Contractor Advantage May / June 2013

COMPLIMENTARY

MAY/JUNE 2013

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

ALSO:

Staffing Green Homes Landscaping

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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

SIDING RENOVATIONS

PLUS: UP & OPEN CEILING DESIGN FLOORING TRENDS ®

Join us for a week of special events, savings, giveaways and promotions.

June 1-June 8, 2013 the and you could WIN

The Castle $50K Giveaway contest runs from May 1 to September 2, 2013.

Enter in-store at a Participating Castle Building Centres Location No purchase necessary. For complete contest rules, visit castle.ca

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CONTENTS

Features

Workers wanted / 22 The competition for skilled workers is stiff, but there is some help to get the employees you need.

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Gone green/ 27 More Canadian homeowners are seeking green homes in a bid to reduce escalating energy costs.

Growing opportunities / 30 Low-maintenance landscaping projects top the list among today’s clients.

More on the floor / 34 Property owners seek durable, inexpensive and authentic flooring options. Hardwood, tile and carpet manufacturers have stepped up with new products.

Inside

NEWS WATCH / 05

PPG buys AkzoNobel division

PRODUCT SHOWCASE / 09 New and improved products BUSINESS STRATEGIES / 14 Your role as a leader

Up & open / 38 The right paint, moulding and design used on ceilings can tie together a room and add the bold individuality homeowners seek.

SMART MONEY / 16 Why it makes sense to volunteer

Going to great lengths / 42

ECONOMICS 101 / 18 You CAN lead through change

Today’s longer-cut sidings and other renovation trends can help contractors nail down higher profits.

LEARNING CURVE / 21 Small business essentials

MAY/JUNE 2013 Vol. 19 No. 3

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 Chuck Inman Paul Rhodes David Chilton Saggers John G. Smith

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 CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE ADVANTAGE

JUNE/JULY MAY/JUNE 2013

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Richness is:

Introducing the Scotia Momentum for business VISA* card ®

You work hard. And your money should, too. The Scotia Momentum® for business VISA* card gives Small Business owners 3% cash back1 at gas stations, restaurants, office supply stores and on recurring bill payments. Plus you get 1% cash back on everything else.

It’s our way of saying job well done. scotiabank.com/cashbackforbusiness

Small Business Banking Registered trademarks of The Bank of Nova Scotia. * VISA Int/Lic. user The Bank of Nova Scotia. 1 You will earn 3% cash back on the first $50,000 you spend annually at gas stations, restaurants, office supply stores, and on recurring bill payments. 3% cash back applies at merchants which are classified in the Visa Inc. (VISA) network as Service Stations (with or without ancillary services) and Automated Fuel Dispensers; Restaurants, Fast Food Restaurants and Bars; Stationery and Office Supply Stores; and Recurring Payments (Merchant Codes: 5541 & 5542; 5812, 5813 & 5814; and 5111 & 5943). Recurring payments are defined as payments made on a monthly or regular basis automatically billed by the merchant. Not all merchants offer recurring payments. Some merchants may sell these products/services or are separate merchants who are located on the premises of these merchants, but are classified by VISA in another manner, in which case this added benefit would not apply. You will earn 1% cash back on purchases made after you have reached the 3% $50,000 annual spend maximum and on all other eligible purchases made with the card. Cash back is not awarded for cash advances, Scotia® Credit Card Cheques, credit vouchers, payments, purchase returns, card fees, interest charges or service / transaction charges.

®

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NEWS WATCH

New World Green Building Council report examines business benefits of building green A new report released from the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), highlights that there are a large number of compelling benefits from green buildings received by different stakeholders throughout the life cycle of a building.

The report, which is entitled “The Business Case for Green Building: A Review of the Costs and Benefits for Developers, Investors and Occupants,” examines whether or not it is possible to attach a financial value to the cost and benefits of green buildings.

“Today, green buildings can be delivered at a price comparable to conventional buildings and investments can be recouped through operational cost savings and, with the right design features, create a more productive workplace,” the WorldGBC said in a release.

Key findings from the report’s authors include: Design and Construction Costs: There has been an overall trend towards the reduction in design and construction costs associated with green building as building codes around the world become stricter, supply chains for green materials and technologies mature and the industry becomes more skilled at delivering green buildings.

Asset Value: As investors and occupiers become more knowledgeable about and concerned with the environmental and social impacts of the built environment, buildings with better sustainability credentials will have increased marketability.

Additionally, there is a demonstrated link between the green characteristics of buildings and the ability of these buildings, in some markets, to more easily attract tenants and to command higher rents and sale prices.

Operating Costs: Green buildings have been shown to save money through reduced energy and water consumption and lower long-term operations and maintenance costs. The energy savings alone typically exceed any cost premiums associated with their design and construction within a reasonable payback period.

Workplace Productivity and Health: There is an emerging body of evidence suggesting that the physical characteristics of buildings and indoor environments can influence worker productivity and occupant health and well-being, resulting in bottom line benefits for businesses.

Risk Mitigation: Sustainability risk factors can significantly affect the rental income and the future value of real estate assets, in turn affecting their return on investment. Regulatory risks have become increasingly apparent in countries and cities around the world, including mandatory disclosure, building codes and laws banning inefficient buildings.

The full report and executive summary can be found by visiting http://worldgbc.org.

The WorldGBC is a network of national Green Building Councils (GBCs) from around the world, making it the largest international organization influencing the green building marketplace.

Green Building Councils are member-based organizations that partner with industry and government in the transformation of their building industries towards sustainability through the adoption of green building practices

PPG purchases AkzoNobel’s architectural coatings division PPG Industries recently announced that it has finalized the acquisition of the North American architectural coatings business of Akzo Nobel N.V., Amsterdam, in a deal valued at US$1.05 billion.

“We are pleased to have successfully completed this acquisition, the secondlargest in our company’s history, as it further extends PPG’s architectural coatings business in Canada, the United States

and the Caribbean, and continues the accelerated pace of our business portfolio transformation,” said Charles E. Bunch, PPG chairman and CEO. “Our already strong portfolio of North American brands, including PPG Paints, PPG Pittsburgh Paints, PPG Porter Paints, Lucite and Olympic Paints and Stains, has been significantly strengthened with the addition of well-known

brands such as Glidden, Flood, CIL, Sico and Liquid Nails,” Bunch said. PPG also will license the following brands: Dulux, Devoe architectural coatings, and Sikkens architectural wood products.

Scott Sinetar, vice president, PPG architectural coatings, North America, is set to lead the combined architectural coatings business. Sinetar will report to Michael McGarry, executive vice president.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

MAY/JUNE 2013

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Endless possibilities and concepts

with NoviStonetmDS - Dry Stack Stone designed to inspire / easy to install / made to last

Features and benefits - dry

• Premium polymer product • Multiple applications:

- Indoor and outdoor decor - Foundations, facades, architectural accents, gazebos, hot tub sides, beams, etc.

• Available in 10 trendy colours

stack stone

• Works with all styles of decor • Virtually maintenance free • Corners and Novitrim in matching colours

• Extreme temperature variation resistance • Quick and easy to install

Inside

For more informations: 1 888 847-8057

Outside

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NEWS WATCH

Housing starts lower in 2013, increasing modestly in 2014 With continued moderation expected in the first half of 2013, total annual housing starts are expected to be lower in 2013 relative to 2012, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) first quarter 2013 Housing Market Outlook, Canada Edition1.

As fundamentals, including employment, economic growth and net migration are expected to gain momentum later in 2013 and in 2014, housing starts are expected to trend slightly higher next year.

“CMHC expects housing construction activity will trend lower in the first half of 2013, before gaining more momentum by the end of the year as economic and employment growth remain supportive of the Canadian housing market,” said Mathieu Laberge, deputy chief economist for CMHC. “In 2014, improving economic

conditions may be partially offset by a slight moderation in the number of firsttime homebuyers, and potential small and steady increases in mortgage interest rates.”

On an annual basis, housing starts are expected to range between 178,600 to 202,000 units in 2013, with a point forecast of 190,300 units, following a level of 214,827 units in 2012.

In 2014, housing starts are expected to range from 171,200 to 217,000 units, with a point forecast of 194,100 units.

Existing home sales are expected to range between 418,200 to 484,000 units in 2013, with a point forecast of 451,100 units, following a level of 453,372 in 2012.

In 2014, Multiple Listing Service (MLS) sales are expected to range from 439,600 to 505,000 units, with an increase in the

point forecast to 472,300 units.

The average MLS price is forecast to be between $356,500 and $378,500 in 2013 and between $363,800 and $390,800 in 2014.

CMHC’s point forecast for the average MLS price calls for a 1% gain to $367,500 in 2013 and a further 2.7% gain to $377,300 in 2014.

Meanwhile, housing starts in Canada were trending at 189,742 units in March.

“As expected, the trend in total housing starts continued to moderate in March.

Builders are adjusting to lower housing demand and as a result, completed and unoccupied units per capita remain relatively close to their historical average,” said Laberge.

Further information on this report and others can be obtained on the CMHC Web site at www.cmhc.ca.

A Taiga Synergy Flooring Product

All you need.

Easy to install vinyl plank and tile flooring easyinstall.ca Glueless Click System

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

MAY/JUNE 2013

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Creating Curb Appeal that Lasts a Lifetime!

Visit: mittenbp.com/enVISIONit

888-MITTEN4 mittenbp.com

• Vinyl Siding • Accent Siding • Replica Stone • Windows • Doors • Shutters • Aluminum • and More •

New Endeck® cellular PVC decking is the next generation in decking.

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Building Blocks

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Innovative forfashion Today’s Renovators EndeckProducts decking merges and function, with naturally distinctive hues and woodgrain variegations, both Woodland™ and Forest™ series decking employ a lightENDECK CELLULAR DECKING weight, yet ruggedPVC deck board which can LIGHTWEIGHT AND RUGGED endure the harshest of elements.

Endeck cellular PVC decking combines distinctive natural hues Endeck deckingwith is made withand a proprietary and woodgrain variegations strength durability.

Distributed in Canada

by National Products formulas to ensure a moreForest uniform inner Ltd., cell the lightweight decking is made using formulas to structure eliminating theproprietary voids commonly ensure a more uniform inner cell structure that eliminates seen in competitive deck boards.

Endeckvoids commonlyboards found inare deck boards.

