Fall 2006

Transcription

Fall 2006

Canada Post Publications Agreement Number: 40609661
Building by-the-Sea
Safety First
CSA Standards Update
Going Commercial
Online Design
High-Performance Windows
Economic Outlook
Builder Directory
President
Frank O’Blenis
Executive Director and CEO
Kathleen Maynard
Executive Assistant
Chad Ranger
Published by Matrix Group Inc.
Canada Post Publications
Agreement # 40609661
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President and CEO
Jack Andress
Executive Publisher
Maurice LaBorde
Publisher & Director of Sales
Joe Strazzullo
[email protected]
Editor-in-Chief
Shannon Lutter
[email protected]
Editor
Jon Waldman
Finance/Accounting
and Administration
Pat Andress, Shoshana Weinberg
Director of Marketing and Circulation
Jim Hamilton
Sales Manager
Neil Gottfred
Matrix Goup Inc. Sales Account Managers
Andrew Bond, Albert Brydges, David Chew,
Vicki Sutton, Declan O’Donovan,
Pauline McRae, Rick Kuzie, Ken Percival,
Lewis Daigle, George Gibson, Nathan
Redekop, Jason Wikis
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CMHI President’s Message
A Message from CHBA
Building by-the-Sea
Safety First
CMHC: Celebrating 60 Years
Going Commercial
Online Design
Technical Update: CSA Standards
Design Watch: Windows
Economic Outlook
Builder Directory
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Triple M Housing Ltd.
Supreme Homes
Royal Homes
Quality Engineered Homes
Prestige Homes
Maple Leaf Homes
Kent Homes
Hospitality Homes
Guildcrest Homes
53 Buyer’s Guide
contents
Published Fall 2006 for the
Canadian Manufactured
Housing Institute
150 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 500
Ottawa, ON, Canada K1P 5J4
Tel: 613-563-3520
Fax: 613-232-8600
E-mail: [email protected]
www.cmhi.ca
Building
Excellence
Advertising Design
James Robinson
Layout and Design
J. Peters
© 2006 Matrix Group Inc. All rights reserved. Contents
may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in
part, without prior written permission of the publisher.
All opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Matrix Group Inc.
ON THE COVER (inset photos, left to right): Guildcrest Homes'
Touchstone design; a home in St. Andrews by-the-Sea by Maple Leaf
Homes; the Irving Equipment office in Halifax by Kent Homes
Building Excellence - Fall 2006 5
Message from the President
CMHI 2006/2007
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Frank O'Blenis
Supreme Homes, NB
Vice President
Peter Aitchison
Triple M Housing, AB
Treasurer
Peter McLaggan
Maple Leaf Homes, NB
Past President
Bryan Bougher
Quality Engineered Homes, ON
Manufacturer Director
Rhéal Maillet
Kent Homes, NB
David Poupore
Guildcrest Homes, ON
Don Darling
Prestige Homes, NB
Regional Director
Doug McLean
Taymor, BC
Regional Director
Vern Kuehn
Pleasant Homes, AB
Regional Director
Bill Wells
Parkbridge Lifestyle
Communities, ON
Regional Director
Pierre Trottier
Club Usiné
La Garantie des maisons
neuves, QC
Regional Director
Rex Thomson
MHAAC, NB
Supplier Director
Peter Ash
G.E. Appliances, ON
Director at Large
Bob Richards
The Home Centre, NS
The
journey
to
excellence
I
was very honoured to be elected Canadian Manufactured Housing Institute (CMHI) President at
our Annual General Meeting in Lake Louise this
past February. I am especially honoured to represent
the members of the manufactured housing sector as we
move forward into a new era of homebuilding.
In Lake Louise, we discussed the fact that the factorybuilt housing sector has undergone dramatic change in
recent years. Much of what the industry set out to do
in its last strategic plan has been achieved. Factorybuilt housing is now associated with such things as
modern design, advanced construction techniques and
technologies, high quality and energy-efficiency.
Where do we want to go from here?
UP!
As CMHI members, we are committed to excellence in the homes and services we provide. To me,
that means that every time we build a great house,
every time we give great service—the next time, we
need to go even further. The higher we go, the higher
we can go still.
I believe that factory construction techniques,
processes and procedures can take us to a new, and
even higher, level of excellence in homebuilding
in Canada. I believe that factory construction will
allow for the next wave of innovation. It will provide
the next surge of technological advancement that
will take us to new heights—in home design and comfort, service quality, environmental efficiency, and
productivity.
This fall, CMHI member volunteers are working to
develop a map to guide us toward Canada’s homebuilding future. We are examining the issues that will
Frank O’Blenis
CMHI President 2006
Frank O’Blenis is Sales Manager with
Supreme Homes, a manufactured housing builder with facilities in TracadieSheila, New Brunswick. Supreme Homes
serves homebuyers in the Maritimes and
the Northeastern United States through a
network of independent retailers in
Atlantic Canada and along the Gaspé
Coast.
Frank served as President of the
Manufactured Housing Association of
Atlantic Canada from 2004 to 2006. He
joined CMHI’s Board of Directors in 2004,
and was elected President of CMHI in
February 2006.
Frank is a firm believer in the potential
for technological innovation and advances in manufactured housing sector,
and he looks forward to being involved in
the continued evolution of the homebuilding industry.
Message from the President
Photo courtesy ReidFoster Associates
Seeking new heights: CMHI members and friends on a climb in Lake Louise, Alberta, February 2006
“I believe that factory construction
techniques, processes and
procedures can take us to a new,
and even higher, level of excellence
in homebuilding in Canada. I believe
that factory construction will allow
for the next wave of innovation.”
8 Building Excellence - Fall 2006
affect our industry in the years to come, and identifying the opportunities that will help us reach a new pinnacle of excellence. The result of
this work will be presented for discussion at our Annual General Meeting in Charlevoix, February 21 to 22, 2007.
With that in mind, I hope you will make the journey to Charlevoix.
I hope you will join me in planning our journey to excellence. Working
together, we will continue to reach new heights.
■
A Message from the Canadian Home Builders’ Association
Getting
Concrete Results
D
uring the summer, the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) launched a
nationwide effort to raise priority
issues with Members of Parliament
from all political parties. The theme
we are taking to Members of Parliament and their political leaders is:
“Housing Affordability and Choice
for Canadians: Getting Concrete
Results.” We are presenting three key
issues:
• Enhancing housing affordability
and choice by adjusting GST rebate thresholds for new home buyers to reflect price increases since
1991 and by reforming the federal
tax regime to encourage private investment in new rental housing.
• Addressing serious shortages of
skilled trades by expanding training programs and, at the same
time, raising the immigration level
of skilled trades.
• Tackling the underground economy in the residential sector by deploying resources for effective
enforcement.
GST Rebate Thresholds
We have continued to meet with
federal Ministers, including Finance
Minister Jim Flaherty. In our meeting
with the Minister, we congratulated
him on his first Budget, which included a 1 percentage point reduction of
the GST, funding for apprenticeship
training initiatives, infrastructure
funding, and other measures. We
urged the Minister to move forward
with the promised additional 1 percentage point reduction in the GST
in his next Budget and to adjust the
GST New Housing Rebate thresholds
to reflect rising house prices.
Many new home buyers in highcost centres do not qualify for the
GST New Housing Rebate. They
continue to be penalized by comparison with other parts of Canada where
almost all new home buyers qualify for
the full rebate. The percentage of new
homes priced above $350,000, where
the rebate begins to be phased out,
has increased dramatically. Purchasers
of new homes above $450,000 receive
no rebate at all.
In Vancouver, Canada’s highestcost centre, almost 90 per cent of the
new homes completed last year were
priced above $350,000. This year,
over 75 per cent of the new houses
built in Vancouver will not qualify for
any rebate of GST. Other centres
where one-third or more of new home
purchasers do not qualify for the full
rebate include Victoria, Kelowna,
Ottawa, and Hamilton. And the list
keeps growing. It’s just not fair that
next year, due to rising housing prices,
an additional 4,000 new home buyers
will receive a reduced, or no, rebate.
When the GST was first introduced, the federal government made a
commitment to adjust the rebate
thresholds “at least every two years” to
ensure that they continued to reflect
changes in housing prices. It was
recognition that upward adjustments
would be needed to protect housing
affordability. With almost all new
houses in some major centres now ineligible for the full GST rebate, it is
essential that the federal government
act now on this commitment.
■
David Benbow
CHBA President 2006
Dave Benbow graduated from the University
of Alberta with an education degree in 1968.
After teaching for seven years, he began a new
career with Nu West Homes in 1975. Soon
thereafter he became an active member of the
CHBA through his involvement with the Canadian
Home Builders’ Association–Edmonton Region.
