Ontario Home Builder - Late Spring 2022 by Ontario Home Builder

INTRODUCING OHBA’S NEW CEO P.1 5 PREFABRICATION RENO WORK P. 6 2 WITH AN ELECTION ON DECK, IT’S TIME TO CUT THE

**** ! P.11

BUILDING PERMITS SHOW A RENO REVOLUTION P.51

JOB-READY, SET GO: OHBA, ENERQUALITY TEAM UP FOR TRADES P.4 3

OHBA.CA | $5.00 LATE SPRING 2022

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Contents

34 Balanced Diet

Is there an urban boundary recipe that can satisfy our imposing population forecasts?

Oasis

Bathrooms are looking more like spas every day 9 One Voice On the election trail, and OHBA’s new CEO is the perfect fit. 11 Ontario Report New housing legislation helpts to clear the path for builders, and OHBA takes a passionate stance to amplify the voices of those most affected by the housing crisis. ohba.ca

@onhomebuilder

15 Inside Storey Introducing OHBA’s new CEO! 19 Trending The latest products for builders and renovators. 51 Building Buzz Building permit numbers signal a reno revolution, Training Ontario courses and a pre-fab partnership.

55 Product Focus With the pandemic still front of mind, exterior (and interior) stone is hot, as investment-savvy clients seek out calming natural surroundings. 62 Frame of Mind A European project reveals the potential of prefabricated home additions.

43 Job-Ready, Set, Go!

OHBA, EnerQuality team up to address Ontario’s dire trades shortage

ON THE COVER

Why restricting development to inside current city limits can’t meet future housing demands.

ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

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2018-12-19

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The official publication of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association LATE SPRING 2022 | Vol. 38 Issue 3

Say Goodbye Gravel. Builders today choose CCMC-approved Radon Guard™ and Radon Block™.

EDITOR

Ted McIntyre ted@laureloak.ca CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Erik Mohr ART DIRECTOR

Ian Sullivan Cant GRAPHIC DESIGN

Marikha Saira, Megan Drummond COPY EDITOR

Barbara Chambers CONTRIBUTORS

Avi Friedman, Tracy Hanes, Alex Piccini, Bob Schickedanz ADVERTISING

Cindy Kaye, ext. 232 cindy@laureloak.ca PUBLISHER

Sheryl Humphreys, ext. 245 sheryl@laureloak.ca PRESIDENT

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Take a photo of our QR code and sign up for digital updates and news! Ontario Home Builder is published six times per year (Winter, Early Spring, Late Spring, Summer, Fall, Awards). All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the Publisher © 2022. For address corrections please email info@laureloak.ca or phone: (905) 333-9432.

What’s Your Radon Plan

Single copy price is $5.00. Subscription Rates: Canada $12.95 + HST per year, USA $29.95 USD. Order online at http://ohba.ca/subscribe-or-buy-past-issues CANADIAN PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 42011539 ISSN No. 1182-1345

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One Voice

IT’S GO TIME

A new campaign to clear the way for building homes, and a new CEO takes the helm at OHBA THE WRIT HAS DROPPED and

we are in the midst of a provincial election, with housing as a hotly contested campaign issue. As I travel across Ontario, I’m hearing the fear, frustration, anxiety and anger from individuals and families who are unable to find and afford a place to call home. Well, they are not alone, as many of you, our members, have shared those identical emotions in the challenges you are facing to build the homes and complete those important renovations that are desperately needed. Ontario is in a housing crisis and the stark reality is that we do not have enough homes. In fact, we need to build at least 1 million homes in the next decade just to keep pace with the pending population growth. Unfortunately, there are ohba.ca

@onhomebuilder

“THE TIME HAS COME TO CUT THE TAPE, CUT THE WAIT, CUT THE LIES, CUT THE COST.” many barriers standing in the way of making that happen. From red tape, endless processes, regulations and restrictions to shortages of land, labour and materials, it has become nearly impossible to build at the rate we know we need. The time has come to cut the tape, cut the wait, cut the lies, cut the cost. It’s time to CUT THE **** AND BUILD MORE HOMES. Whether it is the millennial

first-time homebuyer, working adult, young family or retiree, Ontarians need more attainable housing. Without the right mix of homeownership, including rental options, Ontario risks economic damage, as opportunities, investments and businesses will leave in search of jurisdictions that provide more housing choice and supply. Put simply, dramatically increasing housing supply and variety is critical to ensuring Ontario can remain the economic engine of Canada and build liveable and sustainable communities across our province. At the OHBA, we will continue to champion initiatives and promote our campaign to CUT THE **** and BUILD MORE HOMES so that more Ontarians can realize the great Canadian dream of homeownership. While we are heavily engaged in our election campaign efforts, it must not overshadow some important and exciting news. On behalf of our board of directors, our 27 Local Associations and 4,000 member companies, it is a great privilege to announce that Mr. Luca Bucci has joined our HBA family as OHBA’s Chief Executive Officer. I want to thank our Search Committee for their time, rigour and diligent efforts throughout this extensive process. Ultimately, with his energy, passion and skill set, I am confident that Luca will be a tremendous leader and advocate for our members and industry. I know that he is excited and looks forward to the opportunity to get acquainted with our Local Associations and members, and I encourage you to reach out to welcome Luca as our new leader and housing champion. In the end, we all need to be housing champions for communities across Ontario. It’s time to CUT THE **** AND BUILD MORE HOMES! OHB

BOB SCHICKEDANZ IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE ONTARIO HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION

ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

Ontario Report

CLEARING THE PATH Provincial Government Passes New Housing Legislation

ON APRIL 23, the provincial

government passed the More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022. This legislation moves forward a number of critical changes long called for by OHBA and the residential construction industry to accelerate development approvals, reduce red tape and make it easier to deliver keys to eagerly awaiting families. The More Homes for Everyone Act includes important measures to streamline municipal approval processes with delegated authorities, properly resource the Ontario Land Tribunal and implement a development approvals data standard that will help to accelerate the building process and bring more housing choice and supply to individuals and families looking for a place to call home. The legislation also makes important ohba.ca

@onhomebuilder

changes to utilize provincially owned lands for unique housing solutions and make prudent and common-sense Ontario Building Code changes that will enable more “missing middle” housing to get built. Ultimately, these changes will reduce burdensome red tape and make it easier to build more homes for all Ontarians to benefit from. The More Homes for Everyone Act also moves ahead important and long-called-for initiatives by OHBA to accelerate the delivery of new housing in communities big and small. For instance, enabling the adoption of pay-on-demand surety bonds as an acceptable alternative to secure the financial obligations of development agreements. This is an important change and one that is in line with a number of

jurisdictions—both within and outside of Ontario—that have taken this route to encourage and accelerate new housing investments in their communities. Such a measure will enable greater liquidity within the home building sector to reinvest more rapidly in additional new housing supply. Additionally, enhancements to further resource and staff the Ontario Land Tribunal are highly welcomed by OHBA. The changes as part of the Act will provide more certainty for families and individuals hoping to move into their new home faster. Bill 109 is an important first step toward increasing housing choice and supply across Ontario, but more bold reforms are still needed. Regardless, the 1 time to take action is now. ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

Ontario Report

ONTARIO IS IN A HOUSING CRISIS. The stark reality is that Ontario does not have enough homes. By 2031, it is estimated there will be 2.3 million new Ontarians looking for a place to call home. In order to accommodate this pending growth, we must build at least 1 million homes in the next decade.

Cut Cutthe theTAPE TAPE Cut the TAPE Cut the TAPE Cut Cut the the WAIT WAIT Cut the WAIT Cut the WAIT Cut Cut the the LIES LIES Cut the LIES Cut the LIES Cut the TAPE COST the COS Cut the Cut T COST Cut the Cut the COST

Cut the WAIT

But there are barriers standing in the way of making that happen. From red tape to endless processes, regulations and restrictions, it has become nearly impossible to build at the rate we know we need. With this increased demand and dwindling supply, the dream of homeownership is slipping further and further away.

It’s time to cut the **** and build more homes.

Let’s Demand Demand Action Action Let’s The Ontario Home Builders’ Association is running a public-facing advocacy campaign designed to raise awareness and generate urgency behind Ontario’s severe housing shortage. The goal is to speak to those most impacted by this crisis and amplify their voices to evoke action from all levels of government. The asterisks in the campaign logo represent the many barriers to the dream of homeownership. They are meant for the people of Ontarioand * to *** the t Cu regain control of their narrative in this ongoing crisis.

Build Cut Build and Build **** and the **** Cut the

Cut the **** and Build

Enough is is enough. enough. Enough

**** and the **** Cut the Cut and Homes More Build Build More and **** Hom Cut the es Cut theMore Build ****Homes and Cut the LIES Build More Homes

Cut the **** and Build More Homes

Cut the COST 12

ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

More Ho Build ohba.ca @onhomebuilder Cut the **** and

Ontario Report

OHBA LEADERSHIP DAY On April 11 at OHBA Leadership Day, we were thrilled to have leadership from all four major political parties. They shared their vision and goals for increasing housing supply and choice in communities big and small across Ontario.

Leaders were able to interact with the OHBA campaign and sign our candidate pledge to build more homes in Ontario. Join them by signing the pledge today!

