Espisito and Koblik, the husband and wife owners of Otis Interiors in Guelph, Ont., have discovered a better way of doing business. They leverage their creative and operational expertise with a careful design plan including intensive homeowner consultation, milestones, acquisition of all permits and drawings and a payment and procurement schedule to achieve a high level of preparation before anyone swings a hammer. The process could take as long as a year, but the result is happier clients, a smoother and more profitable process for the organization and higher quality results. Listen to them talk about their professional approach and how others might join the party.

New standards for energy efficiency and low carbon impact in construction are demanding new skills in the trades – skills your young workers might be more familiar with than you are. Chad Flinn, associate vice-president of academics at Red Deer Polytechnic, and Judi Varga-Toth, manager of the ImpAct-Climate program at Colleges and Institutes Canada, are working to educate today’s construction industry in how to design and install the elements of net zero homes, including the unique considerations for heat pumps, solar panels, EV chargers, continuous insulation and high-performance fenestration. Learning needs to be ongoing in this time of rapid change, and Flinn and Varga-Toth share insights and free online resources in this episode of The Hammer.

Cyber-attacks in construction are on the rise. Bad actors are finding this an attractive industry to target as they can access data and cause business interruptions, and even demand payment of a ransom. As construction companies and their construction sites become increasingly connected, any device connected to the network presents a potential cybersecurity risk, and a robust approach to reducing this exposure is essential. In this episode of the Hammer, Wayne Dorris, program manager for cyber security at Axis Communications, talks strategies for mitigating security risks on the construction site.

In the latest edition of The Hammer, we are joined by Austin Harvey, residential territory manager for ECCO Supply, to discuss heat pumps. Harvey touches on the reason behind the growing popularity of heat pumps, key considerations and factors for contractors considering heat pump installations, as well as pitfall and reluctancies. Harvey also discusses effective ways that contractors can help clients choose the best pump for their home.

There’s a lot going on in the world of green building and spray foam. Jean- François Lupien, the Global Director of Product Management from Huntsman Building Solutions joins us on The Hammer to discuss an innovation in spray foam technology as well as an update on what is going on in the industry and what Huntsman Building Solutions has been up to in 2023. Also, what contractors can expect to see in 2024 from the brand.

As labour and employment pressures build in the construction industry with impending retirements and an influx of projects, apprentices are more important now than ever. In this episode of the Hammer, we are joined by Robert Bronk, CEO of the Ontario Construction Secretariat, to discuss importance of apprenticeships to the future of Ontario’s construction industry and how the unionized sector is investing on training for apprentices. Bronk and editor Kaitlin Secord also chat about the benefits and obstacles of apprentices, and tools and resources available to both employers and apprentices.

Phil Warren, SFA Saniflo Canada’s Managing Director and Frédéric Boucher, Plomberie EPF’s President, join this special episode of The Hammer to discuss SFA Saniflo’s recent experience on their France factory tour, the company’s history, what they see for the future. Listen as Warren and Boucher chat with editor Kaitlin Secord about the company’s innovations to the plumbing world, their global presence and how they’ve grown in the Canadian market.

Liz Kovach, President of the Western Retail Lumber Association Inc., joins this special episode of The Hammer to discuss the association’s Let’s GO Build Program and their take on the recent labour market study. WRLA is a member-based organization that connects and educates the building supply industry in Western Canada to facilitate the growth of member businesses. Their Let’s Go Build program aims to enhance job opportunities and attract new talent in the lumber, building materials and hardgoods industry. Listen as Kovach and Canadian Contractor editor Kaitlin Secord discuss the future of the construction sector.

Join us in this episode as we delve into the world of door systems and explore the various options available to bridge the gap between the indoors and outdoors. Our expert guests, Russ Miller, JELD-WEN Canada's National Account Manager, and Mike Desmarais, JELD-WEN Canada's Territory Sales Manager for Ontario, will guide us through a captivating discussion on the types of exterior door systems, including the pros and cons of sliding versus swinging doors.Discover the hottest trends in door systems, and gain insights into the importance of proper installation for optimal performance and longevity. Furthermore, we'll explore the crucial aspect of security and learn how door systems can enhance the safety of your home. Whether you're a homeowner or a professional in the industry, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to upgrade their door systems and create a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. Tune in and unlock the secrets to finding the perfect door system that suits your needs, while maximizing style, functionality, and peace of mind.

