Trillium Construction

Adirondack/Muskoka chair is an enduring symbol of cottage country

Rick — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:30:09 +0000

You’ve on your dock, with an ice cold beer in your mitt. The faraway whine of an outboard engine, the cry of a loon, a cool late afternoon breeze on your face as the sun begins dipping behind the trees. And you’re sitting uncomfortably in a green plastic molded chair you bought at the supermarket.

What’s wrong with this picture of cottage bliss? Of course – you’ve gotta have an Muskoka chair.

How can something crafted of wood be so darn comfortable hour after hour? That is the secret of the Muskoka or our friend down south call Adirondack which was invented almost exactly a century ago near the shores of Lake Champlain in upstate New York. In fact, according to the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, N.Y., they were originally known as Westport chairs, named for a nearby town. A man named Thomas Lee, vacationing in the Adirondacks, designed the chair through a process of trial and error. Each one was constructed from a single pine board, with his relatives placing their posteriors on numerous prototypes before he came up with the winner.

Lee was a terrific designer but he was no entrepreneur. When his buddy Harry Bunnell, a carpenter, was badly in need of a winter project to make ends meet, Lee helpfully provided the plans for his marvelous chair. Soon Bunnell could hardly keep up with demand.

Bunnell was a terrific carpenter but he was a little short on gratitude. Without his pal’s blessing, he filed for a patent on the so-called Westport chair in 1904 and got his papers from Uncle Sam the following year. On the patent description he wrote: “The object of this invention is a chair of the bungalow type adapted for use on porches, lawns and at camps and also adapted to be converted into an invalid’s chair.”

The application outlined each of the 11 pieces of wood required for the chair and he concluded, “From the above description, it is thought that the advantages of this construction wilt be obvious.”

They certainly were. Over the next two generations the chair’s popularity spread across the Adirondack region, evolving through the years with slats replacing the solid planks. The “Westport” became the “Adirondack” chair, so-called by tuberculosis patients who were sent in those days to sanatoriums in upstate New York, sitting outdoors for hours in the comfortable chairs as part of their “wilderness cure.”

Bunnell continued building chairs well into the 1920s, all individually signed and made of hemlock, and you could buy them in green or medium dark brown. Inevitably, these original chairs transcended function to become collectibles and objets d’art. Chairs that cost four bucks back in the Roaring ‘20s can today, in pristine condition, fetch up to US$1,250!

The next leap in popularity came with mass production and mail order. During World War II you could order an Adirondack chair kit, with untalented all-thumbs fathers across the country assembling their own cottage chairs.

Here in Ontario’s cottage country, the Muskokas, especially the Big Three lakes which were the playground of the very well-off, and owning one was a bit of a status symbol. Here they became known as Muskoka chairs, even though the design is a dead ringer for the Adirondack, and it’s still considered a necessity by those who insist on the traditional accoutrements of the cottage experience.

So if you require an authentic Adirondack/Muskoka? Call a craftsman.

Every professional craftsmen in cottage country has in one time or another build these functional exterior fixtures. Having started as a trim carpenter, I would always be asked by customers to build them there personal throne. We have now expanded our repertoire to include the famed Muskoka chair. Using a pattern we obtained form my great grandfathers business partner we have been creating Muskoka chairs for years.

“Here is one just finished and it’s wasn’t too long before cars start slowing down, to check them out.”

Of course, one of the benefits of buying a chair from a woodworker is our ability to custom-build them to there specific specifications

“We’ll get a call from a wife who’ll tell us her husband is a little on the ‘robust side’. “But that’s no problem – we can make them a little wider or deeper.”

Of course the orignal design has grown to include love seats and swings. And, naturally, he can equip those broad arm paddles with a drink holder so your beer or pop won’t go for tumble if they’re bumped. And colour?

“We’ve have even seen people paint each board the full spectrum of the rainbow or in glow in the dark pastels,”. “People are using them as a canvas for art.”

Is more insulation better?

Rick — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 15:01:13 +0000

More insulation demands better moisture management

More builders than ever are adding a layer of rigid foam insulation to outside walls to cut heat losses. While the extra insulation reduces thermal bridging and boosts wall R-values it also increases the potential for moisture problems. Given enough thickness, all types of rigid foam board become vapor retarders, making it harder for moisture that gets into wall cavities to dry out.

Even traditional building methods rely on science

Given the potential down side, some builders argue against the practice altogether. Builders who use exterior insulation, however, seem to have science on their side. It’s understandable that people get frustrated by the endless number of building techniques and materials to choose from these days, but the fact of the matter is that the basic principles of how heat, air, and water move through a building are the same no matter what you build with.

