Latest News
This bricklayer from Essex, England has got an admirable technique down to a science.
We know there’s some kind of trick going on here
Third quarterly tax installment payment is due today
Regular readers should recognize Will Gonell from the cover of our February/March 2017 issue. The former U.S. Marine and New York City police officer, moved to Canada six years ago and has been building a high-end renovation business ever since. But not one to forgo his past, Gonell donates time as part of the Community Police Liaison Committee with 22 Division in his adopted home city of Toronto.
Many of us enjoying bike riding in our free time. Sounds like most of us wouldn’t enjoy doing it with Arnie Bauman…!
Jax Bailey’s hard play almost jeopardized his hard work. A sports injury threatened to have him laid up for a year. Rather than moping about his misfortune, he decided to redirect himself.
Larry Toms was working so hard his wife, Cheryl, had to enter for him!
Calgary’s David Litwiller has an amusing justification for his mid-life crisis choice: “A motorcycle is cheaper and safer than a mistress…!”
“We transform our workbench into a ping-pong table on Thursday nights and my staff gets together with a few of my buddies to play. We have tournaments and a custom made trophy.”
Featured Articles
It’s nice to have a buddy on the jobsite. The Air Buddy hand carry air compressor from Rolair is compact and easy to carry (at just 22 lbs.).
The Portamatic 421 Hammerhead 2 pneumatic nailer from Porta-Nails is designed to give flooring pros versatility and durability.
It uses new technology to run more efficiently and more quietly, and it produces electronics-friendly power, but is an inverter generator worth the premium price?
Choosing the right tool for the job can be a challenge, especially when you’re forced to choose between power and comfort. Makita has tried to land right in the middle
Festool has been manufacturing power tools since 1925, but the introduction of the DWC 18 marks the company’s first attempt at a drywall gun.
Part 3 - Each tester will share their first impressions upon opening the packaging, and then provide their feedback after using the tool on the job for a month or so. About a year from now, we’ll follow-up with each to see if the tool has become their new go-to item, or if it’s gathering dust back at the shop.
Part 2 - Each tester will share their first impressions upon opening the packaging, and then provide their feedback after using the tool on the job for a month or so. About a year from now, we’ll follow-up with each to see if the tool has become their new go-to item, or if it’s gathering dust back at the shop.
Part 1 - Each tester will share their first impressions upon opening the packaging, and then provide their feedback after using the tool on the job for a month or so. About a year from now, we’ll follow-up with each to see if the tool has become their new go-to item, or if it’s gathering dust back at the shop.
The first cordless nail gun offering from Grex features a very unique power system. Believe it or not, the GC 1850 brad nailer is powered by two AAA alkaline batteries, the same ones you pop in a kid’s toy.
Featured Products
We've been proudly serving the community for more than 160 years. We deliver natural gas safely and reliably to two million homes and businesses across Ontario. With safety as our ongoing priority, we're committed to making communities better places to live.
More than a kitchen and bath luxury showroom, The Water Closet offers unparalleled service, selection and solutions for all your plumbing and heating needs. Our goal is to be your full-service showroom while “Enhancing the Flow of Life”.
Fusion Stone is an easy and budget-friendly way to beautifully upgrade your home, inside and out. A patented Shouldice innovation, Fusion Stone is a thin stone veneer that is easily installed with the included stainless steel clips & screws. You just screw it to the wall and it’s “Hooked for Life”.
DRIcore is the first and most important step towards creating a new living space as warm and comfortable as any other space in your home. DRIcore is the one-step engineered subfloor solution that is specifically designed for basements. The raised moisture barrier covers cold, damp concrete to protect, insulate and cushion your finished floors.
Masco Canada Ltd. is the Canadian plumbing division of MASCO Corporation and represents brands including Delta, Brizo, Hansgrohe, Axor, BrassCraft, Master Plumber, and Waltec. MASCO Canada Limited is dedicated to complete customer satisfaction and responsiveness to the unique Canadian marketplace.
For over 50 years, SFA Group's goal has been to allow anyone to easily install bathroom fixtures, laundry rooms and kitchens anywhere and without any major work. As the French inventor of the famous macerating systems, today SFA is among the top companies worldwide in bathroom fixtures.
You chose your new Chrysler because you wanted something far beyond the ordinary. It just makes sense that your ownership experience should be just as special. That's why we're committed to exceeding your expectations for as long as you have your Chrysler.
Royal Building Products is a leading manufacturer and distributor of a broad range of state-of-the-art exterior building materials for the home remodeling, building and municipal construction markets.
Space Age Closets and Custom Cabinetry has been serving Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area for over 30 years. Our services include a wide array of custom storage solutions for every room in your home. With decades of experience designing and installing custom closets and cabinets we pledge to provide excellence in service and get the job done right the first time.
