The workshop will highlight the latest innovations in construction technology, design, indoor air quality and green initiatives. Workshop topics include:
Principles of durable building envelope construction
Healthy housing tips for superior indoor air quality
Ventilation systems
Energy-efficient and green construction practices
How energy choices affect costs
To encourage productive interaction between presenters & participants, registration is limited to 25 people so hurry & pre-register by Monday, February 1, 2010. Cost to attend is $75 per person or $130 per couple (GST not included), and includes lunch, coffee breaks, and a wealth of printed material on new products & services. Call 778-565-4288 to register or visit GVHBA.org for more information.
The City of North Vancouver approved laneway housing (coach houses) on Monday, Nov 16. Currently permit applications are not being considered as details are still being fleshed out and by-laws to be updated. However, if you are anxious to get started, please click here to view the guidelines: COACH HOUSE GUIDELINES. Please note that the District of North Vancouver has not approved LWH but will be reviewing it for the next community planning session in 2010.
We are closing in on the February 1st deadline and thought you may benefit from a friendly reminder.
For those who don’t already know, a non-refundable tax credit is available to you for work performed or goods acquired in relation to a renovation or alteration to an eligible dwelling, after January 27, 2009 and BEFORE February 1, 2010. The 15% credit may be claimed on the portion of eligible credits exceeding $1,000 but not more than $10,000, for a maximum credit of $1,350. Eligible expenses for goods acquired during this period, even if they are installed after January 2010, will still qualify. If an eligible expense involves work performed by a contractor or a third party, and the work is not completed by the end of the eligible period, only the portion that is completed before February 1, 2010 will qualify even if a payment is made.
A new schedule will be included in your 2009 tax package to allow you to list your eligible expenses and to calculate the amount you can claim. Also a new line will be added to Schedule 1 to claim the HRTC.
I am very excited to write our first post in our new showroom/office! Although we are not entirely done with our renovation, we’ve made a lot of progress since our last video blog. Our millwork experienced some delays and difficulties but with patient staff who were willing and ready to get their hands dirty, our team was able to move in as planned. For the next few weeks, we will be working on some finishing details to get it ready for presentation at our grand public opening party in February. Stayed tuned for your invitation to tour our space. Here’s a sneak preview of the work in progress:
Slate stone to be installed to front of reception desk with stainless steel KC logo
Sabrina at her very new desk
Estimating powerhouses, Greg & Mikiko, in their new hub
Our Design Build Showroom - Doors for millwork are coming!
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!
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.
The renovation of our new office space is rapidly progressing, due in large part to the participation & cooperation of our loyal tradespeople. We’re into the 3rd week and all plumbing, electrical, & HVAC rough-ins are complete. With this project, we are embracing the opportunity to practice what we preach to clients everyday. We’re going as green as our budget will allow and submitting this project for LEED Gold certification. A few things we had to incorporate into our design to ensure Gold certification are: LED lighting throughout with individual controls to maximize the use of natural light, zero to low VOC content in all paints and adhesives, FSC certified lumber/products, dual flush / low flow toilets, Energy Star appliances, and high recycled content in drywall, millwork, and countertops. These, among many other factors, will hopefully push us into the LEED Gold category.
Stay tuned as we go into drywalling & finishing details in the coming weeks!
“Non-toxic” paints & finishes vary from “natural paints,” “zero VOC,” to “low VOC”. Keep in mind that no matter what the label says, even zero-VOC formulations contain some amounts of toxins. As paints comprise of pigments and solvents, to ensure low to zero VOC, both elements must be low or zero VOC. Pigments that are richer (darker) contain higher VOC level, and solvents are your primary source of VOC.
Natural paints are made from natural raw ingredients such as water, plant oils and resins, plant dyes and essential oils; natural minerals such as clay, chalk and talcum; milk casein, natural latex, bees’ wax, earth & mineral dyes. Water-based natural paints give off almost no smell. The oil-based natural paints usually have a fragrance of citrus or essential oils. Allergies & sensitivities to these paints is uncommon. They are considered the safest for your health and for the environment. Example of natural paints: BioShield Paint
Zero VOC paint & finishes contains 5 grams per litre or less of VOC. Some manufacturers may claim Zero VOC but these paints may still use colourants, biocides and fungicides. Adding a colour tine (pigment) usually brings the VOC level up to 10 grams/litre. Example of Zero VOC: Benjamin Moore Natura
Low VOC paints & finishes use water as a carrier instead of petroleum-based solvents. Therefore, the levels of harmful emissions are lower than solven-borne surface coatings. These certified coatings also contain no, or very low levels, of heavy metals and formaldehyde. To meet EPA standards, paints & stains must not exceed 200 grams/litre in VOC level. Low VOC paints will still emit an odour until dry. If you are particularly sensitive, go with a Zero VOC paint. Example of low VOC: Benjamin Moore Aura
As you may know, we have been experiencing some growing pains and have finally secured a new space! Soon we can reminisce on the days when we all shared offices, phones, etc. We will be featuring the renovation of our new space in the coming weeks. It is going to be our first LEED project and we are very excited. Our goal is to move in at the end of December and official opening in January. Stay tuned for updates on our progress!
