by going to the library and getting a book to read to educate yourself in any area of improvement. This costs time, not

money. You can attend training events that require an investment of time and money. You can invest in your health by investing 30 minutes a day to go for a walk. You can invest by hiring a personal trainer or joining a gym.

When you enrich yourself, you can feel yourself grow and will feel better about yourself. It contributes to your happiness.

career in two significant ways. It increases your value to your employer because your skillset grows. Maybe more importantly, it increases your earning potential over your peers, who only receive the company funded training. This translates into you becoming a more valuable asset and deserving of increased responsibility, resulting in increases in job titles and compensation.

2

4

3

Invest in yourself; Add Value to You

Investing in yourself helps those you touch

When you enrich yourself through your investments of time and money, you improve your relationships with others.

Taking time to help others is not only an opportunity to be generous and giving with your time, it is almost always an opportunity to learn and grow, if you are present and “in the moment.” You may learn new information, gain new insights into how people behave, or develop new relationships. If I help you solve a problem with a spreadsheet at work, I will usually learn something as we figure it out.

Instead of saying, “I have to help you out,” I actually get to help you out and learn. Our relationship improves, as does my knowledge base.

Your investing helps your ability to teach others. You can share what you learn and bring value to others. You become an expert in your “tribe.”

Investing in yourself helps your career

When you invest in yourself it helps your

Walt Grassl conquered his fear of public speaking at the age of 50, and through his Internet radio show, “Stand Up and Speak Up,” he helps others do the same. His accomplishments include success in Toastmasters International speech contests, and performing standup comedy at the Hollywood Improv and the Flamingo in Las Vegas. He is also the author of the book “Stand Up and Speak Up”. For more information visit www.waltgrassl.com.

Investing in yourself helps your business

Should you choose, or be forced, to become an entrepreneur, the asset that is your talent is transferrable. When you invest in yourself, your understanding of your corporate business environment improves.

You are better positioned to run your own business. You not only know what you know, but more important, you know more of what you do not know and will have the mindset to hire people to help you, rather than try to carry the entire load yourself. You will see hiring help is an investment, not an expense. Your breadth of knowledge will help you develop new ideas for your business and will increase your chances of financial success.

Bob realized that, had he not been trying to get better on the cheap, his career might very well have advanced more like Karl’s. With another 20 years left in his career, he vowed to see personal training as an investment in himself, rather than as an expense.

Learning does not stop with your formal education. Continue to read, take classes and invest in your talents. Your talent is your best asset. It is portable and it cannot be taxed or confiscated.

Investing in yourself is the best investment you can make.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 15

the essence series UNIQUE PIN SYSTEM

BY MAAX

essence ts-6032

Perfectly aligned pins and holes for quick installation and solid fitting

ONE-PERSON INSTALLATION

Front assembly directly in the alcove

Essence SH-4834

Essence SH-6034

www.maax.com

Essence TS-6030

Essence TS-6032

Essence SH-3232

CA

LEARNING CURVE

Advice on how to compete better A book series improves your business acumen, while this year’s pricing guide from Reed Construction Data helps ensure your quotes are bang on.

THINKERS50 FUTURE OF BUSINESS McGraw-Hill Publisher McGraw-Hill Professional and business management authority Thinkers50 have teamed up to release Thinkers50 Future of Business, a four-volume book series that gives readers business know-how from some of the world’s leading management thinkers.

In Thinkers50 Leadership, authors Stuart Crainer and Des Dearlove present the best practices and insights from top leadership experts from the CEOs of multinational organizations and successful sports coaches to people on the front lines of education.

The authors reveal in Thinkers50 Management innovative management theories from leading academics and practitioners of this important, yet difficult to define and master, business discipline. Chapters include measuring processes; managing change; managing talent; managing globally, managing emotionally and managing millennials.

Innovation can be used to separate extraordinary compa-

nies from average companies. In Thinkers50 Innovation the authors present a guide to business innovation that looks at disruptive innovation; co-creating the future; how to open up innovation; innovation management and where innovation meets business strategy and societal impact.

To help business owner develop more clear and creative strategic thinking, Thinkers50 Strategy begins by tackling the foundational question of “What is strategy?” and moves on to provide insights in modern strategic management in easy-to-understand language, through chapters on: understanding competitive advantage; “hypercompetition” and beyond; and strategy in action.

RSMEANS 2014 CONTRACTOR’S PRICING GUIDE: RESIDENTIAL REPAIR AND REMODELING Reed Construction Data RSMeans 2014 Contractor Pricing Guide: Residential Repair & Remodeling Costs gives contractors total unit price costs for every aspect of the most common repair and remodeling projects, in a format organized for the way they build, from frame to finish.

With more than 7,000 items, the book covers pricing for every step needed to complete each task and includes demolition, installation, painting, cleaning and more. This essential guide covers the materials, labour and equipment costs of virtually any project, factoring in location for particular adjustments.

The data contained in the guide allows contractors to take the guesswork out of estimating any type of commercial renovation project anywhere in North America, from

simple to complex projects: office space, manufacturing, retail, schools and hospitals, and more. It is ideal for budgets from $10,000 to $1,000,000. Inside, contractors will find: • A complete sample estimate to guide customization and accuracy • Equipment rental costs, crew size projections, labor hours and labor rates • Reference section with more than 90 reference tables, estimating aids, and technical data • City Cost Indexes for over 900 locations in the U.S. and selected locations in Canada Now available in an eBook format and the pricing guide is also available as a book, CD and online.

Both books are currently available from www.amazon.ca and www.chapters.indigo.ca.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 17

CA

FEATURE

GENERATION

NEXT

T

odd Traux and Lissi Sorenson did not always know they wanted to pursue careers in the building trades, but each have found a place in the classrooms of Durham College’s School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship and Renewable Technology (START).

Traux served several years as a firefighter in the Canadian Air Force before following in his father’s footsteps to 18

|

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

learn the skills of a plumber. Sorenson, who excelled at art while going to high school, originally went to university to become an architect but discovered that she preferred to work with her hands like her father, uncle and grandfather, all of whom were millworkers. Now she is in the school’s construction carpentry program, which focuses on sustainable building techniques.

Both students should be welcome

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

additions to an industry that faces an intensifying skills shortage, and it appears they are not the only Canadian youth to look at trades in a positive light.

Apprenticeship Analysis: Youth Perceptions of Careers in the Skilled Trades, a recently released study by the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, found attitudes improving on a number of fronts. Compared to 2004, youth are more open to careers in skilled trades, more aware of

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

More Canadian youth see the value of building trades. Colleges and contractors play a key role in training them. BY JOHN G. SMITH

CA

FEATURE

who are instructing the next generation of workers, to reach out to those who are ready to hear the message.

Reaching out

career options, have access to more related information, and also value what tradespeople contribute to society.

Some of the improving opinions could reflect changing mindsets in high schools.

Today’s teachers are more likely to accept that students learn in different ways, suggests Sarah Watts-Rynard, the forum’s executive director. “If it is fine to be a hands-on learner, maybe it is fine to be a hands-on worker.”

The economic realities are also impossible for educators to ignore. Studies continue to identify university graduates who are unemployed or underemployed after finishing their schooling. The media and politicians alike have been raising the profiles of trades-related career paths. “All of those things start to have an impact together,” she says. The messages are increasingly being heard.

Now it is up to contractors, and those

Darrin Caron, principal/dean of Durham College’s Whitby campus, School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship and Renewable Technology, and Centre for Food, refers to his teams who are meeting with local Grade 7 and 8 students to discuss the high school classes needed to pursue a career in trades. Another event supported through Skills Canada gives women in the trades a chance to share their experiences with young members of their largely under-represented gender.