Euro-Line Appliances has brought elite European engineered appliances to Canadian homes for over 25 years. Our brands exceed expectations and have earned awards in design, engineering, performance, and energy efficiency. All of our cooking, refrigeration, dishwashers, and laundry appliances are created to conserve our non-renewable resources.
Custom drapery, drapery hardware, blinds, shutters, specialty shades (including motorization and home automation), bedspreads, headboards, quilting, upholstery, fabric library, and a complete in-house drapery workroom. We also offer custom programs for builders, designers & decorators.
From a modest machine shop in Baltimore to the surface of the moon, we’ve proudly provided innovative solutions for over a century. Discover the pioneering history of BLACK+DECKER.
Allan Rug Co. has been serving the GTA builders, designers, architects and the public for over 50 years. Supplying a full range of commercial and residential carpeting in a wide range of colours and styles from leading manufacturers.
Vangarde Cabinet Design & Factory Inc. specializes in aftermarket cabinet fronts and accessories that fit IKEA kitchens. We transform ordinary looking IKEA kitchens into extraordinary ones. Finally, there is a choice for more desirable cabinet doors and accessories for your IKEA kitchen.
At Riobel we design, create and assemble faucets, shower systems and accessories in our Canadian facility located in St-Jérôme, a suburb of Montréal. Our modern and fashionable products are designed to fit all kitchens or bathrooms. They are easy to install, while mechanical parts are accessible from above the counter to facilitate cleaning and maintenance. Riobel: a benchmark of excellence since 1995!
X-Tile is sure to have whatever you need to express your unique individual style. We offer you an exceptional variety of wall and flooring options in ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, glass, mosaic and much more from leading suppliers around the world. Let our knowledgeable and friendly staff help you in your dream renovation or building project.
Sharing Passion & Performance. With our unique expertise and sensibilities, gained from our devotion to sound and music, we are committed to creating excitement and cultural inspiration together with people around the world.
With over 90 years of experience, BLANCO is the leading kitchen sinks and faucets manufacturer. From handcrafted in Germany Steelart® sinks and the beauty of Silgranit®, to the European design faucets, BLANCO products are celebrated worldwide for their unmatched quality and design. Blanco Silgranit® sinks are proudly manufactured in Canada TRADE ONLY.
Canada's premium quartz manufacturer, HanStone Canada, is revolutionizing the quartz industry. Produced in a state of the art facility in London Ontario, HanStone Quartz is known for superior quality and exceptional design. Locally Made. Distinctly Beautiful. Naturally Canadian.
Established in 1987, Caesarstone pioneered the original quartz surface and continues to be a leading developer and manufacturer of premium surfaces. Highly functional and design forward, Caesarstone surfaces have endless application possibilities including kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, wall paneling, furniture and more.
Fisher & Paykel incorporates the world’s most innovative technologies and produce the most technically advanced, efficient and contemporary styled appliances. DCS created the first line of high end, commercial quality appliances and expanded to pioneer indoor and outdoor kitchen solutions for the at home chef. TRADE ONLY.
Master Edge Homes is built upon a foundation of expertise and unparalleled craftsmanship. With a team of dedicated and diligent personnel, Master Edge Homes executes home builds and renovations precisely how you envisioned them. From design and build to complete renovation, we are passionate about exceeding excellence with meticulous design, skilled construction, and project management.
Over the past 14 years Factory Tile Depot has become #1 for everything tile and stone. With 5 locations showcasing the latest and greatest trends in the tile industry, we have built the confidence of trade and retail clients alike. We are proud to offer well thought out showrooms, extensive selections of hard to find tile-stone, on site designers, and some of the best after care support in the industry. Experience the FTD difference on your next project.
Cosentino is a global, family-owned company that produces and distributes high value innovative surfaces for architecture and design. As a leading company, Cosentino imagines and anticipates together with its customers and partners design solutions that offer value and inspiration to people’s lives.
Discovery Dream Homes Ltd. Is a leader in innovative design, world class manufacturing and global marketing of the highest quality log and Timberframe products. We provide services for both residential and commercial projects.
Raising the Roof provides national leadership on long-term solutions to homelessness through partnership and collaboration with diverse stakeholders, investment in local communities, and public education. We work towards a day when all Canadians have access to a safe and stable home, with the support to achieve their potential.
With 46 years of experience providing the absolute best in Air Conditioning & Heating service, we at Applewood continue with a family tradition of quality and value. Regardless of how small or large the project, Applewood’s customers can be assured they will receive discerningly personalized services – something not possible from companies owned by corporate conglomerates.
Offering both new and used furniture, home decor items and art. Including high end pieces and antiques. Charity-operated Delivering Hope Furniture+ Outlet has 100% of its proceeds going to Abuse Hurts – Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness. Proceeds help support abused women and children in your community. 100,000 people per year.