With careful attention to detail, inside and out, exterior foam insulation should do exactly what it’s supposed to. It comes down to looking at the shell of a home as a system, where the insulation, airsealing, moisture barrier, flashing, and siding are matched to perform in a safe and predictable way.

http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/12886/does-rigid-foam-insulation-trap-moisture-in-the-walls

Wanted: the Good in People!

Rick — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 03:50:33 +0000

This has been a bad week when considering basic human decency. What with the severely demented media, the appalling number of protesters causing havoc in Toronto, our governments lap dog obedience with our boarders partners south of us and their bad choices, the drug dealing women who shot her kids when they reported her to children’s aid services our Justice Department that is so politicized that even top rated interns are blacklisted from jobs while total hacks are put in place to deliver (liberal) justice, and a Supreme Court that arrogates the wisdom of the medical profession and condemns women to dangerous and perhaps deadly procedures because they want to show they “respect life”, it’s enough to make one wonder if the world isn’t going to hell in a hand basket and people are pretty nasty creatures.

It’s times like this when one is overwhelmed with the bad, being reminded of how it’s okay to trust or even like our fellow human beings is essential. Today, I found a piece that helped dispel my weary cynicism.

I used to share the cynicism common to many contractors: that people were frequently malicious and opportunistic. But, of course, you don’t get treated well wearing a hard hat and tool pouch and thick, black glasses taped together, and now, I get that. Years of customer service have changed the way I think about people

Now I believe that people are overwhelmingly trustworthy and deeply OK. I don’t want to sound sanctimonious or syrupy, but for the past seven years, I’ve been doing full-time customer service, interacting with hundreds of people. I see that most people share a similar moral compass: They play fair, they give each other a break and they generally get along. I see that pretty much everyone operates by that Golden Rule thing.

To be of service to others rather than trying to find the best way to strike it rich,we built a company where we really do see how most people operate with the sense of decency and that observation overwhelms this experience with the few who want to take advantage of others or don’t want to play fair.

Whats your thoughts on his testimony:

Do credentials Matter?

Rick — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 02:47:30 +0000

Nobody can claim that the recent accident of a labourer in Sunderland would be working today if his boss had a contractor’s insurance.

But the accidental injury of 29-year-old should serve as a reminder for homeowners looking to have a kitchen remodeled, a roof patched, a house painted: Find an insured contractor.

Riding up a steep horse trail in the bucket of a tractor, spraying pesticide to control weeds at the gated community. when the driver lost control, the tractor toppled, crushing the father of two.

After the accident, investigators learned that the employer was fined $700 in 1999 for operating without a contracting license.

Whatever the outcome, the case should prompt homeowners to check the credentials of the people they hire.

Hiring accredited contractors doesn’t ensure that you won’t be ripped off or that the work won’t be bungled. However, it’s easier to seek redress from accredited contractors than from unaccredited workers who might vanish tomorrow.

“We have more clout over accredited contractors,” said, a spokeswoman for the ministry. “Most want to keep their certification and be legitimate, legal business people. If they know their certification is in jeopardy, they may comply more readily if found in violation of their contracts or of the law.”

Certifications also protect customers if accidents occur on their property. Accredited contractors must carry workers compensation insurance for their employees; otherwise, you and your insurance company might have to pay the medical bills of a roofer plunging onto your sidewalk.

The Biggest mistake home owners make when picking a contractor and how to avoid them

Rick — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 02:26:42 +0000

Mistake #1 – You pick a contractor based only on price!The old adage is really true: “You get what you pay for.” This is especially true in the contracting business.If you want good contracting you should decide to deal with a contractor because of the overall value you receive, NOT because they are the lowest priced.

Here’s why…

Value = Quality + Service + Price

It is impossible for any company in any industry to offer the cheapest price, have the highest quality, and provide the best service all the same time.

You can get high quality and super service, but you can’t get both and still get the lowest price. Just like in your business, you hire the best people and buy the highest quality product – consequently, you have to charge more for your services.

Total Value is all three: Quality, Service and Price!