The influence of such an early exposure to trades has been observed for generations. Don Fishley, a professor in Durham College’s construction carpentry – sustainable program, established his personal love of construction when working alongside his father. When he was 14, his dad had secured a contract to build a horseradish factory, and that is where the future instructor first had the chance to work on foundations, install insulation and shingle a roof. It is where he first saw visions and drawings transformed into real things.

“When you grow up in it, you are more comfortable with it,” Traux agrees, looking back on his own experience.

The challenge is that some opportunities to introduce students to a trade have been limited or lost. Many high schools have reduced the size of their shop classes if they exist at all. Depending on the opportunities at home, some high school students have also had limited access to tools of any sort, let alone the chance to see how such tools could be applied in the workplace.

In Whitby, Ont., Durham College responded by introducing a trades fundamentals program, which this year will expose more than 100 students to five unique trades before requiring them to specialize in a particular field of study.

Last year the program had 60 students.

In their first year of studies, carpentry students can also expect to learn how to use tools when working with the wood

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 19

YOUR COMPLETE DOOR SOURCE GARDEN/TERRACE DOORS

FIBERGLASS ENTRANCES

GARDEN DOOR - MINI-BLINDS

PRE-FINISHED SMOOTH FIBERGLASS - SARATOGA

DECORATIVE GLASS

MONTEREY

BRISTOL

OAK PARK PRE-FINISHED POLYTECH STEEL DOOR - MONTEREY GLASS

HEIRLOOMS

INTERIOR DOORS

STORM DOORS

PRE-FINISHED STEEL ENTRANCES Entry and Garden Door ConямБgurations

Single

Single+1sl (L/R)

Single+2sl

Double FRENCH - 3050 CHINCILLA

Doorsmith is YOUR COMPLETE DOOR SOURCE.

LARSON - MODEL 356-60

GARAGE DOORS

Doorsmith is a full scale door manufacturing facility located in Central Ontario. Proudly Canadian, our logo bears the maple leaf as we employ locally and use Canadian materials.

Doorsmith offers top brands, industry leading delivery times, excellent service and warranties.

Distributed by:

See our entire line up at: www.doorsmith.ca

GARAGA - NORTH HATLEY

from skids, cutting and shaping individual pieces while creating cheese boards and birdhouses.

Work on full-sized houses follows.

As much as the interest grows, however, there are still barriers to overcome. “All through high school, they taught us that you need to go to university,” Sorenson recalls, referring to messages from guidance counselors and teachers alike. Trades-related careers were not exactly discounted, but there was always an unspoken message that these were careers of last resort; that if you cannot do anything else, then maybe you should explore a trade.

“I still think there is a perception by guidance counselors that A-level students should go to university,” Caron agrees. It is one of the reasons his teams continue to invite the high school advisors into the college, where many are exposed to a building trade for the first time.

“I do not know if they have any appreciation of how hard it is to build a home,” he says, adding that he is still in awe of the process himself.

PHOTO: JOHN G. SMITH

Apprentices Setting aside the school setting, contractors have their own role to play in preparing future employees. A mere one out of five employers in the skilled trades are hiring and training apprentices, observes Watts-Rynard.

“There needs to be jobs available to train them. They need the experience in the workplace,” she says.

“The skills shortages mean you have got to train them,” she adds. “The education system cannot train them by itself.”

This means more than opening the door to affordable labour. “You have got to work them through from A to Z,” Caron says. Apprentices need the chance to complete all the training required in their record of occupational progress, complete with the courses from recognized training institutions.

There always seems to be reasons for delays in the training. A comment that the workplace is “too busy” may be masking worries that an advancing apprentice will cost more money or quit before the studies are completed. Journeypersons, meanwhile, may be worried about losing their own jobs to the younger labour.

Time invested into previous apprentices

A recent study by the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum found youth are more open to careers in skilled trades. Lissi Sorenson and Todd Traux have both seen the promise in training through Durham College’s School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship and Renewable Technology (START) in Whitby, Ont. may have been discounted as being wasted after the would-be employees left for different career paths, or were lured to work for other contractors who offered a few more cents per hour.

Those who recognize the need to train apprentices despite these challenges may also need to help build effective bridges between a journeyperson and a younger generation of workers. “If I do not want you with me, the experience is not going to be great,” Caron says. Formal training plans and the right mentors will help to keep young people on their chosen career paths.

In a college context, professors have the chance to perfect the skills of teaching beyond the abilities they required in an original trade. Those who teach on a jobsite could benefit from guidance of their own.

Traux stresses that apprentices themselves still have a role to play in their success, taking responsibility for their own training needs. “High school does not prepare you to go out and work with men,” he says. Only time on a job site will do that, and few things will better express the realities of a real-world workplace than some time exposed to dirt and the weather. That said, he agrees personal attention can make a difference. A single journeyperson cannot be expected to give three apprentices the attention they need, he says. Luckily, when he feels the need to practice a particular task, his employer is

more than willing to accommodate him.

“You have got to have the compassion, to take the time,” Fishley says, referring to work with apprentices. “You have to give them the opportunity to grow.”

He also believes contractors should give college students more credit when they arrive to begin an apprenticeship. “They have to treat them with a little respect in the form of the paycheque,” he says.

The level of skills they already have can be surprising. When working on a recent Habitat for Humanity project, for example, the Durham College students were the only volunteers allowed to work on the roof because they had been properly trained in how to use fall arrest systems.

Colleges, meanwhile, are starting to recognize that would-be apprentices have wider interests than some of their predecessors. In fact, the programs have evolved to reflect a more complex industry.

“It is no longer just a carpentry program,” Fishley says as an example, noting how students want to see how individual tasks can play a role in a broader system.

The latest generation of students is also more interested in sustainability than ever before. It is one of the promises that attracted Sorenson to her course.

Of course, Traux suggests he was attracted by one thing above all else. “There is absolutely money to be made in trades,” he says. It is a promise that has led him to build a new career path.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 21

CA

FEATURE

KITCHEN CHANGE As it continues to evolve into an entertainment centre, a kitchen with leading-edge appliances is the must-have for homeowners

BY DAVID CHILTON SAGGERS

I

n the many-tiered universe that is cable television, there are three staples: property, cooking and renovations.

For an enterprising TV producer looking for his next series, kitchen renovations would bring all three topics together under one show title.

Where once finished basements and carpeted rec rooms were the must-haves of home ownership, a technologically up-to-the-minute kitchen is now de rigeur.

Jim Mahoney, assistant vice-president of appliances, furniture and bedding at Cantrex in Mississauga, Ont., says when he talks to his members across the country they say the kitchen has become the focal point in the house.

“It is the entertainment centre. Now a lot of homes have a kitchen overlooking the family room or the TV room. Consumers want the latest and greatest,” he says. There are different reasons for householders buying new appliances, says Mahoney, citing the usual reasons such as replacing one that is broken, or because they are moving to a new home or because they are renovating.

“Today’s consumer wants the newest and the latest designs and to follow trends, not only in appliances but in everything else. They want space saving, energy efficient, easy to use and easy to clean appliances.”

The latest development in the evolution of kitchen appliances is the introduction of steam, says Mahoney. It can be found in ovens and microwave ovens, and washers and dryers. With kitchen ranges gas stove use is growing by leaps and bounds, says the self-described “appliance guy,” and induction cooking 22

|

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

CA

PHOTO: EURO-RITE CABINETS

FEATURE

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 23

CHARACTER ISN’T SOMETHING YOU LACE UP.

YOU BUILD IT.

As we celebrate the unveiling of our new look, there’s no better time to announce that CGC is an official supplier of The Canadian Olympic Team at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. The integrity and passion of these athletes inspire us all. And as they work to build their dreams, we too will continue to provide the products, innovations, service and support that enable you to build outstanding spaces everywhere.

