www.ohba.ca
SPRING 2012 | $4.00
housing minister speaks directly to builders P.17
PoPe’s PLaCe
from religiouS retreat to luxury condo
P.40
CraCk the Code highlightS from the annual ohba forum
P.48
Lights, Camera, renovate
behind the camera with Penny Southam
P.34
PM 42011539
making traCks
tranSit exPanSion buildS communitieS
P.43
What’s
Cooking? hot trendS in the kitchen
P.66
ONE VS MANY
COMPACT TRACK LOADERS FACE OFF
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Stratford Farm Equip., Ltd. Stratford • 519-393-6162 sfe-sales.com
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table of Contents
29 Columns 7 one Voice By Doug Tarry working together to make homeownership affordable 20 human Capital By Barbara Green Impact of bill 168 in the workplace 22 marketing By Enza Checchia New direction for luxury living 24 money matters By David Shubs Passing the reins to next generation 27 technology By Mark Evans Getting smart about smartphones 66 outside the box By Avi Friedman the evolution and future of kitchens departments 9 ontario report trade board appointment/anniversaries/Golf tournaments/wSIb news/local events 29 top shelf Products and services to help you build better homes 55 better builder Importance of ethics code/How to improve customer service/boosting sales 61 product focus energy-efficient windows and doors
www.ohba.ca
features
17 between the lines
HouSING MINISteR outlINeS GoveRNMeNt’S PoSItIoN
34 lights, Camera, renovate How televISIoN HaS INflueNced HoMeowNeRS
By Elaine Kapogines
40 suite religion
PoPe’S cRaSH Pad becoMeS luxuRy coNdo
By Pat Brennan
43 Getting on track
tRaNSIt exPaNSIoN PaveS way foR New develoPMeNt
By Michael Ryval
48 Code ready
HIGHlIGHtS fRoM tHe oHba buIldeR foRuM
By Tracy Hanes
50 Green stars
wINNeRS of tHe aNNual eNeRqualIty awaRdS
By Tracy Hanes ontario home builder SPRING 2012
3
RELIABILITY QUALITY VALUE
The official publication of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association Spring 2012
editor
Steve McNeill, ext. 251 steve@laureloakmarketing.ca associate editor
Norma Kimmins, OHBA art director
Erik Mohr creativebungalow.com copy editor
Barbara Chambers foolproof@cogeco.ca contributors
John Baker, Chris Bart, Pat Brennan, Enza Checchia, Mark Evans, Avi Friedman, Barbara Green, Tracy Hanes, Elaine Kapogines, Dan O’Reilly, Michael Ryval, David Shubs, Brent Wilker photography
Danny Brizzi, Rodney Daw, Rémi Thériault president
Wayne Narciso, xt. 240 publisher
Sheryl Humphreys, ext. 245 associate publisher
Elaine Kapogines, ext. 250 advertising sales
Mary Denyes, ext. 232 published by
Laurel Oak Marketing Ltd.
www.ohba.ca info@ohba.ca
305 Iroquois Avenue, Mississauga, Ontario L5G 1M8 Tel: 905.274.5020 • Fax: 905.274.7110 • Cell: 416.577.5526
Ontario Home Builder is published six times per year (Spring, Trends, Summer, Fall, Awards, Winter). All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher © 2012. Single copy price is $4.00. Subscription Rates: Canada $11.95 + HST per year, USA $29.95 USD. Mail payment to: Laurel Oak Marketing, 1062 Cooke Blvd., Burlington, ON L7T 4A8 Phone (905) 333-9432 Fax (905) 333-4001 CANADIAN PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 42011539 ISSN No. 1182-1345
4
ontario home builder SPRING 2012
www.ohba.ca
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one voice
Eliciting Greatness
Working together to make home ownership affordable By Doug Tarry
photo: yael young
I’d like to take this opportunity to
write about what leadership means to me. Somebody a lot smarter than I am once said, “The task of leadership is not to put greatness into people, but to elicit it, for the greatness is there already.” It’s a sentiment that speaks to one of the things I want to accomplish this year — putting OHBA’s 29 local associations first. I hope to contribute positively to eliciting the greatness that is already there within our local associations, whether a big local or small one, because I know it ensures our provincial and national associations are effective and strong. This is also why I strongly encourage you to put your local association first. Make time to get involved, because the real work of the OHBA unfolds at the local level. Our local associations are brimming with very talented, committed people who are doing great and wonderful things within their communities — both as builders and renovators, members of local associations and citizens contributing in other ways in their communities.
www.ohba.ca
The vision of past leaders within OHBA and its locals has been significant, not only for our industry, but for all who live in this province. Let’s not forget the Ontario New Home Warranty Program (today known as Tarion) was in fact first envisioned and brought to reality by Ontario builders. The formation of EnerQuality with our partner, the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance, was because of visionary leaders within OHBA, who with great foresight understood how housing could change and would change in Ontario. In addition, OHBA has consistently and continually played a leadership role in the quest to ensure housing affordability and choice for Ontarians. That was our incentive for pushing for changes in how the HST was implemented in the new housing market. As a result, the enhanced new housing rebate saved Ontario consumers more than a billion dollars last year alone. These are just a few examples of the leadership role OHBA has
i strongly encourage you to put your local association first. make time to get involved. assumed within the industry and our province. But of course, it doesn’t stop there. Our members, our associations, companies and individuals continue to support numerous charitable and philanthropic causes throughout the province. As we look to future challenges and opportunities, it is critical to acknowledge and thank industry leaders for employing thousands of people and for contributing billions of dollars to all three levels of government — and most importantly, for ensuring that Ontario families achieve their Canadian dream of home ownership. OHB
Doug Tarry is president of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association
ontario home builder SPRING 2012
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2012 awarDs of
ontario report
Distinction: Plan to enter!
Yes, it’s that time of year again.The 2012 OHBA Awards of Distinction program will be launched online Tuesday, May 22 at www.ohba.aod.ca, so it’s not too early to think about which categories you plan to enter. The Awards of Distinction program honours the vision of some of Ontario’s most creative and talented builders, renovators, designers and marketers. Winners represent the pinnacle of achievement in the residential building industry. The online submission deadline is Wednesday, June 13 and winners will be announced at the awards gala in September in conjunction with OHBA’s Annual Conference — it will be an exciting, amazing night to remember. So start planning now to show us your stuff…you deserve to be recognized.
Ontario’s Housing Minister Addresses Industry Leaders Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, and OHBA President Doug Tarry take a look at his cover shot on Ontario Home Builder magazine prior to her address to OHBA members at the Industry Leaders’ Dinner. To learn what Minister Wynne had to say, see page 17 for complete details.
25th Anniversary Build Brantford The Brantford HBA has netted Hall of Famer hockey icon Phil Esposito as their keynote speaker for their 25th Anniversary Build Brantford Industry Luncheon. OHBA members from across the province are invited to what promises to be a sell-out event, so order your tickets soon! photo: Rodney daw (wynne)
Date anD time: Venue: tickets:
Friday, March 30 | Social 11:30 a.m., Lunch 12:15 p.m. Best Western Plus Brant Park Inn, 19 Holiday Drive, Brantford Single: $80 plus HST | Table of 10: $750 plus HST
Contact Brantford HBA EO Fred DeCator for tickets or further information at 519-442-3855 or at freddecator@rogers.com
www.ohba.ca
ontario home builder SPRING 2012
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ontario report
local association Golf tournaments MattaMy HoMes Founder awarded order oF ontario Congratulations to Peter Gilgan, founder and CEO of Oakvillebased Mattamy Homes, who was recently appointed to the Order of Ontario. Gilgan is a renowned leader in the home building industry whose contributions have supported a wide range of initiatives focused on health, education, social services and other community causes over many years. He was one of 27 citizens awarded Ontario’s highest honour. In the past two years, Gilgan has donated $15 million to Ryerson University’s new athletic centre at the former Maple Leaf Gardens, which will to be renamed the Peter Gilgan Athletic Centre; $10 million to the new Oakville hospital; $1 million to the William Osler Health Centre; and $1 million to MarkhamStouffville Hospital. Gilgan also has been a major supporter of the Oakville YMCA, Sheridan College, Wellspring Cancer Support Centre, Trillium Hospital, George Brown College and the Milton Arts Centre. Mattamy Homes has also been a huge supporter of the United Way in Oakville and many other community charities in Toronto, Milton, Markham and the surrounding areas. Congratulations Peter!
www.ohba.ca
LocaL association
tournament Date
contact
teLephone
BILD Niagara Seaway Valley Greater Ottawa Brantford London Waterloo Region Greater Dufferin Peterborough & Kawarthas St.Thomas-Elgin Quinte Hamilton-Halton Sudbury & District Greater Windsor Grey-Bruce Saugeen Stratford & Area Chatham-Kent Simcoe County Sarnia-Lambton Durham Region Guelph & District Haliburton County London BILD OHBA Greater Ottawa Waterloo Region
May 16 June June 1 June 5 June 5 June 6 June 7 June 14 June 14 June 15 June 19 June 19 June 21 June 21 June 22 July July 11 July 13 July 19 July 27 August 14 September 6 September 7 September 19 September 20 September 24 September October 2
Tiffany Kohl Lynda Busch Debbie Seguin Valerie Newton Fred DeCator Sarah Edmundson Stephanie Lake Margaret Janssen Lorraine Stratton John Gundry Brian Garrard Cindy McIntosh Laura Higgs Mike Dinchik Glenn Gray Wally Halliday Ross Dale Clare Curtis Sheila Hissa Matt McEachran Donna Donaldson Stacy Cooper Aggie Tose Sarah Edmundson Tiffany Kohl Sajida Jiwani Valerie Newton Stephanie Lake
416 391 3446 905 646 6281 613 936 1818 613 723 2926 x 222 519 442 3855 519 686 0343 519 884 7590 519 938 6086 705 876 7604 519 637 6951 613 962 3800 905 575 3344 x 26 705 671 6099 519 948 3247 519 376 9085 519 881 6148 519 271 4795 519 351 4393 905 728 5030 519 862 1188 905 579 8080 519 836 8560 705 459 2629 519 686 0343 416 391 3446 1 800 387 0109 613 723 2926 x 222 519 884 7590
ohba past president appointed to board OHBA is pleased that Dick Brouwer, from the London HBA, has been appointed as a member of the Plumbing Trade Board at the College of Trades. In this role, Brouwer will be helping to determine the regulatory regime related to the plumbing trade, including certification and journeyperson-to-apprenticeship standards. Brouwer recently retired from many years of service on the Tarion Warranty board of directors and is an OHBA past president.
ontario home builder SPRING 2012
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ontario report
70tH AnnivERsARy fOR HAmiltOn-HAltOn HBA Congratulations to members of the Hamilton-Halton Home Builders’ Association who are celebrating the organization’s 70th anniversary. Celebrations marking the event started earlier this year with plans for a 70th Anniversary BBQ this summer and a winter social to mark this milestone year.
Pictured left to right: Past presidents Fred Toy, Adi Irani, Tom Cochren, HHHBA board director Brandon Campbell and past president Jeff Paikin celebrating at the HHHBA’s 70th anniversary.
