We are 5 weeks into the renovation and we are so close we can taste it!  Our new stamped concrete floor, mimicking 36×36 tiles, is in and it looks wonderful (thanks to Stonecraft).  We are waiting for millwork which is a couple of days behind but we are making progress regardless.  Stay tuned for next week’s update when we will be in our new office!

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday celebration.  All the best from everyone here at Klondike Contracting!

The City of Vancouver is looking at a pilot project that would have the city pay half the cost of installing solar heating in your home.

Typically a solar hot water system would cost around $7200.  With the new pilot program, 50 homeowners selected for the program will only pay half of the bill.

Peter Simpson of the Greater Vancouver Home Builders Association doubts that homeowners will be receptive to the program.  He adds that most homeowners with that kind of cash would rather spend it on something like new countertops or hardwood flooring.

We hope that you will consider applying for the program not only because it’s a great investment but it’s one that will reduce the consumption of natural resources.

To read the News 1130 article about this, click here. Stay tuned for further updates!

A gas fireplace is a beautiful addition to any home but without proper safety measures & maintenance, they can be a disaster waiting to happen.  Now that the winter chill is officially with us, we thought you may benefit from some of these tips to keep your house warm and safe!

General Safety

• Do not store combustible materials near your fireplace
• Install your fireplace out of the way of foot traffic
• Do not operate if glass doors are cracked
• Installation and repairs should only be done by a registered gas contractor

Child Safety

• Supervise children carefully.  Glass inserts quickly heat up to more than 200°C and can take up to 45 minutes to cool
• Make sure children know they should never touch a natural gas fireplace’s glass panels
• Consider installing physical barriers or safety screens if you have toddlers
• Adjustable safety gates can also be installed to restrict fireplace access to adults
• Even when a fireplace is not in use, toddlers can hurt themselves on its surfaces & corners so consider installing a fire-resistant hearth guard (cushioned strip)

Keeping it clean

• Turn your fireplace completely off, including the pilot light
• Wait for the unit to cool completely before wiping with a damp cloth
• Use a drop sheet to protect your floor while cleaning
• Wear gloves & eye protection when handling the logs, which may cause skin/eyes irritation
• Replace the logs exactly as shown in your owner’s manual after cleaning or moving them
• Clean the glass periodically
• Don’t use abrasive cleaners on the glass (check manual for recommended products)

Signs that may indicate your fireplace is not working properly

• pilot light outages
• “booming” noises on ignition
• delayed ignition (slow to start up)
• excessive soot or corrosion inside the fireplace or on the vent
• a continuous or intermittent odour – either the “rotten egg” or sulphur smell of natural gas or a sharp odour that causes eyes to sting
• symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning: nausea, headaches, lethargy or other flu-like symptoms

For additional information & tips, please visit the Terasen Gas website.  We hope the above tips will help you keep your home safe while you enjoy the warmth of the fire.  Seasons Greetings from all of us at Klondike Contracting!

We are a month into the renovation of our new showroom/office.  For the first 3 weeks, things appeared to be progressing slowly.  However, now with drywall almost complete, you will see dramatic changes.  We’re into the finishing stage and in the coming weeks you will see flooring (concrete topping), fixtures (lighting & plumbing), paint, and millwork.  This phase is usually a lot more fun to see but there’s still a lot of work to be done and we only have 3-4 more weeks before we are officially moved-in!  Stay tuned for further updates.