OFFICIAL CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS PARTNER OF THE CANADIAN OLYMPIC TEAM FOURNISSEUR OFFICIEL DE MATÉRIAUX DE CONSTRUCTION DE L’ÉQUIPE OLYMPIQUE CANADIENNE

© 2013 CGC A USG COMPANY The trademarks and the CGC Logo™, It’s Your World. Build it.™ and other related marks are trademarks of USG Corporation or its subsidiaries or affiliates.

Design Talk

PHOTO: EURO-RITE CABINETS

Donnie Hynes is the owner and founder, in 1995, of One Stop Kitchen and Countertops in Fredericton, N.B. The company provides cabinetry, countertops and private design consultation using its 20/20 software.

is another big trend. It uses a micro magnetic field to directly heat a pot or a pan rather than heating up an element and transferring the heat to the pot or pan. “It is really a neat way of heating utensils. It is very expensive at this point, but as the price comes down it will certainly be a great way to create instant heat,�

Mahoney says.

Another innovation growing in popularity is the stove with the double oven. One of its main attractions is energy efficiency, since a smaller space is cheaper and faster to heat than a larger one. Another plus is its convenience. As Mahoney explains, a roast can be cooking in one oven and lasagna can be baking in another.

As for finishes, Mahoney says white is still the most popular at lower price

points for all appliances with stainless steel common among those who can afford them. Coloured appliances are available too, not the avocado horrors of the 1970s, but there are fridges and stoves painted black, red and other colours, says Mahoney, for those prepared to pay their budget-busting prices.

Of course, using all these appliances means there is plenty of dishwashing to do.

Fortunately, dishwashers are becoming as common as microwaves. What is different about the new models, however, is not so much what they do but how they do it.

Mahoney says one of the chief selling points of the new dishwashers is quietness of operations. As for the hookup between smart technology and appliances, Mahoney says everyone is looking at it, but

Q. W hat are the first things to consider when renovating and redesigning a kitchen?

A. I think the first thing to consider is a commitment from the homeowner, whether they are going to stay with the present design of the room itself.

What we see now is that the trend is back towards renovation. In the last couple of years there has been a lot more renovation than new construction. The homeowner also has to decide whether they are going to stay with the present dimensions or if they are going to make some structural changes.

Let us say that they are going to stay with the room that they have, then what we do is offer to give them updated products, give them an easier layout. We are an aging society so everybody wants convenience.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 25

PR N O EW DU CT

A Taiga Synergy Flooring Product A

ig Ta

aS

rg yne

y Floorin gP ro du ct

picture

perfect

Bring out the beauty of your home with ‘Portraits’ by Taiga Synergy.

This laminate flooring is long lasting and durable in a wide range of colours.

You would be hard pressed to tell the difference between this, and real hardwood.

• AC4 Wear Rating for Residential and Commercial Use • Waxed Edge for Easy Installation and Extra Protection • • Drop Lock System, Licensed by Välinge Innovations • Available in Both Wide or Narrow Plank Designs •

TaigaSynergy.com

it is still a very expensive proposition. “There are some products with a built-in LED or a wi-fi connectivity that allows customers from their cars or their cellphones to start their cleaning cycle or turn on their oven, but they are not widely used at this point.”

The kitchen triangle

PHOTO: EURO-RITE CABINETS

“Appliance supremacy” in the kitchen is a fact, but no renovation should leave a stove standing alone like some king without a kingdom. That means that the queen, or the refrigerator as it is commonly known, and the crown prince, usually called a sink, are sited to create the kitchen triangle. They are the most used elements of a kitchen and should form a triangle that is at least 4’ long on each side but no longer than 9’.

In addition to the stove having the company of a fridge and sink (or double sinks) it should not be forgotten that whoever is using the stove will need plenty of flat surfaces right there where meals are being prepared and when it is time for cleaning up. Similarly, plenty of flat working surfaces should also surround the dishwasher. Ensuring that there is a kitchen triangle should not delay the average renovation or push up the budget with the rerouting of sources of power or the changing of pipes and plumbing. That is because, says Mahoney, the placement of appliances in most kitchens still follows tradition: at one angle of the triangle will be the sink (or sinks) under the kitchen window, for example.

Right behind appliances in importance in the kitchen is cabinetry. Nikki

Nejmeldeen, client services manager at Euro-Rite Cabinets in Pitt Meadows, B.C., says the changing role of kitchens is something designers have to consider.

“It is all about function and ease and togetherness,” says Nejmeldeen. “Cabinetry can be not only incorporated in the main part of the kitchen, but carried on through desk areas or hutches that tie in with that space because it is transitional.”

Designers need to consider a family’s lifestyle: who is using the kitchen, what kind of food the family prepares, and even what kind of entertaining it does, Nejmeldeen says.

Beyond those concerns there is also the question of how the cabinets actually work, says Murray Downey, sales manager at Eastland Industries in Minto, N.B. He says there are more slide-outs in base cabinets, and more homeowners want drawers rather than doors, some of them up to 3’ wide.

Both Downey and Nejmeldeen say soft close doors and drawers are the new norm.

As for the materials used, Downey says his customers still want wood because it symbolizes quality, but medium density fibreboard is the better bet. It provides a beautiful finish, can meet any colour requirement, and because it is all one piece its durability cannot be questioned. Given its modernity, MDF lends itself to trends in cabinetry colour and style. Nejmeldeen says bold, solid colours are popular at the moment, and cabinets have a streamlined, unfussy look, no small consideration if space is at a premium. Remember, says Nejmeldeen, 6” to 9” cabinets can be very useful.

Q. When it comes to renovation how does cost factor into the equation?

A. U sually the main factor is cost. A lot of the time the design of the kitchen is restricted by cost. People will come in with a drawing and they want a kitchen just like it, but unfortunately it is a $150,000 kitchen in a $5 million home, and they want that kitchen for $7,500.

Q. W hat about an understanding of what can and cannot be done with a kitchen? Whether they are going to add to it or work within the existing space is the question.

A. We have certain things that we call “hard measurements” in a kitchen.

For instance, when working with an existing room hard measurements in the kitchen are the size of the windows and doors and the size of the appliances. These are things that once you know them they do not change. From there we manipulate the measurements to get the best layout for that person.

Everybody has their own ideas about what they want, and some are torn between what they want and what they need and then there is what actually works. We put that together.

Q. If appliances are the first order of business in a kitchen then cabinetry is the second. How do you approach that?

A. We have six kitchen displays here and we have a multitude of samples of doors, and for us the next step from the dimensions and the appliances is the design. From that point we will ask if there is something specific that they really want to have in their kitchen. You pick their brain a little bit, you find some accessories that they want, and you go from there. Once I have gotten the preliminary design then I can bring the customers in. Then what happens is you get their input. At that point you have pretty well got them because now they have not just hired you to design the kitchen they have actually participated in the design themselves.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 27

CA

entry code FEATURE

Your new

Regulations for doors are changing. Learn how to spot the products designed to meet the new standards, plus discover the latest trends driving door design and style.

BY STEFAN DUBOWSKI

28

|

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

CA

FEATURE

N

ew building codes mean contractors must pay close attention to the labels on the doors they buy and install.

Regulations now require builders to use only doors that meet specific benchmarks for airtightness, water resistance and other criteria. The updated rules also call on manufacturers to test their wares for performance and label their products to display test results.

PHOTO: JELD-WEN, PLY GEM

Building-code boost In 2010, Canada’s federal government updated the National Building Code to align entry-door regulations with those of the U.S., so manufacturers on both sides of the border can use similar product-testing procedures. Based on the North American Fenestration Standard and a CSA-developed supplement that speaks to Canada’s particularly cold climate, this new code ensures that doors provide a certain degree of structural support and insulation.

