Frequently Asked Questions

• Answers to your questions should be direct and detailed.  Good contractors are never afraid to share details on building requirements, materials, time, or techniques.   "I don't know, but I will find out" is a good indication that the person is willing to admit that there are some things that require further thought or investigation to find the right solution. The contractor should be able to provide you with several solutions, and solid reasons why one solution is best for your specific project.
  
• Compare answers to others.  Do your homework and gather as much information as you can about the build or renovation you are planning.  There is a wealth of information on building available on the internet, from Tarion Corporation, from your local building inspector, or from other builders.  The best reference for finding a builder is from former clients.  Check with friend's, collegues, and neighbours who have had similar work done recently.
• Years in business.  Don't discount new companies, but do be wary.  In hard economic times, everyone with a hammer is a carpenter.  Not all have the experience you need for your build.  Companies that have been around for more than 5 years will have been doing something right and will have clients willing to testify to the success of their projects. 
  
• References.  While former clients are a contractors best advertisement, most builders will be cautious when providing them.  Good builders protect the confidentiality of their clients and few clients are willing to have their privacy invaded by strangers.  The best references are there for the asking from family, friends, collegues, and neighbours. 
  
• Site visit.  Quotes are never given over the telephone or by email without first having made a site visit.  The contractor should arrive prepared to gather not only verbal requirements but the physical details such as: measurements, electrical/plumbing systems, soil types (for exterior projects that will be set on or in the ground), proximity to other buildings and property lines. 
  
• Quotes and follow up.  Estimates should always be provided in writing and should include a detailed description of the work and materials to be provided, a price (project price, HST, and Total of both), payment terms, an expiry date, and a clear statement of what is expected from both the contractor and the client.  This statement usually contains information and limitations regarding the legal aspects of building (insurance, warantees, inspections, etc). 
  
• Availability.  Bear in mind that contractors in the Ottawa Valley usually do their own carpentry work, so unless you contact them over the winter, they will usually be in the middle of a project and it may take some time for them to be able to give you an estimate.  It is not unusual for them to be booking months to years in advance, so be patient and persistent.  Small projects can sometimes be fitted between larger builds or may be used to fill gaps when clients change the scheduled work.  The contractor should be up front about scheduling and priority of work. 
  
• Hiring sub trades (heating, electrical, plumbing, earthwork, masonry, cabintry etc). Contractors are very willing to provide quotes from trusted tradespeople.  Their reputation depends on the suitability and effectiveness of the sub trades.  While clients can choose to source and hire their own, it is rare that the contractor will take responsibility for work done by tradespeople that are unfamiliar to them.  The contractor will be working directly with the subtrades to ensure coordination of the work schedules and planning requirements. 
  
• Conformance to tax and labour laws.  In Ontario, contractors are legally required to collect and submit HST on materials and labour charged to the client.  They are also required to carry WSIB on all workers, though may choose not to cover the owner.  If your contractor has or is planning to hire employees for your project, you should ensure that they do carry WSIB otherwise you are responsible for any injuries and injury related costs on the work site. 
  

• If you are financing your project through a lending institution, you may be required to submit a change order estimate and receive approval prior to instituting the changes. 
  
• It is reasonable to expect the contractor to charge only the difference in material and labour required to make the change, however, some builders may require the original contract to be fulfilled before making changes. 
  
• The client is responsible for all material and labour charges incurred up to the point where a change is communicated (client instigated changes) or becomes evident (unforeseeable circumstances). 
  
• Contractors are required, by consumer law, to ensure that work be done to existing codes and may be liable for damages or injuries caused by leaving a site unsafe or covering up structurally damaged components.  Contract law dictates that it is reasonable for a contractor to be paid for work incurred in fulfilling their contractual and legal obligations. The client is therefore responsible for any material and labour charges required to ensure the stability or integrity of the structure should it not be feasible to continue the work. 

• Determine details prior to starting the project.  Common changes include: the location and size of windows and doors, flooring, paint, electrical requirements (use of space), decking.
• Ensure that your contractor and sub contractors are made aware of any changes you are thinking of as soon as possible.  This allows adjustments to framing to be made without incurring additional costs. 
• Work with your contractor to address unforeseeable conditions in advance to ensure agreement on when work should stop or when minor repairs can be carried out without work stoppages. Common examples are: structural or mechanical systems are damaged or not up to code, underground obstacles (unmovable rocks, caves, water sources), trees or roots in a work area, upgrades to mechanical or heating systems, work or materials supplied by clients or agents of the clients, damage from subtrades not hired by the contractor. 

• Q: Which is better for roofing: steel or shingles?
• A: Choosing the right roofing for your home is one of the most important renovation decisions a homeowner can make.  Properly installed, either finish will give your family waterproof protection for many years. 

1. Either covering must be installed with a full layer of 15lb felt paper.  Just around the eaves doesn't give the protection required by the manufacturers. 
2. Single layers are best. Doubling layers of shingles or steel over shingles adds weight to the structure and can cause damage particularly after a heavy snowfall.
3. When choosing steel, select a 30 gauge or better steel with a double ridge at the edges.  The double ridge prevents water from seeping back under the steel.
   
4. Here are some cost facts to consider:

• Q: I'm designing my new addition, but I don't know what size to make the rooms.  I want two bedrooms and a bath? 
• A: From a builder's point of view, we like to maximize space and minimize costs.  Bear in mind that flooring, as with building materials, come in standard sizes.  The less we have to cut off, the lower the cost to you and the more money you retain in your home.

1. Twelve is the magic number.  Flooring such as rug (most common in bedrooms) come in 12' and 14' widths.
   
2. Interior walls are usually framed on 16" centres, so keep the room orientation to multiples of 16" for example 16" x 11/12"=14'6".  This gives you a 12' x 14' room with a 6" allowance for studs and drywall.
3. Put your furniture in the space.  There's no point in building a room to optimize material use if your favourite armoire won't fit.
   
4. Build the rooms, then measure the exterior dimensions.  Add 12" on each wall to get an idea of the finished size. (12" allows for exterior walls and finish.)
   

• Q: I've always dreamed of mirror like hardwood floors, but I can't seem to find a builder willing to put down a high gloss varnish.  Should I give up the dream?
  
  
• A: Not at all. The secret is not in the varnish, but in the wax.  Semi gloss varnish is recommended for hardwood.  Scratches are less noticeable and the slip resistance is greater.
  

• Q: Help! My walls look like bananas and there are nails popping out everywhere.  What went wrong?
  
  
• A: Weather conditions during the building period, combined with kiln dried lumber's ability to pick up 23% of environmental moisture makes banana walls and nail pops one of the most common problem in new homes and additions, or anywhere new walls have been framed.
  

• Removing the popped nail or screw
• Fixing new screws in place (using different holes 2" along the stud from the original hole).  Screws have better holding power than nails. 
  
• Sanding the area around the repair and,
• Using a good quality drywall compound.
  

1. Avoid a re-occurance by using exhaust fans and a good dehumidfier to slowly reduce the moisture content.  Exhaust fans should be used up to 1/2 hour after any water related activity (cooking, showering, cleaning). De-humidfiers should always be used according to manufacturer's directions.  Overuse can cause the same problem for the opposite reasons. 
2. Avoid maintaining high temperatures in the home.  Remember wood is made up of cells just like skin.  If temperatures are causing you to dry out, it's doing the same for the wood products in your home.  Temperatures of 78-82 degrees are essential to prevent wood from drying too quickly and cracking or warping.