The boards are engineered strong, durable, engineered to to resist sagging, and are lighter thanlighter composite, capped composite resist sagging, and in weight than and most treated wood deck boards, the company says. composite, capped composite or most The Endeck manufacturing process ensures consistent treated wood deck boards. The new Forest plank colour from piece to piece.

Series'" from Endeck is definitely a strong Endeck’s new Forest series features a deeply embossed statement withwith a deeply embossed woodgrainvisual and rich, dark colours the variegation found woodgrain and rich, dark colors withinsubtle in expensive, exotic hardwoods. Although dark colour, variegation only found on to the most expenForest series decking remains cooler the touch on hot sive, exoticmanufacturing hardwoods. The Endeck process days due to Endeck’s technology.

Forest semaintains a consistent color from ries colours include Cedar, Sequoiaplank and Chestnut.

Endeck’s existing Woodland series is in variations traditional are lighter piece to piece, yetavailable the color as colours Olivewood, Beechwood and in Ashwood. random as those found nature. And, even

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though the colors in the Forest Series are dark, Endeck’s advanced manufacturing technology allows the decking to remain comfortable underfoot and cooler to the GENSTONE PANELS FROM MITTEN touch even on the hottest days.

REQUIRE NO MASONRY SKILLS

GenStone panels from Mitten Inc. provide easily-installed realistic stone exterior at a fraction of the cost of masonry.

Canadian Distributor: Installation is mortarless and simple enough for nonmasons to complete in a day with basic carpentry skills and common construction tools. No prep-work is required, and the only tools needed are safety glasses, a saw, tape measure, level, caulking gun, chalk line, utility knife, router, screw gun and key hole saw.

The panels are available in four profile patterns cast from real stone to provide a genuine appearance, colourwww.nationalforestproducts.com matched caulking also ensures a seamless finish. Colours 1-800-668-9663 and patterns include Stratford, Coronado, Iron Ore, Mojave, Coffee and Keystone.

GenStone is waterproof, impact resistant and protected against fading, peeling or blistering. It provides an insulation value of R-3.5 per inch and features a 25-year limited warranty.

More information is available at www.mittenbp.com.

Both series are available in square profiles measuring is available in20’ the most popular colors 1”Endeck x 5.5” in decking the standard 12’, 16’ and lengths, and are easily to complement any home or blend into the great complemented with matching fascia. outdoors.

The Woodland series at offers the traditional Further information is available www.nationalforestproducts.com. lighter solid colors in Olivewood, Beechwood, and

Ashwood, while the new Forest series provides darker rich colors in Cedar, Sequoia, and Chestnut. Both series are available in square profiles measuring 1” x 5.5” in the standard 12’, 16’ and 20’ lengths, and are easily complemented with matching Fascia.

Long Lasting

Low Maintenance Tough

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

MAY/JUNE 2013

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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

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

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NEW COLOUR OPTIONS ADDED TO CERTAINTEED FENCE LINES

CertainTeed has expanded the colour options for its Bufftech Galveston, Imperial and Baron lines of vinyl fence products to include new multi-chromatic blends.

Bufftech fences feature woodgrain texture, variegated colours and CertainTeed’s ColorLast fade protection.

They are now available in rustic dark- and light-brown blends, gray weathered wood and green shades that meld with nature.

Galveston texture privacy fences are now available in Brazilian Blend, Frontier Blend and Honey Blend. These colours add to the previously available Natural Clay, Arbor Blend, Arctic Blend, Sierra Blend and Weathered Blend for a total of eight textured hues. Galveton fences are also available in two smooth colours, White or Almond.

They are available in 7’ and 8’ heights.

Imperial Select Cedar semi-private fence now adds Arctic Blend, Weathered Blend and Arbor Blend to its existing options of White, Almond, Natural Clay and Sierra Blend.

Baron Select Cedar is now available with Sierra Blend, Arctic

Blend, Weathered Blend and Arbor Blend, as well as White and Almond colours. Imperial and Baron fences are available in 4’, 5’ and 6’ heights.

Galveston, Imperial and Baron fences are backed by a lifetime-limited warranty with SureStart parts and labor protection. More information is available at www.certainteed.com.

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TASK RECEIVES NRHA AWARD FOR ACCESSORY SET PACKAGING

Task Tools new Task Signature 40-piecce Impact Driver Accessory set recently received the Gold Packaging Award from the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) for its sustainable packaging.

The Impact Driver Accessory set comes in an impactresistant case with non-slip coating, and features a versatile drawer insert that allows customization. The tear-resistant blister packaging that won the award is designed to minimize material use and waste.

This is Task Tools’ fifth NRHA Packaging and Merchandising Award (PMA). The PMAs recognize innovative packaging and merchandising produced by manufacturers for the hardware and home improvement markets.

Task Signature products come with a guarantee that they will “outlast and outperform or your money back.” For more information on Task Tools visit www.task-tools.com.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

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Choose from Samsung’s latest rugged devices on the Bell network.

Equip your crew with the latest rugged devices from Samsung. Durable and secure, they’ll stand up to harsh work environments. And on the Bell network, you’ll stay efficient with blazing-fast speeds, Canada’s best Push-to-talk service and 24/7 technical support. With Bell, your business will not only do more, it will make more.

Visit a Bell store • 1 866 BELL-BIZ • bell.ca/MobileBusiness

Samsung Galaxy Rugby™ LTE superphone

Samsung Galaxy Rugby™ smartphone

Current as of February 15, 2013. Services available with compatible devices within network coverage areas available from Bell Mobility where technology permits; see bell.ca/coverage. PTT feature available in addition to a Bell Mobility post-paid plan. Subject to change without notice. Other conditions apply. Samsung Galaxy Rugby is a trademark of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., used in Canada under license.

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

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SICO’S EVOLUTION PROTECTS, SAFEGUARDS WALLS

Sico Paint’s new Evolution paint line is a VOC-free paint-andprimer-in-one that safeguards walls no matter what the finish.

Using Sico’s DurabiliT polymers, the paint gives surfaces a protective shield that, according to the company, makes them heavily washable and “ultra-scrubbable.”

Sico Evolution is available in a range of sheens including semi-gloss, pearl, eggshell, flat and flat for ceilings. Regardless of the finish, the company says that homeowners can confidently wash away everyday dirt and grime off walls painted with Sico Evolution without leaving marks. Traditionally only higher gloss paints were scrub-friendly.

Focus group studies conducted by Sico found that cleaning ease is a top priority when selecting paint.

In addition to its cleaning features, the high-quality paint also has top hiding power and what third-party tests show to be one of the best spreading rates on the market, covering up to 600 sq. ft. per gallon. One gallon of Sico Evolution should be enough to apply two coats to a standard-sized 9’x10’ room.

Sico says the paint allows homeowners to protect walls while taking advantage of a currently popular décor trend of painting walls with a mix of sheens.

More information is available at www.sico.ca.

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WAYNE-DALTON MODEL 8500 DESIGNED TO CUT ENERGY COSTS

Wayne-Dalton’s Model 8500 steel garage doors, which are distributed by Creative Door, provide thermal efficiency through polyurethane insulation that delivers an R value of 16.22. The insulated garage doors are designed to improve comfort and reduce energy costs.

The polyurethane insulation is chemically bonded to each 2” thick steel section, creating a structure with higher strength and dent resistance. The insulation foam is CFC and HCFC free. In addition to insulation, the doors have a bottom weather seal that blocks drafts to further helps save energy. It remains flexible even in extreme cold to keep the bad weather outside.

Sound absorbing insulation and Wayne-Dalton’s SilentGlide nylon rollers provide a smooth, quiet operation that also eliminates wind-rattling.

Embossed, high-tensile steel panels give the look of wood, but with the strength of steel. They feature two-coat, baked

on polyester finish, making them virtually maintenance free, according to Wayne-Dalton. Factory finishes are available in brown, taupe, almond and white, or can be used as a basecoat for painting. A variety of designs and window inserts are available, and can be seen at www.creativedoor.com.

Wayne-Dalton’s Model 8500 doors come with a limited lifetime warranty against cracking, splitting, rusting through or section deterioration. Wind-load models are available.

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BUSINESS STRATEGIES

Your Role as Leader

Provide vision, management, and innovation and you will reap both personal and professional rewards.

BY VICTORIA DOWNING

O

ne of a remodeling company’s most precious resources is its owner.

Your company’s success or failure rests on how well you balance and juggle all the hats you are supposed to wear. In any one day, you may act as a leader, manager, investor, and worker; you are also a human being who needs a personal life.

Let us talk about your role as a leader.

Provide vision, mission, and values: The best companies reflect the owner’s style and vision. The business started and succeeded initially because of the owner’s methods and approach. As the business grows and adds employees, it becomes critical that this vision be de-

fined in writing and that guidelines and rules are delineated that govern how business is conducted. Only then can you use these tools openly and actively in hiring, training, motivating and reviewing performance.

Your vision should be big, long-term, and nearly unattainable. Mission is about the company’s purpose for being. It is more practical than Vision and explains what you sell and what the client is buying. Your Mission is your promise to the client.

Companies often identify five to seven core values by which they agree to run their business. There are many, many admirable qualities (for example, integrity, honesty, teamwork, accountability, friendliness, generosity, dignity, respect, and so on) that could be picked, but do your best to focus only a few.

Many successful businesspeople feel that hiring employees who can buy into their vision, mission, and values trumps

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.

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MAY/JUNE 2013

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

even technical skills. You can teach technical skills, but people either have your chosen values or they do not, and you are unlikely to change them.

If you do not manage your company’s culture by defining the vision, mission, and values, someone else in the company will. This ability to create a unique culture is one of the greatest gifts that running a business bestows on the entrepreneur.

Develop, maintain, and model the culture of the company: The dictionary defines culture as “the training and development of the mind; the social and religious structures and intellectual and artistic manifestations, etc.”

A company has a living culture whether it is defined or not. The right culture within a company can create a competitive advantage, help attract and retain top performers, and help the company increase profits. Still, sometimes an unfavorable culture is created unconsciously. This unfavorable culture may encourage gossiping, unfair treatment, poor customer relations, and more. No one wants this, so it is up to you, as the leader, to make sure that the culture in your company is positive and up-

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

The dictionary defines a leader as “one who is in charge; one who influences.”

Your leadership role still exists even if you have no employees. Your role is to: • Provide long-range vision, mission, and values.

• Develop, maintain, and model the culture of the company.

• Determine the major goals of the company.

• Manage profitability and growth.

