Contractor Advantage July / August 2015

COMPLIMENTARY

JULY/AUGUST 2015

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

ALSO:

Accounting Tips Going Digital Foundations

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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

CLADDING PLUS: BATHROOM RENOS SMART KITCHENS ®

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CONTENTS

Features

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An app for that / 18 30 (plus one) smartphone apps to make smart decisions on the job site.

Tax facts / 22 Successful contractors monitor tax rules as carefully as their building materials.

Sizing up bathroom renos / 26

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Inside

NEWS WATCH / 5

May housing starts released

Though the rooms can be small, the impact of bathrooms upgrades can be mighty.

Clever cladding / 32 A slew of new options mean contractors and their clients have a lot to consider when it comes to choosing siding.

PRODUCT SHOWCASE / 6 New and improved products

Smart kitchens / 41

BUSINESS STRATEGIES / 10 The ultimate power tool

Appliances loaded with new features allow contractors to build kitchens that go beyond ultra-modern.

SMART MONEY / 12 Accounting system discussion ECONOMICS 101 / 14 Communicate with clarity

Shaking up the foundation / 49

LEARNING CURVE / 17 Improving soft skills

Keeping a close watch on the shifting foundation landscape can mean solid returns for contractors.

JULY/AUGUST 2015 Vol. 20 No. 4

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 Robert Cialdini Lawrence Cummer Stefan Dubowski David Chilton Saggers John G. Smith Mark Vickers Harpreet Wadehra

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: 905-564-5875 E-mail: jmercieca@castle.ca

Published and designed exclusively for Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. by AnnexNewcom LP Material Contact: Cheryl Fisher 416-510-5194 Copyright 2012

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NEWS WATCH

Housing market to see greater disparity between provinces in 2015 and 2016

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

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he Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is predicting housing starts to remain stable but to start moderating slightly later this year and in 2016, according to its Housing Market Outlook, Canada Edition. The organization; however, is forecasting risks and vulnerabilities it says can affect the market outlook for Canada and each province.

“Lower oil prices are contributing to disparities between provincial housing markets,” said Bob Dugan, chief economist for CMHC. “A slowdown in housing starts and resale transactions in oil-producing provinces such as Alberta will be partly offset by increased housing market activity in other provinces such as Ontario and British Columbia, which benefit from the positive impacts of declining energy prices, a lower Canadian dollar and continued low mortgage rates.”

Dugan says the inventory of completed and unabsorbed units remains above average. “We expect the pace of new home construction to moderate over the next couple of years as builders focus on managing the existing inventory,” he added.

On an annual basis, housing starts are expected to range between 166,540 and 188,580 units in 2015, with a point forecast of 181,618 units. For 2016, housing starts are forecast to range from 162,840 units to 190,830 units, with a point forecast of 181,800 units.

Multiple Listing Service (MLS) sales are expected to range between 437,100 and 494,500 units in 2015, with a point forecast of 475,400 units. In 2016, MLS sales are forecast to range from 424,500 units to 491,300 units, with a point forecast of 469,000 units. Average MLS price is forecast to be between $402,139 and $439,589 in 2015, with a point forecast of $422,129. For 2016, the average MLS price is forecast to be between $398,191 and $457,200, with a point forecast of $428,325.

The gradual slowdown in the rate of price growth is explained by the expected change in the composition of MLS sales toward more moderately priced homes.

The CMHC trend measure of housing starts in Canada was up in May with 181,231 units compared with 179,524 in April.

The trend is a six-month average of the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR) of housing starts.

“The small increase in the trend was primarily driven by higher multiple starts in Ontario, the Atlantic region, and Québec,” said Dugan.

The standalone monthly SAAR was 201,705 units in May, up from 183,329 units in April. The SAAR of urban starts increased

by 10.8% in May to 185,235 units. Multi-unit urban starts increased by 16.9% to 126,367 units in May, while the single-detached urban starts segment essentially held steady at 58,868 units.

In May, the seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts increased in Atlantic Canada, Ontario and Québec, while it decreased in British Columbia and the Prairies.

Rural starts were estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 16,470 units.

Canadian LEED certification sees growth in early 2015

The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) says it saw “a very strong start” to 2015 in terms of green building certifications in Canada.

According to CaGBC there were 135 registrations and 202 certifications between January 1 and April 30, bringing the total number of LEED certified projects in Canada to 2,252.

CaGBC also announced that, following a successful pilot program, it has launched a permanent Affordable Green Housing Program. To date, the pilot program has provided free registration and certification fees for 24 affordable housing units, with another 44 registered for certification. The Program has supported Habitat for Humanity projects in Winnipeg, St. Catharines and Quebec City.

“We are very proud to support the ongoing work of organizations across the country, who work tirelessly to provide accessible, affordable homes to Canadians,” said Thomas Mueller, president and CEO of the Canada Green Building Council. “These organizations recognize the benefits of lower utility costs for residents, but they also understand that greener homes mean healthier homes.”

Visit www.cagbc.org/affordablehomes for more information on the Affordable Green Housing Program.

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CA

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Building Blocks

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Innovative Products for Today’s Renovators 7¼” SLIDING MITER SAW IS CORDLESS, PORTABLE AND CONVENIENT DeWalt’s cordless 20V MAX* Lithium Ion 7¼” Sliding Miter Saw (DCS361) is designed to offer portability and convenience to general contractors and remodelers for various applications including trim installation, flooring work and cutting 2x material.

It features a single left bevel which ranges from -3° to 48° left, a 3½” maximum vertical, 3-5/8” crown nested and 2x8” horizontal cut capacity to handle most common cuts.

It spins at 3750 rpm and makes on average 183 cuts of 2x4 pine or 275 cuts of 3¼” pine base moulding on a single DCB204 4.0Ah battery charge. With a battery the saw is only 31.6 lbs. and integrated cast-in side handles makes it easier to carry around the jobsite.

Key ease-of-use features include an integrated XPS blade light which casts a shadow showing where the blade will cut and a stainless steel miter detent plate makes it easy to adjust the saw. Other features include 10 positive miter stops; a fast and easy cam lock; and, rubber feet for no-slip and no-scratch grip. A high visibility bevel scale, adjustable bevel overrides and a miter pointer on the left side of the table provides maximum visibility and versatility.

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The DCS361 will be available as a bare unit (DCS361B) for approximately $399 or as a kit (DCS361M1) for $499. Both units come equipped with a dust bag, hold-down clamp, and a 40 tooth blade. For the bare unit, battery and charger are sold separately.

Visit www.dewalt.com for more information.

FOUR-BAY CHARGER BRINGS POWER TO JOBSITES

The new M12 Four Bay Sequential Charger (48-59-1204) from Milwaukee Tool accepts up to four M12 battery packs and charges them sequentially, allowing contractors to spend less time swapping out batteries on the jobsite.

Featuring a compact design, the company says the M12 Four Bay Charger is the perfect size for a bench top and easy to store in a contractor bag. For added convenience, it features integrated hang holes for vertical mounting and a skip button to allow users to choose the battery being charged.

Milwaukee REDLINK Intelligence hardware and software, which are built in, provide advanced electronic system capabilities. To optimize the performance of the battery pack and extend its life, REDLINK communicates directly with the battery to monitor cell voltage, temperature and charge 6

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CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

status. The new unit will charge M12 compact batteries in 30 minutes and extended capacity (XC) batteries in 60 minutes.

The M12 Four Bay Charger is compatible with all M12 batteries.

Visit www.milwaukeetool.com for more information.

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

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ETRNA-KOTE SILICONE+ MEET STRICT CLEAN AIR GUIDELINES

Eterna-Kote Silicone+ Waterproofing Technology from Gardner-Gibson Inc. is developed with a focus on reducing impact on the environment, the company says.

The company’s high solids formulas are moisture cured, have no solvents, ultra-low VOCs and meet strict guidelines for clean air and workplace safety. They are also packaged in recycled content and waste goes to be recycled, the company adds.

Eterna-Kote uses TiO2 (titanium dioxide) whitening agents to deliver a brighter white finish with improved solar reflec-

tance and UV stability. It is formulated to resist mildew growth on the cured film, providing a cleaner and brighter looking surface and lasting longer. Eterna-Kote high solids feature Fast Set technology to provide quick set properties while offering an expanded temperature range (from 40° to 110° F) and more application uses.

Eterna-Kote S-100 Silicone+ Roof Coating is ideal for flat roofs that have problems with ponding water, as well as on installations that require high degrees of waterproofing protection. The company’s Eterna-Kote S-1 Silicone+ Sealant and S-10 Silicone+ Patch & Repair provide exceptional adhesion, UV resistance and durability.

Visit www.eterna-kote.com for more information.

HOOKED ROOFING BLADE WITH TITANIUM NITRIDE COATING

NEW! • 1.25% high carbon steel for excellent durability • Polished finish for enhanced rust resistance • Titanium Nitride (TiN) coating for 8x the cutting performance of conventional blades • Longer lasting, more cost effective blade • Available in 10 & 100 Pack Dispensers • Manufactured in Sheffield, England

TASK TOOLS • East 1.800.268.2304 • West 1.800.663.0160 • www.task-tools.com

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Illuminated Railing Systems

INNOVATION IN BUILDING PRODUCTS

Tempered Glass Panels

Wood Railing Picket Systems

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Long life, low maintenance.

Regal Aluminum Railing Systems

Love your home Inside and out

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SMARTCODE 10 TOUCHSCREEN FEATURES SECURESCREEN TECHNOLOGY Weiser’s SmartCode 10 Touchscreen offers a keyless, touchscreen deadbolt and is the newest product to offer Weiser’s patentpending SecureScreen technology.