An article by Fiona Anderson in the Vancouver Sun’s Business section reports the following organizations are throwing their support behind the harmonized sales tax (HST):
BC Chamber of Commerce
BC Construction Association
BC Road Builders & Heavy Construction Association
Business Council of BC
Coast Forest Products Association
Council of Forest Industries
Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC
Mining Association of BC
Motion Picture Production Industry Association of BC
New Car Dealers Association of BC
Retail Council of Canada
Telus
The article continues to list the following reasons for this positive reponse:
it will improve productivity, boost wages, & grow the economic pie
companies will be able to deduct the PST they pay, eliminating a 7% added direct cost to doing business
lower costs will encourage companies to invest in new equipment & modernize operations which means new employment opportunities, higher productivity & more competitive enterprises
We would like to know how you feel about HST. Send us a comment! Also, we will be revealing our HST plan for homeowners who will be renovating with us in the next year with renovation end dates past July 1, 2010. Stay tuned!
Plumbing is a major part of many renovation projects. Whether you are installing a sink or updating/adding a bathroom or kitchen, plumbing must be considered. It doesn’t not matter if you are doing the work yourself or hiring a contractor, you will need to make decisions on the types of pipes you want to use. There are many types of types and some are more appropriate for certain jobs than others. To help you with your decisions, here’s a rundown of the main types that are used in residential projects.
PLASTIC PIPES
PVC – (Polyvinyl Chloride) can be used only for cold water.
ABS – (Acrylonitrite-butadiene-styrene) is used for waste removal, drain and venting, primarily in bathrooms. It is a rigid plastic pipe that can be connected to several kinds of metal pipes. If you are considering this, check with your contractor or local building codes as it is not permitted in some areas.
PEX – can be used to carry both hot & cold water. It is often used for interior water pipes in residential plumbing.
CPVC – (Chlorine-polyvinyl-chloride) is generally used to carry hot water and often used as a substitute for copper pipe.
METAL PIPES
Cast Iron – is used in some parts of the country for drainage. It is very strong & durable. The challenge in working with it is that it is hard to cut & very heavy. If your project involves replacing cast iron pipes, a good replacement is ABS because it can be joined with cast iron.
Copper – is a good choice for both hot & cold water supply lines, and is very corrosion-resistant. It is light & durable, but more costly. If you are replacing copper pipes, a good choice is CPVC.
Galvanized steel – is not widely used today if at all. It corrodes over time & very hard to work with. In the past it was used for water supply lines.
If you are considering doing the plumbing work yourself, consider plastic pipes as it is easier to work with. The key is to wrap it tightly to prevent noise transfer. If you have any questions, consult a professional because it will be very costly to fix any errors.
While we were all vacationing or working away to pump some life into our economy, it seems the Liberal government also kept themselves quite busy this summer!
On July 23, the federal & provincial finance ministers signed a memorandum of understanding on the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST). They teeter-tottered on the idea at first but with a $1.6 billion offer from the Federal government to board ship it was too tempting to turn away. Without any consultation, they announced the switch to HST to the public stating that “The provincial sales tax is an outdated, inefficient and costly tax, some of which is hidden in the price of goods and services and passed on to and paid by consumers.”
How will this affect you as a homeowner with plans to renovate or build? Add an extra 7% to your total construction cost. Will this thwart your plans to update your home?
Considering that housing starts for January-June of this year is down 67% from the same period in 2008, we are very concerned that the new HST will only make it even more difficult to bring this number up.
The Canadian Home Builder’s Association asked the premier & finance minister if they would work with the home building industry to ensure tax neutrality, so that home buyers do not pay anymore than they already do and the response was, “There is no promise for neutrality.”
Another concern is how HST will be applied to sales contracts signed before July 1, 2010 but completed after the HST launch date? For some builders who do extensive luxury home building, some projects take as long as two years to complete.
Peter Simpson, Chief Executive Officer of the GVHBA, also noted in his column for The Sun brings up another issue: underground economy in home renovation. Cash deals, no contracts, no permits/inspections, no adherance to BC Building Codes, insurance or WorkSafeBC compliance.
Let us know how you feel about this new policy & what you will do about it by commenting on this blog.
As there will be numerous petitions against this, we will keep you updated with any changes. Stay tuned!
We are all very excited about the COV’s decision to approve Laneway Housing. Now that you have had the chance to digest the news, it’s time to get serious. Many homeowners already have plans in the works for permitting so better get to it if you plan on doing anything. To help you get started, here’s a checklist of required items by Development Services department at COV for permit applications to construct a laneway house. To view the list click here: COV-Construction of a Laneway House.
To avoid common air quality problems within your home, just follow these simple steps:
Select certified ventilation products to ensure airflow, sound and energy performance expectations are met or exceeded.
Operate the bathroom exhaust fan when bathing and showering to imit moisture buildup. Operate your fan for 10-60 minutes after you finish your bath or shower to remove most of the moisture.
Turn on range hood fans when cooking to expel moisture, odors and contaminants released while cooking.
Increase ventilation rates during family gatherings and parties. Use of intermittent or “spot ventilation will help keep the air fresh, even during periods of increasesd activity in the home.
Ensure that continuous ventilation is provided in addition to intermittent ventilation systems. The entire house needs continuous ventilation to see that general air quality is maintained in all areas.
Ensure that clothes dryers are exhausted directly to the outside, and make sure that filters and hoods are cleaned regularly to maintain maximum airflow.
Plan routine seasonal maintenance for heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment to ensure all systems are working properly and performing as intended.
Change filters as instructed. Inspect, clean or replace furnace ventilation system filters according to manufacturer’s recommendations. Consider installing high-efficiency particulate filters for better performance.
Clean your home regularly to prevent dust, dirt and pet hair buildup. Dust & dirt particles can become airborne, adding to the contaminants in the air.
Use products that emit the lowest levels of chemicals. Many cleaning products can release toxic or irritating chemicals when used. New or recently installed building materials and furnishings can also emit significant harmful contaminants.