• Learn to generate results through people.

• Bring new ideas and processes into the company.

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BUSINESS STRATEGIES

beat and that it focuses on the types of core values that are important to you.

Here are some ways to determine your existing culture and enhance the positive atmosphere you really want: First, ask your employees what they feel are the core values of the company today.

Survey your trade contractors and suppliers to see how they see your company.

Develop an action plan to change or enhance your company’s current culture.

Think about what core values are important to you and communicate these to your team.

Develop company “stories” that exemplify the values of the company.

Walk your talk. Lead by example by modeling behaviour that supports the values.

Use the company culture and stated values to help you attract new hires that fit the organization.

Determine the major goals of the company:

If the company is to function as a team, the team needs to know what the game is and its rules. The leader of the team must answer questions such as: • What is the dollar goal for profit?

• What is the dollar goal for sales?

• Are we going to grow volume or focus on increasing efficiency and profits? Will we focus on both of these goals?

• What type of job and what type of customer will the company target?

• Does the company have enough people to handle the volume? If not, how can we increase our capacity?

• Have we created a budget (a financial plan) to reflect the investment in the future?

• How can we alter our plan if we find that we are not meeting our goals?

Manage Profitability and Growth: Part of running a successful company is creating profits. The profits are over and above your salary for working in the business and reflect a return on your significant investment of time and money.

While most companies aspire to grow, growing too rapidly can be deadly. Typical problems include the following: • A drop in customer satisfaction when employees are stretched too thin.

• Lagging cash flow that creates a tension-filled, financially unstable company.

• An overworked owner who cannot keep up while job profitability begins to drop.

• A stressful environment which drives away talented employees.

Profits also provide you with the capital to invest in the future of the company and give you a safety net in case of an unexpected catastrophe. Profits are essential. It is your job as leader to make sure that these profits are being produced.

With a carefully planned approach, a stable, profitable company can handle significant growth that can deliver a greater presence in the marketplace, opportunities for employees to grow, and increased profits that the company can use to take advantage of even more opportunities.

Learn to generate results through people: As you grow a business, the results you want will be achieved by working through people. Therefore, one of the most important skills you can learn is how to help your employees grow to the best of their abilities and keep them challenged, involved, and motivated to give you their best. While some people are born managers, those of us who are not can learn these skills through reading books like the Harvard Business Review series or taking classes on management and coaching. As your managerial skills grow, you will discover great satisfaction in watching your people blossom.

Bring new ideas and processes into the company: Find a successful remodeling company and you will find a company that is focused on innovation, on finding that next

good idea that can be adapted to solve a problem. The best companies in any industry know that it is their ability to increase efficiency, improve productivity, and add value to the customer interactions that guarantees continued success.

Below are some resources to help you stay sharp and at the top of your game: • Join an association. Most major cities have a local chapter of an industry association like the Canadian Home Builders Association.

• Start an informal breakfast club with other remodelers. You may decide not to share your innermost financial secrets with potential local competitors, but you can share lots of resources and information.

• Join a peer group membership with a group such as Remodelers Advantage Roundtables for goal-oriented remodelers.

There are more than 400 business owners involved in this powerful organization to date. Visit the Website at www.RemodelerAdvantage.com for more information.

• Subscribe to trade publications such as Remodeling magazine, and, of course, Contractor Advantage. Subscriptions to trade publications often are free.

• Keep an eye out for the popular general business books. Usually the top 10 books each year are worth reading. If you buy a book and find it hard going, move on to the next book.

• Attend one of the regional or national industry conventions. They often combine a trade show with educational seminars, and they can provide an inexpensive yet excellent learning experience. These meetings provide the opportunity to get away from the details of your business and take a look at the larger picture of how your business could operate better.

Remodeling seminars make the rounds of the country.

Go ahead and take a day off to gather new information. You will return to your business refreshed and ready to solve some knotty problems.

Acting as the leader of a vibrant company can be very fulfilling professionally and personally. And each and every renovator can learn the skills necessary to lead.

The resources are out there just waiting for you.

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CA

SMART MONEY

It Makes Sense To Volunteer Volunteerism has its own payback in improved health, skill diversification and desirability as an employer.

BY PAUL RHODES

T

he holidays have long since passed, but it does not mean that your giving has to end. This year, you can resolve to find ways to contribute to your community or to a worthy cause.

Volunteerism is one of those ways. Volunteerism builds communities and improves society making it a better place for all who live in it.

In Canada, we have seen the rate of volunteerism grow. In 2010, more than 13.3 million people volunteered, a 6.4% increase since 2007. With more fundraising and issue awareness activities happening online, we can expect that this upward trend will continue.

Volunteerism was once considered an altruistic act, which is purely charitable and selfless, with no benefit to the donor; however, recently, people widely accept the notion of both sides benefiting from volunteerism. Studies cite multiple ways in which the giver and receiver benefit from an altruistic transaction, from promoting various health boosters, inducing stress relievers, to releasing natural painkillers. Steven Post, author of Why Good Things Happen to Good People, even makes the claim that our generosity can promote our longevity.

Besides physiology and psychology, in today’s economy, the impact of our giving is felt more deeply than in previous years. Three years ago, in the heart of the recession, about one in two Canadians donated their time, energy and skills to

Three years ago, in the heart of the recession, about one in two Canadians donated their time, energy and skills to charities and nonprofit organizations. The approximately 2 billion volunteer hours they contributed was equivalent to more than 1 million full-time jobs. charities and non-profit organizations.

The approximately 2 billion volunteer hours they contributed was equivalent to more than 1 million full-time jobs.

We see that the impact is as real as the need, and that we can make a difference.

Organizations and charities benefit from access to skills and effort that they may not have the resources to pay for. The numerous benefits to the volunteer are considered below. Hopefully, they will inspire you to get involved and give back somehow.

The cause The cause may be sufficient for you to get involved, and will be critical to you committing your free time and staying engaged.

The interest may also have been sparked because of personal or family experiences, which produce interest in a cause and empathy for those in similar situations.

Payback Many feel obligated to give something back to the community, or to repay some

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.

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benefit that was bestowed on them from a volunteer. Some individuals owe their success to a volunteer or outreach program and they are compelled to volunteer in the same community.

Personal skills or goals Getting involved in an organization may be a way of doing something unrelated to what you usually do. Alternatively, you may be in a position to apply your knowledge and skills but in a completely different context.

Stepping outside of your routine or familiar environment may be a way to build new skills or to achieve personal goals, such as: • Increase your self-esteem and confidence.

• Create a sense of personal value or achievement.

• Provide a different and broader outlook on life and society.

• Feed a desire or interest to remain busy or occupied during retirement.

Volunteering abroad may contribute to all of the above, and enable you to learn new languages and experience different cultures.

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SMART MONEY

Self-marketing The personal skills noted above may be a way of making you more marketable to potential employers. Whether you are at the stage of launching your career or are looking to change career direction, you may be able to demonstrate to prospective employers how you have acquired and applied new skills learned in the volunteer position, such as communication, interpersonal skills, organizational skills or leadership.

This may be a way for you (or your resume) to stand out from the competition, winning you that interview, especially when the skills can be transferred to the prospective job. Many employers who are hiring students out of school are looking for so-called “well-rounded individuals,” as opposed to graduates with no experience outside of the classroom.

In addition to acquiring transferrable job skills, volunteering may be a way to connect and interact with individuals who are already working in your chosen field.

Social interaction Stepping outside of your usual circle of acquaintances, and interacting with individuals from different backgrounds, can be an interesting and enlightening experience by providing an alternative perspective or outlook. For the retired, volunteering may be a way of staying connected.

The future workplace Many non-profit organizations or charitable projects benefit from the time and efforts contributed by volunteers. The millennial generation (also known as Generation Y, born between approximately 1980 and the early 2000s), highly

value, amongst other things, spending their time in meaningful ways, which includes volunteerism. This generation seeks out employers who are willing to support their volunteering interest. With Generation Y now in their 20s and 30s, they are becoming a large part of today’s workforce, so this trend is likely to continue if not accelerate. As an employer, you should consider how to address this need within your organization.

The partners and staff at Crowe Soberman have a long history of giving their time and effort to worthwhile causes.

Many of our professionals gift their time and expertise by sitting on non-profit and charitable boards and participating in community initiatives.

If you are not already volunteering, we hope you will be motivated to volunteer in 2013.

distributed by:

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CA

ECONOMICS 101

Lead Through Change

Employees naturally resist change, but four key steps listed below will help your staff adapt

BY CHUCK INMAN

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anticipate the pace of the work. Our sense of worth, productivity, value and status are recognized from being competent in our role in this phase.

The Action phase is where we begin to develop new behaviors, values and attitudes. We are now being asked and asking employees to look at performing work differently, which will disrupt the current way of doing things. We are not as sure of the outcomes of our work in this phase.

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Last we move into the New phase, which is the final stage in crystallizing our thoughts and adaptation of ownership to the new change. This phase is where we will be working in the future. We have questions as we enter this New phase: • Will we be recognized for our contributions?

• Will we have the ability to provide input and have a share of voice?

• Will we be able to provide value and be flexible?

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

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Chuck Inman, a leadership and emotional intelligence specialist, is a keynote speaker, trainer, coach and founder of Crystal Clear Motivation, LLC. His keynote “Nimble – how to lead above the turmoil of change” addresses the key challenges dealing with change in today’s world. For more information visit www.ChuckInman.com.

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re you kidding me? Weekly meetings!” Riley questions why Clint, his boss, is requesting weekly staff meetings instead of the longstanding monthly ones. “Is this the beginning of a new form of micromanagement? Why do we have to change now?” Riley asks himself. “It is such a burden with no apparent benefit.”

Clint notices Riley’s questioning response about the new weekly meetings.

They are part of changes coming to the department. If the team does not meet weekly, they will struggle when implementing the new customer relationship management software. Clint needs Riley on board with this change. If he is supportive, it will help management gain support from the rest of the team with this new software.

“If only there was a way to get my team to be more nimble when it comes to change,” Clint muses as he walks out of the office at the end of another long day.

Change has amazing stopping power, does it not? The very mention of change will get people digging their heels in to protect how they currently do business.

When we undergo change there are three basic phases involved. Each one affects our ability to make the change successful.

The Current phase is our comfort zone where we perform our day-to-day activities with confidence. We understand the workflow processes, how to multitask and

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ECONOMICS 101 Here are four key steps that will help people move through the three key phases of change.