Build Bold Inc is a unique and competitive online marketplace offering the only the best names in building and renovation supplies at great prices. We are an independent, Canadian owned & operated company, located near the Greater Toronto Area. We are constantly striving to enhance and improve our business by offering a simple and convenient online ordering model as well as an easy mobile tool for people on the go.
PPG Architectural Coatings is a respected paint industry leader, providing interior and exterior paints and stains for homeowners and professionals across Canada. PPG’s line-up of residential, commercial and industrial paint brands offers a wide range of choices to meet the varying needs of consumers, professionals, interior designers and architects.
Featured Video
Learn the importance of wrapping your home with DuPont™ Tyvek® HomeWrap® and DuPont™ flashing systems. To learn more about Tyvek® Weatherization Systems products
Info from the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating on how to reduce toilet water consumption.
Because Water Matters was created by the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating to educate and inform consumers about tips, technology and trends in the plumbing industry. In celebration of Earth Day, this video focuses on how to conserve water in the bathroom with modern plumbing products.
Expert service to help you get the job done and build your business. Let’s get to work!
Douglas Lockston Professor from Conestoga College talking about training and the trades and attracting future leaders.
Opening remarks from the 5th Renovators Roundtable 2016.
New! STANLEY® Anti-Vibe® Technology isolates vibrations to the hammer's head, minimizing strain on your arm.
The highly innovative FLEXVOLT® battery can power our 20V MAX* tools plus an all-new lineup of groundbreaking 60V MAX* and 120V MAX* tools. This is the power that will change everything.
Editors Choice
Here’s a sneak peak excerpt from a column by Jeff Mowatt (JeffMowatt.com) on five ways to improve office politics and employee interactions.
According to reports, the long overdue renovations to Sussex Dr., home to Canada’s prime ministers and their families, will cost nearly $40 million by the time they’re done. Required work on the building includes updating the wiring and plumbing, and replacing the out-dated windows and exterior doors.
You know the old saying: If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen? While that’s kind of hard to do when your job includes building kitchens. In our August/September issue we highlight a couple products that can help you keep your cool on the job, including the HyperKewl vest.
Speaking of hot, one of the fastest growing markets in home renovations is helping seniors “age in place.” In other words, modifying houses so older Canadians can continue to live in their own homes, rather than move to a retirement home. We have a couple articles in the August/September issue addressing a number of things to keep in mind when renovating for seniors.
As the baby boomers continue to get older, this will becoming an increasingly bigger demographic for contractors to target.
Plus, we have a piece by long-time contributor Frank Condron on the ultimate elder aid: a home elevator.
Finally, a quick note to readers of the print edition of the magazine: Due to unforeseen circumstances we’ve had to push back the production of our August/September issue, so it will be arriving in your mailboxes later than normal. In the meantime, you can always revisit our back issues in our digital archive.
Mark Twain once referred to golf as “a good walk, spoiled.” As mentioned in our last newsletter, our publisher, Homes Publishing Group, has been hosting an annual charity golf fundraiser for Raising the Roof since 2013. If you’re of the Mark Twain frame of mind – or just happy to hear positive info about a worthy cause – the good news is that the tournament is sold out! But if you have no interest in golf, but would still like to help out, there are spots available for the cocktail reception, dinner, and a raffle that includes a top prize of a trip to the Caribbean. The event takes place at Lionhead Golf & Country Club in Brampton, Ont. Visit Golf.HomesPublishingGroup.com for full details.
Mirka Random Orbit Sanders
Models affected: A variety of 3”-, 5”-, and 6”-diameter compact, yellow and black sanders. Visit the recalls section on HealthyCanadians.gc.ca for the complete list.
Sold: Nearly 300 of the affected units were sold in Canada, and a further 2,500 in the United States, between January 2013 and March 2016.
Potential problem: The sanders can short circuit. There have been two reported incidents – one in Canada – where the sanders started sparking and smoking.
Contact: Mirka, 800-843-3904; Mirka.com
Publications
Launched in 1985, HOMES Magazine continues to be Greater Toronto’s largest and most comprehensive source for new home buying.
Condolife, launched in 1998, continues to be Toronto’s finest and most comprehensive guide to the condo market and lifestyle.
Launched in 1990, R&D is Canada’s Home Idea Book, inspiring readers with the latest decorating/renovating tips and trends.
The award-winning Active Life is your guide to new homes in adult-lifestyle communities across Ontario, with detailed colour-coded maps/charts.
ONTARIO DESIGN is an annual, full colour, catalogue style directory of products and services available to trades in Canada!
Renovation Contractor is a trusted trade publication written by and for Canada’s small to medium-sized home renovators.