SecureScreen technology helps prevent the problem of “smudge” attacks associated with touchscreen locks. With typical touchscreen locks, passcodes can potentially be jeopardized by unwanted guests detecting frequently used numbers

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

and characters from the oily residues left by fingers on the touchscreen surface. With SecureScreen technology, users are prompted to touch two random numbers in order to display the full screen and enter the programmed access code. This industry-first technology encourages continuous use of the full screen to mask the correct access code.

SmartCode Touch features a sleek touchscreen design with capacitive touch technology. A white LED display provides high-definition illumination even in bright daylight, while a reduced interior increases aesthetic appeal.

The deadbolt is easy to program with up to 16 user codes that homeowners can assign to family members or temporary guests then delete at any time to revoke access. It features a master code that prevents unauthorized users from adding or deleting user codes for extra security.

Visit www.weiserlock.com for more information.

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ARMSTRONG LAMINATE FLOORS ADD ‘UNEXPECTED’ COLOURS AND PATTERNS TO THE MIX

Three new additions to Armstrong Flooring’s Architectural Remnants laminate collection pair the look of high-end, reclaimed hardwoods with various species and colours and realistic rustic textures.

An alternative to true reclaimed wood, which is usually not readily available, impractical or unaffordable, these new laminate floors offer a vintage-inspired design with an “oceankissed” look, the company says.

To the Sea has colours and textures reminiscent of vintage wooden buoys and reclaimed clapboards from old fishing shacks. The hues of teal and grey are drawn from the popularity of sea glass, sometimes called “mermaid tears.” These weathered glass colours can denote age going back decades or centuries, but are common today in home decorating.

Surf Side appears as rustic and weathered white oak recycled from a vintage front porch overlooking the sea. The look embodies the character of wood that has stood the test of time, retaining a beautiful patina. A hint of vintage blue grey paint remains.

Seaside Pine has a dismantled and reclaimed pine look, like that found as horizontal lap siding and coloured to enhance an aged appearance. The wear and tear and small distress marks on what once might have been exterior, utilitarian planks, add dimension to the rustic nature of this floor.

The laminates are durable for high-traffic areas and active

households, featuring Commercial VisionGuard, a commercially-rated wear layer, to protect it from staining, fading and wear-through. In addition, the line is also equipped with HydraCore Plus, a core that is built into the product in order to make it feel more lavish then your everyday laminate flooring and keeps the flooring stable and flat.

The extra density of a thicker board also helps to dampen sound. The 12 mm laminate flooring boards can better withstand the impact of a dropped object. Architectural Remnants come with a 50-year residential warranty as well as a 10-year commercial warranty.

Visit www.armstrong.com/flooring for more information.

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BUSINESS STRATEGIES

Influence: The Ultimate Power Tool Six principles can ramp up your ability to influence others and increase their buy-in.

BY ROBERT CIALDINI

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1. Reciprocity There is a powerful rule that says that we should try to repay what others have done for us. If someone gives us a gift, we feel compelled to give a gift in return. If someone extends us an invitation, we should extend one to them. If someone does us a favour, we owe them a favour in return. By virtue of the Reciprocity

While it is nice to think that we are all logical beings who study facts and information to guide our thinking and decision-making process, scientific research shows otherwise.

Principle, people feel obligated to the future repayment of items, actions, favours, gifts and concessions.

You see reciprocity initiated in business every day, even if you do not immediately recognize it. From suppliers sending relevant industry-specific information to clients, to managers providing personalized guidance, to co-workers helping each other meet a deadline, reciprocity can be initiated in many ways. The key to effectively using reciprocity is to be the first to give and be sure that your “gift” is personalized and unexpected.

Robert Cialdini, Ph.D, is a professor emeritus of psychology and marketing, author of the New York Times bestseller Influence and founder of INFLUENCE AT WORK (IAW). Cialdini is a also a keynote presenter on the ethical business applications of the Science of Influence. IAW offers customized, in-house Principles of Persuasion (POP) Workshops. Follow him at @robertcialdini or visit www.influenceatwork.com for more information.

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2. Scarcity

Have you ever noticed that people seem to want more of those things they can have less of? That is the Scarcity Principle at work. Marketers know the power of this principle, which is why their ads often contain such phrases as “Limited Time Only” or “Limited Quantities Available.”

When true, scarcity affects the value of information too. In other words, information that is exclusive is more persuasive. So the next time you gain access to information that is not readily available and that supports an idea or initiative you would like the organization to adopt, gather the key players and say, “I just got this information today. It will not be distributed until next week, but I want to give you an early look at what it entails.”

Your listeners will lean forward and listen intently. The key to using scarcity suc-

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

n business today, effective influence is essential. Want your ideas implemented? You must influence others to act on them. Want more clients? You must influence people to buy from you.

Want more advancement or responsibility? You must influence executives to see the value you offer. And to be an effective leader you must be able to influence others. In all respects, being able to influence others is the ultimate power tool.

So, what makes people say “yes” to your requests? Researchers have been studying influence for over 60 years.

While it is nice to think that we are all logical beings who study facts and information to guide our thinking and decision-making process, scientific research shows otherwise. Following are the six proven universal principles of persuasion that when used ethically, can influence others to change their behaviour.

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BUSINESS STRATEGIES cessfully, whether for a product, service or information, is to not just honestly tell people the benefits they will gain, but also point out what is unique and what they stand to lose if they do not move in your recommended direction.

3. Authority Research shows that people typically follow the lead of those they perceive as credible and knowledgeable experts. For example, physical therapists are able to persuade more of their patients to comply with programs if they display their medical diplomas on their office walls.

That is because people tend to defer to legitimate experts for information and guidance on what to do.

Surprisingly, people mistakenly assume that others recognize their experience. To ensure that they do, first determine what your relevant background, experience and expertise are for the person you are trying to influence. If you do not do this, you will be sabotaging the power of your own message. For maximum impact, arrange to have a third party communicate this information. Another option is to direct the person you want to influence to something in writing that highlights your credentials (i.e. LinkedIn profile, your bio on your website, etc.) The key to using authority successfully is to signal to others what makes you credible and knowledgeable before you make your influence attempt.

4. Consistency

up to what they have written down. The key to using consistency successfully is to look for voluntary, active and public commitments and get them in writing.

5. Liking People prefer to say “yes” to those they know and like. But what makes someone like you? Science tells us there are three important factors that contribute to likeability: 1) we like people who like us (and tell us so); 2) we like people who are similar to us; and 3) we like people who cooperate with us toward mutual goals.

The key to using liking successfully is to be honest in your praise, find genuine similarities, uncover opportunities to work together toward common goals, and get to know people more meaningfully before talking business.

6. Social Proof Humans are social creatures. As such, we rely heavily on the people around us for cues on how to think, feel and act. In other words, people look to the actions of others to guide their own. This is why using testimonials from happy and satisfied customers are so effective in marketing campaigns.

You can use social proof when attempt-

ing to get your ideas implemented. Imagine that you are trying to streamline your department’s work processes, but a member of your group is resisting. Rather than try to convince this group member yourself, ask a couple of veteran employees who support the initiative to explain their support for it at a team meeting. The veterans’ testimony stands a much better chance of convincing the resistant group member than yet another speech from the boss, as social proof is often better exerted horizontally rather than vertically. The key to using social proof successfully is to have similar others present their positive story to your target; this is why testimonials are so effective.

Exert Your Influence Today Influence is a very powerful tool. When you ethically implement these six scientifically validated principles of persuasion, you will be making small, practical and often costless changes that can lead to big differences in your ability to change others’ behaviour. In the end, you will not only achieve your objectives, but you will also guide the other party to the best decision for their needs. That is when true success emerges for everyone involved.

Humans are social creatures. As such, we rely heavily on the people around us for cues on how to think, feel and act. In other words, people look to the actions of others to guide their own.

People feel compelled to be consistent with their prior behaviours or statements.

When someone makes a commitment actively, either by writing it down or speaking it out loud, it is even more likely that they will follow through with that commitment. You can activate the Consistency Principle by looking for or asking for small initial commitments.

For example, suppose you want a coworker, Jim, to submit his reports in a timelier manner. Once you believe you have won agreement, ask him to send you a summary of that decision in writing. By doing so, you will have greatly increased the odds that he will fulfill the commitment, because people tend to live CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

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SMART MONEY

Maximize Accounting System Results A good accounting system is one that helps a business grow by providing value-added information.

BY HARPREET WADEHRA

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Once there is an accounting system in place that produces the desired reports, it is crucial that the system be maintained and updated on a regular basis. tion is important, as it is unlikely that the variables included in populating net income are consistent year over year. It is also important to recognize that the output (the financial report) is only as good

Harpreet Wadehra, BBA, CPA, CA, is a senior manager in Crowe Soberman’s Audit & Advisory Group and is experienced working with various industries, including construction and real estate. Her specialties include financial statement preparation, and cost and financial analysis.

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as the inputs (the data that is entered). It is imperative to work with a qualified and competent bookkeeper who understands the business and financial information you wish to receive.

Use your financial advisor as a resource during the early stages: Involving a financial advisor in the early stages (perhaps quarterly as you review your financial results) is ideal because discussions regarding cost savings or tax-planning strategies can be identified

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

ost business owners in the construction industry understand the importance of accounting software and technologies; they rely on them to gain insight into their business and to make better financial decisions.

Reliance on technology has grown rapidly in the last decade and one can only imagine what the future has in store.

As businesses become more reliant on their accounting software, it is easy to forget that the system does not replace accounting knowledge and that it is only as good as the information that is entered.

Owners often rely on the output of information as the only means of determining business performance. Below, we outline some strategies that you can employ to help make financial decisions that are more informed by utilizing your accounting system on a real-time basis.

