build.bvmcontracting.com

Author: Ryan Meagher

  • Efficient Home Energy Upgrades

    Efficient Home Energy Upgrades

    Environmentally Friendly Upgrades

    For Your Home or Condo

    You don’t need to work with a Registered Energy Advisor to figure out which energy efficiency upgrades will save you the most money and give you a clear return on investment. Further than energy savings, there are also some other upgrades you can make to save money and do better for the environment. 

    As a home builder that has seen it all, BVM Contracting has compiled the top 4 upgrades that you can make to your home (if you haven’t already done so) and don’t break the bank.

    Upgrade your Incandescent Lighting to CFL’s or LED

    Since electricity is not cheap but upgrading your lighting to more efficient bulbs to CFL’s or LED is cost-effective this upgrade is a no-brainer. The cost to upgrade lighting will cost you less than $100 in an average-sized bungalow, and provide a return on investment in less than one year!

    Install a Programmable Thermostat

    With a programmable thermostat you can adjust the times you turn on the heating or air-conditioning according to a pre-set schedule. Programmable thermostats can store and repeat multiple daily settings (six or more temperature settings a day) that you can manually override without affecting the rest of the daily or weekly program. You can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 3-4 °C for 8 hours a day from its normal setting. Programmable thermostats are not very expensive and usually cost between $50-$100 for a return on investment of about 1-2 years.

    If you would like to upgrade to a smart programmable thermostat (Ecobee and Nest), it will cost more but you will have additional features included that can save you more money over time. The benefit of investing in a smart thermostat is you can claim a $75 rebate from Enbridge to subsidize the cost and keep your return on investment healthy!

    Seal your home to prevent air infiltration

    Sealing around your windows, doors, attic, vents, and any other part of your home that causes a draft will substantially decrease your home’s heating and cooling requirements. The cost to seal an average-sized bungalow will cost around $800-1000, but will give a return on investment from the energy savings within 4-5 years. Not to mention, Enbridge has a program that will allow you to subsidize the cost of air sealing. Check out our blog here to learn more about how much money you can save by sealing your home.

    Install low-flow toilets and shower fixtures

    The installation of low flow toilets and shower fixtures into your home can give a return on investment between 3-5 years depending on if you install the fixtures yourself or get a plumber to install. Since shower fixtures use more water it is recommended to upgrade these first. Even further than that, if you have multiple showers, install the low-flow fixtures on the higher-use showers first then work your way down to the lesser used fixtures.

    Want to find out more ways to improve your homes energy efficiency?

    If you are trying to come up with more ways to make your home more energy efficient, please reach out to us and we can start the conversation. Our goal is to provide unbiased advice for the best energy efficiency upgrades to your home, so we are looking forward to starting a conversation!

    We will be able to also recommend the right Home Energy Advisor to partner with should you decide to enroll into the Home Energy Loan Program or Enbridge Home Efficiency Program. 

    About BVM COntracting

    BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

    Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

    To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.

  • Timelapse of New Home Framing

    Timelapse of New Home Framing

    Timelapse of Framing for New Home Build in Toronto

    Have a look at our Time Lapse that shows the early stages of Exterior Construction

    ABOUT BVM CONTRACTING

    BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

    Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

    To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.

  • Residential Water Softeners

    Residential Water Softeners

    Home Water Softeners

    The Benefits

    The purpose of a water softener is to remove scale-forming minerals from the water, which are magnesium and calcium, present as calcium carbonate (CaCO3), magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2), and calcium sulfate (CaSO4).. The process of removal is possible through an ion-exchange process with the resin found inside of a water softener. 

    How does a water softener work?

    For those of you who like to lead with “how does…?”, water softeners use tiny cross-linked polymers (called resin, shown below) that are specifically formulated to have exchange sites for ions (specifically sodium, calcium, and magnesium ions). Think of a ball with thousands of spikes, and at the end of each spike there is a sodium ion (to start at least).

    Initially, sodium ions sit on the exchange sites. Because calcium and magnesium ions have more affinity for being attached the the resin exchange sites than a sodium ion, the sodium ion exchanges with them and the ion resin bead now holds onto the magnesium/calcium ions.

    Why is Hard Water Bad?

