Contractor Advantage November / December 2012 by Espress Labs Inc.

COMPLIMENTARY

November/December 2012

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

ALSO:

Business Training Greener Walls Energy Star

+ + +

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

INTERIOR

PAINT PLUS:

ENGINEERED WOOD 2013 LEED CREDENTIALS ®

Nothing sells a home faster than adding cost-effective, energy-efficient insulation and weatherization products. That’s what you get when you add Dow Building Solutions to your team. Our broad portfolio of energy-efficient sheathing, housewraps, spray foam insulation and accessories is backed by 65+ years of building science experience and industry knowledge. It’s building performance you can measure – in lower utility bills for homeowners, fewer call backs and increased referrals. Find out how Dow Building Solutions can help you reach your goal for long-lasting energy efficiency at www.insulateyourhome.ca or call 1-866-583-BLUE (2583).

www.insulateyourhome.ca

The Hardest Working Team in the Building Industry ™ Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow

Contents

24 Features

Training Days / 18

Even the most experienced contractors need to embrace training as a lifelong process.

Follow the LEEDers / 24 LEED is one of the best-known marketing tools for contractors who want to gain a competitive advantage.

Greener Walls / 31 Insulating values and new technologies combine to create lasting environmental benefits.

Engineered for results / 37 Builders are looking to engineered wood to literally and figuratively take wood to heights never before seen in Canada.

Inside

NEWS WATCH / 05 2013 colour trends NEW PRODUCTS / 07 New and improved products BUSINESS STRATEGIES / 10 Reaching the market SMART MONEY / 12 Buy versus lease ECONOMICS 101 / 14 Four steps to success ONLINE MARKETING / 16 Living in a mobile world LEARNING CURVE / 17 How to be ‘exceptional’ November/December 2012 Vol. 18 No. 6

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

Castle Building Centres Group Ltd., with building supply outlets in every province, is Canada’s leading supplier of lumber and building materials to professional contractors, builders and renovators. Publications Mail Agreement #40006677 Return undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: 100 Milverton Drive, Suite 400 Mississauga, Ont. L5R 4H1

Contributors Nestor E. Arellano Lawrence Cummer Victoria Downing Stefan Dubowski Josh Kerbel Michael Menard Paul Rhodes David Chilton Saggers John G. Smith

Become an energy star / 44 What does Energy Star mean? It is both a symbol and system indicating energy efficiency and can be found on nearly 40 types of products.

The inside scoop / 48 A primer for making the perfect interior paint-to-surface pairing.

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

Contractor Advantage

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

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 3

Pr o & of e p Q ss 5 ua io P Vo lifi na r ed l R od te Re em u d m od ct od e s el ler 2 er M 0 M ag 1 ag az 1 az in in e e

reFIT – The better way to finish basements. TM

Basement Finishing System • • • • • •

Insulation and framing combined Energy seal from floor to joists No wood = no mold Lightweight and easy to install High performance wall assembly Acts as vapour and air barrier

refiticf.com

ER ARXX – The better way to build. D A E L in InCoFlogy ICF h Tec

Insulating Concrete Forms

Redefining building.

• High energy efficiency – lower heating and cooling costs • Better indoor air quality – no mold or mildew • Safe and secure • Superior sound suppression • Green and sustainable

arxx.com

News Watch

Next year’s colour trends unveiled by Dulux, Sico and CIL Dulux, a subsidiary of AkzoNobel, has announced the colour it said will be trending through its paint lines in 2013. Homeowners will be turning to blues to find refuge from their technology-heavy workdays, as well as find a variety of uplifting and soothing choices. Studies conducted by AkzoNobel globally have established blue to be the most popular colour, a favourite of more than half population and the least disliked in most cultures. In home décor, the company said prevalent blues of the past few years have been lighter shades; however, next year a darker blue, tinted with violet or purple will be popular. The company recently named Inspired Violet the Dulux paint colour of 2013. “It is a colour that emits a feeling of tranquility and stability in the midst of our increasingly hectic lives,” said Martin Tustin-Fuchs, Dulux paint brand director for AkzoNobel. According to AkzoNobel, the colour is a good choice for home offices, bedrooms, family rooms and living areas, but also smaller spaces such as bathrooms and vestibules. As a dark shade, the company said the colour combines well with most others, but especially saturated brights, citrus colours, warm neutrals and other blues, purples and greens. A cool colour, blue is “warmed up” when accessorized with

natural objects, browns and tans, like wood or leather furniture. The company also suggested that today’s fast-paced interconnected lifestyles have inspired three themes for 2013 in its Sico paint brand: Collective Passion, Switching Off and Visual Solace. Collective Passion is inspired by social media and showcased through subtle layering of closely connected pastels and corals. Switching Off uses “silent colours,” from soft and airy hues to the deep colours of still waters, starry nights, dusk and dawn to clear the mind. Visual Solace is inspired by gardens in bloom and classical art to create comfort through floral pink, mauve, dusky violet, bronze and delicate neutrals,

CMHC reports slight decrease in September housing starts The standalone monthly seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of housing starts was 220,215 units in September, down from 225,328 in August, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). September’s housing starts were in line with trending data. Housing starts in Canada trended at 224,419 units annually in September, based on the sixmonth moving average of the SAAR, which is used to provide a clearer picture by accounting for variable monthly swings.“Housing starts in September were largely in line with the latest trend figure,” said Mathieu Laberge, deputy chief economist at CMHC. “The monthly decrease posted in September was mostly due to a decrease in urban multiples starts. As expected, the number of multiples starts in Ontario, particularly in Toronto, reverted back to a level more in line with the average pace of activity over the last six months.”

the company said. Users of the company’s CIL brand, meanwhile, will seek a “palette of joyous and uplifting colours in 2013, including candy reds, papaya oranges and light mustard yellows, to spruce greens, deep blues and saturated neutrals.” As a result, the CIL paint colours trending next year will be vibrant brights, dusty pastels and “fluroinfused” neutrals. “These are colours that can be easily incorporated into any room in the home,” said Alison Goldman, CIL brand manager for AkzoNobel. The full Dulux, CIL and Sico 2013 colour palettes can be seen at www.dulux.ca, www.cil.ca and www.sico.ca.

The

Building of

Excellence

Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. would like to thank our valued advertisers and readership and wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season. All the best for a prosperous 2013 and please join Castle in celebrating our milestone 50th Anniversary 1963-2013 CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 5

THE BEAUTY IS IN THE DETAILS.

WeatherLock (Patented) ClimaCore 100% CFC & HCFC Free Polyurethane foam Canadian Steel (Inside and outside) Zinc Primer Exterior polyester top coats

THE DOOR WITH MORE. For a complete list of products and specs, visit Steel-Craft.ca

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

New Products

Building Blocks

Innovative Products for Today’s Renovators

TASK TOOLS RELEASES HARD-GRIP SCREWDRIVERS, UTILITY KNIVES

Task Tools has released new lines of hard-grip screwdrivers and utility knives the company says are created with the latest materials and innovations in design. The Task Hard Grip Screwdriver features a handle made of cellulose-acetate to make them shatter-proof, non-flammable and resistant to oil, grease, and water and chemicals. The Elite series of hard-grip screwdrivers features industrial-quality clear acetate large-diameter handles to allow greater force and come with twopiece Genuine Robertson, Phillips, Slotted and Torx tips. The Task series features professional-quality opaque acetate handles and offer a wide selection of Genuine Robertson, Phillips and Slotted tips. The screwdrivers are available individually or in sets and range in price from $1.69 to $7.99. Task Signature Utility Knives are snap-off blade knives featuring Power Black Blades which are harder, sharper and more pliable than other blades, according to Task. The knives and replacement blades are available in 9 mm, 18 mm, and 25 mm lengths and are available both in auto-lock and ratchet lock. Two extra blades concealed in the handle of most models in the series of-

fer quick-and-easy replacement. The knives are priced from $5.99 to $10.99, and blades are available in five, ten and fifty packs. Further information is available at www.task-tools.com.

TREX ADDS TO TRANSCEND DECKING LINE WITH ‘TIKI TORCH’

Trex Co. has expanded its Trex Transcend decking line to include a variegated, light-brown colour the company has dubbed Tiki Torch. The colour, a warm, earthy shade with reddish-brown hardwood streaking, is designed to complement the company’s two existing tropical-inspired decking products, as well as its five decking colours. Combined with Tree House (warm earth tone), Vintage Lantern (deep-burnished bronze), Fire Pit (spicy red), Gravel Path (pristine grey) and Rope Swing (a light taupe), or tropical options of Spiced Rum (earthy umber) and Lava Rock (reddish black) the new colour helps create a range of aesthetic options. Although Tiki Torch has an appearance of tropical wood, there are no environmental stresses associated with importing endangered hardwoods. It contains 95% recycled content. Each Transcend deck board is available in 12’, 16’ and 20’ lengths, and in square and grooved profile options.

Grooved boards accommodate the Trex Hideaway Hidden Fastening System for a finish free of nails and other visible fasteners. Tiki Torch is also available in 1”x8” and 1”x12” fascia boards. All Transcend decking includes a 25-year limited fade and stain warranty. Further information is available at www.trex.com. CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 7

MAAX proudly presents the SAX,

THE EXPERIENCE YOUR CUSTOMERS DESERVE.

SAX Freestanding bathtub

a brand new Freestanding tub featured with the OLYMPIA Round elegant shower. A completely delightful experience to discover!

OLYMPIA Round Shower Kit (base & door included)

New Products

MIROLIN TUB SHOWER OFFERS EASY ENTRY

Mirolin Industries Corp., a Masco Company, has released the Parker Tub Shower, a new tub shower series available with either a 20” standard threshold height or 16” threshold for easier entry. In addition, the Parker tub showers are available in one-piece (60” x 32” x 89 ½”) and multi-piece (60 x 33” and 85 ½”) models. Multi-piece models feature Mirolin’s Snap Fit system for easier installation. The tub showers are compatible with 60” standard opening and designed for above floor rough in. According to Mirolin, the benefits of the Parker series include spacious bathing well and relaxing lumbar support; four shelves, S-shaped grab bar and hydrotherapy options with a removable front access panel. The tub showers are made of vacuum-formed acrylic reinforced with fiberglass, with a scratch, stain and mildew resistant finish. They are also pre-trimmed to result in less waste. Further information is available at www.mirolin.com.

