Kitchen Design Trends with Sarah Gallop Design Inc
The kitchen is the heart of the home, a space where families gather, meals are prepared, and memories are created. Whether you’re renovating your existing kitchen or building a new…
Renewable energy solutions for your home
FortisBC is a leading energy solutions provider in British Columbia (B.C.) and serves its approximately 1.2 million customers with natural gas, electricity, propane and renewable energy solutions, through around 56,000…
MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE PODCAST: LIKE, TAG & FOLLOW TO WIN A BBQ
Never miss an episode! Enter on Instagram post to be entered to win a Napoleon Prestige P500 stainless-steel natural gas barbecue, valued at $1649, compliments of FortisBC.
Shop@Home initiative offers consumers free samples & advice.
TORLYS Introduces “Shop Globally, Buy Locally” Program “Shop@Home” initiative offers consumers free samples & advice from the comforts of home. TORLYS, a global flooring company specializing in beautiful, responsible flooring…
HAVAN Awards for housing excellence – Finalist showcase 2020
Photo: Martin Knowles Photo/Media Builder: Novak Contracting & Construction Ltd. Project: Outside In Location: Surrey Project Finalist: Custom Home:$2 million to under $3 million; Best Space: New Construction, Best Special Feature, New or…
Kuhn LLP: How COVID-19 Impacts Construction Contracts
Introduction The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is significantly impacting the construction industry in British Columbia. But is it enough to legally justify changing or terminating your contractual obligations? Business is becoming…
COUNTING THE DAYS – UNDERSTANDING THE “21 DAY NOTICE” PROCESS UNDER THE BUILDERS LIEN ACT
A builders’ lien can be an effective tool for those in the construction industry, such as contractors, subcontractors, workers, and material suppliers to secure payment. A lien hinders owners from…
When Time Isn’t On Your Side
A contractor may be asked to provide a homeowner with an estimated schedule for completion before a project starts. While there are always contingencies and unforeseen circumstances, projects can get…
A Small Mistake means Big Costs for a Negligent Subcontractor
General contractors take on significant legal exposure when agreeing to build a new home, or even to renovate an existing home. For instance, general contractors may be liable for the…
TRUSTEE TROUBLES – A NEWLY DEFINED DUTY TO DISCLOSE LABOUR AND MATERIAL PAYMENT BONDS
The purpose of a labour and material payment bond is to provide a form of security to labour and material suppliers on a construction project by giving them a right…
REAP the benefits of award-winning living
Constructing homes to meet today’s building standards set by the province and municipalities across BC requires an integrated approach of highly skilled trades, including builders, designers, architects, energy advisors and…
Beautiful kitchens take smart planning
Have you ever wondered what it takes to build an award-winning kitchen? There is no secret recipe. It takes good planning and attention to the construction details, with a keen…
Award-winning housing: Choices in gentle densification
A thriving community is one that offers a complete mix of housing to provide for a variety of families and their housing needs. Neighbourhoods that embrace gentle densification versus ‘keeping…
COMFORT IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY HOMES
The energy efficiency of Canadian homes has improved greatly over the years. Thanks to major advances in building science and product innovation, today’s new homeowner can expect to use only…
Creating an Ultra Modern Home
Ovation Award Winner: Best Custom Home: $1.5 million – Under $3 million Ovation Award Winner: Best Interior Design HAVAN Builder: Upward Construction & Renovation Ltd. To view this project and…
TO BE BLUNT: NAVIGATING CANNABIS USE IN THE WORKPLACE
Recreational cannabis will be legal in Canada in two days: October 17, 2018. Adults who are 19 years of age and older will be permitted to legally possess, share, purchase…
Music Makes the Home
Music is core to our being. Homes filled with music are filled with more laughter, more love and more family togetherness. Everyday tasks like cooking and cleaning become more enjoyable…
How to Make Your Home Look Stunning All The Time
Want your home to look pleasing to the eye, especially when you’re having guests over? We have the simple yet powerful trick. The Pillow Fluff. This trick gets missed all…
5 Tips For Your Home Intrusion and Detection System to Keep You Safer and More Secure
1) Replace Ionization with Photoelectric Smoke Detectors Most residential fire fatalities are due to smoke inhalation. In smoldering fires, ionization smoke detectors respond an average of 15 to 50 minutes…
Creating That Dream Ensuite
“Timeless, elegant, simple and uncluttered.” Marg knew the style she wanted for her renovated master bedroom ensuite, but she didn’t know where to start. She went online and visited…
Kitchen Design Trends for 2019
With every new year comes new trends for the world of interior design and 2019 will not disappoint with what it has in store. Keep reading to see a snapshot of how the world of kitchen design is evolving and what we at Designs by K&S predict to be the market leaders in trends for the new year.
Energy efficiency upgrades for your home
In the last few years there has been a National effort to reverse Climate Change and one of those efforts is to make homes more energy efficient.
The energy used to cool homes in Canada is increasing each year and efforts to reduce this will help everyone, as the energy used will usually make the environment hotter outside.
