Port Perry Town & Country House Tour, September 24, 2011.

Port Perry United Church Community Outreach presents our annual Town & Country House Tour on Saturday, September 24, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Last year, brilliant sunshine and blue skies greeted over 370 house tour enthusiasts. It truly was an amazing day as people toured seven fine homes — four century homes and three more modern homes — in beautiful, historic Port Perry, Prince Albert and surrounding area. This year promises to be even better with a tremendous array of homes and historic buildings lined up for your viewing pleasure!

Once again this year, all throughout the day, light refreshments will be served at the House Tour Café at Port Perry United Church.

This is a charitable event with all proceeds supporting three very important local organizations — Durham Youth Housing and Support Services, Community Care Durham and YWCA Durham’s Second Stage Housing for Women. We are excited about this project. Not only will you have a wonderful day full of amazing architecture, lovely gardens, and inspiring decorating, but you will also make a positive impact on at-risk youth, women, and the elderly within our community.

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Renewal of retrofit program welcome news for homeowners, CHBA says

OTTAWA, July 13, 2011 – The Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) today applauded Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver on the announced details of a renewed ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program.

CHBA President Vince Laberge of Edmonton said: “This announcement will be well received by both our industry and Canadian households. It means that homeowners can begin the process of making their homes more energy efficient, right away.”

The program is complemented by the government’s on-going support for the R-2000 initiative’ the EnerGuide Rating System and ENERGY STAR for New Homes.

By requiring written receipts for expenses eligible for a grant, the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program has the added benefit of encouraging people to work with professional renovators. This will bolster the government’s efforts to combat the underground cash economy in home renovation services.

“The renewal of the ecoENERGY Retrofit program will help to enhance the quality of our country’s housing stock, particularly in terms of its environmental performance,” Mr. Laberge said. “The residential sector is already a leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and this federal government commitment will help homeowners achieve even more. Improved energy efficiency saves homeowners money, and it helps Canada meet its environmental goals.”

The Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) is the national voice of the residential construction industry, representing more than 8,000 member firms across the country. Membership comprises new home builders, renovators, developers, trade contractors, building material manufacturers and suppliers, lenders and other professionals in the housing sector.

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Summer

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Check out the Early Summer June 2011 Edition of Canadian Gardening

Steve Snider Construction is delighted to have one of it’s renovation/restoration projects featured. The gazebo, pool house and curved brick privacy fence that delineates the owner’s corner lot, demonstrates the skillful workmanship of our company. In working closely with both the architect and the landscape architect, we were able to interpret the vision of the owners and create an urban oasis.

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The Canadian Housing Industry Economic Update Monthly Report on Lumber Prices May 2011

Lumber prices have been volatile this spring, but Canada’s
new home builders and renovators should plan for further
increases in lumber prices both this year and next. China is
playing a major role in rising global demand for softwood
lumber. China’s lumber imports have continued to show
strong increases this year.
Post-earthquake reconstruction in Japan is expected to add to
lumber demand later this year. In addition, demand from the
U.S., which is the world’s largest lumber importer, already
shows a cyclical revival. Rising new home construction in
the U.S. will push all building supply prices higher.
The initial recovery in U.S. housing construction will be in
remodeling and repair and in multi-family construction.
Investors in distressed properties are remodeling abandoned
homes. Also, families who have defaulted and foreclosed are
now in the rental market. Increased demand for rental
accommodation is having an effect on rental unit remodeling
as well as on demand for new rental supply.

Andersen Economic Research Inc.

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Electricity prices and off-peak Time-of-Use periods change on May 1, 2011.

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Five Counties Children’s Centre Fundraiser

PKHBA is very pleased to announce that $3,070 from the sale of the Kawartha Chairs was raised for Five Counties Children’s Centre!

A big thanks to Craig McFarlane who spearheaded this endeavour, and to the following Companies who donated chairs.