In this edition of The Hammer, editor Kaitlin Secord sits down with Owen Thompson and Marilena Tricarico of Desjardin’s RenoAssistance to discuss their annual Renovation Intentions survey results and what these results can teach contractors. We also chat about strategy for navigating renovations in today’s economy and climate.

With greener homes on the rise, so is government funding for financial assistance. In this edition of the podcast, Kaitlin Secord, the new editor of Canadian Contractor is joined by Bonny Koabel of Access Rebates to discuss Enbridge’s Home Energy Rebate program, energy audits, the Greener Home Loan program, and how knowledge about these funding programs can help contractors and homeowners alike.

Mickel Maalouf of Huntsman Building Solutions joins The Hammer to discuss the crackdown on Radon in homes. As many as 3,200 Canadians die from it every year. It easily penetrates residences and enclosed spaces undetected. It’s the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Throughout Canada, there are homes with elevated levels of Radon that need to be assessed and treated. There is a cost-effective and protective solution. Huntsman Building Solutions’ CCMC compliant, HFO based closed-cell ccSPF insulation products have been tested for radon diffusion and are highly radon-resistant. When installed properly, they can protect a building from the ground up. In this podcast, we’ll address what builders and contractors need to know about Radon mitigation and the solution that will help them address the problem.

Ceiling systems have come a long way from basic white grids and tiles. No longer flat and forgettable, modern ceiling designs enhance aesthetics and can impact health and safety concerns. These days, many integrated ceiling solutions are also manufactured with sustainable and recyclable materials. 

Listen to our conversation with Jamie Wright - Product Specialist in Ceiling Systems at Kenroc Building Materials. His career spans 20  years in the building construction industry and he prides himself in providing innovative solutions for his customers.

He joins The Hammer to share his knowledge of ceiling systems. Bottom line – things are looking up with Kenroc and CertainTeed products!

For more information, visit https://kenroc.com/products/ceiling-systems

New concepts are emerging in construction contracts aimed at bringing project owners, contractors and subcontractors closer together as partners rather than bosses and hirelings. But to navigate these new structures, especially on today’s larger P3 projects, glazing contractors are going to need to be prepared for a world of enhanced transparency, data collection and communication. Michelle Throssell and Barb Hooley help contractors sail these stormy seas through international project management consultant, Turner and Townsend, and join The Hammer to explain some of the new jargon, outline the benefits of integrated project management and give us a sneak peek at what’s going to be asked of us in the years ahead.

Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) have been around for more than 40 years. Essentially used to create a sandwich of concrete between two layers of closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam, the applications for ICF have continued to evolve over the years. In addition to their use for basements and foundation walls, Canadian builders are now using the technology to go up several storeys as well. To learn more about the possibilities, The Hammer staff caught up with Brian Corder, CEO and president of BuildBlock Building Systems and chair of the Marketing Committee of the Insulating Concrete Forms Manufacturers Association (ICFMA), to get him to share some great insights, and some technical details.

It’s a fond farewell to you from Patrick Flannery, editor of the Canadian Contractor B2B channels for the past 2 ½ years. But your magazine and this podcast will be in the very capable hands of Adam Freill, a veteran media professional with background in a variety of construction sectors. Freill joins The Hammer to introduce himself and talk about the role of B2B media in our businesses; the big trends he sees in the industry; and his plans for 2023 and beyond.

Whether it’s upgrades to an existing building or ensuring high-performing, durable, and passive building development projects, contractors need to consider a high-performance Air Barrier System (ABS). A strong air barrier is essential to a sustainable envelope. If fact, the building transformation required today and for future would not be complete without an Air Barrier System and its control layers contributing to a winning formula that is designed, designated, and detailed to control water, vapour, and air. The control layers of the Air Barrier System are placed throughout the building in properties such as the roof, walls, and floor, to the below-grade structures such as the foundation, slab, parking, storage, utility rooms, communication conduits, and more. In this podcast, we discuss how the Air Barrier System is a key aspect of a durable building envelope against the constant environmental stresses and the role it plays on our trajectory toward ongoing, sustainable, and impactful buildings.