The 3 most common problems YOU WILL have when you pick a contractor who only offers the lowest price:

1. The first problem is that dirt-cheap contractors usually don’t stand behind their work if there is a mistake. Sure, other contractors might do your job for a little less money, but how will they treat you when there is a mistake with your job? To give the cheapest price, they usually have low-wage, inexperienced employees that have not been adequately trained. They also cut corners by using cheaper material and labor to give that low price. The end result is that you get what you pay for. And the little bit of money you saved ends up costing you more in the long run! Believe me, this is a little saying we tell our customer: “The good feeling of a cheap price is long gone before the stench of poor quality is ever used up.” Also, “the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is gone.”

2. The second problem with a contractor who offers the lowest price is that they tend to also offer the lowest quality. Your heating and air conditioning system is the biggest appliance set in your home, and the most costly to operate. It is also one of the best investments you can make in your home if done properly.

Plainly said, “Shoddy or low quality contracting because of cheap price costs you money.” No amount of savings is worth this. You’ve worked too hard and spent too much money on your home to throw it away for the few cents you save on a contractor instead of investing in the life of the system.

3. And the third reason why picking the cheapest contractor is a problem is that you might get charged extra for things other contractors normally include in their quote in the first place. You’ll be charged extra for such things as a filter, thermostats, overtime due to bad estimates, or application of permits. Cheap contractors nickel and dime you to death. What seemed like a good price actually ends up costing you more in the end. This is just a tactic cheap contractors use to get in the door.

To avoid buying on price alone, we suggest you choose two or three contractors and rank them in the order that is important to you such as Quality first, Service second and Price last.

Mistake #2 – You Think All Contractors Are The SameEvery contractor is different. No two contractors are really the same. Every contractor has different equipment and different employees who know how to do certain kinds of jobs well. Every company has a different number of employees, each with different abilities.

Contracting is art and craftsmanship combined. Most people who hire contractors don’t truly understand that despite all of the technological advances, contractors still use the same quality work habits as twenty years ago.

Contrary to what a lot of people think, heating and air conditioning is not just banging on the furnace or air conditioner, cleaning filters or charging refrigerant. It takes craftsmanship to turn out quality work. Contractors have to diagnose, measure and perform complicated calculations before they can start a job.

Communication is the key to picking the best contractor for YOU.

- Ask what type of work they do.

- Ask how long they have been in business.

- Ask what is the timing required to finish the job.

- Ask if they or subcontractors do the work.

- Ask if they are using skilled technicians or cheap laborers.

- Ask any other questions that are unique to your needs. This will help you decide whether they are the best contractors for YOU!

After you ask your questions, it will become obvious which company you should choose. The company that wants your business will prove to you that they are the best contractor to do your work. Take your time to decide which contractor you would like to use – but when you decide, you must be loyal to them (See Mistake #3).

Mistake #3 – You always have three or more contractors competing with each other for your work.

You may think this is good way to do business; it is to some extent. But here is why it usually isn’t a good way to deal with contractors.

A good contractor has enough loyal customers so that they don’t have to deal with price shoppers. Once you find a good contractor, you must be loyal to them. If you flip-flop from contractor-to-contractor, a good shop won’t be too motivated to keep YOU as a customer, and you’ll be left “out in the cold” literally when you most need them.

Price is important. But price should not be more important than good quality and good service. This is what people typically like to do. They try to get everyone fighting for the same piece of pie. This might be an OK short-term strategy because you save a few bucks. But when you need a favor or super fast service, not one of these companies will instantly bend over backwards to help you. (And if you have been a price shopper in the past, they will probably charge you more!).

Every contractor expects to bend over backwards for their loyal customers now and then. He or she might have to work all night or on a weekend to do a super rush job or pull off a miracle. Provided the customer is loyal, the contractor will do all he can to help you meet your needs.

All good contractors will be loyal to you if YOU are loyal to them.

Keep loyalty in mind when you pick your contractor.

Mistake #4 – You think having the right equipment is all a contractor needs to do your job!

Many contractors own great equipment, but that doesn’t mean they know how to use it. You can have the “latest, greatest technological wonder gizmo,” but if you don’t know how to use it properly, you are better off not even picking the darn thing up.

Compare this to using all of the complicated controls on your VCR.

Studies show that half the people who own a VCR don’t even know how to set the clock, let alone use its advanced features.

The same thing happens in the contracting industry.

Many contractors have tools that have a lot of bells and whistles, but if he’s a technician who doesn’t know how to use the new features, you might as well go to a company that has old equipment. Make sure the technician is experienced and trained. This ensures your work will get done right the first time. And on time!

Mistake #5 – You don’t give your contractor enough time to complete your job properly! Mistakes happen when you rush!