He served on several committees of the
Edmonton Association, and was its President in
1995-96. In 1996-97 he was President of the
CHBA–Alberta. Dave was a board member of the
Alberta New Home Warranty Program for four
years and Chair of the Professional Home
Builders Institute of Alberta for three years.
Dave first served on the CHBA Board of
Directors in 1996. He has been a member of the
Association’s Executive Board since 2002, serving as Second Vice-President in 2003 and 2004
and, in 2005, as First Vice-President.
Building,
by-the-Sea
Above 3 Insets: Homes in St.
Andrews by-the-Sea by Maple Leaf
Homes; photos courtesy of Disher
Enterprises
T
ucked away in Passamaquoddy
Bay, at the southeastern tip of
New Brunswick, is Canada’s
oldest seaside resort, St. Andrews bythe-Sea. Within this architecturally
renowned community—designated a
national historic site in 1998—is the
newly developed Champlain Subdivision, where factory-built homes
have been the overwhelming choice
for the majority of new home buyers.
St. Andrews was established by
Loyalists in 1783, and prospered as a
garrison for soldiers and as a merchant settlement for several decades.
Its failing economy in the last half of
the nineteenth century was reinvigorated by the building of the railways
that brought wealthy Montrealers
and Bostonians, anxious to escape
the summer heat and humidity, by
overnight train to enjoy a healthier
environment. Still a major tourist
destination, St. Andrews is also
home to approximately 2,000 yearround residents.
Jeff Cross, St. Andrews’
Building Inspector, explains that
“the Champlain Subdivision was
developed with the idea of attracting new and young families into
the town. Factory-built homes
were enticing for a number of
reasons—quicker construction times,
upfront decision making, and “the
fact that the quality of the homes has
increased tremendously.” Cross notes
that the young families that the development aimed to serve found
peace of mind in the fact that when
it comes to manufactured housing,
“the price quoted is the price paid.”
Champlain Subdivision has also
attracted a large number of seniors
Background photo: An afternoon of
whale-watching near St. Andrews
by-the-Sea; photo courtesy of
Tourism New Brunswick
who want to live near their children
and grandchildren. “The subdivision
and the homes in it are familyoriented, and cater to a family’s
needs,” says Cross.
Initiated in the early 1990s,
Champlain Subdivision began with
one street and approximately 12 lots.
Since then, 75 lots have been
developed by families looking for
high-quality, cost-effective housing,
with lot prices ranging from $16,500
to $22,000. “The Champlain Subdivision project still has a great deal of
undeveloped land left to occupy,”
says Cross. Right now there are approximately five lots available for
purchase in the developed section of
the subdivision.”
Gerald Disher, whose company
Disher Enterprises works with the
Maple Leaf Homes factory in Fredericton, has been involved in the creation of about half of the homes in
Champlain Subdivision. Disher
Enterprises provides turnkey services:
preparing the site, coordinating with
the factory, and also handling installation and finishing work to make
the homes ready for move-in. Disher
is proud of how well factory-built
construction accommodates the demands of today’s homebuyers. “With
our homes, 85 per cent of the deci-
sions can be made right away.
Another few weeks and you’ve got a
home, ready to move into, ready to
live in,” he says.
A testimony to factory-built
Cross is not only a fan of factorybuilt homes—he’s also the proud
owner of one. Following the birth of
their third child, he and his wife
were in need of more space for their
growing family. “We were drawn to
the Champlain Subdivision ourselves
because of the reasonably priced lots
and the idea of the area being familyoriented”, Cross says. “A factorybuilt home was the way to go for us.
We did our research and toured many
different styles of factory-built
homes, all of which were constructed
with quality and sold with a solid
warranty. And, because our old house
sold quickly, we needed our new
home quickly as well.”
Four weeks from the time that the
Cross family signed their sales agreement and made the final selections
that suited their needs, their new
home arrived from the factory. And
just one week later, the family was
able to move into their “completely
finished, beautiful new home.”
Would the family purchase another factory-built home? Definitely
‘yes’, says Cross. “The positive aspects for us were the quality of the
finished home, the quick construction time, the warranty and, above
all, the service we received from
Disher Enterprises.”
Cross’ parents provide testimony
to that customer satisfaction—they
subsequently moved into their own
factory-built home in the Champlain
Subdivision. According to Cross,
they “love every moment of it.” He
notes that many people are drawn to
the area’s peaceful surroundings and
the factory-built homes’ easy maintenance.
Disher adds that “a lot of people
are impressed with manufactured
housing. They love having all the
choices of styles and elements, and
they appreciate the quick turnaround.
Other residents in the community
■
have definitely taken notice.”
Safety First
“No one will be hurt today or tomorrow”
ounded in 1973, Atlantic-based
Prestige Homes is a member of
the Shaw Group of companies,
which provides engineering, design,
construction and maintenance services to government and private-sector
clients in a wide array of industries.
The Shaw Group culture prides itself
on its safety-focused, hands-on
approach that protects their employees
through training and innovation.
However, when audits were completed
on Prestige Homes’ safety records in
1999, the results were discouraging.
At a builders’ showcase presentation at the Canadian Manufactured
Housing Institute’s 2006 Annual General Meeting, Don Darling, Manager
of Sales, Marketing and Engineering at
Prestige Homes pointed out “we
thought we were doing ‘ok’. However,
there was a 100 per cent increase in
Workers Compensation rates between
1999 and 2001.” Lost time due to onthe-job injury was high, resulting in
lost productivity and higher costs.
Rather than ignore the problem, however, Prestige Homes took a proactive
approach—one that has since created
the foundation of safety success.
F
that both safety and safety awareness
were prominent in the work environment. He recalls that it wasn’t only
management seeking safety success—
there was a positive attitude among
employees on the factory floor who
wanted to make safety a priority.
Gushue says this commitment to safety is the result of company-wide training, WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous
Materials Information System), investigating accidents and implementing
preventative measures, identifying
drugs and alcohol in the workplace,
and ensuring employees were trained
in first aid procedures.
It wasn’t always a smooth transition, explains Gushue. He remembers
the early stages of a morning stretch
program, designed to limber up the
more than 150 construction workers.
“Many didn’t want to participate but
we knew it was a good idea, so we
kept working on it,” says Gushue. “We
hired a professional trainer who is also
an employee. Posters went up promoting the activity and now, six months
later, everyone is on board. It’s hard
for people to argue when it’s to the
benefit of their health.”
First steps
A plan of prevention
Initial initiatives included the development of a health and safety plan
specifically geared to Prestige Homes,
the formation of a safety management
committee, and the hiring of a fulltime safety officer. Joe Gushue, Operations Manager for Prestige Homes,
explains that “people make our business, and if they are healthy and safe,
that helps our business. They are our
core and we can’t do business without
them.”
Relatively new with Prestige
Homes, Gushue noticed from the start
The Prestige Homes’ plan is a plan
of prevention. It starts right from the
beginning, with all new employees receiving full orientation in health and
safety conduct and rules so they realize the “why’s” and “how’s” of safety
measures. Employees are strongly encouraged to provide input and make
suggestions for improvements, report
safety incidents, and inform the Joint
Occupational Health and Safety
(JOHS) committee of any problems.
Lois Lynn, Human Resource/Occupational Health and Safety Advisor
Photos courtesy of Prestige Homes
for Prestige Homes, notes “we have a
very active JOHS committee. These
employee representatives—who work
at both the management and nonmanagement level—all take safety
very, very seriously, and provide lots
of input into how procedures are decided upon and implemented. I really
appreciate their involvement in keeping themselves and their coworkers
safe.”
A safe work environment depends,
largely, on the environment itself.
That is why “housekeeping” has become such an important aspect on
the shop floor. A clean work environment and a safe work environment go
hand-in-hand—and keeping an orderly workspace is a top priority for
everyone at Prestige Homes. Other
initiatives include new safety equipment, safety posters in key areas of
the plant, safety training and regularly held “lunchbox” information meetings, and completing “near-miss”
reports that identify unsafe areas or
practices in the plant. The near-miss
reports help detect minor problems
that can be fixed before they turn
into major areas of concern.
“Our aim is for everybody to go
home at the end of the day to their
loved ones safe, and in the same condition that they came to work in the
morning,” says Lynn.
All signs point to success
Prestige Homes began the implementation of their safety program in
1999, and they didn’t waste any time.
