GOOD DEEDS: THE CORONAVIRUS HAS NOT DAMPENED OUR HUMAN SPIRIT P.11 PICKUP TRUCKS ARE BECOMING MOVING EXPERIENCES P.48
PRODUCTS & PROGR AMS FOR A CLEAN SL ATE P. 55
A JOY TO THE SENSES: DESIGNING FOR THE WELLNESS TREND P.42
OHBA.CA| $5.00 SUMMER 2020
COVID-19 OHBA members find a way forward amid a pandemic P. 30
NEXT STEP How builders are mastering the art of the staircase P. 36
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Contents
30
Braving the Storm
COVID-19 has forced industry members to navigate uncharted waters, but there is light on the horizon
36 Stair Masters
42 48 Healthy Choices Enjoy the Ride
The art of climbing to new heights
Could there possibly be a better time to design for mind & body?
9 One Voice Even in the darkest days there are shining examples of what we can accomplish together. 11 Ontario Report From providing free meals for frontline workers to cleaning up their local communities, OHBA caremongering has proven to be pandemic-proof. ohba.ca
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19 Inside Storey When a tree falls on your property, do you hear it? You had better! 23 Trending Hot products for the home include new looks from Arriscraft and Permacon, a reinvention of the air register and an insurance company that is Master’ing the formalities.
55 Building Buzz New products and programs to calm anxious homeowners, a virtual design program from Cosentino and a national award for Mattamy. 62 Frame of Mind Montreal’s Productive House examines the potential for indoor farming.
Power, performance and other moving experiences in 2020
GOOD DEEDS: THE CORONAVIRUS HAS NOT DAMPENED OUR HUMAN SPIRIT P.11 PICKUP TRUCKS ARE BECOMING MOVING EXPERIENCES P.48
PRODUCTS & PROGR AMS FOR A CLEAN SL ATE P. 55
A JOY TO THE SENSES: DESIGNING FOR THE WELLNESS TREND P.42
OHBA.CA| $5.00 SUMMER 2020
COVID-19 OHBA members find a way forward amid a pandemic P. 30
NEXT STEP
ON THE COVER
Ha2 Architecture Design teamed up with RND Construction to take this Ottawa staircase to the next level.
How builders are mastering the art of the staircase P. 36
ONTARIO HOME BUILDER SUMMER 2020
5
The official publication of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association SUMMER 2020 | Vol. 36 Issue 3
EDITOR
Ted McIntyre ted@laureloak.ca ART DIRECTOR
Erik Mohr ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR
Ian Sullivan Cant GRAPHIC DESIGN
Marikha Saira, Megan Drummond COPY EDITOR
Barbara Chambers CONTRIBUTORS
Avi Friedman, Tracy Hanes, Jonathan Oke, Joe Vaccaro ADVERTISING
Cindy Kaye, ext. 232 cindy@laureloak.ca Tricia Beaudoin ext. 223 PUBLISHER
Sheryl Humphreys, ext. 245 sheryl@laureloak.ca PRESIDENT
Wayne Narciso PUBLISHED BY
Laurel Oak Publishing laureloak.ca
ohba.ca
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 © 2020. For address corrections please email info@laureloak.ca or phone: (905) 333-9432. 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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ONTARIO HOME BUILDER SUMMER 2020
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One Voice
WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER Stepping up to support the industry and our communities during COVID-19 2020 WAS SHAPING UP to be a strong year for #homebelievers. Ontario’s economy was booming , with the provincial government committed to cutting red tape and Premier Ford leading an “Open for Business” approach that was rewarded with new jobs and new entrepreneurial investments. With the provincial government projecting 2.6 million more #homebelievers joining Ontario communities by 2031, the message of needing 1 million more homes over the next decade was getting through. Across Ontario, members were launching new communities, providing new housing supply and choice. But we all know what happened on March 17. Ontario declared a State of Emergency in response to the Coronavirus pandemic and shifted their resources to respond. Government offices closed, businesses were ordered closed. The public was asked to stay home, stay apart, stay safe. But the Association didn’t stop working, didn’t stop advocating, didn’t stop communicating with our ohba.ca
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“THE ASSOCIATION DIDN’T STOP WORKING, DIDN’T STOP ADVOCATING, DIDN’T STOP COMMUNICATING.” members. We stepped up. Respecting the necessary rules, OHBA went to work, establishing the health and safety protocols needed to keep jobsites open and members working so that they could deliver keys to the thousands of awaiting #homebelievers. Working with partner associations like IHSA, RESCON, OSWCA and OGCA, and getting help from key members with health and safety expertise, OHBA developed an industry guide that provided the government with confidence that residential construction could safely operate during the pandemic.
Yes, over the course of the following six weeks many had to cease operations as the situation evolved, but by May 19 all construction was permitted. OHBA has since produced a Renovator’s Guide to support the work of those members in occupied spaces, with a Builder’s Guide in the offing to help you provide warranty services to homeowners. And more is to come. I want to thank the Ontario Building Officials Association for working with OHBA to provide guidance and clarity on the inspections and permitting process at the municipal level, and to Tarion for immediately providing information to builders and active communications through webinars in this unprecedented situation. And to Premier Ford and the Ontario government for the compassionate and decisive leadership needed during this crisis. And to our Association leaders, from President Bob Schickedanz and the OHBA board to association presidents and colleagues across the province. And thank you to all the members who offered help and advice to us, and absolutely remarkable support to their local communities. (Check out some of their good deeds on p. 11!) We derive our strength and guidance through membership engagement. And we trust you have derived strength in leaning on us during this crisis. This is the value of your membership, to have an Association that steps up—not just to advocate, but to provide a game plan to help keep your family and partners employed and make #homebeliever dreams a reality. We all know it is not business as usual, but we are all in this together. 2020 may not be the year of the #homebeliever, but it is already the year of #THEASSOCIATION. OHB
JOE VACCARO IS THE CEO OF THE ONTARIO HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION
ONTARIO HOME BUILDER SUMMER 2020
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Ontario Report
West End HBA President Robert Molinaro with Longo’s Tony Indovina.
COMMUNITY
Caremongering OHBA members have shone during the pandemic Canadian author Charles de Lint once observed, “Every time you do a good deed, you shine the light a little farther into the dark. And the thing is, when you’re gone, that light is going to keep shining on, pushing the shadows back.” With the COVID-19 pandemic weighing on people’s emotional as much as physical health, every kind
gesture has had that sort of effect— helping to pierce the darkness with a warming spotlight on those who need—and deserve—it most. From a pizza lunch to financial donations, and from manufacturing and distributing personal protective equipment to simply lending a helping hand in times of need,
Ontario Home Builders’ Association members have dug deep to help care for their respective communities over the past few months. Below is just a small handful of good deeds that have helped brighten the days for so many Ontario residents and frontline workers—gestures that are likely to be long remembered.
WEST END HBA
of the World to provide free meals each week to associations such as St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, various local fire and EMS Stations and St. Joseph’s Villa, one of Ontario’s largest long-term care facilities. “We’re very proud to be part of this great initiative and to have the opportunity to thank (those) who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe,” said Robert Molinaro, West End HBA President. “The support we’re seeing from the
community means a whole lot to our crews,” said Vanessa Vis, an Advanced Care Paramedic with Halton Region EMS, “They’re very grateful for it.” “We are overwhelmed by the community support for our frontline health care team,” added Mieke Ewen, Administrator at St. Joseph’s Villa. “Having local businesses deliver meals for our staff is inspiring.” KIRIN AIR SYSTEMS, meanwhile, was on the receiving end of a good deed from ENERCARE in late April.
The West End Home Builders’ Association, along with UTTER MORRIS INSURANCE BROKERS, the LEGGAT AUTO GROUP and the JOHN TRIM GROUP AT SCOTIAMcLEOD, worked together to thank first responders, health care workers and other essential employees. The group partnered with local restaurants Camp 31 BBQ, the Thirsty Cactus Cantina & Grill, La Piazza Allegra and Denninger’s Foods ohba.ca
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ONTARIO HOME BUILDER SUMMER 2020
11
Ontario Report
4C’s Chair David Ogilvie (above left) was the happy recipient of a donation from Haliburton HBA President Keith Thomas. At right, carpenters at Pioneer Craftsmen put their talents to good use in raising funds for the Foodbank of Waterloo Region.
“It’s great to have all these big companies under one roof. We get to know these people, and in a time of need people can help each other out,” Onkar Singh, air conditioning technician at Kirin Air, observes of membership in the West End HBA. “We were on a jobsite in Cambridge on a house that had already closed, but the plumbing assembly for a tankless water heater was missing. It had been stolen from the site. So there was no hot water for the family about to move in,” Singh relates. “We tried all of our suppliers, but couldn’t find anyone who could supply the kit, since many vendors had shut down or were working on very low resources due to COVID-19. So we called Enercare. We had it in our hands less than 40 minutes after I called. They charged us nothing and even offered to install it, but we had our own installers. And it wasn’t even for their product! They just wanted to help out and be there for the contractors. “I thought we were going to have to replace the entire tank,” says Singh. 12
ONTARIO HOME BUILDER SUMMER 2020
“Sometimes it’s not the big things; it’s the small things that matter.”
HALIBURTON COUNTY HBA Haliburton members donated $5,600 to the 4C’s (Christian Concern Centre), Central Food Network and Minden Foodbank, the caretakers of the county’s three food banks.
WATERLOO REGION HBA “When we had to press pause on projects and ensure everyone was safe, the team decided that they wanted to challenge themselves,” says Jamie Adam of Kitchener’s PIONEER CRAFTSMEN. “We posed a challenge to our team to do things from home that would help our community, to reach out and check in on clients. Some donated blood, some signed up for the zero-waste challenge and others reached out to seniors to help them with whatever needed a helping hand.” The craftsmanship of Pioneer’s
carpenters and apprentices was also on full display. “Whether it was to learn a new skill online, to build something they’ve never built before, or to do something good for the environment, the team has been creating the foundation for a fundraising effort close to our hearts,” added Adam, whose employees fashioned everything from kitchen trays to Muskoka chairs and picnic tables for charity. “This has been a labour of love for us and proceeds from the sale of these items will go to continued support of the Foodbank of Waterloo Region and the amazing frontline workers in our community. We could not be more proud of the ways our team collaborated to make a difference.”
LONDON HBA Led by their company’s Compliance/ Safety Supervisor Chris Humphries, TRY RECYCLING stepped in to clean up their neighbourhood. ohba.ca
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Ontario Report
Clockwise from above: Covenant Construction got in the face shield business for St. Thomas Hospital; TRY Recycling’s Karim Mills and Jeffrey Sierolawski helped clean up their neighbourhood; and In2ition Realty is part of community group rallying to support Feed Mississauga.