Now provinces across the country are adopting the latest national code criteria in their own building codes. British Columbia, Saskatchewan and others have done so already, while Ontario will follow suit on Jan. 1, 2014. (See “Provincial regulations…” on p. 31 for details.) These new and higher expectations for door performance mean that contractors must scrutinize the doors they install and make sure the products meet the guidelines. If a building inspector finds that doors are not up to code, a contractor may be obligated to replace them.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 29

Fenestration Canada, an organization representing door and window manufacturers.

At press time, the group planned to have the calculator up and running on its website (www.fenestrationcanada.ca)before the end of the 2013.

Better-built doors

Zone control The new regulations categorize performance criteria according to climate. This weather-related grouping makes it a bit more difficult to figure out just which door suits each project.

“Depending on where you are in Canada, different standards apply,” says Brad West, director of sales at door manufacturer Jeld-Wen Canada.

For example, a door for a house in Dawson City, Yukon (where the average January daytime temperature is -21°C) must offer better insulation than a door for a house in downtown Toronto (where the average daytime January temperature is 20°C warmer). As well, a door installed in a house on open terrain (e.g., facing a field and exposed to the elements) must meet higher wind-and water-resistance levels than a door installed in a relatively sheltered urban or suburban setting.

The national code provides charts that illustrate the waterpenetration and airtightness performance requirements for different climate zones. To provide further clarity, door manufacturers have developed an online calculator to help contractors quickly figure out how airtight and water-resistant the doors for a particular project must be. Available online soon, this calculator does the math in a jiff.

“You identify your location, the height of your building, the exposure of the building and it will give you the performance level required,” explains Lisa Bergeron, Jeld-Wen’s governmentrelations manager and chair of the fabricators’ council under 30

|

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

The new building-code standards call on manufacturers to build better doors. Jeld-Wen is enhancing its doorsills and weather stripping for superior airtightness and water management. Ply Gem is improving its products, too. In fact, the manufacturer plans to patent a new door design that combines a low-profile threshold with a drain cavity doorsill for a sleek look and superior protection.

Yet as manufacturers prepare their products, the industry continues to hammer out certain details related to the new building code. For instance, at press time, Fenestration Canada was still developing labelling best practices to ensure labels are easy to understand and enable consumers to compare the performance of different doors on the market.

Fenestration Canada plans to finalize the labelling guidelines before the end of the 2013. For now, however, we can say that the guidelines will require doors to feature a permanent label with the name of the manufacturer and another either permanent or temporary label that displays the product’s test results and performance characteristics.

The standards themselves are in flux too, says Jeff Baker, technical specialist at WESTLab, a fenestration product testing facility. The industry continues to debate various elements in the code with an eye toward improving standards even more.

One problem for manufacturers that the industry would like to address: the 2010 code does not clearly distinguish between a protected entry door and an unprotected entry door. Different performance standards apply. Until the code is amended for clarity on this point, manufacturers will find it difficult to categorize their products.

Frank Lohmann, senior technical advisor on housing and small buildings at the Canadian Code Centre, a division of the National Research Council, explains that the federal government plans to clarify the section of the code dealing with protected doors, but the changes will not appear until 2020. (He adds that although 2020 may seem well into the future from a manufacturer’s and contractor’s point of view, it is just around the corner from a code-development perspective; government and industry need years to develop each new version.)

PHOTO: JELD-WEN, WEISER

Fibreglass takes off The updated building code is not the only news for contractors. Door-industry insiders note certain emerging product trends, too: the rise of fibreglass, for one. In the past, steel doors were the most popular by far. Today, steel still rules, but the market for fibreglass doors is growing, especially now that manufacturers have perfected the wood-grain look on fibreglass slabs. Homeowners can marry the weather resistance of fibreglass with various styles, say a craftsman-suited fir grain or a traditional mahogany, says Ply Gem marketing director Glen Janiszewski.

Homeowners and builders seek larger doors these days as well as wide as 3’6” and more often 8’ instead of 7’ in height.

Larger homes lead this trend. “In most cases, the ceiling height is now either 9’ or 10’,” explains West. “That enables residences to have larger doors on the front for a better presentation from the street.”

Contractors should also note that the market for storm doors is blowing away, says Ply Gem’s product development manager Marcus Hindemith. In the past, storm doors were installed to help protect entry doors from the elements. Now that entry doors are made of resilient steel and fibreglass, storm doors are no longer needed, and they often detract from the stylistic impression that a builder or homeowner means to make with the design of the entry-door system.

Simplicity is proving popular, according to Jason Tucker, sales manager at Can-Save’s Doorsmith division. He points out that as building codes become more complicated and manufacturers develop new options, the breadth of choice for anyone trying to identify the best door-and-sidelight combination can be overwhelming. Can-Save has whittled back the options for shoppers, presenting a simpler selection system. Tucker says it takes just a few minutes and a few steps for the vast majority of customers to pinpoint the perfect door for their situation, thanks to this streamlining.

As for door hardware, lock provider Weiser has kicked up the tech quotient with its latest security system. Called Kevo, this deadbolt connects to a smartphone via an encrypted Bluetooth link. With phone in hand, purse or pocket, an owner only has to touch the deadbolt to release the mechanism. No smartphone? No problem: a fob option is available as well.

Users can also program their locks to accept temporary, erasable smartphone keys, which are perfect for cleaners, houseguests and repair people.

How did Weiser come up with the Kevo concept? “It was

featured on Shark Tank,” says Jeff Smuk, national account manager for Spectrum Brands Hardware and Home Improvement, Weiser’s parent company.

Shark Tank is the U.S. TV program on which entrepreneurs pitch business ideas to a panel of potential investors. Smuk explains that Kevo’s creators, who initially called the product UniKey, attracted $500,000 in funding on the show last year.

Then Spectrum partnered with the entrepreneurs to bring the product to market by the end of 2013.

Kevo offers something new: a degree of home automation for the average homeowner who may not be able to afford a highend electronic house-control system. Along the same lines, door manufacturers like Ply Gem and Jeld-Wen give homeowners new options for beautiful entryways that also protect against weather better than ever. Security, style and comfort make all the difference when contractors aim to impress their customers.

Meanwhile, a contractor’s knowledge of the new regulations makes all the difference when inspectors drop by a build site to make sure the right door was used.

Provincial regulations for door performance Canada’s National Building Code offers guidelines for door performance, but only provincial and territorial governments can enforce the code and make it a legal requirement. Courtesy of the National Research Council, here are the jurisdictions across the country that have adopted the latest (2010) standards: • Yukon Territory (April 2011) • Northwest Territories (December 2012) • Saskatchewan (May 2013) • Manitoba (April 2011) • Ontario (January 2014) • Nova Scotia (June 2011) • Prince Edward Island (2011, specifically in Stratford, Summerside and Charlottetown) • Newfoundland and Labrador (partially adopted)

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 31

EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE! CHOOSE KENTO FOR ENERGY STAR CERTIFIED WINDOWS AND ENTRANCE SYSTEMS! Kento manufactures its windows from start to finish. Our glass units are sealed using revolutionary Duralite™, the most thermally efficient spacer on the market. Custom sizes are available at no extra charge in both traditional white and modern beige. We can create many different shapes and styles, designed to accommodate even the most imaginative planner.

Kento entrance systems can incorporate a multitude of decorative glass options and unique slab selections. We also offer an extensive commodity door collection. Whether modern or adventurous, traditionally elegant, or simply clean and functional, we can provide a high quality door to suit your personal style.