All employees of the company were
given safety training over an eight-week
period, and special safety committees
were formed in less than one month. It
didn’t take long for noticeable results:
• By 2003 the company had a 150 per
cent decrease in Workers Compensation rates—$150,000 per year in
savings;
• A 2004 safety performance review by
New Brunswick health and safety officials resulted in a score of 97.8 per
cent; and
• The Shaw Group celebrated two
million hours without a lost time
accident.
“A key to this success is recognizing good behaviour when we see it
and correcting bad behaviour when
it happens,” says Gushue. “The end
result is data that points to increased
efficiency, a clean building, and ‘the
cream of the crop’ when it comes to
people who want to work here and a
motivated staff who are healthy and
safe. It feels pretty good knowing
we’re on the right track. I think
we’re all proud of what has been accomplished.”
Lynn agrees. “Our motto is ‘No
one will be hurt today or tomorrow’,” she says. “I feel everyone at
Prestige Homes believes in this
statement and everyone does everything they can to keep this true. Results are fantastic; reporting unsafe
or questionable conditions has increased, employee input for suggesting improvement has increased,
employee compliance has improved,
first aids and medical aids have decreased. Safety is everybody’s responsibility, and we have a great team
working on it together!”
■
Celebrating
Sixty Years of
Serving Canadians
W
hat began as an agency providing housing to
veterans has evolved to a Corporation that
helps Canadians from coast to coast access safe,
affordable housing. What was the key to this evolution?
Over the last six decades, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)—Canada’s national housing
agency—has touched the lives of so many Canadians, in
almost every community across the country.
“Our willingness to adapt ourselves to Canadians’
changing needs has been vital to our success,” said Karen
Kinsley, CMHC’s President.
“As one looks back on CMHC’s history, what is striking
is that it is as much about housing as it is about people—
the people we house, the people who make up CMHC and
the people in the private and public sector who have been
our partners over the years.”
It all began in 1945 when the Government of Canada
was faced with a difficult problem. With the end of World
War II, returning veterans were eager to start their own
families and build new lives. Officials quickly realized the
country faced a potential housing shortage.
On January 1, 1946, the Central Mortgage and Housing
Corporation was created to house the more than one million returning veterans and to lead the nation’s housing
programs. Its name changed to “Canada” Mortgage and
Housing Corporation in 1979.
“CMHC’s dream on January 1, 1946 and our dream
today is that everyone will have a safe, decent, affordable
place to call home. We have been there for millions of
Canadians. Community by community, and family by family, for more than 60 years, CMHC has truly been home to
Canadians,” said Kinsley.
Toward the end of the 1940s, the federal government
embarked on a program of much-needed social and rental
housing, creating a federal–provincial public housing program for low-income families.
It wasn’t long before CMHC expanded from home
builder to community builder. In 1954, the government
expanded the National Housing Act to allow
chartered banks to enter the NHA lending
field. With the introduction of Canada’s
first-ever mortgage loan insurance, CMHC
put the dream of home ownership within
reach of many Canadians who might otherwise never have been able to afford a home
of their own.
The 1960s was a decade of firsts. Houses
became bigger and, for the first time, incorporating the basement as living space.
CMHC built the first co-operative housing
development in Canada. And, for the first
time in Canadian history, multi-unit apartment buildings were beginning to outpace
housing starts for single family homes.
CMHC began to work even more closely
with non-profit agencies around this time.
For CMHC, the 1960s saw a shifting of
focus towards helping municipalities deal
with the demands of rapid urban growth.
Things shifted again during the 1970s,
Using prefabricated wall panels that allowed completion at the site in four days,
when questions of affordability, convenience
the one-and-a-half storey "Victory House" provided shelter for hundreds of
and energy-efficiency became major factors
thousands of families during and after WWII, and kindled the interest in factorybuilt housing; photo CMHI archive
in the home buying process. In response, CMHC helped to
ensure the health and safety of all Canadian homes, while
also making home ownership more accessible to low-income Canadians, rural families, Aboriginal People and
Canadians with a disability.
Preservation of historic neighbourhoods and downtown
living became a priority and, in 1973, CMHC oversaw the
transformation of Vancouver’s Granville Island, a rundown industrial area, into a thriving centre for culture,
recreation and tourism.
“CMHC’s dream on January 1, 1946 and our
dream today is that everyone will have a safe,
decent, affordable place to call home. We have
been there for millions of Canadians.
Community by community, and family by family,
for more than 60 years, CMHC has truly been
home to Canadians.”
Because of dramatic shifts in Canada’s economy in the
1980s, renovations began to rival new home building for
dollar volume of business. To help make home ownership
more accessible, CMHC began to lay a new foundation for
quality and affordability, introducing programs such as
NHA Mortgage Backed Securities. These programs help
ensure a ready supply of low-cost mortgage funds and keep
mortgage costs as low as possible for homeowners.
The 1990s ushered in a new era in housing science and
technology, emphasizing energy efficiency and resource
conservation in new home construction and renovation.
Despite these advances, affordability remained a key
concern. To reduce barriers for first-time homebuyers, the
Corporation reduced the minimum down payment required for a CMHC-insured mortgage to five per cent from
10 per cent.
The new millennium brought with it a renewed focus
and innovation in the areas of cleaner energy, the environment and sustainable, yet affordable communities.
Today, six decades after it was founded, CMHC continues to work hand-in-hand with its partners in the public,
private and non-profit sectors to improve the quality of life
of millions of Canadians, and help make their housing
dreams come true.
That makes CMHC’s birthday an occasion Canadians
■
in all parts of the country can celebrate.
Going
Photos courtesy of
Kent Homes
Commercial
W
hen Irving Equipment—
an industry leader in crane
rentals and related services in Atlantic Canada—decided they
needed a new office in the fall of
2002, Kent Homes was their builder
of choice. The company’s old office,
which was also built by Kent Homes,
had been sold. Now they were in
need of something that met a number of very specific needs.
As Ben Doucet, Manager of Commercial Sales and Fleet at Kent
Homes, explains, “Irving Equipment
knew what they wanted and it was up
to us to make it happen. For starters,
they were looking for something
much bigger than their previous office space. They are a growing company and needed room and offices to
accommodate more staff.”
The team at Kent Homes met
with their clients at Irving Equipment a number of times before the
project got underway. As Doucet
notes, “getting to know what our
clients wanted was very important for
all of us. We wanted them to walk
away thinking ‘this new office is
great’.”
Mike Marsh, Regional Manager
for Irving Equipment’s Nova Scotia
and Newfoundland divisions, explains that his company knew what
they wanted, and after explaining
their needs to the designers at Kent
Homes, a final design was agreed
upon. “We told them we need this,
this and this and they came to us
with a plan. They had done another
commercial office building, showed
us those designs, and then tailored it
to suit our needs. We were looking
for something that could be done
quickly [the entire project was completed in 122 days]. But, it also had
to look great and meet everyone’s requirements. This space delivered.”
Located in Woodside Industrial
Park in Halifax, the final building
comprises 2,400 square feet of wellplanned space on the main floor,
including a large reception area,
boardroom, an open work area and
several offices. An additional 2,400
square feet of finished space on the
lower level includes an employee
lunch room, offices, training and
locker rooms.
As Ray Girouard, Director of
Commercial Programs for Kent
Homes says, “this building has all the
services required to accommodate
workers in a modern and functional
work environment.”
One design element the client
specifically wanted was the ability to
see outside. In order to meet this demand, the building was created with
numerous windows on each side of
the office. As Marsh points out, “the
employees really like the extra light.
The sun shines in at all hours of the
day, making everything brighter and
giving everyone a more enjoyable
work space.”
A second element of focus was the
shape of the roof, which was installed
on site. Irving Equipment didn’t
want a flat roof, and opted for a
“Dutch ship” style. The sloped roof
feature adds extra style to the design,
Doucet explains, which was very important to the client. “The look of
the building was critical to the people at Irving Equipment. We listened
and gave them exactly what they
wanted to see.”
Marsh agrees, not just on behalf of
Irving Equipment’s employees, but
also noting that Irving Equipment’s
customers enjoy the new space as
well. “Our old office building was
much smaller. This new building has
all the bells and whistles. Without a
doubt, both our employees and our
customers like the direction we took
with this office.”
Kent Homes has been involved in
commercial construction since the
1950s, when they began providing
accommodations for workers in lumber camps—a far cry from the highend, impressive factory-built
buildings they construct today. Now,
says Girouard, Kent is working to increase the commercial side of its
business. “We are a good choice for
commercial clients,” he says. “We
can build their offices fast, and exactly how they want them, lessening the
time companies need to relocate all
their furnishings, equipment and employees. We actually have a number
of new projects on the go right now.”
One of Kent Homes’ commercial
successes was their own office building in Bouctouche, New Brunswick.