WSIB News Starting January 1, 2013, WSIB coverage will be mandatory for independent operators, sole proprietors, some partners in partnership and some executive officers in construction. As part of the implementation, WSIB is allowing businesses to pre-register for coverage. If you pre-register you will not be forced to pay premiums until 2013. OHBA will be engaging local associations once WSIB releases the policies for consultation. Executive Officer Rate Group: WSIB has committed to a separate rate class for executive officers who do not work “on the tools.” Home Renovation: Renovators who are contracted directly with the person occupying the residence and work exclusively in home renovation are exempt from the mandatory coverage legislation. Executive Officers, Partners: Businesses can select one executive officer or partner to apply for an exemption from coverage. This must be an individual who does not perform any construction work on any building site (including on-site supervision).
OHBA Pre-Budget Submission Provincial Budget 2012
The Ontario Budget will have a strong focus on austerity as the government grapples with a $16 billion deficit amidst growing global economic uncertainty. The Drummond Commission on Public Service Reform delivered a report inFebruary to provide recommendations on efficiencies within the government. Ontario’s home builders and renovators continue to generate economic growth and create jobs with 67,861 housing starts in 2011, far exceeding the 2011 Provincial Budget forecast of 58,600, reinforcing our industry’s resilience and role as a jobs creator. OHBA intends to delivered a couple of key messages to the government during 2012 budget consultations: 1. The government faces massive taxation revenue leakages due to the underground economy. OHBA is very supportive of the Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit. However, OHBA continues to advocate for a more broad based renovation tax credit at both the provincial and federal levels to encourage the use of legitimate businesses. 2. OHBA is encouraged by the significant infrastructure investments the province has made as part of its economic stimulus package. OHBA recognizes that the province is shifting towards austerity and recommends that the province make strategic and tagetted “core” infrastructure investments that support provincial growth plans, economic development and job creation. 3. Over the long-term, OHBA recommends the $400,000 HST threshold be reviewed on a regular basis to reflect increases in average new home prices.
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ontario home builder SPRING 2012
www.ohba.ca
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Call 1 866 567-5778 or visit rogers.com/cma to learn more about Rogers offers.
™Rogers, the Mobius Design are trademarks of or used under license from Rogers Communications Inc. or an affiliate. ©2011 Rogers Communications.
ontario report
Guelph & District HBA 18th Annual Business Luncheon Proceeds from the GDHBA’s 18th Annual Business Luncheon will go to the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program and Habitat for Humanity this year as the organization celebrates its 50th anniversary as an association. Keynote speakers are: Alastair Summerlee, president and vice chancellor of the University of Guelph; and Linda Hasenfratz, RBC chief executive officer. The luncheon is set for April 10 at the Delta Hotel in Guelph. Contact GDHBA for tickets at 519.836.8560 or guelph.homebuilders@gmail.com.
local association home Shows/ industry awards/Community/ member programs LocaL Hamilton-Halton Stratford & Area Sudbury & District Brantford Niagara Quinte St. Thomas-Elgin North Bay & District Guelph & District Peterborough & Kawarthas Saugeen Grey-Bruce Stratford & Area OHBA Hamilton-Halton Durham Region BILD BILD Niagara London Simcoe County St. Thomas-Elgin OHBA Chatham-Kent Stratford & Area Waterloo Region BILD BILD Chatham-Kent
2012 EvEnt
DatE of EvEnt
contact
tELEphonE numbEr
Greater Hamilton Home Show Home Show Spring Home Show Industry Luncheon Awards Gala Home and Renovation Show Home, Garden & Outdoor Living Show Home and Garden Expo Industry Luncheon Chair Challenge/Auction Night Home Show Home and Cottage Expo Parade of Homes Green Housing Tour Awards of Distinction Awards of Excellence 32nd BILD AWARDS Land & Development Conference President’s BBQ President’s Industry Dinner Awards Gala Co-op student site tours Condo Tour Parade of Homes Awards of Distinction Summer Bash Housing Study Tour Charity BBQ Summer BBQ
March 9-11 March 23-25 March 23-25 March 30 March 31 March 30 to April 1 March 30 to April 1 March 30 to April 1 April 10 April 19 April 20-22 April 21-22 April 22-28 April 25 April 26 April 26 April 27 May 1 May 8 May 10 May 12 May 16 June June June 20 June 21 July 5-8 July 19 August 14
Cindy McIntosh Ross Dale Laura Higgs Fred DeCator Lynda Busch Brian Garrard John Gundry Judy Ochoski Stacy Cooper Lorraine Stratton Wally Halliday Glenn Gray Ross Dale Sajida Jiwani Cindy McIntosh Donna Donaldson Tiffany Kohl Tiffany Kohl Lynda Busch Sarah Edmundson Sheila Hissa John Gundry Sajida Jiwani Clare Curtis Ross Dale Stephanie Lake Tiffany Kohl Tiffany Kohl Clare Curtis
905 575 3344 x 3 519 271 4795 705 671 6099 519 442 3855 905 646 6281 613 962 3800 519 476 5811 705 495 8976 519 836 8560 705 876 7604 519 881 6148 519 376 9085 519 271 4795 1 800 387 0109 905 575 3344 x 3 905 579 8080 416 391 3446 416 391 3446 905 646 6281 519 686 0343 705 728 5030 519 476 5811 1 800 387 1019 519 351 4393 519 271 4795 519 884 7590 414 391 3446 416 391 3446 519 351 4393
For more events, check out Ontario Report in the Trends 2012 issue! 14
ontario home builder SPRING 2012
www.ohba.ca
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between the lines
Hon. Kathleen Wynne speaks to industry leaders, and OHBA responds with our position
OHBA’s President Doug Tarry and 1st Vice President Leith Moore were the first among industry leaders to meet with the Hon. Kathleen Wynne following her appointment as the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing last fall. And earlier in the New Year, the minister followed up her dialogue with the industry as the keynote speaker at OHBA’s Industry Leaders Dinner held in January. We’ve selected excerpts from Minister Wynne’s comments that night and added some details that indicate OHBA’s perspective on some of the issues. www.ohba.ca
The meeting was held on November 9 — two weeks following her October 20 appointment as Minister of MMAH. She also serves as Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.
OHBA has welcomed numerous provincial government cabinet ministers to speak at this leadership event over the years, including: George Smitherman, Donna Cansfield, Greg Sorbara and Jim Watson.
ontario home builder SPRING 2012
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The residential construction industry is the engine that drives Ontario’s economy. • Over 358,000 jobs generated by the new housing and renovation sector • Over $39.1 billion in economic activity from new housing, renovations and other related expenditures • Over $18.5 billion in wages generated by residential construction.
OHBA generally supports the Growth Plan, BUT we want to see: • Core infrastructure investments in roads, water, wastewater and transit to support growth plan objectives • Stronger clarification and support of the ‘whitebelt’ as a long-term urban reserve • Enhanced tools to support intensification. Did you know that 11 OHBA locals are covered by the Growth Plan? BILD, Brantford, Greater Dufferin, Durham Region, Guelph & District, Haldimand Norfolk, HamiltonHalton, Niagara, Peterborough & the Kawarthas, Simcoe County and Waterloo Region.
Minister Wynne “I am aware of the important role the OHBA plays in providing the Ministry with advice and feedback. This is how government works best, inside and outside. Your knowledge and participation is greatly appreciated.” ***** “It’s been a busy few months for the McGuinty government, as we focus our efforts on strengthening Ontario’s economy and creating jobs. Our government recognizes that the building sector is one of our strongest allies for boosting the economy — creating new infrastructure, encouraging investment in our province and communities, and creating jobs.” ***** “This does not mean that there will be a shift away from the province’s interest in public safety, energy efficiency, affordable housing and good land-use planning. In other words, we didn’t have a personality change and we know you are supportive of these goals.” ***** “I also realize that while the OHBA is supportive of the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, you have shared your concerns.” ***** “I’d also like to thank you for your tremendous involvement in the Building Code consultations that were held in late 2010 and early 2011…We will carefully consider the costs and benefits of any changes that proceed…I want you to know we are considering changes to several proposals because of the feedback we gathered.” ***** “Our province would not be the wonderful place that it is – one to live, grow and work in – without your expertise and willingness to share your knowledge with the government for the benefit of Ontarians. Your input remains a vital part of the policy development process. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing places a high value on the strong partnership we have developed with the Ontario Home Builders’ Association. I look forward to the work and we’ll continue to partner on. Thank you.”
In addition to providing advice at face-toface meetings with the Ministry and key staff, OHBA is represented on numerous committees and advisory councils at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing such as: • General as well as Northern and Rural Provincial Policy Statement Working Groups • Building Advisory Council • Building Code Conservation Advisory Council • Technical Advisory Committee (Building Code) • Brownfields Stakeholder • Group Conservation Authority Liaison Committee (CALC).
Since 2010, through resolution and letters, OHBA has been requesting that MMAH amend the Building Code to include affordability as an overarching objective statement. While we aren’t quite there yet, the Code change public consultation in 2010/2011 did include a statement that comments received through the public consultation should view affordability as an important consideration.
Web Link
Use your QR code reader on your smartphone to read more of Hon. Kathleen Wynne’s speech as well as OHBA’s comments. ohba.ca/housing-minister
Left: OHBA 1st Vice President Leith Moore, OHBA President Doug Tarry, Hon. Kathleen Wynne, BILD Chair Paul Golini. Right: Leith Moore and Premier Dalton McGuinty.
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ontario home builder SPRING 2012
www.ohba.ca
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www.ohba.ca
ontario home builder SPRING 2012
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human capital
Combative Colleagues
Verbal threats in the workplace and the effect of Bill 168 By BarBara Green Bill 168, which amended the
Occupational Health and Safety Act, came into force in Ontario on June 15, 2010, with the goal of preventing workplace violence and harassment. Bill 168 mandates employers to carry out a risk assessment to identify potential sources of workplace harassment and to develop policies to address these incidents. In one of Ontario’s first Bill 168 decisions, arbitrator Elaine Newman of the Ontario Labour Arbitration Board acknowledged that Bill 168 includes verbal threats of violence and equates it to physical acts of violence. She upheld an employer’s decision to terminate an employee for using threatening language in the workplace. The termi20
nated employee was 47 years old, with 28 years of seniority with the City of Kingston and had a history of aggressive ver-
the employer. The employer also agreed to compensate her upon completion of the program. Two days following
as a practical matter, employers should carefully and consistently document incidents of workplace violence. bal conduct towards co-workers and supervisors. Following a suspension from work for aggressive behaviour, the employee attended an anger management program paid for by
ontario home builder SPRING 2012
her completion of the program, the employee made a death threat against a union president. The employer terminated the employee on the basis of the seriousness of the incident and Bill 168.
Newman’s decision makes it clear that employers must react to verbal threats in the workplace. An intention or the ability to carry out immediate physical harm is irrelevant. Newman stated, “The utterance of a threat in the workplace requires that the workplace parties stop cold. They must report. They must investigate. They must assess the existence of real danger. They must act.” Yet, Bill 168 is not a “zero tolerance policy” for workplace threats. The employer’s response must be reasonable and proportionate. As a practical matter, employers should carefully and consistently document incidents of workplace violence and the employer’s responses. OHB www.ohba.ca
photo: thinkstock/ ron chapple studios
Barbara Green is a lawyer with Robins, Appleby and Taub LLP and can be reached at bgreen@robapp.com or www.robinsapplebyandtaub.com. Her litigation practice includes employment law, estates litigation and construction litigation.
Style, Strength, Safety & Savings A Masonry Home Has it All….