“I knew the London Clean and Green project had been postponed due to the virus,” says Humphries. “This is something I’ve prided myself on since we got involved several years ago and I knew that somehow we had to still do our parts to help out the community that supports us. So I got a couple of our team members and cleaned the areas close to main intersections and neighbourhoods near our facility. Altogether, the three of us picked up 1,450 pounds of debris from the ditches, curbs and lawns around the city.” COVENANT CONSTRUCTION joined forces with WOODWORKERS UNITED and turned their currently closed showroom into a mini production line of PPE face shields, with donations going to the St. Thomas hospital. LHBA also rallied its members to 14
ONTARIO HOME BUILDER SUMMER 2020
participate in a spring Business Cares Food Drive to raise funds for the London Food Bank. “Traditionally, the drive is in December, but this spring, because the need was so great, we geared up for a quick 10-day infusion of cash to the Food Bank,” notes Lois Langdon, CEO of the London Home Builders’ Association. “It was successful with the equivalent of 188,696 pounds of food being generated, as compared to the 56,000 normally collected. Also a big shout-out to Mark Vaandering and MILLENNIUM CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN INC. and their supporters for gathering an impressive $11,000 on their own!” Other contributions from members included LIBRO CREDIT UNION’S $320,000 donation to United Way emergency response programs, and
LONDON HYDRO,
which contributed thousands of masks for frontline health care workers and $250,000 to a fund that helps customers who are struggling to pay their bills.
BILD It started as a one-time pizza party for emergency nurses at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. “My sister’s girlfriend and her fellow nurses are working 12+ hours a day to screen and keep people safe from COVID-19, risking their lives to keep us safe,” observes Laura MacDonald-Rumi, Assistant G.M. and Sommelier at the Terroni Group. “In under three days, I was able to raise money for two local restaurants to help me send the day and night shifts enough pizza to keep their bellies full! We have been asked to keep ohba.ca
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Ontario Report
Clockwise from above: A grateful staff join MPP Todd Smith and Quinte HBA President John-Ross Parks (right), who placed lawn signs outside Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital to honour health care professionals; Durham Medical Clinic’s office manager Rachel Parrott (left) and Dr. Mary Pillisch were recipients of a PPE contribution from Flato Developments, one of numerous charitable efforts from the Markham-based builder during the pandemic; and Thomas Cavanagh Construction donated more than 2,700 masks to Ottawa-area seniors homes and health care facilities.
16
ONTARIO HOME BUILDER SUMMER 2020
In Mississauga, Debbie Cosic and her team at IN2ITION REALTY joined together with several community partners as part of the Feed Mississauga initiative through ’twas the Bite Before Christmas Foundation. As of the first week of June, their efforts had already raised more than $20,000 and helped to deliver 6,200 meals to those in need of a cooked meal, as well as more than $5,000 worth of goods for the Children’s Aid Foundation throughout the city of Mississauga.
QUINTE HBA Quinte HBA’s Truckload of Support initiative raised $13,000 in support of frontline workers at Trenton Memorial Hospital and Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital.
GREATER OTTAWA HBA In support of our health care heroes, Ashton, Ontario’s THOMAS CAVANAGH CONSTRUCTION donated more than 2,700 N95 masks to local hospitals,
nursing homes and retirement communities, while distributing their remaining masks to the Ottawa, Almonte and Carleton Place & District hospitals, as well as seniors’ facilities Almonte Country Haven, Fairview Manor, Orchard View by the Mississippi, Waterside and Carleton Place Terrace.
NIAGARA HBA While the need for home upgrades only increased during the pandemic, income for many dried up—particularly in the first two months. In response, four Niagara builders launched “Building up Niagara.” Developed by DRT CUSTOM HOMES, PERRELLA HOMES INC., PARKSIDE HOMES and NIAGARA PINES DEVELOPMENTS, the campaign was designed to support those who have fallen on hard times as a result of COVID-19. One deserving household received the prize of a project build valued up to $5,000, be it a wheelchair ramp, deck, shed, children’s playground or any other project. OHB ohba.ca
@onhomebuilder
PHOTO (TOP LEFT): TIM DURKIN
going. So, with the help of Terroni and General Assembly Pizza, each week we will be sending enough pizza to feed the day and night shifts in the emergency unit at a different hospital.” A Concord-based home builder was moved by the gesture. “We were really touched by the work those restaurants were doing for our frontline workers, so we donated $5,000 to this great cause,” notes Alana Severino of NATIONAL HOMES. But that was just a small part of their contributions thus far. As of mid-May, National Homes has already donated some 430 sandwiches from California Sandwiches in Woodbridge to Sunnybrook Hospital, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Toronto East Drop-In Shelter and Blue Door Men’s Shelter in Bradford. As well, 2,400 KN95 hospital masks were delivered to five hospitals: Sunnybrook, Brampton Civic Hospital, Trillium Health in Mississauga, Joseph Brant in Burlington and Lakeridge Health in Bowmanville. Further, Walmart Gift Cards were donated to the Brampton Salvation Army and the George Hull Centre in Etobicoke.
SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW OPEN! Don’t miss your chance to showcase your talent at this year’s virtual Awards of Distinction!
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Inside Storey OHB: HOW VARIED ARE TREECUTTING PERMITS AROUND THE PROVINCE? LAURA WATSON: “Rules differ
significantly. In Toronto, for example, a permit is required to remove, cut down or in any other way injure a tree with a diameter of 30 cm (the approximate thickness of a telephone pole) or more on private property. The tree diameter measurement must be taken at 1.4 m above ground level. In Oakville, the minimum diameter starts at just 15 cm. HAS TREE REMOVAL BECOME MORE CONTENTIOUS WITH THE DEMISE OF THE OMB?
WHEN A TREE FALLS Talk to a pro before making the hardest cut of all BY TED M c INTYRE WITH LAURA WATSON, PRINCIPAL/CONSULTING ARBORIST WITH 7 OAKS TREE CARE & URBAN FORESTRY CONSULTANTS
DOING A LITTLE reno work? Trying to make that new custom home or an entire development fit the grid without removing a small forest? Just need to remove a few branches or that one problematic maple, or are you even allowed to damage a particular type of tree at all? Most land development applications now require a tree inventory, arborist report and tree preservation plan, with details sometimes going right down to the monetary valuation of a single tree on a site. Specializing in land development applications, Richmond Hill-based 7 Oaks Tree Care & Urban Forestry Consultants Inc. is a full-service firm providing urban forestry and arboricultural services. The company’s Principal/Consulting Arborist, Laura Watson, and her staff of International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborists work closely with ohba.ca
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designers, architects, project engineers and planners to ensure that all municipal requirements will be met, and can liaise between the municipality and the builder. And that can be an important relationship, given the value of trees to potential homebuyers. According to the National Association of Home Builders in the U.S., 56% of real estate professionals say the presence of healthy shade trees strongly influences a home’s salability; 85% of homebuyers desire a treed lot; and nearly 40% identify trees as essential. “I think most builders see trees as an impingement to development— which they can be—but the presence of large, mature trees raises property and resale values,” Watson echoes. “So having an experienced arborist, capable of offering solutions to the challenges, will save you time and money in the long run.”
“We had a development in a councillor’s neighbourhood. A proposed lot severance and construction of two new homes threatened an existing Norway Maple tree located on the shared boundary line of the development site and an adjacent neighbour, who was vehemently opposed to the proposed development. This file went to the OMB, where the protection of the tree was included in the OMB conditions. So building foundation excavation had to be altered to accommodate the tree. “But I’ve been to many hearings since the implementation of Local Planning Appeal Tribunals (LPAT) versus the previous OMB structure, and trees now hold even more weight. Whether it was the loss of trees on city boulevards, loss of shared boundary trees or the anticipated impacts to existing ones, trees seem to be the extra bullet in the chamber when it comes to filing appeals to LPAT these days. DO SOME BUILDERS NOT APPRECIATE THE VALUE OF ARBORISTS?
“7 Oaks’ Arborists are also very familiar with the ins and outs of municipal planning, construction and development processes, like site grading and servicing, so we can spot potential issues “A homeowner/developer called me, due to the fact that the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and Toronto Forestry had identified ONTARIO HOME BUILDER SUMMER 2020
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his fill placement, retaining wall and deck build within a ravine area as an infraction (due to a neighbour call-in to the City). We had to come in and evaluate the impact to the trees, as well as prepare an arborist report and tree preservation plan for the new home build that was also proposed. Mitigation and restoration of the impacted ravine area was required, due to the retaining wall placement and eventual relocation. “Something many of my clients have issues with are city-owned trees, especially in Toronto, and their proposed infill development. Lot severance and constructing a new driveway often leads to the requirement for removal of municipally owned trees. A quick evaluation of the site (prior to purchase or plan development) can save the developer/ builder money and time when it comes to saving or reducing the impact to municipally owned trees. “In all sorts of cases, hiring a consulting arborist early in the game will save you time and money— including decreasing the costs and headaches associated with hiring multiple consultants—and can identify potential tree issues that builders never would have seen coming.” WHAT ABOUT WHEN THINGS GO TO COURT?
“Our experienced Consulting Arborists have provided expert witness testimony or statements during many legal and LPAT/OMB proceedings pertaining to arboricultural, urban forestry or tree-related legal issues. We can also provide written reporting or visual presentations to support our testimony or statements. “But we can help keep things out of court too. I had a client retain me to prepare a monetary valuation for a neighbour’s tree. The neighbour claimed that their tree was irreparably damaged due to the removal of a limb to accommodate a new roof. The limb was valued at $10,000 by another arborist. We completed a monetary valuation on the tree with and without the limb, resulting in evidence to refute the $10,000 limb value. It was settled out of civil court. ohba.ca
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“By-laws usually allow for the removal of limbs and branches that overhang shared boundary lines, as long as the removal is done by a qualified professional, as per current arboricultural standards, and does not lead to the death of the tree. In some cases, tree crowns have to be severely pruned to accommodate buildings, which can lead to issues with trees owned by adjacent neighbours. But an experienced consulting arborist will identify these issues before a development begins and offer suggestions to mitigate required pruning, as well as ways to maintain crown integrity, not to mention neighbourly relations.” DO YOU HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW A PARTICULAR SPECIES CAN BE PROBLEMATIC?
“In Richmond Hill, I had a client purchase a development lot only to find out it was populated with five Butternut trees, which are an endangered species and provincially regulated. We had to attend the site, inspect the trees and conduct a Butternut Health Assessment for each tree and submit a notice to the Ministry of Natural Resources. It turned out that the trees were still protected, but could still be impacted due to their current level of infection with Butternut Canker. “Butternut trees are prevalent within Southwestern Ontario, especially in the GTA and Hamilton/Burlington/ Niagara, and east to Kingston and Ottawa. If you happen to purchase land with a Category 3 Butternut on it (an ‘archivable’ specimen, versus a Category 1 tree that is ‘non-retainable’ and freely removed), there are many, many restrictions to impacting—let alone removing—the tree.”
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YOU LIKE HELPING BUILDERS FIT THE PIECES OF A PUZZLE.