Featured in the Fall 2004 issue of
Building Excellence, the project won
first prize in the Modular Building
Institute’s Award of Distinction competition in 2004.
“Companies see us as a solution—
an alternative,” says Girouard. “We
have the manpower and can do projects year-round, which gives us a
pretty big advantage. The commercial sector of the factory-built construction business is only going to
grow.”
■
Online Design
One builder launches a revolution
in website customer service
A
ccording to Statistics Canada, in 2004, six out of every
ten households reported
having some kind of Internet access
from home. What does this mean? To
Guildcrest Homes it’s proof that their
dedication to the maintenance, development and use of their website is
time well spent. As George Tierney,
Director of Marketing Services says,
“websites are a very strong marketing
tool that consumers now demand.
Most now want to see things and explore options online before they pick
up the phone to ask questions, and
especially before they take the time
to go to see a product in person.”
Guildcrest Homes boasts more
than one million page visits on their
website in 2005. The immensity of
this traffic is one reason the company
has always strived to keep their site
up-to-date. Beyond simply maintain-
ing the site though, Guildcrest is also
always looking for ways to improve
their site, and the amount of useful information it provides to potential customers. In summer 2006, they
launched a new feature on their site
that revolutionized the way consumers
can explore and decide on floor plan
options.
Tierney says that in 2005, Guildcrest found that consumer demand
necessitated an increase in their design options for homes in the 1,200 to
1,800 square-foot range. Gordon MacDonald, a designer at Guildcrest, developed a floor plan that could be
broken down into four different quadrants—consumers could choose different configurations and different
options within each quadrant...and
the “Touchstone” was born.
“We noticed that there were a
number of plans that people were continually picking which had a number
of the same elements. We kept
those elements and then gave the
consumers choices such as living
room size or the number of bed-
rooms. Generally a new design takes
approximately a year to sell—this one
is so popular, it took only one month.”
Tierney says that’s when he had an
“aha” moment. “I was sitting at my
desk and thought, ‘what if we create a
tool that potential clients could use to
manipulate floor plans right on our
website?’ They’d be able to explore
one basic model but would be offered
numerous choices for room sizes and
layout options. Better yet, they could
walk into one of our Authorized
Builders with a sense of ownership for
this home that they’ve configured to a
design they’re already happy with.”
With a little ingenuity and a lot of
elbow grease, Tierney’s idea was transformed into reality. After enlisting a
graphic designer and a webmaster, the
Touchstone went online. On the
Guildcrest website, a button directs
users to a starting point with a choice
of three different base models. From
there, options abound as alternative
layouts are presented and, with a click
of the mouse, the choices are pieced
together into an instant floor plan. Options include, for example, different
room sizes and configurations, third
bedrooms or dens, and single- or double-car garages. The various combinations result in more than 80 plans from
which consumers can choose.
“It took a lot of hard work and
thought,” says Tierney. “After all,
we couldn’t just offer all these options—we had to ensure all the engineering was in place and that all the
design combinations could be built
efficiently.”
Builder reaction
The Guildcrest Homes delivery crew sets the first "Touchstone" on its foundation
in Barry's Bay, Ontario. Photos courtesy of Guildcrest Homes
Guildcrest works with a network of
Authorized Builders located throughout Ontario, Quebec and the Northeastern United States. When the
Touchstone was launched, the
builders’ reaction, according to Tierney, can be summed up in one word—
“wow”. Tierney recalls that when
MacDonald presented the new model
to the builders, “people stood up and
applauded.”
“What builders found most impressive was the amount of thought that
had gone into the designs, ensuring
that even with so many different options, the homes could be constructed
and installed efficiently. If the designs
weren’t easily transferred from the
web to the actual construction and
completion, then it wouldn’t be worth
it,” says Tierney.
Any initial concerns about making
proprietary designs so widely available
on the Internet gave way to pride in
the fact that Guildcrest was leading
the way with this technology. “We’re
very proud of what we’ve done and we
didn’t want to hide it by making a tool
only our builders had access to. We
want it out there for consumers to use
and take advantage of,” says Tierney.
Guildcrest is very aware of the
power of the Internet. In that spirit,
when visitors to the website have decided on a Touchstone design, they
are asked to fill out basic information
such as name, address and how they
heard about the company.
Based on where a client is
planning to build, information is disseminated to an
Authorized Builder in the
area, and a design code for
their Touchstone is included in the information. A
simple cut and paste of the
design code allows builders
to look up the specific options chosen, “tweak it” if
required with the customer
and print hard copies.
At the time of publication, the first Touchstone
had come out of Guildcrest’s plant in
Morewood, Ontario, and is now being
completed on-site. Guildcrest has
commenced a comprehensive radio
and newspaper campaign with the
sole purpose of attracting visitors and
potential customers to its website.
“Consumers want to research
things before they make a commitment. They want to look around
without feeling rushed or pressured.
This site allows them to do that and I
think they’re going to be thrilled with
the possibilities,” says Tierney.
If all goes as planned, says Tierney,
the company will consider doing another quadrant-based design in the future—and will again make the options
accessible online.
■
Green is the New Gold
S
urging fuel prices. Uncertainty about electricity
supply and costs. Growing concern about
climate change. Debate about the sustainability
of our communities and our quality of life. Environmental
issues are at the top of the public’s agenda, and Canadians are looking for solutions that work. As an R-2000
new home builder, the Canadian Home Builders’
Association’s (CHBA’s) EnviroHome™ helps you meet
this challenge.
EnviroHome is the new home marketing initiative
sponsored by the CHBA and TD Canada Trust. Earning
the EnviroHome designation for your R-2000 project
provides a unique way to stand out in the marketplace—
a proven traffic-generator that will help you gain media
attention, connect with consumers and build sales.
EnviroHome projects showcase the healthy housing
and environmental features you offer in your new homes.
For more information on EnviroHome, contact Jack
Mantyla at CHBA’s national office. Call 1-800-387-2422,
fax 1-613-232-8214 or email [email protected]. Visit
www.envirohome.chba.ca to check out EnviroHome
online.
YOUR INDUSTRY IS
OUR SPECIALTY.
To find out how
Matrix can help your
association create an
eye-catching magazine
like this one, call
(866) 999-1299
Technical Update
CHANGES TO
CSA STANDARDS
P
eter Aitchison, Chair of the
Canadian Standards Association
(CSA) Technical Committee on
Factory-Built Houses and Senior Manager, Design and Engineering at Triple
M Housing Ltd., reports that revision
of the CAN/CSA-A277, -Z240 MH
Series and -Z240.10.1 standards
is almost complete. Additional amendments were approved by the Canadian
Standards Association (CSA) Technical Committee on Factory-Built
Houses at its April 2006 meeting.
Highlights of the changes include the
following:
• Several changes are under review
that will expand the scope of the
CAN/CSA-A277 factory certifica-
•
•
•
•
•
tion standard to include non-residential buildings.
The application of CAN/CSAZ240 MH Series Standard will be
limited to units of not more than
one storey.
A single exit door will be permitted.
A fuel-fired heating unit will not be
permitted within 1.5 m of an exit.
The provision for emergency
escape windows from bedrooms will
be revised in accordance with the
National Building Code of Canada
(NBCC).
A door will be required to be
provided only at the entrance to a
home.
• Doorway opening sizes will be
revised.
• Minimum thermal insulation
requirements have been increased.
• Snow load requirements have been
revised to reference the NBCC.
• Minimum room heights have been
revised to mirror NBCC requirements.
• CAN/CSA-Z240.3.1 plumbing
requirements have been replaced by a
reference to the model 2005 National
Plumbing Code.
• Cladding requirements have been
revised in accordance with the
NBCC.
• A clarification was made to
CAN/CSA-Z240.10.1 site preparation, foundation and anchorage
standard to specify that footing materials other than concrete and wood,
such as ABS plastic, may be used.
The new editions of the standards
are expected to be released for public
review in fall 2006.
■
This could be YOU!
W
ant to be seen by thousands of
building professionals across
Canada? Want your product in
front of the industry's decision makers? Want
to get your message out to builders and
renovators across the country?
If yes, here's your chance. An
advertisement in Building Excellence
puts your company, product and
message in front of industry members
across Canada!
See you next issue!
For advertisement rates and specifications call
Matrix Group Inc.
Toll Free Tel: 1-866-999-1299 Toll Free Fax: 1-866-244-2544 E-mail: [email protected]
Design Watch
High-performance
windows the new norm
For Gerald Van Seters, General
Manager of Berdick Windows and
Doors in Coaldale, Alberta, there has
been a noticeable and drastic increase in consumer demand for energy-efficient windows. He estimates
that while only a few years ago approximately 10 per cent of buyers
wanted high-performance windows,
in today’s market, that number is
more like 75 per cent.