A recent study shows that 89% of homebuyers prefer a home built with the beauty of masonry. But the reasons to buy a home with brick, block and stone go well beyond aesthetics. ENERGY EFFICIENT: Masonry homes retain warmth, reducing energy costs by as much as 13% ENVIRONMENTAL: Masonry comes from local sources, and its durability and energy efficiency decreases your environmental footprint HIGHER RESALE VALUE: Real estate professionals estimate that a brick home has a 6% higher resale value MAINTENANCE FREE: The masonry in your home will look good and perform well for many years, reducing maintenance costs FIRE PROTECTION: Masonry stands up in extreme conditions. Fire testing shows that a block firewall will block the spread of fire for several hours longer EXTREME WEATHER PROTECTION: Brick, block and stone better withstand high winds and extreme weather PRIVACY: Masonry provides an effective sound barrier from neighbourhood noise, for peace and quiet in your home SUPERIOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY: Masonry materials do not produce volatile organic compounds, so you can breathe easier in a masonry home MOULD RESISTANCE: Masonry wall systems offer defined water management strategies that keep your home drier and resist mould
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marketing
The “Eco” model home for Empire Communities in Brantford.
Less is More By Enza ChECChia Luxury is still “in” — but
not like we’ve seen and done
before. It’s all about “lesstravagance.” This is exactly what it sounds like: not too much extravagance but lots of luxury; juxtaposing natural fabrics and furnishings with just a hint of elegance and sparkle. Although not for all, it is a very interesting new trend. A rough, worn and battered cement wall becomes the backdrop for a beautiful, luxurious velvet couch. More attention will be paid to textures (the new colour) and the feel of products rather than the “in-your-face” bling of the past. Fabrics are patterned w ith texture and tone-on-tone as an alternative to bold patterns. Sheer fabrics are lighter and airy, but with intricate threading detail and embossing, they 22
need not be paired with panels because they can stand on their own. The global consciousness has made a huge impact on design. Consumers are taking time to look at eco-friendly
starting all over. Now we look at a makeover of the existing room by changing the wall colours and maybe reupholstering a few pieces of furniture, versus the complete overhaul and overspending
more attention will be paid to textures and the feel of products than the ‘in-your-face’ bling of the past. products before ma k ing design decisions. Reused or reusable options are also a very popular choice as the effect on the environment becomes more prevalent in our daily lives. Gone are the days of trashing a room and
ontario home builder SPRING 2012
of the “pre-global economic crisis.” Eco luxury is yet another trend that is bringing the outdoors i nside. Fu r n iture made of raw wood and worked by hand is making an emergence in a big way —
Enza Checchia is president of Decorenza, and chairs the Design/Decor Committee at BILD. www.decorenza.ca
not for an entire room but certainly a few strategically placed key pieces. Fabrics that are coloured with fruit and vegetable dyes are being paired with fabrics that have a sheen or velvety look. Juxtaposing raw materials from the outdoors with those that have a completely different texture or feel to them makes an interesting environment. Think of it as a style where each component gets its own attention rather than all the pieces blending in one homogenous setting. We’ve all learned from the overindulgences of the past. Now we have to do more with less; we’re returning to a more grounded way of living and our spaces are reflecting that. The worst is probably almost over by many accounts and we are all just starting to exhale — a little. OHB www.ohba.ca
photo: paul CassElman
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money matters
Passing the Torch By DaviD ShuBS In 1996, in North America,
80 to 90 percent of all business enterprises were considered “family-run businesses.” This number has grown in recent years, as the great recession has reduced hiring, forcing people to be more creative and find alternative ways to make a living beyond a corporate salary. In the U.S., nearly a third of all family businesses will be transferred to the next generation in the next five years, and almost without exclusion, these family businesses represent 100 percent of the family income. The proliferation of family businesses has increased concerns about protecting both the operating company, as well as the generational wealth. Transferring wealth is a challenge to which there are many options. Structures such as trusts, holding companies and insurance policies may help to 24
reduce or postpone some of the tax burden. To unlock some of the value of a company, saleleaseback agreements and vendor financing are common ways to provide value to the seller, while allowing the pur-
operational in nature. The math never lies and statistics do not paint a pretty picture. • 40 percent of family-owned businesses survive to the second generation,12 percent to the third and three percent to
one way to increase the success of passing a business down includes having monthly board meetings with family members. chaser to operate the business and make a living. All of these structures and options are situation-specific and should be discussed with tax, legal and insurance professionals. The greatest challenge is
ontario home builder SPRING 2012
the fourth. • 65 percent of family-owned businesses don’t require family members to have the necessary qualifications to work. • 25 percent of business owners believe that the next gen-
David Shubs is an investment advisor with CIBC Wood Gundy in Toronto. His views do not necessarily reflect those of CIBC World Markets Inc.
eration does not have the skill set or competence to run the business. Preparing the next generation to succeed takes planning. While the majority of business owners start talking with their children about the business between the ages of 18 and 25 years, children should take an active part in the business as early as 13. One way to increase the success of passing a business down includes having monthly board meetings with family members where the business is explained and discussed. And as the children get older, there’s no substitute for hands-on experience. Working in the family business, either over summers or as an after-school job, are other ways to instill a work ethic, as well as educate the children about how a business works beyond the theoretical. OHB www.ohba.ca
photo: Erik mohr/crEativEBungalow.com
Preparing the next generation to succeed in the family business
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technology
What’s in Your Pocket? Getting smart about smartphones By Mark Evans For many people, the grow-
ing benefits of having a smartphone make them difficult, if not impossible, to resist. Being able to access email, surf the web and use a myriad of applications has transformed the cellphone into a mini-computer that is becoming an indispensible business tool. The growth of the smartphone market has been fuelled by healthy competition between the three major operating systems — iPhone, Android and BlackBerry — and a wide variety of attractive devices from players such as Apple, Samsung, HTC, Motorola, Nokia and LG. Some smartphones can be purchased for less than $100, provided you agree to a two- or three-year contract. The big question facing consumers is what type of smartphone to purchase. Do they go with the cool option, the iPhone? Do they embrace www.ohba.ca
A nd roid , G o og le’s f re e operating system? Or do they go “domestic” by picking the BlackBerry? In many respects, it depends on your needs and
the touch-screen keyboard may not be user-friendly for people who write long email messages. As well, the iPhone is not inexpensive, particularly if
the growth of the smartphone market has been fuelled by healthy competition between three major systems. interests. The iPhone, for example, is powered by more than 500,000 apps, which makes it a snap to customize and personalize. The iPhone has also thrived because it’s a powerful multi-media tool featuring the ability to listen to music and take photos and videos. The iPhone’s downside is
you want the new 4GS model. Hot on the iPhone’s heels are smartphones powered by Android, which has established a strong and growing market presence. One of the key attributes is the tight integration with Google services such as Gmail, Google Docs and Google Maps. Android has also benefited from wide adoption by a growing num-
Mark Evans is principal with ME Consulting, which works with startups and entrepreneurs to drive their digital marketing activities. www.markevans.ca
ber of wireless devices makers, particularly Samsung, which has emerged as a strong rival to Apple. Then, there’s the BlackBerry, which until two years ago, was the smartphone Goliath. A combination of fierce competition and strategic stumbles has left BlackBerry scrambling to stay among the market leaders, even though it has 75 million users worldwide. The BlackBerry’s strength is that it’s an email workhorse. The downside is that the BlackBerry App World is much smaller than the iPhone’s portfolio. Also, BlackBerry won’t feature the next generation operating system, QNX, until later this year. The different options allow users to pick the smartphone that best meets their needs. It really comes down how you are going to use a smartphone, your budget and the smartphone that is most appealing. OHB
ontario home builder SPRING 2012
27
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ace idea Pllders for buivators & reno
toP shelf
stanD rOlls alOnG
Designed for a variety of tradespeople including cabinetmakers, trim carpenters, framers and installers, the new DWX726 mitre saw/planer from DeWalt makes moving from jobsite to jobsite a whole lot easier with its wide rubber wheels and fold-up design. It is equipped with a three-position pneumatically assisted raising and lowering mechanism which minimizes assembly and disassembly times. Built with tubular steel, the unit also features easily adjustable mounting rails that can adapt to most mitre saws or portable thickness planers. Additionally, the stand offers wide adjustable infeed and outfeed roller work supports, which provide up to eight feet of material support. www.dewalt.com caMera pUts OBJects In FOcUs
The Bosch PS90 12V Max Inspection Camera puts a sharp focus on objects hidden deep within the inner recesses of utility boxes, pipes and ductwork. Its features include a large LED screen and a 48-inch imager, which provide depth of field, colour uniformity and effortless viewing in dark places. The light and lens configuration ensure maximum visibility while preventing hot spots and glare. Electricians and plumbers will appreciate its compact size. The camera also has video cable for video-out connection and a 30-minute battery charger. www.bosch.com
One set replaces 150 tOOls
Its new 30-piece FatMax ratcheting T-handle set can replace up to 150 hand tools or as many as 10 multiple-piece sets, says tool manufacturer Stanley Black & Decker. With a single compact carrying case, it’s also easier to organize and store its components, which include an assortment of both standard and metric 1/4˝ bits including hex keys, star keys, square and Phillips bits, and a standard screwdriver bit. Designed to maximize user comfort and minimize fatigue, the three-position bi-material handle can resist more than 600 pounds of torque. It also features a removable side-position bit slot, which uses the side of the handle to gain leverage and achieve high torque. www.stanleyblackanddecker.com
Heat GUn Has pOwer
Equipped with a variable temperature dial that ranges from 120- to 1,250-degrees and a dual-speed fan selector, the 1,500-watt PC1500HG heat gun from Porter-Cable provides specific heat and air flow selection for difficult and often frustrating jobs such as scraping paint, removing wallpaper or bending PVC pipe. Other highlights include an integrated rubber stand, a hanging hook for convenient storage and high grade, durable and flexible cord that delivers the necessary power, no matter the site conditions. Complementing these performance-driven features is an OverMold grip that further enhances user comfort and control. www.portercable.com
www.ohba.ca
ontario home builder SPRING 2012
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top shelf
SOFT TOOL BAGS ARE TOUGH
A line of soft storage tool bags for tradesmen to hold and organize their hand tools, power tool accessories and torches has been unveiled by Lenox. Included in the line is an electrician’s tote, a bucket tool organizer, a plumber’s tote and a contractor’s tool bag. Each has several exterior and interior pockets. Although the bags are soft, they are made of durable materials and were designed to endure abrasive use and extreme conditions on the jobsite. Lenox says the bags were created in response to market surveys which showed tradesmen were looking for more practical and convenient methods to store their tools. www.lenoxtools.com
IdEAL SEAL
GREENSKIN professional seals provide a weathertight seal for all types of penetrations through buildings (interior or exterior) that requires no caulking or taping joints and doesn’t allow moisture to get trapped in the wall cavity. Spacer buttons allow airflow behind the seal. Available at Mainline Backflow Products. www.backwatervalve.com
STyLISH SkyLIGHT BLINdS