Maxime Duzyk is the global director of building science and engineering with Huntsman Building Solutions. He holds a background in architecture and has been in the spray foam insulation business for the last ten years. Maxime is involved with different building envelope committees and associations in North America like CSC, SFC, SPFA, CCMC and ULC Standards.

Canadian Contractor author of the Ryan Report, Steve Ryan, joins The Hammer to share his thoughts on inflation, interest rates, housing prices and labour…all the big economic topics challenging us all. Why are expectations worse than inflation itself? Why do the prices of houses go down as the prices of everything else rise? Will workers be asking for more in the months ahead? Is there a recession on the horizon? Ryan delves into all that and more from his perspective as a long-time business consultant to Canadian construction company owners.

There are more government rebate programs out there than you can shake a stick at. Luckily, Bonny Koabel of AKR Consulting has a whole basket of sticks and spends most of her time shaking them at the various government agencies so you don’t have to. Bonny joins The Hammer to discuss the $547.5 million of funding that the Government of Canada has recently announced that offers everyone from provinces to small businesses incentives for the purchase or lease of eligible vehicles. This episode of The Hammer is brought to you by Lepage – TiteFoam.

Mickel Maalouf of Huntsman Building Solutions joins The Hammer to discuss Radon abatement from the ground up. Radon, a colourless, odourless, radioactive gas, is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Heavier than air, radon can accumulate in residential basements, increasing the risk of exposure to the homeowner. Radon can infiltrate in several places, especially cracks or openings in the floor, slab, cracks in the foundation wall, or sumps. A radon barrier around the basement using Heatlok Soya HFO closed-cell spray foam can seal and prevent radon infiltration. That said, let's talk about radon, recommendations for reducing it, steps to take for building or renovating a radon-free basement, what are some of the protection requirements and the benefits of using Heatlok Soya HFO.

There are more government rebate programs out there than you can shake a stick at. Luckily, Bonny Koabel of AKR Consulting has a whole basket of sticks and spends most of her time shaking them at the various government agencies so you don’t have to. Bonny joins The Hammer to explain three national rebate programs that can give substantial money back to homeowners building custom homes and renovating existing homes. Passing along this information to your customers could help overcome sticker shock and smooth the rails to a higher-value sale.

The Ontario government has announced a string of programs and restructurings aimed at improving and promoting skilled trades training. Robert Bronk is CEO of the Ontario Construction Secretariat, an agency that acts as a forum for construction contractors and construction unions to work together. As such, he has some great perspectives on the state of skilled trades learning and the apprenticeship system. In this episode, he talks about the new Ontario initiatives; how our apprenticeship system is viewed around the world; what is working and not working; how the education system has let skilled trades languish; and the intersection between apprenticeship and unionization.

Oversized windows are becoming increasingly popular. Homeowners are looking to buy products that help achieve a unique, customized look, while offering greater access to outdoor spaces and natural light. JELD-WEN of Canada experts Rob Adams and Chantale Brosseau discuss why oversized windows became a trend; how oversized windows work with building codes and energy efficiency standards; what challenges they create for manufacturing; how you can support your customers when they want oversized windows; and why JELD-WEN windows and doors are the right fit for your project.

Dave Henderson, senior technical services manager for the Residential Construction Council of Ontario, is concerned about the increasing complexity of building codes. He goes over at least six major changes that are proposed for the 2025 National Building Code update, each of which will add significant costs to new homes and renovations requiring permits. He reflects on his time working on code development in Ontario and how far we have come from the 10 principles of code development they observed then. Codes used to be about ensuring minimum, enforceable standards for safety…today, it looks like they are being used as a vehicle to push various government policy agenda.

We’ve watched the codes and standards tighten for years now, requiring windows and doors installed into new builds to meet ever-higher performance metrics for air/water ingress and insulating value. And they will continue to tighten as Canada’s code authorities follow the federal Roadmap to make all new buildings built in Canada meet net-zero energy performance standards by 2030. But what about the inefficient existing buildings out there that represent a far larger proportion of the homes in the country and therefore a much bigger impact to carbon emissions? Never fear, regulators have not forgotten about them. Frank Lohmann, director of building science for the Canadian Home Builders Association, joins The Hammer to talk about plans to create an existing buildings section of the National Building Code by 2025, which will focus on energy-efficiency requirement for renovations.