1. Create a clear view: Explain why the change is taking place. Understand where you are going and why it is important for the team to reach the destination. Be able to articulate clearly so members of your team understand the reason for the change. Also explain the value of their role in this change process.

2. Move quickly: One of the success strategies for nimbly moving through change is to get to the New phase as quickly as possible. Get started by moving through the Action phase and find a footing in this New phase where you can begin to experiment with new processes. Look at the resources and skills you are bringing with you to assist in this change process. Your problem solving, analytical, and time management skills are all tools that will help with the change. Recognize some things will

be ending, some will be continuing and some will be new because of the change.

When you can identify those items it takes the fear of the unknown away.

3. Communicate continuously: Do not assume because you told people once they fully understand the reason and process for change. Communicate consistently and often. Use different media. Do not assume an e-mail or website will be read and all questions will be answered. Regularly ask for feedback on what is working and what is not working. Ask members of your team to describe back to you the reason for change and why it is important.

This will enable you to determine if they understand why the change is taking place. Continue this exercise throughout the phases of change as reinforcement.

4. Recognize early achievements: Try to attain small victories and accomplishments early and celebrate these small wins quickly. Do not wait for monthly

or quarterly reviews. Recognize the accomplishments on a weekly or even daily basis for some milestones. Give credit where credit is due. You build value and show yourself and others they have the ability to act and make progress in the change process.

In our example, Clint sits down with Riley and discusses the importance of changing to weekly meetings. He explains the meetings will provide Riley and his team more focus, accountability and empowerment when implementing the new software program. Instead of micromanagement, it will allow them to establish credibility quickly and be more productive moving through the change process. Once Riley understands the reason behind the weekly meetings and their importance, he accepts the change.

When you understand the three phases of change and how to navigate through them, then you can be successful in moving through change to reach your objectives.

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CA

LEARNING CURVE

Small Business Essentials Two recently released books provide contractors with the tools to grow, get noticed and succeed in today’s market.

THE SOCIAL MEDIA ADVANTAGE Self-Counsel Press In just a few short years, social media has become a worldwide phenomenon where Facebook updates or tweets are mini press-releases read by thousands of people every day.

As a contractor, you know the business of construction and renovation, but are you capitalizing on social media for the increased revenue possibilities, increased visibility and positive PR? What is the best way to handle your business’s social media presence?

The Social Media Advantage: An Essential Handbook for Small Business from Self-Counsel Press aims to help you get in the game using social media as a free public relations tool.

The book is written by Holly Berkley, an educator, speaker and professional Internet marketing consultant who is focused on helping organizations increase online sales, strengthen their overall brand, and boost Web site traffic; and Amanda Walter, a PR professional who has worked with some of the world’s largest architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms.

In it, the authors teach readers how to discern the benefits of various social media ads (such as Facebook ads and Google Adwords); determine their “social influence”; use blogging to promote their business; track online marketing efforts; and, know where to target them. The Social Media Advantage provides the knowledge skills and confidence needed to develop an effective social media strategy to help a business succeed.

THE COMPLETE CANADIAN SMALL BUSINESS GUIDE (4TH EDITION) McGraw-Hill Now in its fourth edition, The Complete Canadian Small Business Guide has been a go-to book for thousands of Canadian entrepreneurs since being published in 1988. This essential guide updates you on everything you need to know to understand, manage, and take advantage of the latest changes in technology, law, resources, and best practices of today’s small businesses.

The guide, written by Douglas Gray and Diana Gray, provides a complete reference for nearly every question a small business owner can have, and offers street-smart tips that will give your business a competitive advantage, including: • Should I buy a business, a franchise, or start from scratch?

• Where do I get financing, how much do I need, and how do I pay it back?

• How do I get credit from my suppliers, and when should I extend it to my customers?

• How do I maximize the value of my lawyer, accountant, banker, and insurance broker?

• How do I use Internet marketing, search engine optimization (SEO) and social media to enhance my business?

• How do I hire and keep the best employees?

Douglas Gray is a former practicing lawyer and, as one of Canada’s foremost authorities on small business, is the author of 25 bestselling business and personal finance books. Diana Gray is an experienced business owner and consultant, whose company provides centralized business services to small and medium-sized companies and home-based businesses.

Easy-to-read and fully up-to-date for 2013, The Complete Canadian Small Business Guide provides the information small business owners need for virtually any situation.

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CA

FEATURE

WORKERS

WANTED The competition for skilled workers is stiff, but there is some help to get the employees you need.

BY JOHN G. SMITH

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he right tools and materials are important for any job, but they will always require the hands of a skilled contractor. It takes no fewer than 30 different trades and other occupations to build a typical home, and the number climbs even higher when adding a specialized option like a geothermal system.

It is hardly a comforting thought for those struggling with a shortage of personnel. Canada’s Construction Sector Council expects the construction industry to be short 325,000 workers by 2019, as 22

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employers look to address the needs of growing businesses and offset an everincreasing number of retirees. Even the average worker is more than 40 years old.

To compound matters, contractors are competing with employers from other industries that covet trained tradespeople as well. If you need an example, ask businesses in Newfoundland about local workers who leave for opportunities in Alberta’s Oil Sands.

“On both the new home building side and the renovation side, there are

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always concerns with shortages of skilled tradespeople, more so with skilled trades,” says Jack Mantyla, national coordinator – education and training for the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA).

“Shortages are so bad now that many owners are back on the tools,” he says.

“It is not an impending shortage. It is already here.”

The need for a contractor to spend more time on a job site may not seem like much of a problem at first, but it distracts entrepreneurs from the sales activities and planning which can help a business grow.

An annual CHBA survey shows that framers continue to top the wish list among homebuilders, while renovators are stressing the need for general carpen-

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FEATURE

ters. The demand for other skilled trades falls close behind these wood workers, representing the need for everyone from plumbers to electricians.

Admittedly, the demand can vary from one region to the next. “We seem to have an abundance of electricians, although that varies from province to province,” says Bill Ferreira, director of government relations and public affairs for the Canadian Construction Association. The most universal needs seem to include pipe fitters, welders and other “heavy-lifting” trades which tend to involve higher amounts of manual labour, he says.

Finding a labour pool to meet the need is another matter entirely.

“There is often a mismatch between the individuals available for work and

the specific skills employers seek when recruiting for a specific position,” Manpower Business Solutions concludes in its Optimizing the Talent Pool report.

“An advertisement for an open position may net hundreds or even thousands of resumes, but how many of those applicants actually have the skills required for success?”

Meanwhile, many builders and renovators are unlikely to take advantage of the $2,000 Apprenticeship Incentive Grant or the Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit covering 10% of a worker’s salary. Needed workers often fall outside the list of recognized Red Seal trades.

The distinction hardly reflects the realities of a modern job site. “The industry is much different than it was many years

ago. It is far more specialized,” Mantyla says. Rather than requiring general carpenters, for example, a project might require a worker who specializes in a particular carpentry-related task.

“The current apprenticeship training often falls short of meeting specific needs.

It is a slow-moving machine to change,” Mantyla adds. Employers, meanwhile, are often wary about training an apprentice, thinking that the employee will go elsewhere once they become a journeyman. “Everyone is looking for their own best interest,” he says, referring to skilled workers who have been known to head to higher-paying opportunities in the resource sector.

“Part of the challenge for a lot of small employers is not having the predictability to take on an apprentice,” Ferreira says.

“You may not be able to guarantee them two years of work.” In contrast, a larger contractor will tend to have more flexibility because they can move apprentices from one project to the next. It is one of the reasons why he would like to see smaller employers given the chance to take on a short-term commitment with an apprentice, building just part of the required experience.

In the residential sector, 90% of construction firms have fewer than five employees.

Still, there continues to be a struggle to recruit a new generation of students into apprenticeship programs and other traderelated career paths in the first place. “Parents typically want their children to have an easier life than they had. They do not want them working as hard as they do,” Ferreira says. The irony is that a college-trained apprentice can expect a better wage than someone with a bachelor’s degree in English, he adds. “People will start to change their opinions about the trades.”

Provincial and local programs have been set up to reach out to youth, and it should be a welcome message for those between 15 and 24 who face a higher unemployment rate than existed before the recession. Mantyla offers the example of Saskatchewan’s Skill Build Program, which promotes factors like job security, interesting work and future growth among reasons to consider a career in skilled trades.

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Of course, that is part of a long-term solution. The process of attracting high school students to a particular career path does little to meet the short-term demands of a sudden and localized building boom. “You cannot grow an electrician.

You cannot grow a plumber,” Ferreira observes. Even displaced employees from other trades, such as the unemployed workers from an automotive assembly line, may also be ill-suited for a job in construction, he adds.

“Your hours of work are usually longer, and in construction the work is more physically demanding than what the displaced worker might be used to.” Trades on a job site also require a certain amount of dexterity which can only be developed over time.

Colleges, meanwhile, need to keep a close eye on local labour markets and apply the necessary resources to meet their needs.

“There’s no simple solution here,” Ferreira says.

Still, there are some options to help today’s contractors. Task-specific training can help prepare many entry-level workers. The Merit Contractors Association, for example, offers training in specialties like blueprint reading, rigging and hoisting, scaffolding, surveying and concrete work.

Since many people lack the essential skills to work on a construction site, provincial construction associations offer basic safety training and tap into Employment Insurance dollars. Embers Staffing Solutions, a non-profit staffing agency in Vancouver, helps to prepare workers in need and places them to meet local demands.

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

Other options involve looking further afield.

Construction associations in Western Canada have launched several trade missions, and the British Columbia Construction Association’s (BCCA) job expo in Ireland offers just one example. That Working Abroad job fair attracted as many as 12,000 job seekers, many of which were qualified construction trades. About 1,000 resumes followed. The Foreign Skilled Worker B.C. team is working with regional construction associations and employers to help with the related immigration processes through the Provincial Nominee or Temporary Foreign Worker programs.

For its part, the BCCA has placed more than 180 foreign-trained journeypersons, while different Skilled Trades Employ-

It takes no fewer than 30 different trades and other occupations to build a typical home ment Programs have placed about 6,000 people in B.C. construction jobs over the past eight years.

“These people cannot only apply quickly, but find work,” Ferreira says.