CERTAINTEED DIAMONDBACK GLASROC UNVEILS TILE BACKER FOR FLOOR AND COUNTERTOP APPS

CertainTeed Gypsum has announced that Diamondback GlasRoc tile backer, traditionally available for walls and ceilings, is now offered for floor and countertop applications. Diamondback is reinforced with embedded glass mats to add strength and mold resistance, and feature a polymer coating that reduces tile slippage during installation. The new ¼” backers are designed to meet ASTM C 627 Robinson Floor Test required to be used as an underlayment, and weigh 40% less than traditional cement boards, making them easier to handle, cut and install. The company says the backer is ideal for use in bathrooms, kitchens and high-moisture interior areas, and suitable for both wet and non-wet installations in both residential and light commercial applications. Available in 3’ x 5’ and 4’ x 4’ sizes, Diamondback conforms to the ASTM C 1178 for Coated Glass Mat Water-Resistant Gypsum Backing Panels and offers the best level of mold resistance when tested in

accordance with the ASTM D 3273 standard. It is backed by a limited, lifetime warranty for residential applications and a limited 20-year warranty for commercial applications. Further information is available at www.certainteed.com/gypsum.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 9

Business Strategies

Reaching The Market Third-party endorsements are the most effective for remodelers. Learn how to maximize the number and results from referrals. BY VICTORIA DOWNING

Staying in Touch with Past Clients Here is a chilling statistic: one happy client tells three people about your company, but one disgruntled client grouses to 15. Reap the full referral value of your happy custom-

ers by keeping your company name in front of them. Talk with or mail something to them three or four times a year. This regular contact keeps the referrals coming in indefinitely, not to mention generates repeat business from the clients. Over time your clients may even develop an emotional investment in your company and its success in winning referral jobs. Here is a sampling of ways to stay in touch with past clients:

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

Send a holiday card

Send a thank you note for every referral

Do not rely on a Christmas or New Year’s card. It will get lost in the piles of cards your clients receive. Instead, consider Valentine’s Day (“Roses are red, violets are blue, we’re grateful for wonderful customers like you”) or Halloween (“Remodeling is a tricky business, but it’s a treat working with clients like you”). Approached with wit and style, these offbeat missives can be eye-catching and memorable.

All it takes is a short paragraph that says, “Thanks so much for sending Ken and Mary

Distribute a newsletter

Victoria Downing is president of Remodelers Advantage Inc. and is a leading authority in the remodeling industry. She has authored and co-authored several industry books, including The Remodeler’s Marketing PowerPak. She can be reached at victoria@remodelersadvantage.com or by phone at 301 490-5620 ext. 105. 10

Smith to us to discuss their room addition. We couldn’t keep providing high-quality remodeling projects for discriminating clients if it weren’t for good friends like you.”

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

More and more remodelers are staying in touch with clients through newsletters that pass along company news, share practical tips for homeowners and feature impressive before-and-after photos of projects. Atlanta remodeler Bill Weidmann gets all his jobs by referral by sending a newsletter to past

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

The best leads come from referrals and not “cold call” type marketing, because referrals are sprinkled with the magic dust of thirdparty endorsement. A referral lead often arrives virtually presold by a past customer or company fan. For example, the referrer might say something like: “We used Jones Design/Build Company for our remodeling. I don’t think they are the cheapest remodelers in town, but we found we could trust them. “They had great design ideas. We had a few snags during construction, but Jones always took care of them. The whole experience was surprisingly painless, especially compared with the horror stories you hear.” That endorsement is worth hundreds of dollars of advertising, which might lead a prospect to your door but still not pack the credibility punch of such a personal recommendation. Clearly, your marketing program should target referral-quality leads, but do not sit back and wait for the referrals to drift in. Nurture relationships with subs, suppliers, community leaders, real estate agents, past clients and other contacts in the community. By doing so, many remodelers actually garner 90% or more of their leads via referral. Only if referrals run short do they turn to the lower-quality, higher-cost leads generated through advertising.

Business Strategies

customers three or four times a year. They might forget you, he says.

Invite clients to home shows, open houses and other social events where you can

reconnect with them and show them your latest and proudest work. If you are exhibiting at a home show, offer free tickets to past clients and invite them to stop by your booth. Design/build remodelers report good results with receptions in recent clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; homes too. The homeowners invite their friends and neighbors to see the completed remodel. The remodeler adds past clients to the list and picks up the tab for the event. When former clients visit, their bonds with the remodeler are strengthened. While there, they chat with prospective clients and sell them on working with the company.

Friends of the Company Networking is heavily used in the business world to develop new business. Design/build remodelers should use networking actively too. When a friend of the company, such as a local home inspector, refers a new client, that inspector has supplied a high-quality lead.

Meal plan: Every month take an influential community member to breakfast or lunch. Your guest might be a banker, architect, economic development official, preservation society activist, real estate broker or minister. Any of these people could become a proponent of your company and a valuable referral source. Civic action: Working with other community leaders on a common goal presents an excellent opportunity to meet and greet potential

clients are referrers. Select a community organization or charity and become an active participant. Sign up for an influential committee and devote time and effort to help the cause.

Industry impact: Get involved with building and remodeling industry associations. Home builders often are asked to recommend remodelers. Remodelers who specialize in insurance restoration are asked to recommend design/build specialists. Tap into this flow of referrals by interacting with your peers in industry organizations.

Community profile: Many design/build remodelers garner a big slice of their annual volume through social connections. As members of the yacht club or country club, they pick up referrals through social channels.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 11

Smart Money

Buy Versus Lease Deciding whether to lease or buy capital assets can be complicated, and depends on a number of factors from cash flow and security to the type of asset being acquired. BY PAUL RHODES

Any business owner is likely to face the question of whether to buy or lease capital assets. Capital assets are those assets to be used in the business for a long period of time and, depending on the nature of the business, may include: premises, computers, furniture or plant and equipment. This article will review the factors to consider in making the decision. The first step is to consider whether ownership of the asset is necessary. For a construction business, which adds value to material by incorporating it into a project, the answer depends on the following:

â&#x20AC;˘ What will be the effect of using the asset on productivity and profit margins? The greater the additional margin, the more likely it is that the asset should be acquired directly, as opposed to the process being performed in some other way. Once it has been decided that ownership of the asset makes economic sense, the decision as to whether it should be acquired by purchase or lease can be considered.

Cash flow: For a new business the availability of cash is always the most important concern. In addition to requiring capital assets, the business will also need cash to purchase materials, pay employees and other expenses as they become due. For a new business, and especially a business that is rapidly growing, it is usually the case that cash has to be paid up front before any cash can be collected from customers. For instance, even after a sale has been invoiced there is often a delay before the cash is collected.

Paul Rhodes is a partner at Soberman LLP. His professional experience includes providing assurance and advisory counsel to a number of clients in construction, manufacturing, real estate and internal audit engagements. Paul is a member of the Toronto Construction Association. 12

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

All these factors suggest that leasing or purchasing the asset with a loan are preferable, instead of purchasing for cash, because the payments for the use of the asset are spread over a longer time period and available cash is free to be used for higher priorities.

Cost: If surplus cash is available, buying with cash is cheaper than leasing or buying with a loan, because the leasing company will charge a premium for financing and interest will be payable on the loan.

Availability of security: To obtain a loan from a financial institution, collateral is likely to be required as security. There may be few assets available within the business, and a bank is unlikely to accept only the asset purchased as collateral for a

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

â&#x20AC;˘ How often will the asset be utilized? For example, if the asset in question is used for only one in 10 projects, the outlay of cash for the leased asset would still have to be made during the other nine projects even though the asset is not used. In this case, the best alternative may be to use a sub-contractor for the operation and not purchase or lease the asset at all.

Smart Money

loan. This may mean that personal assets, including a personal residence, must be used to secure the loan, which is not likely to appeal to the business owner. In this case, leasing the asset may be preferred because a leasing company will usually accept the asset itself as security for the lease.

Type of lease: There are several types of lease agreements, which may give an advantage over purchasing the asset. For example, if the technology surrounding the asset is constantly changing, as is the case with computer equipment, a lease will allow the equipment to be replaced with the latest technology when the lease ends. Alternatively, if the asset is not expected to become obsolete and will still be usable when the lease ends, then a lease with a purchase option or renewal option would be advantageous.

Note that lease terms can be complex and must be fully understood before an agreement is entered into. Professional advice may be required.

Tax: The difference in tax treatment between purchasing and leasing an asset will also have a bearing on the decision. As a general rule, the total consideration paid for the asset can be deducted for tax purposes, although the timing of the deduction may be significantly different between the two options. For example, all the lease payments paid during a lease are usually deducted for tax during the lease term; if the asset is bought the period the deduction can be taken for tax is often longer. Other factors can affect this general rule including federal budgets which often allow an immediate or quick deduction of the cost of certain purchased capital assets and the

period over which the asset will be owned. To conclude, the answer to the question of whether to buy or lease ultimately depends on the nature of the business and of the assets required. No cut-and-dried answer exists because the circumstances will differ from business to business and asset to asset. The decision involves some degree of risk. For example, if the asset is purchased the business may become tied to obsolete equipment; if the asset is leased there is a long-term commitment to make periodic payments. While risk cannot be completely avoided, a proper consideration of the characteristics of each option will mean the nature of risk is known and an informed decision can be made. This article has been prepared for general information. Specific professional advice should be obtained prior to the implementation of any suggestion contained.

Hide more-Use less Self-Priming • Zero-VOC* • Low-Odour

Meets MPI® X-Green conformance standards Meets Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) criteria section 01350 Can earn LEED® credits *Colourants added to this base paint may increase VOC level significantly depending on colour choice.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 13

Economics 101

Four Steps To Success No matter what industry you are in, long-term business growth depends on strategy, idea generation, project selection and execution. BY MICHAEL MENARD

Most organizations know that in order to grow and be an industry leader, they have to continually innovate and undertake key projects that lead to growth. Unfortunately, many companies do so in a haphazard or non-strategic way. Here is what typically happens: Leaders keep saying “yes” as various projects and ideas are presented to them for investment. They say “yes” until they run out of resources. The projects and ideas first on the list get funded in contrast to the best of all ideas across the organization. The sad truth is the early bird does get the worm. As a result, they waste money and resources, lose momentum, and then wonder why they never achieve their strategic goals. That does not have to be that way. There is a proven approach that enables leaders and decision makers to make a greater contribution to the business, activate the strategic plan, achieve the desired balance, and optimize allocation of limited resources. Here are the four things you need to get right in order to make better decisions so you can maximize your company’s Capital Efficient Profitable Growth (CEPG).

enough to translate into specific strategic goals. For example, suppose you are a beverage company who offers a variety of soft drinks. How do you grow? You could introduce one new beverage after another and expand into new markets at random, but that will quickly drain your resources. A better approach is to define a specific strategy for growth. For instance, you may decide that you want to be the North American leader in bottled water. Now you have a focused strategy to guide your efforts.