    The Technical Reason

    Have you ever seen white deposits on the heating exchanger in your hot water tank (tank or tankless)? This is a sign that your water is scaling at the high temperature areas of your home heating appliances, and reduces the ability of the water heater to provide hot water to your home.

    A scaled electrical element from a tank hot water heater
    A scaled electrical element from a tank hot water heater

    Further, if you have any pumps installed (sump pumps or sewage ejectors), you run the risk of scaling the pumps for these systems and causing water to back-up into your basement (which is never a good thing!).

    The Not-so-Technical Reason

    Soft water is generally the easier drinking type of water and also comes with many other benefits (outlined below).

    Regenerating a Water Softener

    Since water softener resin will reach a point during operation where all of the resin beads contain calcium and magnesium ions (see below), the softener will need to periodically regenerate to allow for consistently soft water. The process of regeneration calls for the use of pure salt pellets to be mixed in water to essentially flush away all of the calcium/magnesium ions on the resin beads and recharge them with sodium. The regeneration takes anywhere from 60-90 minutes to complete and requires minimal salt usage (a few bags a month for most households). If the softener is installed correctly, this is usually the only expense that is incurred for owning a water softener.

    Benefits of installing a water softener

    Here are some of the benefits of installing a water softener into your home:

    • Your soap and shampoo will lather better.

    • Your hair and skin will feel noticeably cleaner, softer, and not as dry. Hands will feel softer and look better.

    • No soap scum or mineral deposits to clean off sinks, showers, tubs and toilets.

    • Clothes will be softer, cleaner, whiter and brighter. Plus they will last longer. (Using soft water increases the life of clothing, towels and linens up to 33%).

    • Dishes will clean up more easily, and be spot free, without the gray film glasses get when etched by mineral-laden water.

    • Water-using appliances will last longer and run better. Why? Because hot water heaters, washing machines and dishwashers used with hard water can wear out 30% faster.

    • Keeps heat exchange surfaces clean (if you have a boiler or tankless/on-demand water heating unit) so you can maintain proper energy efficiency in your systems.

    • If you have a sewage ejector installed in your home (many new homes and homes with underpinning require these) the pump that is used will avoid a scale build-up that may back-up the drains from your home.

    Where do you install a water softener in a home?

    Water softeners are installed in-line with your water supply line from the city (after the water meter). Since the water meter is, more often than not, found in a mechanical room that is also where the softener is installed.

    Do water softeners make any noise?

    Since water softeners are simply allowing the city-supplied water to flow through it, the only noise that can be heard is the water that flows through it!

    The Cost of Installing a Water Softener

    This depends on a few factors like the amount of plumbing fixtures, size of your water line, number of people living in your home, and if there is unobstructed access to drains and electrical outlets where your water meter/main water line is located. It would be safe to budget around $1000 to $2000 for the supply and installation of a water softener in your home!

    Any more Questions?

    Feel free to reach out to a BVM Contracting Renovation Consultant to learn more about if a water softener is the right choice for your household!

    ABOUT BVM CONTRACTING

    BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

    Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

    To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.

  • Toronto Custom Home Build Tour

    Toronto Custom Home Build Tour

    Tour Interior of New Home Build

    Have a look around the main floor – Kitchen – Living Room – Dining Area.

    The Lower Level is sleek and stylish – the Perfect Family Retreat!

    ABOUT BVM CONTRACTING

    BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

    Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

    To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.

  • Mortgage Default Insurance

    Mortgage Default Insurance

    Mortgage Default Insurance

    In Canada, the government has put in place an insurance that makes home-ownership more accessible. Learn more about this insurance below!

    What is Mortgage Default Insurance?

    Mortgage default insurance is a very common and necessary portion of the overall cost of mortgages in Canada. For many people in the Greater Toronto Area, a 20 percent down payment is not feasible due to the high cost of homes, so this insurance is used to allow people better access to the housing market by making a smaller down payment on a home. The insurance allows lenders to keep mortgage interest rates lower than they would be without the default insurance, and protects them should homeowners default or stop making mortgage payments.

    What is the cost of Mortgage Default Insurance?

    The cost of this mortgage default insurance ranges from 2.80 to 4.00 percent of the mortgage amount (Home Price minus down payment), is added to the overall mortgage amount, and differs depending on the size of the down payment received (see below).

    What are the requirements of Mortgage Default Insurance?