Ontario NDP Housing Critic Jessica Bell

Ontario Liberal Party Leader Steven Del Duca

Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner

Later in the day, OHBA President Bob Schickedanz announced that he was headed out on a province-wide road trip to speak with Ontarians most impacted by this housing crisis. Their stories

Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark

have been featured in a series of social media live streams. Watch Bob’s journey on Facebook @OntarioHBA and be sure to tune in live for our final road trip stop on Tuesday, May 24.

YOU CAN HELP Scan the QR code to sign the pledge today!

VISIT VISIT

ontariobuildmorehomes.ca to sign the pledge and demand action from your local candidates. Connect with us on social media @OntarioHBA using the hashtag #BuildMoreHomes to follow along as President Bob travels across the province to speak with Ontarians being impacted.

SHARE SHARE

the campaign with your friends, family and colleagues on social media to help us demand action from candidates in this upcoming election.

ohba.ca

@onhomebuilder

ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

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Inside Storey Tiger-Cats fan—and don’t talk to me about that Grey Cup loss. But my dad’s a big racing fan, so we grew up watching that too. And I like to cook. My brother runs a small business in Hamilton called Andiamo, which is Italian for ‘let’s go.’ It’s a cool barbershop/café/bar concept, and I like making espresso, so I try and get down there and help with the coffee shop part of it as much as I can.” AND YOUR PARENTS?

They’re Hamiltonians through and through. My father’s family comes from Abruzzo, Italy, and my mother’s is Sicilian. My dad owned a photography studio, Joseph’s Photographer. Now he does some contract work, but also gets to photograph the athletes at Iron Man races around the world. My mother is retired. She worked at Bank of Montreal for almost 30 years, managing branches around Hamilton.

DRIVEN OHBA’s new CEO will put on the mileage in new role BY TED McINTYRE WITH LUCA BUCCI

“I AM A DRIVEN public relations professional with federal and provincial government expertise, and an extensive network in Queens Park and Parliament Hill, who possesses the ability to multitask in highpressure situations with the utmost attention to detail.” That’s how Luca Bucci’s LinkedIn profile commenced as of the end of April. It could’ve been the opening line to his job application for the Ontario Home Builders’ Association’s CEO post, left vacant with the departure of Joe Vaccaro last October. But the quote was actually an admission of character as much as Bucci’s work assets. “No marriage. No girlfriends. No pets,” says Bucci, former Chief of Staff at the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and now the OHBA’s brand new CEO. With a provincial election in ohba.ca

@onhomebuilder

the offing and housing supply and affordability atop the agenda, Bucci thankfully arrives refreshed after a three-week vacation to his ancestral homeland of Italy—his first personal holiday in eight years. Given his nose-to-the-grindstone passion, there might not be another extended getaway for a similar span. OHB: YOU’VE GOT SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL. LUCA BUCCI: “Very big. And Joe

also has great hair to try to copy.” WAS THAT A PREREQUISITE?

“I think so (laughs). You had to have so many inches of curls in order to qualify. My hair was a lot longer when I was interviewing, so I checked that box.” TIME FOR ANY HOBBIES?

“I’m not really a big sports guy, but I am from Hamilton, so I’m a big

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS JOB THAT APPEALED TO YOU?

“The home building/development industry has always interested me. I was really able to sink my teeth into it in my previous role when I was Chief of Staff to Minister Steve Clark. So when the opportunity came up, it was almost too good to be true. It was the chance to become the next person in a long line of the OHBA’s great service to the home building industry.” IT’S A MARKET YOU GOT INTO PRETTY EARLY IN LIFE.

“My brother and I first got jobs when we were 14 or 15 years old—I worked at Blockbuster Video. My mother said, ‘You are giving me 75% of your paycheques.’ I was making minimum wage, so it was like $185 a week. Over the years, that developed into a little bundle of savings. When I started university, my mother looked at my brother and I and said, ‘You’re going to invest in real estate. The money that we took from you…we are giving it back now.’ It was more than $5,000 each. The first place we bought was a condo on King and James in Hamilton ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

in 2010. I think we paid $111,000. We sold it years later for a lot more than that, and then we purchased another rental unit in Hamilton. Then I bought a home in Burlington, and sold it last year when my job was becoming too busy not to be downtown. “But each time it gets harder. I’m lucky that I started buying homes when I was 22, with a $5,000 down payment! Now I look at people trying to get in the market and that’s outside the realm of reality. There are so many out there working every single day trying to achieve the dream of homeownership. This issue of lack of supply is a big barrier, and our members have the opportunity to provide a very concrete solution to the problem of getting more homes built and making them more affordable. WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THE INTERACTION YOU WITNESSED DURING YOUR TIME IN GOVERNMENT THAT MADE YOU WANT TO BE PART OF OHBA?

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“It wasn’t any one thing, but I was always impressed by the ability of OHBA under the leadership of President Bob Schickedanz to make complex problems understandable— taking what could be complicated, technical issues facing their large and diverse membership and presenting them through a lens that helps government understand the impacts on real people. “And now we are in this very unique position, where issues tangentially impacting our industry, like labour and market access, are top of mind for government. So that tradition of being able to effectively communicate the needs and wants of our membership in a very tangible way is something I think is going be very useful to the organization and something I can help with as we continue on in that regard.” YOU LOVE THE TIMING OF THIS.

“Right now, all levels of government are looking to the industry for some proactive and productive long-term strategies. I really want to put forward this new vision of the OHBA, which is focused primarily on advocacy and making sure that we are being ohba.ca

@onhomebuilder

a good partner to government. And when it comes to finding solutions, trying to be a bit more visible in those conversations. The OHBA has the opportunity to build trust and profile the industry in a positive light in order to counteract some of the misconceptions put forward by organizations that might not necessarily be aligned with some of our objectives or the best interests of the Ontario people. At the end of my tenure, I want for people to look at OHBA as the primary voice of the building and development industry. And I want our members to feel that they really contributed to a probem impacting people across the country.”

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WHAT’S FIRST ON THE AGENDA?

“The OHBA has a great campaign that they’re running for the election. Bob, our president, and our staff will be carrying the weight of that. As for me, when there is a change of leadership it’s always a great opportunity to re-engage. My focus is to take the next few months to meet as many of our members as possible. I’m a big believer in instilling a sense of ownership in any process you’re putting out there. I think it will be important for me to ask, ‘What are some innovative ways that we can bring your company and your association back under the umbrella of OHBA? What are some of the innovative ways that we can take your concerns to government? But more important, what haven’t we been doing that you’d like to see?’ Then we can put all that into a strategic plan that we will launch in the fall. “The people who pay the membership dues are the ones who really keep the lights on. And I’m the kinda guy who’ll be happy to drive anywhere in the province if asked. Or, if not asked, I might show up at one of the EO’s doors and ask, ‘How can we work together today?’ I have a reputation of being accessible 24/7. I hope to be accessible to our membership 24/7 too, and to create as many personal relationships as possible so that I can get a sense of exactly what their needs are and how we can address those needs with a proper strategy.” OHB ohba.ca

@onhomebuilder

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A LITTLE FROM COLUMN A, A BIT FROM COLUMN B The new Bespoke Fridge collection by Samsung is all about celebrating your clients’ personal kitchen style. And the best part? Everything is customizable. Choose from eight shades and two finishes in a two-door or four-door configuration. Looking for a bigger fridge? No problem! Just add another column to your Bespoke fridge to suit all your needs. Available at Canadian Appliance Source. CANADIANAPPLIANCE.CA ohba.ca

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ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

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CARRYING THE LOAD Bigfoot Systems Inc. not only manufactures pier footing forms, but also features two sizes of plastic construction tubes 10” or 12” in diameter. This 4’-long tube works with the company’s 24”, 28” or 36” diameter Bigfoots. The BFT10/BFT12 will not break down from groundwater or rain and can be left in the ground without worry of water damage until you are ready to pour your concrete. BIGFOOTSYSTEMS.COM

MAKING A CLEAN BREAK Tradespeople can get a consistent, safe, quick blade snap with Stanley Tools’ new Fatmax 18 mm Snap-Off Knife with Wheel Lock. A built-in mechanism allows you to simply line up the blade with the indicator line, lift up on the top button to snap it, and continue cutting with a fresh sharp edge. For convenience, an integrated magnet securely retains the blade once it’s snapped. STANLEYTOOLS.CA

CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT The Broil King Crown 400 Series features 460 square inches of primary cooking surface and includes a durable cast aluminum oven, four stainless steel Dual-Tube burners, the stainless steel Flav-R-Wave cooking system, a high-powered 10,000 BTU side burner, drop-down side shelves for convenient storage and the Sure-Lite dual-electrode electronic ignition system. TAAPPLIANCE.COM 20

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COOKING IN SILENCE High-end range hood manufacturer Falmec is making kitchens a lot quieter with its new NRS (Noise Reduction Technology). A patented system developed in collaboration with leading engineering experts in fluid dynamics, the virtually silent NRS has earned ‘Quiet Mark’ accreditation, an internationally recognized program that promotes lownoise technology. It allows homeowners to cook, work, talk and listen to music without hearing the typical noise of range hoods, all while benefitting from the best air suction performance on the market. DISTINCTIVE-ONLINE.COM

IT’S PRIME TIME FOR TILE INSTALLERS Schluter’s new Primer-U is a ready-to-use universal primer that enhances the adhesion of mortars to hard-to-bond surfaces. The water-based, solvent-free acrylic formulation is low-odour and zero-VOC, and is freeze/thaw stable, facilitating shipping and storage. Now with Primer-U, thin-sets and membranes, installers have a complete system solution from Schluter, allowing tile installers to get a single-source warranty for their tile installation systems. SCHLUTER.COM

ON THE PLUS SIDE Gentek’s ultra-efficient new EnergyPlus Quattro Glass Package offers triple-glazed glass performance in a dualglazed system that can save as much as 25-30% on residential heating and cooling energy use. Energy Starcertified, it’s available on Gentek’s line of Regency, Regency 400 and 80 Series all-environment vinyl windows, and features two surfaces of low-E technology to help reflect heat back into the home interior, along with a Super Spacer thermal barrier. GENTEK.CA

COME INTO THE LIGHT With Contractor Select Juno Podz 4” and 6” LED canless downlights, ordering and stocking are easier than ever. Installation is also a breeze since the trim and remodel junction box are packaged altogether in a single carton. Low-profile with an IC-rated mechanical form of less than 3” tall, they offer the appearance of a deeply regressed downlight that installs directly into the plenum, eliminating the need for a traditional recessed housing. They also allow for flexibility in lumen and colour temperatures. ACUITYBRANDS.COM 22

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ONTARIO HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION AWARDS OF DISTINCTION

SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN!

