Spring/Summer 2021
THE VALUE OF STONE IS MORE THAN IT’S EXTERIOR
Now more than ever, Canadians are looking to add some life into their home, and many are turning to the outside and exterior stone.
YOUR DOOR TO A NEW GARAGE AESTHETIC
Garages have moved steadily away from merely being a home for one’s car into an extension of the home.
Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. is a Canadian member-owned, Lumber, Building Materials and Hardware buying group representing over 300 member locations across Canada. Visit castle.ca to find a Castle location in your area.
Editorial Director Castle Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. Jennifer Mercieca Art Direction and Design Espress Labs Inc. Contributors Lawrence Cummer Teresa Christine
Advertising Inquiries Jennifer Mercieca Director of Communications Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. 905-564-3307 jmercieca@castle.ca Material Contact Maryam Bashir Marketing Coordinator Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. 905-564-3307 mbashir@castle.ca Published and designed exclusively for Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. by Espress Labs Inc.
On the cover: Creative Door Services & Wayne Dalton
ABOUT IDEAS // SPRING/SUMMER 2021
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TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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THE VALUE OF STONE IS MORE THAN IT’S EXTERIOR
YOUR DOOR TO A NEW GARAGE AESTHETIC
Now more than ever, Canadians are looking to add some life into their home, and many are turning to the outside and exterior stone.
Garages have moved steadily away from merely being a home for one’s car into an extension of the home.
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Meet the
CONTRIBUTORS LAWRENCE CUMMER Lawrence (“Law”) Cummer is a freelance writer and editor and has been a frequent contributor to Contractor Advantage, Ideas and Rough Construction for nearly a decade. Over his more than 20-year career, Law has written about contracting and construction, general business, information technology, health and safety, personal finance and almost every topic in between. He has a passion for storytelling and sharing how people can work better, easier — and “smarter” — from contractors to technologists to business executives.
TERESA CHRISTINE Teresa is an accomplished communicator and award-winning Editor with over 15 years of experience helping organizations build their brands and tell their stories through roles in marketing and PR. Inspired by her passion for writing, she recently began her own consulting boutique and has worked with a broad range of customers in various industries including construction, building materials, consumer and lifestyle. She is recognized and respected for her honesty, attention to detail and creativity which has allowed her to cultivate solid client relationships throughout her career.
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THE VALUE OF STONE IS MORE THAN IT’S EXTERIOR
Written by Teresa Christine
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Photo courtesy of CanWel
Now more than ever, Canadians are looking to add some life into their home, and many are turning to the outside and exterior stone.
homeowners are diverting their vacation and entertainment dollars and reinvesting it into their homes.
After an unprecedented year, the home has remained a constant foundation and anchor. This has led to numerous record-high real estate markets across the country and has sent the building materials market soaring. Whether the motivating factor is to capitalize on a “sellers’ market” or to enhance their surroundings,
According to a recent study by real estate consultancy company Altus Group, Canadians spent more than $80 billion on home improvements last year; nearly 75 per cent of that spend was on home upgrades with the balance on necessary repairs.