“We’re finding though that
more people are buying these
windows because they see the
value not only in their
make the public stand up and take
notice. Low-Emissivity (Low-E) windows—those that have a thin transparent layer applied to the glass to
reduce the amount of energy that
passes through them, saving energy—
have become part of normal house
building procedures, says Van Seters.
“Everyone knows they exist and so
regardless of whether a homeowner
buys them, they still ask questions
and want to know their options.
We’re finding though that more people are buying these windows because
they see the value not only in their
pocketbooks but also for the environment.”
A Low-E coating can improve the
insulating value of the double glazed
window from R-2 to an R-3 or R-4
rating—depending on the type of
coating used. Triple M Housing Ltd.
wanted better than that.
As Peter Aitchison, Senior Manager, Design and Engineering at
Triple M Housing explains, “right
now the average thermal pane window used in most homes is R-2. The
windows we normally use in our
homes are R-3.5. However, we wanted to do better, so we asked Berdick
Windows and Doors if they could
help us out.”
In response, Berdick created a line
of windows that are rated R-8 to R-9.
“Triple M came to us and asked us to
go above and beyond the industry
norm,” recalls Van Seters. “They
pocketbooks but also for the
environment.”
“There is a huge amount of savings for those who buy energy-efficient windows,” Van Seters says.
“The initial costs may be somewhat
higher, but consumers are noticing
payback almost immediately. As costs
drop on each heating bill and savings
are added up, homeowners are seeing
payback in about one year.”
In fact, Natural Resources Canada
estimates that, depending on the
house design and the existing levels
of efficiency in the rest of the building, switching to high-performance
windows can yield a 9 to 18 per cent
reduction in space heating costs.
These numbers are the kind that
Photo courtesy of Berdick Windows and Doors
wanted to give their customers the
very best options and they wanted to
be able to say that their homes were
as energy-efficient as was possible.
There are many homebuilding companies who are using triple-glazed
windows—but Triple M is doing it
right and using the technology to its
full advantage.”
Aitchison notes that 50 per cent
of heat loss is through windows and
doors. “If we can develop windows
that reduce those losses, it can translate into huge savings for our customers,” he says.
Taking technology to the
next step
Brian Kobialka, Sales Resource
Specialist at All Weather Windows’
Edmonton office, has definitely noticed the increase in demand for
energy-efficient windows. He’s observed that approximately half of all
products ordered now have some sort
of energy-efficient features. “Consumers want options—they want aesthetics and they want energyefficient glass. We want to deliver
both.”
One way in which they are delivering is with their new Titan tripleglazed PVC slider. Launched in May
2006, the Titan is Canada’s only
triple glazed PVC slider. It is proving to be a popular product
among homebuilders because
of its appealing combination of price and
performance.
In fact, in
February
2006, the
Titan
took home a
Georgie Award,
presented annually by
the Canadian Home Builders’
Association – British Columbia, in
the Best Technical Innovation
category.
“Consumers want options—
they want aesthetics and they
want energy-efficient glass.
We want to deliver both.”
The Titan PVC features a
one-piece frame that gives
the windows increased
strength and durability
as well as improved
resistance to water and air infiltration. And, because the placement of
the sealed unit is at the centre of
the frame, it offers enhanced energy
performance and long-term structural integrity—pushing the energy
efficiency to a much higher level.
There is little doubt that as consumer demand for energy-efficient
products increases, so too will the
advancement of the technologies
available. Builders that can keep up
with the technology and product
lines available, “will attract customers that are increasingly demanding the very best in
energy-efficient windows,” says Van
Seters.
■
The Titan. Photo courtesy
of All Weather Windows
Did you know?
According to GreenSpec Canada: A Directory of Canadian Green Building Products from BuildingGreen, "windows are one
of the most high-tech products in residential construction. Since the early 1980s, the energy performance of typical
windows has increased by over 50 per cent, the result of both improvements in glazing and in frame construction."
Low-E glass coatings, "are gaining in market share each year. The premium of 10 to 20 per cent for Low-E easily pays for
itself in a few years in most applications."
AnotherStrong
Year
for Housing Starts
H
ousing starts will register another strong year in 2006,
according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC’s) third quarter Housing Market Outlook, Canada Edition report. Starts are forecast to reach
227,900 units in 2006, before decreasing to 209,100 units
next year. Although residential construction will ease, 2007
will mark the sixth consecutive year in which housing starts
exceed 200,000 units.
“Housing starts this year will be stronger than previously
forecast, mainly due to persistent strong demand in Alberta
where starts will increase by 20 per cent in 2006,” said Bob
Dugan, Chief Economist at CMHC. “Higher mortgage carrying costs, due to modest increases in mortgage rates and rising
house prices, will temper housing demand in Canada in the
latter part of this year and next.”
In 2006, new home construction in British Columbia entered its sixth consecutive year of growth. This is the longest
upswing since the 1985 to 1989 period of expansion, and the
most consecutive years of growth on record. A healthy economy, a strong labour market, confident consumers, and relatively low mortgage rates are expected to result in 37,000 housing
starts in 2006, a 6.7 per cent increase over 2005. In 2007,
housing starts in B.C. are forecast to decrease to 34,900 units.
In Alberta, robust growth in the resource sector is creating
high-paying jobs, which are attracting workers from other
parts of the country and boosting population growth in the
province. As a result, total housing starts are expected to
reach 49,000 units in 2006, surpassing the previous record of
47,925 in 1978. The strong performance is forecast to continue into 2007, with starts of 45,000.
Housing starts in Saskatchewan are forecast to remain elevated due to strong activity in Regina and Saskatoon. Total
housing starts are expected to increase 4.7 per cent to 3,600
units in 2006, and remain unchanged in 2007.
Housing starts in Manitoba are forecast to surpass 5,000 for the first time since 1988, buoyed by
National Housing Outlook: Key Housing Market Indicators
favourable demographic and economic conditions.
2005
2006
2007
Total housing starts are forecast to reach 5,150
Actual
Forecasts
Forecasts
units in 2006 and 5,100 units next year.
Less stimulative economic and demographic
Total housing starts (units)
225,481
227,9001
209,1001
conditions
suggest that Ontario home starts will
1
1
Total single-detached houses
120,463
118,800
107,600
moderate,
but
will remain above historical averTotal multiple housing units
105,018
109,0001
101,5001
ages. Housing starts are forecast to decrease to
Total MLS® sales2
482,788
481,7001
462,2001
77,000 units in 2006 and to 70,000 units in 2007.
Average MLS® selling price ($)2
249,365
279,3001
297,1001
In Quebec, modest economic growth, rising
mortgage carrying costs, and the erosion of pent-up
demand is expected to cause demand for ownership
Provincial Housing Outlook: Total Housing Starts
housing to slow. CMHC forecasts housing starts to
decline by 11.6 per cent in 2006 to 45,000 units
2005
2006
2007
and to decrease to 40,000 units in 2007.
Actual
Forecasts
Forecasts
In New Brunswick, rising mortgage carrying
Newfoundland and Labrador
2,498
1,875
1,850
costs and modest provincial economic growth are
expected to contribute to a slight decrease in new
Prince Edward Island
862
725
725
residential construction. Starts are forecast to deNova Scotia
4,775
5,075
4,800
crease to 3,445 units and 3,120 units in 2006
New Brunswick
3,959
3,445
3,120
and 2007, respectively. Housing starts in Nova
Quebec
50,910
45,000
40,000
Scotia are forecast to reach 5,075 total units in
Ontario
78,795
77,000
70,000
2006 and 4,800 total units in 2007. In Prince Edward Island, housing starts are expected to decline
Manitoba
4,731
5,150
5,100
slightly in 2006/2007, but remain strong in historic
Saskatchewan
3,437
3,600
3,600
terms, at 725 units in both 2006 and 2007. In
Alberta
40,847
49,000
45,000
Newfoundland and Labrador, housing starts are
British Columbia
34,667
37,000
34,900
forecast to decline to 1,875 units in 2006 and
SOURCE: CMHC Housing Market Outlook, Canada Edition, Third Quarter 2006.
1,850 units in 2007, as higher mortgage carrying
1 Rounded off to the nearest hundred.
2 The term MLS® stands for Multiple Listing Service and is a registered trademark of the Canadian Real Estate
costs and weaker employment growth dampen
Association (CREA). Data are for 10 provinces.
■
housing demand.
2006 Builder Directory
Triple M Housing Ltd.
A
t Triple M Housing, we pride ourselves on innovation, industry leadership and the continuous improvement of the homes and services we provide.