Review the information and the input data on a regular basis: Most owners have a general idea of their financial results on a monthly basis; however, assessing the detailed factors involved in getting to the results is essential.

For example, you may believe you had a good year because revenues increased; however, you may not have considered the impact of other factors such as overhead or fixed costs (e.g., rent, insurance, telephone, office administration, etc.) How do sales and expenses compare over the past five years? Asking this type of ques-

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SMART MONEY

from the outset and the financial advisor can ask questions that may trigger new considerations. When working with your financial advisor, it is important that you reveal information to him/her and ask questions, as that will help your advisor plan your financial situation better.

Update the system on an ongoing basis: Bill Gates once said, “The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency.�

Once there is an accounting system in place that produces the desired reports, it is crucial that the system be maintained and updated on a regular basis. Software

programs regularly release upgrades and updates in an effort to make their systems more efficient and to eliminate glitches.

Although these upgrades may cost money upfront, the business will benefit from streamlined processes and work being done in a more efficient manner.

Recognize the importance of information technology in helping the business grow: You should resist over-relying on the information being generated by the accounting system, especially as it relates to whether the programs are meeting their needs. As businesses grow, it is crucial to be diligent and to look at the information in different formats.

For instance, the results of a business with multiple locations should be reviewed individually, as each unit stands

on its own; however, consolidated results are also important as they are an indicator of how the business is doing overall and the overhead costs being incurred at the consolidated level. A good accounting system is one that grows with the business. An automated accounting system that prepares the consolidation of all the units of the business is ideal, as it eliminates the risk of manual errors and produces results in a more real time and efficient manner. The focus should always be on long-term benefits.

A good accounting system is one that helps a business grow by providing valueadded information. As with everything in life, without support and commitment, even a remarkable accounting system may prove to be inept.

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ECONOMICS 101

Communicate With Clarity

Four secrets to delivering clearer, impactful messages that spur action.

BY MARK VICKERS

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• Substance • Simplicity

• Structure • Speed

Substance When you are communicating with others, you have a message to share and a desired outcome of the conversation.

When you focus on the substance, you start taking an intentional look at your message to identify the key message and

When it comes to your spoken communications, planning and preparation allows you to deliver your message more effectively, increasing the likelihood others will respond as desired. essential elements. By devoting time to developing your message you increase your probability of success.

Ask yourself:

• What is the single most important message I want them to hear?

• What are the most important details I need to share?

• What do I want them to remember?

• What action do I want them to take?

• What can I say or ask that will help them take action?

• What story could I share to illustrate benefits?

Mark Vickers is a certified professional coach, a Gitomer Certified Advisor and Certified World Class Speaking Coach. He is a communications consultant focused on helping individuals achieve excellence through improved communication and speaking skills. Visit www.speakingisselling.com for more information.

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These questions will help you identify the most important substance of your presentation and form a strategic outline.

During your contemplation of substance you will invariably encounter a degree of “ego impact.” While you would like to believe that people care about everything, you have to admit that they do not. As part of your message development process, continually ask “Who cares?”

When you consider what you are presenting from the perspective of your audience, you can honestly assess whether or not they care about certain statements or points. By removing elements that your listener does not care about, you will begin to create truly powerful and impactful messages using fewer words than you imagined possible.

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

fter learning to create and present a clear and succinct value proposition, Gerry, the owner of a small company, was overheard lamenting: “I had no idea how important it was to get rid of all those extra words and slow down. How many sales have I lost over the last five years because my prospects did not understand my message?”

Gerry’s response is typical when business owners and executives realize they have been overwhelming people with information, but under-messaging them.

From the showroom to the boardroom, your ability to deliver a message with clarity will have a dramatic impact on your success. What is the cost of un-clear communication within your organization?

When it comes to your spoken communications, planning and preparation allows you to deliver your message more effectively, increasing the likelihood others will respond as desired. As you consider your approach to any conversation or presentation, consider the four keys to developing clarity:

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ECONOMICS 101

Simplicity Having identified your core substance, ask: “How can I deliver this in the most simplistic manner possible?”

Keep in mind that when you are presenting to others, they are: • Listening to you • Processing the information • Thinking about the information and what it means to them • Watching you • Distracted by their surroundings • Feeling their cell phone vibrating • Thinking about other things they need to do

Given the level of thought and distraction occurring within the mind of your listener, the more straightforward your message, the higher the probability your message will stick with them.

As you develop your message, consider:

• Using simple terminology, avoiding buzz words and jargon •U sing shorter, more concise sentences • Using a short story to illustrate a point

Keep in mind that the intent of simplicity is not to talk down to people but to present a message that is easy to understand, interpret and act on.

During your process of simplifying your message, do not be surprised if your ego kicks in again. Part of your mind will try to convince you that those fancy, complicated words and long sentences with multiple commas and semi-colons make you sound more impressive.

Remind yourself that “less words = more message”

Structure

Once you are clear on your key message and wording, developing the structure of your discussion or presentation will help you avoid missteps. Some of the key areas that require attention are:

the project. All I do is move step by step through all of the points I wanted to cover in the meeting.” What Sami realized is that what she thought she was presenting and what others were hearing were two very different things.

• Rapport building • Opening • Information gathering • Information sharing • Story structure and placement • Closing/call to action

During your process of simplifying your message, do not be surprised if your ego kicks in again. Part of your mind will try to convince you that those fancy, complicated words and long sentences with multiple commas and semi-colons make you sound more impressive.

As you become more strategic about the structure of your presentations, you will develop a library of common openings, stories and calls to action that you will be comfortable using in a variety of situations.

In the early stages of becoming more intentional about the structure of your presentations, you may have concerns that you will become bored with structured presentations. When this occurs, remind yourself that your presentation is not about you or for your entertainment and enjoyment; it is about the people you are talking to, their needs and helping them move forward.

There are a few steps that will help you be more intentional about using speed to create greater impact:

• Record yourself speaking normally to determine your baseline speed, tone and volume • Highlight points that you are excited about and practice saying those at a faster rate and slightly higher tone of voice to convey excitement • Highlight important points and practice slowing down and lowering your tone to convey importance • Practice using pauses to allow your listener to connect to your points and think about their impact

Speed You have prepared and practiced your presentation and now it is time to talk to a customer or present to a group. During any form of presentation it is important to use vocal variety (tone, volume and speed) to help keep your audience engaged and to create emphasis on critical points.

Sami, a computer consultant and project manager, believed that she was a dynamic presenter but could not understand why the members of her project team did not respond the way she expected.

After listening to a recording of herself presenting in a meeting she was embarrassed and explained: “I sound so boring! I do not even sound like I care about

Initially, the changes to your speaking patterns will feel awkward and uncomfortable. Continue practicing and recording your presentation. As you listen to the recording consider the power of the message your audience will hear. You will begin to realize that the improved vocal variety is improving your message.

Effective communication is an intentional and practiced process. Through your increased focus on substance, simplicity, structure and speed, your presentations to your customers or audience will become more consistent, powerful and most importantly, more effective.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

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LEARNING CURVE

Improving Soft Skills Two books help to equip contractors with the skills they need to better motivate their employees and prospects.

WIDGETS McGraw-Hill In today’s business environment, how best to motivate and retain talented employees tops the list of business concerns. Widgets: The 12 New Rules for Managing Your Employee As If They’re Real People from McGraw-Hill seeks to help answer that question.

Author Rodd Wagner uses extensive research and empirical information to provide 12 imperatives for managing organizations according to a new, unwritten social contract to: get inside employee heads; make them fearless; make money a non-issue; help them thrive; be cool; be boldly transparent; not kill the meaning; see their future; magnify their success; unite them; let them lead; and, take it to the extremes.

“Each rule emerged from in-depth analyses as something important enough to employees’ experience at work that

they will reciprocate it with increased commitment to the organization and intensity in their work,” writes Wagner.

Meticulously researched with a dose of humour and pop culture, Widgets is a practical playbook for organizations that want to better look out for the people who work there and reap return from that investment.

In Widgets, Wagner calls into question long-held beliefs around employee motivation, and disputes the effectiveness and validity of traditional engagement surveys. He argues that companies can do better at taking stock of incorrect views of human nature, wrong strategies and bad habits that have worked their way into ‘human resources’ over the course of a century.

The release of Widgets coincides with the launch of a companion website for leaders and managers (widgetsthebook. com) and a parallel site for employees (iamnotawidget.com), which offer a free self-assessment and up-to-date feedback.

COMMUNICATE TO INFLUENCE McGraw-Hill In business you are frequently called on to communicate well, whether to your colleagues, employees, clients or prospects. Communicate to Influence from McGraw-Hill aims to teach you how to stop simply informing those you communicate with and to start influencing and inspiring them to take action.

Communicate to Influence teaches the Decker Method, a framework perfected over the past 36 years by authors and business communication experts Ben and Kelly Decker.

In the book readers will learn: The Five White Lies of Communicating: the barriers that prevent you from getting better;

The Communicator’s Roadmap: a tool to visually chart what type of communication experience you create; The Behaviours of Trust: aligning what you say with how you say it to better connect with your audience; and, The Decker Grid: who to shift your message from selfcentered, all-about-me content to relevant, audience-centered content that drives action.

Using the Decker Method, the book teaches readers how to determine where their communications falls within a communication framework, whether they are informing or leading and whether it is by authority or influence. Readers can then tailor their communications to establish trust and drive real change.

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

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CA

FEATURE

AN

APP

FOR THAT

30 (plus one) smartphoneapps to make smart decisions on the job site

BY JOHN G. SMITH

O

4W Job Management (Jobcrafts) Have you ever had to juggle several jobs and small projects? 4W was designed to meet the need. Jobs can be managed by answering descriptions of who, what, where and when (hence the “4W” name) and tapping into simple Customer Relationship Management features. Contacts, appointments and SMS messages can be combined, while notes can be recorded as text or voice.