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FEATURE STORY // THE VALUE OF EXTERIOR STONE IS MORE THAN JUST CURB APPEAL
Photo courtesy of InStone
THE REMARKABLE RISE OF DIY According to Dustin Wilson, president, InStone, the company has seen a huge rise in the number of interior and exterior renovations using faux stone and faux brick products. “With people being at home more due to the pandemic, they have both more time and more money to spend on their houses. Traditional masonry has very technical requirements and needs specialized tools and skills, whereas products like Hourwall and Quality Stone take the intimidation factor out of any install since only basic tools and skills are needed and only a drill and saw are required.” With the rise of home improvement shows on networks like HGTV and the copious amounts of design inspo from social media sites like Houzz and Pinterest, there’s no shortage of design tips or decorating ideas for homeowners. And given the rise in DIY projects, whether Canadians opt to do
it themselves or hire a contractor, ease of use and being able to achieve their desired look adds to the appeal for user friendly products. Wilson adds, “our Modern Brick profile has allowed the authentic character of brick to be installed anywhere. Traditionally, brick has been a very labour intensive, messy process. Our panels install in a fraction of the time with no mess and the finish is indistinguishable from real brick.” This increase in demand, has impacted inventory levels and supply chains across the entire construction industry and affected many manufacturers. For example, Ivan Rapa, president at Erth Coverings notes, “there has definitely been an increased demand for our stone products over the past number of months due to the flurry of home renovations that we are seeing. As a result, homeowners, contractors and builders are having to place orders weeks or months in advance”. // SPRING/SUMMER 2021
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FEATURE STORY // THE VALUE OF EXTERIOR STONE IS MORE THAN JUST CURB APPEAL Over at Gentek, projected growth is the same. “We anticipate sales across the market to be up as COVID-19 has increased demand for home projects and exterior renovations,” says product manager, Pierre Lefebvre. Lindsay Pavan, representative for Fusion Stone, reports a similar sentiment. “We are fortunate that the pandemic has had a positive impact on sales, there is high demand for do-it-yourself material and home improvement products and Fusion Stone falls into both of those categories.” ORGANIC LUXURY & MIXED MATERIALS Being responsive to a broader market and able to deliver on trends like introducing new colours that
enhance today’s popular dark cladding options is what Wilson believes continues to make Instone relevant. “Limestone offers a lighter, cooler contrast, Rustic Tan compliments rich, earthy tones, and Simply White has been extremely popular for bright, interior stone features.” With the mixing of materials to create a highly textured and more modern look still flourishing, Wilson recommends Quality Stone’s Pillar Panels and Posts Post Covers which are incredibly popular right now. He says “they look like natural stone but turn days of work into minutes” Demand for materials that require only minimal maintenance, as well as materials that can be
Photo courtesy of Gentek
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FEATURE STORY // THE VALUE OF EXTERIOR STONE IS MORE THAN JUST CURB APPEAL Photo courtesy of Erth Coverings Photo courtesy of Gentek
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Photo courtesy of Fusion Stone (CanWel)
mixed and matched on the home, are prominent pandemic trends at Gentek too. Lefebvre explains that he expects to see continued popularity in darker exterior colours, as well as with cladding that emulates the look of real wood. “We are excited about our new ALIGN Composite Cladding, which provides a solution to both these design trends. It is available in fade-resistant and on-trend colours, and its authentic cedar mill grain texture achieves the rich look of wood.” Additionally, Lefebvre anticipates the rising popularity in vertical siding as seen through the increased demand of Gentek’s Board & Batten product. “It offers visual appeal through a rustic charm and contemporary look.”
He continues, ALIGN is especially appealing “for homeowners who wish to mix exterior materials to achieve a custom look to match their style as it beautifully complements stone and offers a high-end aesthetic.” For Pavan at Fusion Stone, “warm tones are the most popular when choosing colour. We see many trends with the application of our stone, two of the most popular being contemporary style to country style. Both are very different but also very achievable with our product. For interior, a fireplace application is always common, but we are seeing the use of feature walls growing in popularity; from kitchens to bedrooms, many people are seeing the importance of adding texture to a room using stone.” // SPRING/SUMMER 2021
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FEATURE STORY // THE VALUE OF EXTERIOR STONE IS MORE THAN JUST CURB APPEAL The natural look of luxury is also evident at Erth Coverings. Rapa says “over the past couple of years we have worked with our partners from around the world to design and bring to market natural stone veneers that have an organic look and feel. This type of stone lends itself to any style of home design, be it contemporary, transitional, rustic, or anything in between.” He says, his company has seen a sizable shift away from traditional designs. “Many home designs today are either contemporary, transitional, or the hot favorite, modern farmhouse. These design styles demand different textures and finishes, and stone works extremely well in meeting the design needs. As a result, we are seeing increased demand for our organic looking stone.”
