Natural wood decking is still a great product, many home owners now want something that is maintenance free and frankly that kind of decking does not exist. Everything has maintenance and the value equation is one of the time spent, the result and the value added to the home. One growing category in Canada and the US is the hardwood decking of Ipe, Cumaru, and Tigerwood, all of which are long lasting and durable - more so than the softwoods usually used for decking. Maintenance options are … [Read more...]
Shipping for decking
April 14, 2008 By Leave a Comment
On every call for decking, I get asked about shipping and delivery, and on every call the response is .. we can deliver just about anywhere. There are categories of delivery that the truckers use, these are not our rules but industry standards for the truckers. All our decking is too long for a lift-gate, with the exception of the Kon-Tiki deck tiles that are palletized. If you are a homeowner or contractor wanting delivery to the job site , this is classified as a "residential" … [Read more...]
White Ash Hardwood floors
April 11, 2008 By Leave a Comment
This is wood of choice for baseball bats. It has the best strength to weight ratio, and since most players do not want a bat greater than 32 oz. this becomes significant. For the same reason, it is used for tool handles, hockey sticks, and canoe paddles. Historically it was used for food bowls because it had no significant odor or taste. I think that w eoften forget how beautiful this North American wood is. … [Read more...]
Who’s your reno for? Spend your $ Wisely
April 11, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Recently I had mentioned the importance of matching the renovation to the income bracket and interests of your potential market. So continuing with this thread we can talk a little bit about a couple of projects that offer high returns. In general kitchens, bathrooms and exteriors offer the highest percentage returns, or in other words these projects tend to recoup 80-90% of the money you spend on them. There is a website www.bankrate.com that will provide accurate numbers on which renovations … [Read more...]
Deck Project Time Lines
April 9, 2008 By Leave a Comment
The warm weather is coming, believe it or not, and the deck projects are on the minds of many folks. Lead time for delivery is a big factor and too often we have calls from potential customers who want it for "this weekend". Please, give yourself the leadtime to plan, order, for us to deliver, and then for you to build the deck without rushing before that major weekend of the family party. Composite decking, PVC (vinyl), wood decking (Cedar, Ipe, Cumaru), or deck tiles to cover the old … [Read more...]
Maple hardwood flooring installed!
April 8, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Here is a picture of Burlington Maple Shiraz flooring installed in the house of one of our customers. … [Read more...]
Fissures & Resin Treatment
April 4, 2008 By 1 Comment
I am often asked by customers if our granite is 1st quality and free of fissures, pin holes, so I decided to share this information for the benefit of those who are buying granite. Fissure A fissure is a natural formation within a single intact mass of stone. Fissure is not a defect, so no need to panic if you see one. The fissure was formed when two separate flows of hot magma merge into a single mass. The fissure was there when it was quarried, when the factory cut the block into a … [Read more...]
Housing and renovation
April 4, 2008 By Leave a Comment
I don't want to dwell on the condition of the current housing market, a lot of pain for for a lot of people and enough has been said. I would however like to talk about the renovation market, as much as many homes are in stress, many more homes are stable and homeowners are looking at projects and renovations to keep or improve the value of their home. The projects will range from the "must do" for maintenance, to the "want to do" for enjoyment of the home. A few key projects for … [Read more...]
Form over Function
April 4, 2008 By Leave a Comment
I live in Vancouver where the conversation about real estate is quite literally as common as a conversation about the weather. People are intrigued with the potential of earning money through home renovation projects and DIY additions. In order to tap in to this potential it is important to know what exactly to renovate. It is different with your first starter home than it is with your retirement home. For example in a low income starter home it's a bad idea to invest in marble arches if your sole … [Read more...]
Western Red Cedar
April 3, 2008 By Leave a Comment
This is wonderful species of wood, easy to work with, easy to accept staining, durable and long lasting in whatever job it is used for. The framing lumber market can go up and down dramatically according to the housing market activity however the Western Red Cedar does not. Even with the current housing "crisis" the Cedar has been stable in demand and pricing. A simple answer to the question "why?" would be that Cedar has a dedicated following and the uses are many. From shingles … [Read more...]
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