Some of the credit goes to recent changes in Canada’s programs to support permanent residency. “The Department of Immigration hopes to land about 10,000 people a year through that experience class,” Ferreira says, referring to a shift away from an old points system which preferred highly-educated people with superior language skills. “Do you need someone with a PhD in basket weaving when we have plenty of people with PhDs who are not employable? The real focus has to be on meeting the labour market needs as the workforce demand requires, and right now where we are seeing the high demand is in skilled trades.”

In pre-budget consultations, the Association of Canadian Community Colleges asked for a number of steps to address the skills shortage. It wants apprenticeships to be promoted among youth, Employ-

ment Insurance claims fast-tracked for apprenticeships during in-class training, and Government of Canada Apprenticeship Completion Grants to be removed from taxable incomes.

For its part, a group of 11 colleges and universities known as Polytechnics Canada has called on the government to require a minimum number of apprentices when tendering major contracts. That could affect construction crews working on major infrastructure projects. It has also asked for support such as microloans or automatic savings programs for mature Red Seal apprentices.

“We fully recognize the need for fiscal restraint,” said Nobina Robinson, chief executive officer of Polytechnics Canada, in a February release. “Our proposals would merely reallocate existing funding or make modest new investments to enable small and medium-sized enterprises to generate the smart, long-lasting jobs of the future.”

A contractor’s business may depend on it.

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A half-century of

commitment to the industry.

Join us in congratulating Castle

on their 50 years in business.

At JELD-WEN, we know a thing or two about longevity in the building supply industry. That’s why we’re proud to recognize Castle on their 50th year as a trusted building and hardware supply centre.

Their commitment to service, selection and their membership is what has paved the way to this exceptional milestone.

JELD-WEN Canada is proud to be a Castle Building Centre supplier and we look forward to another 50 years of business together. Congratulations!

GONE GREEN

CA

FEATURE

More Canadian homeowners are seeking green homes in a bid to reduce escalating energy costs.

BY DAVID CHILTON SAGGERS

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PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

hat is a green home? Definitions vary from developer to contractor to individual trades, and from homeowners to governmental agencies at home and abroad. Given this lack of precision, it is small wonder that contention arises when green homes are being discussed; in fact, some in the construction and allied industries dismiss the notion of a green home entirely.

Still, even allowing for these differences, it can be said that for a home to be considered green by any reasonable measure it must have certain attributes.

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Chris Higgins, program leader at Canada Green Building in Vancouver, says a green home costs less to operate, is healthier to live in, uses less water, has better heating, cooling, insulation and ventilation, is better sited and situated to take advantage of both climate and proximity to transit, stores and so on, and uses better materials.

“It is also a place where the occupants know how to maintain the home,” says Higgins. “There are things you can do to green a house like install better windows, better insulation, or a better bathroom fan that require absolutely no maintenance, and there are things that do require some sort of commitment. There is a little bit of additional co-ordination in terms of knowing the bus schedules or being part of a car sharing organization or what have you.”

The cost of green is a factor on everyone’s mind. Certainly upfront costs are higher than those homes that are less green or not green at all; however, there are immediate and longer-term payoffs to those higher prices. In some instances a green investment pays off quickly, such as the installation of dual-flush or low-

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flush toilets. For other items the saving should be amortized over a longer period.

For example, Higgins uses his brother’s purchase of a furnace to demonstrate the economics of going green. His brother needed a new furnace, and the model he bought was over $1,000 more expensive than another appliance he had looked at. What persuaded him to buy the more expensive furnace was its efficiency: in seven years the higher cost of the furnace he bought would be paid back through lower energy bills.

With energy costs accounting for 60% to 65% of Canadians’ utility spending, and given the country’s climate, insulation is crucial to the green home. Mike Macey, national account sales manager for Owens Corning and based in Kitchener, Ont. says the Ontario government saw where market demand for more sustainable homes (Macey prefers “sustainable” to “green”) was going and took an Energy Star specification and put it into Ontario’s Building Code beginning in January 2012.

Part of that new code was looking at the envelope of the house and seeing ways to bring about better insulation products.

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“It means a super-tight, super-insulated house. The advantage of going with a super-tight, super-insulated house is that from day one, if that exterior cavity is insulated properly, that will last the duration of the house,” says Macey.

Despite higher costs for going green, Canadians across the country are prepared to pay them. A survey found that 72% of those polled said that they would be prepared to spend more on a house or condominium that offers environmentally-friendly features. The survey, the TD Canada Trust Green Home Poll taken in early 2010, found of that 72% or more than three-quarters of them said that saving money on their energy bills would be the main reason to spend more when buying a place to live. In 2008, only 65% of those willing to pay more for a house or condominium said that reducing their spending on energy costs was their main motivation.

Regionally, there are some interesting findings in the poll. In Atlantic Canada 78% of those surveyed said that tax credits would make them more likely to make energy efficient upgrades versus 66% nationally. Also in Atlantic Canada, a whopping 84% of those surveyed said they were interested in taking part in an energy saving program, again versus 66% nationally. That region’s interest in energy efficiency comes as no surprise since it is the one area in Canada where oil rather than other fuels such as natural gas still dominates. In fact, says Macey, “Atlantic Canada tends to build the most energy efficient product today. Arguably, the Atlantic provinces build to an R-2000 as a standard.”

That R-2000 Standard is more than 25 years old, and is a voluntary, industryendorsed technical performance benchmark, administered by Natural Resources Canada, for energy efficiency, indoor air tightness quality and environmental responsibility in home construction.

Alongside the R-2000 standard is LEED Canada for Homes, a rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performing homes and which are comparable in price to conventional homes. LEED Canada applies to single family homes and multi-family buildings up to three residential stories. Mixed use projects can also apply for certification, and homes that have already been built may participate in LEED if they undergo a full stripping and rehabilitation process

that exposes the full insulation on the exterior wall of the house, either by removing drywall internally or siding externally.

According to the Canada Green Building Council, LEED Canada certification requires first a submission and a third party review.

LEED Canada v1.0 projects up for certification follow a three-stage process, and LEED Canada 2009 projects have a two-stage certification model to follow; the former has a 65-day timeline and the latter of 50 days.

When a project’s final review is complete, and there has been confirmation of that review by a LEED consultant, the home’s owner receives a congratulatory email from the Canada Green Building Council asking them to confirm the certification and the name of the final project.

Only then is the project considered certified and a plaque and certificates issued.

At the moment, says Higgins, about 15% of all homes built in Canada have some sort of green or energy efficient

“ Atlantic Canada tends to build the most energy efficient product today.

Arguably, the Atlantic provinces build to an R-2000 as a standard.” label. “Still the overwhelming majority of homes are built either to code; that’s probably another 80% of the market, and 5% are actually built below code.” Despite this lack of green awareness, Higgins says change is on the way. In Britain and Ger-

Design Talk

Ottawa-based Linda Chapman has spent 30 years as an architect. She specializes in ecologically-friendly, cost-effective building design. She may be reached at linda@smartarchitecture.com.

(Edited and condensed for publication.)

Q: At the intersection of “design and green” is it inevitable that one of them has to brake to let the other one pass or do they both try to sneak through together A: If you are asking does design get compromised, do esthetics get compromised in order to have a green house, my answer would be no. A green house can certainly be as beautiful, as functional as any other kind of house.

Q: At this intersection what are some of the things an architect starts to consider when a homeowner says he or she wants it as green as you can make it?

A: As an architect in Canada, energy efficiency is pretty important, because we spend a lot of our energy budget on heating. That also has a lot to do with trying to use passive solar principles in your design: trying to increase the amount of south glazing, but also having shading on it so it does not overheat in summer, but in the winter acts to harvest some solar heat gain.

many homes must sport some sort of green label,. in Ontario there are plans to put green stickers on 95% of homes in the province, and Vancouver has announced a similar forthcoming requirement for new housing.

After energy efficiency, from a green point of view, there is the selection of materials. You want to select materials that are preferably local, so they do not have to be shipped from great distances using great quantities of fossil fuel to transport it to where the house is.

We also try to get extremely durable materials; material that will last a long time or have a high-recycled content or in and of itself be very recyclable. I try and convince a lot of clients who have sloping roofs to go with metal roofs. They are more expensive, but steel is one of the most recycled materials on the planet and also one of the most durable. A steel roof will last 60 years when your average asphalt roof will last about 15 years.

Q: Do some styles of houses lend themselves more readily to “green” than others?

A: I would say contemporary design gives you more flexibility. If you are stuck in a style there are all kinds of rules about some of the neo-classical homes.

Q: Do clients tend to come down on one side or the other either green or design?

A: People understand energy efficiency very well, and that is usually the first place that they go. The rest is education by the architect, and their budgets. I have done a couple of Platinum LEED houses in Ottawa, and there are interesting things such as cisterns where we collect roof rainwater, and green roofs and recycling grey water for toilets. They can fit into any style, but they cost more money. People say I want to be as green as I can be for my budget, and this is my budget: $250 a square foot.

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CA

FEATURE

Growing Opportunities Low-maintenance landscaping projects top the list among today’s clients.

BY JOHN G. SMITH

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That can affect the choice of everything from plants to hardscapes.

“People have a greater appreciation for water these days, and consequently they are looking for things that use less water,” Paxton says. “Anything that is native, that is natural, that is indigenous to the area would be more able to handle the natural water that would come down.”

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Still, there are opportunities to include man-made materials in the mix.

Much of that interest can be traced to the improving quality of options such as cultured stone, artificial stone and premanufactured blocks, all of which are taking on more of a natural appearance.

“The quality is getting better,” Paxton says, noting how they are far better than ear-

PHOTO: SHOULDICE DESIGNER STONE

A

s chair of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association’s Landscape Canada Committee, he has seen plenty of ideas come and go, but one emerging trend leaves him dumbfounded. A growing number of clients in urban settings have been asking about artificial grass for their smaller front yards. “I never would have guessed that,” he says.

Admittedly, live lawns outnumber those made of artificial turf unless you are building football stadiums, but these requests are just the latest sign of timestrapped homeowners looking for ways to enhance the outside world without shouldering new maintenance demands.

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FEATURE

lier generations which had a decidedly manufactured or plastic look.

Products like Fusion Stone, for example, can be installed with a few basic tools and can even incorporate traditional mortar in the joints. Decking materials have evolved beyond lumber choices as well. Trex composite deck systems are made of cellular PVC, and PureDeck boards are made with virgin or recycled polyethylene.