Most importantly, we are proud of our commitment to customer satisfaction and our dedication to building homes in
which our customers will be safe and comfortable.
It begins at the design stage. Our highly skilled design
and engineering team prepare drawings for each client’s
home, with customized layouts to suit individual preferences and requirements. In addition to building a wide
range of single-family homes, Triple M has worked with
developers to create several multi-family residential and
commercial projects, from adult lifestyle communities to
offices, medical clinics and hotels. To every project,
whether large or small, we bring the same high level of expertise and commitment to excellence.
Triple M Housing was the first factory-built home producer in North America to achieve the Quality Management Institute’s ISO 9001 certification. Since that time,
we have remained constant in our dedication to introducing and utilizing the most current building technologies
available to build and deliver better homes for our customers. Our high level of quality has enabled us to grow
our sales and to develop a customer base within urban and
rural areas throughout Western Canada, Alaska and the
Western United States.
Our commitment to quality does not end when a home
leaves the factory. Whether we are shipping a home as a
complete unit or in multiple modules, careful attention is
paid to both the design and transportation method to ensure that the home arrives at its final destination in the
same excellent condition our inspectors recorded when it
left. Triple M service representatives ensure that all specifications are met at the home site, providing comprehensive
training and advice to installation teams. And, every
Triple M home is backed by the best comprehensive warranty available.
Triple M Housing has been in business for 25 years and
employs over 300 people in construction and administrative positions. The company builds 20 homes a week at
its 180,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Lethbridge,
Alberta.
Triple M Housing
185 Stubb Ross Road
Lethbridge, AB
T1K 7N3
Tel: (403) 320-8588
Fax: (403) 320-6925
www.triplemhousing.com
The Story of
Supreme Homes
I
Supreme Homes
2650 Main Street
P.O. Box 4029 Station B
Tracadie-Sheila, NB E1X 1G4
tel: (506) 395-6997
fax: (506) 395-7622
www.supremehomes.ca
L’Historique de
Maisons
Suprême
n 1982, Aristide Savoie founded a small construction
company and began building barns and garages.
Eight years later, his son Robert joined the company
and a new name was given to the company: A. & R.
Savoie and Sons Enterprises Ltd. Aristide is President and
Robert is Vice President and Operations Manager.
In 1995, the company expanded and constructed a 6000
square foot building in the Tracadie-Sheila Industrial Park
in northern New Brunswick.
The company began building small homes, barns and
garages in the facility and constructed houses on various
sites.
In 1999, the company expanded its facility to 42,000
square feet with a capacity to build one house per day.
Today the company has independent retailers throughout Atlantic Canada and the Gaspé Coast.
The company is well known for the exceptional high
quality of its work and its excellence in after-sales service.
We custom build to your needs and lifestyle!
E
n 1982, Aristide Savoie fonde une petite entreprise de construction de remises et de garages.
Huit ans plus tard, Robert, son fils, s’associe à
lui. L’entreprise adopte alors un nouveau nom – Les Entreprises A. & R. Savoie et Fils Ltée. Aristide est le
président et Robert est le vice-président et le directeur
des opérations.
En 1995, l’entreprise prend de l’expansion et s’installe dans le parc industriel de Tracadie-Sheila. Une
usine de 6000 pieds carrés est alors construite.
L’entreprise construit alors des « Mini-Homes », des
remises et des garages et construit des maisons sur le site.
En 1999, l’entreprise agrandit son usine à 42,000
pieds carrés, ce qui leur donne une capacité de construire une maison par jour.
Aujourd’hui l’entreprise possède des concessionnaires
au Canada Atlantique et en Gaspésie.
L’entreprise est bien reconnue pour sa qualité exceptionnelle et son excellence en service après-vente.
Nous construisons à vos spécifications et à votre style
de vie!
Royal
Homes
R
oyal Homes has built more than 6,000 single- and
multi-unit residential homes in the 35 years since it
was incorporated in 1971.
During that time, the company has also built townhouses, multi-storey hotels, school additions and office
buildings for a wide range of customers.
Located in 86,000 sq. ft. of factory space in Wingham,
Ontario, with a production capacity of 650 homes per year,
the company designs, builds and provides onsite construction services. No two homes are exactly alike—custom
building is the order of the day.
For most customers, the process begins with Royal
Homes’ website and the most popular home plans, but customizing really gets under way with a visit to the company’s
facility and discussions with the Royal Homes design centre. Designers work with customers to create a design that
meets their requirements—or the company can work to the
customer’s own architect plans. Every detail is covered—
kitchen cabinets, fireplaces, bathrooms, floor coverings,
etc.—before a firm price is agreed upon. The company will
also take care of all necessary on-site work, site preparation
to foundation or basement construction.
Royal Homes is proud of its award-winning achievements. The company has been selected to build the National Home Show Dream Home five times, and has been
nominated for the Ontario New Home Warranty program’s
Ernest Assaly Award for “Superior After Sales Service.”
Royal Homes is a charter member of the Ontario New
Home Warranty Program. In 2005, the company was recognized by the program for 29 consecutive years of achieving
the highest warranty rating.
Royal Homes was also recognized for excellence in the
recent award of a $10-million contract for 95 condominium homes on the east side of the City of Detroit. Known as
English Village, and styled after traditional London rowhouses, the units will be built in the company’s Wingham
plant and shipped to Detroit by road. The contract is the
largest of its type ever awarded to a Canadian company and
the project will take three years to complete. The company
will be adding an additional 25 employees to its workforce
for the duration of the contract.
Royal Homes is led by a management team headed by
President Pieter Venema. With more than 25 years of experience in manufacturing and construction, Venema’s
emphasis is on state-of-the-art technology coupled with
traditional craftsmanship. Executive Vice President Doug
Kuyvenhoven, and Operations Manager Klaas Jorritsma,
round out a team committed to the application of modern
technology and old-fashioned quality to the building of
factory-built homes.
Royal Homes
P.O. Box 370, Arthur Street
Wingham, ON N0J 2W0
Tel: (519) 357-2606
Fax: (519) 357-1742
www.royalhomes.com
Windows and Doors Specialty Page
Quality Engineered
Homes Ltd.
T
he strong Ontario real estate market and better acceptance of factory-built custom homes continues
to propel our industry to new heights. Quality
Engineered Homes is steadily increasing its sales by opening sensational model home and decor centres in strategic
areas around Ontario. Over 30,000 annual visitors tour the
beautifully decorated models at Quality’s Hwy 6, Hwy 400
and QEW locations in Mount Forest, Cookstown and
Grimsby respectively.
The company’s customers enjoy Quality’s full range of
services, and the process from foundation through to
The Homebuyer’s Ultimate Guarantee:
Price: The price of the home will not vary from the
agreed contract price unless there are substantive
changes made before construction starts, or abnormal
site conditions arise. Homebuyers’ approval for additional expenses is required.
Quality: All building materials and workmanship
will meet or exceed the Ontario Building Code and the
Construction Performance Guidelines of Ontario’s
provincial warranty program. Further, Quality extends
the provincial warranty program structural guarantee
from 7 years to a full 10 years.
Timing: If Quality fails to have the home ready by
the contracted date, the company will reimburse
homebuyers $250 per day until it is completed.
finished home generally takes less than three months—the
details of which are managed by Quality’s experienced and
dedicated staff.
Recently Quality Engineered Homes added a number of
new designs to its offering of more than 100 tempting layouts. These elegantly crafted, customized homes range in
size from 800 to more than 3,000 square feet.
Purchasers can use their preferred Quality design plan
“as-is”, adapt it, or the company can provide a custom design. If requested, Quality can facilitate contact with local
real estate agents who have lots for sale. Ask about
Quality’s Convenience Package, which coordinates permits, site work, well and septic installation.
Quality Engineered Homes recently introduced a program that brings peace of mind to those looking to build a
custom home, widely promoting the worry-free homebuilding experience Quality’s customers have enjoyed for years.
Homebuyer’s Ultimate Guarantee (HUG) was launched
by one of Canada’s leading precision-built housing companies to eliminate homebuyers’ frustration with after-purchase price increases, poor quality materials/workmanship
and/or move-in delays.
Numerous awards have been presented to Quality for
excellent design attributes as well as 15 consecutive years
of “Excellent” ratings through Ontario’s provincial warranty program.
Quality’s model home and decor centres are located
on Highway 6, minutes south of Mount Forest; at the
Cookstown Outlet Mall on Highway 400 at Highway 89;
and in Grimsby on the South
Service Road between the Fifty
and Fruitland exits off the
QEW. Call 1-800-265-2648 or
visit www.qualityhomes.ca for
complete details.