When you’re in a hurry, you may forget to tell your contractor certain instructions. Or you might make a mistake in judgment or purchase decision because you were concentrating on getting it done, instead of getting it done right.

Schedule. Schedule. Schedule.

Before you work on your contracting project, talk with your contractor. Get your contractor involved from the beginning because there might be more efficient way to finish your project on time that you don’t know about.

You can save time, money and headaches from the very beginning by communicating with your contractor!

Why do most people do the opposite of this and wait until the last minute to talk to the contractor? Because everyone takes the contractor for granted. Everyone thinks the contractor can easily take care of his or her work. Most everyone thinks the contractor is sitting around waiting for his or her job to come through the door. This isn’t the case.

You should think of your contractor as your “project partner.” Consult with your contractor. Let them know in advance what you want installed or fixed. Ask them if there are any tips they can give you to make your job go more smoothly.

You are not the only customer your contractor has. When they walk in the door and you’re saying you need it now, a contractor can’t always help you. YOU need to work together.

Mistake #6 – You pick contractors who don’t guarantee their work.

All reputable contractors guarantee their work automatically. This means if they make mistakes on your job, they will re-do or fix your job at no charge.

Unfortunately, there are unethical contractors who won’t do this. Instead, they won’t make good on your work and may not take any responsibility for their mistakes.

An unethical contractor may hold your work hostage. Or they may say they will fix your job, but pin the problem on you and tack on an extra charge. There are about a hundred other things a not-so-good contractor may do to you.

The best thing you can do is pick a contractor who unconditionally guarantees their work. If it’s not done right and it’s their mistake, they will do it again or fix it.

Mistake #7 – You don’t ask for references.

This is probably the easiest way you can avoid any problems with a contractor. ALL good reputable contractors will eagerly give you references.

Ask your contractor to give at least three names of people with whom they have done business. Also, ask them how long they have worked with this customer.

Ask them what type of job they did for those references. Try and get the names of customers who had similar things done that you need done.

This is the easiest way you can pick the right contractor for YOU!

Bonus! Bonus! Bonus!

Mistake #8 – You don’t understand the “lingo.” Alright, this wasn’t one of the original seven mistakes. But it IS important. It’s so important, I decided to define twelve of the most common air conditioning and heating terms so YOU understand what contractors are saying!

BTU: (British Thermal Unit) – The amount of energy that’s needed to change the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. This is how the heat removed from your home for cooling or added to your home for heating is measured.

Ton: The unit used to measure the capacity of an air conditioning system. One ton of air conditioning removes 12,000 BTU’s of heat energy per hour from your home.

CFM: Cubic Feet of Air per Minute. This is how the amount of air your central forced air heating and/or cooling system is measured. Less CFM is required for heating than cooling since warm air is lighter. Additionally, it takes 400 CFM to move one ton of air conditioning. Coil or Evaporator: Looks like the radiator on your car. Usually installed inside the box on top of your furnace. It takes the heat and moisture (humidity) out of the air as the refrigerant (also known as Freon or R410A) circulates through it.

Horsepower: One horsepower equal to 9,000 BTU/hr (check with your contractors exactly how many BTU/hr when they quote in horsepower)

Fan Coil: The air conditioner unit that is installed inside the house. It takes the heat and moisture out of the air as the refrigerant (what you might know as gas) evaporate.

Refrigerant: This is the real name for what many people call freon or R410A. It’s the fluid that evaporates at low temperatures and pulls heat and humidity out of the air to remove heat from your home in the summer, and put heat in your home in the winter if you own a heat pump.

Condenser: This is the unit outside the house that’s usually making all the noise (at least in the older models). This holds the compressor that is called the heart of your system. In addition, it also transforms your refrigerant (freon/R410A) from a gas to a liquid. Finally, there’s a fan discharging heat to the outdoors.

Compressor: The heart of your air conditioner. It moves the refrigerant from the condensing unit to the fan coil unit and back to the condensing to form a cycle.

Split System: The most common type of home comfort system in the country. Some components are inside the home and others outside. Inside is the furnace which has an evaporator coil. Outside is the condensing unit.

S.E.E.R.: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. Air conditioners and coils are rated by S.E.E.R. Higher S.E.E.R. ratings use electricity more efficiently, meaning you will use less kilowatts to cool your home and therefore reduce your monthly utility bill.

A.F.U.E.: Fossil fuel furnaces and boilers are rated by Annual Fuel Utilization of Efficiency. Higher A.F.U.E. ratings burn the fuel more efficiently, meaning you will use less gas, propane or oil to heat your home and therefore reduce your monthly energy bill.