Define your strategy

Generate ideas

Before your company can undertake any new initiative, you first have to identify your strategy. In other words, who are you and what do you want to do? Unless you know this information, it is difficult if not impossible to move forward in a productive way. While most companies have a general idea of their strategy based on their vision or mission statement, often it is not focused

Armed with your strategy, you can now generate ideas that support the strategy. Some people call this step innovation or creative brainstorming. Whatever you call it, the goal is to come up with possible options for advancing the strategy. Going back to our beverage company example, if the strategy is to be the North American leader in bottled water, your team

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

Prioritize and select the best ideas Next is to select the portfolio of ideas that are the best for the company to pursue and that will advance the strategy. As you do the prioritization and portfolio selection pro-

Michael Menard is the author of “A Fish in Your Ear: The New Discipline of Project Portfolio Management” and co-founder and president of The GenSight Group, which provides enterprise portfolio management solutions for strategic planning, project portfolio management and business performance optimization. Further information is available at www.afishinyourear.com 14

needs to generate ideas that fit the strategy. Some ideas could include adding nutrients to the water, adding protein to the water, adding exotic flavours to the water, or offering different bottle shapes or sizes.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

cess, you need to ask two key questions. The first is, “Will this portfolio of ideas and projects deliver our strategic goal?” If the answer is no, then you have to do something different. Either you alter your strategic expectation or you increase the number of ideas. Keep going through these iterations until you can say, “Yes, our portfolio has the potential to deliver our strategy.” And remember, at this point you are simply assessing whether the portfolio will meet your strategic goals. You are not assessing whether it is something you actually could do. Once you agree that the portfolio of ideas and projects will help you meet your strategic goals, the second question to ask is, “Do we have the resources (time, money,

Economics 101

people, equipment, etc.) to fund the portfolio?” If the answer is yes, then celebrate and move on to step four; however, if the answer is no, then you need to circle back and solve the equation. Can you lower your strategic goals? Can you generate bigger, better ideas? Can you add resources? Change the timing? Scale back the idea? Once you have a portfolio that allows you to say yes to both questions, you have completed the prioritization and selection process.

Execute on the ideas. Finally, it is time to take action and actually execute the portfolio of ideas. This is where project management comes into play. As you execute each step to support the strategy, outline the detailed activities needed to complete the project on time and on budget. Assign key people to be responsible for each role, and establish checkpoints so you know if the project goes off track.

As you execute each step to support the strategy, outline the detailed activities needed to complete the project on time and on budget. Assign key people to be responsible for each role, and establish checkpoints so you know if the project goes off track. The more thoroughly you manage the execution of the portfolio, the more success you will have.

Get it Right…Now! No matter what industry you are in, longterm business growth depends on these

four things: strategy, idea generation, project selection and execution. When you take the time to implement this process in your company, not only will you make better strategy decisions, but you will also achieve the breakthrough results that achieve the ultimate goal: increased CEPG.

W i t h C a b i n e t s m i t h , yo u d o n ’ t h ave t o s a c r i f i c e q u a l i t y, o r t i m e t o b u i l d a c o m p l e t e c e n t re o f a t t e n t i o n . O u r k i t c h e n s a re re a d y t o s h i p i n 2 we e k s .

P ro u d l y M a d e i n C a n a d a

w w w. c a b i n e t s m i t h . c a

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 15

Online Marketing

Living In A Mobile World If a good chunk of your potential customers have their eyes glued to their mobile devices, then your company should probably consider advertising on them. BY JOSH KERBEL

Unless you have been living under a rock, the term mobile app should be a common one, with companies like Apple and RIM spawning an entire ecosystem of companies developing mobile applications for iPhones, Android smartphones and Blackberries across every spectrum of the business and entertainment world. Productivity, entertainment, communication, health, shopping; if you can name an activity or an interest, there is probably an application for it. The fact that more than 250 million people access Facebook via a mobile device and that there are over five billion smart phones in the world, leads to the irrefutable conclusion that the future of computing is mobile. Why is this relevant to you and the marketing of your business? Well assuming the purpose of your businessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; marketing efforts is to bring in new customers, you need to know where your prospects are spending their time. I am going to make the assumption that most of the readers of this article are not about to run out and build a mobile application for their business, after all you are in the construction business, not the digital product business. That said, there are a few essentials that your business should address in the mobile world.

Mobile-friendly Website First off, look at your Website; how does it look on a mobile platform? Is it useable? Is the copy legible? Does it consider how

people actually make use of mobile devices? If you have not really done much with your Website over the past five years, chances are the answers to at least one of the above questions is no, which in that case it is time to really consider revamping your Website. Now before you go getting yourself in a tizzy about having to spend more money on that Website of yours, I want you to take a deep breath and realize that the cost of developing a Website has probably fallen dramatically since your last Website makeover. If there is one thing you take away from this article, it is that your new Website must have a responsive design. In non-geek speak this means that your site must adapt to different screen sizes, from handhelds to desktops, to provide users with an optimal viewing experience, namely easy reading and navigation. And while this might sound intimidating it is really not, because there are many out of the box frameworks that provide this functionality automatically, and at little to no cost. A perfect example of one to talk to your Web designer about is Twitter Bootstrap, which currently powers high-end sites like NASA and MSNBC. You can learn more about Twitter Bootstrap here: http:// twitter.github.com/bootstrap/ If you do not have the ability to build a mobile application for your business, but want to market to reach mobile device users, a mobile-friendly site is essential, especially if you want to start promoting yourself with mobile advertising. Think about it. If you do

Josh Kerbel is Managing Director of Sales Funnel, a digital marketing agency that specializes in lead generation and prospect management systems. To get a copy of the free white paper, 8 Steps to Internet Marketing Success, please send an email to report.ca@thejoshkerbelproject.com. 16

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

not have a mobile site, where are you going to send the traffic from your mobile ads?

Mobile Advertising If a good chunk of your potential customers have their eyes glued to their mobile devices, then your company should probably consider advertising on them. The next step in the process is determining just how to go about doing it. There are really two options for a small company looking to get into mobile advertising. The first is the using of Google Adwords to target users conducting searches from their mobile devices. The Google Adwords platform will let you specifically target mobile devices so that non-mobile users do not get directed to your mobile Website. If you do not think this is a viable option for your business, consider how often you do on-thespot research via a mobile Internet browser when making a purchase decision. The second, and probably more effective method of mobile advertising, is to buy ads directly within mobile applications. One of the great things about the boom in mobile application development is that someone has probably already created an application or two that target the demographic that your business is geared towards. All you need to do is become connected with a mobile ad network (there are tons out there), create a few ads, set a daily budget and direct the traffic to your mobile Website.

The Bottom Line Without getting into the nitty-gritty specific of costs, you should probably budget about $10,000 to $15,000 to get up and running in the mobile world, with the understanding that spending on mobile advertising, when properly done, is an investment in your sales funnel, not a one-time cost.

Learning Curve

How To Be ‘Exceptional’ Two books teach the theory and best practices about people management in construction and how to become an exceptional leader.

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION: CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES Routledge

The construction industry is one of the most complex arenas within which to manage people. All too often employee needs can take a backseat to performance concerns, which in turn, can lead to reduced productivity. To help meet this challenge, Routledge has released the second edition of Human Resource Management in Construction, which looks at the subject through a lens that incorporates the realities of construction organizations. In this new edition, editors Andrew Dainty and Martin Loosemore provide a critical commentary on the ways in which construction companies address the human resource management (HRM) function. They have gathered perspectives from leading

thinkers within construction HRM to critique perspectives presented in their first edition, and to tackle specific aspects of HRM. Areas covered include historical views of building labour; aligning human resource development with organization strategies in construction; competition on identity rather than price; occupational health, safety and worker’s well-being; equality, diversity, inclusion and work-life balance in construction; employment relations; people resourcing best practices; and, rewards management. The book uses real-life case studies to explain the ways construction businesses respond to the pressures faced through their HRM practices. It encourages readers to rethink the HRM function and its role in defining their relationship with employees through a combination of theoretical insights and industry best practices.

HOW TO BE EXCEPTIONAL: DRIVE LEADERSHIP SUCCESS BY MAGNIFYING YOUR STRENGTHS McGraw-Hill

You run a department, a division or an entire company. Everything is going smoothly, everyone respects your abilities and no one complains about you, but are you exceptional? In difficult business times, true success requires nothing less than the best. Jack Zenger, Joseph Folkman, Robert Sherwin and Barbra Steel, authors of How to Be Exceptional, provide readers with a revolutionary approach to leadership development. Instead of focusing on weaknesses and how to overcome them, the book focuses on strengths and how to magnify them through what the authors call “strengthsbased leadership development.” Zenger Folkman, the international leadership consulting business co-founded by two of the authors, has through studies found dramatic differences in organizations who use such a leadership model, including:

• Four to six times higher profits • Six times higher sales revenue • 10 to 20 times higher levels of employee engagement • A 50% reduction in employee turnover • Better employee job satisfaction and employees willing to “go the extra mile” • Higher customer satisfaction ratings; and, • A three times safer work environment. The strategies and techniques in the book, which are backed by findings from Zenger Folkman’s latest research, help business owners concentrate on what really matters freeing them to drive outstanding business and personal results, rather than focusing on building skills-sets that may be irrelevant to their current and future responsibilities. How to Be Exceptional breaks down what owners and managers need to know about the impact of leadership on business results, and offers a program to grow the strengths needed to boost success.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 17

Feature

TRAINING

DAYS Even the most experienced contractors need to embrace training as a lifelong process. BY JOHN G. SMITH

ormal training programs will be familiar to every contractor who ever served as an apprentice. The journey to journeyperson is only completed once the theory of a classroom is combined with hands-on practice; the knowledge of a red seal trade has to be tested against an Interprovincial Standards Examination.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

The understanding of specific building products can be further refined through ongoing seminars offered by trade associations like the Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Association of Canada. The Laborers International Union of North Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s training centres, meanwhile, offer no fewer than 50 courses in

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 19

A Taiga Synergy Flooring Product aS

rg yne

y Floorin gP ro du ct

Undisputed flooring champion. A

ig Ta

Be the Envy of the neighbourhood.