Quality Engineered
Homes Ltd.
R.R. #2
Kenilworth, ON
N0G 2E0
Tel: (800) 265-2648
Fax: (519) 323-3897
www.qualityhomes.ca
Foundations Specialty Page
Prestige Homes
P
restige Homes has a long and distinguished history.
Started in 1973 as a small family enterprise, we are now
one of the largest homebuilding companies in Atlantic
Canada, and a proud member of the Shaw Group of companies. Prestige Homes provides quality homes to customers in
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and the Northeastern U.S. through a network of
builders.
The first home came off the production line in April 1974.
Within 18 months, the firm was producing 200 homes per
year. Today, that figure has almost doubled. The company
now has 150 employees and has produced more than 10,000
homes.
Prestige builds manufactured homes, modular homes, panelized homes and light commercial projects.
Customers can, and do, take part in designing their own
floor plans. Prestige believes in the customer becoming a
partner in design. The company prides itself in producing
highly efficient and well-designed homes with the customer
in mind. The latest materials and technology are constantly
being introduced in order to produce a home of superior
workmanship and quality-control. Prestige maintains a tight
quality control system and is a registered R-2000 builder.
The last few years have been filled with growth, awards
and firsts. Prestige-built homes have won the New Brunswick
Home Builders’ Association single-family homebuilder of the
year award for both 1999 and 2000. The company also won
an award for the most outstanding home under 2,000 sq. ft.
from the Nova Scotia Home Builders’ Association. Also in
2000, Prestige Homes built the first-ever EnviroHome produced in a factory, with its sister company Clayton Developments, for the community of Portland Hills, New Brunswick.
The New Brunswick Department of Economic Development and Tourism awarded Prestige Homes an Export
Achievement Award for its sales into the United States.
Along with its strong Atlantic Provinces and U.S. customer base, the firm has developed products that meet housing needs around the world. Prestige homes have been
shipped to the Middle East, Japan, China, The Netherlands,
Romania, Russia and Germany.
Prestige Homes
14 Industrial Drive
Sussex, NB E4E 2R8
tel: (506) 433-9130
fax: (506) 433-9141
www.prestigehomes.ca
Maple Leaf
Homes
M
aple Leaf Homes is located in Fredericton, New
Brunswick, and ships manufactured homes to the
four Atlantic Provinces and the eastern United
States. A network of more than 30 retailers throughout the
region assists customers through the homebuying process.
Maple Leaf Homes offers a range of sizes and styles of factory-built homes including bungalow, ranch, Cape Cod,
colonial, two storey, duplexes and other multiple units, as
well as the flexibility to do total custom plans.
The company offers cost savings through volume purchasing of such items as brand name appliances, bathroom
fixtures, carpets and flooring, designer cabinets, energy efficient components, and insulation — just to name a few.
Custom designs and specifications, in-plant quality control
and accurate scheduling — with no weather delays and no
cost overruns. Quality is maintained throughout construction in the controlled, indoor environment of the manufacturing facility.
Maple Leaf Homes also offers “Intelligent Housing Systems.” A microcomputer-based electronic surveillance system provides protection against burglary, fire and other
emergencies, and also allows the homeowner to prewire
home entertainment and telecommunication equipment to
keypad controls.
Maple Leaf Homes
P.O. Box 27
Fredericton, NB E3B 4Y2
Tel: (506) 459-1335
Fax: (506) 450-3016
www.mlhomes.nb.ca
Kent Homes
I
In 1958, Kent Homes began building high-quality
homes as part of the J.D. Irving, Limited group of companies, which has more than 100 years of involvement
in the forest products business. Always with the goal of delivering the best product at a competitive price—on time,
all the time— Kent Homes has grown to become Atlantic
Canada’s leading homebuilder.
In 2000, plant capacity in Bouctouche, New Brunswick
reached its peak production. Operating to maximum capacity and with customer demand for its quality homes continuing to rise, Kent Homes opened a second plant in Debert,
Nova Scotia, in the summer of 2001.
Whether you’re looking for a three-storey, 115, 000square-foot residential complex; a dental clinic; a law office; or a two-storey family home, a bungalow, or a beach
cottage, Kent Homes has the know-how, experience and
capacity to build your dream project.
Kent Homes’ experienced retailer network offers the
peace of mind of a full turnkey package—they’ll take care
of the land preparation, the foundation, the electrical and
plumbing work, and even the landscaping, with guaranteed
pricing and no cost overruns. What else could be easier and
faster?
The proud winner of the 2006 J.K. Irving Outstanding
Achievement Award, Kent Homes employees continue to
put their “heart and soul” into the never-ending goal to improve on the homes they build and the services they provide.
It’s no wonder Kent Homes has been the builder of
choice for thousands of people in the Maritimes
Kent Homes
28, chemin du Couvent
Bouctouche, NB E4S 3B9
Tel: (506) 743-2481
Fax: (506) 743-2660
www.kenthomes.com
Windows and Doors Specialty Section
Hospitality Homes
C
omfortable, inviting, warm and cozy—these are a
few of the words that describe your Hospitality
Home. Nestled in the middle of the Saint John
River Valley in Woodstock, New Brunswick, Hospitality
Homes Ltd. is located at the crossroads of the Trans-Canada Highway and Interstate 95. Just seven miles from the
U.S. border, Hospitality Homes is strategically positioned
to ship homes not only throughout Canada and the U.S.
but also around the world.
Hospitality Homes’ major production focus is on modular homes—from simple to complex—from single-family to
multi-unit—Hospitality has the ability to make your
dreams come true. Quality and custom design are two ingredients that allow Hospitality to stand out from its competitors. With an ever-changing market, Hospitality strives
to continually grow to meet the needs of its customers.
Seeing the increase in the market for panelized units, and
already having experience in this area, Hospitality Homes
is adding a full line to their production devoted to panels.
This should allow us the opportunity to ship homes around
the world. Hospitality presently has homes in Atlantic
Canada, the New England States as well as Iceland, with
market research currently being done in Ireland and the
United Kingdom. “Our doors are open and the opportunities are endless” quotes Sam Galloway, co-owner with his
wife Shirley. “We are continually looking to expand our
markets and grow our business.”
With more than 50 people employed directly
with Hospitality Homes, it makes a large impact
in the community of 5,200. Sam and Shirley’s
efforts have been recognized locally by the community in being voted the “Number One Home
Builder” for the last three consecutive years.
Provincially they have won numerous awards
through the New Brunswick Homes Builders’
Association, including the Association’s firstever “Builder of the Year”. Most recently Hospitality Homes was awarded the prestigious
Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters and
Business New Brunswick’s Export Achievement
Award for 2004, recognizing outstanding performance in export trade.
With more than 30 years in the construction
industry, the Galloways have grown their market share each year. With years of custom home
construction, commercial and industrial work and specialized training such as R-2000 certification; Hospitality has
the experience and knowledge you look for in the industry.
“The key is to never limit the possibilities in manufactured housing.” Sam explains that success in the factorybuilt housing business takes a lot of hard work, lots of
listening and the assurance of a high-quality home for the
consumer. Hospitality Homes continues to do just that!
Hospitality Homes
110 First Plymouth Road
Woodstock, NB
E7M 4M2
Tel: (888) 544-3100
or (506) 325-2643
Fax: (506) 325-9823
Guildcrest Homes
T
he well-designed and built, modular, energy efficient homes from Guildcrest Homes have become
the benchmark demanded by new home buyers.
The company operates a full service sales centre with
three fully decorated versions of its most popular models at
its Morewood factory location. Canadian sales from this
location are generally turnkey. Factory tours are also available by appointment.
Guildcrest also continues to successfully develop an
expanding network of independent builder customers who
incorporate Guildcrest’s modular homes into their projects.
While Guildcrest has a standard product offering, most
customers, both retail and wholesale, take advantage of the
company’s experienced design staff and flexible manufacturing to customize their homes.
Small- to medium-sized developers continue to be an
important part of Guildcrest’s customer base. Challenged
by the shortage of skilled trades, the difficulty of
managing building sites and customer expectations, and
delivering a quality product at an acceptable margin,
forward-thinking developers are now turning to partnerships with factory-built housing producers like Guildcrest.
Whether your target is 3 homes per year, or 30, we welcome the opportunity to show you what we can do!
Guildcrest operates with a workforce of over 200 in
120,000 sq. ft. of production space with the capacity to
produce 12,000 square feet of custom-built housing per
week. Guildcrest is certified by the Canadian Standards
Association (CSA) and various State agencies to
build homes for delivery throughout Ontario, Québec and
the northeastern United States.