Recorded the day after Ontario returned Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives to majority government, Luca Bucci, CEO of the OHBA, joined The Hammer to register the association’s official reaction to the new government and share his thoughts on what should happen and what might happen going forward. He talks about why the OHBA is overall excited and positive about the PCs returning to power. The topic of housing prices and supply was important in the election and Bucci has ideas about things the new government might do to resolve the bottlenecks to development, including moving municipalities past the notion that development is always bad for the environment. Bucci is supportive of the efforts to reform skilled trades governance in Ontario and thinks there are things the government and the OHBA can do together to promote youth participation in the trades.

Now is the time for builders, contractors and even homeowners to consider protection against water infiltration from potential flooding. With high water levels and extreme weather from climate change, we are bound to experience residential water penetration problems. Join Maxime Duzyk, Director of Building Science with Huntsman Building Solutions, as he discusses what we should be thinking as far as protecting home basements from water damage. Sometimes water infiltration may be inevitable, so products that can withstand a flood and even maintained after they have been submerged in water, need to be considered. For example, using building materials that are not affected by water, like metal framing and spray foam insulation that is rated a class five by FEMA and that can survive wetting and drying, and be successfully cleaned after a flood. Join Maxime as he talks about building trend options that despite the forecast will protect the home.

Slow clap for the 2020 National Building Code and National Energy Building Code that have been released at last after long delay. Gord Cooke of Building Knowledge joins The Hammer to explain what’s in the new model codes for window and door providers, especially the tiered energy efficiency requirements that will probably soon be the law throughout the land. We’ve known about much of this for some time, but now it’s here to inform our product designs for years to come.

Last year in Ontario, 30 percent of all the working people who died from opioid overdose worked in the construction industry. It’s clearly time for we who employ tradespeople to pay some extra attention to this issue and be prepared to help those in our companies who struggle with substance use and misuse. To help, Jan Chappel, a senior occupational health and safety specialist with CCOHS, joined The Hammer to give us some advice on what to look for in employee behaviour that might indicate a problem; how to address the issue; and where to find the resources both you and your employee might need.

Mickel Maalouf of Huntsman Building Solutions joins The Hammer to discuss unvented roof and attic assemblies, how they work and key considerations. With home space taking center stage, conditioned, livable unvented roof attics and unvented cathedral ceilings are in demand and increase the resale value of a home. However, this can cause problems for traditional ventilated roof assemblies as the geometry makes it difficult to ensure air- and vapour-tightness at the ceiling plane. A Closed-cell spray foam solution for unvented roof assemblies eliminates the ventilation space and simplifies construction by providing intrinsic air and moisture sealing properties for a conditioned, durable, energy efficient and more livable space.

Jennifer Khan is EllisDon’s director of diversity and inclusion. She joined The Hammer to talk about why one of Canada’s largest general contractors has devoted serious resources to furthering the cause of greater acceptance of all identify groups in workplaces and the industry. We touch on just what diversity and inclusion means and how EllisDon is trying to advance the cause. We get into some assessment of the scale of the problem of intolerance in Canada and where the industry could improve. We discuss hiring quotas and whether they are a part of a diversity and inclusion strategy. And we talk about some things that contractors smaller than EllisDon can do to make their workplaces more inclusive.

The Ontario Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, Monte McNaughton, joins The Hammer to explain the newly formed Skilled Trades Ontario agency, which replaces the Ontario College of Trades as the apprenticeship and skilled trades regulator for the province. He gets into the need to replace OCOT and the priorities for the new organization, and shares some thoughts on the importance of growing the trades. Then, Gord Wornoff, Canadian Contractor writer, contractor and shop teacher, joins the podcast to break down the Minister’s comments and offer his take on how skilled trades are regulated and developed in Ontario.

Energy efficiency within windows starts with insulated glass. This is what keeps heat from coming in through your windows in the summer and cold out in the winter. During this podcast, we will discuss what an Insulated Glass Unit is and everything responsible for your customers’ home comfort.