TaigaSynergy.com

glueless locking system

• drop lock installation • plank design • 4-sided bevel • wood grain texture •

Council. “There is a progressive package of skills that you need for each.” Anyone who wants to manage a growing team, for example, will need to effectively communicate and motivate people. A skilled carpenter, drywall finisher, roofer or plumber will still need to learn about how to develop an effective business plan if they ever hope to secure a bank loan to put their dreams of being self-employed to work. Skills of the trade might secure early jobs, but training in communications, negotiations and estimating are needed to guide employees up a company’s corporate ladder. For its part, the Construction Sector Council offers online training in supervision, understanding the responsibilities of a supervisor, and communicating with teams. The skills like these can help to build more productive workplaces, but they can also convince valuable workers to stay in the construction industry before they decide to explore other job opportunities in the search for a more clearly defined career path. Ongoing training engages workers and supports personal advancement, Sparks suggests. This can be particularly important among a younger generation of workers who will have higher expectations around

human resources issues and the way they are treated at work. The council is not alone in recognizing the need. Other industry-specific training like this is also offered by groups like the Canadian Construction Association, which partners with local construction associations to offer a Gold Seal certification program for construction management professionals including project managers, superintendents, estimators and safety coordinators. Aside from the business skills, ongoing training in safe workplace habits will make a difference of its own, and help to protect businesses from injuries along the way. This training can come from a number of sources. The Construction Sector Council takes one of the first steps by delivering information about the safe practices that anyone needs to understand before taking their first step onto a job site. Workers’ Compensation Boards offer training to meet a wide array of safety-related regulations. The challenge is that many smaller contractors fall through the cracks. “If a person is only doing residential construction and is a self-employed entrepreneur, they still do not have to pay into WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) premiums,” observes

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

everything from hazardous materials remediation to remote tunneling, concrete work, and the tools of building construction. Collectively, they are the types of formal programs which will play an increasingly important role as contractors look to groom a new generation of employees. According to the Construction Sector Council’s 2011 Labour Market Information Assessment, Canada’s construction industry will need 335,000 new workers as early as 2019 if it hopes to keep up with growing demand and replace those who are heading toward retirement. Every one of these new additions to the workforce will need to build skills for their respective trades. Even the most experienced contractors need to embrace training as a lifelong process, whether that involves learning about new technologies, emerging business opportunities, or the techniques to boost productivity and improve profits. Indeed, training in “soft skills” can be as important as the ability to use a specific tool, particularly when employees want to step out on their own as an entrepreneur. “It is just like becoming a supervisor on a job site,” explains Rosemary Sparks, executive director of the Construction Sector

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 21

Monica Olenroot, co-founder of the nonprofit Canadian Association of Renovators and Home Services. It is a reality which leads them to track down safety training on their own. The right information can certainly keep workers safe, but proof of training in issues like fall protection, WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) standards and working in confined spaces can also be used as a tool to differentiate a business from its competitors, she says. “It is a cost, but it is a cost of doing business.” Training support will also avoid costly missteps with regulators. Ontario Ministry of Labour inspectors have been known to show up on a job site after an injury and ask for a copy of a company’s policies and procedures and the Occupational Health and Safety Act, informally known as the Green Book. “You have to have it, and you have to have an understanding of what is in it,” Olenroot says. Inspectors will also want to see workers wearing protective eyewear, and the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for paint or other chemicals under their care. Trained employees will be prepared. “If the Ministry of Labour is knocking on your door and shutting down your job site, you will pay whatever you need to get the training done,” she says.

Ignorance, after all, is no excuse for breaking a law. Training in broader business skills will make a difference too, offering contractors an understanding of contracts and change orders which clearly outline specific jobs. “You have got to make sure you charge enough for your services and make sure you put your time in there,” Olenroot adds. The training support does not even need to be specific to the world of contracting. Seminars on business topics like marketing skills are regularly offered through groups such as a local chamber of commerce and small business advisory centre. Professional business coaches can develop programs for specific operations as well. “A business is a business,” she stresses. An ongoing focus on training can also help to identify emerging business opportunities. The Canadian Association of Renovators and Home Services, for example, recently began an accessibility training program, showing contractors how structures can be upgraded to allow seniors to stay in their homes. This will obviously be a growing market, and a niche business opportunity, as the population continues to age. “There is a huge percentage turning 65 and more, and for the next 20 years they

are going to want to stay in their homes,” Olenroot says. The right training can lead a contractor to recommend specific framing that will support grab bars in the bathroom, or point to design elements that will make a kitchen more accessible, or introduce entry ways that are easier to access. In an era where environmentally friendly building procedures are emphasized, the Canadian Construction Association offers training in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), covering topics such as risks and contract issues, and how to predict the impact of a LEED certificate on a project’s cost. Training hardly needs to be limited to those who wield the tools. The association also offers a Construction 101 course for administration and clerical staff on everything from procurement methods to construction documents, the principles of contract law and risk management. While there are plenty of training courses available throughout the construction industry, Olenroot also suggests researching the course deliverables and its price before committing the time and money. “A lot of people have been over-charged for courses,” she says. “They could have gotten them a lot cheaper.”

TRAINING FOR TRAINERS Every workforce needs ongoing training if it wants to introduce new services or keep skills sharp. The training sessions themselves need just as much attention as the material to be presented. Consider these key steps for anyone who plans to stand at the front of the class. • Review the content – A clear understanding of the lesson plan will help you to keep discussions on track and answer any questions that might arise. Information can also grow stale with time. A review will help to ensure everything is up to date. • Count the heads – The number of participants will dictate everything from the number of handouts to delivery methods. • Choose the best training environment – A proper training environment will be free of distractions. It will also support the preferred training approach. For example, trainees will need to have a clear view of any demonstrations, and enough space for any hands-on sessions. In a classroom setting, everyone will need a place to write notes. • Enhance the training material – The content for the train-

ing session itself can be supplemented with everything from technical specifications to articles from trade magazines. This will give learners the chance to explore a topic in further detail once the training session is done. • Prepare the tools – Every job requires the right tools, and a training program is no different. Information on PowerPoint slides will require access to a computer, projector and screen. An extra whiteboard or flipchart will offer a way to record points that are made during discussions, while hands-on demonstrations will require access to the related tools and building materials. • Keep an eye on the clock – A carefully planned agenda will help to ensure the discussions stay on track, so all the material is covered and nothing is rushed. • Measure success – The training material is being delivered for a reason. Managers should consider how they will measure success, whether it comes in the form of something like positive customer reviews, quicker installation times, or reduced workers compensation claims. If goals are not met, the training program will need to be revised.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 23

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

Feature

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

Feature

Follow the

LEEDers LOOKING FOR A LEG UP? CONSIDER GETTING A LEED CREDENTIAL, BUT MIND THE LEGAL ISSUES THAT COULD FOLLOW. BY STEFAN DUBOWSKI

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

LEED is one of the best-known environmental rating systems for new buildings in Canada. It is also one of the best-known marketing tools for contractors who want a competitive advantage in this era of green-focused property development. LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a rating system for the design, construction and operation of buildings, homes and neighbourhoods according to the tenets of environmental sustainability, such as water efficiency, energy efficiency and indoor air quality. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable construction, developed the program. Canada has its own LEED rating system, LEED Canada, based on the USGBC program, but tailored to our colder climates and particular government regulations. While property owners, developers and builders often aim to certify their buildings to LEED standards, a number of building-industry professionals also aim to obtain special titles indicating their LEED expertise. There are three main LEED designations for individuals: LEED Green Associate, LEED Accredited Professional (AP) and LEED AP Fellow.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 25

mirolin.com Baths for this generation and the next

Mirolin presents the new

Chaise Soak The 66â&#x20AC;? drop-in features a contoured spacious bathing well and superior lumbar support. The chic soaker is available in a slim line profile and offers a variety of layout options for both commercial and residential settings. Its clean lines and comfortable sloped bathing well create a deeper-than-normal soaking experience resulting in an indulgent sense of space. Composed of quality Mirolin engineered acrylic, the Chaise is extremely durable, mildew resistant and easy to clean.

Acrylic products made in Canada for Canadians.

Proud to be the leading bathware brand for 40 years!

THE DESIGNATIONS GREEN ASSOCIATE: The LEED Green Associate credential denotes basic knowledge of green design, construction and operations. It is appropriate for people who want to demonstrate green building expertise in non-technical fields of practice, such as product manufacturing, real estate and teaching. In other words, for people who work in the building industry but are not part of the technical LEED project team. Green Associate can also be an entry-level designation for people with technical backgrounds (architects, engineers) who have previous experience in the building industry but are new to LEED and green building and would like a credential that reflects their level of knowledge.

LEED AP: The LEED AP credential indicates an advanced knowledge of green building practices. The designation is for people with hands-on technical experience on a LEED-registered or certified project, such as architects, designers, engineers and building managers. There are five LEED AP specializations: • Operations and Maintenance • Homes • Building Design and Construction • Interior Design and Construction • Neighborhood Development

Candidates for the Green Associate or LEED AP designation must write an exam and may need to take some courses to prepare for the exam. The U.S.-based Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) oversees LEED exams and credentials. Here in Canada, the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) works with the GBCI, offering courses across the country to help people prepare for the exams. (For details about the exams, see “LEED exams” below.) CaGBC offers a number of courses to help people prepare for the exams. Some of these programs occur in classrooms at local colleges, universities or community centres, running for two to three days at a stretch. (For more information, see “LEED exam study courses” on page 29.)

Worth the effort

LEED AP FELLOW: The LEED Fellow is for people who have been LEED APs for at least eight years. These specialists contribute to the standards of practice for improving the green building field. While many contractors are working towards or already have their LEED AP designations, professional engineers and consultants who work in the environmental building industry specifically are the most common LEED AP holders.

Although it may seem like a lot of work to obtain a LEED designation, some say it is worth the effort. Jonathan Westeinde, founder and managing partner of Windmill Development Group, a green-focused development and consulting company, says many of his staff members have the LEED AP designation. Westeinde says it makes a difference to clients: governments, developers and nonprofits that Windmill advises on sustainable

LEED exams There are three LEED designations for construction professionals: Green Associate, Associated Professional (AP) and LEED Fellow. Candidates for the Green Associate or LEED AP credentials must write an exam through the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

Green Associate: The Green Associate exam tests candidates’ understanding of green design, construction and operations. It requires a $50 application fee and an exam fee of $150 for members of the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) and full-time students, or $200 for non-members and people not already studying full time. Candidates have two hours, 20 minutes to complete the exam. LEED AP: The LEED AP exam is more challenging. It takes about four hours, divided into two parts. The first part is the same as the Green Associate exam. The second part is the LEED AP specialty section, consisting of questions that test candidates’ technical experience with green building. Candidates who already have their Green Associate designation can apply to take the AP exam alone. The application fee to sit the full exam is $100; the exam fee is $300 for CaGBC members and $450 for non-members. For the AP part of the exam alone, the application fee is still $100, but the exam fee is just $150 for members and $250 for non-members. For more information, including links to courses that contractors can take to prepare for the exams, visit the CaGBC’s website, www.cagbc.org. CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 27

development strategies. These clients like to see the LEED AP designation because it indicates that the consulting firm has a good understanding of green building concepts. It also makes a difference in terms of the kinds of contractors Windmill prefers to work with. “When we’re hiring a contractor we want to make sure they have their LEED AP in place, and that they have the required experience to make sure they’re using the right processes,” Westeinde says. “If we don’t see the LEED AP designation we assume there’s a learning curve that needs to be tackled. Usually we’ll move on from that contractor or supplier to someone who does have the designation.” Stephen Collette, owner of Your Healthy House, an indoor-environment consultancy, says his LEED AP title (attained in 2007, before the AP specialties existed) adds to his credibility. He says he finds that clients and partners tend to believe what he says when he provides advice regarding construction materials and techniques to improve the environmental performance of buildings. Contractors in particular would benefit from having a LEED title, Collette says. “Customers are saying, ‘What about an ondemand heater? What about geothermal? What about solar-ready?’ If builders aren’t familiar with the basics, they’re going to lose business to those who do.”