Guildcrest Homes
P.O. Box 10
20 Mill Street
Morewood, ON
K0A 2R0
Tel: (613) 448-2349 or (800) 249-1432
Fax: (613) 448-3464
www.guildcrest.com
Canadian Manufactured Housing Institute
54th Annual General Meeting
Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu, Charlevoix, Québec • February 21-22, 2007
Two great events, four
great days . . . don't
miss the opportunity
to celebrate our
achievements,
examine the
challenges that lie
ahead, and focus on
what it takes to
succeed in the new
world of homebuilding
in Canada.
For information and
registration details contact
the CMHI office at
tel: 613-563-3520,
e-mail: [email protected],
or visit us online at www.cmhi.ca
CUSTOMER SERVICE
IS THE KEY!
service, from first contact
through factory construction
and site completion to warranty service and after-sales
follow-up. Best practices and
“real world” examples are
highlighted throughout, drawn
from people who work in the
industry and who are committed to customer service and
better business practices.
T
here is a clear
connection between customer service, customer satisfaction and a company’s
bottom line. The better the
service throughout the whole
buying process, the higher the
satisfaction level and the
greater the potential for more
sales and better profit. And
the better the chances for a
pleasant relationship and an
enjoyable experience for all involved—there are some things
you cannot put a price tag on!
Good customer service
doesn’t require magic. What
it takes is a good understanding of what’s important to
customers and a plan
to deliver it.
The Canadian Manufactured Housing Institute’s
(CMHI’s) Focus on Customer
Service workshop is a great
place to begin. The workshop
is designed to help Manufactured Housing Consultants
(MHCs)™ and others in the
industry to improve their performance with homebuyers. It
offers a comprehensive and
practical look at customer
Next
workshop!
Focus on Customer Service
workshops will be held this fall
and winter across Canada. Contact your regional manufactured
housing association or the CMHI
office for a schedule of workshops
in your area.
Amherst, Nova Scotia
September 29, 2006
buyer’s guide
3D DESIGN SOFTWARE
StrucSoft Solutions Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
SEPTIC TANKS EXCLUSIVE
Alberta Wilbert Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
TRUSS PLATES
Eagle Metal Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
ACOUSTIC PANELS
Emco Building Products
Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .outside back cover
SOFTWOOD LUMBER
Nordic Engineered Wood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
VENTILATION
Fantech Limited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
ASSOCIATIONS
CHBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
La Garantie des maisons neuves de
l’APCHQ Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
BATH & LIGHTING
BA Robinson Co. Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
ROOF & FLOOR TRUSS
MANUFACTURING MACHINES
Clark Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
TRUSS MANUFACTURING
SOLUTIONS
Alpine Engineered Products . . . . . . . .10, 11
WALL PANEL EQUIPMENT
Merrick Machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Viking Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
WARRANTY PROGRAMS
Atlantic Home Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
WINDOWS & DOORS
All Weather Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Jeld-Wen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
BUILDER’S HARDWARE
Taymor Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
FACTORY MACHINERY
The Koskovich Company . . . . . . . . . . .28,29
FANS
AeroFlo Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
FASTENERS & TOOLS
Calgary Fasteners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
FINANCIAL/MORTGAGE SERVICES
Royal Bank of Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
FLOOR COVERINGS
Shaw Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
FOOT FORMS
Sound Footings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
F&S Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
GLOVES
BDG—Bob Dale Gloves . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
HEATING & COOLING EQUIPMENT
Energy Saving Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
HOME COMFORT SYSTEMS
Heatlink Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
HOUSING AGENCY
Canada Mortgage & Housing Corp. . . . . . .36
LASER TEMPLATING &
COMPONENT PROJECTION
SL Laser Systems . . . . . . .inside front cover
MANUFACTURED HOME
BUILDERS
Kent Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Supreme Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Triple M Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
POWER COMPANY
Manitoba Hydro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
POWER PUSHERS
Power Pusher Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
RECRUITMENT SERVICE
PROVIDER/APPRENTICESHIP
Halton Industry Education Council . . . . . . .19
SAWS
Homag Canada Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16, 17
hen you become a
member of the Canadian Manufactured
Housing Institute, you
are plugged into a network that works
for you and your business, every day:
W
ability. We’re committed to the principles of trust, value and service in
our business dealings with consumers
and others in the industry.
We take pride in what we do, and
how we do it.
• Updates on regulatory, technical
and financial issues
• Newsletters covering the latest industry developments
• Building Excellence magazine
• Prompt response to questions and
concerns
• Statistical reports
• Domestic and international sales
leads
• Company promotion and information through www.cmhi.ca
• Representation on national codes
and standards committees
• Liaison with government departments and agencies
• Research reports and publications
• Industry and government contacts
• Promotional videos and brochures
We work for growth
We work for excellence
Established in 1953, the Canadian
Manufactured Housing Institute represents all facets of the factory built
housing industry. CMHI brings manufactured housing builders, retailers,
suppliers, landlease community operators, warranty providers, financial
institutions, standards bodies, government agencies and related professions
together to achieve business excellence.
We’re dedicated to industry professionalism, consumer education and
improved housing choice and afford-
CMHI works to promote a healthy
business environment. This involves
a wide range of activities:
• industry networking and communication
• consumer information initiatives
• industry education and training
• codes and standards development
• research and innovation projects
• public-private partnerships
• regulatory reform
• representations to government
• export marketing and research
We work to ensure that the interests of the manufactured housing industry are addressed at a national
level, and through our affiliation
with regional manufactured housing associations, we provide support on issues of a provincial,
territorial or municipal nature.
We make a difference
Together, CMHI members
have changed the face of the factory-built housing industry in
Canada. We have been a driving
force behind major private- and
public-sector programs that
have far-reaching positive
effects on our business,
such as:
Hit the nail on the
head with a CMHI
membership!
• The Manufactured Housing
Consultant (MHC)™ Program
that equips the front-line people
in the industry with enhanced
skills and knowledge and a designation that is recognized as the
mark of the professionals.
• The Chattel Loan Insurance
Program that can provide access to
financing for many consumers who
might otherwise be unable to purchase a home
• CSA Standards Certification that
provides quality assurance and
peace of mind for consumers and
building officials
• The GST/HST New Housing
Rebate for manufactured housing
that helps make homeownership
more affordable
Check us out at www.cmhi.ca!
To apply for membership, simply fill out this form and send by fax or mail to
the Canadian Manufactured Housing Institute, 150 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 500, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1P 5J4
• Fax: 613-232-8600 • Tel: 613-563-3520 • E-mail: [email protected] •
Company Name ______________________________________________________________________________________
Contact Person _______________________________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address ______________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone _________________________________________Fax ______________________________________________
E-mail_____________________________________________Website___________________________________________
a
c
.
i
h
m
c
.
w
w
w
We hereby apply for membership in the Canadian Manufactured Housing Institute (CMHI) under the membership category checked:
MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES
(CHECK ONE)
Manufacturer—Persons, firms or corporations engaged in building manufactured
or modular homes certified by CSA A277 and/or CSA Z240 standards, as well as
those engaged in building panellized and pre-engineered or packaged structures.
Supplier—Supplier of components, goods or services to the manufactured
housing industry.
National
Regional
Retailer/Builder or Community Owner/Manager—Persons, firms or corporations
engaged in the sale of factory-built housing or the management of manufactured
home communities.
National
Regional
Affiliate (non-voting)—Government organization, industry association, codes or
standards agency, or other parties having an interest in the industry.
National
Regional
Contact the CMHI office for information on membership criteria and fees.
Please provide a brief profile of your firm, which will be used to introduce your company’s products and services to the membership.
COMPANY PROFILE
Date of Incorporation/Registration: ________________________________________________________________________
Management Structure:_________________________________________________________________________________
Background and Product Description:______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
CMHI CODE OF ETHICS
We undertake to, as a condition of membership:
• Adhere to the standards of the Institute as may be set for the manufacture and marketing of homes,
including the supply of materials and services, and reimburse the Institute for fees related thereto.
• Avoid all conduct or practices that would discredit or do injury to the Institute or its members.
• Adhere only to those business practices that provide the public with a clear and definite
understanding of the products, services and warranties being offered by the member and the
obligations of each to the other; and to conduct all dealings on the basis of trust, value and service.
• Operate so as to extend the effectiveness of the Institute by exchanging information, experience
and research in order to provide better housing to our customers.
These responsibilities are freely and solemnly assumed and form part of an obligation as members of the
Canadian Manufactured Housing Institute.
I have read and agree to abide by the Code of Ethics of CMHI as listed above.
Signature of Applicant
Date
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
www.cmhi.ca

Fall 2006

Transcription

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