Now for something completely different. Our brand manager, Navneet Matharu, joins The Hammer to take a look back at 2021, a look ahead to 2022 and a peek behind the curtain at what the Canadian Contractor B2B channel does and how it does it. Nav spends her days talking to your suppliers across the industry and thinking about how to help them communicate with you, so no one is better positioned to talk about the concerns and trends driving our business today. Happy New Year and all the best from the team at Canadian Contractor!

We continue our series on updates to the National Building Code with Troy Ferreira, technical director for the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association. Ferreira has been involved with commenting and proposing revisions for the 2020 NBC, which has just come into effect nationally but is still being revised. We touch on new language affecting fire protection for spray foam, open cell spray foam requirements, asphalt core boards, snow loads, air tightness, energy efficiency and other topics.

Torch-down and hot asphalt roofing membrane solutions have the advantage of being familiar. But what if there were an easier and faster way? Flintlastic SA self-adhering roofing systems from CertainTeed are field-proven, bear the same warranty as traditional systems and can be installed in almost half the time. The new self-adhering technology is so effective, it’s becoming more popular even for larger low-slope projects such as schools and warehouses. Commercial project manager, Abby Feinstein, and customer training manager, Joe Thompson, join this special episode of The Hammer to tell us all about it.

Our lives have changed faster than ever in the last two years, and those changes are driving accelerated evolution in design trends. Johanne Munger, national account manager and design expert for JELD-WEN Canada joins the podcast to tell us about three important emerging colour and concept trends and to share her advice on how contractors can use window and door products to give clients the experiences they want. Energy efficiency is top of mind, but people are also looking for homes that reflect their personalities.

Keeping an eye (and ear) on your critical materials, equipment and personnel is more important than ever. Luckily, technology in site security systems is advancing quickly. Gavin Daly of Axis Communications joins The Hammer to talk about the principles of security systems: what are the objectives? What is possible and not possible? What threats and opportunities should you consider? He touches on the other uses of site surveillance, too, including controlling access, identifying safety risks and improving operations. With possibilities for audio pickup, networked speakers, low-light and high resolution cameras, facial recognition and remote monitoring, it’s not about getting a grainy black-and-white video picture any more.

Michael Garrity, CEO of FinanceIt, joins The Hammer to explain the power of project financing as a sales tool for Canadian contractors. "This tool gives you the ability to solve your customers' budget problems, solve them right there and get them to move ahead." Project financing can help you do the kind of work you want to do and take your company in the direction you want to go: higher quality, better margins and a sweet portfolio of beautiful jobs.

Amanda Boyer, product manager for CertainTeed residential roofing solutions, joins this special episode of The Hammer to discuss NorthGate ClimateFlex designer shingles and the innovative design that adds durability and better energy performance for tough Canadian environments. ClimateFlex’s polymer-infused shingle resists cracking from freeze/thaw cycles; boosts the insulation value of the roof; holds its granules better; and is impact-resistant to better withstand hail and falling branches. The contractor’s needs are not forgotten, with high-visibility lines to aid different installation methods and a 50-year warranty. All that, and available in eight colours, too.

We know the pandemic has done SOMETHING to our supply chains. But what? Michael Gabert and the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors are tasked with understanding the prices and availability of all manner of construction supplies and generating accurate estimates and forecasts for their clients. So he was the perfect person to have on the podcast to explain why it’s so hard to get the things we need for our jobsites and plants. Michael discusses how negative effects from the pandemic snowball as they roll down the supply chain, starting at mines and ships and ending up as big delays on our loading docks. We get into inflation, interest rates, aluminum futures shipping containers and the outlook for our globalized trading system.

Maxime Duzyk joins The Hammer to tell us all about Huntsman Building Solutions' D-Max wall assembly system. Essentially, this simple system creates a break between the main wall studs and the exterior sheathing of a building façade, which is then filled with Huntsman's Heatlok Soya HOF spray foam insulation product. The advantages are impressive. Greater insulating values. The ability to install insulation from the inside of the building in parallel with façade completion. Thinner walls. Easier access for utilities and services. Fewer steps to wall construction. Lower jobsite heating and equipment costs. The list goes on. Maxime does a great job of explaining this potentially game-changing technology.