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Architect’s Formulator (Multieducator Inc.) Architecture is a blend of science and art.

This app supports the former with more than 400 electrical, carpentry, plumbing, concrete and excavation formulas. That delivers information on such things as the number of bricks required for a wall.

Special formulas are also included for the design of concrete and steel, parking areas, sidewalks and even swimming pools.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

BIMx (Graphisoft) One of the biggest challenges in describing a project can involve the different ways that plans are presented. This application works with 2D and 3D drawings, and offers quick navigation through large layout books. Its 3D cutaways also allow a building to be sliced at any point, ensuring that everyone understands a project and the way different pieces fit together in a spatial context.

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

ne of the most powerful tools available to a contractor will never cut a board or drive a screw, but it will bring the power of computing to a job site.

Yes, the same smartphone tucked in your shirt pocket can do far more than deliver emails or make phone calls. It can help generate quotes, track change orders, estimate material needs and much more. All it takes is the right app.

Consider the Castle Toolbox. It offers quick access to Castle dealers across Canada along with the ability to request quotes, link to dealer websites and browse product information. Favourite stores can even be saved for quicker access.

There are plenty of additional options to download. Consider these other contractor-focused apps that boast favourable online reviews:

BuildCalc (42nd Parallel) Have you ever left yourself struggling to remember the formula for a particular calculation? BuildCalc leaves contractors to type in the basic parameters and then takes the calculations from there.

C-Calc (Snappy Appz Inc.) If you have ever jumped between metric and imperial measurements on the same job, this app might be for you. The fullfunction calculator works in everything from fractional inches to millimeters.

Square and cubic feet are said to be calculated with ease.

Carpenter’s Helper (My Pie Interactive) Are you calculating concrete, drywall, roofs or fencing? All of these are introduced in this app and more. Its creator also provides a Builder’s Helper calculator, offering quick ways to calculate measurements for roofs, stair lengths and more.

Construction Cost Estimator (Wasatch Digital Media) Nothing will sacrifice profitability faster than a poorly estimated cost. This app breaks costs down into material, labour, other and subcontract categories, and allows frequently used costs to be customized. Each project can even include often-overlooked factors such as overhead, profit and tax rates to ensure that a job keeps you in the black. Best of all, the cost books for common items are localized to postal codes.

Construction Manager (Snappii) Information is power. Construction Manager keeps details such as maintenance logs, project estimates and timesheets flowing. An integrated job estimator and weekly timesheets ease on-site estimates and quantify everything from labour to materials. Calculators for room dimensions, concrete and paint are also installed. Then the summary app can be used to track work times, create contact lists and more.

AutoCAD 360 (Autodesk) View, edit and share AutoCAD drawings using a desktop, web or mobile device.

Changes can be introduced offline and then uploaded later, and the app lets users see all aspects of a DWG file including external references, layers and image underlays.

right angle solutions including a pitch key, jack rafters key and advanced stair calculations. There are area and volume solutions, and special functions used to calculate everything from board feet to the number of studs on centre.

Contractor Estimate & Invoice (Joist Inc.) This app gives contractors a tool to estimate, invoice, record payments and manage projects from just about anywhere. In addition to supporting a list of commonly used materials and labour rates, it also can be used to manage clients.

Drywall Calculator (Suresh Desu) Professional borders can turn to this app for 11 different calculators, referencing everything from the number of required drywall sheets to wall studs, paint and mud. It supports metric and imperial units.

Fast Concrete Pad Calculator (Seven Infinity) Are you laying concrete on a regular basis? This helps to calculate the amount of concrete needed for any concrete pad, complete with material prices and the ability to email data to clients and other members of a team.

Fieldwire (FieldWireLabs) This app was designed to give foremen, supers and engineers access to plans and a way to report issues and progress photos alike.

Floor Plan Creator (Marcin Lewandowski) One of the best ways to get customers to picture a renovation is to show them, well, a picture. This app will create professionallooking floor plans using predefined or freeform room shapes. Plans can also be shared with devices or exported as an image.

DeWalt Mobile Pro (Infinity Softworks) This calculator and reference tool includes a construction and scientific calculator, and also estimates drywall, studs and concrete slabs. Pay to upgrade, and you can find added support for concrete, finishing materials, site work, landscaping and more.

Construction Master Pro (Calculated Industries) On top of dealing with dimensional math and conversions, this app offers CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

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HoursTracker: Time and Pay (Cribasoft) Those who want to be paid for their time need to track their time. This app can be used like a punch clock, starting a timer with two taps of the screen or by entering the time manually. The time card can then be emailed in a text or CSV format.

Pay rates can be included to calculate earnings and even take into account any overtime costs. iConstructSafe Every employee needs to be properly trained in how to safely use tools, but will they remember this training when the time comes to put the lessons to work?

This app delivers brief, two-minute refresher videos on how to safely use a tool before the work begins. iHandy Carpenter (iHandy Inc.) Think of this as a Swiss Army knife of smartphone apps. It includes a plumb bob, surface level, bubble level, steel protractor and steel ruler. Simply swipe it to the left and right to measure something longer than the phone. The calibrated plumb bob, level and surface level will even serve as an inclinometer by reading angles.

My Measures & Dimensions (Mobile Software) A picture is worth a thousand words. This app builds on that by making it possible to insert measurements onto the images.

It will always offer more clarity than a sketch alone.

Pervidi/iSafe(Techs4Biz) There is plenty of information to track during an inspection. This app offers a tool to define checklists, tasks and questions for safety audits, work orders and property assessments. Advance checklists can include custom answers and deficiencies for every task or question, while records can include everything from barcodes to signatures and speech.

Photo Measures (Big Blue Pixel) Do you need to record an object’s dimensions? This app allows you to take a photo and write notes directly on the image.

There is also room for comments as well as the measurements, and the photos can be sorted by category.

Handyman Calculator (Kalyani) This app addresses too many calculations to include in a single paragraph. As a few examples it includes woodworker, electrical, deck baluster, asphalt volume, stairs, rebar, mulch and topsoil, brick and wood fence calculators and more.

Pitch Gauge (Prolific Methods Inc.) Do you need to calculate the size and slope of a roof? Pitch Gauge includes two digital slope finders and a square calculator. The phone’s camera is used to determine the slope, and the pitch reading is recorded on the picture along with the street address.

Tooledo (Tooledo) Are you still scratching to-do lists on old scraps of paper? That was the approach for another century. This app offers an organized to-do list, along with guidance on how to become more productive.

PlanGrid (Loupe Inc.) Contractors and architects can use PlanGrid to collaborate on project plans, specs and photos. The PDF drawings are uploaded to plangrid.com and synced to iPads in real time. Drawings can be filtered by system, revision or any way you like. Progress photos can also be pinned to the blueprints.

Trimble Contractor (Trimble Navigation) This tool transforms a smartphone or tablet into a mobile office, and the data can even be exported into accounting software. Quotes can be created using customized price or item lists, progress can be tracked using site diaries, and material changes can be compared against quotes.

Southwire Volt Drop Calculator (Southwire Company) Determine the right wire size for an electric circuit, basing decisions on an electrical circuit’s voltage drop and currentcarrying capacity.

Viewpoint for Mobile (Viewpoint Construction Software) Tracking everyone’s activities can be a challenge. This application allows employees in the field to enter crew time and the hours on equipment.

Invoice2go (Invoice on the Job) The designers of this app say they have the ideal invoicing solution for everyone from carpenters to architects. Users can choose from one of more than 20 templates and draw up estimates. Once generated, they are filed into a designated folder and sync accounts on the cloud.

Customers can sign documents on a tablet or phone, while statements can include paid and unpaid invoices. Barcodes and QR codes can be added to the invoices, too.

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CA

FEATURE

A X T FACTS Successful contractors monitor tax rules as carefully as their building materials.

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

BY JOHN G. SMITH

22

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JULY/AUGUST 2015

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

CA

FEATURE

T

he life of a contractor offers little reprieve from the drudgery of office tasks. Sure, there are opportunities to work with your hands, and a sense of pride which can only be realized by transforming building materials into finished products, but that can all come to an abrupt end without an ongoing focus on spreadsheets and cash flow alike.

Tax rules may require the most attention of all, and bulletins issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) demonstrate that the decisions involve more than simply tracking income and expenses.

Employers vs. contractors

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

Contractors are responsible for deducting everything from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) to Employment Insurance (EI) premiums and income tax from employee paycheques. One tool that can help determine the numbers is an online calculator at www.cra.gc.ca/pdoc.

Some business owners escape this administrative burden by relying on independent contractors. In return, the contractors are able to work for more than one client and can earn profits as well as salaries.

The CRA ultimately decides how a worker can be classified, and that will involve several factors. It will look at the amount of control over the worker, who owns any tools, if the work can be subcontracted, the degree of financial risk, who makes business decisions and who realizes profits and losses in the relationship.

It can be a rude awakening for those who are told their “independent contractors” should actually be treated like employees. In a case like this, employers have to pay the CPP and EI contributions for the current and previous year, as well as a 10% penalty on the assessment and interest accumulated from the date the contributions were due, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business notes.

Sales taxes Builders who collect the Goods and Services Tax (GST) or Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) are also able to claim Input Tax Credits on goods and services, but bulletins from the CRA show that specific rules will apply to situations that are common to the construction industry.

Consider a builder who needs to pay HST on the fair market value of a home they are

constructing or substantially renovating.

Something known as self-supply rules apply to those who claim Input Tax Credits during the job and then rent or occupy the property as a residence. In these cases, the sales tax is applied when the building is substantially completed or the first unit is leased or occupied, whichever is later.