OHB AOD

Join us in celebrating the best of the best in architecture, renovation, design and marketing.

Visit ohbaaod.ca to enter. Don’t miss out on your chance to be a part of the AoD 30th Anniversary Celebration!

2022

AWARDS OF DISTINCTION CATEGORIES ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

ROOM DESIGN

1. Production Built Home (One Storey)

2. Production Built Home

18. New Home Kitchen

(New Low-Rise Home up to 2500 SF) 19. New Home Kitchen

(Two Storeys up to 2500 SF)

(New Low-Rise Home 2501 SF and over)

3. Production Built Home

20. High or Mid-Rise

(Two – Three Storeys 2501 SF & over)

Condo Suite Kitchen 21. New Home Bathroom 22. Amenity

4. Attached Multi-Unit Home 5. Stacked or Back-to-Back

Townhome

ON-SITE SALES PRESENTATION 31. New Home Sales Office

(Up to 1500 SF) 32. New Home Sales Office

(1501 SF and over) 33. Design / Décor Centre 34. Model Home / Suite

(Up to 2500 SF) 35. Model Home / Suite

(2501 SF and Over)

OHB AOD IMAGE & ADVERTISING

6. Custom Home (Up to 3000 SF)

7. Custom Home (3001 – 5000 SF)

8. Mid-Rise Building (4 – 10 Storeys) 9. High-Rise Building (11+ Storeys)

36. Low-Rise Project

(4+ Storeys)

26. Website

(801 SF and over)

(Corporate or Project Specific)

12. Lobby Entrance

27. Low Rise Ad Campaign

RENOVATION (HOME OR CONDO)

28. High or Mid-Rise

(Actual Retail Value between $250,001 - $500,000) 15. Home Renovation / Addition

(Actual Retail Value over $500,001) 16. Kitchen Renovation

Sales Brochure

25. Social Media

11. High or Mid-Rise Condo Suite

14. Home Renovation / Addition

37. High or Mid-Rise Project

(4+ Storeys)

(up to 800 SF)

(Actual Retail Value up to $250,000)

(1-3 Storeys)

24. High or Mid-Rise Project Video

10. High or Mid-Rise Condo Suite

13. Home Renovation / Addition

Sales Brochure

23. Low-Rise Project Video

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INNOVATION 38. Innovation Award

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39. Project of the Year

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29. Low Rise Project

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41. OHBA People’s Choice

(1-3 Storeys) 30. High or Mid-Rise

42. OHBA Ontario Renovator

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of the Year 43. OHBA Ontario Builder

of the Year

17. Bathroom Renovation

Early Bird Submission Window May 2, 2022 – May 27, 2022 $200 per entry

Regular Submission Window May 28, 2022 – June 24, 2022 $250 per entry

* Eligible Projects from 2019 – 2022

Oasis The rise of the bathroom sanctuary BY T E D M c I N T Y R E

Claxton + Marsh’s Avant Garde residence in Aberfoyle showcases a ‘walk-through’ double shower—each side with its own hand-held showerhead—with natural lighting filtered through a custom stained-glass window. Out of view in this 12 ft.-high space is a stunning chandelier and four-foot multi-function rain shower head. The Normann Copenhagen tub stands out against the striking black marble walls.

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n the 2022 National Kitchen + Bath Design Trends report, NKBA members were asked to predict the average footprint of bathroom projects of a typical client over the next three years. Twenty-four percent said that footprint would stay the same. The other 76% ranged from “larger” to “significantly larger.” Again, that was for a typical client. At the luxury level, the square footage increase knows no bounds—and the budgets are following suit. “For the longest time, bathrooms stayed the same size,” notes Tricia Zach, head of research for the NKBA, whose association membership includes 1,294 Ontarians. “People worked within the existing walls. But now—and we saw this coming pre-Covid—we’re seeing the walls come down and spaces getting larger. As I walked the floor at KBIS (the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show) in Orlando in February, you could see how it’s taken off to the next level. With bathrooms, it used to be, ‘You rush in, do what you need to do, and rush out.’ Now we’re seeing coffee stations, lounge areas, huge wet rooms—a place you want to spend more time.” As with other areas of the house, open concepts in the bathroom “are something we’re seeing in modern home design,” says Rebecca Muise, senior project manager at David Small Designs. “But it truly comes down to personal preference—whether you like the privacy, or you’re comfortable in an open-concept bathroom layout. We’ve had some clients request separate ensuites—one for each spouse.” Aleksander Krsmanovic of Ottawa renovation company and custom builder OakWood has also witnessed the rise of the at-home spa experience. “Due to the pandemic, I think more people have been looking for a luxurious, calming space that is ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

“Many designers even start by asking, ‘What is your favourite hotel?’”

ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

the same story about how the vision came to be,” Zach relates. “Many designers even start by asking, ‘What is your favourite hotel?’ And the client says, ‘What does that have to do with it?’ But it often has everything to do with it. They visit that luxurious five-star hotel because of how it makes them feel, how they’re indulged, how they’re spoiled. And the bathroom and spa are usually a big part of it. That, in turn, inspires what these designers are bringing into their new projects.” That includes “more walk-through showers, fewer thresholds and higher ceilings,” says Eve Claxton, one of the two principals at Guelphbased builder Claxton + Marsh. “We’re making it much more grand, with floor-to-ceiling windows that are frosted or opaque in key areas, versus having window coverings.”

Bookmatched marble provides a striking background for this Oakville bathroom from Rock Cliff Custom Homes.

PHOTO: LARRY ARNOLD

just theirs. I tell clients that bathrooms are where they can do something completely different and allow the space to have its own personality.” It’s a similar story for Ali Rockliffe, co-owner and construction manager at Oakville’s Rock Cliff Custom Homes. “A lot more requests for spa-like bathrooms— steam showers, a sauna in the bathroom, larger windows,” Rockliffe says. “We’ve even had a recent request for an ice bath in a spa bathroom—with an icemaker. The bathroom is attached to their weight room.” And where is the inspiration coming from? The NKBA report cites travel, at 55%, as the primary influencer. “I have a Luxury Bath Study coming out in June, and I can’t tell you how many designers and their clients told me

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Where do you see these

EMERGING BATHROOM DESIGN TRENDS COMING FROM?

55%

Hotel, resort, travel influences

46%

A winner at the 2021 National Kitchen & Bath Association Design Awards, this open-concept design from North Vancouver (above) embraces the spa experience. At left, highlights from this February's Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Orlando included this stand-up body dryer from Valiryo.

Technology for customizable solutions

38% Nature

30% European trends

18%

Fashion trends

Showpiece 17% Tubs

Artisan craftmanship

11%

Commercial design trends

Asian trends

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Although removing tubs in order to increase shower size is increasingly popular with most bathroom projects—with 75% of NKBA members citing the trend in the study—that’s not the case in the luxury sphere. “Even clients who never use them, or who might bathe less often than showering, prefer to have them in the principal ensuite,” says Claxton. “And the tubs they’re coming out with have such beautiful designs, such as Bagno Italia, Knief and Slik Portfolio. Stone tubs, beautiful lighting, unique shapes—there’s so many innovative options out there right now.”

And a tub in the principal bedroom is compulsory, says Claxton. “If I was walking in to buy a home and it didn’t have a bathtub in the master, it would certainly be a reason for me to reconsider the purchase of that home.” Zach agrees. “I hear designers say, ‘It depends on the age of the client. Tubs are hard to clean, often hard to get in and out of, and it can take a while to fill them.’ So they’re often less attractive to older homeowners. But the number-one rule in real estate is that every home needs a bathtub. How do you bathe a young child? And at the luxury level, every single designer we spoke to had showers and tubs. And a beautiful freestanding tub can be a focal point.” “Focal-point soaker tubs are more common— either positioned in front of a window that ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

What’s in a Name? At a product level, the manufacturer label is not a deciding factor in client decisions, says Zach. “This year, we’ve tried to really 30

ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

understand the role that brands play,” she says. “But what is interesting is that we found a three-to-one ratio against brands being very important. It’s more about customization. Personalization distinguishes a luxury from a non-luxury space. Designers can layer on the details, where every square inch has something that’s amazing that’s geared toward the homeowner lifestyle—from music and layered lighting to warming drawers and hisand-hers water closets.” But what did stand out on a product level for Zach at KBIS? “One of the coolest things I saw was a body dryer from Valiryo, where you don’t need a towel to dry off after a bath or shower. And there was smart glass from a company called Gauzy, which features dimmable shading or can be adjusted to become opaque through remote control or voice command. “On the toilet side, we heard a lot about the

Completed during the pandemic, this 5,700 sq. ft. Mississauga home—a finalist in the upcoming BILD renovation and custom home awards— was designed by David Small and built by Profile Custom Homes. Entry to this sleek, contemporary master ensuite is open to the bedroom, with the opposite end featuring a 13’2”-long vanity. The showpiece tub rests aside a huge frosted window and across from the water closet and shower area.