VELUX Canada is launching new colours in the blinds for its skylights this spring. Four new colours will be available and in stock, including two patterns designed by renowned designer Karim Rashid. Karim pink and Karim grey patterns are blackout blinds that were launched in March along with a dark blue and beige blind option. The VELUX blinds collection by Rashid includes four unique patterns, each in two different colours. Inspiration from digital technology on the one hand and floral motifs on the other, add a modern yet poetic look to the collection. www.velux.ca
NEW COLOURS FOR COUNTERTOPS
Burlington-based Willis, the Canadian distributor for DuPont’s Corian solid surfaces and Zodiaq quartz countertops, has rolled out new colour varieties to these product lines. The theme is the “The Spice of Design” and is inspired by the varied uses of spice. There are eight new Corian colours and five Zodiaq. Designed and manufactured to be stain resistant, they are backed by a 10-year limited warranty. The materials can be custom-fabricated into several products such as countertops and bathroom vanities. www.4willis.com
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ontario home builder SPRING 2012
LEVELS WITH REACH
Making sure all the various components in a house are level is not always easy, especially in hard-to-reach places such high foyers or second-storey walls where a standard level can’t span because of the plate assembly. In those situations, IRWIN extendable levels are the ideal remedy. Builders can use three different levels to make sure two surfaces are plumb with each other. Just released on to the market a few months ago, they are available in four-, five- and six-foot versions. The maximum reach with the six-foot model is 17’ 4”. A locking mechanism ensures the levels are secure so that framers and building inspectors have maximum flexibility and comfort when using them. www.irwin.com
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top shelf
FAUCETS ARE SLEEk And PRACTICAL
With the Danika collection of faucets from Moen Canada, builders can turn the spotlight on their kitchens and bathrooms. They feature soft, contemporary lines and a sleek chrome finish that is sure to grab the attention of purchasers. Apart from their appearance, they are practical. The high-arc design of the two-handle kitchen faucet provides easy access to the sink, while the singlehandle washroom faucet has been certified to meet WaterSense criteria, meaning the fixtures meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s guidelines as an environmentally responsible and efficient product. The faucets can be installed with a single- or three-hole mount and are also available in vessel configuration to accommodate vessel sink applications. www.moen.ca EFFICIEnT FURnACE ALSO qUIET
A SAW FOR ALL MATERIAL
With an efficiency rating of up to 98.2 percent, Lennox’s SLP98V variable-capacity gas furnace might be the most energy-efficient and quietest unit on the market. That is what the manufacturer is suggesting in its promotional material. Its variable speed motors use two-thirds less electricity in the continuous fan mode for maximum electrical efficiency. As a result, homeowners can save hundreds of dollars in annual energy costs. Another technical enhancement is its SilentComfort technology which ensures the furnace is considerably quieter than competitive models. The unit also automatically adjusts heat and airflow capacity in small increments. www.lennox.com
With a set of three massive tungsten carbide teeth that are larger than those found on competing models, the Tri-Bore multi-purpose hole saw cuts through virtually any construction material ranging from nail-encrusted wood to ceiling woods. That is the promise made by Ideal Industries, which launched the product last year. The larger teeth provide improved speed and cleaner cutting action. In addition, vibration is minimized because the teeth act as an absorber. Compatible with standard battery-powered tools or fixed stationary machines, the saw is available in sizes from 1-3/8” to 6-7/8”. www.idealindustries.com
ThE LOOk OF STOnE
Promoted as the only manufactured stone veneer of its kind currently in the market, the Versatta stone is a product with many advantages. With a moulding and colour design that precisely replicates the look of nature stone, it gives builders the ability to create a traditional masonry appearance at a considerably lower cost. At the same time, it is one-third the weight of full-thickness stone and can be used for remodelling or new construction in variety of interior and exterior wall applications. A mechanical fastening system allows for quick and easy installation by a general contractor. Requiring no mortar, painting or coating, it is freeze-thaw durable and is wind load-resistant up to 177 kilometres (110) per hour, says the manufacturer, Boral Stone Products. www.versettastone.com
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www.ohba.ca
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ontario home builder SPRING 2012
Lights, Camera, renovate How television has influenced a generation of homeowners By ElainE KapoginEs
photo: Rémi THERiaulT
Mix an unfinished basement renovation project with a husband on strike, throw in a camera crew, a celebrity contractor, a little conflict, some suspense and a happy homeowner at the end of the hour and you’ve got the recipe for one entertaining TV show.
www.ohba.ca
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Recent Oakville renovation (at left and above) by Ramsin Khachi says television programs have served to inspire viewers to become more comfortable with their own style.
This is the standard formula for a brand of TV program popping up on practically every station these days — and has even inspired entire networks such as Home & Garden Television (HGTV) and the DIY Network. But at the end of the day, are these shows creating a pool of educated, well-informed consumers or breeding a generation of DIY monsters who are haunting the nightmares of building and renovation professionals? “There are a number of shows out there that are fairly misleading in that they may oversimplify a renovation,” acknowledges Penny Southam, co-host of The W Network’s All For Nothing. “Some renovation shows create unrealistic expectations. But some shows don’t — some shows really do educate homeowners.” This positive/negative duality seems to be a sentiment echoed throughout the building industry. Consumers are indeed watching these shows and becoming inspired to renovate, redecorate or build something new — which is nothing but good news for the industry. But, as Southam, a registered interior designer and owner of Ottawa36
ontario home builder SPRING 2012
based Southam Design, points out, “a small amount of knowledge can be dangerous when you don’t have the complete picture.” Like Southam, Jim Caruk, contractor and owner of The Caruk Group and host of HGTV’s new show Builder Boss, has seen first-hand the pros and cons of working with an “educated” audience. “These shows inspire people which helps our industry, absolutely,” he says. “They give some insight into what’s going on or what to expect when doing a renovation or home build. They also inspire viewers to make design decisions and it helps them to communicate better with the contractors. But the last thing you need is someone telling you, ‘Well, I saw that on TV and that’s not how you do it.’ So maybe a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.” Ramsin Khachi, a regular design expert on The Marilyn Denis Show and owner of Khachi Design Group, has also seen first-hand the kind of effect these types of shows are having on the market. As a working designer/renovator, Khachi agrees this genre of TV has served to inspire viewers to become more comfortable with their own style. “It’s okay to be different. If you like an orange couch, you like an www.ohba.ca
ramsin khaChi Profession: Design build contractor TV show: Regular expert on The Marilyn Denis Show how did you geT sTarTed in TV?: I was doing construction for a pro-
duction company. They started asking if they could film some of my projects — one thing led to another and they asked me to be on camera. faVouriTe Thing abouT being on TV: I love teaching. I love to pass along what I know. where do you see yourself in fiVe years — sTill on TV?: I hope I’m on TV because I love it, but TV’s TV, you never know where you’re at. I’m not naive enough to think that’s my career, it’s not. If it ends, it ends and I’ll be proud of what I’ve done.
Jim Caruk Profession: Contractor TV shows: Real Renos (2002-2009); Builder Boss (premiering in Spring 2012) how did you geT sTarTed in TV?: I did a job for a homeowner who just hap-
pened to be a producer. Then she asked if I’d be interested in doing a show; she just thought that would be very interesting. faVouriTe Thing abouT being on TV: Getting the industry recognized for what it is. The industry’s been really good to me but sometimes it gets a bad rap. I want to try to get consumers to understand that our job is not easy – we’re managing money, we’re managing emotions and we’re managing expectations. At the end of the day, I hope I’m shedding some light on the industry. where do you see yourself in fiVe years — sTill on TV?: I like the idea of TV, it’s fun. I’d like to still be involved, maybe not on camera, maybe behind the camera producing more stuff about the industry.
orange couch; people will say that’s cool. It wasn’t like that before.” As professionals with extensive experience working in their respective industries, Southam, Caruk and Khachi all stress that they are industry professionals first and TV personalities second, so dealing with “TV-educated” consumers is not merely theoretical for them. And it’s certainly not theoretical for Sandra Baldwin, head of OHBA’s Renovators’ Council and owner of Lifetime Contractor. “I’m concerned that sometimes the shows don’t give recognition to the renovators’ quality of work. I think most of the praise and kudos go to the designers, the look and the colours and whatnot, and not the skill and professionalism that goes into it. Beauty is only skin deep — it’s the bones that really matter.” But, again, these shows are not all bad. Baldwin also speaks animatedly about how the support from the media for the industry has served to drive certain trends, especially when it comes to new technologies and various green innovations. “The overall depth of knowledge may be questionable, but clients today are extremely www.ohba.ca
well-informed. And I think that’s in part due to the shows.” It’s also in part due to the general accessibility of information, especially via the Internet. “The consumer is so intelligent, much more so than before,” continues Baldwin. “They don’t just leave it carte blanche up to the renovator to do whatever they feel is right, no, they have more input. I think it’s just because the marketplace is so information-overloaded, the resources are everywhere.” Consumer education — or miseducation, depending on the individual — is not isolated to television. “As far as education is concerned, what I’m finding is that our clients are becoming more educated because everything is so accessible on the Internet,” says Southam, a member of the Greater Ottawa HBA. “You can look up pretty much any product that the laymen never used to have access to.” An educated and decisive client can in fact make a build or renovation run smoother, so for better or worse, education is various forms can lead to a more positive experience overall. But it’s the quality of information that seems to be in question when industry professional voice concerns over renovation shows. ontario home builder SPRING 2012
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Penny Southam Profession: Registered Interior Designer (ARIDO, IDC) TV shows: Design U (appeared in first two seasons, 2005-2006); All For
Nothing (2010-present)
Penny Southam says some designer shows create unrealistic expectations while others do a good job educating the consumer.
Khachi is not shy about expressing the weight of responsibility he feels when it comes to educating consumers, and he takes his role on camera very seriously. “People gain trust in you and they believe in what you say and what you do,” he says. “Unfortunately, not everybody on television is like that and there’s a lot of misinformation on some of these shows — which I’m not too happy
TV Dreams So how about that unfinished basement reno project and the husband on strike? Meet Dorothy and Dave Stewart, the owners of a cottage in Parry Sound and recent guests on Bryan Baumler’s new show, Leave it to Bryan. After removing a drop-down ceiling from the basement of their cottage to install a furnace, arguments ensued about permanent ceiling versus another drop-down. “[Dave] said, ‘I’m on strike’ and he just left it exposed like that for six to seven months.” It was then that Dorothy, a member of CBHA - Simcoe County with Enbridge Gas Distribution, took it upon herself to write into the show after seeing a casting call in her area. “I didn’t tell my husband about it — I just wrote in and thought I’d never get a call for it,” she recalls, “but sure enough, a week later I got an email saying they’d like to audition us. And I had to tell him — he actually didn’t react as badly as I thought he would.” From there, the Stewart cottage was turned into a film set, complete with lights, camera and action. Despite some initial camera shyness, Dorothy said the overall experience was positive — and at the end of two weeks of filming, they had a brand new basement…complete with a ceiling. “For the most part it’s real,” says Dorothy, who is nothing but overjoyed with her new basement — and her TV debut. “I knew the kitchen wasn’t going to be done. You think you know what’s going to happen but they do surprise you with the end result.”