Our Energy Star Certified Windows and Entrance Systems are designed to save you money – while helping do our small part to save the environment. *New in 2014, Coloured Windows!

PO Box 20009 Conception Bay South NL A1W 3L1 1-800-563-8887

WWW.KENTO.CA

CA

FEATURE

Sam LAY IT AGAIN,

When it comes to flooring, some old favourites such as oak, walnut and maple are poised for a comeback in 2014.

PHOTO: SHNIER GESCO LTD.

BY NESTOR E. ARELLANO

F

or what seems like a fleeting moment, homeowners flirted with floors covered with Brazilian beauties such a cumaru and jatoba, but the appeal of these and other imported exotic hardwoods species (like acacia, kempas and teak) appear to be waning.

In fact, flooring experts are predicting that old standards such as oak, walnut and maple will once more grace the floor of many Canadian homes.

Jeff Morrison, national account manager for wood specialist Goodfellow Inc., says the shift in flooring interest can be summed up in two words: reality and realism.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 33

Reality and realism “Around 2008 and 2009 we saw the rise in popularity of many exotic wood species as flooring, trim and even furniture material,” he says. “Today’s economic realities make cost-conscious options more attractive.”

Expect exotics to still be visible in niche application in 2014, but be prepared to find traditional choices looming large.

The reality of the extreme weather conditions in Canada also took its toll on imported wood products. Many suppliers rushed to meet the rising demand for exotics, but some of the products were not properly treated or suited for our wildly-swinging temperature extremes, Morrison says. Moisture issues resulted in a lot of warped, cupped and shrinking floor planks and some very dissatisfied customers.

“When people do the math, many figure that paying $3.29 per square foot for a solid oak flooring or $2.50 per square foot for an engineered is a better deal than paying $5 per square foot for jatoba, because there are now many cheaper options that have come a long way in looks and durability,” he says.

The rustic and worn appearance of reclaimed wood from century-old barns and abandoned buildings was similarly a big trend a few years back. That look, however, came at a premium with prices ranging from $4 per square foot to as much as $18 per square foot.

Today, distressed flooring provides 34

|

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

a viable cheaper alternative, Morrison says. For example brand new hardwood planks like Goodfellow’s Chateau Collection sport the Old World look of antique lumber with the benefit and durability of new wood thanks to a mechanical process called hand scraping.

By passing each plank through a press that scrapes the wood, the process attempts to emulate the 15th Century method of scraping wooden floor planks by hand to even them out. The hand tools used at that time left imperfections on the wood such as dents and marks which now are considered quaint and desirable attributes.

Wire brushing is another way of distressing wood flooring either during or after manufacturing with the use of hard

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

wire brushes. Whereas hand scraping leaves a relatively smooth finish, wire brushing produces a more weathered look that exposes more grain and texture.

The look of hand scraped and wire brushed wood can also be found in engineered wood and laminate flooring products.

In recent years, advances in flooring technology has also enabled many manufacturers to offer homeowners low-cost ceramic and porcelain tiles that have the look and feel of expensive stone tiles, according to Rodrigo Carvajal, senior vicepresident for strategic development and management at Montreal-based flooring material manufacturer Mono Serra Group.

“Manufacturers have reached a much

according to John Vloet, director of corporate accounts with Quickstyle Industries.

Installing wood without allowing it to properly acclimate can lead to gapping, cupping or even board width variations.

“A good rule of thumb is to allow wood and laminates or even vinyl to acclimatize to room temperature for at least 48 hours,” says Vloet. “You will find, though, that different flooring manufacturers have their own specifications.”

He also recommends that contractors invest in a moisture test meter to be able to accurately determine that the moisture levels of materials are within manufacturer specifications.

PHOTO: SHNIER GESCO LTD.

Here are a few more installation and handling tips: greater degree of realism in their products,” he says. “Thanks to improvements in digital printing, tiles such as those you find in our Di Natura line are almost indistinguishable from real quartz, travertine, slate, marble or granite tiles.”

High-resolution printers with 24 industrial print heads render real-like patterns and striations on the tiles. While the older method of glazing produced a limited number of pattern variations, the digital printing method is able to render 28 different tile patterns to help reduce the likelihood of similar patterns being placed closed to each other.

Walk on the wide side Along with warmer tones and distressing,

mixed widths will be in vogue for 2014, according to Steve Caldow, product manager at floor covering company, Shnier Gesco Ltd. For example, where 12”x12” tiles were the norm, expect to see dimensions like 13”x13” and even rectangular tiles like 13”x19” or 24”x16”.

“The larger scale tends to give many interiors a lovelier and more luxurious feel,” says Caldow.

Flooring types and proper handling One of the most common mistakes in flooring installation that even some seasoned contractors overlook is failing to allow flooring materials to acclimatize,

Hardwood: This type of flooring is 100% milled from lumber. Hardwood normally costs between $3.29 and $6.50 per square foot. Apart from being great for almost any room, hardwood is also ideal for use on stairs. While naturally strong, hardwood reacts to changes in moisture and temperature, which tends to make it shrink or expand or warp and crack.

Be sure to leave sufficient room for expansion around the perimeter of a room.

Engineered hardwood: This type of hardwood is made up of three to 10 layers of thin strips of lumber called piles that are glued together. Engineered hardwood prices start at around $2.50 per square

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 35

foot. The construction gives it greater stability than solid hardwood and addresses the shrinking, expanding, warping and cracking. It can be installed below ground.

Both solid and engineered hardwood are available prefinished or site-finished.

Factory finished planks are typically coated with an aluminum-oxide coating that makes them resistant to scratching and scuffing.

Solid hardwood is ideal for most rooms in the home but is not recommended for below grade; neither it nor engineered wood are recommended for bathroom installations. When working with solid hardwood, invest in a nailer for faster installation. Engineered hardwood can be stapled, glued or installed as floating floors that do not need to be nailed or glued to the subfloor.

Oriented strandboard (OSB) and plywood are ideal subflooring for hardwood floors. Squeaky floors can be annoying and are often caused by the smooth shank of the nail rubbing against the OSB or plywood sub-panel. To address this, use

adhesive when installing sub-floor panels and use the proper fasteners when repairing or building new floors. Also make sure that the sub floor panels and joists are not running against any heat ducts or joist hangers.

Laminate: This type of wood flooring is typically made of four layers. Laminates can cost as little as $0.99 per square foot to about as much as $3 per square foot. Laminates are floating floors and, depending on the brand, can be glued or clicked together. They can go over most any type of floor as long as it is smooth, flat and dry. Laminates require a foam type underlayment.

Tools you will have to keep handy are a tapping block, to help you fit planks and tighten joints, and belt sander, which can help you level out any uneven parts of the subflooring.

Vinyl tiles: This material consists of four layers: a urethane wear layer protects against scuffs and scratches; a thin film

layer protects against rips and gauges; a design layer contains the colours and patterns and, the structural vinyl backing provides strength and stability. Prices start at around $0.79 per square foot.

Luxury vinyl tiles: LVTs are basically made of the same materials as regular vinyl tiles but they are built to last longer.

LVTs have embossed grain patterns that correspond with the printed patterns on their design layer and result in a more convincing facsimile of real wood. Prices start at around $1.89 per square foot.

Both LVT and regular vinyl tiles are ideal for high traffic areas such as kitchens, hallways and mudrooms and can also be used in basements and bathrooms.

They are warmer and softer than other tiles such as stone, ceramic or porcelain so they are ideal for playrooms and children’s rooms.

Many vinyl tiles have peel-and-stick backing, others may require glue. Some LVT products use pressure sensitive adhesive. Both can be installed over almost

Bamboo and cork flooring will continue to serve niche markets, according to John Vloet, director of corporate accounts for Quickstyle Industries.