Legal pitfalls For all the positives, LEED does have a downside. The Ontario General Contractors Association (OGCA) points out that more and more property owners aim to attain LEED designations for their projects, and may well expect contractors to take responsibility for ensuring that a project is LEED certified. The upshot: if the building does not attain the LEED level that the owner hoped for, contractors could find themselves in legal hot water. News out of the U.S. indicates that property owners south of the border have sued contractors when buildings failed the LEED test. It is an issue that Canadian contractors should watch, says Clive Thurston, OGCA’s president. “If an owner doesn’t get LEED platinum or gold, who are they going to sue? They’re going to sue someone. They believe they paid for it.” OGCA recommends that contractors should not bear responsibility for a building’s LEED accreditation. After all, developments score LEED points not only for the

way they are built and how they operate, but also for the way they are used. Owners, builders and occupants all contribute to LEED accreditation. So what is the contractor’s role? According to OGCA, contractors “can only agree to perform the work in accordance specified in the contract,” the association says on its Website. The group recommends contractors insist on contracts that effectively protect them from legal liability. If the contract specifies LEED accreditation as integral to project completion, contractors should think twice about signing it. Over the last five years OGCA has been working with property owners, developers and designers to do away with LEED-specific contract language, aiming to convince the industry as a whole that since LEED is a team effort, it is unfair to put the bulk of the burden for LEED success on contractors’ shoulders. Thurston says the organization has been largely successful in convincing the industry that LEED accreditation is not solely the contractor’s responsibility, but OGCA still receives word that some owners continue to push LEED-specific contracts. While the LEED-lawsuit threat is worth

knowing about, it should not keep contractors from working to attain their Green Associate or AP designations. “Just because you have the designation does not mean someone is going to sue you over certification,” Collette says. CaGBC says it has yet to encounter a Canadian contractor who has been sued for a failed LEED-certification attempt. “Canadian project teams rarely fail to achieve their targeted level of certification, in part because most ensure they apply for enough points that they can afford to lose a few,” according to the organization. So should contractors go for a LEED designation? All in all, the benefits outweigh the negatives. Considering the increasing awareness of LEED among property owners and designers, and the increasingly competitive contracting landscape, it makes sense for contractors to buckle down, take some courses, and attempt the Green Associate or AP exam. Alongside the competitive advantages, a LEED credentials gives contractors the peace of mind of knowing that they are not just construction pros, but construction pros with consciences.

LEED exam study courses Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) offers an in-class two-day Green Associate study course. According to the organization, more than 1,500 people have taken the program over the last two years to prepare for the Green Associate exam. CaGBC runs workshops across Canada through its chapters and delivers the course to groups of 10 or more staff at company offices. For people who want to attain the LEED AP level, CaGBC says it will soon offer an in-class Building Design and Construction study course. The organization publishes an online workshop calendar (http://www.cagbc.org/source/calendar/index.cfm?section=Education), where you can find out where and when classes are being held. CaGBC recommends reading the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) exam handbooks carefully. They provide step-by-step guidance for applying for, preparing for and scheduling exams. Access the handbooks here: http://www.gbci.org/main-nav/professional-credentials/resources/candidatehandbooks.aspx. CaGBC also recommends ensuring that you meet the eligibility requirements for the exam you are planning to sit before you make your formal application to GBCI. The eligibility requirements for both the LEED Green Associate and the LEED AP exams are found on the GBCI Website and in the candidate handbooks. While some courses are held in classrooms, others are available online. CaGBC also provides flash-card Q&As for self-study. Prices range for materials and programs. The flash cards cost only $20, while it costs $550 for the two-day Green Associate study course. (That would be the early-bird member price. Non-member, non-early birds pay $740.)

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 29

YOU SAID, “IT WOULD BE PERFECT IF IT HAD A TROPICAL FINISH.” WE SAID, “CONSIDER IT DONE.” Now TrexTranscend® comes in new tropical hardwood finishes. And it still nails the details that made it #1 in its category. Like a 25-year limited fade and stain warranty, scratch-resistant finish, and the eco-appeal of 95% recycled material. All nicely topped off with a new integrated lighting. The TrexTranscend® decking and railing system. Get what you asked for at trexpartners.com. Distributed By

TREX.COM | 1-800-BUY-TREX

Feature

Greener Walls Insulating values and new technologies combine to create lasting environmental benefits.

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

BY JOHN G. SMITH

iscussions about a â&#x20AC;&#x153;greenerâ&#x20AC;? wall hardly need to be limited to the colour of the paint. Look no further than the role of related building materials in any environmental claims. Individual product choices can boast higher R values, recycled content, mold-fighting capabilities and even the ability to pull unwant-

ed Volatile Organic Compounds out of the air. They are the types of features that can deliver lasting environmental benefits. Every pound of fibreglass insulation, for example, annually saves 12 times more energy than what was consumed to produce the product, Owens Corning Canada notes. Building on that, the company heralded the launch of

its EcoTouch pink fibreglass insulation last year, eliminating formaldehyde from traditional binders which hold the fibres together, and creating a final product made with 73% recycled content. They are just a few steps that have been taken to add a greener hue to the familiar pink product line.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 31

Next Generation of GlasRoc® Tile Backer

get a grip. Diamondback’s unique texture grips tiles to prevent slippage during installation It’s easy to cut and install, whether you’re using it for walls, ceilings, floors or countertops. Diamondback GlasRoc Tile Backer meets the demands of all high moisture areas, gripping tiles to prevent slippage during installation – it goes on easy, and it stays on.

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK IMAGES

“No matter what industry you are in, there is a greater interest in being greener,” says Christine Sampson, Canadian marketing leader for building materials from Owens Corning Canada. Sampson expects the focus on environmentally-friendly walls to increase, and stresses that by pointing to the Net Zero Energy Home Coalition’s push to have homes built to “net zero” energy standards as early as 2030. The non-profit group wants renewable energy systems and other energy-efficient tools to be combined, creating homes which deliver as much energy into the power grid as the homeowner needs to buy. Features like enhanced insulating values would reduce the amount of energy a home needs in the first place, helping to bring the ambitious goal within reach. Builders are also turning to a wide array of rating systems to prove the environmental benefits of their work, and every system seems to place a big emphasis on the quality of walls. Homes that earn an Energy Star rating, for example, need a tight building envelope to meet standards for the number of air changes per hour. Even building codes continue to increase the demands on structural envelopes to meet targets for energy efficiency. One of the most widely publicized ratings programs comes in the form of the Canada Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certificates. Its points are earned through gains in several categories such as materials, resources, energy and atmosphere. Decisions about the products to create walls can play a role in any of those. Given all the potential, there should be little surprise that the insulating options have evolved beyond wooden studs and fibreglass bats alone. Owens Corning’s Foamular CodeBord products, when combined with sealed joints, can reduce thermal bridging and tighten the building envelope. They even help to eliminate the need for other building materials such as the caulking for interior poly, the sheathing membrane and header wraps. A wall’s environmental gains are not limited to the insulation, either. CertainTeed AirRenew indoor air quality drywall, for example, will actually capture unwanted Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that can be generated by everything from glues to carpets, unsealed plywood and cleaning materials, says Hus Sanatgar, Ontario sales manager for Saint-Gobain. “It traps them and makes them inert in the ac-

tual core.” The process takes as little as seven days. The panels will then absorb the VOCs for as long as 75 years and can still support up to 25 coats of paint. The air-scrubbing qualities will remain as long as water-based or epoxy paints are used. Differences like these can promise direct health benefits to homeowners who suffer from conditions like a multiple chemical sensitivity disorder, which might require them to avoid extended exposure to contaminants like formaldehyde or other VOCs. “With the LEED system nowadays, they are always looking for recycled content,” adds John Williams, Ontario field sales manager for Georgia Pacific. The recycled content does not even need to be limited to natural gypsum. The paper used to coat the drywall itself can be made

from recycled material. Meanwhile, facilities like Georgia Pacific’s plant in Caledonia, Ont. use synthetic gypsum, which is a byproduct of a generating station’s flue gases that have been scrubbed clean in a bid to tackle environmental challenges like acid rain. The synthetic gypsum that was once bound for the dump finds a new life, and the equipment designed to clear the air delivers another environmental benefit. “You are also cutting back on your mining of gypsum,” Williams notes. The products used while installing drywall can even make a difference in a contractor’s working environment. Low-dust compounds like Lafarge’s Rapid Coat Low Dust, All Purpose Joint Compound forms heavier dust particles during sanding, so the dust falls to the ground rather than floating

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 33

in the air. There is no danger of breathing in the traditional white clouds. Mold-resisting drywall can eliminate another environmental scourge. Green board is coated with a water-resistant paper. Blue-papered products like Humitek built on that, creating panels which could resist water and mold. The violet-coloured M2Tech Moisture and Mold Resistant Gypsum Board from CertainTeed even scores a perfect 10 in the ASTM scale measuring mold resistance. The options are not limited to gypsum alone. The walls in the wettest areas might need to be created with a cement board like Durock. Georgia Pacific products like DensArmor Plus or DensShield tile backers resist mold as well. The seal is enhanced with a fibreglass mesh tape embedded in a setting compound like ToughRock, which sets and dries like a traditional joint compound before being covered with the final sanded layers of joint compound. Lafarge’s Weather Defense Platinum exterior gypsum sheathing also helps to resist mold and mildew, and its producers say the product cuts more easily than fibreglassfaced boards. It makes a dent in the waste stream by incorporating 90% recycled con-

tent, and when combined with a flexible sealant to fill exposed cutouts and joint, it can create a protective shell to protect an unfinished home when construction is delayed over an extended period of time. The solutions are not limited to blocking moisture. CertainTeed’s Membrane Smart Vapor Retarder will actually react to humidity inside and outside the wall cavity, allowing any unwanted moisture to escape. Sampson; however, admits that contractors can face a challenge when they are looking to see beyond the “greenwashing” of less-environmentally friendly products, and find the options which deliver true environmental benefits. Corporate sustainability reports show where many of the ongoing commitments and gains have been made. A little surfing on the Internet will unveil a manufacturer’s commitments to using cleaner fuels, conserving energy with heat exchangers, treating and recycling water, or reducing and reclaiming any waste in the production process. It all plays a role in the size of the so-called environmental footprint. Thirdparty testing through organizations like

Greenguard’s indoor air quality certificates, Greenguard’s children and schools certification, or the Canadian Construction Materials Centre can offer added insight into a product’s individual benefits. The ratings can get quite specific. Something like a panel’s ability to resist mold, for example, can be measured on a 10-point scale under ASTM D 3273. To earn an Energy Star rating, meanwhile, a building needs to be tight enough to limit detached houses in southern Ontario to 2.5 air changes per hour at 50 pascals, and that will be measured with a fan depressurization method. The Greenguard Environmental Institute is devoted to improving indoor air quality and reducing chemical exposure, and it offers its stamp of approval on materials which boast low emissions. The National Research Council’s Canadian Construction Materials Centre has evaluated a long list of construction materials, products, systems and services as well. Its studies are based on National Building Code standards or provincial building codes. It is a lot of information to study, but the contractors who take this extra step will be able to prove their walls are green, no matter what colour of paint may be applied.