Ottawa-based landscape architect Gino Aiello is fielding an entirely different series of demands from his clients. “In residential, what I am finding is nobody cares about saving water or electricity,” he insists. Customers continue to look for swimming pools, hot tubs, water features

and sometimes the combination of all three. “It is like the middle class likes to live like the upper class. They want a nice pool. They want a stone terrace. They want the nice outdoor furniture.”

A customer’s lifestyle can certainly influence the landscape’s design. A retiree who wants to care for gardens as a hobby will be looking for plants that will bloom at different points throughout the season, Paxton says. In contrast, homeowners with young children are more likely to want an open back yard that offers a place to play. Couples who enjoy entertaining will look beyond a simple barbecue and want to adopt an outdoor kitchen, making the space a true extension of the home,

and active families will be enticed by the idea of a pool. Even culinary trends have a role to play. Now that homemade pizza is seen as more of a delicacy, some outdoor kitchens are adding wood-burning brick forno ovens.

“The yard converts their house into a home,” Paxton observes.

Still, the wish for maintenance-free options is universal. “In a residential garden, they do not want a ‘fussy’ planting scheme with one of these and three of these,” Aiello says. “They do not want to be gardening constantly. They want it to be calm, simple and relaxing, and a busy yard is not relaxing.”

His clientele’s preferred designs would

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be described as clean, simple, modern and contemporary.

It hardly means the look has to be sterile or overly uniform. Aiello’s hardscapes often include concrete that incorporates different aggregates or sand-blasting techniques. “With pavers you have all these little joints and maybe some settling and heaving,” he says. Concrete and stone will sit unmoved for decades.

There is no overlooking how popular the pavers continue to be among many

homeowners, but his observation stresses the need to pay close attention to the way these products are installed when they are used. Decor Precast, for example, stresses how those installing a patio or walkway should excavate an area 6” around the perimeter of the finished size, install a well-compacted 4” base, lay a 1” pipe on the base, add 1” of paver sand over the base, and then install paver restrain edging and spikes around the entire project. The paver edge itself should be 3” from

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the edge of the compacted aggregate.

Once that work is finished, few product choices will be more involved than the plants which surround these fixed features.

“There is always a demand for formal gardens, and there will always be a demand for informal gardens,” Paxton says.

Homebuilders have a big influence on the preferred options. Seven or eight years ago, housing developers were using materials with more earth tones, while newer options are embracing brighter colours, Paxton says. “We are always challenged to keep up with the houses. That is our backdrop. That is our canvas.”

The selected materials should offer some contrast and texture when compared to the building itself.

Aiello says colour choices may be one of the most personal decisions of all. One client will want every flower to be white, and the next will be looking for an everchanging palette of rich colours. “Personally, I wait for all the hardscape to be built before we even walk and talk about plants,” he says, likening the process to the decorating that takes place after a home is built.

Lighting will play another role in memorable projects. Solar products have certainly made it easier to install a wider array of options without the need to bury the wires associated with low-voltage systems. Plants can be up-lit to offer a sense of depth and texture. Short, upright bollard lights can shine down on walkways or steps.

Northern International, which supplies Paradise products, notes how downlighting can enhance safety along walkways and steps, mark garden paths and accent patios. Uplighting can create focal points and highlight small trees and shrubs, as well as illuminating fountains and garden statues. Surface lights mount directly onto walls, fences and decks for spaces around steps, benches and rails, while low-profile lights keep the light close to the ground, making the latter options a perfect fit for borders and driveways.

Every additional feature in a landscaping project can mean more work for a landscaping crew, but the chance to secure these jobs will depend on a number of factors.

Landscape architects will be looking to partner with the contractors who have specific abilities. That can require crews to complete the training which landscaping

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES, SHOULDICE DESIGNER STONE, GINO AIELLO

associations offer to enhance individual skills.

Paxton divides contractors into three buckets. A team of one to three people will need to have a “wide spectrum of knowledge” to be able to perform the broadest amount of work. “He or she should be taking technical courses as well as management courses.” In contrast, a business running one to three crews will need to ensure that crew leaders have the technical skills for a task as well as strong leadership qualities to keep projects on track. This will leave the owner to be able to focus more on marketing and industry demands. Large companies, meanwhile, should be looking to specialize more on specific tasks, from hardscapes to irrigation and design.

Still, he emphasizes on-the-job training and work experience as much as any formal program. “At the end of the day, you have to have training and time in the saddle and you are only as good as your last job,” Paxton says.

Aiello likes to see contractors who have had the chance to work on larger projects that involve the guidance of geotechnical engineers. He knows that type of knowledge can be applied to projects of every size. “Many contractors simply think the deeper I dig and the more gravel I put in, the better,” he says.

As important as individual specialties may be, Aiello cringes at the idea of working with a supplier who works with an unusually long list of subcontractors. “I would be looking for a company that does almost everything in-house with their own crews, and the least amount of sub-trades possible,” he admits. “I’d be looking for someone to manage the entire thing, right down to the electrician and gas contractor and pool.”

Of course, nobody can be expected to do everything. He is willing to see outsourced projects like pools and fences, but still wants one call to address every issue. “If you have a problem, who is going to fix it?” he asks, noting how contractors need to be available to address issues that might not emerge until the following season. “There is a very short season for guys to do the work and service last year’s work,” he adds. It is why the 20-year veteran wants to partner with those who have the “bandwidth” to address follow-up calls promptly.

Other characteristics go beyond the landscaping alone. “You have got to be honest. You have got to be completely upfront and honest.

You have to be well organized,” Aiello says.

Those are the real keys to growing a landscaping business.

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CA

FEATURE

More on the

floor Property owners seek durable, inexpensive and authentic flooring options. Hardwood, tile and carpet manufacturers have stepped up with new products.

W

hen it comes to interior design, homeowners increasingly seek “authenticity.” What is authentic design? With respect to flooring, many people want materials that look and feel as if they were made in an earlier era. Customers seek products that present a certain level of craftsmanship, and perhaps a hint of history.

Nostalgia is not the only factor, though. Property owners also want durable and inexpensive flooring products, the benefits of modern manufacturing processes and innovative technologies.

Thankfully, companies that serve the building industry have answered the call, and now contractors have a number of new options to satisfy clients’ desire for authentic, strong flooring that will not break customers’ renovation budgets.

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PHOTO: ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES

BY STEFAN DUBOWSKI

CA

FEATURE

Hand-scraped hardwood Hardwood manufacturers, for instance, have turned back the clock with hand-scraped solid and engineered flooring. Although made in factories, this old-fashioned product mimics the undulating texture that was common to hardwood floors in centuries past. Back then, strips were cut and scraped on the job site. The hand-scraping process resulted in a slightly wavy top that highlighted the grain.

When flooring manufacturers started using machines to scrape the wood, strips came out completely flat. Now, in retro fashion, manufacturers are beginning to use machines that recreate the hand-scraped look that many homeowners want for their renovation projects.

“Texture has become the new colour,” says Sara Babinski, principal designer for hardwood at wood-products manufacturer Armstrong World Industries Inc. She explains that the trend toward prominent textures runs through all facets of design, including clothes, furnishings and interior architecture. “It is the latest element added to everything. More texture makes the material look more authentic.”

Armstrong started offering hand-scraped solid and engineered hardwood about seven years ago, addressing a desire among renovators and builders on the U.S. west coast for oldfashioned flooring. The trend spread to the southwest and it is only now making its way east, Babinski says.

“The products have been made wider and glossier over time,” she says, referring to the floor planks. “In some cases, we have introduced washes as well as stains.”

In January, Armstrong unveiled its American Scrape collection. Available in hickory, red oak and white oak wood, the planks are 5” wide and come in a range of colours, including reddish Candy Apple, soft brown Gold Rush and hardy brown River House.

Hickory is the hand-scraped material of choice, since it is particularly knotty and, as such, presents a deeply rustic look, Babinski says.

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Soft budgets Inasmuch as personal style informs flooring choices, homeowners’ budgets play crucial role. For some, the budget is even more important. Fortunately, many flooring companies strive to help people stay within their financial limits. One such firm, Invista, recently introduced a budgetfocused carpeting option that performs on par with its more expensive offerings.

Provider of the Stainmaster Carpet line, Invista unveiled Stainmaster Essentials. Carpets under this brand use a proprietary anti-soil chemistry. The products are tested to meet Invista’s durability performance standards, the firm says in a press statement.

Chief marketing officer Steve Griffith explains that, although higher quality nylon 6,6 carpet fibres still provide the best long-term performance, “Now some consumers are looking for good performing value products that will live up to their expectations in terms of durability, stain resistance and ease of cleaning.”

Invista is not the only carpet supplier targeting ease of cleaning. Shnier-Gesco Limited Partnership also offers products designed to help property owners cut down on cleaning time. Last year, Shnier started offering the Richmond Senses

Plank tiles The authentic trend affects the tile market as well. At Ames Tile & Stone, earth tones and soft greys that present a raw, natural look are particularly popular. Ames heeds the call for flooring choices that look authentic but, in reality, are crafted from different material. Case in point: Ames’ wood plank style tiles have the appearance of hardwood but, since they are actually ceramic, offer greater resilience.

“It is the practicality,” says Curt Higham, Ames’ product specialist and 36

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designer liaison. “True wood scratches and it is not as pet- or family-friendly.”

Wood-look tiles, such as Ames’ Eternal Wood Series, available in colours that range from dark grey through to a soothing beige “Nature” and soft white, also enable homeowners to introduce the hardwood style in areas where real wood sometimes does not perform particularly well, including exterior spaces, bathrooms and kitchens. “If you have a wet area like a kitchen, if the dishwasher goes on you,

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

you have a ruined floor,” Higham says.

Even though plank-shaped tiles are growing popular, Ames’ bestseller remains the 12” by 24” format. That said, even larger formats have come on strong in the sales department, too. Higham posits the increasing popularity coincides with larger bathrooms, entryways and kitchens, where big tiles help make these expansive areas appear less busy, more streamlined.

In February, Centura unveiled Florida Tile’s Cinema line of travertine tiles. With

Five environmentally-friendly

Carpet Collection, including the TruResist and Luxury Nylon lines. Both series feature OdourAct: natural enzymes in the carpet that neutralize odour-causing bacteria. This treatment does not just mask smells. It actively attacks the source, such as pet accidents, spilled milk or toppled wine.

“People want softer and softer carpets, but they still want durability,” says Chris Schneider, Shnier’s director of marketing.