“I had a client constructing a pre-fab home on a foundation, with a very old oak tree along their driveway, as well as several mature trees on their lot. We helped them achieve the goal of making it look like the house was dropped from the sky onto the lot while preserving all of the surrounding trees.” OHB ohba.ca
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Trending I DE A S FOR B U I L DE R S & R E N OVAT OR S
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Vintage Flooring bone off its new Herring collection. P. 24
SMOOTH THE WAY Perfect for modern home designs, the new Sawn texture from Arriscraft delivers a clean, smooth finish. Stack and Midtown thinadhered stone both feature this unique look (Stack Desert Sand pictured) and offer a broad colour selection including light, dark and earthy tones. This exciting new finish is a great option for contemporary designs or renovation upgrades and adds modern flair to interior projects. ARRISCRAFT.COM ohba.ca
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MASTERING THE FORMALITIES From navigating changes at Tarion to getting access to all purchasers’ deposits, the Developer Surety team at Masters Insurance takes the edge off project formalities. As a trusted, independent brokerage, they offer solutions from multiple or direct markets; translating to compelling terms and cost efficiency over a project’s lifetime. With unique decisionmaking authority, Masters delivers on flexibility, executing condominium deposit insurance and bonding needs at any turn. MASTERSINSURANCE.COM
2020 VISION The huge “20/20/20/20” launch from Cambria, a leading innovator of natural quartz surfaces, features random veining and everything from whites to greys and blacks, with tones and movements never before accomplished. Ideal for larger applications beyond the countertop and large surface areas now featuring stone, the series is available in matte and high-gloss finishes, with 19 different edge profile treatments, most of which are available in 2CM and 3CM thicknesses. CAMBRIAUSA.COM/GALLERIES/TORONTO
HAVE A BLAST The silky, matte texture and unique speckled colour palette of Unilock Arcana Slabs is created by fine blasting its surface to expose a combination of natural granite, quartz and marble particles. These large-format slabs are on-trend for roof decks, patios, walkways and overlay projects. Arcana Slabs feature a non-slip surface and are further enhanced with EasyClean Stain Resistance to provide integral surface protection from stains. UNILOCK.COM
NOTHING VENT-URED, NOTHING GAINED Etobicoke’s Aria Vent has reimagined the age-old air register that has marred floorspace, walls and ceilings for decades. Available in multiple sizes and designs, these made-in-Ontario products allow design and utility to co-exist by offering the only customizable air register system that can be adapted to all surfaces, including carpet, mosaic, luxury vinyl, tile, cork and drywall. As the first alternative to the traditional grille model, the centre of each vent can be customized with any material through quick ‘drop-in’ mounting. ARIAVENT.COM 24
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Experience screens that transform your home design...
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Now your clients can entertain all year round with Phantom’s motorized retractable screens! They create the perfect indoor/ outdoor transitional living space. Custom-made and professionally installed, Phantom Screens provides insect-free ventilation and solar protection, together with the unmatched design consultation and installation service that makes your projects stand out. Contact Ontario Screen Systems Inc. and differentiate your designs.
1.888.PHANTOM (742-6866) | PhantomScreens.ca
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WALK OF FAME Available in a variety of textures and colours, Vintage Flooring’s high-quality Herringbone Collection (Smooth Red Oak Pewter series pictured) continues its momentum. Although traditionally a classic geometrical pattern made from individual strips of hardwood and assembled to create the typical V-shape, some sizes can also be installed in a cube, fence, brick or basket pattern. VINTAGEFLOORING.COM
POWER RANGERS DeWalt’s new Power Detect technology, included exclusively on four new 20V Max XR brushless tools (7-1/4” circular saw, reciprocating saw, 5” angle grinder and hammer drill) can identify the battery that each tool is paired with and adjust power output accordingly. This is ideal for contractor applications where premium power, performance, runtime and productivity are required. The new tools also feature upgraded motors and components compared to their predecessors, as well as durable housings. DEWALT.CA 26
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GET SMART Alerts are smart; solutions are smarter. Enercare Smarter Home is a simple, integrated system that puts home comfort and peace of mind in the palm of a homeowner’s hand, even when they’re not at home. The program goes beyond notifying you of any issues. From automated solutions within the app, to contacting responsive technicians to fix the issue, Enercare Smarter Home is a complete solution for a home. ENERCARE.CA
X MARKS THE SPOT The Isenberg Design Lab in Dallas has added the Serie 240, a beautifully cohesive master bath ensemble, to its collection. Distinctive graphic-X handles—available in traditional metal, concrete and wood options, as well as matte black, polished nickel and chrome—highlight the new collection, which is part of a montage of 15 coordinating fixtures for the tub, shower and sink. ISENBERGFAUCETS.COM
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Keeping you safer since 1920 We’ve been at it since 1920 – learning what matters most to our customers and the challenges they face. Not all industries are the same, so we pride ourselves in understanding the intricacies of your business.
Call 1.844.628.6800 and speak to a Commercial Insurance Specialist today. www.federated.ca Recommended insurer of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association (OHBA). Federated Insurance Company of Canada is the insurer of Federated Insurance policies. [3706-007 ed01E | 06-2020]
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Trending
HERE’S A WHOLE NEW ANGLE Most plumbers rarely get a nice, clean, open workspace in which to tackle a job. They need the leverage of a pipe wrench, but often have to do it from a harsh angle that drastically reduces their leverage. But thanks to its unique teeth, Crescent Tools’ new K9 AngleAccess Jaws can grab hold of a pipe at an arc up to 30 degrees—much greater than a typical pipe wrench—for best-in-class access in tight spaces. CRESCENTTOOL.COM
BLACK BEAUTY Architects, designers, specifiers, contractors and building owners now have an innovative, high-performance option when it comes to insulation for open-joint cladding systems: Rockwool’s new Cavityrock Black. The dualdensity insulation board is designed to mask the insulation layer with a bonded fleece facing, creating a crisp, dark aesthetic, while eliminating the time and expense required by a separate masking layer. ROCKWOOL.COM 28
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ARIA OF INFLUENCE The simplicity and integrity of concrete take shape through the fine lines and smooth surfaces of Permacon’s Aria stone (Oxyde pictured). Its minimalist avant-garde design provides a timeless and universal element to any architectural project. It allows for the creation of a modern canvas with a linear or ashlar pattern and harmonizes with the company’s collection of Melville landscaping products. PERMACON.CA
AN ENTICING OPPORTUNITY Napoleon’s Entice Series of electric fireplace extends a stunning clean-face design with a larger viewing area. Offered in five different widths from 36” up to 72”, the new model can be placed virtually anywhere in a home with plug-in or hardwiring options, as well as an allowance to wall-mount, semi-recess or fully recess. The Entice series comes with a beautiful contemporary crystal-media ember bed and offers two different log sets as optional media. NAPOLEON.COM ohba.ca
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Protection. Built Over Time. Trusted Partner to Ontario Home Builders and Developers
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BRAVING THE STORM COVID-19 has forced industry members to navigate uncharted waters, but there is light on the horizon BY T E D M c I N T Y R E
A
s the saying goes, diamonds are formed under pressure. Although the past few months have been challenging for everyone, and devastating for some, there are often opportunities even in the darkest of times. “During the Great Depression, companies such as DuPont, General Electric, IBM and Procter & Gamble defied the odds, churning out profits and growth while competitors went under,” notes the Ivey Business Journal. Consider IBM, which “accelerated the development of a new, state-of-the-art accounting machine, launching it in 1930. Starting in 1932, IBM committed 6% of total revenue to R&D and built America’s first corporate research laboratory. During the 1930s, IBM launched three times as many products ohba.ca
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as it had in the previous decade.” And consider Kellogg during the same period. According to a New Yorker story, “Post did the predictable thing: it reined in expenses and cut back on advertising. But Kellogg doubled its ad budget, (expanded) advertising, and heavily pushed its new cereal, Rice Krispies. By 1933, even as the economy cratered, Kellogg’s profits had risen almost 30% and it had become the industry’s dominant player.” Even though the COVID-19 pandemic has been a gut punch for award-winning Amsted Design-Build in Ottawa—all 62 employees were shut down for the best part of a month and sales dropped roughly 25% in March and close to 40% in the two months that followed—Amsted is pushing forward through the storm.
“What’s the saying? ‘Don’t waste a good crisis?’” offers Steve Barkhouse. It’s dark humour from Amsted’s president, but it’s a matter of trying to position his Ottawa-based company as best he can for when it emerges from the pandemic. “We’re investing in our future, buying a local business that’s closing down and purchasing another about an hour away and we’re investing heavily in marketing,” Barkhouse says. “I don’t think our market share will shrink, but the market itself will. So we’re all in. And if it doesn’t turn around, we’ll be all out.” The strategy has also involved streamlining the company. “We’ve had to restructure our business, which has meant role elimination and job elimination,” Barkhouse laments. “And we’ve had some people off on medical leave that probably wouldn’t have been ONTARIO HOME BUILDER SUMMER 2020
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had it not been for COVID. There are a lot of mental health challenges coming up. I talked to a great young carpenter on my team who is off now but was making $35 an hour. He said he’s doing ok, but his rent is $1,800 a month, he has car payments and gets $2,000 from the government. So there’s nothing left for food. That’s tough on people with tons of time to sit at home and think about it.” And it’s not easy for business owners either. “Yes, it’s very burdensome,” Barkhouse shares. “These people are family.” Amsted, which, as of the end of May did not qualify for the federal government’s $40,000 emergency loan, is also feeling the pinch of the required protocols. “Every jobsite is sealed off and people have to sign in,” Barkhouse says. “We’re wiping down tools and not sharing, and only one person per storey, per job. So we have two on a site instead of five. It’s slowing the jobs, which means we can’t do as many. I know of many folks who are just hoping to get through this first wave, but that if there’s a second wave, they won’t even bother trying. “Sometimes you need a recession to make you leaner,” Barkhouse says. “But it’s also driving a lot of my competition underground. I know a guy who has a decision to make—he can get every job visited by the Ministry of Labour and have every protocol perfect, but have the odd project shut down because someone didn’t wash their hands perfectly. Or he can go underground, make another 30% because he’s not paying taxes and WSIB. To be honest, we looked at it, but it doesn’t fit with our values.”
S LOWDOWN No one has been spared. In Toronto, BILD reported that April housing sales were down 80% over April 2019. And in early May, real estate research firm Urbanation reported that more than half of Toronto’s spring condo launches would be delayed until fall. That news ironically followed the announcement that sales in the first quarter of the year were the second-best on record. But now, “similar to the Q1 and Q2 periods of 2009 following the onset of the Great Recession, new launches are expected to become very limited 32
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over the next six months, which should help keep absorption levels high and inventories low,” Urbanation noted. The Bank of Canada is doing what it can to encourage sales, slashing interest rates to a historic 0.25%. According to a detailed report released last month entitled Canadian Real Estate: Closed Until Further Notice, BMO Senior Economist Robert Kavcic noted that the central bank is not expected to raise the rate for two years. Currently, five-year fixed-rate mortgages, in the 2.5% to 3% range among the five major banks, are almost 50 points lower than last year’s already low rates. The timing of the pandemic was both good and bad for Mississauga’s Phantom Screens. “About two years ago we invested in a cloud-based CRM (customer relationship management) system,” explains Phantom’s general manager Stephen Attfield. “Then at the end of February, we upgraded our server and moved our email to Microsoft’s Cloud Exchange. Part of that package is a service called Teams. It was a great way for us to share documents, text each other and it even includes video calling. It allowed us to set up teams by department. You can have a document open and we can all edit it at once and see who’s made changes. “When COVID hit, we closed the office and had to lay off all our field staff and a good majority of our customer service staff,” Attfield says. “But we did have a few who continued to work from home. Our phones have the ability to twin each person’s desktop, so when I ring someone’s extension, it also rings to them at home. It’s so seamless that even we’re not sure whether someone’s here or at home.” While installations within a customer’s residence were still off limits as of the end of May, “the real problem is that we’re seasonal,” Attfield explains. “We usually bring on seasonal employees who need training and support in the early stages. But that’s a big challenge to do remotely. Even if orders come in later this summer, we’ll have to go with the staff we presently have.” And don’t customers prefer to see the product in person? “Yes, and it’s
important to get these sales,” Attfield says. “But your employees have to feel safe and comfortable and know that you’re doing what you can for them.”