The Buildings Show, Canada’s largest construction show happening Dec. 1 to 3 at the Toronto Convention Centre, has been a popular destination for contractors because of the opportunity it affords to take in the broadest possible range of suppliers and conference topics out there. There’s always a nice selection of commercial glazing and façade construction products, but also HVAC, insulation, roofing, concrete and even property management solutions. This time, there’s a building envelope session but also many sessions aimed at “soft skills” in the construction industry: human resources, marketing, leadership, project management and other topics we know are critical but don’t always have time to think about. Since the Buildings Show is returning as a live event for the first time since the pandemic hit, we thought it was time to invite program director Teresa Baker to The Hammer to give us the full FYI.

In this special episode brought to you by CertainTeed, channel manager for exterior products, Kelly Warren, explains the growing demand for energy-efficient and environmentally friendly building products and how CertainTeed is working to meet the challenge. Backed by 350-year-old construction supplier giant, Saint-Gobain, CertainTeed is bringing a vision of longer-lasting, higher-performing homes to market with products like Solaris shingle granules that reflect solar heat and Cedar Impressions polymer siding that lasts longer than traditional siding. But the commitment to climate-friendly building doesn’t stop with the products; Warren also describes how CertainTeed’s contractor resources and extended warranty programs help its clients get the job done right and achieve the tough standards Canadian contractors will have to meet in the future.

Senior representative for sustainable building science, Mickel Maalouf, joins Patrick Flannery to talk about the growing demand for builders to show not only the energy-efficiency of their designs, but also their low contribution to climate change through embodied carbon. More and more architects and project owners are asking for Environmental Product Declarations that certify how much carbon dioxide was released in the manufacture, transport, installation, maintenance and disposal of building materials. Maalouf explains how choosing products with EPDs can satisfy your clients’ need to create a life cycle analysis for their designs and help them meet the tough environmental regulations of the future.

Leor Marguiles is a partner at commercial real estate firm, Robins Appleby. From there, he watches as larger developers deal with the fallout from high interest rates and skyrocketing home prices: homeowners delaying or cancelling purchases they suddenly find unaffordable. He joins The Hammer to discuss the factors driving a spike in project delays and defaults and suggest ways that small contractors can deal with the uncertain conditions. Bottom line: stay out of court.

After years of discussions, roadmaps, studies and conferences, NRCan has settled on the route it wants to take to encourage Canadians to upgrade their homes for higher energy efficiency. The Greener Homes initiative was announced last fall and its online portal is now open for homeowners to register their projects. Senior director for the program, Ruth Talbot, joins The Hammer to explain the rebate program, what homeowners can get back in rebates, what projects might qualify, how the Energuide evaluations work and more. Green Homes Grants could be a powerful tool in our sales toolbox for years to come.

If you think women have the same experience as men in the construction world, think again. Canadian Contractor associate editor, Sukanya Ray Ghosh, speaks to Natasha Fritz, owner of Natural Carpentry. Natasha talks about what it took for her to establish her career in the industry, the changes she has seen over the years, the challenges women still face and the prospects for the next generation of women to join. This is a conversation that the industry frequently needs to have. Let’s make this industry a comfortable, conducive place for women to work in!

The new Greener Homes Grant for energy-efficient home retrofits presents an opportunity for you to upgrade your client’s homes with cutting-edge, high-performing windows and doors. Two experts from one of Canada’s largest manufacturers of Energy Star-certified fenestration products, JELD-WEN Canada, join Canadian Contractor editor, Patrick Flannery, to talk about just what Greener Homes is; how your clients can take advantage of it; what to look for in compliant products; and the potential benefits for your business.

If you have any questions after the  podcast please contact the JELD WEN Canada experts.

Presented by Huntsman Building Solutions

Awareness is continuing to grow of the important role home energy use plays in Canada’s contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions. In response, governments will be asking us to build more and more energy-efficient buildings over the next decades and beyond. Huntsman Building Solutions has a program to help contractors meet the challenges of these new and tightening requirements. David Dietrich, Huntsman’s national manager for residential segment and building programs, joins Canadian Contractor editor Patrick Flannery to explain this great program.