Other rules apply if you buy a residential complex and make minor renovations. “In this case, you have to remit the GST/HST on certain untaxed costs (other than financial services), such as employee labour costs involved in renovating the housing. You calculate the GST/HST based on the value of the amount paid or payable on such untaxed costs,” the CRA says. “This rule would not apply to other input costs (for example, material or contracted services) on which GST/HST has already been paid.” The sale or lease of the property in this case is generally exempt from the GST/HST. Then there is the question of how the sales taxes apply when payments have been submitted because a specific percentage of the work is completed, or a target such as a preliminary inspection is met. In these cases, the GST/HST is payable the day the payment is made, or the day the payment is due according to the contract terms, whichever is earlier. “The amount of GST/ HST payable is based on the amount called for in the contract for the progress payment, even if no payment or a partial payment is made,” the CRA says. If an engineer or architect merely approves the amount for payment, the sales tax is paid the day the amount is actually paid, due according to the contract, or on the invoice date, whichever is earlier.

The GST/HST is also paid the day a holdback is paid out or when the holdback period expires.

Filing and remitting dates can also be affected by a contractor’s fiscal year. In most cases, this will mirror a calendar year, but sole proprietorships and partnerships involving individuals offer exceptions.

There are tax implications when bartering goods and services as well.

“If you are a business or profession that provides goods and services, and you exchange these goods or services in a barter transaction, you have to include the value of the goods or services you exchanged in your income,” according to CRA.

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Contract construction In the eyes of CRA, there are essentially four types of construction contracts.

Under a cost-plus contract, you charge the cost of performing certain work plus a fixed percentage of the costs. A unitprice contract includes a set price per completed unit, covering the cost and profit. A fixed-fee contract is similar to a cost-plus contract, but the profit is a preset amount rather than a percentage.

A fixed-price or lump-sum contract is based on a single figure covering costs and profits.

The underlying contracts usually allow bills to be submitted as a project continues, as long as your client is satisfied that the step has been completed.

Of course, holdbacks can also ensure a percentage of the payments are only made once the entire project is completed, as mandated by a provincial Construction Lien Act. The interim bills less the holdbacks are included as income when approved by the purchaser, while the holdbacks are counted as income on the day the architect or engineer issues a final certificate that the job is completed or the day a lien period expires, whichever

is later. A contractor can still report all the billed income, even if not approved, as long as that approach is followed consistently from year to year. Any revenue, including amounts that should have been withheld under a holdback, must be reported as income in the taxation year it was received.

Income is not the only thing to consider. A contract’s expenses are deducted in the year they are incurred, even though part of the revenue relating to the work may not come until another year because progress bills are not approved. These costs might include materials delivered to a job site, even though they are not put in place, and other direct and general costs.

Not included are the costs of materials that have simply been ordered for future delivery, or an inventory of supplies that are earmarked for a specific contract, but not delivered to a job site.

“If billings under a fixed-fee contract are made as amounts are approved, and if a reasonable portion of the total profit is included, the reporting of income on the basis of those billings is acceptable,” the CRA adds. “Otherwise, income should be accrued to include the part of the profit

earned and payable in the year in accordance with the terms of the contract.”

Something known as the “completion method” can be used when fixed-fee contracts can reasonably be expected to be finished within two years from the date the contracts begin. All the revenue including holdbacks is counted as income the year when the work is physically completed. That is normally reflected as the date on the certificate from an architect or engineer. When the certificates are not required, the date will consider facts such as acceptance by the owner except for a few minor adjustments for incomplete work, or actual occupancy by the owner.

Any additions to the job, performed after the rest of the work is completed, should be treated as a separate contract, the CRA says.

Losses on such jobs are considered only when calculating the income for a year in which the contract was completed.

You cannot “anticipate” a loss when calculating income in the previous year.

Selling a contract to another contractor? The amount you are paid is in lieu of profits and considered to be income. For the purchaser, it is a deductible cost.

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

The cost of business Allowable expenses are deducted in the period they are incurred.

Each of those expenses, however, will need to be supported with a paper trail of invoices, receipts or other vouchers. Cash deals will require written proof complete with a vendor’s name and the date of the transaction.

Expenses reach beyond the job site too. For a small contractor, expenses can include a home office used to earn business income or meet customers. The amount of household expenses that apply to the business will reflect the share of work space within the overall home. In addition to utilities, this can extend to costs such as insurance, property taxes, mortgage interest and even cleaning materials.

Professional business expenses such as consulting, accounting and legal fees can also be applied. So can membership in a trade or commercial association, as long as the club’s expenses are not primarily for dining, recreation or sporting facilities.

Ads in Canadian media outlets such as newspapers, television and radio stations can be deducted, too, including the amounts paid for a finder’s fee. There are restrictions, though. The entire expense can apply if all the advertising is directed to a Canadian audience, and more than 80% of the non-advertising content must be original editorial. Otherwise, the deductions are limited to half the cost.

Looking for more information on construction-specific taxation issues? Visit www.cra-arc.gc.ca.

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CA

FEATURE

UP BATHROOM SIZING

RENOS Though the rooms can be small, the impact of bathrooms upgrades can be mighty.

I

t may be one of the smallest rooms in a home, but bathroom renovations typically equate into big business for contractors.

Fortunately, with nearly guaranteed return on investments in property values and comfort, it is an expense most homeowners are willing to undertake.

This is even true of the “powder room” or guest bathroom, as these rooms can become something of a showpiece or as Adam Findlay, senior marketing manager at Spectrum Brands Canada Inc., puts it: “A jewel in the home.”

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JULY/AUGUST 2015

Of course, just like jewels, tastes vary from person to person and region to region.

Compared with U.S. homeowners, Canadian homeowners lean more heavily towards modern or contemporary styles over the more traditional and transitional ones. “On the retail shelf or in the show room, we see modern styles take a much larger slice of the pie in Canada,” Findlay says Because of this divide in tastes, he says his company’s Pfister line of products sometimes has to launch product specifically for the Canadian market that conforms to the minimalist design and sleeker lines being sought here.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

Making a bathroom that “wows” from a design perspective is about details, says Stephanie Brown, sales manager for kitchens and baths at CanSave. “Great tile work can make any bathroom pop. Depending on what is being used inside the shower, consider recommending a mix of different tiles to add some interest,” she suggests.

Brown adds that contractors and their clients must look at the bathroom from the perspective of an empty room on which to build. “Take all of the fixtures out; remove the faucets, light fixtures, towel bars. It is so much more important to get everything in behind them correct,

PHOTOS: CANSAVE

BY LAWRENCE CUMMER

CA

FEATURE For reasons like that, if the upgrade includes showers or tubs, contractors should consider offering options like Wedi boards for tile backing. Not only will full waterproofing be a service to homeowners by avoiding water infiltration, these foam boards are lighter, making for an easier, faster install. Educating clients on the value of such materials can help put a contractor into the coveted role of trusted advisor, Brown says.

“That translates into repeat business,” she adds. “You are no longer just the guy working in the bathroom, but the guide through the bathroom renovation.”

Another way to achieve the role of advisor is to offer some outside-the-box thinking. For example, the traditional height for vanities is 32”, slightly low for many people to use comfortably. Instead, Brown suggests considering more comfortable heights of 33” or higher, like that of the kitchen cabinets. “This is especially important with an aging population,” she says.

More outside-the-box thinking: typical bathrooms will only allow for 18” or 21” depth in cabinets, but again, if there is room in the design, perhaps full 24”-deep

kitchen cabinets can be used for a twist and increased storage. Of course, smaller bathrooms will not easily allow for this (See: “Tips to deal with small bathrooms” on page 31).

Getting Techie Technology has also had an impact on today’s bathroom upgrades, from handsfree faucets to LED lights to in-floor heating for the maximum in comfort.

For years a mainstay of public restrooms, touch-free faucets have in recent years been making their foray into homes.

Pfister this year launched its first lines of sensor-based hands-free faucets based on its own REACT technology.

Activated when a hand or object passes within its sensor range, the water temperature of the faucet can be set and reset according to homeowner preferences or by using a handle. Being hands free keeps faucets from getting dirty, but they can be turned off or made to “hibernate” in order to be scrubbed clean when they need it.

LED lights typically tell homeowner when batteries must be replaced.

Other kitchen and bathroom vendors,

and then you can put in anything they want.”

Then it is all in the finishing touches, she says. “How you do the lighting? What are the choice of tiles and fixtures? Is that mirror going to be front-lit or back-lit?”

Learning to recognize quality is also critical, of course. After all, more can go wrong in bathrooms than most other rooms when updating or renovating.

When things do go wrong, like in the case of water infiltration, they can lead to disastrous results, sullied reputations and resource-consuming call backs.

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While digital technologies do remain more prevalent in showrooms where homeowners can find bathroom technology from Bluetooth-synced music to touch-screen remote controls to satisfy their wildest dreams, they are also starting to show some prevalence in the home.

Findlay suggests “the showroom has really become a microcosm of what is happening in the market.”

LED (light emitting diodes) are finding a home in the bathroom as more traditional vanity lighting or bath bars, but even embedded into shower heads.

Besides the coolness factor, colour changing LED shower heads can serve to replace overhead shower lights and so can be easier for homeowners to maintain, especially in tall stand-up showers. Installation is simple, since they need not be wired into the electrical system like overhead lights. Instead, as water flows through

PHOTOS: PFISTER

like Delta Faucet, take another approach.

While faucets using Delta’s Touch2O technology must be touched, homeowners can start and stop the flow of water with a simple tap anywhere on the faucet spout or handle with any part of the arm, keeping dirty hands from making a mess or spreading germs. Originally available only in traditional and transitional designs, last year the company extended the technology to more contemporary “urban” and “Euro” trends in sync with the modern styles Canadians are trending towards.