LE ADI NG BY E X AM PLE The Ontario Home Builders’ Association has also been doing what it can for builders and renovators, notes Chuck McShane, executive officer of the Niagara Home Builders’ Association. “OHBA worked very hard with other industry stakeholders to make sure we could keep working, and a big part of it was due to the safety protocols that the organization put into play.” The reality is that productivity has been slowed to roughly 65%, McShane estimates. “I think we’ve added at least a month to building a home. We’re going to see deals lost—maybe 5% that will go back into inventory.” While the slowdown means deadlines are being missed, “this provincial government has been very receptive and understands the importance of this industry and putting people in homes,” McShane says. “And Tarion has been fabulous with the delays.” While OHBA was paving the way for future construction, Mattamy Homes was taking proactive steps of its own. When the Provincial government ohba.ca
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“WHAT’S THE SAYING? ‘DON’T WASTE A GOOD CRISIS?’” declared a state of emergency on March 17, the company temporarily suspended all its customer-facing and site-based operations. “We began an orderly wind-down of all activities and the leadership team began engaging management in daily calls,” recalls Michael Dauncey, Mattamy’s Director of Health & Safety. “Employees who could work from home were encouraged to do so. We established a COVID hotline to answer any questions our staff had. We also publicized our existing Employee Assistance Program that is made available to employees and families 24/7 in case they needed help during this stressful time.” During the two-week suspension, CEO Brad Carr organized teams to work on policies and protocols for a safe return to work. “This was not just for our own staff, but our subtrades and our homeowners,” Dauncey says. “It was a very complex undertaking.” On April 1, Mattamy began a phased-in re-opening, with staff trained in the new protocols and sites prepared, with orientation for subtrades following the week after. “We also had a team whose sole task was to procure supplies—hundreds of thousands of dollars of masks, sanitizer, signage, wash stations, entrance checkpoints, thermal guns…” ohba.ca
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On April 6, the company began to reintroduce trades to their sites. “Every employee and trade worker was issued a COVID-19 hard-hat sticker to easily identify if they had received our orientation,” Dauncey notes. “And every person on site is screened and tracked.” The Ministry of Labour has been impressed. “On May 13, the IHSA in consultation with the MOL visited our Mount Pleasant North-Brampton project as part of their outreach program,” Dauncey relates. “They commented that we ‘exceeded all government recommendations related to the prevention of illnesses due to COVID-19.’ And they have used many of our protocols in some of the documents they’ve put out for broader absorption.” And what about the homeowner? “They get a checklist, an email or phone call from us,” says Dauncey, whose company has hired multiple professional cleaning companies to augment their own busy rituals. “Our sites are cleaned three, four times a day.”
TE AM PL AY For all the protocols companies have enacted, there has to be buy-in from every worker on site, notes Bruce Bolduc, president of Construction Workplace Safety Training Ltd. “In many cases, it’s as if nothing has changed on the jobsite,” says a
frustrated Bolduc, who has helped develop protocols and best practices as part of OHBA’s COVID-19 team. “I was doing a site audit north of Toronto, and the company was making sure they were doing all the steps they needed to in order to protect their people. But as I’m standing around, a van pulls up and six guys jump out, and none of them are wearing hardhats or work boots. And I asked the foreman, ‘Do you guys all live under one roof?’ He said, ‘No, I pick them up on the way to work in the morning.’ And they’re all smoking in the truck and no one wearing masks. I said, ‘What about your families?’ And he said, ‘Well, we’re okay.’ And I said, ‘You don’t know that!’ “It’s indicative of residential construction,” Bolduc says. “I’ve been on three sites in the last two weeks and have watched guys hand off materials personto-person, no masks. And then a few pile into a truck and go to lunch, no masks.” As of early May, there had already been 28 stop-work orders issued by the Ministry of Labour, Bolduc notes. And even if a worker tests positive, who’s to know where they contracted the virus? “They can leave the site and go to the gas station or the grocery store. And they go home, and their kids have been interacting with other kids in the neighbourhood and maybe ONTARIO HOME BUILDER SUMMER 2020
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“PEOPLE WILL STAY MORE LOCAL AND MAKE THEIR HOME AND BACKYARD MORE OF AN OASIS.” they bring it home. “I follow a number of law firms on social media and everybody’s doing webinars on COVID and a lot of what they’re saying is, ‘Is this compensable to WSIB?’ The lawyers are going to have a field day with this,” Bolduc says. “A lot of these laws are already there, though. In the Ontario’s Occupational Health & Safety Act, there’s already an overarching (duty) of constructors for being basically responsible for everyone on their project—any potential physical or environmental hazard. COVID-19 falls under that definition,” Bolduc reminds. But if employers are looking for a playbook, “the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) has come up with a great, encompassing document,” he says. “They’re not difficult processes, but documenting it is critical to the constructor/builder/renovator so that you can show you’re doing everything you’re aware of to protect people. For example, if you have a suspected positive, let’s look at the CCA document, and say, ‘All right, we know that person worked for XYZ subtrade. Whom did they contact? Where did they work? What do we need to do? If they only worked in lots 43, 50 and 51, well, who else was in those areas?’ So company XYZ employees are all in quarantine. “Communication and documentation is more important now than it has ever been,” Bolduc notes. “Because to shut down one small group is inconvenient, but it’s not catastrophic to a major build. 34
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Whereas, if you have someone wandering through a jobsite of a multi-storey condo, that worker might have ridden on the same lift with every other trade and walked around in close contact with hundreds of people. And now what?” As far as procedure goes, “have your supervisors and your subtrades sign off or say they’ve interviewed all the participants coming in today and that they’re symptom-free,” Bolduc says. “And do it by email, so that you have a time and date stamp, and put it in your file so you have a record of following protocols without people having to come in and sign a piece of paper. If you start with the constructor, how are they protecting the site? And how many subtrades are there for any given project? And what are each of those companies doing in this pyramid to make sure everyone is protected?” And remind workers that they are also are responsible for any potential hazards they’re aware of. “It’s already in the ‘Green Book,’” Bolduc says. And don’t miss the little things. “Hand sanitizer is 80%+ alcohol, which is also flammable,” Bolduc notes. “You should have seen the faces on a couple supers today when I asked, ‘Do you have an SDS (Safety Data Sheet) on your sanitizer products?’”
S I LVE R LI N I NGS If there’s something good to come out of the pandemic for the home building and renovation industry, it’s that potential customers will not, for the foreseeable
future, be spending their disposable income on travel or entertainment. “I think a lot of people will stay more local and make their home and backyard more of an oasis,” suggests Phantom’s Attfield. “We’re focusing heavily on what I think will be the first wave to come back: small jobs,” adds Amsted’s Barkhouse, whose company includes a Home Care division that specializes in maintenance and small upgrades. “People aren’t going to travel this year, so they might have $5,000 to $20,000 to spend on home offices, repairs around the house, painting, trim, maybe get the roof done now.” OHBA Director of Policy Michael Collins-Williams even sees the potential for a changing mindset from a planning standpoint. “There may be a greater discussion on how we move through cities and urban spaces, with more emphasis on active transportation,” he says. “Major cities in Europe have already added hundreds of kilometres of cycling lanes and prohibited vehicles from their downtown cores so that people can move around and restaurants can have patios and spread tables out. “And this might accelerate the movement toward digitization of planning and permit processes for more municipalities, with more cloud computing circulation and review to create efficiencies and hopefully more creativity,” Collins-Williams notes. “And people’s relationship with their yard and plants might also change after this.” “I think you’ll see the approvals processes get changed and some red tape reduced,” McShane predicts. “I think the economic value of the home building industry, not only to the province but local municipalities, will be understood a lot better. And I think this has helped build bridges with building officials and municipalities. The (Niagara) clerks’ office has been fabulous. “I know the slogan through the pandemic has been, ‘We’re all in this together.’ But we’re a very tight industry—we’ve always all been in this together,” McShane says. “We’ll get through this as a team. We’ll come out stronger and better.” OHB ohba.ca
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YOU ARE ESSENTIAL
NEEZO Studios is proud to support the efforts of Canada’s essential building industry. As construction resumes and we all strive to ensure worker safety, deadlines are looming, development approvals have stalled, yet the essential building industry is working hard to deliver keys to thousands of families waiting for their homes to be completed. NEEZO is showing its support for land developers, architects and new home builders who are challenged with keeping projects on schedule, while continuing to promote and sell developments virtually, all in an effort to help accommodate housing needs, in Toronto, the Greater Golden Horseshoe and other areas all across Ontario. To express our appreciation for essential services in the building industry, NEEZO Studios is offering its first-ever Customer Appreciation Sale.
CUSTOMER APPRECIATION SALE
EXTERIOR RENDERINGS
BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE Visit: neezostudios.com/OHBABOGO Expires: July 31, 2020 *Visit website for full details. Exclusive offer for new home builders, developers & architects only. This BOGO offer applies to one exterior rendering--featuring two seasons.
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Stair Masters Taking design to the next level BY T E D M c I N T Y R E
Some people think of stairs simply as a means of getting from one level to the next. But as a central artery in the composition of homes and buildings, there’s an underlying artistic opportunity that’s rarely lost on architects and designers. Tridel is among the many developers seeking inspiration as much as functionality in their staircases, and Toronto’s II By IV Design has been the builder’s go-to firm in that department. “It’s something we get involved in right at the beginning,” says II By IV partner Dan Menchions. “Staircases are those vertical transitions at circulation points within buildings. We're given programs for each development, and the connectivity between the floors and the levels changes based on each building, neighbourhood and demographic. We'll often relocate the stair position in order to make it best suit the efficiency and planning of these interiors.” While their signature staircases can be considered artwork, there can’t be form without function, Menchions reminds. “Our staircases very much become focal features. But they're not only beautiful architectural and sculptural elements; they also motivate people to move in a more healthy way through their environment. We incorporate elements to encourage people to use them. Lighting is also extremely important.” Still, there are creative limitations in the form of the Ontario Building Code. “We have codes and regulations to adhere to, from tread width, dimensions and railing height to egress for fire exiting, materiality for maintenance, slippage, etc. For the barrier-free aspect, there are details that have to be added to the treads and risers at both the base and the tops of stairs, including transition strips,” Menchions says. “But we don’t let (regulations) get in the way of artistry. And sometimes it’s OK to have limitations. If it was a free-for-all, I think you’d have more of a struggle trying to create something.” Here’s a look at some of Ontario’s more inspiring steps. 36
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AMBER STAIRS & RAILINGS
Modern Family TORONTO
Amber Stairs & Railings was commissioned to create a staircase that was unique, sleek and modern, yet suitable for a family lifestyle. “The treads protrude from the wall on standoffs, so the wood doesn’t actually touch the wall!” observes company vice-president Elnita Post. “The distinct square stainless steel standoffs are fully adjustable. They were designed in-house and fabricated in a custom shop since they were not commercially available at that time. “Using Starphire glass ensured that the glass is extremely clear,” Post adds. “The landing, meanwhile, is held up by standoffs on the inside wall and hung on the glass panel on the outside wall. The glass panel is then hung from the header of the wall above. This gives the landing the illusion of hanging in midair. “The handrail and the treads are all inlaid with a stainless steel band, tying the standoffs and the wood components together for a cohesive look.”