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how DiD you geT sTarTeD in TV?: I went to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. I didn’t want to leave my future up to chance to so I pursued interior design. I started doing Design U in 2005 and then the production company asked if I’d be interested in doing All For Nothing. faVouriTe Thing abouT being on TV: It’s twofold — it’s the people that I’m working with and in part it’s the notoriety. It’s great marketing; it’s a great way to get your name out to the masses. where Do you see yourself in fiVe years — sTill on TV?: Oh yes, I love it! I love being an interior designer and creating beautiful spaces, it’s a passion, and I’m thankful that I get to do what I love, but I also really love doing the TV. I hope to be on TV for a long time.
about. But all I can do is to do my part.” In the same vein of responsibility, Caruk, a member of BILD, says his main goal with Real Renos, his first show which originally aired on HGTV from 2002 to 2009, was to show the renovation process from the contractor’s point of view, not just from the homeowners’. As a staunch supporter of the industry, Caruk is determined to use the television platform as a way to promote hard-working professionals. Prior to launching Real Renos, “the industry needed something,” he says. “People just diving into renovations don’t have a clue what they’re getting themselves into. And then it’s easy to blame the contractor and blame the industry.” And going forward, Caruk says he’d like to dig even deeper in the world of the contractor to really show viewers the meat of what’s involved with renovation and building projects. “I’d love to get even more into the nitty gritty of what we do if a network would let us,” says Caruk. “I want to show the true depth of what really goes on behind the scenes — that’s what I would love to do but there aren’t a whole lot of networks that would let it go that far.” And that’s the key — at the end of the day, shows like All For Nothing and Builder Boss are TV programs, produced by networks to make money. Do viewers want to learn about the ins and outs of acquiring building permits or the changes to the Building Code? Maybe. But from a network’s perspective, could that make type of show money? At the heart of it, television is a form of entertainment, and reno shows absolutely fall into that category — as Caruk put it: “It’s ‘reno-tainment.’” If shows lead to some positive outcomes for the industry, then really it’s gravy, but no one can, or should, expect them to rise above what they really are: scripted, entertaining and profitable. OHB www.ohba.ca
For more information call 1-800-387-0109 or go to www.ohba.ca
An artisan was hired to restore the plaster moulding around the ceiling.
The arch of the door is original wood. It only needed to be refurbished.
The painting is “The First Morning” and was a commissioned piece by Ricardo Brown, a new renaissance artist in Mexico City.
Suite religion
The floor is the original from 1870 with mahogany inlay. All the wood floors are top-nailed and were either covered or removed during renovations.
Transforming a former bishop’s residence into luxury condos By PaT Brennan
Pope John Paul II crashed in Denis Campeau’s livingroom
one weekend. At the time he was still Karol Wojtyla, archbishop of Krakow in Poland. And Campeau’s living room was then the guest bedroom in the Bishop’s Palace, a mansion in downtown London, Ontario. Campeau and two partners spent $1.8 million to buy the mansion and convert it into London’s first gated condominium community. The mansion’s guest suite, where Archbishop Wojtyla stayed, is now Campeau’s condo residence. Duo Building Ltd., a London-based home renovation firm, was hired to restore the 141-year-old mansion to its original splendor. Duo partner Patrick Malloy enjoyed the project so much he plans to build an addition on the Bishop’s Palace for his own residence. He’ll tear down an old garage and duplicate the architecture and finishes of the original mansion in the new addition. Duo was launched in 1979 by Malloy and Zoltan Balogh as a small contractor. It has grown into an award-winning design/ build firm that was named top renovator 10 times by the London 40
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Home Builders’ Association, including four of the past five years. The firm has been chosen Green Builder of the Year by LHBA since the category started. Canadian Home Builders’ Association named Duo Builder Ltd. renovator of the year in 2001. As well as the Bishop’s Palace, Duo Building has restored the mansion next door, Raleigh House, a 145-year-old gothic revival mansion. The two separate mansions have been combined into a single condominium project called Blackfriars. The project draws its name from its location overlooking the historic Blackfriars Street Bridge that spans the Thames River in downtown London. It was built in 1875 and is one of the few bowstring iron truss bridges with a wooden plank deck in the province still standing. Malloy said Bishop’s Palace is flush with thick wood trim. “We removed all the pine trim and removed a couple layers of paint. We have fine carpenters who can duplicate historic woodwork, but very little of that had to be done in this home. It was in very good shape, so most of it was just cleaned and reinstalled.” www.ohba.ca
The outdoor smoking balcony was enclosed and converted to the bishop’s at-home office in 1930. It is now a bar and reading room.
Walls are plaster on brick, including interior walls. Five layers of wallpaper were stripped and the walls were painted for the first time in 140 years.
The stainglass hanging is “The Spirit Never Dies” by a local artist working with a new method that uses balls of glass.
The door that originally led to the outside balcony features the original woodwork.
“Mechanically, the mansion is brand new,” said Malloy. “It’s hot water heating. The original heating radiators are still being used, but the place now has new plumbing, new wiring and new sewage and water connections to the city’s grid.” The wood floors were in excellent shape, so Duo contractors merely covered them with heavy paper during the renovations and uncovered them when the job was done. “They didn’t even need to be resanded,” said Malloy. The large wooden pillars at the front of the house supporting a second-floor sunroom needed to have their rotting lower sections rebuilt, but the rest of the original pillars were maintained. The buff-coloured triple-brick exterior was basically untouched by Duo, although Raleigh House next door required extensive new brickwork. Raleigh House had been a sorority house affiliated with the University of Western Ontario from 1943 to 2005. It had once been the home of George Beecher Harris, one of London’s most prominent early families. Three new condo suites in Raleigh House are on the www.ohba.ca
market, priced at $625,000 for 1,655 square feet and $725,000 for 2,566 square feet. When the London diocese sold the Bishop’s Palace to Campeau and his partners, they agreed that the palace’s guestbook should stay with the house. A variety of historic celebrities have signed the book. It contains a 1909 letter to Bishop Michael Fallon from President Teddy Roosevelt with his handwritten corrections in the margin. Bishop Wojtyla visited his friend Bishop Gerald Emmett Carter when he slept at the mansion. Carter later became a cardinal and headed up the Toronto diocese. The two mansions sit on Barton Street, a private cul-de-sac running west off Talbot Street. London permitted the developers to close Barton Street with an elaborate wrought iron gate. Malloy said the University of Western Ontario needs more highrise student residences so more of London’s downtown mansions can be taken out of student housing, restored and preserved as private market housing. OHB ontario home builder SPRING 2012
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GettinG on track Transit expansion paves the way for new development By Michael Ryval
As Ontario continues to grow and expects to add another three million people in the next 20 years, the pressure on transportation networks increases, straining existing roads, highways and public transit systems. But after decades of under-investment, the province is now playing catch-up. Through Metrolinx, a provincial agency responsible for GO Transit and strategic planning for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area, it will be spending $50 billion over the next 25 years to put Ontario back on track. And to a great extent it will follow the pattern of expanding transit systems to foster development as Toronto has done in the past, says Peter Smith, vice chairman of Metrolinx, former chairman of GO Transit and president and co-owner of Andrin Ltd., a development firm in Toronto. “Look at the Yonge subway line: at each station you see intensified development,” says Smith. “Where there are intersecting subway lines, there’s massive intensification. At Yonge and Bloor, for instance, there are many condo towers. And look at the Kipling station [the western terminus for the TTC’s Bloor-Danforth line] where there are a lot of high-rises and office buildings. Clearly, transportation facilitates intensified development.” www.ohba.ca
The same trend is apparent along the GO rail line between Georgetown, Brampton and Toronto, with concentrated development around each station. “People want to be close to a station, either within walking distance, a short drive or easy access by local bus,” says Smith, adding that Oakville is another vivid example, as each day tens of thousands of people take local buses to the GO station on Trafalgar Road. Transit can be regarded as one leg of a three-legged stool, says Smith. That is, one leg represents the provincial growth strategy as articulated in the 2005 Places to Grow Act; another leg represents protection of green spaces through sustainability; while the ontario home builder SPRING 2012
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third leg is transit. “How do you get people from one growth area to another? How do you get them from Hamilton to Oakville, or Barrie to Toronto? This approach — managing growth, the environment and public transit — is the focus of the provincial strategy. By putting in the transit systems, we will encourage residential and commercial development.” However, Metrolinx certainly faces some daunting challenges, says Paul Bedford, former city planner for Toronto, and adjunct professor of urban planning at University of Toronto and Ryerson University. “We want to make sure that the alignment of interests of the public and private sectors come together at the right spots,” says Bedford. “You do that through providing better transit accessibility — because it makes a site more attractive — and through various planning and development tools such as height density and land use incentives. You have to align policy with practice and make it attractive for the private sector to build these mixed-use developments at these various nodes.” A so-called mobility hub is one way to foster development, says Leslie Woo, vice president, policy, planning and innovation for Metrolinx. With about 20 in the planning stages, these hubs will feature the intersection of several rapid transit lines where land use can be maximized. For instance, the Bloor-Dundas intersection in Toronto ties together the TTC subway and bus service, Air Rail Link connecting the downtown with Pearson International Airport, and GO train to Georgetown. “There’s quite a lot of convergence there. And there are also opportunities in terms of development of adjacent vacant land. There’s high potential for more mixed-use development. It’s more than just a transit station,” says Woo, referring to The Big Move: Transforming Transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, which articulates Metrolinx’s 25-year regional transportation plan. 44
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mapping out growth potential — as easy as throwing darts? As you view the Metrolinx 25-year plan (see map above), the opportunities for new development appear obvious. OHB contacted a number of builders and developers, but they were reluctant to tip their hands about areas that they saw could hold good growth potential. Moving to the outer reaches of the GTA, there are still areas with land for development, and indeed some have already begun. The Aldershot GO station in Burlington has encouraged high-rise and townhouse development along Plains Road, all within a few kilometres of the station. To the east, areas of Durham have good growth potential and all the areas to the north and northwest through Milton to Kitchener. It may simply be a matter of taking a dart, throwing it at one of the planned transit extensions and start looking at available land.
“It offers the potential for improved public amenities, more seamless transition between different modes of transit, such as from subway to bus, or subway to GO, and taxi to bus,” continues Woo. “In the design of that station, we’re working with the local city councillor and the community to deliver a station that has heightened value not just for transit purposes but also community purposes.” In a similar vein, Metrolinx is working closely with the Town of Oakville and Infrastructure Ontario to find ways to maximize the mixed-use development of a parcel of downtown land. “The key for Oakville and us is to set up the infrastructure and planning mechanisms to make it attractive for that type of development. If we create the right conditions and put the right incentives in place, then there is no reason why it couldn’t happen sooner rather than later,” Woo explains. www.ohba.ca
Another community that will benefit from massive transportation investment is Kitchener-Waterloo. “Here in Waterloo Region, they’ve determined the preliminary route, the technology and the stations and are in the process of completing the required studies, which we hope to have done sometime in 2012,” says Douglas Stewart, chairman of the OHBA Land Development Committee and senior planner at Stantec Consulting Ltd. in Waterloo. “From that [process], the first rapid transit train and bus will be functioning in 2017.” Built at a projected cost of more than $800 million, the system includes a train that will cover about 19 kilometres from Conestoga Mall in Waterloo, through the suburban business parks, the downtown areas of Waterloo and Kitchener and continue to Cambridge, where passengers will board a bus rapid transit system that extends about 17 kilometres to the southern end of Cambridge. “It’s time to connect these communities,” says Stewart, noting that the Waterloo Region is making the investment because it expects to grow from 500,000 people to about 720,000 by 2029. “What’s also important is that there is planned enhancement of the existing bus system to provide connections to the stations that are proposed for rapid transit. In addition, since the end of December we’re connected to Toronto through the GO train, which goes via Guelph.” The final piece of the puzzle is the evolving housing market in Kitchener-Waterloo that is linked to transit systems and corridors. “We’ve had tremendous success of buildings that go up. There are a number of projects that have been built and others that are being planned,” says Stewart, crediting local officials for spurring the development of the Kitchener’s Kaufman Lofts and Arrow Lofts, both condo conversions of former manufacturing plants. “The market is here.” OHB
What’s the next “hot” community in ontario? Kitchener-Waterloo, argues Douglas Stewart, chairman of the OHBA land development committee, who is coincidentally based in Kitchener. “We have all the advantages of Toronto, without the traffic congestion. We have a prestigious community college and two universities.” With provincial funding and public policy planning in place, the Waterloo Region is braced for expected growth of nearly 45 percent by 2029. And local home builders are working closely with authorities to develop new residential projects to meet the demand for housing. “We’ve changed how we’ve done business,” says Stewart. “Understand, of course, there has to be a market. And until today, there has been.” Other in-demand areas could include northwest Brampton, northwest Markham, Stouffville, and Unionville, says Peter Smith, vice chairman of Metrolinx, the provincial agency responsible for GO Transit. And it’s being driven by expansion of the GO system. “We run double-decker buses along Highway 407 from one end to the other. We take university students to McMaster or the York University hub, where the Spadina subway extension will converge, and we take them to Durham College in Oshawa. It’s an inter-related transit system that helps to move people across the region. “Developers and builders are well aware of where the transit stops are,” says Smith. “There are two responses: developers are building close to the stations, and the stations are being built where the people have moved to in the past few years. There is a kind of symbiotic relationship.”