While these technologies represent the top of the price-point envelope, prices continue to drop as adoption climbs, Findlay says. “It only makes sense that they are at the top of the price continuum.” He adds, though, that Pfister’s REACT-based faucets, while premium, remain part of its mission to try to bring showroom styles at a massmarket price.

the shower head, impellers or turbines are turned, which generates power for the LED lights that emit a blue or red light based on the water temperature (or other colours based on model and manufacturer).

Findlay says LED shower heads are a good recommendation for contractors or designers to make to their clients, since they can help eliminate a lot of electrical work and, again, avoid unnecessary call backs.

Cold bathroom floors are the bane of many a homeowner and technology may have cost-effectively solved that too. Radiant (or underfloor) heating, which was technically invented by the ancient Romans, is an energy efficient way to keep homeowners’ feet warm during those once-chilly nocturnal or early morning trips to the lavatory. The two most common types of this technology are electric, using wires to generate heat, and hydronic, which relies on hot water tubes to heat the floor.

For small areas, like most bathrooms, experts recommend electric radiant heating systems, which are easier and more affordable to install but ultimately more expensive to operate. The electrical use of such systems can be about that of a few 100W lightbulbs.

On the flipside, hydronic systems are less expensive to operate, making them better for large floors or complete houses.

Hydronic systems are more complicated to install and need water from a boiler or a water heater.

Making these heating systems even more appropriate for bathrooms is the typical selection of bathroom flooring materials. Experts say that materials such as stone and ceramic tile (as well as con-

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

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PHOTOS: PFISTER

Going green Even more than other rooms, the bathroom is one in which homeowners can make a significant reduction in their environmental impact. Of course, many environmentally-savvy homeowners are coming to contractors with green improvements pre-researched themselves, so it pays to be up on what they are asking for.

One reason bathrooms are ideal for greening efforts is that restricting water flow in a bathroom faucet or shower head does not compromise performance, while doing so in the kitchen will make it take longer to fill up the sink and could ultimately use more energy to heat water, Findlay says.

In fact, in terms of flow-reducing bathroom faucets and showers, he uses the analogy of a garden hose: closing off the flow actually increases the force of the water released.

Such performance is an essential consideration.

“There are people who want to do the right thing, but not if it means reducing the experience,” Findlay says. “Because of this we manufacturers make sure there are environmentally-friendly options that do not compromise performance.”

Contractors taking on the role of trusted advisor should recommend eco- or cost-conscious homeowners to consider faucets, showerheads and toilets with the WaterSense label. The label confirms that products have been third-party certified to save water without sacrificing performance or quality, ultimately helping the environment and reducing utility costs.

Products bearing the WaterSense label

are generally 20% more water-efficient than similar products in the marketplace.

A dual-flush toilet, one that uses two buttons or handles to flush with different levels of water, can also provide dramatic savings, even over slightly more inexpensive high-efficiency (also dubbed lowflush or low-flow) varieties. Dual-flush toilets operate in two modes for solid and liquid waste, respectively: typically about 6 L for a full flush or 3 L for a reduced flush. Low-flush toilets typically use either 6 L or 4.8 L of water for every flush (all compared with water-guzzling older 13 L or 20 L toilets).

Material choice for cabinets and vanities is another place where homeowners can demonstrate good environmental stewardship. Brown notes, to that end, Cabinetsmith has recently launched a new line of vanities and bathroom furniture, dubbed NexGen, made from 99% recycled polyester with no off-gassing, and is environmentally certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) Environmental Stewardship Program.

Brown recommends that contractors (and their clients) use some caution when selecting offshore product from locations like China or India, even if the furniture is being assembled in Canada. In addition to potential quality issues, it may be harder to certify the products are similarly made using responsible forestry practices, and there is the unavoidable CO2 impact related to shipping from half-way around the world.

Products from closer to home might cost a little bit more, but Brown says she detects “fatigue” in the market for cheaper imports. Contractors have an opportunity to educate their clients on quality and, in some cases, environmental stewardship.

It is just one more way for contractors to increase profitability by becoming more than mere installers. “Show the value of the upgrade, and show that you are listening to their needs,” Brown says. “The only way to do that is to add value, and the best way to do that is by suggesting customized solutions for the homeowner and doing so becoming your own best advocate.”

Tips to deal with small bathrooms Bathrooms in older homes in particular tend to still remain particularly small. Still, there are a few upgrades that contractors can recommend to homeowners who want to take advantage of these tighter spaces. Here are a few tips for making big improvements in small bathrooms: • A mirror that is larger than the vanity creates the illusion that the wall is much bigger.

• Install a smaller vanity, a pedestal sink or a wall-mounted sink.

• Change the sink faucet to a space-saving, single-hole model.

• Shelving or storage in the corner provides extra inches.

• A corner shower, like the rounded Nero models from Maax, takes up less space.

• A sliding shower door or shower screen eliminates the need for clearance, and glass also creates the perception of space.

• Broad horizontal lines create movement to make small rooms appear bigger.

• An accent or special feature in the centre of the room tricks the eye by giving it a focal point.

• A lower-walled tub helps to open up sightlines.

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CA

FEATURE

CLEVER CLADDING A slew of new options mean contractors and their clients have a lot to consider when it comes to choosing siding.

BY STEFAN DUBOWSKI 32

|

JULY/AUGUST 2015

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

CA

FEATURE

PHOTOS: GENTEK BUILDING PRODUCTS

A

sk a homeowner if he or she knows anything about siding and that person will probably say there are two kinds: vinyl and aluminum. The truth; however, is that you and your customers have a much wider range of options to consider.

Vinyl and aluminum still account for significant portions of Canada’s siding market, but today’s cladding choices include a much greater variety of styles, colours and shapes than were on the market some 30 years ago, which may be the last time your client gave a single thought to the siding on his or her house.

Nowadays, discerning homeowners can select shakes and boards in solid colours or wood-look grains, in vinyl or aluminum. Conservation-minded clients can opt for special insulated siding that adds energy-saving properties. Customers looking to unite style and savings can choose plastics that are made to look like genuine bricks and stones, yet these polymer options are easier and more cost-effective to install compared to the real things.

This article provides overviews of five leading siding options, with information on features and warranties that you can

use to inform your clients and help them choose the cladding best suited for them.

Good old vinyl: same low price, but scores of new colours: This PVC plastic product has long been the go-to siding for homeowners who seek an inexpensive and durable covering.

In the past, however, your colour choices were limited to shades of white and beige.

Not anymore.

“Now you are looking at reds, blues and gun-metal grey,” says John Vukanovich, vice-president of marketing at siding manufacturer Mitten. “Homeowners in recent years have trended toward darker, bolder colours because they want to improve the curb appeal of their homes. If you have the option of choosing your roof, window and door colours, your siding should play a part in expressing your personal style as well.”

Even though homeowners can choose from a broader range of colours these days, some vinyl features have not changed. The material is still extremely durable. Mitten offers a 50-year transferrable warranty on its vinyl siding. The manufacturing process infuses the colour

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into the product, so scratches are not obvious. In addition, vinyl remains one of the lowest-cost options on the market.

PHOTOS: GENTEK BUILDING PRODUCTS

Insulated vinyl offers quiet comfort A relatively new take on the vinyl siding formula sees manufacturers adding rigid foam insulation to the back of the product.

This secondary structure increases the durability of the siding. The extra thickness also helps block exterior noise.

As you probably guessed from its name, insulated vinyl insulates as well. Gentek Building Products supplies Prodigy, a cedar-look insulated vinyl cladding made

by Alside. Prodigy has an R-value of 5.0.

It can increase the R-value by as much as 40% when installed on homes built before 1980. Prodigy is permeable as well, which means it allows moisture to escape from the home’s interior. A bonus since excessive moisture, of course, can damage wall systems and reduce indoor air quality.

Aluminum back in action This metal is the first product most contractors think of using for exterior accents. “When you have a soffit around a roof overhang or if you’re looking at rain ware or flashing, aluminum is a great product because it is easy for the installer to bend and shape,” says Vukanovich.

Unfortunately, aluminum has a poor reputation as a cladding compared to vinyl. Aluminum dents and if you scratch it, the damage is apparent. It can be more expensive than vinyl as well.

That said, a novel type of aluminum cladding could change the way people see the material. Longboard siding closely mimics the look of real wood. Available in widths of 4” and 6” with either v-grooves or channels, the product is manufactured to meet the American Architectural Manufacturers Association’s (AAMA) 26042605 standard for aluminum coatings, which means Longboard keeps its colour and gloss for the long term.

Vinyl siding book provides design guidance

Want to make your next vinyl siding project stand out? Download a copy of the Vinyl Siding Institute’s Designing Style book. It showcases nine traditional architectural styles, including Cape Cod, Georgian and Craftsman, to demonstrate variations in siding profiles, colours and trim. For example, choose a clapboard siding profile for Cape Cod-style homes.

Consider dark grey or blue shakes or shingles for Georgian houses. Touch up Craftsman homes with heavy eave brackets and band boards between floors.

As the guide says, “the possibilities for residential design are limitless.” Sometimes, though, you need a way to narrow your selection. This Design Style book may help you focus your work and avoid overwhelming clients with too many options. By narrowing the field of vision, you can go from giving your customers what they need to giving them what they really want. To download the book, visit vinylsiding.org and click Resources.

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PHOTOS: GENTEK BUILDING PRODUCTS

The manufacturer, also called Longboard, provides a 15-year non-prorated warranty on the finish.

The company says its product will not rot, warp, peel or fade. “The material cost of Longboard would be higher than vinyl or wood siding, however the installation is simple and the durability would be considered higher than most,� says Ted Talboom, manager, retail sales at Longboard provider Gentek.