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TRIDEL / II BY IV DESIGN
Bathed In Light AQUAVISTA
“With Aquavista, we’re dealing with not a very high ceiling, but this is a direct access from the main lobby to bring people into the lower amenity space,” explains II By IV Design partner Dan Menchions. “So instead of bringing people down through an elevator, we pulled the staircase close to the exterior window to bring in natural light.” Emblematic of the development’s water theme, an abstract artform hangs from the ceiling, representing a school of fish. Working in harmony with nighttime lighting, the reflected school appears to be “swimming down the staircase on the lower level,” Menchions notes. “We also used small lights positioned above some of the treads. At night it’s a completely different and beautiful experience. And the staircase materials include a beautiful whitewashed wood veneer on the interior and exterior balustrade, with a solid wood cap on top. The railing is black metal (complementing the sculpture) and the stairs are solid granite.”
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TRIDEL / II BY IV DESIGN (PROJECT IN PROGRESS)
Markham Magic ROYAL BAYVIEW
“This image is from the lower lobby, a subterranean level,” explains II By IV Design partner Dan Menchions of their work at Tridel’s Royal Bayview project in Markham. “We looked at the topography of the area. The buildings are quite geometric and structured, so we wanted to bring a lot more organic shape to soften the interiors, hence why this staircase has that soft curve. “This is a very welcoming space, a combination of stone, wood and metal,” Menchions notes. “Pot-lighting on the underside complements the ceiling, while the handrails are illuminated by a LED strip within the design itself. So at night this shows off its beautiful shape. It’s the first project in which we’ve used that.”
RND CONSTRUCTION / HA2 ARCHITECTURE DESIGN
Art Course OTTAWA "GALLERIA"
For Galleria in Ottawa (completed last year), “circulation is a prominent feature, where form and function seamlessly co-exist,” observes Ha2 Architecture Design proprietor Houry Avedissian. “The homeowners and visitors alike have the option to choose the quicker access from the basement via an elevator, but given the intrinsic charm and beauty of this staircase, the scenic art-filled journey up its winding trajectory would be any customer’s first choice.” The two-part circular staircase, built out of wood and not steel, “is usually found in concert halls or vacation villas,” notes Avedissian. “But here at Hilson Avenue, we had the luxury of designing it and watching this finely crafted gem assembled—every majestic detail—right down to the stunning winding wood ribbon handrail. The circular staircase shows off its pearly curves, matching another of (the home’s) internal sculptural pieces, the shapely fireplace across from it, not to mention a cylindrical powder room podium sink right off the dining room.” ohba.ca
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TRIDEL / II BY IV DESIGN
Crowd A’Peel TEN YORK
This staircase sits in the amenity area, on the fifth floor, leading to the rooftop terrace of the pie-shaped podium at Toronto’s Ten York. “When you come from the interior core of the residential elevator lobby, you see this beautiful sculptural staircase,” notes II By IV Design's Dan Menchions. “The large polished stainless steel mirror columns were an intentional part of the design to reflect all of the sculptural elements of the staircase and surrounding area—to open it up and make it feel more animated, since they’re reflecting all the activity in the space as well. The staircase sits in the centre of all that. We used a dark walnut on the balustrade and a casted drywall form on the interior lining, so that it looked like the staircase had been peeled open to reveal this beautiful dark interior. It almost has a ship-like quality to it, like you’re crawling up through a crow’s nest to get to the top deck of the ship. “We chose a custom carpet runner,” Mentions adds. “Patterns can be very difficult on curved staircases, so we really worked at designing this particular pattern, and left a little wood reveal on the sides so that the carpet just became this wonderful runner up the staircase—an invitation to get the residents up or down the stairs. It’s a timeless design. There was almost a Frank Gehry-like approach when we were designing this.”
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AMBER STAIRS & RAILINGS
Geometry Class TORONTO RENO
After
Before
Prior to the installation of this striking geometriclike stair design during a home renovation, this space was occupied by a standard carpet-covered stair with the traditional wooden handrail and spindles, ending with the common monkey-tail volute. The clients wanted to update the look, but weren’t sure exactly how to get there. Amber Stairs & Railings designed and produced a double waterfall stairway with fully integrated landings that meet all engineering standards. Fully self-supporting, the stair’s inside stringer is slightly separated from the wall, leaving space for soft yellow lighting. The clear glass is all supported by a hidden channel to continue the sleek linear look the clients desired, while a natural oil finish adds to the overall warmth. The end result, a deceptively simple yet eyecatching stair with clean, sleek lines, bathed in warm light, earned the 2018 Best Stairway Renovation from the Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association.
ROYAL OAK RAILING & STAIR/ RAJACAN DEVELOPMENTS
The Embrace FOREST HILL
Simple but elegant at first blush, this Forest Hill design, built by Rajacan Developments Inc. and completed earlier this year, increasingly dazzles from every angle as one ascends and descends its multiple levels. Featuring a design that appears to collect and embrace its visitors, “this is a high-end custom built-on-site stair,” notes Blair Hilder of Royal Oak Railing and Stair. Although the design was conceived by the builder, “we have project managers and modellers on hand for this type of work,” Hilder says. “This design features a continuous wellboard on the main and second floor, with recessed panels that are CNC-cut into the stringers, the latter of which are laminated solid American poplar,” Hilder adds. “Bullnose cylinders were installed on top of the starter tread. We used 1¼”-thick solid quarter-cut white oak for the treads and a ½” birch veneer for the risers.” A dramatic skylight bathes the finished product during morning and midday hours. OHB ohba.ca
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HEALTH CHOIC The Wellness Centre at Minto’s The Saint condominiums includes a spa room. 42
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HY CES ohba.ca
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Mind and body design practices are alive and well BY T R AC Y H A N E S
T
hey are embracing forest bathing and farm-to-table dining. They are wearing fitness trackers, meditating more, consuming less meat and more plants. Canadians’ growing preoccupation with their mental and physical well-being is prompting some Ontario builders to respond, whether it’s by adding biophilic design elements or pursuing certifications such as WELL for their projects. “The trend until a few years ago was the effects of the building on the environment and how we impact the environment,” says Bita Ardabili, associate manager of architecture for the IBI Group’s Vancouver office, a LEED and WELL Accredited Professional and Fitwel ambassador. “Now there’s a focus on occupants and how buildings affect their health and wellness. We’ve seen more and more standards related to this coming out.” ONTARIO HOME BUILDER SUMMER 2020
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BIOPHILIA A desire or tendency to commune with nature
Vancouver condo projects designed by IBI Group Architects incorporating biophilic elements include (clockwise from above): The Spot, a 13-storey mixed-use building featuring a rooftop garden; Coopers Lookout, a 35-storey condo set along the False Creek Seawall that maximizes daylight and views; and Central, a 22-storey tower offering access to nature and a Feng Shui interior design to provide positive energy in each suite.Opposite: The lobby at Minto’s The Saint.
Biophilia means love of nature and focuses on humans’ attraction to it. This connection to nature has become increasingly important to health and wellbeing in built environments. Biophilic design strives to create that connection indoors through use of plants, views of nature, natural light and ventilation, water features and natural materials. It takes a multi-sensory approach by appealing to sight, sound, touch and smell, and research has shown it can have a profound influence on our health and productivity. Studies have found it reduces patients’ pain and shortens stays in healthcare facilities. WELL, a third-party certification program more common in the commercial/institutional realm, is gaining traction in the residential sector. It is designed to work with other green building certifications such as LEED and addresses seven categories in building performance: air, water, light, 4 4
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nourishment, fitness, comfort, and mind. While programs such as Energy Star and LEED focus mainly on energy savings, WELL’s focus is occupants’ health. Fitwel is a point-based health and wellness standard, less arduous than WELL, that the Center for Disease Control in the U.S. helped develop. It evaluates the elements that go into a building’s design to create a healthy environment with more than 50 strategies, such as limiting airborne pollutants. The Covid19 crisis may prompt more builders to consider WELL or Fitwel, with enhanced filtration and ventilation systems that reduce pollutants and possible pathogens, a defined regime for cleaning and sanitizing buildings, and adding soothing features such as natural light, greenery and water to help calm residents when life gets stressful. Minto Communities, a long-time innovator in high-performance building,
plans to pursue WELL certification for its future condo buildings, where possible, starting with 123 Portland and The Saint in Toronto. The Saint will feature biophilic aspects such as potted plants, stone and charred wood in its Japaneseinspired lobby to subconsciously connect people to nature. Its Wellness Centre will have a communal rain chromotherapy room with an infrared sauna and a private spa room with individual soaking tubs. There will be a meditation room with a salt rock wall, stargazing and dark meditation room and private meditation room. An open-air Zen garden and treatment rooms for massage, etc., will also be among the amenities, while the gym, with weights, cardio and cross-fit equipment, spinning and yoga/Pilates rooms, is simply called the Health Centre. “I think what stood out to us as we looked at the market is that the younger generation is becoming interested in ohba.ca
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“The younger generation is becoming interested in living healthier lifestyles and the older generation is retiring and becoming more careful about their health.” living healthier lifestyles, and the older generation is retiring and becoming more careful about their health,” says Roya Khaleeli, Minto’s Sustainability Manager. “Those two pieces added to our interest in pursuing the wellness piece.” “A shift has happened over the last few years but it has become more overt,” adds Matthew Brown, Director of Product Development for Minto. He says the trend to healthy eating, as well as the renewed interest in mediation and yoga, are indicators of people’s renewed emphasis on wellness. While Minto does LEED-certify its buildings and that standard has components that improve indoor air quality, Khaleeli says WELL’s air and water quality testing and other requirements “take certain concepts to a new level of detail.” For example, windows in bedrooms and living rooms must be within a certain size range to balance sufficient daylight, energy performance and thermal comfort, and there are specifics about the maximum number of people who can access gym equipment simultaneously, as well as the ratio of the cardiorespiratory versus muscle-strengthening equipment mix. ohba.ca
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“A lot of the standards demonstrate what the industry best practice is in different areas,” says Khaleeli. “LEED pushed the envelope on where to take energy efficiency and a number of environmentally focused building features, but WELL is moving best practices forward, founded on how buildings impact people’s different body systems, such as respiratory, cardiovascular, muscular and digestive.” “It seems like the next logical step in our sustainability progress after energy efficiency and reducing our impact on climate change,” notes Brown. “We like LEED certification and we want to continue to innovative and improve the quality of product for those who will live in our buildings. Standards such as WELL and Fitwel are complementary to how we have been building, allowing us to create a more wellness-focused environment.”