STONE CAN ADD A TOUCH OF MODERN STYLE TO ANY ROOM OF YOUR HOME
Stone has long been one of the foundations for home construction. Its rounded shape and smooth texture make it the perfect decorative accent for any room in your house. Incorporating stone into your design can add a touch of modern elegance to a bedroom or a bit of rustic class to a kitchen. Your possibilities are endless when you are looking to incorporate this material into everyday décor in some of the most commonly used rooms in your home.
FIRST IMPRESSION
Make sure the Material you Choose for the Outside Reflects what you want to Achieve on the Inside.
Building a home can be extremely stressful – choosing finishes and styles, and working with builders, contractors and trades to ensure at the end of the day you and your family are choosing the best materials representing who you are.
Trustee Troubles – A Newly Defined Duty to Disclose Labour and Material Payment Bonds
The purpose of a labour and material payment bond is to provide a form of security to labour and material suppliers on a construction project by giving them a…
When Time Isn’t On Your Side
WHEN TIME ISN’T ON YOUR SIDE A contractor may be asked to provide a homeowner with an estimated schedule for completion before a project starts. While there are always contingencies…
Bringing Opulence Home
What exactly constitutes luxury living? With the help of 2017 Ovation Award Winner, Mulberry Properties’; Mulberry Home in West Vancouver, we can explore living in luxury and how to bring…
Under Pressure: Putting the Job Before the Agreement
Homeowners and general contractors often find themselves under various pressures to complete work and advance the project. The rushed approach that often ensues can cause parties to overlook or postpone…
ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
Most homebuyers have a lot of questions about the construction of their home: How long will it take to build? What happens when? What does each step involve? When can…
Top Tips to Get Your Dream Space from Concept to Completion
Gather your ideas Inspiration is everywhere — Pinterest, websites, magazines, catalogs, housing awards, real estate listings, showhomes, etc. – so gather your ideas for your dream space. Remember, photos are…
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A NEW HOME BUILDER
Buying a new home is a big decision and you want to get full value for your investment. This means choosing an established and reputable builder, someone who has the…
With Great Expectations Comes Greater Responsibility
In a recent Small Claims case of Lund v. Appleford Building Company Ltd., a general Contractor (the “Defendant”) learned the importance of due diligence and paying heed to its clients’ concerns and high expectations.
Gimme Shelter (Staying Behind the Corporate Veil)
Incorporating your construction business has many clear advantages, one of which is personal liability protection under the “corporate veil”. The so-called corporate veil refers to the shelter one receives in their personal capacity when their company is being sued; essentially, they are shielded from personal liability.
Winning the Bid – The Importance of Following Proper Tendering Procedures
British Columbia’s competitive construction industry sees its fair share of intense bidding wars between contractors.
The Cost of Doing Business with Friends
When undertaking a significant construction project, it often helps to know someone in the industry. However, a recent decision of the BC Supreme Court highlights the problems that can arise when doing business with friends or family.
Getting Paid and Fixing Deficiencies
It can be very frustrating when a homeowner refuses to make the final payment because of seemingly inconsequential “deficiencies”. However, the BC Supreme Court made it clear in Constructum Developments Inc. v. Hogaboam, 2015 BCSC 1490, that a homeowner may be entitled to correction of all deficiencies before they are obligated to make the final payment. In fact, a contractor’s insistence on receiving final payment before fixing final deficiencies may actually result in a repudiation of the parties’ agreement.
Going Green the Smart Way
Greater demand from consumers and regulators in British Columbia for environmentally sustainable or “green” building practices suggests potential benefits for “green-contractors”. A common strategy is to adopt a labelling system that advertises compliance with defined environmental standards. Common examples of green-labels used in B.C.’s construction industry include the Energy Star label and the Built Green seals.
The Big Issue with Fixed-Price Construction Contracts
For most home owners considering a renovation or new build, price is one of the most important factors in determining the scope of their project, the finishing’s to select and what contractor to choose. For contractors, providing a client with budget certainty can be a significant selling point; thus, the appeal of fixed price construction
contracts.
A Clear View on Implied Contract Terms
One of the biggest challenges Canadian drivers face each winter is maintaining a clear view of the road ahead. Scraping windows, buying new wipers and topping up the washer fluid are all important steps we take to ensure we can see where we’re going at all times.
When an Estimate Isn’t “Just an Estimate”
Carelessness in providing an estimate to a client can have serious repercussions when it comes to claiming entitlement to final payment.
Understanding your Right to Correct Deficient Workmanship
Even where a construction project is performed by a qualified professional contractor, it is not uncommon for some deficiencies to require correction at a project’s end.
TIPS ON LOWERING ENERGY COSTS
Living expenses like mortgage payments, rent payments, property taxes and house insurance can all take a big bite out of a family’s budget. There is little a family can do…
NEW HOME DESIGN
Walking into the show home of a professional new home builder is bound to elicit a few “oohs” and “ahs” from home buyers. With their dramatic entrances, sweeping vistas, soaring…
PRE-WIRING – A VALUABLE NEW HOME OPTION
Your decision to buy a brand new home opens up many unique possibilities. According to the Technical Committee of the HAVAN one of the most valuable is the opportunity to…
HAVAN Home to the Professionals
When you are in the market for a new home, you should shop for your builder as carefully as you do for your home. You want to make sure that…