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PHOTOS: JASON HARTOG PHOTOGRAPHY

captures a beautiful view, or an intricately designed feature wall,” echoes Muise. “And large showers are a regular request in luxury home design, often with multiple showerheads.” “Wherever possible, you’re seeing the shower get larger, especially two-person showers,” adds Zach, who also notes the rise of curbless showers and all-in-one wet rooms with less shower glass and fewer walls and doors, including no separation between shower and tub spaces.

Areas that need MORE INNOVATION

19% Showers/shower surround

18% Vanities/cabinetry

18% Technology solutions

TOP: Eagleview Construction features the trend of tubs in a dedicated wet room. LEFT: A 2021 CHBA awardwinner, this Ottawa project from OakWood is highlighted by intricate custom mosaic tiling in the shower.

9% Hardware/ Accessories

7% Faucets

7% Lighting

5% Toilets

4% Bathtubs/sensory deprivation tanks

3% Sinks

1% Flooring

1% Windows/skylights

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Duravit, Toto Neorest and Kohler Veil,” Zach adds. “And I thought the Kohler Stillness tub was also amazing. There were all different shapes, sizes and materials of freestanding tubs. Victoria & Albert, MTI’s Juliet, Marsala and BainUltra got a lot of mentions. There was even a tub that filled from the ceiling. Admittedly, luxury homeowners take more risks because they can afford to replace something like that if it doesn’t work out.” In terms of product finishes, “clients are moving away from chrome,” advises OakWood’s Krsmanovic. “The use of softer tones like brushed nickel and brushed stainless are more prominent. However, a lot of clients are using matte black, which was on the upswing even before the pandemic. “For cabinetry, there are a lot of different trends happening,” he says. “For example, the vanity may be a way for the client to add a

natural wood element. It is easy to get carried away with white and grey in a bathroom to make it feel open in airy, but over time it can feel clinical.”

What's Making a Splash? Technology, expectedly, will play a huge role in future bathroom designs, including the luxury realm, according to the NKBA study. “Voice-activated lights, mirrors that hook up to Bluetooth, intelligent toilets, voice-control showers and mood lighting, smart control for flooring/shower shower heating are all on the upswing,” Zach notes. “TVs in mirrors are much nicer—fully ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

Top left, an in-bathroom sauna replete with its own towel-stacked vanity was part of this 2021 Rock Cliff Custom Homes design. Top right, Trademark Homes' The Cove on Balsam Lake (The Summit model).

integrated,” offers Rockliffe. “And there are more Toto toilets and electronic showers with controls that look like rocket ships.” “The introduction of digital showering has streamlined the aesthetic,” Claxton observes. “Rather than a series of valves and trims crowding the shower walls, they are replaced with a compact unit to operate everything— more simplicity, but still with more overall function. We’re also getting a lot of multifunction shower units—new showerheads that are almost two feet wide, with options for rain, waterfall, cascade and mist for the ultimate shower experience. “We’re seeing more aesthetics as bathrooms become a feature room,” Claxton adds. “People are doing much bolder things. We’re tiling walls, doing slabs instead of tiles, cladding cabinets with stone, adding intricate details and mouldings. Instead of it just being functional, people want to make it a showpiece—to make it more like that exclusive hotel experience.” Part of that experience can include saunas and steam showers, but careful consideration is required, cautions Zach. “Some clients we’ve heard from love their steam shower, but some wish they hadn’t bothered. This is one of those areas where custom designers need to have a detailed conversation with

ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

their client. We heard one client say the addition of steam required them to seal the shower up to the ceiling. ‘Now we have the shower door standing open and in the way to avoid the shower smelling musty,’ they said. Fortunately, most companies that work in this space have thought through these type of details, like ventilation.” Claxton is not a huge fan either. “When you’re talking about aesthetics at the luxury level, the limitations required for steam showers just don’t allow for creativity in design.” And while NKBA members cited Gen-Xers (ages 41-56) as providing most of the work, with half of the overall projects in 2021, sumptuous bathroom spaces can also be compatible with ‘living-in-place’ design, Zach suggests. “It’s best if the builder/contractor bakes it into the design and not make a big deal about it,” she says. “You can reinforce the walls and have hidden grab bars— elements that will keep the homeowner safe before they actually need it. You can have two water closets—one beautiful and one adaptive. Motion-sensing night-lighting and illuminated light switches. Touchless faucets for arthritic hands. Non-slip-flooring. The bathroom will function longer than had they rejected some of these elements in the original plans.” OHB ohba.ca

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BALANCED DIET

Defining the future urban boundary recipe will require multiple ingredients BY T E D M c I N T Y R E

ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

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f you walked into a dinner party with the sole intention of setting the home ablaze in riotous debate, it’s hard to know which subject would prove most incendiary: religion, politics, Covid-19 or urban boundary expansion. If you live in Hamilton, it’s probably the latter. Last year, charged with accommodating a projected growth of 110,300 households by 2051, Hamilton City planners recommended an urban boundary expansion of 1,340 hectares to help meet the provincial target. The recommendation was guided in part by a growth scenario developed by a consulting team in 2016 that would “manage impacts to the natural heritage system and surrounding agricultural lands while protecting important natural features,” according to the City. It also conformed to the Urban Hamilton Official Plan and the provincial planning framework. But with mounting community resistance to expansion to build the necessary supply and type of housing required to meet provincial targets, the debate was essentially distilled into two options: to proceed with expansion or to restrict development to within city limits. Hamilton City Council voted against the expanded boundary option in November 2021. Following the vote, an Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing spokesman told Global News that any plan to accommodate population growth through infill and intensification alone was “not feasible,” and that “it will only serve to drive home prices further out of reach for Hamiltonians and exacerbate the housing crisis.” Hamilton’s Ward 14 Councillor Terry Whitehead went a step further when he told the Hamilton Spectator, “Ignoring

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supply and demand is like defying gravity.” “The Province is planning communities and urban growth through the year 2051, assigning growth targets to those areas. Where it becomes controversial is the form of this future housing stock,” notes OHBA President Bob Schickedanz. “A lot of time the decisionmakers perhaps don’t understand what they’re deciding. A no-boundary-expansion position means there’s no housing variety. One size does not fit all. Not everybody wants to live in a condo or apartment. “Our industry is very supportive of intensification, of building neighbourhoods with schools and hospitals and transit infrastructure— that’s very important,” Schickedanz says. “But it can’t be all of that—just as we say that it can’t be all boundary expansion. Our position is a strong balanced approach of boundary expansion and intensification where it makes sense.”

BY THE NUMBERS Michael Collins-Williams, CEO of the West End Home Builders’ Association, provides some sobering statistics—for Hamilton and throughout the province. “We’ve got about 10 million people in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. It’s expected to be 15 million by 2051. That’s the equivalent of the entire population of Greater Montreal moving to this region,” Collins-Williams says. “Growth was 600,000 in Ontario in 2010-2015. It accelerated to 1 million from 2015-2020. We hit a record number of immigrants last year. And those numbers are supposed to go up in 2022-2023. And this stat blows my mind: In 2021, Canada grew by over 400,000—more than the U.S., despite them being nine times larger! It was the first time that’s happened since at least before Confederation in 1867.

“Hamilton’s forecasted growth is 236,000 people over the next 30 years,” Collins-Williams adds. “But, in the middle of a housing crisis, Hamilton City Council essentially voted for an option that directly conflicts with both the advice of professional planning staff and with provincial policy for the region’s Housing Supply Action Supply Plan. “I think there’s a tremendous opportunity in Hamilton for intensification, especially along the LRT, as well as missing middle housing,” Collins-Williams says. “Our concern is that there is a lack of balance. Under the no-boundaryexpansion scenario, 75% of all new housing units in Hamilton will be apartments, which we think will cause a displacement of families, especially those with young children, for more affordable communities where they can have a backyard, like Woodstock and Tillsonburg.” Greater Ottawa HBA Executive Director Jason Burggraaf has already witnessed the trend. “Ottawa is seeing an increase in the number of people moving out to the smaller communities just outside the city border, such as Kemptville, Arnprior or Rockland, seeking that balance of affordability and the type of housing they desire,” Burggraaf notes. “And that’s because there’s a lack of supply across the entire housing continuum right now. In order to accommodate our population growth we need to build ‘up, in and out’—taller buildings around transit stations and a taller city in general, intensifying existing neighbourhoods by building that ‘missing middle,’ and new communities on the urban edges. We need all three of those pipelines in order to provide the required housing supply.” Lack of housing choice also deters prospective workers from calling your city home, Collins-Williams cautions. ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

Industry experts are advocating for more direction at the provincial level to protect local legislators from making politically motivated decisions.