He explains that the Richmond Senses collection offers carpeting that is both comfortable and strong. The OdourAct technology, however, is the feature that intrigues most people, especially among carpet retailers. Earlier this year, Shnier undertook a national road show to introduce Richmond Senses to retailers.

“As soon as we get into the enzymes, they are interested,” Schneider says.

Thanks to advancements in manufacturing processes, contractors now have an even wider array of flooring options to present to customers, including comfortable yet durable carpets, resilient and stylish tiles, and hardwood that recalls bygone times. No matter how the client defines “authentic,” builders stand a better chance than ever of meeting property owner’s flooring requirements.

Many property owners put “green” on par with style, durability and cost when considering potential flooring options. Here are five materials that contractors can suggest when customers seek environmentally friendly floors.

1. Wood: It may not be especially exotic, but wood does count as a pro-environment option. Trees are renewable, and they absorb carbon as they grow, which means less carbon in the atmosphere. When it is time to replace wood floors, the old material can be recycled into other products, including, in some cases, floors for projects that call for distressed or reclaimed wood. Focusing on interior air quality, some hardwood flooring manufacturers claim the material is particularly good for people who suffer from dust allergies, as hardwood floors do not trap as much dust as carpeting does.

2. B amboo: Derived from fast-growing bamboo grass, bamboo floors are naturally antibacterial, water resistant and durable. Manufacturers offer tongue-and-groove planks that are easy to install, so contractors need not learn any new installation techniques to lay this material.

Bamboo tends to be more expensive than laminate, but it is less expensive than hardwood.

Contractors should ask about the adhesives used in the product, though, since some contain formaldehyde, a suspected carcinogen.

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES, RICHMOND SENSES, ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES

irregular edges, they appear hand-cut, but the tiles are far from rough. The “toppa” glaze affords a smooth surface that also makes the tiles feel almost warm underfoot, according to Centura’s website.

Presented as an excellent substitute for natural stone, Cinema tiles come in three colours: Ivory Lace, Burbank Beige and Silverscreen. Sizes: 12” by 24”; 18” by 18”; 12” by 12”; 2” by 2” (random bricks) mosaics; 2.5” by 12” listellos, 1” by 2” chair rail end caps; and 2” by 12” chair rails.

FLOORING OPTIONS

3. C ork: Cork comes from the bark of cork oaks, so the trees remain standing and continue to help the environment even as the material is harvested. Available from manufacturers such as Quickstyle Industries, cork is antibacterial and has excellent insulation properties, providing a warm, comfortable walking surface.

It also resists imprints from heavy foot traffic and furniture, so it is ideal for busy households.

4. Natural and recycled soft material: Carpets can be made from natural fibres such as cotton (new and recycled), sisal, wool and coconut husks. Some manufacturers offer carpeting created from recycled food and drink containers.

Recycled nylon carpeting keeps tonnes of material destined for dumps out of the landfills.

5. Coconut timber: Hewn from mature coconut palm trees that no longer bear fruit, this type of flooring is less expensive than teak, yet as hard as mahogany.

New plantings take just six years to grow into mature specimens. One report indicates that many coconut palm trees are cut down and destroyed once they have passed their fruit-bearing years. The report suggests this waste may represent a largely untapped resource for flooring manufacturers.

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CA

FEATURE

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CA

FEATURE

Up&

Open The right paint, moulding and design used on ceilings can tie together a room and add the bold individuality homeowners seek.

PHOTO: MOULDING AND MILLWORK

BY LAWRENCE CUMMER

T

he higher ceilings and open-concept rooms becoming increasingly common in today’s market mean contractors need to give more thought than ever to the textures, colours and design of ceilings in order to make their work and a room stand out.

Ceiling treatment, says Dan Ferguson, vice-president of operations at Calgary-based contractor Jertyne Interior Services Ltd., a company that specializes in ceiling construction for both new homes and renovations, affects the impression of the entire room.

“For example, you can do a lot to effect the appearance of the ceiling height even by just having a smooth center and border textures on the outside towards the wall,” he says. “It’s amazing how much of a difference and change can be made to a room through a ceiling renovation.”

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will better hide imperfections, but for the smooth ceilings described by Ferguson, why not use a glossy eggshell or semigloss, Goldman asks. “You have to think of it as a canvas,” she says.

All the mainstays of doing a good paint job, such as painting from dry to wet, apply to the ceiling as well as walls, but Goldman gives one additional caution. “Do not be proud; tape” she says.

No matter how good you are at painting a straight line, she stresses that painting ceiling lines are a different story. Stretching from ladders and difficult angles make straight lines that much harder to create.

Those lines are less forgiving if there is high contrast between colours.

Breaking the mould

Ferguson adds that he is seeing techniques such as step-and-cove ceilings receiving increased interest from homeowners. This combination of an 8”-to-12”’ step with a curved “Roman style” cove can give rooms elegance.

In addition, homeowners are starting to look for a smooth, Level 5 drywall finish, he says. Ferguson notes that this top-tier finish helps to mask shadows created by the level changes in the ceiling, and is gained by skimming the entire ceiling and using a high-quality primer.

A fresh coat No longer only painted a simple white, homeowners today are asking for ceilings that, like the rest of the home, showcase their individuality.

“A room décor is like a fabulous cake, and paint is like the icing on that cake,” says Alison Goldman, brand manager at CIL Paints. “It is not real until you put the icing on it.”

Goldman suggests the ceiling should be viewed as a fifth wall instead of the lid on a box. If a homeowner’s style is dramatic enough to warrant an eye-catching accent wall, there is no reason that colour cannot be above their heads. Even the less dramatic can turn to a bit of colour to tie a room together.

Monochromatic colour combinations are popular. Here, while the exact same tint of paint is not necessarily used for the ceiling, the same colour covers the entire room. With today’s trend to relatively high 40

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ceilings, this technique has the effect of adding even more height to the room.

“This works really well when combined with a fairly modern décor,” Goldman says. “You do not get that definite line between walls and the ceiling, so you lose the sensation of the walls having an end.”

To create the illusion of widening a room and lowering its ceilings, creating an artificial line through paint will have this effect. Simply paint the ceiling colour along the top foot of the walls to create an artificial line. That line can be enhanced by adding crown moulding to create a clear, artificial barrier. A darker colour or shade adds to this effect.

Paint techniques can also be used to create a textured-looking effect without the cost of expensive materials or texturizing paints. Goldman points to the popularity of tin-tiled ceilings in kitchens or basements, which can be mimicked by painting a grid on the ceiling in a slightly darker shade.

Of course, colour and visual effects are not the only considerations to make when applying ceiling paint. Homes with the ever-present “popcorn ceiling” of the 1970s and 1980s will need to use a specially formulated Alkyd paint, as water will dissolve the calcimine used to create the texture. These oil-based paints were exempt from the 2010 ban on Alkyd paints, due to the requirement on such textured ceilings.

The gloss of paint is a further consideration. For older ceilings, a flat paint

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

The open-concept design of today’s homes is creating a particular interest in ceiling moulding, according to Jan Rutgers, director of product development at Moulding & Millwork.

“What homeowners are definitely starting to say is that these big open concept homes, with high 9’, 10’ or 12’ ceilings, kind of look like a warehouse if you are not doing something to define that space,” she says. “They want to have continuity in the floor surface, so the ceiling is the ideal place to differentiate spaces.”

Another popular moulding trend today is to add a coffered ceiling over the

if the business supports it. Another challenge can come from the difficulty that homeowners have visualizing moulding or texture options. Photos are nice, but can be ineffective. “The consumer is very tactile and visual,” Rutgers says. Here she suggests saving off-cuts and creating mock-ups the customer can see. This will also help in perfecting proportions in those tall rooms.

To help contractors who do not have the assistance of a designer, Moulding & Millwork has been investigating how to best group their mouldings into design collections, an area of research Rutgers is directly involved in.

To showcase various drywall textures in new home builds, Ferguson has built 6’-by-6’ demonstrations of different ceiling textures separated by a recess so that buyers can visualize the effect from eye level. “We received calls within the first two weeks telling us it was huge for them,” she says. “They were able to give the customer a visual that was far better than a small sample board.”

Stretching your imagination For those who eschew drywall and paint, a new option has become available. Stretch ceilings, such as those offered by Toronto’s Laqfoil Ltd., can provide a variety of patterns, textures and even large-size photo prints.

Originally created as a solution for damaged ceilings, Laqfoil’s stretch ceilings are light-weight polyester canvases with a polyurethane (PU) coating and are de-

signed to be affixed to a perimeter frame.

Frames are generally made from rolled aluminum or PVC, and have a special locking system to guarantee a smooth and wrinkle-free canvas, the company says.

When properly installed, the company says a stretch ceiling can support “considerable” loads of over 25 kg applied to a small area. As well as enhancing the visual appeal of the space, such a ceiling provides noise-reducing properties, a bacteria-free environment, and offers energy-saving, according to Laqfoil marketing director Sergey Orlov.

These ceilings can also be used for light diffusion or create floating panels, as well as be used to create 3D and non-rectangular shapes, adding a whole new level of creativity to ceiling designs. Appropriate for residences, office spaces and commercial buildings, Laqfoil says its ceilings are nonflammable, and certified under National Building Code for Canada S102.

Consumer familiarity around ceiling options continues to rise, and with it so too have expectations. Contractors can differentiate themselves by possessing creativity and the techniques needed to build those customers’ dream room ceilings.

“For years the customers did not know their options,” notes Ferguson. “Over the last 10 years or so, though, people have really started to gain a better understand how the differences between textures or colour variations can create a stand out effect.”

If they do not, all agree there is a great opportunity to show them.

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PHOTO: MOULDING AND MILLWORK

dining room area around the chandelier, she says. Here, again, Rutgers says this is a technique to better define the dining area.

Beyond being a decorative element, coffers and moulding can provide a useful function when renovating to create an open concept space in older homes.

“When you are removing walls, sometimes it is difficult to get a completely smooth, flat ceiling again,” she says. In such a case, moulding can disguise level changes between rooms or to hide utilities while adding visual appeal.

An important consideration with modern home designs is that a high ceiling requires bigger, bolder moulding. One of the toughest challenges contractors have around ceiling moulding today is getting the proportions right; a 3” trim surrounding a 12’ ceiling is going to lose its impact.

Impact can also be created through combining various mouldings into a unique build up. This technique can create the illusion of a custom crown moulding, providing the distinctiveness that homeowners are looking for.