Aluminum cladding that is durable, easy to install and nice to look at: Longboard could make metal a viable alternative for your next siding project.

Engineered wood formulated for durability Traditional wood siding may be authentic, but it is also a pain. It must be repainted or stained regularly, and over time the costs for that maintenance add up. Homeowners who want the visual warmth of real wood, but not the upkeep, may be interested in engineered wood siding instead. LP CanExcel made by Louisiana-Pacific is one example.

It is produced from wood fibre, resin and wax, all fused under pressure. The result is strong and durable siding designed to look great over the long haul.

The manufacturer also offers a 15-year warranty on the finish.

The material cost is higher than traditional wood, says Louisiana-Pacific

associate segment marketing manager Anne Brannan, but she adds that engineered wood comes prefinished, so completion time for an engineered wood siding project would be shorter than a traditional wood project. This option is terrific for clients who want hassle-free wood siding.

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PHOTOS: CANEXEL

Faux brick and stone offer genuine savings In past eras faux-stone or faux-brick façades were obvious fakes nowhere near as rich in texture as genuine stone masonry. That was then. Modern faux stone and brick effectively trick the eye.

“If you are a few paces away, you cannot tell it is not real,” says Vukanovich.

Talboom agrees. He notes that NoviBric DHL made by Novik, for instance, replicates the appearance of real masonry with mortar joints and a rough texture, yet it comes in easy-to-install 48” x 18.5” panels. Made from high-quality injection-molded polymer, it resists impacts and warping. Its coating includes a UV stabilizer that prevents discolouration.

Speaking of colour, options include five variations of grey, as well as a white shade and “copper” red.

Novik’s NoviStone also has an authentic stone texture, available in 45” x 20” panels in various greys and browns.

Similar to NoviBric, NoviStone is warp, impact and discolouration resistant, and easy to install, which is important: no special masonry expertise required. As such, even though faux brick and stone coverings tend to be more expensive

than vinyl, aluminum and other siding options, they are much less costly to install compared to real brick and stone.

Maintenance-free NoviBric DHL and NoviStone have a 50-year warranty.

All of these novel siding options represent years of persistent research and development on the part of manufacturers like Novik, Longboard, Alside and Louisiana-Pacific. Given that some of these claddings are designed to last more than 50 years, it may be a very long time before homes updated with new siding today will need another new application. Just imagine the advancements the manufacturers might make between now and then.

Louisiana-Pacific to produce SmartSide in Canada Siding manufacturer Louisiana-Pacific is reportedly converting a strand-board plant in Swan River, Man. to make SmartSide engineered siding. This will be the first SmartSide manufacturing site in Canada, but it will be the fifth such plant in North America. LouisianaPacific also makes its CanExcel engineered wood siding in East River, N.S., according to the Winnipeg Free Press.

SmartSide is designed for both residential and commercial use, while CanExcel is for the residential market.

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CA

FEATURE

Smart

Kitchens Appliances loaded with new features allow contractors to build kitchens that go beyond ultra-modern.

PHOTOS: KATEDICKSONDESIGN

BY DAVID CHILTON SAGGERS

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Design Talk Kate Dickson is the principal of Kate Dickson Design in Toronto, with practices in the Greater Toronto Area and Collingwood, Ont.

I

PHOTOS: ELECTROLUX, FRIGIDAIRE

t seems unfair to call them “toys” because they have a real function in the kitchen rather than being items created to amuse, and “appliance” seems a little too pedestrian a description for their wizardry. Manufacturers, designers and the media seem to

have settled for “smart appliances,” which will have to do until either another descriptor comes along or “smart” is dropped because every appliance is “smart.”

What are these smart kitchen appliances, how do they work, and how far into the mainstream market have they travelled? That depends on who answers the questions, but for Stephanie Clarke, corporate marketing manager at Electrolux Major Appliances at Electrolux in Mississauga, Ont., these matters are pretty clear. She says smart appliances in the kitchen are trendy at the moment, but will become a real trend as more and more householders become connected.

“Everybody will eventually have their appliances connected, so when they are not home they can program them, check on them or even start them,” says Clarke.

She says that what is driving the market’s increasing acceptance of smart appliances is a combination of convenience and a lack of time for working families.

As for the emerging smart-appliance favourites, Clarke says fridges are the most obvious items with such advances as built-in water filters being popular, as they eliminate virtually all impurities and also reduce the number of plastic bottles that end up in recycling plants or landfill.

“Air filtration is important as well,” says Clarke. “People used to do the whole baking soda routine, but now having a carbon air filter removes odours.”

It is not just stoves and fridges that are getting smarter; microwaves, freezers and dishwashers are too. “Microwaves are not necessarily just microwaves anymore.

Q. When it comes to kitchen appliances, what is in demand today?

A. It is becoming more popular to buildin a separate beverage fridge or a separate wine fridge and/or separate areas for red and white wine. I have seen fridge drawers that are great for separating out things like fruits and vegetables. You might have another drawer that a child might have access too.

Q. There seems to be lots of demand for stainless steel appliances. Is stainless steel number one?

A. Absolutely stainless steel is the number one choice. There is also a deeper, flat matte finish for stainless steel that I have seen. I have seen as well copper-colour appliances at trade shows, although they are not really in the public realm yet. Coloured fridges in a sort of vintage style have appeared too, but I do not think they will have general appeal.

Q. How do you approach designing for a small space?

A. What I try to stay away from is buying small, condo-size pieces. It depends on who is living in the house, but you do not want a condo-size stove, for example. A standard size stove is really important since a condo-size appliance will look small and funny when built into the kitchen. I also recommend taking a lot of time to plan the layout of the kitchen to maximize the amount of counter space versus cooking space. Another recommendation is getting the microwave off the counter either by making it a vent hood or putting it in a microwave drawer. You can find fridges that are taller and narrower. Elsewhere, do not fill the space with upper level cabinetry because it visually closes in the kitchen.

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Q. D esign trends come and go.

Between the kitchens that are full and those that are minimalist, where do matters sit at the moment?

A. We are closer to the minimalist end of the spectrum but definitely not minimalist. We are looking at modern, clean lines, and not a lot of clutter. Those are the sorts of visuals my clients want to achieve but, that being said, the majority of my clients are young families, so some clutter is inevitable. Space planning and storage solutions are huge on their list of wants.

Q. K itchens are the gathering place, the entertainment centre almost, so how do you balance the demands of those who want to “wow” the neighbours and yet keep the space un-showroom like?

A. It is finding a balance with the materials you are using. If everything in there has a hard, sleek surface it will feel very showroom-y. It is adding materials like wood that are warmer and softer, and maybe some fabric if there is a window. You do not want too many accessories, either, but those you do have might have a touch of whimsy.

PHOTOS: ELECTROLUX

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

One of the key appliances that we have is a two-in-one that can be a convection oven as well as a microwave, so you are getting more cooking space,” says Clarke, citing the company’s Frigidaire Professional model. Another combo product from Electrolux, and again another appliance that uses smart technology, is a refrigerator-freezer. Clarke explains: “With flip of a switch you can have an all-refrigerator or you can have an allfreezer. “In the warmer weather you can put it in refrigeration mode, and when it comes time for winter and you want to stock up then you can switch it over to a freezer.” This particular appliance has been on the market for four or five years, she says, and there is still work to be done

to get the consumer to understand its dual function.

As smart as these new appliances are, they are unable to shrink themselves to fit smaller kitchens; their manufacturers have to do that. Electrolux is one such manufacturer with its eye on those urban markets where square footage is at a premium. Clarke says the company’s Urban Collection has numerous 24” wide products (versus the standard 30” to 36”), but they are nevertheless designed to fit existing spaces so that remodelling is not necessary.

At one time the standard design for kitchens was the triangle, that indispensable trio of fridge, stove and sink.

Now; however, zones have taken over.

There is a zone equipped with a fridge and perhaps a pantry for food storage; another for plates, cups and the like; a third zone for cleaning; a fourth for cooking; and a fifth for food preparation. Zone design sounds complicated, and it can be, so householders who want a smoothly functioning kitchen will take their time to get things right. Kate Dickson, principal at Kate Dickson Design in Toronto, says a kitchen is the most important renovation anyone will go through, so she advises caution. “You want to space plan for the whole room,” she says, “but you also want to space plan every drawer that is going to go into that kitchen.” She says that homeowners should plan before they even call a contractor, “because you want

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dustries in Whitby, Ont., says cabinetry itself remains essentially the same as it always has, that is square or rectangular, although finish colours change all the time. At the moment, for example, dark wood stains are popular, he says.

“Espresso colour is very, very popular.

We very rarely get any requests for light finishes, and when we get product that is painted it is almost always white.”

Where smarter technology enters the cabinetry picture is with hardware, handles and hinges. There are so many options available, says Burdon, that homeowners can choose as they see fit.

There are slow-close hinges, adjustable drawer slides, and the list goes on and on.

“It is all coming out of Europe,” he says, and cycles through the industry here.

Smart technology in the kitchen is here to stay, although perhaps the last word might go to low, low tech: quartz, one of the most abundant minerals on Earth. Dickson says 99% of the time she recommends it for countertops because of its exceptional ability to resist stains.

No amount of smart anything will prevent accidents.

PHOTOS: KATEDICKSONDESIGN

to take everything in your kitchen and have a home for it in the new place.”

The result will be useful storage and a relational flow between appliances, such as that between the dishwasher and stove, and the other items in the kitchen such as the garbage can, says Dickson.

