Your One Stop Tenant Improvement Shop
Many contractors’ balance sheets have been decimated. Excepting a small minority of the clever or the lucky, commercial and institutional contractors have downsized and lowered expectations. Reputation and years in business count for little when a GC can’t pay his subs, the trades can’t afford to fully man a project or pay their vendors. There is a new real-time urgency in gauging the ability of a contractor to fund work ... »»»
B.C. is moving ahead with plans to build what is expected to be the tallest wood building in North America and possibly the world, Jobs Minister Pat Bell said Wednesday. The proposed 10-storey Wood Innovation and Design Centre in Prince George will become a test case for creating a value-added forest products industry around tall wood building construction methods that would differ radically from the way traditional mid-rise and even highrise buildings are constructed ... »»»
Water is an essential element in concrete. But excess moisture, in the form of water in the concrete or humidity in the air, will slow the drying process. In turn, schedules for applying flooring materials to the slab will be delayed. Moving ahead without adhering to the flooring manufacturer’s specifications for moisture content will compromise warrantees. Further, excess moisture creates the risk that mold will form ... »»»
Everyone has seen paint peeling off a surface like layers off an onion. Are you taking the steps to ensure this problem won’t leave you weeping? Bob Cusumano, president of Coatings Consultants Inc. in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, has encountered many horror stories involving painting and coating failures. In some cases, these can cost building owners and facilities management professionals thousands of dollars. In extreme cases, they can cost folks their jobs ... »»»
The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC (APEGBC) is in the process of training engineers on its new guidelines governing the seismic retrofit of B.C. schools. Adoption of the guidelines will mean consistent practice in pre-construction planning and changes to how the work is phased. The document was created in collaboration with the University of B.C.’s (UBC) Civil Engineering Department and the Ministry of Education in ... »»»
According to studies, 1.3 million tons of waste is generated annually throughout the Metro Vancouver region by construction, renovation and demolition activities. Last year, the City of Vancouver supported a pilot study in which two Vancouver homes were deconstructed, rather than demolished. It entailed the systematic disassembling of a building in order to maximize diversion of building materials. The result: 93% of the building materials were salvaged for reuse or recycling ... »»»
Disaster stories in construction abound: unfinished homes and buildings, blown budgets, lawsuits and contractors fleeing the state. People often undervalue the knowledge required to design and build successfully. Just because you own a hammer and a cordless drill, the odds are construction professionals know more than you do. Evaluate them, hire them, trust them and let them build you a great home, where the real peace of mind begins. Here are a few tips to maintain your sanity ... »»»
Update aging restrooms and boost occupant satisfaction by exploring renovation options. Are your building’s washrooms losing their luster? The washroom’s appearance can negatively impact how users view your business, so if you notice signs of age, it’s time for an update. Office washrooms may not be renovated until the facilities start showing their age. But deterioration won’t wait for a planned project, so keep an eye on common trouble areas before they become permanent eyesores ... »»»
Tackle tiles to keep your ceiling appealing and acoustically sound. Until a problem rears its head, ceilings typically don’t catch your attention. A dusty, dirty, or stained ceiling, however, can negatively impact perceptions of the space. Depending on the ceiling’s condition, you may be able to get by with a quick sweep, while other occasions require replacement. Assess the type, size, and severity of your ceiling’s problem to determine your next step ... »»»
For San Diego building owners, it pays to be energy efficient - literally. Over the last two years, nearly 100 building projects have been awarded almost $10 million in incentives from San Diego Gas & Electric through Savings by Design, a utility-funded initiative that supports high-performance building design in new construction or renovations. What’s more, owners of these buildings have collectively earned an estimated $8.6 million in annual utility costs savings ... »»»