In the next issue of

Contractor Advantage

• Repeat Business: Tips For Recurring Revenue • Building Envelope Evolution • Exterior Doors and Hardware • Green Materials • High-end Kitchen Renovations • Lumber Trends 2013

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 35

Double the natural light! Lengthen the day!

A skylight is one product you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to compromise quality on. Install VELUX! The skylight with 3 layers of water protection, backed by an industry leading warranty and superior customer support. Avoid callbacks using VELUXâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exclusive 3 layers of water protection including deck seal technology. 1. Deck Seal 2. Roofing Underlayment 3. Step Flashing

Skylights provide up to 2x more daylight than vertical windows

See the light and profit at the end of the tunnel! Call us today: Toll free: 1 800-888-3589 www.velux.ca

Feature

Engineered for results The demand for engineered wood such as cross laminated timber (CLT), parallel strand lumber (PSL), laminated strand lumber (LSL) and other products is growing in North America by about 8% year over year. BY LAWRENCE CUMMER

PHOTO: WEYERHAUSER THINKSTOCK IMAGES

ith larger homes and multi-family structures on the rise, builders are looking to engineered wood to literally and figuratively take wood to heights never before seen in Canada. Contractors who learn to work with the man-made lumber will be able to take advantage of a growing trend that is partly being driven by economics. Both traditional lumber and engineered wood are more affordable than steel and concrete, but cost is not the only factor driving interest in engineered wood products. Wood is a tried and true building material. “Wood has stood the test of time in a construction industry that is continually evolving, through its ability to be innovative and meet the ever changing demands of our building needs,” says Marianne Berube, executive director of Ontario Wood Works!, an industry led initiative of the Canadian Wood Council. “New engineered wood products, such as cross-laminated timber (CLT), created

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 37

YOUR WORKLOAD JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT LIGHTER. INTRODUCING THE FIRST FAMILY OF LIGHTWEIGHT PRODUCTS. At CGC we strive to develop products that will make life easier for you. Understanding your needs is our priority – which is why we were the first to introduce a lighter weight cement board, DUROCK Next Gen. Followed by the introduction of gypsum panels that were 30% lighter than traditional drywall. It’s what inspired us to lead the way with the first lightweight ready-mix compound. And it’s what drove us to be the first manufacturer to offer a complete family of lightweight products. When it comes to delivering innovative solutions and products you can trust, CGC has a proven history. It’s one more reason why, we’re THE NAME PROS TRUST®.

FOR DETAILS ON THE FAMILY OF LIGHTWEIGHT PRODUCTS VISIT CGCINC.COM

THE NAME ® PROS TRUST

by gluing and pressing layers of spruce, pine or fir, are widely used throughout Europe and gaining momentum in Canada.” The demand for engineered wood such as CLT, parallel strand lumber (PSL), laminated strand lumber (LSL) and other products is growing in North America by about 8% year over year, according to a spokesperson from CanwelBroadleaf. Continuing to grow the market for engineered wood will require further educating the consumer of the advantages; however, familiarity is already strong among high-end home builders. “Certainly the custom home builders, who are usually already familiar, do not consider using anything else,” says Jim Ward, manager of engineered wood building solutions, Owl Distribution. He adds that subdivision builders will often look to traditional lumber over engineered wood to compound savings over many homes, but that they could avoid “nasty problems” that can crop up when lumber dries. The material is also playing a dominant role in the construction of multi-family dwellings, which are on the increase across the country. Compared with traditional lumber, man-made engineered woods can support

CONCEPT DESIGN COURTESY OF LEVITT GOODMAN ARCHITECTS

LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE IN SUDBURY, ONT.

taller structures and cover greater distances. Low lumber prices and improved techniques have some seeing it as a perfect solution. “Architects, engineers and designers of these multi-family projects are recognizing that engineered wood is a more economical product to use than concrete and steel,” says Ward. “We haven’t seen the run

up in price with wood that we have with other materials.” Ward says that the price of wood, both traditional lumber and engineered, has been eroding over the past five years with the economic downturn in the U.S., but that this year might also be the one in which wood fibre possibly “turns a corner.”

We’ve Done the Math

= Typar® = Added Protection Typar® Weather Protection System Used as a complete sytem, Typar® provides the greatest protection against moisture/vapour transmission, water penetration and related damage. The Typar® Weather Protection System provides the added protection and security of a 10 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY. If for any reason the Typar® Weather Protection System does not perform to published product typical characteristics, Typar® will pay for the cost of labour and materials to correct the issue.

Want to compare Typar®’s warranty vs. other housewraps? Visit www.typar.com/warranty Typar® Weather Protection System Includes: Typar® HouseWrap • Typar® Flashing Flex • Typar® Flashing RA • Typar® Construction Tape

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 39

True North strong Wood’s popularity reflects regionally across Canada. For example, engineered wood is already popular choice in Alberta where it is used to construct larger modern homes, while it is experiencing developing growth in Ontario. Still, there is something truly Canadian about building with wood, Berube suggests. She cites the Laurentian University School of Architecture in Sudbury, Ont., which announced in August would be constructing a demonstration building incorporating CLT. “The School of Architecture in Sudbury will use CLT timber technology to help marry the clients’ desire for a green and sustainable design that does not shy away from its northern Canadian identity,” she says. It will be the first major use of CLT in Ontario, the product currently produced only in B.C. and Quebec. The hope is the building will help promote CLT use in the province and showcase its strength and fire resistance. The material is already widely used across Europe for buildings up to 11 stories tall. “The black spruce we use, for example, as wood fibre for our I-Joists is very strong wood fibre,” says Ward. “I think we are very fortunate here in Canada in that we have an abundance of wood fibre, it is used widely,

and it stands up to our conditions. “A lot of framers may not like it, but we do build 12 months a year. There are guys out there trying to whack things together in the cold of winter and the hottest days of July.” Ward says Canada has also been a leader in the development of home construction techniques such as innovations in constructing laminated veneer lumber (LVL), anoth40

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

er engineered wood that uses multiple layers of thin wood assembled with adhesives. Using Canadian engineered woods can also keep down costs associated with shipping, and, of course, it supports the local economy, notes Alex Wimbush, regional sales manager, engineered products, Taiga Building Products. All Taiga’s engineered wood products are manufactured here in Canada.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

Contractors will find engineered wood’s consistency, straightness and strength of particular benefit to building a high-end final product. “What’s really important to a framer is its consistency,” notes Ward. “There is a high degree of stability to the product. So tradesmen who take pride in their work are going to have straight lines and not to see walls shift over time.” Engineered wood also can result in fewer call backs, as Ward points out, “everything will perform better if it is on a nice, straightand-true, quality product.” The dimensional stability of engineered wood offers an additional advantage during the planning phase. Designers can better know the performance to expect and plan with final use in mind. Consider floor systems: with traditional lumber a floor would be designed to meet code requirements, but typically without recognizing all of the heavy elements being added later, such as large islands, granite countertops, or Jacuzzi tubs. Engineered wood can better account and predict the heavy loads added to many modern homes.

PHOTO: WEYERHAUSER

Selling engineered

“The industry has reached a point now that a floor system is designed with the final application in mind,” Ward says. “It is all worked out ahead of time.” Use of engineered wood studs allow for larger rooms becoming more popular in home construction, while over-size windows can be better supported to resist wind by the firmness engineered wood framing provides. Working with engineered wood products can require some learning, but contractors used to building with traditional lumber will benefit from that familiarity. In fact, since engineered wood packages tend to include pre-planned layouts, the material is often lighter and projects typically requires fewer pieces, experienced contractors will find themselves able to build faster with it. “If we are talking about traditional wood construction, the knowledge base is already there,” says Andy Teasell, technical support manager of engineered lumber products, Canadian division engineer for Weyerhaeuser. “If you know what a joist or beam is, you can pick up an engineered equivalent and use that easily.

“Of course, if you are working with a panel of engineered wood that’s 8’ by 45’, that’s a whole different ball of wax and is quite specialized today.” It is a specialization Teasell says will pay off even more as the materials use grows. He recommends contractors take baby steps, working with engineered wood to replace similar traditional lumber to build gradual familiarity with product lines and technologies. “The first step is to start to experience first-hand the benefits of going engineered.”

In the end, though, clients’ demands and their set budget will often dictate material choice. Homeowners might need education on the value engineered wood brings them, which can be quite a bit. For starters, engineered woods typically have performance warranties. “That is something that is unusual in the commodities lumber side of things,” Teasell says. Wimbush agrees noting that Taiga’s engineered wood products have a lifetime warranty against defect: “That is just more peace of mind for the homeowner they are not going to get with traditional lumber.” With consumer demand for green solutions growing, contractors also have an opportunity to promote green practices through engineered wood use, since it makes better use of wood fibre and is a renewable resource. “Wood is in general, over other building products, the only widely used renewable material, and engineered wood tends to target fast-growing, smaller trees to avoid cutting old forests,” says Wimbush. “When they do manufacture the products all the waste wood is used as biomass to fuel the mills, so that all of the fibre is used.” Teasell notes that the design of engineered wood products means the same strength and support can often be provided using only about half as much wood fibre as traditionally sourced lumber. “The amount of wood fibre used also makes it a more efficient use of resources,” he says. Ward suggests that contractors use the decline in engineered wood prices and the smaller delta between it and traditional lumber to promote it as an option for homeowners looking to achieve a higher level of performance from their floors and walls.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 41

All suppliers provide extensive customer support for contractors looking to get their feet wet. The most important thing is to take the plunge, Teasell says. “Every industry has a certain amount of risk associated with it and people are tempted to stick with what they know, but you have got to balance that with opportunities that innovation brings,” he says. “It may be a little uncomfortable for someone who’s been working with traditional materials to think about using engineered wood, but with the right supplier you can get the necessary support.”