SUITE SENSATIONS Condo builder Tridel is exploring the role of technology with everyday living in its Innovation Suite at Ten York, but in addition to a host of forward-looking features and functions activated by voice, smartphone or touchpad, it incorporates
biophilic design concepts. The suite “represents the incredible possibilities that occur when design and technology meet,” says Stella Salvador, Tridel’s principal interior designer. The suite design is minimalist, modern and sophisticated, with the goal to inspire wellness. The expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, with motorized blinds and master bedroom glass panels that switch from opaque to clear, bring in plenty of natural light and provide connection to nature with spectacular views of Lake Ontario and Centre Island. Stone countertops and wood panelling bring nature indoors, and the Pure Genius wooden herringbone floors by Lauzon are coated in light- and motion-activated titanium oxide that filters and cleans air in the suite. Low-rise builders are also taking note of the wellness trend. Oakville custom builder Hummingbird Hill Homes builds Net Zero-, Passive House- and WELLcertified homes and chose to specialize in sustainable and healthy homes as a way to differentiate itself. “An interest in the environmental aspect and what sustainability meant to us as home builders led us to Passive House, the gold standard of sustainability as it ONTARIO HOME BUILDER SUMMER 2020
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Hummingbird Hill’s Net Zero house in Etobicoke contains no VOCs in its materials and uses natural stone and wood. As a fully automated smart home, it employs sunlight analysis for window placements to maximize natural light and solar gain in winter, and lowers the blinds in summer when it senses the sun’s rays. Its natural ventilation strategy uses cross-breezes and strategic fan integration to move air.
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relates to different programs such as LEED and Net Zero,” says CEO and founder Aaron Miller. “We don’t do many Passive Housecertified homes, but it allows us to dig deep and be on top of the building science related to sustainability.” Passive House indirectly addresses health and wellness, he says, through ventilation that provides superior air quality and enhanced insulation, sealing and triple-glazed windows that cut out exterior noise. When he talked about sustainability with clients, Miller found those conversations “very transactional” and while people wanted to do the right thing, it was only if they didn’t have to sacrifice things important to them, such as aesthetics (hardwood floors, stone countertops, etc). Miller discovered when he talked about making their new homes healthy, the conversations became “more emotional” and he’s found talking about health and relating the five senses has resounded with clients. “We use building science and relate it to the senses,” he says. “We talk about
optimizing comfort, sleep and productivity for those who live in the environment. We explain if you build a home with a tight envelope, it can make a difference to indoor air quality and what it means to have clean, purified air. We talk about sound and acoustical privacy and the impact on stress and sleep. We transitioned the conversation and made it more meaningful.” Hummingbird Hill puts a lot of focus on acoustic privacy and utilizes acoustic wall panels, Silent FX drywall and offset studs to separate key rooms. On exterior walls, the builder uses the Blu Frog panellization system and continuous exterior insulation. They aim for air changes below 1.5 on every build and use sensors and an app to continually track PM2.5, PM10, VOCs, ozone and CO2. When air purity drops below an acceptable level, an air filtration system automatically kicks in. Hummingbird Hill also offers living walls as an option, a biophilic design element that provides a calming effect with plants that can help to purify the air. Not every client goes for the feature and the ones who do ohba.ca
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WELL Transforming our buildings in ways that help people thrive
While high-tech, Tridel’s Innovation Suite also offers a variety of biophilic-focused features, including master bedroom glass panels that can alternate from opaque to clear to bring in natural light and views over Lake Ontario, stone countertops and wooden herringbone floors coated in titanium oxide that filters and cleans air in the suite.
typically want the living-green aesthetic but not herb or vegetable plants. “Mechanical systems can be designed to pull air through a live wall,” Miller explains. “A lot of toxins in air get trapped in the root system and can be biofiltered. This relates to indoor air quality and smell and our need to reconnect with nature.” While sustainability/health features have unfortunately “gotten a bad rap” that’s resulted in consumers thinking they are far more expensive than a standard build, Miller says if they are integrated at an early stage of the design process to optimize cost, it can cost less than 5% more to build than a typical new house. Miller says his company is WELL AP (Accredited Professional) certified and wants to blaze trails related to healthy building. “However, it’s not an easy upsell, and to do it properly, it has to be part of your culture,” he says.
NOT A PREMIUM Brown says Minto’s WELL-certified buildings may be priced comparably to its competitors in a particular neighbourhood. “We have to be able to find a way of delivering our buildings while still remaining competitive, and we have the ohba.ca
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people and processes in place to do that.” He also believes WELL may present a market advantage. “Our approach, by having certification with third-party validation, is proof that what we’re telling you about our buildings is true. In the sales pitch, we’re connecting individual attributes that will resonate with people, such as health and well-being. There’s improved water filtration so you don’t have to buy bottled water. We use a waterbased cleaning system for the building, so you don’t have to worry about chemicals. We have a gym, spa and mediation spaces. We talk up these things, as they are tangible for people.” But such a designation is not without its challenges. Ardabili acknowledges WELL is costlier than other certifications such as LEED, is very strict and there’s no shortage of paperwork and process involved. Buildings also need to be re-certified every three years. “For smaller projects, it might not be economical or possible to get WELLcertified,” she says. “With FitWel, whoever owns or builds a building can do it themselves. It’s like an app and you need proof of the features, such as pictures or drawings.”
But even builders not interested in those certifications can take numerous steps to create healthier environments in new homes or condo buildings that are easy and not costly, she says. “You can provide a direct or indirect connection with nature. You might have a window with a nice view, a skylight that brings in natural light or a picture of a flower on the wall. You may not be able to have a water feature in each building, but you can use natural materials and natural colours to connect people to nature.” Ardabili says staircases can be put close to elevators, and if they are pleasant to walk down—such as with windows, skylights, nice finishes and pictures—they can motivate people to take the stairs. Walking trails and paths in subdivisions or around condo buildings are another easy way to promote physical activity. “I think health and wellness can be a very good marketing tool,” says Ardabili. “It’s about what a building is doing for us and how it affects our comfort and well-being. If I had a choice between two buildings, one with higher-end finishes but the other with features that promote health and wellness, I think I’d take the one with healthy features.” OHB ONTARIO HOME BUILDER SUMMER 2020
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ENJOY R Ford’s F-150, Canada’s best-selling vehicle, again delivers best-in-class towing, payload and fuel economy this year.
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Y THE RIDE Work vehicles are decked out more than ever BY JONATHAN OKE
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R
ides are getting smoother and amenities more plush, with pickup truck manufacturers making further strides in 2020 to blur the line between performance and luxury vehicles. Even electric options are appearing on the horizon, with companies like Tesla’s Cybertruck and and Rivian’s R1T slated for 2021. GM is also targeting an autumn 2021 date for its plug-in pickups to hit showroom floors. But Ontario’s first mainstream electric truck will likely be Ford’s famed F-150. “Looking ahead, Ford has a bold strategy that includes going all-in on electrified vehicles,” says Ford Motor Company of Canada President and CEO Mark Buzzell. “Earlier this year, the company announced a US$11 billion investment in electrification, with plans to put 40 new electrified vehicles on the road by 2022, bringing more capability, performance and efficiency to nameplates Canadians already know and love, from F-150 to Mustang to our entire utilities lineup. “Yet with more electrified vehicles available to Canadians than ever before, consumer adoption remains low, at about 2% of all new car sales,” Buzzell notes. “Still, Ford remains committed to electrification because we believe a consumer shift is on the way, and it’s the right thing to do.” As Canadians wait for more of the powers that be to power up, there’s still a host of winning work vehicles to propel this year’s market as builders, contractors and renovators look to put the pedal down and go full tilt with COVID-19 concerns disappearing in the rearview mirror. Here’s a look at some of the brightest lights among 2020 models this summer.
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NISSAN
TITAN (from $50,498) “The Titan has being revamped a bit for this year, although there’s a whole new redesign coming for 2021,” notes Paul Sabatino, Fleet and Commercial Manager at Brantford Nissan. But it’s what comes standard on the current model that most distinguishes the Titan, Sabatino explains. “Our Safety Shield technology includes intelligent emergency braking with pedestrian detection and rear intelligent emergency braking, where the vehicle stops itself if it’s about to back into something. It already has blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert and lane departure warning with steering wheel vibration. “The ‘Big Three’ (truck manufacturers) have had those type of options for a while, but they are standard in even the “S” entry-level model. The bolder looking 2020 model includes a new front bumper design and large new LED taillights, with a panoramic moonroof in select models. Under the hood, the environmentally unfriendly Cummins engine has been dropped, with the 5.6-litre Endurance V8 now powering all models, with a
There’s a bolder look to the 2020 Titan, while its luxurious interior and saftey features remain standard.
best-in-class 400 hp and 413 lb-ft., according to Nissan. “The new 9-speed transmission is great when it comes to fuel efficiency,” Sabatino says. In regular form, the Titan now features a maximum payload and towing of 1,630 lbs. and 9,350 lbs., respectively, while numbers jump to 2,450 lbs./10,800 lbs. for the larger Titan XD. The luxurious interior is complemented with new 8”/9” touchscreens loaded with
the latest technology, including standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. HD Traffic, Wi-Fi hotspot and NissanConnect Services are also standard. “Were a different breed of truck,” Sabatino says. “We like the quality in it, and everyone who has one loves it. There are just some guys bred to buy Ford, GM or Chevy. But for most contractors, a half-ton pickup is all they need. And the 5 year/160,000 km warranty put us ahead of the competition.”
NISSAN
NV CARGO (from $35,998) The motto for 2020 is, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” says Sabatino of the 4.0L DOHC V6-powered NV Cargo van (375 HP V8 optional, with 9,400-lbs towing capacity). Offered in both standard and highroof models, the NV is also welladorned by standard features that include GPS, four-wheel anti-lock braking and power outlets with up to 400W of electricity in the centre console and by the rear door. And the warranty is again a huge selling point, Sabatino notes. “This is an essential tool for (our consumers), so when you’re spending $40,000-$50,000, it’s nice not to have to do anything but general maintenance for first 160k.” 50
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Offered in standard and high-roof models, the NV shines when it comes to both its warranty and storage.
Styling-wise, this is simply a goodlooking van, Sabatino offers. “And with the high-roof option, you can be 6’3” and stand up in it.” The NV also impresses with its storage capabilities, with 234 cubic
feet and a payload of 2,730 lbs. in the standard model. Flat-loading floors can fit two 40″ × 48″ pallets. Ten-foot piping fits the length of the van, and its 54″ between wheel wells allows for 4’× 8’ drywall and plywood sheets. ohba.ca
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Mercedes’ Metris impresses with its storage capacity, but will also fit in an underground parking lot.