Very popular about two years ago, Bamboo costs between approximately $1.89 and $3 per square foot. It has a unique look and is stronger than some hardwood species, however, its look has fallen out of favour among buyers recently.

“Bamboo only represents 1% of our market but the species is popular among homeowners looking for flooring materials made out of sustainable products,” Vloet says. "Bamboo is sustainable because it takes only about five to seven years to replenish trees that have been cut.”

Cork is another flooring material that is generally considered ecofriendly. To produce cork flooring, only the bark of the cork tree is harvested. The tree itself is left to continue growing.

Cork is soft and warm making it ideal for areas such as kitchens and living rooms. Depending on the finish and durability of its wear layer, cork can retail from between $5 and $10 per square foot.

Cork’s insulation and sound damping properties as well hypoallergenic qualities make it quite a unique product, Vloet says.

36

|

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

PHOTO: SHNIER GESCO LTD. PHOTO: QUICKSTYLE, THINKSTOCK IMAGES

Niche markets

any subflooring and require no underlayment. Make sure the subfloor is clean and smooth as any bumps and imperfections will show through the surface.

Ceramic and porcelain tiles: These tiles are clay-based. They are durable, water, stain and wear resistant making them ideal for installation in kitchens, baths, basements, laundry rooms and porches.

They are priced from between $0.99 per square foot to about $15 per square foot for the most intricately designed tiles.

Although both tiles are made of clay, porcelain is made with a more refined clay and is fired at a higher temperature than ceramic. This makes porcelain harder and longer wearing.

Both ceramic and porcelain can be very cold surfaces during winters. To remedy this, homeowners can have radiant or hydronic heating coils installed under the tile surface.

To prevent chipping and cracking, tiles must be installed over firmly supported subflooring. Sealing tile grout is recommended for easier cleaning.

For laying floor tiles in a shower area, consider suggesting the installation of a free formed shower floor. This is basically a ready-made shower space flooring with integrated curb and ribbing and provisions for drainage pipe. Tiles can be installed directly to the free formed floor eliminating the need for contractors to mud and pitch the shower base’s floor or frame the shower base’s curb.

Carpets: Carpets are still among the most economical flooring choice in the market and are available in rolls. Some broadloom models can be purchase for as little as $0.65 per square foot while better quality products will sell for around $2.50 per square foot and up.

Carpets provide a soft and warm surface to walk but they are vulnerable to staining and moisture. Carpets are ideal for living rooms, bedrooms and stairs, but are not recommended for the bathroom or basements, where mildew and mold may be a problem.

Carpet can be installed over wood subfloors but when installing over concrete make sure the concrete is properly sealed.

Use the manufacturer recommended padding and never put carpet over an existing padding. Carpets can be stapled onto a wood subfloor or glued down.

RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE RIGHT JOB Different types of flooring materials require different tools. Here is a shortlist of some of the implements that contractors need to keep in their tool bag.

For hardwood installation: • Always have a moisture test meter to help determine wood moisture content.

• A light, portable miter saw is ideal for cutting planks.

• Keep a smaller secondary saw or oscillating tool handy to make cuts in tight spaces.

For vinyl installation: • A sharp utility knife is indispensable for cutting vinyl to make them fit in odd spaces.

• A copping saw for cutting circular shapes.

• Use tin snippers for cutting odd shapes.

• Tile rollers can be used to smooth out installed tiles.

For ceramic, porcelain and stone tile installations: • Tile nippers are needed for cutting tiles to size when necessary.

• A notched trowel should be used for spreading cement and grout.

For carpet installations: • Use a carpet seam-roller for pressing the edges of carpeting that have been seamed together.

• A trowel or trimmer is useful for tucking the edge of carpet up against the wall.

• A power stretcher is essential for making sure the carpet is properly stretched and fits nicely.

• Use a bonding iron to heat up the heat-activated carpet tape used to bond the seams of carpeting material.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 37

CA

LUMBER INNOVATIONS FEATURE

From its use in mid-rise residential building to a foray into foundations to its role in sustainable building, innovation is breathing new life into lumber.

BY LAWRENCE CUMMER

A

breakout year for U.S. housing, product advancements, sustainable building trends and code changes all point to a positive year for the lumber industry.

That is the good news. The bad news is that the cost of lumber is on the rise.

The lumber outlook in Canada is heavily dependent on housing builds south of the border, the recovery for which is well underway.

“I think we are just on the verge of a breakout year for housing construction in the United States,” says Peter Andersen, principal at Andersen Economic Research Inc., consultant to the Canadian Home Builders’ Association. “In fact, I think the recovery cycle for U.S. housing is going to last right through to the end of the decade.”

He points to a serious shortfall in housing inventory that has built up in the past five years, creating a pent-up demand, and says that he fully expects 2014 lumber prices to exceed their 2013 38

|

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

peaks due to it. With over 900,000 starts in the U.S. in 2013, Andersen predicts 1.2 million in 2014 and 1.5 million in 2015.

That is still well short of the 1.8 million to 1.9 million housing starts that could be expected in a normal economy given population growth and other factors.

Price pressures will spill over the border to Canada where, Andersen says, housing starts are not as high. In short, builders can expect higher prices for framing lumber with fewer new homes being built. Still, the need and demand for new homes is there.

“There is a lot of misinformation in the Canadian market,” Andersen says. “If you look at the news out of Toronto, lowrise sales have dropped but not prices; this is largely because of a shortage of inventory. There’s a supply problem.”

Still, he predicts a healthy market in renovations in Canada, mirroring opportunities the U.S. saw as recession-laden new homeowners turned to fixer-uppers and existing homeowners were reluctant

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

or unable to move to new homes.

Paul Lansbergen, vice-president of regulations and partnerships at the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), also predicts positive economic momentum in 2014, but suggest beyond that the market becomes hazier.

“It is still a little vulnerable, but at least it is happening and the U.S. housing starts have begun to approach back to a million housing starts a year,” he says.

“That is obviously a good sign and certainly the lumber producers in Canada have been able to benefit from the recovery in 2013.” The reasons he cites are continued uncertainty around the U.S. housing market and what he calls “a new era in North American homebuilding.”

The aftershock of the 2008 recession also caused tighter mortgage rules in the U.S., ultimately changing homebuyer priorities. “Before 2005, they were building some really large homes, and new starts now are becoming a bit smaller and require less volume of wood,” Lansbergen says.

CA

PHOTO: FORESTRY INNOVATION INVESTMENT LTD.

FEATURE

“I think that trend will continue, although I am not sure exactly at what speed or how different it will become.”

Lansbergen also points to the trend towards multi-family residences that has already begun as a factor creating future uncertainty. “The building culture for multi-family is different than it is for single family,” he says. “Wood traditionally has been used a bit less because there has been more concrete and steel.”

That may change.

Rising Up The lumber industry has undergone significant innovation over the last decade in areas such as composite, engineered and pressure treatment, which are now expanding wood’s use into different applications, according to Michael Giroux, president at the Canadian Wood Council (CWC).

Meanwhile building codes have changed, or are in the process of changing in regions across Canada, to make better use of the capabilities some of these new

wood products have to offer and, Giroux says, allow builders to take advantage of the material’s green attributes.

“We are relearning how to use wood in construction,” he says. Many forwardlooking uses for wood, like in framing mid-rise buildings, call back to wood structures built over a century ago that still stand today; a time before the resource was displaced in these structures by concrete and steel.

Efforts are taking place around the country to promote wood use in mid-rise buildings, taking advantage of advances made in engineered wood products and engineering. In 1995, the National Building Code and Fire Codes of Canada changed to allow four storey wood buildings, where it has sat unchanged for nearly 20 years.