www.ohba.ca
build and they Will come
How one community encouraged public transit By MicHael Ryval
When a GO train station was completed six years ago in the
Mount Pleasant Village community in northwestern Brampton, it happened to be adjacent to a 120-acre property owned by Mattamy Development Corp. “It was built in the middle of nowhere, which for us was great,” says Mike Vernooy, senior vice president, land development for the Oakville-based firm. “Having transit in place for our future customers was a great opportunity.” While it seems like a happy coincidence, GO Transit was aware that development was going to happen. “They knew growth was coming, it was a question of when,” says Vernooy, noting that secondary planning for the Mount Pleasant community was initiated in 2004. Since its homes went on sale two years ago, Mattamy has built about 500 single-family homes and townhomes in the Mount Pleasant community and expects to build another 1,500 units over the next decade. But the station is not just one part of the GO network. It has evolved into a transit hub with accompanying services and is significant for two reasons. Since the community is directly opposite the GO station — and an easy walk for most homeowners — it will encourage homeowners to rely less on cars and more on public transit. “The measure of our success is how much people will take advantage of what has been built — and whether they will change their lifestyle.” The other factor was the mix of public and private funding. Working closely with the city and the Northwest Brampton Landowners Group (including Paradise Homes and Townwood Homes), Mattamy joined forces to build the transit infrastructure, such as bus shelters, as well as a community park and other facilities which emerged from the conversion of a heritage railway station. “The community space is attached to a library, which is attached to a school — and right next to the transit hub,” says Vernooy, noting that two-thirds of the $23 million in funding came from the provincial and federal governments through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund and the balance from developers. ontario home builder SPRING 2012
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“There were a lot of stakeholders — local government, provincial government, the school board, library board and heritage board — and a lot of co-operation. For us, as home builders, it’s really, really cool to wrap a community around this.” The success of the hub, says Dan Kraszewski, director, development services, planning, design and development for the City of Brampton, is attributable to the high degree of co-operation between the public and private sectors. “Brampton’s ability to work with the development industry, as well as the federal and provincial governments in a cooperative and timely fashion ensured this project was successful in meeting the Infrastructure Funding requirements in terms of completion deadlines and budget estimates at the same time as pushing the design boundaries,” says Kraszewski. The Mount Pleasant Village community “sends a clear message to communities and builders that Brampton, which is designated a growth community, is committed to inspired design that takes advantage of strategic density and transit opportunities,” adds Kraszewski. While the GO station hub has helped Mattamy market the Mount Pleasant Village development, Vernooy admits that it is hard to be precise about its impact. “When we made the decision to invest [in the infrastructure] we anticipated it would pay off. We have a gut feeling that it is working because sales are going well. But over the next couple years we will be measuring our marketing program.” It’s also too early to say if land values have gone up, says Vernooy. “The question is, will it increase the value for our homebuyers? That’s our hope. It will build value not so much for us, but for those people who move into the community. Transit is one more feature of the community you live in. You hope that community improvements trickle down into [the value of] individual homes.” Vernooy believes that the lesson to other builders is that they have to appreciate that partnerships are necessary for large-scale projects to work. “We would look to do it again. But the partnerships have to be right,” says Vernooy. “You have to try to create a win-win-win between the municipality, region and the province.” While other builders would endorse that view, they also prefer to take a wait-and-see approach to development. “Get the hubs built first before you start building,” says Brian Johnston, 46
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“You get this clustering effect.they are sort of symbiotic and feed off each other. having people coming together creates restaurants and theatres.” president of Monarch Corp. “In the old days, when we were doing greenfield development, the smart guys tried to figure out where the pipes were going. Now, with brownfield development, they are trying to figure out where the transit lines are going. They know where transit lines are going. So they will buy land nearby. We’re seeing some of that happening along Sheppard Avenue, east of the Don Valley Parkway.” Yet that’s not a strategy Johnston is comfortable with. “We tend to take a shorter-term view. We like to think two years out — and we’re prepared to pay a higher price,” says Johnston. “What happens if that LRT doesn’t get built? Or the project financing falls through? All kinds of bad things can happen. Look at Sheppard Avenue, west of Yonge Street. A lot of people bought land thinking that the subway would go west from Yonge. They are still waiting.” In Johnston’s view it’s important to have a transit hub well in place. That’s the reasoning behind two projects, Boulevard and 21 Hillcrest, which Monarch built near Empress Walk close to Toronto’s North York City Centre subway station. “You get this clustering effect. They are sort of symbiotic and feed off each other,” says Johnston. “Having all these people coming together creates restaurants and theatres.” Looking ahead, Johnston believes the transit corridor around the Spadina subway extension to the Vaughan Corporate Centre in York Region would be a good place to acquire land for highdensity housing — although Monarch is not making such a move. “But you will have some deep-pocketed developers who will buy the land, and then wait. Some of them have already done it.” OHB www.ohba.ca
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19/08/2011 10:01:09 AM ontario home builder SPRING 2012 47
Code Ready
How to prepare for new building regulations By Tracy Hanes
The winds of change are blowing through the province’s new home industry as the 2012 Ontario Building Code takes effect, the Energy Star bar is raised higher and an increased emphasis on “green” comes to the renovation market. Judging by the sessions at the OHBA Builder and Renovator Forum in Collingwood in early February, the transition is not going to be an easy one — and builders won’t be the only ones feeling the pain. Municipalities, building inspectors and consumers will also struggle to understand what the new regulations mean. Builders who hope to survive will have to be prepared for ongoing change, be flexible and adopt a practice of continual improvement, said the panellists and speakers at the forum. Here are some of the key points: 48
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www.ohba.ca
1 BuildinG Gets scientific Under the 2012 Ontario Building Code, all new homes will have to be built to current Energy Star (EnerGuide 80 standards) with the primary aim to improve energy efficiency and water management. Understanding building science is going to be critical and builders who haven’t done so yet will likely have to hire a building scientist. There will be greater emphasis on designers to manage code changes in their plans. HVAC systems are going to get complex, warned John Straube of the Building Science Corporation Inc. Systems will have to be downsized to deal with lower heating and cooling loads, but it’s tough to find smaller furnaces in North America. Builders might have to look at combination heating systems, such as hot water and space heating. There will be a need to balance increased airtightness with good ventilation to prevent condensation and mould. “The building enclosure is a big part of the equation and it’s actually solved, but space heating will be the biggest problem,” Straube said, adding that the prime directive will be to look at the house as a system “and not get carried away with just energy. You have to balance comfort and aesthetics too.”
2 Renos Go GReen EnerQuality will launch a Green Renovator Program, according to Pauline Lip, program director at EnerQuality. A training program will instruct renovators on how to implement and sell green and will provide certification. The program will address energy efficiency and water conservation with a pilot to be launched this spring. New additions built on to older houses is one problem area, said Brendan Charters of Eurodale Developments, a high-end renovation company. An energy-efficient, airtight new addition tied to a drafty, inefficient old space or outdated heating/cooling system just doesn’t work properly. Charters said it will be increasingly important for renovators to have discussions with homeowners upfront so they can budget for better insulation, windows, etc. in the older building as part of a reno.
3 new eneRGuide scale Corey Peabody of Natural Resources Canada says all energy systems for the house, including solar (not only space heating and hot water heating) will be addressed by the new scale, which will be “more intuitive, easy to understand.” The scale, which is based on gigajoules, undergoes public review in 2012. A launch date is yet to be determined.
www.ohba.ca
4 eneRGy staR takes a step up Builders who embraced Energy Star and wish to continue to earn that label will have to build homes 20 percent more efficient than they do currently. The exception is that builders who register their homes as Energy Star by June 2012 will be allowed to sell the homes with the label based on the previous standards and will be able to do so until 2014. Sean Mason of Mason Homes, one of the province’s first Energy Star builders, estimated the new version of Energy Star would add $2,000 to $4,000 in costs, but reviewing and changing practices could reduce that cost. “Be curious, be consultative with your trades, your HVAC people and hire a good building scientist,” said Mason. The GreenHouse label will return to vogue: This label combines energy efficiency with water conservation and air quality standards. It offers third party certification, but isn’t as onerous or expensive as LEED. Mason says builders shouldn’t be concerned about too many labels; they should develop their own brand based on the specifications of Energy Star or GreenHouse. Be prepared for GreenHouse standards coming to multi-unit residential projects as municipalities and governments demand them, he added.
5 R-2000 Revamp In January 2014, R-2000 buildings will be required to be 50 percent more energy efficient than a code-built one, with a building envelope 25 percent tighter. The best-in-class standards will address air conditioning, micro-power generation, solar thermal, etc. which will add cost “but that shouldn’t be an issue as a best-in-class building,” Peabody said. Buyers still don’t care much about labels; for most homebuyers, location and design are still priorities although their desire to reduce energy use is growing, as are their concerns for the environment, said Straube. However, most people don’t ask about the benefits of an energyefficient house at the sales office; it’s something they realize once they have moved in and start getting bills, said Gary Botelho of Empire Communities, which builds to Energy Star standard and beyond. Most buyers don’t want specifics about EnerGuide numbers or R-values, they just want to know their house is efficient. Botelho said inhabitants have a huge impact on how a house performs and builders will need to educate buyers on how to properly maintain and operate high-efficiency homes.