OUTSIDE OASIS Naturally, the Spring season signals the start of organizing and prepping exterior spaces for the warmer months. With many regions still facing travel restrictions, outdoor living has continued to gain traction and popularity as many people are diverting the money that was typically spent on summer vacations to creating their ideal outside oasis. Whether that’s space on the front porch or an entire area in the back, now more than ever, homeowners need a place they can escape to from a lot of life’s chaos and disruption they currently face. For any exterior project, Wilson suggests Quality Stone, since they are extremely lightweight, and they don’t affect structures. “Outdoor living continues to be strong with outdoor kitchens,
Photo courtesy of Erth Coverings // SPRING/SUMMER 2021
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FEATURE STORY // THE VALUE OF EXTERIOR STONE IS MORE THAN JUST CURB APPEAL
Photo courtesy of Fusion Stone (CanWel)
pergolas and privacy walls being exceptionally popular.” Another trend he sees on this rise is more personalized areas like Man Caves and She Sheds. With so many different colours he says Quality Stone has become a big part of these spaces because it looks great and can be customizable. Pavan at Fusion Stone has seen a similar surge. “Outside we are seeing our product used on outdoor living spaces like bbq enclosures, patio walls, sheds and pool houses.” 18
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NO SLOW IN SIGHT As the pandemic persists and homeowners retreat more in and around their home, there is no slow in sight in the foreseeable future for the building and renovation industries. Whether Canadians are looking to increase curb appeal and the value of their home to sell, or to create their ideal setting to settle in for a long summer of staying home, starting with good stone is always a great start! —
FEATURE STORY // THE VALUE OF EXTERIOR STONE IS MORE THAN JUST CURB APPEAL Photo courtesy of CanWel Photo courtesy of InStone // SPRING/SUMMER 2021
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YOUR DOOR TO A NEW GARAGE AESTHETIC
Written by Lawrence Cummer
Garages have moved steadily away from merely being a home for one’s car into an extension of the home. With that move, of course, garage door design and performance have become more important considerations for homeowners looking to complete their dream home. After all, as garage use has evolved over the years —shifting from carport into in-law suite, workshop, outdoor kitchen or even home theatre — so too has the attention given to the overhead door that plays such a major role in its presentation and performance. “A garage can cover 25-33% of the front of your home, so you want to make sure it has got good curb appeal,” says Ryan McNamee, national marketing manager at Steel-Craft Door Products. “Compared to front door or countertop renovations, garage doors are much more affordable.” As such, he adds, garage doors have been consistently one of the top two best return on investment in renovations. DESIGN TRENDS GALORE Like any area of the home, what resonates with each householder is unique, and garage door suppliers and manufacturers have needed to provide a broad offering, “Designs are as varied as the imagination these days. Manufacturers have increased their palette of colours and designs to fit the style of houses today,” suggests Mark Rennison, distribution sales manager at Stewart Overhead Door. He adds
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Photo courtesy of Steel-Craft Door Products // SPRING/SUMMER 2021
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Photo courtesy of Stewart Overhead Door
that his company’s Northland Garage Doors offer 13 standard colours including four wood look styles, plus custom colour matching capabilities on some door designs. Of course, a few trends can be seen amidst Canadian homeowners, especially from region to region. Teresa Christensen, residential sales for Creative Door Services, points to the aesthetic trends around window placement and glass in general in demand with her company’s customers: “The vertical placement windows on a flush door is still very popular,” she says. “Satin-etched glass for the windows and black and slate grey are very popular colours across Western Canada.” 24
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In fact, windows and glass are playing an increasing role in popular garage door choices. “Glass doors are on the upswing, and I would say the standard colonial raised panel is not as popular anymore,” she added. Rennison echoes the popularity of both design trends with his company’s customers. “Black, and dark greys are still popular today and into the near future,” he says. “Also, we see continued popularity in all-glass doors. Various tinted glass from satin to dark grey or black tinting is popular.” Homeowners are trending towards a more modern-contemporary appearance, McNamee
FEATURE STORY // YOUR DOOR TO A NEW GARAGE AESTHETIC says. “For garage doors this means plank panels, smaller windows or aluminum doors with glass throughout. At Steel-Craft, we believe ourselves to be ahead of the curve with our mid-century-modern doors, Contemporary and our Esteem collection.” Darker colours are starting to become more popular than traditional white doors, McNamee says. “If somebody is buying a white door, the best aesthetic comes with decorative hardware as seen on our Carriage-Craft door. Our charcoal colour doors are the most popular colour selection by homeowners and our sable grey is gaining momentum as well.”