“We need more immigration. Growth is a good problem to have,” he says. “As the baby boomers shift into retirement, they’re putting a greater strain on the healthcare system, so we need more younger people and families in their labour-force years contributing to taxes and paying for services that an aging society will need more of. We also need more skilled trades—not just to build the necessary supply of housing, but transit, hospitals, schools, etc.” “It’s about striking a balance,” echoes Milton Mayor Gord Krantz. “In the case of Halton, that balance does require urban boundary expansion—not just for homes, but the jobs and industrial development and employment lands, especially for Milton along our 401/407 corridor. Those are critical to us.”

MASTER PLANNING That direction might have to come from a provincial-level master plan to avoid potentially politically motivated decision-making at the local level, suggests Peter Graefe, Associate Professor, Political Science at McMaster University. “I think in this moment the City of Hamilton made a politically 36

ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

popular decision. In a way, this was an issue forced upon the city. Even councillors who might have been in favour of extending the urban boundary were put in a position where the public was really mobilized by the extent of the scale involved—and in an election year. Also at play here in Hamilton were pandemic concerns about food security and the desire to maintain farmland. “I don’t think it indicates a real fundamental shift in how the economic development branch of the city thinks about how the urban boundary needs to expand in the future,” Graefe believes. “But when it’s in the hands of the city, the degree of freedom is a bit limited. We probably need political solutions out of Queens Park, where the development aspect is tied better to transit development and a more regionwide perspective of getting connected, as well as to policies around things like farmland, so that you have a policy framework and it’s not a small piece-bypiece solution.” Milton appreciates the potential volatility of such decisions at the local—or at least regional—level. After Halton Council voted to freeze

BY THE NUMBERS

1 MILLION

Ontario's population growth from 2015-2020

236,000

Hamilton’s forecasted population growth over the next 30 years

110,300

Number of new households projected by Hamilton City planners by 2051

70%

Percentage of Milton’s total of 34,000 hectares situated in the Greenbelt that will not be developed

530,000

Ottawa’s forecasted population increase over the next 25 years

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Milton's expansion plans were nixed at the regional level, despite noting that it only represents 7% of its actual area and is primarily located along the 400-series highways.

the region’s urban boundaries in February—a 15-9 decision despite Milton councillors voting 4-1 in favour of expansion—Milton Mayor Gord Krantz appealed to Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark, contending that the region’s decision would hamstring his city’s ability to create the necessary mix of employment and residential lands, based upon their forecasted growth. Milton’s case, in particular, reflects the hurdles some jurisdictions will encounter without provincial direction at every level of government. “From day one, Milton followed the Province’s Land Needs Assessment methodology, which is a very comprehensive, stepby-step method, and put forward a plan to our council that was very balanced, with the right uses in the right places,” says the City’s Commissioner of Development Services, Jill Hogan. “What Hamilton and Halton Region Council have done simply does not conform to the provincial Growth Plan. “Compared to Burlington and Oakville, Milton is relatively young in terms of its growth trajectory,” Hogan notes. “Burlington and Oakville have received urban boundary expansions in the past and have built out to their limits. They don’t have any more Whitebelt land. Milton does. In terms of our development, we are probably 38

ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

20 to 30 years behind those other two municipalities. But our population is projected to surpass both by 2051. And that’s a really important part of the story. We are doing a ton of high-rise right now, and a ton of mid-rise and missing middle. But there is also a market for single detached and semi-detached, and we have some Whitebelt land where we can accommodate that housing form. And that doesn’t mean a sea of single and attached homes; they’d be mixed residential communities of all densities.” “Part of the story that doesn’t get told is that more than 70% (24,000 hectares) of Milton’s total of 34,000 hectares will never be developed,” Hogan maintains. “It’s in the Greenbelt—can’t be touched, rural, natural heritage. So what are we actually talking about when we talk about urban boundary expansion? In Milton we’re talking about only 7% of our actual geography, and basically it runs into the city of Mississauga and along highways 401, 403 and 407.” “It used to be the old NIMBY syndrome, and now it’s the BANANA syndrome (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone),” Krantz says. “That’s human nature. But the proposal had been supported by staff in each of the four area municipalities. But the majority of regional councillors turned it down. It was strictly politics. It was not good planning.”

BIG PICTURE In Hamilton’s case, it’s not even clear which side the majority of residents supported. In a June 2021 mail-out survey (which also allowed email responses), an overwhelming 90.5% said no to expansion. But in a Nanos Research random sample survey conducted after the Hamilton public poll, eight out of 10 residents did not recall receiving the City of Hamilton survey, and only 32% supported growth solely within the city limits. Regardless of the outcome, the decision on how to house a quartermillion people over the next 30 years should not be based upon a populist response to an unscientific residents survey, Collins-Williams suggests. “As an industry, we’re looking for federal and provincial government, in a non-partisan way, to be doing more of the big-picture planning,” CollinsWilliams says. “When you’re focused on a hyper-local interest, you can begin to lose the threads of the broader public interest and having a coordinated plan where the puzzle pieces all fit together.” Burggraaf concurs, for multiple reasons. “Ontario has a guideline for how you should forecast population growth,” Burggraaf says. “But the government needs to weigh in earlier on municipal growth projections. Is the forecast reasonable? In Ottawa, the population forecast they accepted ohba.ca

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‘‘In order to accommodate our population growth we need to build ‘up, in and out’—taller buildings around transit stations and a taller city in general, intensifying existing neighbourhoods by building that ‘missing middle’.’’ — Jason Burggraaf, GREATER OTTAWA HBA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

directly led to the decision to expand the urban boundary by 1,200 hectares of land. Ottawa set its population projection in the Fall of 2019 at 400,000 people. But in the summer of 2021, the Ontario Ministry of Finance, which also makes population projections, said Ottawa’s forecast for the next 25 years was actually going to be 530,000 people—not the 400,000 that the Official Plan was built upon. So our Official Plan could have a structural housing shortage built in. The Province needs to weigh in earlier in the process in order to prevent something like this from occurring again.” Following the numbers is the key to success, Burggraaf explains. “Our initial population forecast of 400,000 people translated into 195,000 homes over the next 25 years,” Burggraaf says. “It’s hard to get your head around how much building that is and where you can accommodate all those people. But once we start focusing on the sheer number needed, I think everyone can then buy into the concept of building housing supply in every way possible. And we can determine what development approval regime and what type of zoning needs to be established to ensure we build those 195,000 homes. If you don’t make the actual housing supply a priority, you’re guaranteeing that you’re not going to build enough homes and that you’ll struggle with housing affordability.” A better public understanding of those numbers—and that growth within and beyond existing urban boundaries must be accepted to contend with the coming growth—will also be required to avoid similar incidents like Hamilton. “The boundary-expansion option in Hamilton was still moving from the current under40% intensification rate to an ambitious 60% intensification. That was going to 40

ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

be a challenge to begin with, and we said, ‘We’re on board for that,’” CollinsWilliams notes. “But that was framed by the other side as the sprawl option, when it really wasn’t. It was a mix of tall and medium-rise apartments, stacked townhouses and single-family homes to provide a full range of housing options in a way that’s built more compactly than most existing neighbourhoods in Hamilton. The expansion areas would have represented a highly efficient use of land.” The door is currently open to provincial appeals, notes Hogan. “The Province just introduced Bill 109. It would give the Minister of Municipal Affairs the ability to refer official plans to the Ontario Land Tribunal. Previously the Tribunal wasn’t involved in any way unless there was an error of law, and there was no appeal mechanism for regional Official Plan reviews. If this gets put into place (scheduled as soon as the end of April), it would take the politics out of it and have these urban boundary expansions weighed on their merits.” Could there be a post-provincialelection reversal of the Hamilton or Milton decisions? “I expect the Province will tread water until the municipal elections are completed in October,” Krantz predicts.