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Green StarS
Winners of the annual EnerQuality Awards of Excellence By TrAcy HAnEs The Minto Group’s ongoing commitment to “green” building
garnered top honours at the EnerQuality Awards of Excellence, held at the OHBA Builder & Renovator Forum in Collingwood in early February. Minto was named 2011 Green Builder of the Year and 2011 Leader of the Year for initiatives dedicated to building high-performance, energy-efficient housing. Minto’s low-rise and high-rise housing projects feature environmentally friendly designs, building techniques and leading edge 50
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waste management strategies. The company has fostered a green culture within its entire organization and supports the sustainable building industry provincially, nationally and internationally. The company has consistently achieved 25 percent or more energy savings in its low-rise communities, 30 percent or more energy savings in its high-rise condominiums and has eliminated 17,947 tons of greenhouse gas annually. Its innovations include features such as all-off switches, HRV fan coils, rainwater harvesting and multi-chute recycling. (Continued on page 52) www.ohba.ca
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(Continued from page 50) “Minto really has in its core values a commit-
ment to environmentally sustainable construction,” said John Reid, Minto land development co-ordinator. In-house, it has an internationally recognized Green Team. “Within the entire corporation there are individuals who all seem to share the same values as the company leaders and are dedicated to pushing the boundaries.” Empire Communities took home the trophy for Energy Star for New Homes Builder of the Year. The award represents the company’s commitment to building a better home and its dedication to continual improvement, said Paul Golini, Empire executive vice president. Empire was one of the first builders to embrace Energy Star and make it standard in its low-rise developments. The company has a specialized green team that conducts field inspections of its homes and educates buyers about the energy-saving features. “The ultimate intention is to deliver a more comfortable home for our consumers at the same time as saving them money on their monthly utility bills,” Golini said. Empire employee Gary Botelho was named Energy Star for New Homes Champion of the Year for his support for the program. “I didn’t even know I was nominated!” said Botelho, who lives in one of Empire’s energy-efficient homes with his family and monitors the house’s ongoing performance in a “real-life” situation. Mason Homes won for Best Green Marketing Campaign. Mason builds in communities such as Peterborough, Barrie, St. Catharines and Port Hope, and has developed its own Green for Life brand, which figures prominently in its marketing materials, promoting homeowner comfort and health as well as energy savings. Gordon Tobey Developments of Brighton was R-2000 Builder of the Year. The company caters to the baby boomer 52
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market with homes that can be built from Tobey’s plans or custom designed. Its homes can be built with basements or as slab-on-grade for people with mobility issues/wheelchairs. The homes’ features include superior insulation and air sealing, low-e windows and combination heating systems to provide highly efficient water and space heating. Another R-2000 builder, Steve Snider Construction of Port Perry took the Building Innovation and Excellence Award. The builder’s custom homes and renovation projects feature innovations such as Insulated Concrete Form construction, radiant floor and geothermal heating and have consistently rated as among the most airtight homes in Canada. The Hall of Fame Award was awarded posthumously to the late Bruce Gough, an Ottawa architect and pioneer in energy-efficient housing. Gough was instrumental in creating the Canadian Residential Energy Services Network (CRESNET) and was the driving force behind many award-winning construction projects, computer software and research initiatives. Industry Partner of the Year went to building material/glass fibre insulation provider Owens Corning, which has developed a cost-effective solution for meeting the Energy Star for New Homes specification with its FOAMULAR CodeBord Air Barrier System. The system addresses the three principles of building science (heat flow, air flow and moisture flow) in an easy-to-install application. Homesol Building Solutions was Evaluator of the Year. The Ottawa-based company provides environmental and energy-efficient building consulting services for contractors and renovating homeowners and is led by Ross Elliott, who has more than 25 years of experience as a licensed energy auditor and contractor. OHB www.ohba.ca
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www.ohba.ca
better builder
Ethics 101
What makes having a code so important by Dr. Chris bart “Ethics” are incredibly important.
Ethics And rolE dEscriPtions
They define our moral principles and our rules of conduct. Quite simply, they define “good” versus “bad” behaviour. Ethics has quickly become one of the top five topics facing businesses today. In an ethics study by John Della Costa, 80 percent of Canadians perceived a steep decline in their trust of corporations and 40 percent of employees report having witnessed ethics transgressions. Ultimately, customers rarely will buy the products or services of companies they don’t trust. And winning back a customer you have lost is often nearly impossible. To build an ethical organization — based on trust — you should think about implementing the following steps, based on the five simple, yet immutable, leadership principles outlined in A Tale of Two Employees and the Person Who Wanted to Lead Them.
For both new and current employees, all job descriptions should make reference to the code and state explicitly the expectation that every employee will adhere to it. trAining And dEvEloPmEnt
the Kraft Foods Company. Ethics must be a standard operating condition, with the code seen as a critical strategic factor to the success of the organization. But defining ethical conduct in a written document is no guarantee that the behaviours will follow. Since the goal is to instill and maintain a culture of trust, it is important that the code be made real for every person in the company. Ethics And thE hiring ProcEss
ArticulAtE Your Ethics codE
Define what constitutes the organization’s ethical orientation in the form of an “ethics code” that details in precise terms both acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. A marvellous example of an ethics code can be found at the website of www.ohba.ca
During the interview process, invite potential new hires to discuss the degree to which the code aligns with their personal ethics. They should be asked for specific examples. This might even involve some mini-case or problem-solving exercises.
Knowing what to do and why it should be done is sometimes not enough to develop ethical behaviours. A comprehensive training program, including role-playing and case examples will ensure that the values detailed in the ethics code have meaning for each person in his or her job. Align Your Ethics codE And PErformAncE mAnAgEmEnt sYstEms
Adjusting the organization’s performance management system to include ethical behaviour is an important criterion for performance measurement. The real acid test means being prepared to fire those managers who, despite having “delivered on the numbers,” do not “live the company’s values.” Dr. Chris Bart, FCA, is a leading authority on mission and vision statements and especially how to align all organizational actions, decisions and behaviours around them. He can be reached at www.corporatemissionsinc.com. ontario home builder SPRING 2012
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Craftsmanship. Style. Performance.
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by brent Wilker We’ve all heard the expression, “in the
cloud.” From email to banking, a fundamental shift away from software to remote, cloud-based connectivity is making access to our vital information easier than ever before. So what does cloud computing have to do with our industry? A lot, actually. Lowe’s Home Improvement recently launched “MyLowe’s,” a cloud-based portal for homeowners, which will allow their customers to store information on purchases they make for their homes such as model numbers, owner’s manuals, warranties and paint formulas. No longer will important documentation be relegated to a box, lost or misplaced in that urgent time of need. Purchase products, install and enjoy; when you need to do maintenance, troubleshoot or reference the warranty terms, simply log in and access the information. As valuable as a cloud-based portal is to a homeowner, the most exciting aspect of this technology goes well beyond the basic convenience of the tool. Universal access to the home’s information and transferability will change the way consumers buy and sell homes. Imagine having access to a service history when buying a home, similar to CarFax in the automotive industry. Home inspectors would be able to provide a detailed report as to how the upkeep of the home’s components has been done based on the manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations, as well as inform the www.ohba.ca
purchaser as to what extended warranties are still intact. Insurance companies will be able to calculate replacement and repair costs far more accurately based on the records kept in the portal. In the modern age of real estate, property changes hands more than it used to. Most homeowners now have to use their first and often second homes as stepping stones. Each home purchase represents a significant investment and as such, anything a seller can do to reduce the risk and add more value will become increasingly important. After all, when buying a used car, don’t we all want low kilometres and an impeccable service history? Until recently, the only peace of mind we had when buying a resale home was the word of a qualified home inspector. Convenience, transferability and universal access to important information; when you combine these attributes, it is easy to see how “in the cloud” technology can change an entire industry. For residential construction, the question is no longer “how,” but “when?”
Real Estate Advisory Group
The cornerstone of successful projects.
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Brent Wilker is the marketing director for CONASYS Inc, a supplier of Home Information Packages, a cloud-based “owner’s manual” for residential construction. www.conasysinc.com Twitter: @Conasys
Open Up
Selling Power
Your Living Space
Time’s up, what do you really want? By John Baker If you are like most salespeople,
when it comes down to it, you are downright scared of being direct and to the point and telling people in no uncertain terms, “Here’s what I want!” Think about it. There’s a conspiracy that encourages people to bury their most important wants and desires. Marketing trainers use consultative selling to draw people out. Social media consulwww.ohba.ca
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tants say, “Selling directly is suicide.” People hem and haw and are even afraid to ask you what they want to ask you the most. They feel vulnerable about being honest and up-front. It petrifies even the best of us. Yet when it comes to being successful in business, being frank, open and clearly asking people to give you what you want is what wins the day. The world would be a better place if marketers were totally up-front and said, “I’m selling windows today; are you buying?” I’ve spent several years studying the fears and trepidation people demonstrate in situations across the whole spectrum of human interactions. People do not know the best way to get what they want. I observed people who were getting exactly what they were after. My discovery was absolutely earth-shattering in its simplicity. Very simply, the most successful people ask for what they want. Then they give the three very best reasons that explain why it makes perfect sense to say yes. Here’s an example: A salesperson has met with the client, properly identified the needs and tailored a solution that meets the client’s needs as well as budget. After the meeting is complete the salesperson thanks the client and says that he will follow up with him in a few days. Even experienced salespeople, young and old, are often stumped over asking someone for the order. They stumble and bumble their way through touchy-feely talk about their hobbies, the weather, their pets, family or weekend plans — anything but what they are really after. Oh sure, all sorts of experts tell you 10:55:48 A that it’s important to build a relationship, or you have to draw out the prospect, or listen for buying clues, and any number of other items, but the crucial, bottom line issue is that they never get around to asking the big question. Yet the quickest and best way to ask for the order is to go right up to the person and say: “I’ll be able <to do this>, and get to <do that> and I’ll have it to you by <date certain> within your budget — guaranteed.” www.ohba.ca
It is crucial to identify the exact most important request and brainstorm before you decide on the best reasons. Each reason needs to be carefully selected from a larger number of options and be backed by three important facts. It’s about that easy, and the power of this strategy is more than a little amazing. My formula has three key rules: only offer information that is meaningful, the rest is trivial; get to the point and ask for what it is you want; be quick about it. Building a relationship is great, but overdoing it turns you into a nuisance. The biggest problem with consultative selling, for example, is that it gets in the way of the selling. It’s technique overload. It targets intimacy over
“building a relationship is great, but overdoing it turns you into a nuisance.”
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decorum. It allows for procrastination. It enables salespeople to avoid rejection. After all, if you are busy probing Please call1-866-216-0045 1-866-216-0045 or or email email Please call the needs of the prospect you don’t have NewHomeBuilder@northerncallsolutions.com for more Please call 1-866-216-0045 or email NewHomeBuilder@northerncallsolutions.com for more information information to risk asking for the sale. NewHomeBuilder@northerncallsolutions.com for more information Can you image a vendor at a ballpark consultatively selling you a hot dog: “On a scale of 1 to 10, rate your level of discomfort with your hunger?” “Tell me your main objective with the hot dog?” “When you had a hot dog before, how satisfied were you with the mustard and ketchup ratio?” Isn’t he more effective when he just yells: “Hot dogs, hot dogs, come and get your hot dogs!” Just give me the damn wiener! John Baker has held top leadership positions in sales, client service and operations in Fortune 25 companies for more than 25 years and is author of The Asking Formula. www.theaskingformula.com. www.ohba.ca
ontario home builder SPRING 2012
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Ontario Home Builder’s Assoc Ad (OHBA)_Layout 1 11-08-16 1:27 PM Page 1
TRANE. Because you’re not just building a house, you’re building a reputation. You’ll crumble quick in the building business if customers complain to their friends. That’s why, in addition to other upgrades, it’s crucial that you offer HVAC options designed and built to last. With the highest reliability rating and the industry’s best limited warranties, a Trane system makes a sound investment for customers; one that will pay them back in energy savings over the years.