B.C. changed its provincial code in 2009 to allow wood buildings to reach heights of up to six storeys, starting the ball rolling for more changes.

“There are now more than 250 midrise buildings that have been built, are

under construction or in the design phase in B.C. as a result of that code change,” Giroux says. “That is a very important practical outcome.”

Since then, the province of B.C. has requested that the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes investigate similarly moving the national code.

Ontario is looking at the opportunity for mid-rise wood buildings, has conducted a series of code consultations and obtained feedback from various interested parties, including firefighters, builders and the CWC. “It looks like they may go with the amendments being recommended in the 2015 National Model Construction Codes and, if they do, they may actually adopt them a little early, seeking to amend the 2010 code.”

In April of 2013, the Quebec government released a guide on the construction of five- and six-storey wooden residential buildings based on B.C.’s code, the proposals submitted to the National

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 39

Building Code and specific requirements of the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ), the province’s building board. The guide will help construction professionals apply RBQ’s legal and administrative guidelines and become familiar with the technical requirements of building of mid-rise woodframe buildings, such as load calculations, fire resistance, sound insulation, materials, and anchoring systems.

“It is all about construction choices,” Giroux says. “It allows builders to take expensive land, like that associated with main streets and build less expensively.

It is good for the construction industry and probably good for the forestry sector at the same time.”

Solid foundations Improvement in pressure-treated lumber (PTL) is also creating opportunities for greater use of wood, says Henry Walthert, executive director at Wood Preservation Canada. “In particular, one area evolving is the use of PTL in wood foundations.”

Once more of a western Canadian phenomenon, where tract builders have used permanent wood foundations across entire housing developments, Walthert says pockets of builders in central and eastern provinces are now incorporating it into their projects. Why? These load-bearing walls, which are built with PTL and sheathed with pressure-treated plywood, can save construction time and allow foundations to be built in weather conditions or geographies where concrete cannot be used. “Where it is difficult to get concrete, say a remote location or up north, it is a great alternative,” Walthert says.

These foundations are also popular in Canada’s north or First Nation reserves, Walthert says, although often for crawl spaces rather than full foundations.

“From an accessibility point of view, obviously it is easier to get wood into some of these locations.”

Proponents of permanent wood foundation cite a number of advantages. “From a consumer’s perspective wood foundations are warmer. They are basically a stud wall that is below grade, so you have all the insulation, and wood tends to be a better insulator.”

He adds, “They also tell us that it is dryer. You do not get the dampness you might otherwise be used to. Also, it is easier to finish; there is already a sub wall right there for you.”

40

|

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

Hybrid SIP (structural insulated panels) and pre-fab panels for foundation are further increasing interest, by meeting energy requirements more easily. While not pure wood, these hybrid panels help reduce energy costs and are also helping drive PTL wood foundations into markets where they have traditionally been less popular.

“For example, in Ontario it never really took off, but now with hybrid options and because of the energy requirements it is finding a niche.”

Walthert stresses that it is crucial for contractors building permanent wood foundations to recognize the difference between preserved wood foundation (PWF) and other pressure-treated products. The product must meet the CSA S406 construction standard (for preserved wood foundations up to two storeys and no more than 600 m2) and correct PWF

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

material will be stamped that it conforms to the CSA Standard 0322.

In typical outdoor uses, PTL continues to see competition from composite products, Lansbergen says, each suggesting different advantages. While composite products boast similar durability and lower maintenance, PTL tends to be the more affordable choice and may last longer, although requiring more upkeep to do so. Also, some composite products may be more complicated to work with than PTL, he adds.

Getting greener Certainly one of the reasons experts cite for increased interest in wood is the green building movement.

“When you combine new wood products and their performance attributes with the fact that these are relatively environmentally-friendly products the

PHOTO: FORESTRY INNOVATION INVESTMENT LTD.

combination makes this a new age for wood,” Giroux says.

From an environmental life-cycle analysis perspective, which incorporates such factors as embodied energy (the sum of energy used to produce a good or service), carbon neutrality, construction, use and disposal, there is a huge opportunity for wood in sustainable design. “We have not even been able to factor carbon sequestration into it yet,” Giroux adds, referring to a forest’s natural ability to capture and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

A bio-energy boom taking effect in forestry industries may play another role in lumber’s green story. For some time the lumber industry has been burning by-products and residue in lumber kilns or in panel mills. The remainder is then sold to their sister companies in pulp and paper, who typically have greater thermal and electrical needs. “They can then burn

it to generate the steam they need and also, if they have an electrical turbine, use it to generate green power,” Lansbergen says.

In this way the lumber and pulp and paper industries are able to generate the majority of their energy needs, and some pulp and paper mills, in fact, export power back to the energy grid.

Even as opportunities for lumber use in new areas of construction (and energy) expand, it is still critical that the industry does not rest on its laurels, Giroux notes.

“Complacency implies you are happy with your product the way it is and we cannot do that. We need to provide wood products and wood building systems that will help achieve a future that is less energy intensive and more carbon neutral.

“At the end of the day, it is about continuous improvement.”

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 41

outdoor power equipment fROm a bRand canadians tRust

4-Stroke

POWER

EG301A

EBH253L

EW1050H

BHX2500CA

LItHIUM-IoN CorDLeSS

POWER

LXHU02Z

HCU02ZX2

LXCU01Z

BUB182Z

2-Stroke

EA3501S40B

POWER

DCS5121-18

eLeCtrIC

UC4030A

POWER

UH6570

makita.ca

AIR

CA

FEATURE

THE

UP

THERE

Keeping the rain out is one thing. Roofs also need a chance to breathe.

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

BY JOHN G. SMITH

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 43

Atlantic Windows is 100% CANADIAN OWNED AND OPERATED and is one of Canada’s longest established

door and window manufacturers.

Innovation - our HIGH PERFORMANCE Entrance System is one of the first in Canada to be CSA APPROVED, meeting requirements of the new building code.

Quality and Style - our quality craftsmanship, outstanding customer service and superior after-sale service deliver TOTAL SATISFACTION to our many customers.

Energy Efficiency - our windows and doors will help you increase your home’s energy efficiency, keeping you WARM in the winter, COOL in the summer and COMFORTABLE all year round.

Unparalleled Warranty - when you purchase a window or entrance system from Atlantic Windows you

are purchasing TOTAL PEACE OF MIND knowing that you’re protected by the FINEST WARRANTY standards in the industry.

For more details, call 1-800-561-3700 or visit us at www.atlanticwindows.com

E

very roof plays an important role in blocking the forces of Mother Nature, with the combined layers of shingles, underlayment, and flashing standing guard against everything from rain to snow.

Don Covin just wishes roofers would spend more time thinking about the need to let something inside. “Ventilation itself has been underappreciated,” says the Western Canada area market manager for Lomanco, makers of the original Whirlybird turbine vent, but a steady flow of air is needed to keep the attic’s humidity and heat at bay.

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

Put another way, every roof needs to breathe.

Those who spend their days on rooftops will be familiar with the need to have a square foot of ventilation for every 300 sf. of attic space. The biggest challenge, says Covin, is that installers often forget about the other part of the equation. Half the vents should be devoted to drawing air into the roof, with the remainder used for exhaust.

“The key with ventilation is you want to make sure you keep your exhaust vents full of exhausting air,” agrees Phil Woolfrey, Duroflow’s global sales manager.

There may even be a case to be made for having up to 60% of the net free vent area

established in the soffits, although there will always be limits. “You do not want to have it way out of balance, because then the soffit vents will actually outdraw the roof vents,” he says.

Near the ridge of the roof, the best systems stick with a single style of exhaust vent. Otherwise, a powerful turbine vent might simply suck air through the less-efficient square vent mounted just a few feet away.