Part of the “wow factor” of any kitchen is its dominant colour scheme. Clarke says white appliances remain very popular if for no other reason than their neutral colour householders do not have to replace them when they decide to renovate. Stainless steel finishes occupy the top spot even though its arrival on the market was not met with uncritical acceptance. Clarke recalls the complaints about keeping it clean, so her firm introduced its smudge-free technology for stainless steel appliances.

Dickson agrees with the one-two punch of stainless steel and white finishes, although there are more daring finishes available for the more daring homeowner.

No consideration of a kitchen is complete without a word about cabinetry.

Todd Burdon, owner and vice-president of sales and marketing at Marbel In-

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CA

SHAKING FOUNDATION

FEATURE

up the

Keeping a close watch on the shifting foundation landscape can mean solid returns for contractors.

BY NESTOR E. ARELLANO

PHOTOS: RMCAO

T

he foundation is the least-seen component of a home and most likely the last item on the renovation list of many home owners. Make no mistake though, foundation work can mean big business for contractors.

Try calling up a few foundation specialists in your area this time of the year and you will find that most are out tackling a job or booked solid for the next few weeks.

Justin Dejong, sales representative at Sika Canada Inc., an Ontario-based manufacturer and distributor of specialty products for the construction industry, believes the foundation installation and repair business is a definite growth area for contractors.

“Do I think the space is growing? Absolutely,” he says. “In fact Sika Canada has recently developed a new division solely focused on waterproofing products.”

Homeowners may rarely need a foundation retrofit but when they do, the job is usually a biggie. Foundation repairs can cost up to $30,000.

However; the foundation landscape

is shifting. The old standards are poised to be replaced by newer systems. That is why, Dejong says, contractors need to keep abreast of the latest foundation options.

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Foundation fundamentals In Canada and south of the border, foundation types generally fall into four main groups: preserved wood foundations (PWF); poured concrete; block concrete and insulated concrete forms (ICFs).

Preserved wound foundations – The PWF industry was established in the 1960s although today this type of foundation is mainly used in rural areas and places where transporting concrete is a challenge.

PWF walls are made from specially treated wood studs and plywood sheathing. The wood undergoes a higher-grade treatment process than treated wood used for decks and fences.

Installation is relatively simple compared with other foundation systems.

PWFs are a lower-cost alternative to concrete-based foundation systems.

While PWF are designed to meet building codes, it is not a rigid material like concrete and it is susceptible to bowing.

Most problems with PWFs fall into two categories:

PHOTOS: RMCAO

• Structural problems due to ground and hydrostatic pressure on the foundation walls, improper backfilling or improper framing • Dampness due to inadequate or nonperforming drainage systems “Waterproofing is critical to PWFs,” says Bernie Gauthier, sales and business development manager at Resisto, a manufacturer of water proofing and insulation products. “Sprayed or membrane-type material needs to be applied to the outer side of the foundation to keep moisture and water out.”

Insulation is also recommended for the inside portion of the PWF. Resisto’s Basic Waterproofing Membrane product is a self-adhesive membrane made of elastomeric bitumen and a tri-laminate woven polyethylene surface that is ideal for protecting wood and concrete foundation walls.

The company’s Platon dimpled, highdensity polyethylene (HDPE) membrane serves as a vapour barrier and air gap, which keeps wet soil and moisture away from foundation walls. It is used to waterproof concrete block, poured concrete, ICFs and PWFs. Block concrete – Also referred to as concrete masonry units (CMU), block

concrete has been used for foundations for decades. The hollow blocks typically measure 8”x16”x8”, but sizes may vary depending on the weight load of the building being constructed.

The blocks are installed in an overlapping pattern similar to bricks to ensure strength and stability. Reinforcement bars connect the blocks to the concrete footing of the building and the blocks are filled in and joined together using a concrete mortar mix.

“There are a lot of different foundation

options today, but block concrete remains a favourite of many home builders,” according to Ken Scott, manufacturer representative at Brown’s Concrete Products Ltd. “It is a tried and true foundation that many contractors and workers are used to dealing with.”

Brown’s produces many landscaping stone and paving products, but the company also offers a full-line of concrete blocks ideal for many applications including residential foundations.

A major advantage of block foun-

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are used to prevent cracking and bowing. Unlike CMU foundations, poured concrete foundations do not have joints that could be sources of leaks or become weak points.

Environmental conditions on the jobsite can impact the quality of the concrete mix. For instance, if the concrete sets and cures too fast or freezes, this may cause cracking. If the mix is too wet due to improper mixing or rain at the time of construction, the foundation may become weak.

Another disadvantage is that poured concrete foundations are heavier that CMUs and may settle considerably over

time even with proper footings.

Insulating concrete forms – ICFs are basically formwork blocks or panels of expanded polystyrene (EPS).

The ICF blocks can be likened to giant Lego blocks. The foundation is created by interlocking the blocks to build exterior and interior wall. Reinforcement bars are usually placed between the walls before concrete is poured in.

Although ICFs have been in use in Europe since the 1960s it was only during the past 10 years that ICFs caught on in North America, according da Silva.

“ICFs appear to have a lot of good qualities, but many builders and work-

PHOTOS: RMCAO

dation is that they require no heavy wooden-forms to secure them while the cement cures.

When blocks are not filled or properly reinforced, CMU foundations are weak and susceptible to ground and hydrostatic pressure. The area where blocks are joined together by mortar can be prone to cracks and leakage.

CMU foundations require waterproofing and insulation solutions. Block concrete is more expensive than PWF. Poured concrete – Just like CMUs, this type of foundation has been around for decades. Poured concrete foundations are made by pouring wet concrete mixture between large plywood forms held together by metal or plastic ties. The wooden forms are peeled away when the concrete has dried.

“Poured concrete is one of the most cost-effective and reliable type of foundation, best suited for soil conditions and the tough environment in Canada,” says Octavio da Silva, owner of Modernized Building Group, a Toronto-based framing and foundation company.

He says many custom builders prefer poured concrete because of its ability to support heavy vertical loads and strength standing up to lateral ground and hydrostatic pressure.

“When properly built and given the required time to cure before backfilling, they can last 100 years,” says da Silva.

Most poured concrete foundations are 8” in thickness. Reinforcement bars

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For many foundation and basement contractors, a good part of the business comes from dealing with cracked concrete foundations.

Cracks in the foundation can often be traced to shifting ground but on many occasions, improper construction practices are to blame, according to Octavio da Silva, owner of framing and foundation company Modernized Building Group.

For example, in the case of concrete foundations, some builders may resort to using the wrong concrete type or mortar mix in order to cut cost. The pressure to speed up construction could motivate contractors to backfill a concrete foundation wall before the cement has adequately cured.

“Many contractors use concrete with the minimum strength rating of 15 MPa (Megapascal), but I prefer to use 25 MPa for foundations,” says da Silva.

“While concrete reaches about 40% of its potential strength after 48 hours, I prefer to backfill at least seven days after pouring to make sure the foundation wall is sturdy enough.”

Sometimes, having the soil checked for sulphate content might be necessary.

When combined with groundwater, sulphate acts like an acid and eventually causes concrete to crack and flake.

Type 10 concrete is the most commonly used concrete for foundations, but type 50 is recommended for high-sulphate soil.

Step cracks, those horizontal and vertical cracks that look like stair steps, can allow water to enter the basement.

Larger horizontal cracks can be a sign of serious structural integrity issues caused by hydrostatic pressure or freeze-andthaw cycles that may have caused the wall to buck.

Small cracks should be dealt with right away, says Justin Dejong, sales representative at Sika Canada Inc. The company’s SikaFix Kit is designed to repair cracks where moisture or water is present. The product uses a two-part polyurethane grout that expands on contact with moisture to form a tough, flexible bonding agent that seals out water.

Sika’s Monotop 623 is mortar repair solution that achieves 45 MPa when fully cured.

Concrete slab that has heaved and collapsed may require mudjacking. The process involves drilling holes into the damaged part of the slab that is lower and pressure pumping concrete in in order to raise and level the foundation.

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CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

ers are not familiar with it,” he says. “It has not been around long enough for people to trust that it will provide a lasting foundation.”

ICF’s market share is steadily growing, according to Greg Doren, product manager of Plasti-Fab Ltd., a provider of EPS products. The company sells the Advantage ICF system brand.

“ICFs were traditionally used in commercial buildings, offices, hotels, schools and hospitals,” he says. “Today we are seeing a lot more single and multi-family homes.”

For homeowners, the main benefit of ICF systems is improved insulation. The EPS provides built-in insulation that cuts energy used for heating by up to 50%.

A typical 8” concrete foundation with a 2”x4” wood frame and R-8 insulation can provide an effective R value of 8.8, while an Advantage ICF system will achieve an R value of 22.8, according to the company.

ICFs enable builders to use up to 40% less concrete than other cement-based foundations.

The simplicity and speed of installing ICF blocks can reduce construction time by as much as 80%. Concrete also cures much faster and better inside ICFs, says Doren.

The future of foundations Depending on the current cost of concrete, building with ICFs can cost anywhere from 1% to 8% more than PWFs. ICFs have builtin insulation but they will still require waterproofing on the exterior.

ICF walls also tend to be upwards of 14” thick. In some installations, it is estimated that for every linear inch of wall, ICF blocks will eat up 5” of depth, compared to other foundation methods.

Despite these disadvantages, it appears that ICFs have a bright future.

More and more builders will likely switch to ICFs because of its built-in insulation, improved concrete strength and ease of handling, predicts Gary Sharp, director of technical services for the Canadian Home Builders’ Association.

To prepare for such a shakeup, contractors may need to set aside old notions and begin boning up on ICFs. “Residential foundations are still primarily poured concrete. The second most popular would be concrete block,” he says.

“I expect ICFs will grow in popularity over the next few years.”

PHOTO: SIKA

Maintaining a strong foundation

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