Rutgers strongly suggests researching the many moulding options and says it is a good idea to bring an interior designer in, if possible. This advice is echoed by Ferguson, who is married to one. For those without such good fortune, he says, it is valuable to build a relationship with interior designers or hire a design team

CA

FEATURE

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CA

FEATURE

Going to great lengths Today’s longer-cut sidings and other renovation trends can help contractors nail down higher profits.

BY NESTOR E. ARELLANO

PHOTO: CANWELL

L

engths of exterior sidings have been growing over the past few years, a trend helping savvy contractors likewise grow their bottom line.

Once-typical 12’ vinyl siding is now commonly available in almost double that length, and even longer using custom-cut pieces. These longer planks offer aesthetics sought by homeowners, but not without a few drawbacks for installers.

Still, by taking advantage of this and other emerging exterior siding trends, product specialists say that contractors can up-sell clients on additional services to improve the look of their homes.

The long and short of it “Six to 12’ planks used to be the norm in exterior siding, no matter what the material you were using,” according to Paul Fancy, specialist for exterior wraps at CanWel Building Materials in Brampton, Ont. “These days, it is not uncommon to see homes with 16’ or even longer panels.”

Manufacturers now produce vinyl sidings in varying lengths that include 6’, 12’, 12’ ½”, 16’, 20’ or 25’ planks and even longer in the case of custom cuts. Aluminum siding generally comes in 9’ and 12’ lengths but some manufacturers now also offer 16’ or 16’ 8” units, while real wood siding can be bought in lengths of around 6’,

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CA

PHOTO: MITTEN

FEATURE

8’, 16’ and 20’. Engineered wood siding, made out of wood fibres or veneers held together by adhesives, can be found in 8’, 12’ and 16’ lengths. Finally, fibre cement siding, which is usually constructed out of recycled natural cement and wood products moulded together to simulate real wood, are offered in lengths of up to 12’.

The appeal of longer siding planks for homeowners is aesthetic, Fancy says.

Longer sidings planks make for less unsightly joints that interrupt the flow of the siding panels.

“With standard 12’ siding panels, joints generally appear every 2-3’; however, a 16’ panel used on a 20’ wall will reduce the number of joints by about 35%.”

According to Fancy, many builders and architects also seem to favour the look of longer panels in vertical siding applications.

“A lot of recent constructions incorporate higher ceilings and these designs require taller walls on which vertical exterior siding planks are appropriate,” he says. “Again longer panels reduce the number of joints between panels.”

For contractors, longer siding panels can cut down installation time since it

takes fewer panels to cover an area, but installers need to exercise a certain amount of caution when dealing with them, warns Robert DiMaggio, general manager for GM Exteriors, siding material distributors and installers based in Etobicoke, Ont.

“Longer panels are harder to handle than shorter ones, so people need to be careful moving them around so that they do not get dented, scratched or chipped,” he says.

Longer panels often also require two or more persons to hang the siding. For

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the added difficulty in handling, DiMaggio said, some contractors are able to charge a bit extra for their work.

Another consideration: longer siding panels are not ideal for horizontal applications on surfaces with many corners.

“You lose a lot of the advantages of longer panels when you install them on a house with many angles or corners,” says DiMaggio. “Contractors just end up cutting up the panels anyway to fit the walls.”

He also advises contractors to consider distributors that offer free or discounted delivery services when working with extended-length siding materials.

“The 20’ or 25’ long panels will probably not fit in most contractor vehicles and they could be damaged in transit,” he says.

PHOTO: CANWELL, MITTEN

Trend spotting Apart from growing panel lengths, contractors can also count on a number of other trends as up-sell opportunities, according to Jenny Ball, marketing manager at Mitten Building. Her company manufactures vinyl and aluminum siding as well as faux stone exterior cladding.

“Consider prevailing demographics,” she says. “There are a lot of young professionals and young couples entering the housing market, but looking for ways to cut cost in their renovation projects.”

On the other hand, aging baby boomers are swelling the ranks of older couples. With higher disposable incomes, they are in the market for high-end, top-quality cladding.

Some surveys also indicate that a large number of seniors aged 75 to 84 still own their home, and these home owners are often looking for low-maintenance siding.

These consumer groups offer excellent renovation project opportunities for contractors who can tune-in to their particular needs, Ball says.

Adding variety is one technique that contractors can suggest to clients. There is no need to limit a home to one shade.

Drama and curb appeal can be achieved by skillfully using contrasting exterior or complementing exterior colours to create accents.

While manufacturers still offer the standard beige and white tints, vinyl and aluminum siding now come in dramatic palettes that appeal to the more daring souls.

Consider Mitten’s designer selection vinyl siding which comes in eggplant, olive green, amber, coffee, burnt orange and blue shades.

“Eggplant was a high-style choice for

interiors about two years ago and the shade has now moved outside the house as people have gotten more confident with this daring colour,” Ball says.

Up-sell opportunities Suggesting that clients consider using alternate materials to add greater visual impact to their property is an excellent up-sell opportunity for contractors, according to Ball.

As a low-cost alternative to using real stone accents, replica stone veneer panels and pillar pieces such as Mitten’s Novik and Gemstone products can be installed. Replica

stone panels are often made of polyurethane, moulded and coloured to simulate the texture and shades of real stone. These low-maintenance products cost about half as much as real masonry and stone and are, of course, far easier to install.

Howard Samson, branch manager for aluminum, vinyl and engineered wood products manufacturer, Kaycan Ltd., says offering appearance-enhancing accessories is another way for contractors exhibit how they can help clients increase the curb appeal of their home.

“Siding is generally a remodeling-ori-

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©2013, CGC Inc., MS. The CGC logo is a trademark of CGC Inc. CGC Inc. is a licensed user of the following trademarks: THE NAME PROS TRUST, SHEETROCK, SECUROCK, FIBEROCK, DUROCK, DONN, DUST CONTROL, USG CEILINGS, BEADEX and SYNKO.

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For over a century, CGC has been a leader in providing innovative solutions for architects, builders and contractors. Solutions that meet the needs and specifications of an ever changing industry. Solutions that allow you to realize your vision, maximize performance and simplify the building process. For your next project, go with THE NAME PROS TRUST®, go with CGC.

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PHOTO: CANWELL

ented business and there is no shortage of accessories out there that can turn your typical cladding job in to a real value-add opportunity,” Samson says.

For example, he says, Kaycan has a line of vinyl and aluminum faux shutters in different colours and styles that are designed to match their siding materials.

The company produces decorative vinyl arch tops in solid, raised and louvered styles as well as window and door headers, door surrounds, gable vents and mount blocks for hanging lighting fixtures.

“Most people want their house to look unique and these vinyl accessories help them accomplish that at the fraction of the cost of installing real-wood counterparts,” he says.

Contractors should also advise clients to check up on local regulations covering siding materials.

“For instance, in large city centres you will often see aluminum siding. This is because most local codes call for aluminum siding in densely packed areas as an added precaution against fires,” according to Samson.

Kaycan also offers vinyl siding that

comes with foam insulation material in the back. The company says the product helps keep homes warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer and provides up to 20% savings on energy bills. The insulation also cuts down outdoor noise entering the home by as much as 45%, according to the company.

Many industry insiders question the touted capability of insulated siding in improving the home’s R-value; however, Samson says the foam backing in these products result in greater impact resistance and makes insulated vinyl siding look straighter and better than their standard counterparts.

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Wood is still good

Vinyl may be the most popular siding material in the country, but natural wood is making a strong comeback, according to Tom Pearson, owner of Nu-Forest Products, a wholesale distributor of lumber products that specializes in red cedar siding.

“Aggressive marketing has helped vinyl dominate the market; however, in the last six year, I have seen natural wood siding appearing in many custom home builds and even new subdivision construction.”

Traditional home designs are not the only buildings where wood is reappearing either.

“Long expanses of gleaming wood

siding and vertical wood planks used as design accents can be seen in modern architecture in the city and rural areas,” Person notes.

Other cheaper materials can be made to look like wood, but nothing compares to the real thing, he says.

For exterior applications, Pearson recommends western red cedar because it is “a very stable wood” that can stand to the elements even in extreme weather conditions.

“Wood has that unique warm look and pleasing texture,” says Pearson. “It even smells good when it is being cut.

These are the qualities that many highend homeowners look for.”

Design Talk

Siding installation a cut above the rest

• Make a splash for less cash by experimenting with something colours: coffee, burn orange, blue, amber, olive green or even eggplant.

• Install shutters in shades that contrast or compliment the colour of your siding to add some visual interest.

• Low-cost vinyl mounting blocks for lighting fixtures, archtops, gable vents, and window and door headers are eye-catching details.

• Strategically position plants, furniture or lighting to focus viewers’ eyes to a feature you want to highlight.

These siding faux pas manage to elude even some more experienced contractors: • Avoid nailing vinyl and aluminum siding too lose or too tight. This can cause buckling.

• When installing wood siding over insulating foam, ensure that the right length of nail is used to enable penetration into the insulating foam and wood frame beneath it.

• Keep siding straight by using intermittent control lines to maintain straight alignment.

• Follow manufacturer instructions regarding allowances for water and moisture management. This will help prevent moisture and mold buildup later on.

• Instead of offsetting joints in a repetitive pattern, position joints randomly for a less obvious look.

• Ensure there is adequate flashing, caulking and insulation around trims, windows, doors and other openings to avoid moisture seepage and heat loss.

• Orient joint overlaps away from the dominant view points of the house for a more pleasing appearance.

• Wood with too much sapwood or wood that has gotten wet before installation can twist and cup after installation.

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CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

PHOTO: HALCRO

Here are some hints on how to grab instant curb appeal without putting much of a dent in your customer’s budget:

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thE pink panthEr™ & © 1964-2012 metro-goldwyn-mayer studios inc. all rights reserved. the colour pink is a registered trademark of owens corning. © 2012 owens corning. all rights reserved. †the insulation is manufactured with a blowing agent with 70% less global warming potential as compared to owens corning previous blowing agents. grEEngUarD children & schoolssm mark is a registered certification mark used under license through the grEEngUarD Environmental institute. owens corning pink™ insulation is grEEngUarD certified for indoor air quality, except bonded loosefill products. © 2012 owens corning. all rights reserved.

NE OZOLETION P E D RMULA FO LE À FORMU ZERO SEMENT PAUVRISNE P A O ZÉRO DE L’OZ