The look of a modern garage door can add a ‘wow’ factor like never before, meanwhile it can also capture a sense of nostalgia. “Garage doors can be trendy too,” says Vanessa Poulin, branding advisor at Garaga Inc. She points homeowners to the company’s Townships Collection, for capturing the popular farmhouse or modern farmhouse design aesthetic. “You can go all-in with yesteryear charm or just a subtle touch by choosing the shape of overlays you like the best,” she said. “Their real overlays divide space so cleverly that it fools the eye.”
Photo courtesy of Steel-Craft Door Products // SPRING/SUMMER 2021
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FEATURE STORY // YOUR DOOR TO A NEW GARAGE AESTHETIC She adds, “You could swear you’re looking at swinging doors of yesteryear. But you’re living in the present, with a hyper-functional, sturdy and hassle-free garage door.” FUNCTION AND PERFORMANCE MATTERS As important as design is, elements of performance loom large for homeowners, namely security and energy efficiency.
As garages are used for more than car storage, cost-effectively heating them has increased in importance. Rennison says homeowners need to discuss insulation and energy efficiency needs with their contractor or dealer when purchasing a new garage door. “Ask the questions about the options of R-Value available (should be between R-12 and R18),” he
Photo courtesy of Garaga Inc // SPRING/SUMMER 2021
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Photo courtesy of Creative Door Services & Richards-Wilcox
Photo courtesy of Stewart Overhead Door
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FEATURE STORY // YOUR DOOR TO A NEW GARAGE AESTHETIC Photo courtesy of Garaga Inc
says. “Also, this is the largest moving part of your house. Do not cut costs on safety features, track and hardware gauges, and inferior windows. This will guarantee a long-lasting product that will give you satisfaction for years to come.” McNamee points to a few innovations that have found their way into some of his company’s Esteem doors and commercial options, such as the new hydr-o-guard rail design that prevents water from getting into the garage, “even if it’s a monsoon outside.” Of course, this is especially popular on the West Coast, he notes. “We have also just developed a new Symmetrical Track Hardware system that makes it easier for the installer to place in a homeowners Garage.”
Of course, budget plays a big role in deciding just what design and performance options to consider. “Designer doors are still popular and can range from economical to very expensive depending on what the customer wants,” Christensen says. For example, “Garage door openers continue to evolve with their safety features and Wi-Fi and smart home speaker connectivity.” She adds that R-value (if heating the garage), panel style and any architectural restraints, and glass choices (single pane, insulated, clear or satin-etched) all play a significant part in selecting the right overhead door for the garage and the budget.
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FEATURE STORY // YOUR DOOR TO A NEW GARAGE AESTHETIC SIDEBAR: OPEN SESAME. GARAGE DOORS GET SMART. The use of an electric garage door opener is nothing new but, as with other areas of the home, have had an infusion of smart home technology in recent years. For instance, Teresa Christensen, residential sales for Creative Door Services, points to Genie’s Aladdin Connect technology that allows homeowners to monitor their garage door from a distance using their smartphone, provide
temporary or limited access with a virtual key and syncs with home assistants like Google Assistant and Alexa. It is all part of a desire for increased security suggests Mark Rennison, distribution sales manager at Stewart Overhead Door. “As much as the designs change, the increase of security these days is ultra-important. Garage door openers that have smart technology built in, such as cameras and notifications to your phone are becoming more popular.” —
Photo courtesy of Creative Door Services & Wayne Dalton // SPRING/SUMMER 2021
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