UTILITY KNIVES

Signature

THE TASK SIGNATURE® COMMITMENT

TASK Signature® products are guaranteed to be as good as or better than any competing product.

1 POWERBlack™ Snap-off blades are 15% sharper than other black blades.

Soft Touch® Rubber Grip available on certain models

3 Soft Touch® Coating available on many models for a firm and comfortable grip. Select models with Soft Touch® Rubber Grips provide added safety and comfort. 4 2 extra blades with convenient in-handle storage included on most TASK Signature® knives.

2 Auto-Lock available on certain models

PHOTO: WEYERHAUSER

2 Knives with Ratchet Wheel Locks offer the ultimate in safety while knives with Auto-Locks offer ease of use and enough blade holding power for most applications.

OUTLASTS AND OUTPERFORMS OR YOUR MONEY BACK! Go to your nearest Castle Building Centre to get yours today!

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

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 43

Feature

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

Become an

ENERGY STAR

Contractors who understand the ins and outs of Energy Star ratings for windows will save homeowners money and help the environment. BY DAVID CHILTON SAGGERS

PHOTO: HOME TECH WINDOW

hat does Energy Star mean? It is both symbol and system indicating energy efficiency and can be found on nearly 40 types of products from windows, skylights and doors to computers, dishwashers and even propane furnaces. Products that display the Energy Star symbol have been tested using widely agreed to methods and shown to meet or exceed energy efficiency levels without compromising their performance. Energy Star was introduced in the U.S. in 1992. Because Canada’s climate differs from that in most regions of the U.S., Canadian Energy Star criteria came into effect in 2004 for windows and sliding glass doors. The following year the criteria for these products were reinforced and further criteria were introduced for entry doors and skylights. Now a truly international program, Energy Star goes beyond North America to cover Australia, the 27 countries of the European Union, Japan, New Zealand and Taiwan. Agreements among these nations provide a single set of energy efficiency ratings rather than country-specific qualifications, which would bring potential for chaos. To enroll as an Energy Star participant

companies must show that at least one of their products meets the program’s technical specifications. Natural Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency administers Energy Star here and monitors the use of its symbol. Now that the “what” of Energy Star has been established, the next question is the “why.” That is, why in this case should contractors and householders insist on the installation of windows, skylights and doors that bear the Energy Star label? Known collectively as fenestration products they are a major source of heat loss in Canadian homes irrespective of where those homes are. According to Natural Resources Canada, the installation of new windows and doors with the appropriate Energy Star-rated products will save about 7% on energy bills depending on the number replaced, their age and how much air was leaking from the old ones. New homes with Energy Star fenestration products can save as much as 12% on energy bills, says Natural Resources Canada. Still, it is not just money that can be saved: energy efficient windows, skylights and doors reduce outside noise, have less condensation in cold weather, and allow fewer

ultraviolet rays to pass into a home and damage furniture and decoration. Mike Shaban, owner of Window Land Company in Mississauga, Ont., says Energy Star products are good because they save energy and cut down on heating costs, and are good for the environment. “When we save energy we help everyone” Shaban says. For anyone considering the installation of Energy Star fenestration products, the first thing to look for is the program’s mark on the items themselves or their manufacturer’s advertising literature. Each Energy Star label has a map on it to show in which climate zone that product is appropriate. Using a product that is qualified for a colder climate than the one in which the property is situated will do even more to reduce energy costs. Such a tactic is particularly useful if a householder lives at an appreciably higher elevation than the surrounding area such as in southern and central British Columbia. Every Energy Star product is rated using either its U-Value, the rate of heat transfer from a warm area to one that is cold, or their Energy Rating, a scale that assesses a product’s U-Value, potential solar gain and airtightness.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 45

Everyone at Johns Manville is committed to a core principle: materials matter. Our research, design and manufacturing teams consistently deliver high-performance products that demonstrate our focus on innovation. We pioneered the development of Formaldehyde-freeâ&#x201E;˘ fiber glass building insulation over a decade ago and have never stopped looking for new ways to create more comfortable, healthier and energy efficient indoor environments. Our latest is the introduction of a bio-based binder into our proven Formaldehyde-free insulation to further demonstrate our belief that, in every detail, materials matter.

Learn more about JM products and our new bio-based binder at specJM.com/canada

ÂŠ 2012 Johns Manville

PHOTO: HOME TECH WINDOW

Canada has four climate zones that are based on an average annual temperature chart known as a heating degree day. The higher the heating degree value the colder the location and the longer the heating season. Zone A is Canada’s mildest region and Zone D is its most frigid. Zone A is the smallest slice of the country, taking in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia and Vancouver Island. Zone B encompasses southern Ontario, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and bits of southern British Columbia, southern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan. Zone C is like a thick pencil line drawn across the middle part of the entire country, and Zone D is reserved for the Far North and parts of northern Ontario and northern Quebec. For windows and doors the minimum Energy Rating in Zone A is 21 and the U-Value is a maximum of 1.80; in Zone B it is 25 and 1.60 respectively; in Zone C the numbers are 29 and 1.40; and in Zone D they are 34 and 1.20. For skylights, including tubular lights, the program uses U-Factors only. Zone A is 2.80, Zone B 2.60, Zone C 2.40 and Zone D 2.20. Paul Boire, manager of marketing and dealer relations at Hometech Window Corp. in Concord, Ont., says he is a big fan of Energy Star. Still, he also notes that there is a widespread consumer perception that a high Energy Rating provides a better window. “Consumers would choose a window with an ER of 33 over one that had an ER of 26,” he says. “That could be a very bad decision. It just seems to them that more is better, right? “The fact of the matter is that there are two channels of compliance for meeting Energy Star requirements. One is based on the UValue and the U-Value of the window is a close examination of its performance during the various tests. It’s based, I think, more on the performance of the window itself and less on the type of glass that is used in the window. A very well made window could use a type of glass that would have a lower solar heat gain and still get a good performance number.” Boire says he pointed out this consumer perception during a recent speech. To their credit, he says the administrators of the Energy Star program decided on the spot to re-evaluate, with input from industry representatives, the notion of a high energy rating automatically meaning a better window. Given that ratings and the formulas behind them can make anyone’s head spin, it is reassuring to know that fenestration products’ other parts, that is their frames, are simple in comparison. Particularly easy is the choice of the material for the frame. Shaban says 95% of

ZONE D ZONE C ZONE B ZONE A

the residential market uses vinyl for windows with aluminum accounting for 80% of the commercial sector. Wood, says Shaban, is expensive, and fibreglass is pricier still. For Boire, there is little doubt that vinyl is king. “For the average person in a normal house you cannot beat vinyl at all. It lasts a heck of a long time.” It is also rather less harsh on the environment than many might suspect. Boire puts vinyl on an environmental par with wood. As well as backing vinyl, he is also a proponent of Argon over Krypton as the preferred inert gas to be inserted between the panes of glass in a window. “There’s no real difference in the gas,” he says, although he notes there is a “major benefit” with Krypton in that a smaller needle is used to insert it into triple-glazed units, but for all that Krypton is too expensive, he argues. As well as the Energy Star sticker on any windows a contractor may install, there is another way to tell if in fact they are energy efficient. Condensation forms on the outside of windows in certain weather, usually in later summer or at the start of fall when nighttime

temperatures drop. It means that the condensation is forming because there is very little heat escaping from the house through the windows. It should also be remembered that not all window products are equal when it comes to condensation resistance. Assuming an outside temperature of -20° C, double-glazed glass has a condensation resistance of 26%, but double-glazed glass with Low-E and Argon gas registers 40% resistance. Many of the stimulus and rebate programs offered by the federal government and its provincial counterparts are over or their terms have been changed. Thus the best way to find out about any current programs that offer grants or rebates for installing Energy Star fenestration products is a simple Internet search. There is also something else to consider when seeking energy efficiency, commodities Canada will never run short of trees and shrubs. SaskPower, the major electricity utility in Saskatchewan (much of which is covered by climate Zones B and C), says planting larger deciduous trees of about 7 to 9 m in height on the south and west sides of a home provide the most heating and cooling benefit. They let the sun filter through in the winter and provide shade in the summer. Trees should not be planted directly in front of south facing windows as this will reduce solar heat gain in winter. Another trick is to plant shrubs around a home’s foundation. They will form an insulating barrier and help reduce heat loss. In short, Energy Star fenestration products reduce heat loss, reduce energy costs and help protect the environment, although they can even benefit from a little help from Mother Nature.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 47

INSIDE scoop: THE

A primer for making the perfect interior paint-to-surface pairing. BY NESTOR E. ARELLANO

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

Feature

PHOTO: SICO PAINT.

he decorator had specified a smooth dove grey shade for the living room of the mansion of an affluent Toronto couple. The muted shade was to be a perfect foil for their eclectic collection of modern and classic furniture that were perennial conversation pieces each time the couple entertained guests. “Unfortunately, because of a painting contractor’s mistake, the homeowners ended up with a week-long horror story,” says Steve Whyte, technical adviser at Dulux Paint. “The painter had picked up an exterior product to provide the glossy sheen that the decorator wanted.” The result was a disaster. Deprived of natural sunlight to allow it to dry, the outdoor product remained sticky and filled the whole house with its nauseating odour for days. The contractor had to spend a whole week scraping and sanding the product from the walls and had to redo the whole job at cost. The damage to his reputation; however, was far harder to undo.

Paint-to-surface pairing “Getting the right paint for the surface you are working on is basic and critical,” Whyte says. “Certain paints will simply not adhere to, and in some instances even damage, certain surfaces. Unfortunately even seasoned experts make the occasional mistake in this area.” Sometimes, he adds, issues arise when requirements set by homeowners, designers, builders and architects clash with product spec changes and new industry regulations. For instance, painting interior metal surfaces such as galvanized steel can be challenge for many contractors. “Galvanized steel comes in many grades and it is important to determine which type of primer and paint will adhere best to the surface. Sometimes even architects and designers are not up-to-date on product specs,” Whyte says. He advises contractors to always determine the surface they will be painting on before starting a job. Then double check with paint manufacturers to find out what product works best for that surface.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 49

WINDOWS & DOORS

save a world of energy.

introducing a new way to save a world of energy GreenView windows offer a great way to save on energy costs and help the environment by using less energy to heat and cool your home. Some of our state of the art energy saving features include: • Sol-R™ Shield glass • Triple fin weather seals • 3/4” argon filled double strength glass

PVC Windows

• Intercept® Ultra Warm-Edge Spacer System

www.greenviewwindows.com

Steel and Fiberglass Entry Doors

There are basically two basic types of interior paint: alkyds, or resin-based, and latex. ALKYD: Also called oil-based, this paint

uses synthetic alkyd as resin and is solvent thinned. Alkyds are suitable for high traffic areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, because the paint is durable and easy to clean. Most alkyds dry within six hours. Alkyds raise the nap of un-primed drywall. This paint is also not recommended for un-primed masonry. Many paints of this type are odourless, but they may still be toxic and flammable.