Discovery Dream Homes (Ray King) – 1st Prize,
Sutton River Trading Company (Tim Topiniski) – 2nd Prize,
Taylors Recycled Plastic Products – Baileboro (Brook Taylor) – 3rd Prize,
Linwood Homes (Craig McFarlane),
Linwood Interiors (Craig McFarlane),
Five Counties Children’s Centre,
Kawartha Lakes Construction Company (Scott Wootton),
M.J. Davenport & Associates (Mike Davenport),
Monaghan Lumber (Warren Rose),
Fleming College Skilled Trades,
Evergreen Home & Cottage (Randy Burke),
R&M Smith Contracting (Randy Smith),
The Belamann Group (Terry Mann)

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A Fun and Successful Charity Auction

Congratulations to the Peterborough & The Kawarthas Home Builders Association on another successful auction. The participants in the Kawartha Chair Challenge once again outdid themselves with an array of unique chairs. Proceeds from last night’s fundraiser will be donated to support the Five Counties Children’s Centre and their work helping children with physical, communication and developmental problems to strengthen their abilities and promote their participation as active members of the community.

www.fivecounties.on.ca

www.peterboroughhomebuilders.com

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The Building Envelope

In my experience, building energy efficiency into your home is the best investment you can make. Improved indoor air quality and reduced energy costs are long term benefits that will ultimately pay dividends to you, the home owner. A well maintained building envelope saves energy in two primary ways. It prevents the uncontrolled flow of outside air through the building and increases the thermal integrity.

If possible, design and orient your home on your building site to maximize day lighting and solar gain. Address the “Building Envelope” as you undertake this important aspect of your build by paying close attention to key aspects:

1. Use under-slab basement insulation, even if you are not heating the slab.

2. Insulate your basement perimeter the full height and incorporate a thermal and damp proof break between the concrete and the insulation.

3. Spray foam rim joists cavities. This is the best way to achieve a tight seal.

4. Main and upper level perimeter walls should have a minimum of 6″ cavity insulation complete with insulated sheathing to address thermal bridging.

5. Ceiling insulation should achieve a consistent R50 level along with adequate ventilation.

6. A superior insulated building envelope is not complete unless accompanied by a tightly sealed air/vapour barrier along with a protective rainscreen where required.

7. Windows and doors should seal tight when closed and all glass should be at minimum double glazed with LowE/Argon, with a preference for triple glazing and LowE/Argon. It is imperative to seal around all doors and windows with a spray foam for a tight seal.

8. Seal tight all electrical boxes, pot lights and envelope service penetrations.

9. Now that your home is sealed tight, installing a Heat Recovery Ventilator is imperative. It will serve as “lungs” for your home, by continuously exchanging the stale air in your home for fresh outside air. The HRV will need to be balanced by a qualified professional to maintain equal pressure in your home. “It is more efficient to control the draft in your home than it is to have a drafty house.”

10. Use quality materials and equipment and qualified installers to ensure your whole house system functions properly.

When you make this investment in your building envelope, the heating and cooling equipment you choose will achieve its intended efficiency, reduce your home’s operating costs and increase your indoor comfort.

To quote one of our clients, “The money I save on energy costs more than pays for the increases in property taxes.”

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Award of Excellence Winner

“The Awards of Excellence is our opportunity to recognize the best in the new home building industry,” said Jeff Goldman, President of the Durham Region Home Builders’ Association. “Our members strive to be the best in the industry through their leading edge innovation in building and design, their exceptional products and services, and their creative sales and marketing strategies. We are proud to have this calibre of professionals as members of our Association.”

Heather Hreljac, 2011 Awards Committee Chair, thanked her committee of Jennifer Hurd, Margaret Cox and Donna Donaldson as well as the esteemed panel of judges consisting of Joel Scopelleti, Carick Home Improvements; Benny Caringi, Sun-Brite Drapery; Mira Tomljenovic, In2ition Marketing Insights; Harry Hayes, Sutton Group Status Realty Inc., Brokerage; Craig McFarlane, Linwood Homes; Dave Sachko, Keller Williams Energy; Enza Checchia, Decorenza; Warren Rose, Monaghan Lumber; and Randy Smith, RMN Smith Contracting.

The Awards theme for the evening was “Old-Hollywood” and featured Bob Finnigan, President of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association, presenting the keynote address and Celebrity Emcee Glen Peloso of Restaurant Make Over sponsored by Caesarstone.
Online Excellence: Steve Snider Construction (Design consideration to Baby Jack Design)
Excellence in Room Renovation: Steve Snider Construction (Special consideration John and Susan Blair)
Excellence in Green Renovation: Steve Snider Construction

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