We all had a great time at the Sun Run this year and have now set our own records to break next year!  Here are a couple of pictures of the day.  Hope to see you there next year!

In our second video blog, we are revealing the GOOD, BAD, & UGLY of embedded contractor mark-ups.

This is our first video blog ever and we hope you will find this and subsequent videos useful, interesting, educational, and at the very least a bit entertaining!  Stay tuned, our next video will take you into the mysterious world of contractor mark-ups.

External doors are very important as they make up your first impressions of a home before entering it.  Italian doors are particularly decorative and exterior doors, specifically, often have the appearance of an armored door, combining style and security.

In keeping with the old world look of many Italian towns & cities, there is a very high demand for antique doors.  Restorations of old villas often require the careful removal of existing old doors.  Then they are repaired & polished, then reinstalled to maintain the original character of the home.

Here are a few photos I took during my trip.  It was beautiful to see the appreciation for antiquity still intact and very much alive!

Eric Schapira
Chief Relationship Builder

The Klondike team will be participating in this year’s Sun Run as a team building activity and for some healthy competition.  We hope to see you at the finish line!

If you haven’t already signed up please visit the Sun Run website for more info on how to get involved.

Mold on insulation & studs as well

I visit many homes and commercial buildings throughout the week and I cannot believe how many units in Vancouver contain mold on some level.  Whether it is poor siding details (flashing, stucco, cracks, etc), improper attachment of deck railings (anchored on top as opposed to being on the side), or old tile & grout on showers, I see it all.  The weather in Vancouver really gives the exterior of homes and commercial buildings a beating.  Whether it is the snowy winters or the rainy springs and falls, we have our work cut out for us as contractors.  And as homeowners, it is your responsibility to provide regular maintenance & upkeep to avoid further problems.

I would say that a large portion of the showers I look at contain mold due to small hairline cracks in the grout.  Water builds up in behind the tiles over time and never get the chance to dry out.  Maintenance of the grout or a membrane system in behind are two simple fixes.  This is not just about the health of your home afterall.  It’s about the health of you and yours who inhabit the space.

Garth Lagasse
Estimator / Project Manager

As usual, I had our maintenance crew come out to our home to do the annual pressure washing yesterday.  My wife was again impressed with not only our incredibly efficient crew and the results, but also their customer service qualities and kindness.  We have been getting an abundant amount of feedback from clients on how great our crews are and it is wonderful to experience it first hand.  The amount of money invested for the results generated are extraordinary.  Our balconies, walkways & driveways shine like new once again!  I wonder why more people do not do this on a yearly basis?  After all, we live in a rain forest.

I’ve taken a few pictures of the dramatic difference of the curb between our home and the neighbour’s.  Now that’s results!!!

Burton Harmann
Principal / Project Manager

I attended a networking function through the Entrepreneurs Organization last night with Guy Kawasaki, one of the most followed twitterers in the world, as the keynote speaker.  Certainly opened my eyes as to what Twitter is!  It is not just to let your friends know you’re going to Starbucks and then a movie.  It has some real marketing appeal and benefits for a diverse amount of businesses.  We will see more & more of this and it will, no doubt, become a major part of people’s lives.  The amount of people (individuals and companies requiring advice or services) you are able to reach with a stroke of the keyboard makes Twitter, and social networking in general, incredibly powerful.  Find us on Twitter by searching: klondikecc.

Burton Hartmann
Principal / Project Manager