LATEX:

PHOTO: PPG PAINT, DULUX PAINT,

Latex paints contain rubber or acrylic as resin and use water as a form of solvent. This paint can be used for a wide variety of surfaces and it dries up fast, but is still easy to touch up, says Tracy Pease, residential segment product manager for PPG Industries, makers of Pittsburgh Paints. For example, the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water-borne acrylic, PPG BreakThrough, is formulated to adhere to difficult substrates such as laminate, fibreglass ceramic tiles, concrete floors and many plastics. It is ideal for cabinets, shelving, handrail and trim. Latex adheres well to surfaces previously painted with latex or flat oil-based paints. It can be used in un-primed drywall or unpainted masonry. Its water content could peel off wallpaper, rust bare steel and raise the grain of raw wood. By making changes to the formulation of these two basic interior paints, manufacturers are able to create paints for a wide variety of surfaces and purposes. Some of these products are:

RUBBER-BASED PAINT: The addition

of liquified rubber makes this paint ideal for waterproofing concrete surfaces; however, preparing the surface by washing it with a 10% solution of muriatic acid and then rinsing it thoroughly before painting is essential.

DRIPLESS PAINT: The thick formu-

lation dripless paint prevents spatters, but the extra density also means a litre

of this paint will not cover as much area as other paints.

ONE-COAT PAINT: Available in latex

and alkyd versions, this paint, which comes with an additional pigment, is meant to cover surfaces with a single application.

TEXTURED PAINT: Textured paint can either have sand-like granules suspended in it, or come as a thick and

smooth, stucco-like substance that is applied to a surface and textured with special tools. It is often used for flawed surfaces and ceilings.

ACOUSTIC PAINT: The paint is formulated so that it does not completely cover the fibrous and textured surface of acoustic tiles that help the tiles absorb sound.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 51

Legato Collection Legato is an Italian word that literally mean â&#x20AC;&#x153;tied togetherâ&#x20AC;? and in music means notes are played or sung smoothly and connected. The Legato Collection uses a continuous U-Bevel edge creating a smooth transition between connections and eliminating the risk of paint fade along the microbevel edges, typically used on laminate flooring. Available in 3 colours the Legato Collection has a 2mm EVA underpad attached and drop click ends for a quicker, easier and smoother installation experience.

Caramel Oak

Arctic Gray

Spalted Maple

12.3mm Thickness 125mm Width Matte Finish U-Bevel on all 4 Sides 2mm EVA Underpad Attached Drop Click Ends Licensed Click System 25 Year Limited Warranty on Finish

PHOTO: SICO PAINT, CIL PAINT

Prepped and primed To guarantee that surface appearances are top notch, contractors also need to pay attention to what is at the bottom, says John Burke, vice president of marketing for Dynamic Paint Products, a manufacturer and distributor of painting paraphernalia. “Proper prep work forms the foundation of any paint job,” says Burke. “Imperfections that were not dealt with during prep work will eventually surface and mar an otherwise excellent paint job.” Prep work typically involves cleaning or washing the surface area to be painted; scraping and sanding off old paint and surface imperfections; removing exposed nails and screws; caulking gaps and cracks; rebuilding deteriorated surface parts; taping of areas and applying primer. “Contractors should also focus on picking the right type of primer because it seals the surface and makes sure that the top coat adheres to the surface,” says Burke. Generally, latex top coats will require a latex primer. A product such as RustOleum’s Zinsser Primer has latex qualities and works well with drywall, plaster and concrete surfaces. For heavily damaged surfaces, contractors might also consider using a high-hide sealer product. Still, a latex primer may damage waterbased surfaces such as stucco, raise the nap of raw wood and rust bare metal surfaces. For these type of paint jobs, contractors can use oil-based primers such as Para Alkyd.

Proper costing prevents consternation Time is money, and in order to make sure they earn enough of the latter, contractors should make good use of the former, according to Whyte. For example, he says, contractors need to determine factors such as the scope of the assignment, schedules of when material and other associated contractors and subcontractors will arrive on site, as well as make allowances for emergency delays.

Another area contractors need to watch out for is when estimating the amount of paint needed for a job. The rule of thumb is that a gallon or 3.7 L of paint will cover an area approximately the size of a 10’x15’ room with a single coat of paint. Rooms that have closets, stairs and odd corners could easily eat up more paint than expected, and paints that have heavier density such as dripless paints will also cover less area per can than ordinary products. “Even if a contractor is being paid by the hour, working longer than expected on one assignment may mean the contractor is missing the opportunity of landing another job,” Whyte points out. “Whenever possible, go over blueprints of the area or do a physical inspection of the job site before coming up with a firm quote for the job.” Using the right equipment can help contractors maximize coverage and cut down on time, says Burke. For example, painters can cut down on refilling time by using a larger paint tray. While the average paint tray carries 2 L of paint, Dynamic Paint has a new line of professional-grade paint trays that carry 3.7 L. The company’s new Infinity microfibre paint roller allows painters to roll on more paint to a surface than most rollers. “The Infinity roller holds more paint and releases it at a more uniform rate. The result is 30% more coverage than the average roller,” he explains.

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

| 53

ECO TRENDY

Over the last decade, the movement towards more ecologically friendly products has made its mark in the paint industry and all signs point to even greater emphasis on products with minimum environmental impact, according to Mario Clermont, general manager of Boomerang Paint. When catering to environmentally conscious clients, contractors can propose using recycled paint products such as those sold by Boomerang. The company has been selling 90% post-consumer paint since 1995. Boomerang collects used and leftover latex paint, cleans and filters the product and then adds thickeners, resins and anti-bacteria chemicals to make the product suitable for use again. “The product is sought after by a growing number of consumers and builders who are engaged in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) projects because recycled paint contributes to LEED points,” Clermont says. When Boomerang began operations 17 years ago it sold about 150,000 Litres of recycled paint, last year the company sold 2.8 million Litres. The product comes in 20 colours in eggshell finish and is also 50% cheaper than comparable new paint products. “Consumer demand and government regulations are also moving towards zero-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints and more manufacturers are offering products geared towards sustainable building practices,” says Pease. Many manufacturers are racing to meet the demand by producing products like PPG’s Speedhide Zero interior paint which has zero-VOC content.

With the proliferation of home decorating and renovation television shows these days, it is not uncommon to encounter homeowners with very definite ideas of how they want their home interior painted, notes Alison Goldman, marketing manager for CIL Paints. “While many homeowners have dipped their toes into interior decorating, contractors still play a critical role in helping their clients in making many pivotal colour decisions,” Goldman says. For instance, she says, by their constant exposure to colour, painting contractors can help clients decide which colour combinations work best. “For example, red is literally the hot colour for 2012,”she says. “That is pretty easy to get, but it is often harder for people to determine what shade of red to use and what colours to use it with.” In this case, Goldman suggests, adding a neutral colour to the palette or using red on a single wall is often an effective solution to avoid that overpowering crimson effect. Such strategies are handy especially when dealing with open-concept abodes that do not have walls to separate rooms. Contractors need not go to design school to learn the tricks of the trade, says Goldman; since one can absorb enough useful knowledge by working in tandem with decorator or designer. “This is a good way of learning 54

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

more about decorating and expanding your client list as painter and decorator can do some cross-referral.” Another option is to take advantage of the many free interior planning materials that paint manufacturers offer. “Giveaway colour swatches in hardware stores already show you the different shades that colours

CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE

come in and colour wheels direct users to what colours work best together,” says Goldman. “New online resources available on most manufacturers’ Web sites also come with very helpful decorating tips and design layout tools. It all boils down to equipping yourself with information to better serve your client.”

PHOTO: BOOMERANG, SICO PAINT

Brush with creativity

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

ExcEptional pErformancE, a grEEnEr planEt. that’s pink . ™

today, contractors, builders and homeowners expect more from their insulation. that’s why we created foamUlar ® rigid insulation. it has the same trusted insulating performance that your customers have come to expect from owens corning, while providing exceptional moisture resistance and durability. Versatile in its application, it exceeds all green expectations with its outstanding energy efficiency. so go green and stock pink™.

Why choose FOAMULAR ® Insulation? • Complies with 2010 Montreal Protocol – CFC- and HCFC-Free • Zero ozone depletion potential • 70% less global warming potential† • Minimum 20% recycled content

Contact your Owens Corning Area Sales Manager to find out how PINK™ can make a positive impact on your business.

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

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

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

PINK reNovatIoNs are greeNer aNd save moNey ™

∆

today’s contractors and homeowners demand products that are easy to use,

Why choose EcoTouch PINK Insulation?

quick to install, safe and reliable - all from a name that they trust. that’s why we

• Designed by a leader in energy efficiency • Made from over 70%* recycled content – 3rd party SCS certified • Made with 99% natural** materials • GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified and formaldehyde-free • Durable & dependable

created ecotouch™ PINK™ FIBergLas® Insulation with PureFiber™ technology. made with 99% natural** material and over 70%* recycled content, this breakthrough in insulation technology is easy to install and safe for homeowners. and now renovation projects can pay for themselves‡ because homeowners can save up to 28%^ on heating and cooling costs. so go green and use PINK™ in your next project.

™

tHe PINK PaNtHer™ & © 1964-2012 metro-goldwyn-mayer studios Inc. all rights reserved. the colour PINK is a registered trademark of owens Corning. © 2012 owens Corning. all rights reserved. *70% recycled content is based on the average recycled glass content in all owens Corning fiberglass batts, rolls and unbonded loosefill insulation manufactured in Canada. sCs certified. **made with a minimum of 99% by weight natural materials consisting of minerals and plant-based compounds. ‡Insulating levels recommended should result in energy savings over time above the cost of the insulating cost, however, if you buy too much insulation, it can cost you more than you save on energy bills. ^Up to 28% heating and cooling savings based on Hot 2000, version 8.7 run for a 2 storey 1972 type base house with 1149 sf per floor for an increase from r-8 to r-40 in the attic plus an increase from zero to r-20 in the basement walls in Canadian climates. ∆savings vary depending on original amount of insulation in your home, climate, house size, air leaks, and personal energy use and living habits. greeNgUard Children & schoolssm mark is a registered certification mark used under license through the greeNgUard environmental Institute. owens Corning PINK™ insulation is greeNgUard Certified for indoor air quality, except bonded loosefill products. this product has achieved greeNgUard Children & schools Certification and is verified to be formaldehyde free. © 2012 owens Corning. all rights reserved.