For more information, call: 1-877-777-4822 or visit BARRIE HomeBridge Canada Inc. 705-722-0209 BEAVERTON Taylor Made Heating & A/C 705-340-8149
BELLEVILLE Jerry’s Heating & A/C 613-965-6381 CHATHAM QPS Mechanical Contractors 519-351-3177
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COBOURG/ PORT HOPE Wayne Simpson Refrigeration & Heating Inc. 905-372-1632
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OTTAWA Fireside Gas Products 613-421-8084 PARRY SOUND Northern Comfort Systems Inc. 705-746-8085
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SAULT STE. MARIE S & T Group 705-942-3043 SEAFORTH/ HURON EAST J.D. Holman Mechanical Inc. 519-348-4888 STRATHROY Paul Milliken Plumbing & Heating 519-245-1666 SUDBURY Independent Energy Services 705-897-3334 TORONTO (GTA) Downsview Heating 905-794-1489 Martino Contractors Ltd. 905-760-9894
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A d v a n t a g e P a t i o D o o r s w i t h R LT B l i n d s Pollard Windows is proud to offer RLT (Raise, Lower, Tilt) blinds between the glass on our recently re-engineered Advantage Vistador. You now have the option to offer your customers both convenience and durability with the blinds secured between two panes of glass. RLT blinds are easy to maintain, protected from wear and tear, and stay neatly out of the way. They are able to be raised, lowered and tilted allowing for infinite adjustability and finger-tip control of privacy, and natural light. Contact a Pollard Representative for more information on RLT blinds.
Call 1.800.263.6616 1217 King Road in Burlington, ON Tel: 905.634.2365 or visit our web site pollardwindows.com
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product focus
Windows and Doors When style meets energy efficiency by Dan O’Reilly There was a time when style was the
main consideration when choosing windows and doors. But today, the equally important factor is energy efficiency. Builders need to catch the attention of buyers with windows and doors that look great and save money. “Customers today, more than ever, want options that will increase the energy efficiency and comfort of their homes,” says Karen Pollard-Josling, marketing manager for Burlington-based Pollard Windows. Yet, aesthetics remain very important to homeowners who try to put a special decorative touch on their homes so they can stand out from others on the street, she says. The desire for energy efficiency and style is being reflected in consumer buying patterns, says Kevin Morton, marketing manager for Kitchener-based Golden Windows. “Our marketplace is starting to see a shift from the standard steel door slab to either a fibreglass slab or a full-lite aluminum clad slab with a natural wood interior. I feel this shift has occurred for a couple of reasons. The performance in terms of R-value on a fibreglass slab is slightly higher than a steel slab.” Another factor is that buyers are becoming more educated and involved with www.ohba.ca
the selection of the products going into their homes, says Morton. That assessment is shared by Tim Smith, general manager of Casa Bella Windows. In the past few years there has been a marked increase in the demand for high performance low-e argon-filled casement windows, he explains. On the design side the company is seeing a lot more interest in stainable, textured fibreglass door systems — compared to steel — as builders and homebuyers put more emphasis on the front entrance. “We are also seeing more requests for different colour options on windows. People want different exterior window colours and choices on the interior hardware finishes, such as pewter, brushed nickel, etc.,” says Smith. Energy efficiency remains the number one priority for Fibertec Window & Door Manufacturing, says Colin Mori, finance/ dealer manager for the Vaughan-based firm. Builders aren’t always cognizant of the fact that each side of house experiences different solar gains, with the southern and western exposures gaining the most. That is why Fibertec manufactures windows that are specifically designed for each orientation. “Each
elevation has a different glass package.” Manufacturers are doing a good job addressing the issues of energy efficiency and sustainability, says Morgan Hanam, head of the window division of Enermodal Engineering, a Kitchener-based building envelope and LEED consulting firm. But he does have concerns about a new way that low-e coatings are applied. “In order to get even better U-factors, a new trend has started. We are seeing two low-e coatings being used, with the second one being placed on the room side surface of double integrated glass units. Although this improves the thermal performance, it increases the risk of condensation, because the inside glass temperature is colder than with just one low-e coating.” Builders need to be aware of this trend and should ask their suppliers if there is a low-e coating on the fourth surface (the innermost surface) of the window, says Hanam. “If there is, they should recognize that the ability of this window to resist condensation is likely not as good as a similar window without this second coating. The jury is still out as to whether the condensation resistance of a window with this second coating is adequate.” ontario home builder SPRING 2012
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product focus
eneRgy-saving WindoWs Make debut In what it heralds as its most energy-efficient product, the Pella Corporation has unveiled a new line of 350 Series of windows and sliding patio doors with options that will meet or exceed Energy Star guidelines. With optional features such as low-e triple-pane glass, they can achieve an 83 percent higher energyefficiency rating than comparable competing products, says Pella. The claim is based on computer simulations which compared an advanced low-e with argon triple-pane vinyl window to a single-pane vinyl window. There are also several design options. www.pella.com
Revitalized dooR Major enhancements have been made to Golden Windows’ line of Goldenclad door and patio entry door systems. It describes the enhancements as its “revitalized door system” which is the culmination of approximately 18 month of design, planning and product development. Some of the major features include a high performance sill with a massive extruded body and unique weatherstripping which consists of an integrated open and closed cell system that ensures it won’t freeze in the winter. An optional highlight is a cover that protects the sill from being damaged during installation. www.goldenwindows.com 62
ontario home builder SPRING 2012
Redesigned line Casa Bella Windows has redesigned its high-end architecturalstyle windows so they are more energy efficient and attractive. The just-launched “Architectural Plus” windows have been retooled to allow buyers options such as triple thermal glass units with double low-e and insulating foam-filled vinyl frames. The manufacturer has also installed stainless steel hardware and rounded/curved edges. Included in the series is the company’s award-winning Uniqwood. This is a vinyl window with a clear, stain-grade pine cladding added to the interior surface. www.casabellawindows.ca www.ohba.ca
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GREENSKIN™ BUILDING ENVELOPE SEALS For all types of penetrations through buildings, interior or exterior. Use with HVAC, electrical, plumbing *no caulking *no taping *nor trapped moisture in wall cavity *spacer buttons allows air flow behind seal www.backwatervalve.com 1-877-734-8691
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Beaver Valley Stone offers the largest selection of natural stone and precast products in Ontario, including flagstone, both random and saw cut. We also have many different types of drywall, ledgerock, natural stone steps and sills. Our precast concrete products include patio slabs, sills, steps and curbs. We also offer a wide selection of interlocking paving stones and retaining wall systems, from a variety of manufacturers. Accessories available.
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product focus MaxiMuM enerGy SavinGS Pollard Windows is offering a new “Ener-Max” on its premium vinyl Advantage Line windows. With a combination of high-performance glazing and insulated frame and sash components, this upgrade will achieve a 22.6 percent improvement in U-value and a 17.9 percent energy rating increase. As part of an effort to improve energy efficiency, increase water resistance and enhance curb appeal, the Burlington-based firm also redesigned its Advantage patio door to include wider sashes, a more refined frame and optional raise/ lower and tilt blinds. www.pollardwindows.com
Green and enerGy efficient In its marketing material, Fibertec Window and Door Manufacturing suggests builders and buyers can achieve the highest rated performance window in the world by taking advantage of options such as a heat mirror, low-e argon glass and choice of warm edge spacers. Apart from the energy component, the recycling process in the manufacturing also guarantees they’re green products. Another benefit is the stylish look. Its bay and bow windows, for example, provide wide glass area for maximum light, thanks to a narrow profile and strong frames. www.fibertec.com 64
ontario home builder SPRING 2012
Let the freSh air in With the hot days of summer not that far away, this is an appropriate time to consider the phantom screen system. The retractable screens offer homeowners an attractive and alternate approach for allowing fresh air into the house and ventilation and less reliance on air conditioning. This is achieved through a wide variety of mesh offerings which provide UV shading options for windows and custom applications that effectively reduce solar heat gain and diminish the sun’s bright glare. www.phantomscreens.com www.ohba.ca
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out side the boX
Fresh Thinking
The evolution and future of our kitchens By Avi FriedmAn An article recently published in
Dr. Avi Friedman teaches architecture at McGill University. He can be reached at avi.friedman@ mcgill.ca.
66
Newsweek provided insightful statistics on North Americans’ food preparation and culinary habits. The author suggested that just over a third of all dinner entrees are entirely homemade and close to half of the suppers were not cooked in an oven or on the stove. In addition, the prepared dinner section in supermarkets has increased by 168 percent since 1993. These statistics are an indication of the shift that kitchen use and design have undergone in recent years. From its humble beginnings, the kitchen has maintained its critical importance in home life. Therefore, it’s no wonder domestic technology innovations were most visible and first introduced in the kitchen. The development of electrical appliances — following the invention of the transformer by William Stanley in 1886 — revolutionized kitchen design and work. Appliances were integrated with kitchen cabinets, forming a cohe-
ontario home builder SPRING 2012
sive, functional unit. The importance of the countertop, rather than a central table, as a place for food preparation increased and also became a resting area for other small appliances. The arrival of the baby boom to the housing market in the 1980s brought significant change. They were eager to spend on comforts, and kitchen appliances were part of this trend. More so, homeowners turned the kitchen into the home’s showpiece. It was the equivalent of the manicured front lawn. An island was added with a broiling top for indoor barbecues. A second service sink was introduced, as well as bar-like seating in addition to a breakfast area. It’s unlikely that innovation in the evolution of kitchen appliances will stop anytime soon. In 2007, Americans invested a staggering $6.6 billion in kitchen renovation. And it seems that the strangest might be yet to come. The printed barcodes on food
packaging inspired fridge designers. There are now built-in scanning devices that record products as they are being placed in the fridge. A touch-pad screen on the fridge door will offer favourite dinner menus in a soft voice. Once selected, the recipe and the needed ingredients will be displayed. The screen will even have step-by-step cooking instructions. And where will the food be cooked? In the sink. The combination of hot water and drainage has inspired inventors to include pots as part of the sink. When the pasta or the steamed vegetables are ready, press a button and the pot will drain automatically. Kitchens have transformed in shape, size and importance in the past half century. Blame it on lifestyle, technology or plain consumerism. If present trends are to continue, future kitchens will be filled with costly gadgets while we watch real cooking on the Food Network. OHB
www.ohba.ca
The DuROCK PUCCS series of Exterior Insulation Finish Systems are the ultimate in insulated rainscreen technology. The patented circular grooved insulation board design incorporates a 10 mm deep air space for positive drainage, and PUCCS EIFS can be easily detailed to direct precipitation to the exterior. Please refer to DuROCK’s three dimensional colour details for guidance in designing interfaces with other wall components. Whereas the EIFS lamina is the Primary Plane of Protection against water intrusion, DuROCK’s air, moisture and vapour barriers form the Secondary Plane of Protection. DuROCK’s patented drainage track (UniTrack) collects drained water and allows it to be dispelled at select locations. The thermal resistance of the insulation, combined with the air barrier properties of the various moisture barriers, enhances the energy efficiency of any building clad or retrofit with DuROCK PUCCS EIFS.
DuROCK PUCCS RMC-1 EIFS is intended for use on wood sheathed, low-rise residential construction. It incorporates DuROCK’s Polar Bear air/moisture barrier and adhesive, which is specifically formulated for use over wood sheathing. This Canadian breakthrough in EIFS technology culminated four years ago when PUCCS RMC-1 EIFS became the first EIF System in Canada to meet the intent of the National Building Code for use over wood substrates. Please visit our website for the latest specification and detail updates on the DuROCK PUCCS series of Exterior Insulation Finish Systems.
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