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!

Upcoming Events

Sustainable Water Use

Posted on January 25th, 2010

The first step to developing more sustainable water use practices is by assessing your current patterns. Here are a few average water use data provided by the City of Vancouver to help you start making more informed decisions:

In home water use (average summer day)

average toilet water usage: 76 litres per person per day – that’s 30% of household water
low-flow toilets only use 6 litres per flush (compared to older toilets that use 20 litres or more
a standard dishwasher uses 57 litres of water per load; waiting for a full load before running the dishwasher saves water
clothes washer uses an average of 150 litres of water per load – that’s 23% of household water
showerheads dispense anywhere between 5.7 to 18.9 litres per minute, which means a 10 minute shower uses an average of 130 litres of water – that’s 20% of household water

Outdoor water use

average usage for a household is 40% of the total water usage
a half hour of sprinkling twice a week is sufficient for a healthy lawn

We can all do our part to help save water in our homes and gardens. From simple things such as shutting off the tap when the water is not being used to installing water efficient appliances, there are many ways to be more sustainable. The City of Vancouver also offers a water saver kits (pictured below) to residents for only $12 (limit 2 kits/household).

Indoor Kit

Outdoor Kit

Coats for Kids

Posted on November 6th, 2009

The GVHBA launches its 14th annual Coats for Kids campaign on Monday, November 30. Last year 3,000 coats, scarves, gloves, mittens, blankets, toques and toys were donated for distribution to families in need throughout the Greater Vancouver area.

As a GVHBA member, Klondike will be participating once again and we hope you will support us with your donations. Our donation box will be available from November 30 – December 11 at 133 E 8 Ave, Vancouver BC. If you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at 604-708-3337.

On behalf of the GVHBA and Klondike team, thank you in advance for your contribution & spirit!

GVHBA Fall Renovation Seminar

Posted on October 26th, 2009

With the number of people in attendance at the last Home & Interior Design Show, we thought you might want to get a jumpstart in registering for the GVHBA’s Home Renovation Seminar.

Homeowners considering renovations can obtain great ideas from how-to television shows, magazines, newspapers and the internet, but careful planning is needed to keep the dream alive, said Peter Simpson, CEO of the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association.

To help you make informed decisions, the GVHBA Renovation Council will present its popular fall consumer home renovation seminar on Tuesday, November 24, 2009. The seminar s from 7-9pm; doors open at 6pm. Please arrive early in order to visit over 30 displays of renovation-related products & services, gather printed material and discuss plans with renovation and design pros.

Despite a slow market, a record $7 billion will be spent on home renovation and improvement in BC this year (65% of those dollars in the Lower Mainland alone). So be sure to do your homework before signing a renovation contract.

BC Home & Interior Design Show

Posted on October 9th, 2009

Six days until the BC Home & Interior Design Show. Klondike is all geared up for THE AMAZING SPACE! Are you? Why should you attend you ask? This year, our interactive booth will educate you on how to be green. Stop by for an AMAZING presentation and a sweet & sustainable treat!

Here’s the where, when, & who of it all:

Where:

BC Place Stadium

777 Pacific Blvd

Vancouver, BC

When:

Thursday, October 15 4:00pm-9:00pm

Friday, October 16 Noon-9:00pm

Saturday, October 17 10:00am-9:00pm

Sunday, October 18 10:00am-6:00pm

Who:

Ty Pennington, everyone’s favourite handyman, will be making an exclusive appearance on Thursday, October 15 at 6:00pm on The Urban Barn Design Stage. This is his first and only Canadian appearance so do not miss it!

The Scottish Design Duo, Colin & Justin, will transform audiences and their homes. These decorating divas are sure to entertain the crowds with helpful home tips and a wave of comedy to ease the pain of moving from shag to hardwood.

For more of the goods & to get your tickets, visit www.bchomeandgardenshow.com

Laneway Housing Presentation to GVHBA

Posted on October 5th, 2009

On September 22, 2009 the City of Vancouver presented its guidelines & regulations to members of the GVHBA. This presentation provided further clarification to materials already distributed by the city. Moreover, it further reiterates that due to the fact that LWH is new to Vancouver, city staff requires that all submissions adhere to regulations and guidelines to make the application process as smooth as possible. One thing we recommend you pay close attention to are those “project killers”. For example, is your home in RS-1 or RS-5 zones? Currently, only homes in these two zones are allowed to build a LWH. Further, do you have enough sideyard clearance for fire-fighting? These are only a couple to look out for before you proceed too far and discover that your site does not meet all requirements.

Klondike Contracting would like to thank the City of Vancouver and GVHBA and their staff for organizing this session to keep us all informed.

Parade of Homes

Posted on June 9th, 2009

The Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association (GVHBA) Renovation Council invites the public to tour 17 professionally renovated homes in Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Mission, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Surrey and Vancouver on Sunday, June 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is a great opportunity to gather ideas and narrow your preferences for your own home design.

The 16th annual Parade of Renovated Homes – with the most participating homes ever – showcases leading-edge design, advanced construction techniques, and innovative building products.

Projects include a complete transformation of a Mission rancher, restoration of a 1906 Kitsilano craftsman-style bungalow, and extreme facelifts of homes built in the ’20s right up to the ’80s.

GVHBA Renovation Council Chair Daine Halley says B.C. homeowners will spend a record $7 billion sprucing up their homes this year, and this popular one-day event offers exceptional sample renovations.

“Professional renovators, many of them award winners, will be on site to offer expert advice and discuss their craftsmanship. Projects range from $70,000 to more than $700,000, offering people an abundance of ideas they can possibly incorporate into their own renovations,” says Halley.

Admission is by passport, available at each home for $10 per person. Children 17 and under are free. Passports can be purchased at any home, and then used for entry to the remaining 16 homes. Part proceeds will help fund the purchase of tools, building materials and safety gear for a carpentry training program offered by Guildford Park and Frank Hurt secondary schools in Surrey.

The event is limited to six hours, so visit www.gvhba.org to review the selection of homes, then plan your route to ensure you have sufficient time to visit specific homes that capture your interest.