A Vancouver Construction, Contracting & Interior Design Blog

Welcome to the Klondike Blog. Our goal is to capture our experiences and knowledge about the current state of design and construction as it stands today. As new ideas are developed and industry standards evolve, we are seeing the introduction of new materials, products and attitudes towards how we should be design, build, renovate and decorate our spaces. We hope you enjoy our blog!

Rebates & Incentives

Stay protected! Don’t miss out on Macbeth...

Posted on January 28th, 2013

Macbeth Lifetime VIP Membership-logoFor a limited time only, our sister company, Macbeth Roofing and Waterproofing, is offering a lifetime VIP membership. A onetime membership fee of $199.00+tax per building or home (valued at $499+tax), offers you the following:

  • FREE Yearly Roof & House/Building Inspection Reports*
  • FREE Unlimited Emergency Service Calls*
  • Have peace of mind with the Lifetime VIP Membership™!

We cannot stress enough, the importance of roof maintenance, particularly in this wet Vancouver climate! The roof of the house is, after all, what offers your whole home protection. Depending on the roof type, usage, age and complexity, roof maintenance programs are designed to maximize the life cycle of the roof while minimizing the costs involved. The purpose is to protect one of your most valuable investments and avoid any nasty surprises, such as leaks, mold or stains.

Macbeth Roofing & Waterproofing provides high quality residential and commercial roofing services in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Their skilled team is trained to provide thorough inspections, detailed estimates and durable installations. They are experts in roofing maintenance, roofing repairs and new roof installations. Macbeth is also COR Safety Certified for your peace of mind. For more information on the Macbeth Roofing & Waterproofing or the membership program, please call 778-374-0333 or visit them on the web at www.macbethroof.com.

*Certain conditions apply. Please see our website for details

Keep Your Home Cosy Warm This Fall

Posted on October 14th, 2011

As the season gets chilly, keep your home cosy for less!

Some of these tips might be no-brainers but a simple reminder can make all the difference!

Start by taking an energy efficiently test. This will allow you to know exactly where cold air is and from there you can take the proper precise steps.

  • Use honeycomb blinds, they provide superior insulation, noise reduction and reduction of energy costs throughout the house.
  • Look into special heaters. ECO-heaters, for example use less electricity than any other heater for a given area. They draw in cold air from the floor of the room and then circulate the air for free.
  • Heavy drapery can also help hold in drafts but if it’s a sunny day, letting the light in can be useful. You can see how solar paneling can generate enough energy to heat a house!
  • Check doors, windows and your chimney. If your chimney is open all winter long, you are allowing heat escape and cold air to seep in. When your fireplace isn’t in use be sure to close the chimney flue up – you’ll notice a big difference right away
  • Use rugs to insulate flooring
  • Heat may also be lost to an unfinished basement. Even if you think it is closed off from the rest of your house, the water heater may be losing heat before it even gets into the rest of your house. You can purchase inexpensive outer casings to protect heat loss.
  • For the long-term Have your insulation checked. Good insulation is instrumental in keeping the house warm and reducing heating costs.
  • And don’t forget to look into how you can get rebates from the BC government for conserving energy!

Please contact us for your fall and winter maintenance needs!

 

 

Renovating Green Pays Back!

Posted on September 13th, 2011

Get Tax Free Government Grants for home renovations! Canadian homeowners can reduce their carbon footprint, meet provincial goals, and save money!

Homeperformance.com has announced a few ways Canadians can save. For example, $5,000 in home improvement grants from the Canadian government’s ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program, which is in effect until March 31, 2012.

The LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program also provides rebates in addition to the $5,000 available in Canada ecoENERGY grants – for a total of more than $12,000. BC homeowners can qualify for up to $7,000 and more in home energy grants through the BC government’s LiveSmart BC rebate program, which is in effect until March 31, 2013.

Click here for the shopping list of renovation rebates from the Governments of Canada.

Renovations just became more affordable and eco-friendly! Call us today to see what we can do for your home.

Energy Audits: An Easy Step Towards Energy Conserv...

Posted on July 23rd, 2010

Energy Audits are a relatively inexpensive and easy way to test the efficiency of your existing or new building.  When testing an existing building the audit is a retroactive assessment.  This means you are testing the current state and condition of a building that has been previously constructed.  An assessment at this point is valuable in that you can learn what areas of your home or business need upgrading and make those improvements, like adding weather stripping or caulking, for more efficiency and long-term cost savings.  When an energy audit is done during the new construction process, you are taking a proactive measure in aims creating an energy-tight and efficient environment from the beginning stages of your project.

How is Energy Efficiency Tested: An energy flow analysis is usually done with specialized equipment, like a blower door and infra-red camera that show where air is coming in to your home or building.  Windows, doors and basements are the usual suspects but having a professional assessment never hurts.  The video below demonstrates the energy audit process from begin to end.

Initial Energy Audit: The Government of BC subsidizes the cost of your first energy audit, covering half of the $300.00 price tag.

ecoEnergy Report: After your first audit is complete you are given a report that indicates the general energy deficiencies of your home or commercial building.  From this point you are able to take-on the energy-saving upgrades yourself or hire a contractor to perform the required work.

Second Energy Audit: To be eligible for the “Live Samrt BC’ grant of up to $5000.00,  a second energy audit is required to prove that the upgrades or renovations have resolved the initial deficiencies.

Eligibility: Check the Live Smart BC website for eligibility details, this energy-savings improvement offer ends March 31, 2011.

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Keep your eye on the Klondike Contracting blog for more energy-saving ideas and products.