Installing a pair of 50-square-inch exhaust vents on all four sides of the same hip-style roof is no better. Depending on the direction of the wind, one pair of vents may begin to draw air through their counterparts on the other side, limiting the flow of air to the space closest to the

roof’s peak. The vents should instead be grouped on one side of the building.

“Air is lazy and stupid. If you do not tell it what to do, it is probably going to do something you do not want,” Covin says.

“You have got to keep the system simple.”

Woolfrey agrees: “When you are trying to ventilate your attic, you are trying to get the air to come from the soffit and go out through the peak of the roof, as evenly distributed along the whole length of the roof as possible.”

As simple as the system may be, it will still require some advanced planning with a careful focus on what a chosen vent will actually deliver in the way of air. A roofer would need to install about 12’ of traditional soffit vents to match the 65 square inches of net free area created by a single 8”x16” cornice vent, Covin says as an example. Woolfrey notes that a home with 40’ of 10” soffit vents will barely draw enough air for a single 50-square-inch exhaust vent.

Those replacing an existing roof may even want to take a moment to consider if the existing vents offer enough air for the job at hand. Just because there were three vents before does not mean that there should be three vents again. Extra

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

| 45

vents could be needed to compensate for other changes to the house. For example, a recent siding job may have created a tighter seal around the building, funnelling more unwanted warm and moist air into the attic, while a new high-efficiency furnace may circulate less air than its older counterpart which ran the fan at all times.

Even if a roof has enough soffit vents, the available openings can also tend to be blocked with insulation, which will restrict the flow of air. “Just open up the attic and look for light,” says Jim McKee, president of Airturn products. An attic that is dark in the middle of the afternoon is the sign of trouble, but the solution can be as simple as installing a few vent chutes to keep insulating materials out of the all-important openings.

Of course, there will be cases where a different source of intake air is required.

Evolving building codes do not allow soffit vents that are too close to neighboring homes, McKee explains. While that can help to keep house fires from spreading from one home to the next, roofers have faced some other challenges in the process. Those who began to install rows of goosenecks to gather the required intake air also began to draw snow into attics, soaking the insulation. Builders told roofers to meet the new codes, roofers told the builders to be more specific in their specs for a job, and manufacturers noted that vents were being used in ways for which they were not designed. Fingers were pointed in every direction, McKee says.

“The roofer got blamed for everything.”

The filters in repurposed exhaust vents were also clogged with dust from surrounding construction sites. “Then they ceased to work effectively and you 46

|

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

end up not having a balanced system,” he says. Temperatures in the attics began to soar, breaking down the shingles above.

Luckily, suppliers have developed intake vents that can be mounted atop the roof. His company, for example, introduced an intake vent with louvers which allow hot air to escape in the summer and even establish a path for a limited amount of moisture to clean the filter.

It is not the only way that vents can differentiate themselves. Like any other part of the roof, quality can make a difference. Plastic vents need the UV protectors which keep the products from drying, discolouring or even shattering under the force of a hail storm. A low-grade regrind resin will not be as strong as a model made of virgin polypropylene, Woolfrey adds. “Once you start to regrind plastic, it loses its characteristics.” Even aluminum can come in different gauges.

Subtle differences in shapes make another difference. A vent with a sloped back and angled grill will create negative pressure by directing wind upward, much like the way air is directed around an airplane wing, Woolfrey says. His company’s snow vent also has a flat surface which acts like a baffle, directing wind up and over the openings. Inside there is a chamber that will trap rain and snow before it finds its way into an attic.

Ridge vents need exterior baffles, he adds. “As the wind comes up the roof, it hits that baffle, and it directs it up and over the opening, creating negative pressure to create that draw. If you do not have an exterior baffle, as the wind comes up the roof line, it is just forced in the openings.”

Covin says many of the differences in a turbine vent will involve the internal

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

workings. Steel shafts can corrode, creating noise, and even the smallest wrinkles in a vane can cause the unit to collapse.

In contrast, a design with an aluminum shaft and sealed bearings will stand up to the harshest winds.

Even a CSA rating can lead a buyer astray. A manufacturer may have a design certified to deliver 61 square inches of net free vent area, but later make a change to limit any dirt and snow.

The model that emerges might only deliver 38 square inches. It may be worth asking if the CSA rating applies to an existing model or an earlier version.

In extreme situations, the best option could be a powered vent complete with a humidistat, particularly when the space for a vent is limited. Covin, however, stresses that not everyone will need the hard-wired or solar-powered options.

In Saskatchewan, a home with a ridge vent will easily create the low pressure required to move air through the space.

“They are effectively installing a power vent on that roof without having to wire anything,” he says.

Shortcuts made in the name of saving a few dollars, meanwhile, can lead to big losses. In his past job at a shingle supplier, Covin remembers seeing warranties voided because of poor ventilation.

Any homeowner would be shocked to realize that they could have saved the roof by investing a few extra dollars in the related vents.

The decisions could save contractors money as well. Most ventilation problems are easiest to address when a roof deck is bare, he says. “When you go back and start cutting into shingles, pulling shingles back, repairing shingles, it is a much more labour-intensive process, and all you are doing on a callback is spending money, not making money.”

Besides, homeowners may be willing to invest more into their vents than some roofers believe. “It is the cheapest insurance you are going to get for a roof,” he says. “You are not just adding margins to your job. You are actually adding value to the home and you are validating that warranty.”

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

Those who spend their days on rooftops will be familiar with the need to have a square foot of ventilation for every 300 sf. of attic space. The biggest challenge, says Don Covin, is that installers often forget about the other part of the equation.

Half the vents should be devoted to drawing air into the roof, with the remainder used for exhaust.

CertainTeed’s got the edge

on tough, straight corners!

© 2013 CertainTeed Gypsum, Inc.

CertainTeed makes it easy to create perfect corners that are quick to apply and finish.

They won’t dent, blister, bubble of crack. Count on CertainTeed for extremely tough, straight, good looking corners every time.

This extra tough mud-applied structural corner gives you optimal strength and performance that can withstand severe impacts and settling.

Water-activated AquaBead is a self-adhesive drywall corner that offers fast, easy installation and outstanding performance.

Get the perfect inside or outside corner of any angle of any length that will look straight and true.

Reduce your installation time by using CertainTeed tools and equipment.

800-233-8990 • certainteed.com • http://blog.certainteed.com ROOFING • SIDING • TRIM • DECKING • RAILING • FENCE • FOUNDATIONS GYPSUM • CEILINGS • INSULATION • PIPE

TOP UP YOUR ATTIC WITH PINK INSULATION. START SAVING NOW. ™

2

HOURS

†

INSULATE AN ATTIC IN AS LITTLE AS

Help your customers reduce energy costs* year round with the Owens Corning™ AttiCat® Expanding Blown-In Insulation System.

Be the one that makes their weekend a good one.

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

Scan QR code to learn more about AttiCat® Insulation

THE PINK PANTHER™ & © 1964 - 2013 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved. The colour PINK is a registered trademark of Owens Corning. © 2013 Owens Corning. All Rights Reserved. *Savings vary depending on original amount of insulation in your home, climate, house size, air leaks, and personal energy use and living habits. Savings vary. Find out why in the seller’s fact sheet on R-values. Higher R-values mean greater insulating power. †Based on an attic size 100 m2 /1000 ft2 at RSI 8.8/R-50.

73% recycled content is based on the average recycled glass content in all Owens Corning fiberglass batts, rolls and unbonded loosefill insulation manufactured in Canada. SCS certified. GREENGUARD Certified products are certified to GREENGUARD standards for low chemical emissions into indoor air during product usage. For more information, visit ul.com/gg.