Should you hire a builder

Rick — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 02:45:35 +0000

Building your own home is not as simple as it may appear. For example-Have you had adequate technical training and do you have a working knowledge of the Building Code? You would be somewhat nervous if your builder told you that your house was going to be his first and you may not want to finance his education.

For you to take over any function in the home construction process, you should calculate in the cost of your education to do that job. The cost of wasted materials after you have done it the wrong way, and the professional consulting to get the mistakes fixed, can be a difficult and expensive learning experience.

A professionally built home instills confidence. If you sell your home down the road, will a purchaser pay more for a novice built home or one built by a reputable known builder?

There is a common misconception that the builder adds excessive profits to the total home costs and some people think they can avoid paying the extra charge by building the house themselves. In order for this statement to be true the novice builder and the professional builder would have to have the same net costs. The professional’s net cost will always be lower. Construction is a competitive industry and profit margins are lean. There is not a lot of money to be saved by acting as your own general contractor. You might be pleasantly surprised at how little it really costs to hire a professional.

Can you devote 3-4 months of essential daytime supervision? Will your current job suffer? Do you have the ability to recognize and stop potential problems as they occur? When you take on the responsibilities yourself, you may find that you cannot hire the better sub-contractors when you would like because they are already booked.

Those who have chosen the route of self-contracting commonly speak of frustration, costly delays and headaches. Although they were in direct contact with the subtrades and were able to make their own decisions every step of the way, they were overwhelmed by the sheer volume of decisions to be made. The builder makes it easy for you by making many of these decisions on your behalf, leaving you with the decisions that make your house uniquely yours such as cabinetry, fixtures, and wall and floor coverings.

There are so many complexities and other important aspects to building a new house that it is wise to deal with a professional builder and one who can provide you with an independent third party guaranteed warranty. You can get started by going to the list of Registered Builders in the New Home Warranty Program.

How much would you pay to be green?

Rick — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 03:27:06 +0000

Signs of the greening of the housing industry may be popping up everywhere like wildflowers dotting an eco-friendly lawn in spring – but many consumers balk when it comes to putting their money on the line. Several recent polls have suggested that people interested in renovating or buying a home, and products for it, also want their choices to be good for the planet. A TD Canada Trust Green Building Poll conducted last fall by Ipsos Reid found that 73 per cent of Canadian homeowners, or those considering buying a home, would be willing to pay a premium for environmentally friendly features. Toronto realtors and contractors, who have a special interest in green homes, say although interest in this market is intense, the reality is that green initiatives can be costly. How, or if, they’re implemented can depend on a buyer’s commitment, awareness and education. “Going green is good – everybody knows that – but the cost of going green is a real, real issue (for many homeowners),” says city realtor Catharine Palmer. She says many people are content “to do their `green thing’ by taking the vehicle, taking the subway, or buying a bike.” And some Canadians are still skeptical of the movement, she says, with 64 per cent in one poll rating the “green” products claim as a marketing ploy.

A Slow Economy Doesn’t Change the Rules of Bidding

Rick — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 01:48:27 +0000

If you’re a homeowner, now is a terrific time to build or renovate. The punishing economy has left its mark on a lot of builders, and if you’re ready to move a project forward, a number of contractors are ready to offer their services at competitive prices.

For homeowners, getting the lowest price for a project often means putting work out for bid. But most general contractors I’ve met with recently have complained about the conditions under which they are being asked to bid residential renovation projects, and these complaints have increased as the economic environment has encouraged more owners to put projects out for bid.

Contractors say that too many homeowners and architects are naive in their reliance on the bid process as the major tool to lower project cost, and that they ignore the negative impact this process can have on the quality of construction, the level of service provided, and the development of the trust needed among all the parties for a successful outcome. If builders see that a bid process is not supported by thorough drawings or structured to ensure that all bidders develop accurate costs, they feel competitive pressure to provide lower bid figures that increase the chances of getting the job rather than finishing it the way the owner intends.

The Home Builder’s Association Renovation Guide

Rick — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:40:11 +0000

The Ontario Renovators’ Council of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association was established to
meet the specific needs of the home renovation industry. In addition to this Consumer Guide, the Council also prepares magazine and newspaper articles that are intended to inform the consumer about developments in the renovation industry. Projects displayed in this brochure were completed by members of the Ontario Renovators’ Council.

Download the Ontario Renovator’s Council Renovation Guide (pdf 1.2MB)