WHAT CAN THE INDUSTRY DO? Even with more direction from the provincial government, the home building industry can play a part in facilitating the solution, Burggraaf maintains. “We have to propose solutions that are going to work for everyone—the industry, the government and the public,” he says. “You need that three-way outlook for the solutions that you propose. You can

come to the table with your concerns and your issues, but also come with ready-made solutions that work for those three different stakeholders.” The solution will involve a philosophical discussion, suggests McMaster’s Graefe, including “perhaps thinking about different ways of developing higher property tax density within developments, reducing servicing costs of new suburbs and thinking about the replacement of life-cycle costs. But it seems to me that developers will also need to develop a more sophisticated argument about why that development is happening and is in the public interest, and why people should support it.” Burggraaf is already a step ahead. “What’s really had a beneficial effect here in Ottawa is doing preconsultations,” he says. “Before you submit your application for your development project, you sit down and have a nice ‘without prejudice’ conversation with city staff, the councillor or their representative, and usually a rep from the community association. Those four groups consider the project together at an extremely early stage, discuss the concept and what the benefits are for that community. It helps to get buy-in. Those pre-consultations have become a very critical part of getting projects approved here in Ottawa. And getting it done in advance prevents delays and frustration later in the approvals process.” And that entails a variety of development densities inside the urban boundary and beyond, Burggraaf says. Which goes to Schickedanz’s point—that satiating the needs of both ambitious growth and market demand will require a balanced diet if Ontario is to continue to grow healthy communities. OHB ohba.ca

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OHBA/EnerQuality pilot program looks to address a daunting trades shortage BY T R AC Y H A N E S Eva Thiessen was discouraged after applying to multiple jobs and getting no call-backs. She had worked as a manager at a furniture manufacturing facility but had an interest in home building and enjoyed working with her hands. But she felt she was at a disadvantage as a woman with no prior experience in the construction industry and could be perceived as not being able to handle the work. Doron Daran, 51, studied civil engineering in Israel and, for most of ohba.ca

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his prior life, worked in the construction field there, managing and supervising residential projects. But as a new immigrant to Canada, he didn’t have contacts in the industry and wasn’t familiar about how the Canadian construction scene differed from what he knew. Through an Ontario Homebuilders’ Association Job-Ready pilot program managed by EnerQuality, Thiessen and Daran were able to take a six-month paid

placement with construction industry employers. About 1,000 applications were received for 165 positions registered by 60 employers, with 125 participants in the first cohort, with placements commencing between July 2021 and March 2022. The placements were mainly non-unionized, entry-level positions with employers across the province, including Simcoe, Niagara, St. Thomas, Ottawa, Hamilton, Durham, Quinte and Kitchener/Waterloo. The program was an initiative to help address the severe shortage of skilled and unskilled trades in the province by providing potential workers with hands-on exposure to the industry. OHBA president Bob Schickedanz said that with 110,000 skilled trades people retiring within the next decade and with 1 million to 1.5 million more new homes needed in the province, the shortage of workers will become even more critical. “Those are unprecedented levels of growth and beyond the capacity we have to produce those homes,” Schickedanz said. “Everyone is having challenges finding homes and, ultimately, if we don’t have the labour force, it’s going to compound the problem. Considering the dire situation we’re in, we’ve got to step up to the plate and do a better job.” ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

The OHBA membership has recognized that workforce development is the responsibility of the industry and wanted to play a meaningful role in addressing the challenge, says Monica Curtis, president and CEO of EnerQuality. “It’s not something to be left up to the college system. There is a need and opportunity for the industry to play a leadership role.” Funding for the program was provided by the Government of Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development and carried out in partnership with the OHBA and Career Foundation, a non-profit organization with seven locations across the GTHA.

CHANGING TIMES

Construction used to be an industry of entrepreneurs, and families involved in the business used to take their kids on site or give them summer jobs, where they learned the culture and became comfortable on site, says Curtis. “That’s no longer available at the same level, as many firms are no longer entrepreneurs.” “That early exposure is key,” adds Schickedanz. “If someone’s in school, clicking through a website or hearing words from a speaker doesn’t give enough of a flavour of what it’s all about. Maybe students are interested, but it doesn’t tweak their interest enough, and that’s where first-hand experience comes in.” While many of the Job-Ready participants were placed on construction sites, others worked with an energy advisor who did building modelling, with other placements in sales and warranty offices, with roofing companies and landscaping businesses, among others. The program provided them with personal protective equipment, workplace-based safety training and employment coaching. Employers received up to $3,000 per hire. They had the option to convert the six-month placements to full-time employees at the end of the placement. There was a weekly check-in, an online community and other resources for workers to share experiences, ask questions and receive support. The program was unique in that it provided support to both employers and placements during the entire placement period, taking some of the mentorship 44

ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

responsibility off site supervisors. Applicants were sought out through a robust digital marketing campaign. One goal was to identify communities that might not get exposure to construction and reach them through partnerships with new-immigrant centres, for example. To be eligible, candidates had to be at least 18 years old, eligible to work in Canada, available to work full-time during the placement, and preferably had a driver’s licence and reliable vehicle. They also had to have access to a laptop and the internet to complete the mandatory remote training. Almost half of the placed candidates were identified as underrepresented, including women, visible minorities, Indigenous and disabled persons. A 2020 report by Prism Economics and Analysis for the Ontario Construction Secretariat, titled Demographics & Diversity: A Portrait of Ontario’s Unionized Construction, found a low representation of women, visible minorities and Indigenous Peoples in the industry. While immigrants account for 26% of the construction workforce in Ontario, only 2% of unionized skills trades workers are female. And while almost 30% of Toronto’s industry workforce is comprised of visible minorities, according to the report, it’s just 1% in Northern and Eastern Ontario. The Job-Ready workers came from across Southern Ontario, and most had little or no prior construction experience. Participants ranged from those freshly graduated from high school to people who were pivoting from food-service or retail jobs, to those who didn’t want to be in an office anymore and wanted to work with their hands. They represented a vast range of ages and backgrounds.

Cassandra Creese

Stay-Brite Building Solutions

Doron Daran Mattamy Homes

FINDING A LINK

Daran learned about the program through a YMCA-YWCA website for new immigrants. “I had no experience in construction in Canada and thought this was a great opportunity to integrate and learn about the industry.” He was placed with Mattamy Homes and learned about the different trades on site, including flooring installers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, painters and HVAC installers. “This has definitely been a positive experience for me,” Daran says.

Eva Thiessen Fusion Homes

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Thiessen was equally enthusiastic about her placement with Guelph-based Fusion Homes. “The experience has been very good,” she says. “The training helped me gain more knowledge in the field and I was fortunately paired with an amazing placement. Completing the program has allowed me to gain valuable knowledge, has made me more appealing to the employer and helped me progress in my career.” The Job-Ready goal is that 50-75% of the participants will remain interested in a career in the industry after their placements end, either continuing with their employer, pursuing a skilled trade or taking studies in fields such as engineering, architecture or heavy equipment operation. “At times, it’s not glamorous. The weather’s bad and the work’s hard, but there are terrific opportunities and hopefully we can build on this pilot program to make it bigger and more meaningful,” says Schickedanz. His own company, FarSight Homes, was among those employers that provided Job-Ready placements. “All of the (participating) employers are passionate about the idea of getting those who want to be in the industry involved and being able to mentor them. It’s not about having lowpaid unskilled labour—such as, ‘I need two people to do the sweeping at houses I’m building.’ These are lower skilled general workers, but we teach them other things and make them part of the team. At the end of the day, we want them to come to the conclusion that, ‘Hey, this is for me and I can see myself doing this.’” “We need to be proactive to create exposure,” adds Curtis. “This program provided a pathway for them to explore the industry in a safe way and to make a realistic decision about whether this is the place for them, where they can see the possibility of pursuing a skilled trade and choosing the best college track—or that it’s not the best path for them.” Cassandra Creese, 37, of Toronto was accepted into the program in August 2021 and started working with StayBrite Building Solutions, a company that specializes in multi-unit renovations. She is a hazardous material worker apprentice, but was going through long periods of unemployment in between jobs. During the Job-Ready placement, 46

ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

At the end of the day, we want them to come to the conclusion that, ‘Hey, this is for me and I can see myself doing this.’” she was involved in upgrading rental units through the employer and she gained experience in demolition, including removal of cabinetry, flooring and walls, learned how to use more tools and how to paint professionally. “Job-Ready was a huge support, just having the online training and weekly talks and workshops,” says Creese. “It was super helpful to connect with other people like me trying to get a foothold

in the trades. Whenever there was a concern, Job-Ready addressed it. It definitely felt like I had support and my best interests were kept in mind.” Creese chose not to continue to work at her placement after the six months and will continue her hazardous material worker apprenticeship and become a journeywoman. She said the skills she picked up due to Job-Ready will be valuable in getting more work during ohba.ca

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slow times in her field, or useful in future if she wants to move in another direction within the industry. “I think there is great value to this program, especially to people new in construction with no family support,” she says. The Ontario government agrees. On May 3, OHBA announced Job-Ready’s renewal after receiving funding from the Ontario Skills Development Fund to build on the foundational success of the pilot program. Many of the placements were still in progress at this story’s deadline, so there wasn’t information available on how many Job-Ready workers completed their six-month placement. However, Curtis said some attrition is expected, as not all candidates will find the industry to be a fit for them, and some employers may realize they cannot provide the time commitment needed to support an inexperienced worker. But so far, most reviews have been positive. “People were surprised that we could find that many employers and employees in less than a year,” says Curtis. “We are very excited about the results and looking at options to offer it again. The vast number of our employers expressed interest in keeping the employees. We are seeing some participants getting confirmation about pursuing a skilled trade or advancing in the industry.” Thiessen and Daran both intend to continue with careers in construction. Since being placed with Fusion Homes last year, Thiessen has been able to work on two different sites. Since starting as ‘site personnel’ (general labourer), she has been promoted twice: to construction pro, then recently to site coordinator. “If it hadn’t been for this program connecting me to Fusion, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” Daran is happy to be working for a large company such as Mattamy. “It gives me the opportunity to get involved in various projects across Canada and progress over time to other roles where I can realize my skills,” he notes. “This is definitely a positive experience for me and I intend to pursue a career in the construction industry. I very much hope I can even get into one of the roles I filled before I came to Canada—in the field of residential or commercial project management.” OHB

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Building Buzz NEWS AND MOVES FROM THE INDUSTRY