FORD F-150
Engine options vary from a 2.7L twinturbo V6, 3.3L V6 and 5L V8 gas to a 3.5L EcoBoost and diesel.
MERCEDES-BENZ
METRIS
RAM 2500 HEAVY DUTY
(Short-wheel base from $37,500; Long-wheel from $39,100) “The Metris has its own unique market,” says Oakville Mercedes Van Centre’s Myke Ward of the easily manoeuvred cargo van. “It works great for service companies, like HVAC. And it will fit in an underground parking lot! Plus, you can get a 4’x8’ sheet in the back.” Both vehicles are based on car platforms, Ward explains, “so they provide a smoother
car-ride feel. Every time I go on a test drive with a customer who has never driven a Metris but is used to, say, a GMC, they have this ‘wow’ feel—because of the transmission, engine tuning and car platform.” The gas-only Metris features a standard backup camera and Bluetooth pairing and a beautifully redesigned instrument panel.
MotorTrend’s 2020 Truck of the Year features a standard 6.4L HEMI VVT V8 engine with 410 hp.
TOYOTA TUNDRA TRAIL EDITION
Launching this fall, this decked-out model includes plush bucket seats with lumbar supports.
MERCEDES-BENZ METRIS
Featuring car-like smoothness, the easily manoeuvred Metris has storage room for 4’x8’ sheets. MERCEDES-BENZ
SPRINTER
The Sprinter offers enough height for a 6’3” worker to stand up in the back.
(from $47,400) “Mercedes-Benz was the first to create a van not for cargo, but for passengers,” observes Myke Ward of MercedesBenz’s Van Centre Oakville. And there’s something to be said for reputation and that iconic logo, Ward notes. “For many, Mercedes is a status thing for their business. But reliability is a huge thing too. They run forever, especially being diesel. We have a client with probably 1.5 million kms on their vehicle right now. “You can also see the longevity in the fact that is has the highest resale of any commercial van,” Ward adds. For the price-sensitive, Mercedes added a gas option ($4,000 cheaper) to this 3L V6 engine model last year. But the most attractive features remain the same, including the Sprinter’s interior dimensions. “You can be 6’3” and stand up in the HighRoof model,” Ward says. “If you’re already ohba.ca
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on your knees all day, you don’t want to be crawling in and out for supplies. “And depending on what you’re carrying material-wise, there are two lengths. The short wheel base is great if you’ve got drywall and supplies under 10 feet. If you’ve got 14-foot lengths of flooring, then you want to go with the long wheel base.” The shiny exterior of both the Sprinter and Metris has been enhanced in 2020 with new paint colours, with Selenite Grey among the most popular. Inside, creature comforts and safety technology include Bluetooth connection, brake assists and backup camera and sensors. A 7.5” screen upgrade includes Apple CarPlay, Google app, while a threeseater upgrade adds storage below. And there are upgrades aplenty. While it has a base cost is $47,400, the Sprinter can be decked out to the tune of about $90,000.
MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER
The Mercedes logo is a status symbol for many purchasers, but its extreme longevity is also a huge selling point.
NISSAN TITAN
A suite of Safety Shield Technology is standard even on Nissan’s entry-level model.
NISSAN NV CARGO
Standard features include GPS, fourwheel anti-lock and dual power outlets with up to 400W.
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FORD
RAM
F-150
2500 HEAVY DUTY
(XLT model from $30,769)
(Tradesman model from $51,595)
The proverbial 600-pound gorilla of the market remains Ford’s F-150, the bestselling pickup in Canada for the 54th consecutive year and the best-selling vehicle in Canada for the 10th straight year “The F-150 lineup continues to deliver on its promise to give full-size truck customers even more value, functionality and smart technology innovations, with best-in-class towing, payload and fuel economy,” says Ford Canada Communication Manager Christine Hollander. Although Ford will unveil an all-new 2021 F-150 in the fall, which will include a hybrid version, the 2020 model is packed with style, with standard features on the XLT model including fog lights, chrome bumpers, 17” alloy wheels and a two-barstyle chrome grille with chrome nostrils, black surround and black background. Inside, the SYNC 3 infotainment centre offers an 8” capacitive screen that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Engine options vary from a 2.7L twinturbo V6 and 3.3L V6, to 5.0L V8 gas engines, with six-speed and 10-speed automatic transmissions. There’s additionally the 3.5 L EcoBoost engine as well as a diesel option. The F-150 is available in three bed sizes: 5.5’, 6.5’ and 8’. Overall length ranges from 209.3” to 250.5”. The XLT also boasts the highest payload capacity in the F-150 lineup. On the 4x2 regular cab with a 5.0L V8 engine, the maximum payload tips out at 3,270 pounds when accompanied by the Heavy Duty Payload Package. Even without those bells and whistles, the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 still hauls a payload of up to 2,610 pounds.
Need a tow? The Ram HD is the 2020 MotorTrend Truck of the Year. Its heavyduty 2500 Canadian model features a standard 6.4L HEMI VVT V8 gaspowered engine that churns out 410 hp and 429 lb.-ft. of torque, while hauling up to 29,680 pounds. And hitching it up is a breeze with its centreline display hookup assist and available Class-Executive Auto Level Rear Air Suspension. And the class-exclusive Multilink Coil Spring Rear Suspension
The XLT’s interior features include the SYNC 3 infotainment centre with an 8” display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
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helps make for a smooth ride even when hauling large payloads. Its best-in-class interior, meanwhile, is augmented with great storage options, the Uconnect 3 multimedia centre with an available 12” touchscreen, hands-free communication and Bluetooth streaming audio. And speaking of sound, there’s an optional Harman/Kardon audio system with 17 speakers (including an 8” subwoofer) and a whopping 750 watts.
Technology assures an easy hitching and hauling experience with the Ram 2500.
Toyota’s brand new Tundra Trail Edition walks the walk of a rugged 4x4, but it ups the ante with style points.
TOYOTA
TUNDRA TRAIL EDITION (Pricing unavailable until September) Although Consumer Reports describes the Toyota Tundra as “the most reliable full-sized truck on the market,” there’s much more to consider, notes Cyril Dimitris, V.P. of Toyota Canada Inc. “Toyota knows that those who build our communities work hard and need a truck that can keep up. While we have a range of dependable, rugged trucks that would be the perfect jobsite partner, there’s nothing quite like the go-anywhere, do-anything capability of the 2021 Toyota Tundra Trail Edition,”
Dimitris says. “Available in a choice of Army Green or Cement body colours, this special edition of our 4x4 full-size pickup is built off the SR5 model to deliver great value. We’ve added a larger fuel tank, front bucket seats, front centre console, tilting and telescoping steering wheel, anti-theft system and much more. We then finished it with black exterior badges, black seating with tan stitching, a bold chrome grille with colour-keyed surround and special edition wheels.” OHB ohba.ca
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Let’s Keep Each Other Safe. We’re All In This Together. #Ontariospirit
THE NISSAN NV CARGO SERIES Engineered tough to help tackle whatever your workday has in store
Visit us in-store, online or contact our Fleet Manager directly to learn more about Nissan’s Commercial Fleet Paul Sabatino
1.800.665.8458 | paul.s@brantfordnissan.ca 338 King George Road, Brantford, ON brantfordnissan.ca
Getting the Job Done Right!
With over 40 years in the industry, 7 Oaks Tree Care & Urban Forestry Consultants Inc. offers experienced Arboricultural Consulting services for land development clients to address municipal environmental requirements. We use CAD software to work efficiently with your team.
Tree Preservation Plans Arborist Reports and Tree Inventories Monetary Valuations of Trees Expert Witness Testimony Tree Risk Assessments and Hazard Evaluations
We specialize in Land Development Applications.
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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
2020-02-05 4:05 PM
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Building Buzz NEWS AND MOVES FROM THE INDUSTRY
Weiser’s Microban SilverShield technology inhibits the growth of bacteria on frequently touched surfaces.
CLEAN SLATE
New products and programs in a post-pandemic world BY T E D M c I N T Y R E
It goes without saying that homeowners are more conscious today of maintaining a healthy indoor environment and supporting local businesses than they were pre-COVID-19. Manufacturers have responded with products and programs to help allay those concerns. Lenova’s germ-killing Aqualogic Ozone faucet line is front and centre. It’s the first conventional hot/cold faucet line that is also an ecologically safe way to clean food and any other water-safe surface without any chemicals or chemical residue. Available as a standard single hole or pullout side spout, the faucets feature a small, thin ozone generator that uses regular house current to economically and naturally produce ohba.ca
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ozone water. It has been clinically proven and extensively tested as a broad-spectrum microbiological agent to kills viruses, bacteria, mould, yeast and algae within seconds of contact. Ozone water can also extend the shelf life of food, remove odours and increase the level of protection from food-borne illnesses. “Aqueous Ozone is a natural disinfectant 100 times stronger than chlorine and kills bacteria 3,100 times faster,” Lenova notes, and can “eliminate the use of conventional sanitizers on surfaces.”
A WEISER CHOICE The simple act of opening your door and flipping the lock, meanwhile,
has been made safer by Weiser, one of Canada’s leading residential lock brands. Already the first residential lock manufacturer to offer door hardware with Microban antimicrobial product protection, Weiser has expanded its partnership with Microban SilverShield technology. The innovation is available on select Weiser products and finishes to help inhibit the growth of bacteria on frequently touched door hardware surfaces in the home, offering a lifetime of security. Since the partnership launch, Weiser has received positive feedback from architects, designers, builders and homeowners alike on Microban, and the company is now working on expanding the technology into ONTARIO HOME BUILDER SUMMER 2020
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Lenova’s Aqualogic Ozone faucet (left) can fight disease and extend the shelf life of food. Above, Formica Canada is among the founding supporters of the “Well Made Here” campaign.
Which makes services like Neezo’s LiveSite a popular option for builders. LiveSite provides the user with the same digital experience they’d see had they walked into the sales centre. That includes comparing two plans side-by-side (in 2D or 3D), using a sliding bar to filter through to a preferred unit size, number of bedrooms, square footage and geographic orientation. Gardeners or Feng Shui fans can see exactly how the sun and shadows will fall on their preferred lot. You can also see the site in 360 degrees, observe how many minutes away the area amenities (e.g. schools) are from their lot and see real-time data for which homes are available on the site plan. The sales team, meanwhile, can adjust pricing, release/hide units, release/hide new phases, actually make the sale virtually and upload the Agreement of Purchase and Sale along with the various schedules. DESIGN
keyless-entry and smart-lock lines later this year. Products receive a unique coating that will last for the lifetime of the hardware finish. Microban product protection works continuously to keep the door handle cleaner, fighting against the growth of bacteria that would normally double in number every 20 minutes. The finish will also enhance durability to maintain the look and quality of the hardware. “It makes the Weiser product 99.9% cleaner, and because this protection is included in our finishing process, homeowners don’t have to worry about re-applying every day,” says Dave Smith, Senior Marketing Manager with Spectrum Brands Inc.’s Hardware and Home Improvement Division.