2021 Residential Home Improvement Building Permits Total Permits: 69,488

18%

Northeast Ontario

# of permits / % change from 2020

Northwest Ontario Total Permits

626

Add/Reno/Alt

231

-3%

-39%

Garages

217

-15%

Sheds Decks

70 83

-17% -22%

Swimming Pools

-13%

Total Permits

4,164

-3%

Add/Reno/Alt

1,678

0.3%

Swimming Pools

183

Garages

862

-6%

Sheds Decks

340 771

-12% -15%

Southwest Ontario

Eastern Ontario Total Permits

12,221

Add/Reno/Alt

5,030

9% 8%

Swimming Pools

2,389

47%

Garages

1,457

Sheds Decks

892 1,963

7% -12%

Total Permits

8,817

18%

Add/Reno/Alt

2,902

10%

Swimming Pools

1,863

37%

Total Permits

7,001

Garages

1,275

18%

Sheds Decks

1,101 1,367

28% 6%

Add/Reno/Alt

2,768

Central Ontario

Greater Golden Horseshoe

643

18%

Garages

1,187

23%

Sheds Decks

473 1,714

11% -1.3%

Total Permits

12,279

Add/Reno/Alt

5,402

15%

2,581

31%

Total Permits

24,380

30%

937

Add/Reno/Alt

20,388

30%

762 2,362

19% 11%

1,392

25%

Swimming Pools Garages Sheds Decks

17%

Swimming Pools

Greater Toronto Area

Swimming Pools Garages

RENO REVOLUTION

Sheds Decks

644

22%

585 1,242

65% 38%

Building permits on the rise for home projects BY T E D M c I N T Y R E

For the second straight year, Ontario saw a significant increase in total residential building permits, with more than 122,000 permits issued across Ontario in 2021 for new development and home improvement. This represents a 15% increase from the previous year, continuing a trend that saw a 9% increase from the year before. The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), which tracks property data across Ontario, reports residential home improvement permits were up by 18% to nearly 70,000. These permits covered home improvements including renovations/additions, swimming pools, sheds, garages and decks. “COVID-19 restrictions were likely a major factor again, with people focused on their home because they were spending so much more time ohba.ca

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there,” explains Carmelo Lipsi, MPAC V.P. and COO. “In every category of home improvement, the numbers were up—in many cases by doubledigit percentages.” How big a role has the pandemic played in home reno decisions? By comparison, in 2019 home improvement permits were up by just 5% (with overall building permits increasing marginally by 0.3%), while in 2018 they decreased by 15% (with overall permits down by 18%) year over year. As far as total building permits go, Toronto expectedly led the province with 9,478 in 2021, an increase of 28% from 2020. The Township of Severn saw the largest percentage increase of any municipality, jumping 467% (272 building permits in 2021, compared to 48 in 2020). For residential home

improvements, there were 69,488 province-wide in 2021, an increase of 18% from 2020. Brampton was tops with 7,382, up by 29%. Severn Township, meanwhile, again led in percentage increase, issuing 545% more home improvement permits (129 versus 20 the year before). Permits for the residential renovations/additions category jumped to 38,399, up 19% in 2021. Brampton was the provincial leader with 7,133 permits, an increase of 29% from the previous year. “This is an interesting trend to watch, to see if it continues once pandemic restrictions have been lifted for good,” Lipsi says. “Many indicators suggest that working from home will be more prevalent than it was pre-pandemic, and we’ll see if that continues to translate to more spending on the home.” ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

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ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

expediting large-scale building retrofits in its portfolio, thanks to major funding from the federal government. A $136.6 million investment from Canadian Infrastructure Bank has allowed them to begin modernizing their portfolio of office buildings.

While Dream hopes to take advantage of the government funding by following up with residential retrofitting, the current loan will finance the decarbonization of 19 commercial buildings in Ontario and Saskatchewan built from 1875 to 1992, including a number in Toronto’s financial district.

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PARTNERSHIP MAKES FOR EASY FENCING ORDERS A new deal between Modu-Loc Fence Rentals and Toolbx will allow Toronto home builders and small construction firms to order temporary fencing via a mobile app. It’s the first time that temporary fencing will be available on Toolbx, a procurement platform that connects contractors with construction suppliers. Through the online platform, builders can order and schedule delivery of their construction materials without having to leave the jobsite. “One of our core values is ‘excellent, reliable service,’ and that means constantly searching for ways to improve the ordering experience for our clients,” says Modu-Loc Executive V.P. and COO Chris Muc, whose fencing packages of up to 100 linear feet are now available through the Toolbx app in the GTA. Additional service areas may be added in the near future. OHB ohba.ca

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Product Focus I DE A S FOR B U I L DE R S & R E N OVAT OR S

ON WHAT ? ERTH

L O OK T UR A L T HE NACK IN VOGU E IS B A

P.60

Shouldice’s Fusion Stone (Dry Stack pictured) combines the beauty and maintenance-free traits of traditional stone with the ease of installation and affordability of stone veneer.

ROLLING STONES

Exterior surfaces are picking up momentum BY TED McINTYRE

IF YOU CAN be both exhausted and happy at the same time in your place of employment, things are going well. “It’s crazy—this is our 75th year. We’re coming off our busiest year ever, and this year has started out busier than the last!” says Bob Sanders, director of sales at Shouldice Designer Stone. “We’ve stopped trying to analyze it.” But if Sanders had to analyze it? “It’s a reflection of the pandemic. Whether it was a new home or that longdelayed reno project, people have been ohba.ca

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investing their disposable income at home,” he says. There has been a therapeutic element to the trend, Sanders suggests. “We’ve seen it first-hand. Anything you do at home bolsters your investment, but it’s also been about having that feeling of security and comfort at home, whether it’s stone around the fireplace, or exterior stone or brick.” But will the trend go flat amid the recent reopening of the economy and disposable income being diverted

back to travel and entertainment? “I think that will probably eventually catch up to our industry,” Sanders forecasts. “I think.” In the interim, orders are piling in—one advantage being savvy business planning by Shouldice. “While other manufacturers were scaling back or closing doors due to the pandemic, we kept going, building inventory two years ago. That was probably the best decision we ever made,” Sanders says. Having no supply-chain handicaps ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

Product Focus has also played into Shouldice’s hands. “Everything we do is based in Shallow Lake (between Owen Sound and Sauble Beach)—all of our manufacturing, while our aggregate supply is 10 minutes away. We’re surrounded by renowned natural stone quarries and have had the same aggregate supplier since the 1940s. They’re recognized as having some of the finest aggregate in the world.” The ability to keep the trucks moving has been a distinct advantage to many within this particular industry. Arriscraft, for example, also locally sources its raw materials, including sand and lime. “We are also insulated by producing many of our own products,” echoes Mical Kasweka of Woodbridgeheadquartered Westlake Royal Building Products, whose company has also gotten a shot in the arm from the pandemic. “Aside from the renovation and upgrade opportunities for homeowners, with the competitive housing market, homeowners have opted for home improvement upgrades instead of selling their homes.

Royal Building Products’ Atlas Stone composite stone panels and (at bottom) the rugged look of Beaver Valley’s natural stone.

ROCK SOLID

And what’s hot? “We’ve seen an uptick in the quality of stone that clients are going for, specifically composite stone panels,” Kasweka indicates. “We believe that our Atlas Stone adds another dimension of gorgeous. They’re composite stone panels that are easy to install, demand very little maintenance and stand up to the elements—all while making a home’s exterior a true standout.” At Woodbine-headquartered Beaver Valley Stone, “Natural stone is hot right now compared to manufactured concrete product,” notes manager Joe Ponte. “The trend depends on where the homes are built and the style mandated. But since the pandemic, we have noticed an uptick in overall orders.” For Shouldice, the company’s Fusion Stone, a thin indoor/outdoor stone veneer that is easily installed with the included stainless steel 56

ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

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ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

Product Focus clips and screws, continues to be red hot. “We haven’t been able to make it fast enough the past couple years,” Sanders says. “It’s a concrete product with the look of masonry. And in the masonry world, you traditionally want a specialized mason to install your product. But with Fusion, even though it’s usually installed by professionals, there’s a DYI element to it too. Our Great Lakes line of Fusion is by far the dominant mechanically installed stone in the country. “The Fusion product is also appealing to builders from a scheduling standpoint, since you can install it in any season and at any temperature,” Sanders says. “And it’s clean on site, with simple packaging and easy to clean up.” Shouldice also has another product set for third-quarter release, Harmony Stone. “It’s a three-height, multiplelength, smooth, contemporary stone,” Sanders describes. “Today’s contemporary market very much demands that simple, long, linear look, with clean and square lines. We are introducing it in Pearl White and Galaxy Black. We’re super-pumped about it.”

BETTER IN BLACK

As colours go, Quebec-based Novik has added Onyx, a popular and dramatic deep black tone, to both its NovikStone Dry Stack Stone and Premium Hand-Cut lines of stone siding. The intricate detail of the company’s precision-laid Dry Stack allows builders to achieve the look of traditional masonry with a modern aesthetic that complements a variety of exteriors. NovikStone’s Premium Hand-Cut, meanwhile, captures the beauty and texture of hand-chiseled stone and features elegant contours for a clean, sophisticated look. Impervious to moisture, durability and with enhanced resistance to warping, expansion, contraction and cracking, NovikStone panels are 58

ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

NovikStone Onyx Dry Stack offers the look of masonry with a modern twist. At bottom, Gentek’s durable yet easy-to-install Align Composite Cladding.

POSITIVE SIDE EFFECTS TO STONE ALTERNATIVES If your goal is a more affordable siding alternative than stone, Royal Building Products recommends wood—or rather something that resembles it, but with considerably less wear and tear. Its Cedar Renditions aluminum siding is made from almost maintenancefree, recyclable aluminum. It’s also water-resistant, impervious to cold, insectproof and extremely durable. Which means it has a long life expectancy, while still providing the look of real woodgrain. It’s also simple to install, nonflammable, LEED-compliant and 100% recyclable, with a 25-year pro-rated limited warranty and a PVDF topcoat that offers robust paint technology. Royal’s Celect Cellular Composite Siding is another bang for the buck. “It matches wood—beautiful for beautiful—puts visible seams into hiding, makes deterioration extinct and renders maintenance obsolete. All while virtually installing itself,” says Royal Building Products’ Mical Kasweka. “We’ve had everyone from client neighbours to architects who can’t stop talking about it in a positive way. Gentek, meanwhile, has recently launched its unique Align Composite Cladding System. Although it provides the architectural beauty of real wood, it nevertheless offers one of the lowest total installed costs for cladding. With its self-aligning stack lock, Align provides quicker and easier installation than fibre cement and engineered wood, meaning fewer labourers are required to get the job done. The system features impressive style with a 7” flat-face exposure and authentic cedar mill-grain texture. And its structural strength meets or exceeds industry test standards for windload, workability, flame spread/ smoke development, weatherability and termite resistance. Align is also backed by a lifetime limited warranty, is virtually maintenance-free and offers compatible trim, windows and accessories. It’s available in a palette of 20 fade-resistant colours, and clients can even picture the finished product beforehand with the Gentek Visualizer.

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7 Oaks Tree Care & Urban Forestry Consultants Inc.

Getting the Job Done Right!

Build better. Keep the trees. Offering 40+ years of Arboricultural Consulting services for land development clients. Tree Preservation Plans Arborist Reports and Tree Inventories Monetary Valuations of Trees

Expert Witness Testimony (LPAT/Civil litigation) Tree Risk Assessments and Hazard Evaluations CAD Equipped for Optimal Efficiency and Accuracy

7oakstreecare.ca Est. 1976

(905) 773-1733 info@7oakstreecare.ca

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16783 Thorndale Rd. Thorndale, Ontario, N0M 2P0 Tel: 519-461-1180 Toll free: 1-800-265-7086 Fax: 519-461-0903 www.trscomponents.ca Since 1974, TRS has offered builders a single source supply network of wall panels, roof trusses, floor panels. Our supply and install expertise will make your next job faster, easier and more efficient.

2020-12-03 12:33 PM

“Helping Builders Finance Their Dreams since 1974” Project Financing: Land Acquisi on Land Servicing

Construc on Mezz Financing

Providing reliable service and top-quality products for over 25 years. Orangeville

Mississauga

Ayr

Residen al - Infill:

Custom Homes Subdivisions Apartment Buildings Inventory Units Condo Management

Corpora on Renova on Financing Home Renova ons Commercial / Industrial Special Purposes

300 John St. Suite 328, Thornhill ON L3T 5W4 B: 905-731-111 x 229 C: 647-838-5061 rena@cyrfunding.com, cyrfunding.com

Funds for any State of the USA ohba.ca

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877.351.5603 FASTFORM.ca ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

Product Focus

Erth Coverings’ Mountain Ledgestone and Rockface, Shouldice’s new Harmony Stone (lower right) and Royal Building Products’ Celect Cellular Composite (below).

well-suited for foundation covers, knee wall cladding and accent walls. Rigid and lightweight, they can be installed in any climate using traditional tools—even when in contact with the ground—with a quick, one-person installation without any mortar or adhesives, unlike traditional stone or stone veneers.

SUPERIOR INTERIOR

For clients seeking that look on interior walls, what’s old is new again, says Woodbridge-based Erth Coverings. “Trends go through cycles. Organic stone was very big in the 60

ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

1960s and ’70s, then disappeared for a while. But anything retro is back in trend these days,” says Erth Coverings President and CEO Ivan Rapa, whose company was the first to introduce natural stone veneer panels into Canada. “People took the natural approach for the longest time—taking stones out of the ground and installing them in the form they retrieved them. In recent decades, though, more and more companies refined that raw stone to make it easier to install—rectangular with no grout required. But now people want that

rough, natural look and feel of stone again—natural edges and shapes, random lengths and heights, and requiring some grout between the joints to finish them off. “And one great advantage is that it works with any kind of design style: contemporary, traditional, rustic, farmhouse—it’s timeless,” Rapa says. Erth Coverings has a pair of recent products that fit the bill. With the look of centuries-old construction, Mountain Ledgestone, offered in two tones of quartzite, is ideal for the fireplace, a feature wall or exterior facade. Rockface, available in four options, is hand-split from natural quartzite to create a natural and organic style of fieldstone and freeform masonry. “Our stone is a thin veneer, so you can achieve that look on interior walls without the need for footings and the masonry labour that you’d require to install full-bed stone,” Rapa notes. “Full-bed stone is around 60 pounds a square foot, while our product is 12-13 pounds a square foot. And you can apply it directly to drywall. So at a time when trades are hard to come by, you can achieve that design without all the cost and cumbersome labour.” OHB ohba.ca

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Product Showcase

A WIDE SELECTION OF NATURAL STONE AND PRECAST CONCRETE PRODUCTS www.beavervalleystone.com

t: 905-886-5787 or t: 416-222-2424 Main Office & Yard: 8081 Woodbine Ave. SE Corner Woodbine/407 Office & Yard: 125 Langstaff Rd E., SE Corner Yonge/Hwy 7-407 Manufacturing Plant: 12350 Keele St., Maple

HOME BUILDER FLOORING 647-283-1093 PACKAGE design@marisacarnovale.com

Offering custom sizes, grades, colour, finishes and true random lengths

A Home Builder’s Best Friend

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SOLID & ENGINEERED HARDWOOD FLOORS DIRECT FROM THE SAWMILL

Date: Feb 17, 2021 Filename_ Version#

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Client: Desc:

Supplier: Trim:

Safety/Live: File Built at:

BEAVER VALLEY

Built By: Artist:

Ont Home Builders Acct. Mgr: 3.476"W x3"H

0" x 0"

100% (1:1)

# Colours: 4C

PMS

tillsonburg@breezewoodfloors.ca 519-688-3553 x 246

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ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

Frame of Mind

NEW ADDITION Prefabrication can make major renovations a seamless procedure THE RECORD COSTS of new housing have seen many homeowners consider their options: If a bigger unit is not viable, perhaps an addition is. However, renovations commonly cause disruptions to homeowners’ lives, not to mention that of their neighbours. And Lord knows the world is stressful enough these days. But what if that new addition could be prefabricated? Builders appreciate the cost savings, potential for higher density, ease of construction, cleaner sites and lower material waste. And the additions can be added adjacent to, or on top of, an existing structure. However, either method faces its own set of challenges. One logistical consideration is how to connect the new and the old. For adjacent additions, you must ensure the intersecting roofs shed water and snow properly. A sufficient foundation must also be in place to accommodate the addition. For vertical additions, the loadbearing capacity of the existing structure must be considered. Connections of utilities, meanwhile, may be more complicated for storey additions than adjacent ones. And if a chimney existed in the original building, it must also be properly accommodated in the addition. One success story is Focus House, 62

ONTARIO HOME BUILDER LATE SPRING 2022

a prefabricated addition in London, England that houses a family of five. Through practical experimentation on a series of projects, the project’s designer, Bere Architects, has gained a strong knowledge of low-carbon buildings. The main objective of this 2,961 sq. ft. project was to exchange the family’s large, high-maintenance house for a low-maintenance, lowenergy and low cost home. Although more compact in its overall design, the project would provide the young family with a larger living space by adapting the traditional space divisions of their Victorian house to better suit present-day needs. The front of the house measures a mere 9.2 feet, but widens to 23 feet in the back, where it is graced with a garden and outdoor seating space. The front door and staircase are glazed, enabling the inhabitants to observe the street, while further brightening the natural-light-filled design. The prefabricated section was made in Austria and then transported to London in kit form. Thanks to the solid cross-laminated timber slabs that form the walls, upper floors and roof slabs, it was erected within a week. Additionally, the slabs could span long distances and are made from a sustainable material. The

timber shell is externally insulated; its thermal mass is on the inside of the construction where it can moderate extremes of internal temperature and moisture. As a result, the walls are solid and the house is sturdy. Focus House was built to Passivhaus standards and employed non-toxic materials to ensure healthy air and water quality. Further, it features an airtight, super-insulated construction, as well as solar thermal water heating with water filtration, heat-recovery ventilation and solidcore cross-laminated timber construction, which contributes to its lowcarbon footprint. Although the initial choice of material was concrete to create the cantilevers over the front entrance, the cost became too high. As a result, a team member suggested the use of solid timber panels. It enabled them to form the overhead projection with greater ease, lowering cost and improving sustainability. The architects achieved a sustainable house on the family’s budget, while successfully accommodating their needs. OHB AVI FRIEDMAN IS AN ARCHITECT, PROFESSOR, AUTHOR AND SOCIAL OBSERVER. AVI.FRIEDMAN@MCGILL.CA ohba.ca

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Ontario Home Builder - Late Spring 2022

Articles inside

Clearing the Path

Meet OHBA's New CEO