BUY LOCAL For those looking to buy Canadian in the wake of a hard-hit economy, the newly minted “Well Made Here” campaign will support the initiative. Displayed at preferred stores with a distinctive logo and online at icihere.ca, the program was launched 56
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by the Quebec Hardware and Building Materials Association, but is a national campaign with multiple search filters, ranging from province and manufacturer to product category. The website makes available a large catalogue of made-in-Canada products and provides information on where to buy them, who to contact for construction work and how to access promotional offers, notes Johanne Levesque, marketing director at Formica Canada, a highend Quebec-based laminate and surfacing manufacturer. “Our Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu plant has been in operation for more than 60 years,” Levesque adds, “(so) we are very proud to be part of the growing movement to buy locally, to support local manufacturers and stimulate our economy.”
REMOTE VIEWING While there was already a trend toward virtual home tours for the sake of convenience, walking through a potential home or sales centre from the safety of your current abode has never been more appealing.
A NEW VIEW ON KARNDEAN DESIGNFLOORING
Designflooring has released a revolutionary new ‘view-in-room’ digital tool with the exclusive functionality to view alternative laying patterns and introduce added design features when selecting a floor. Available on mobile, tablet or desktop, Karndean’s Floorstyle enables home designers to try out a range of vinyl flooring designs in typical room ohba.ca
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settings, but now users can upload their own photo and visualize what a new floor might look like in their own home. The updated Floorstyle tool not only provides room inspiration, but also realistic imagery of different flooring designs in actual rooms. Whether home decorators are looking for wood or stone or abstract flooring, Floorstyle allows users the flexibility and convenience to view any design. Users simply take a photograph of their chosen room or upload an existing image to get started. Once selected, floorstyle can automatically show any wood, stone or abstract design in range of laying patterns such as herringbone, ship’s decking or a mixed-SKU design. There’s also the opportunity to explore design strips for an authentic finish or adding definition, as well as various laying angles to help widen small spaces. It means users can try out different floors in real time prior to visiting a local independent retailer or ordering samples. As well as being able to divide the room and compare different designs, there’s also a new ‘add to favourites’ feature, which allows home decorators to easily go back to their preferred choices. If users prefer not to ‘view in room,’ they can choose from 34 different room settings including bathrooms, kitchens and hallways, and add contrasting or complementary colours on the walls or cabinets. I N N OVAT I O N
HILTI MAKES A CONCRETE DECISION WITH EXPANSION Hilti, a global leader providing innovative tools, technology, software and services to the commercial construction industry, has acquired substantially all of the assets of Concrete Sensors, a provider of connected (“smart”) devices, software and services that help enable improved decision-making and ohba.ca
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Say Goodbye Gravel. Builders today choose CCMC-approved Radon Guard™ and Radon Block™.
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accelerated construction schedules through better understanding of the concrete-curing process. This agreement extends Hilti’s digital portfolio into new and important applications and strengthens the brand’s leadership as a provider of productivity solutions in the construction industry.
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One of the most critical and time-consuming phases in the construction process is waiting on the poured concrete to develop strength, also known as the curing phase. Traditionally, monitoring this phase required the use of cumbersome laboratory equipment and involved considerable time delays. However, in recent years, new technology has emerged to help optimize this process. Boston-based Concrete Sensors was founded in 2015 to tackle this problem, offering general contractors, concrete contractors and engineers a solution to help accurately measure and predict the performance of concrete. A wireless sensor embedded into concrete works with the easyto-use software to provide real-time data on the concrete as it cures and dries. The Concrete Sensors mobile app can quickly share the status of the concrete’s estimated strength, temperature and relative humidity. Additionally, with a state-of-theart in-house lab, the exact concrete mix can be more accurately tested to better predict outcomes, therefore potentially saving days, possibly even weeks, on the project. ohba.ca
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I N N OVAT I O N
HOW’D YOU MANAGE THAT?
Introducing Halo...
Mattamy Homes has been recognized for business performance and sustained growth with the “Canada’s Best Managed Companies” designation. The 2020 Best Managed program award winners are amongst the best-in-class of Canadianowned and -managed companies, demonstrating investment in talent and technology, innovation in a competitive environment and an increased focus on global competition. The Mattamy story began in 1978 with the building and sale of a single home. The company has since evolved to become Canada’s largest new home construction and development firm and the largest privately owned home builder in North America. “Being named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for the first time is an amazing accomplishment for us and something we’re all extremely proud of,” says Brad Carr, CEO of Mattamy Homes Canada. “This award speaks to the kind of culture, business operations and success that our founder Peter Gilgan started 41 years ago. It reflects our collective passion for the business, our company and our customers.”
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I N N OVAT I O N
HERE WE GO
Deal with One Buyer Law Firm Not Hundreds. Cosentino, a leading company in the production and distribution of innovative surfaces, has launched Cosentino WE, a new digital incentivized program for the global architecture and interior design community. With virtual tools becoming a key resource for individuals working from home, the new program aims to ohba.ca
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Real Estate Transactions Made Simple. Interested in Marketing Materials? Email: Marketing@RealEstateLawyers.ca
1 (855) 466-3801 1 (855) 466-3803 Info@RealEstateLawyers.ca www.RealEstateLawyers.ca ONTARIO HOME BUILDER SUMMER 2020
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recognize architecture and interior design studios, kitchen and bath retail stores, as well as fabricators by offering tailored benefits and exclusive advantages, online expert advice, digital marketing solutions and rewards. Cosentino WE members will receive access to exclusive services including Cosentino materials for displays, expedited sample delivery and technical product assistance. Members will also have visibility on Cosentino’s digital sites and social networks, as well as access to online resources, including inspirational content and design imagery. Annual campaigns, exclusive offers, rewards and promotions will furthermore be offered to those who enlist in the program. The program is broken down into four levels—from Pro to Platinum— with higher levels determined by the member’s commitment to the Cosentino brand. I N N OVAT I O N
MAKING A CASE FOR THE TRADES The Ontario Construction Careers Alliance (OCCA) has released a slick new video entitled Constructing a Career, which promotes jobs in the industry and trades to young people. Production of two-minute video, which can be found on the OCCA website at myocca.ca and on YouTube, was motivated by the Province’s declaration that schools will not reopen for the remainder of the term. The OCCA is reaching out to school boards and teachers to encourage circulation of the video and earlier videos developed by Job Talks. The video notes that training programs are available to help young people gain valuable work experience in the industry and earn while they learn. It notes how construction provides young people an opportunity to take up a challenging career and an opportunity to grow into a supervisory position or start their own company. OHB 60
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Frame of Mind
HOME COOKING
Montreal’s Productive House examines the potential of indoor farming THE COVID-19 CRISIS has been a not-so-subtle reminder of our increasing reliance on distant food sources. But is there a practical alternative? Are there some foods that we could actually grow at home? Indoor farming proponents say yes. The process strives to mimic natural growing conditions at an enhanced rate to maximize food production. And it can be done on a small scale in any dwelling. For optimum production, plants require a specific mix of light, water, nutrition, carbon dioxide and warmth. In most areas of the world, these elements are limited or nonexistent, or may only present themselves at certain times of the year. But indoors, these features can be controlled. And even the simplest system can use up to 90% less water without the need for toxic pesticides. An indoor farm of 250 sq. ft. can continually produce enough food for several families. On a smaller scale, it could easily sustain the average home’s fruit and vegetable needs. The simplest way to assemble an indoor farm is to lay out green trays filled with layers of compost, organic material and soil that are stacked with fruits and vegetables. This can be done in a temperature-controlled room, with the plants watered or 62
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misted as specified. Need an example? Located near Montreal’s downtown core, Productive House by Produktif Studio Design is a four-storey residential complex. The eco-friendly building has a mix of nine apartments and townhouses, varying in area from about 700 to 1,200 sq. ft. The design of the residence is intriguing, due to its reinterpretation of urban living, as well as its many sustainable initiatives. On the roof, a greenhouse produces various fruits and vegetables, supplying food year-round. Additional plants are found just outside the greenhouse, maximizing green space. By absorbing carbon dioxide, the plants replenish the environment with oxygen, counteract urban heat retention and mitigate the city’s air pollution. The garden is also one of the many spaces shared by the residents, fostering a communal living style, and a community of self-sufficient residents. Curving out from the facade, the greenhouse integrates into the design, providing the link between food, people and the built environment. Along with the rooftop greenhouse, the home includes additional space to supplement the residents’ alimentary needs. Each unit has its own private garden, where residents can grow and
tend to the fruits and veggies of their liking. The owners also have access to a fruit orchard and herbal garden. To minimize waste and resource usage related to such expanses of green space, the home employs sustainable methods of recuperation. Rainwater entrapment and greywater filtration systems supply irrigation, reducing total water consumption, while a composting system in the building minimizes food waste and maintains a natural regenerative cycle. Geothermal technologies and photovoltaic panels angled on the roof, meanwhile, provide reusable sources of energy. Wide window areas combined with a self-shading design allow for passive solar heating and natural lighting. The combination supplies 60% to 80% of the home’s energy requirements and eliminates the need for mechanical air conditioning. The end product is a largely selfsufficient residence that incorporates an indoor means of food production to promote low-impact city living—one that, figuratively and literally, connects inhabitants with their roots. OHB
AVI FRIEDMAN IS AN ARCHITECT, PROFESSOR, AUTHOR AND SOCIAL OBSERVER. AVI.FRIEDMAN@MCGILL.CA ohba.ca
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Liuna FP OHBA Gear 2018:Layout 1 5/30/19 2:01 PM Page 1
BUILDING ONTARIO SINCE 1903
WE Build Communities And Careers. WE Build Communities And Careers.
When a community is built from the ground up, there is no labour force on the planet, better skilled to get the job done right the When a community is built from the ground up, there is no labour force on the planet, better skilled to get the job done right the first time. LiUNA members and retirees made a commitment to their careers, which means a commitment to our communities. first time. LiUNA members and retirees made a commitment to their careers, which means a commitment to our communities. A commitment to build the BEST schools, airports, hospitals, office buildings, pipelines, tunnels, power plants, roads, bridges, A commitment to build the BEST schools, airports, hospitals, office buildings, pipelines, tunnels, power plants, roads, bridges, low rise and high rise housing in the country. When the work is done, LiUNA members and retirees continue to live, low rise and high rise housing in the country. When the work is done, LiUNA members and retirees continue to live, play and grow in their communities, with the guarantee of a pension that is also....simply the BEST! play and grow in their communities, with the guarantee of a pension that is also....simply the BEST! Jack Oliveira
Luigi Carrozzi Luigi Carrozzi Secretary-Treasurer Secretary-Treasurer
Jack Oliveira Business Manager Business Manager
Carmen Principato Carmen Principato Vice President Vice President
Joseph S. Mancinelli JosephPresident S. Mancinelli
Robert Petroni Robert Petroni Recording Secretary Recording Secretary
President
Mike Maitland
Mike Board Maitland Executive Member Executive Board Member
Ontario Provincial District Council Ontario Provincial District Council visit www.liunaopdc.ca today visit www.liunaopdc.ca today
Brandon MacKinnon
BrandonBoard MacKinnon Executive Member Executive Board Member
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