    There are some requirements you have to meet in order to qualify for mortgage default insurance:

    • The maximum amortization for insured mortgages is 25 years.

    • If the purchase price is between $500,000 – $999,999 a higher down payment is required. The minimum down payment is 5% of the first $500,000, and 10% of the remaining amount.

    • Mortgage default insurance is not available on homes purchased for more than $1 million; this means that a 20% down payment is required on these homes.

    Where do you get mortgage default insurance?

    There are only three companies that provide this insurance in Canada; Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Genworth Financial and Canada Guaranty. All three of these companies charge the same rates for the insurance.

    During the signing of a mortgage, your lender already has the cost of the default insurance worked into the final amount for the mortgage, so you do not have to deal with the insurer. Even when you are completing a purchase plus improvement mortgage, the lender dictates all communication with the insurer.

    Start the conversation!

    A BVM Contracting Renovation Consultant is uniquely positioned to help you navigate the crazy world of mortgages. To learn more about how we help homeowners with finding the right mortgage for their needs please feel free to contact us. Looking forward to starting a conversation.

    ABOUT BVM CONTRACTING

    BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

    Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

    To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.

  • Laying a Sub Floor in a Basement

    Laying a Sub Floor in a Basement

    In this video below, we show you how to lay a sub-floor for a basement floor installation. In this case, the client chose engineered hardwood flooring. Most basement floors are either laminate or vinyl, but our client wanted continuity throughout the home, so the basement flooring had to match the flooring on the main and second floors (as well as the open staircases).

    The best sub-floor for hardwood flooring is plywood and when installed in a basement provides a sturdy even surface for the new hardwood floor. It also prevents moisture damage to the new hardwood flooring as you must lay vapour barrier onto the concrete surface prior to the sub-floor installation.

    As they say in the flooring world, your finished flooring is only as good as your sub-floor….

    Laying Subfloor

    Home Addition in Scarborough Bluffs

    Amazing property with wide expansive views – beautiful flowing interior spaces make this an outstanding property.

    ABOUT BVM CONTRACTING

    BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

    Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

    To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.

  • Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate Program

    Enbridge Home Efficiency Rebate Program

    Home Efficiency Rebate Program

    Enbridge

    Chances are that if you live in Toronto (or the surrounding area) and own a home you have an account with Enbridge Gas. If you currently are a natural gas customer with Enbridge you can qualify for one of the following rebate or savings programs that allow you to live in a home that is more comfortable and less drafty:

    1. Home Efficiency Rebate Program

    2. Winterproofing Program

    3. Smart Thermostat Purchase Incentive Program

    Below, we talk about the most lucrative program of the three, which is the Home Efficiency Rebate Program. Check out the info below to see if you will qualify for the program, as well as how to get the rebate!

    The HOME EFFICIENCY REBATE PROGRAM

    This program allows homeowners to receive rebates of up to $5000 for eligible energy efficiency upgrades. Before we dive into it we will go over who qualifies for this program.

    How do I qualify?

    • You need to have an Enbridge gas account. If your home isn’t run on Natural Gas you will not qualify.

    • You have to reside in and own a home. Currently condos and other multi-unit apartments are not eligible.

    • To receive the incentive/reimbursement, you must complete at least two eligible upgrades to your home.

    What are the eligible energy efficiency upgrades that I can qualify for?

    Attic Insulation Upgrade
    Attic Insulation Upgrade
    Air sealing upgrade
    Air sealing upgrade
    Basement insulation upgrade
    Basement insulation upgrade
    Exterior wall insulation upgrade
    Exterior wall insulation upgrade
    High-efficiency furnace or boiler upgrade
    High-efficiency furnace or boiler upgrade
    Water heater upgrade
    Water heater upgrade

    Please ensure that you read through each of these upgrades in order to get to know which ones might be the right fit for when you complete your home renovation or upgrades. Even better, through this program Enbridge requires that you complete a home energy assessment for your home to better understand which of these upgrades are eligible and most beneficial to your home. See the below steps on how to complete the audit, as well as the overall process for ensuring that you get access to the rebate and incentive money.

    The process of completing the Home Efficiency Rebate Program

    Follow these steps to ensure that you can get access to the rebate:

    Step 1: Complete an audit of your home with a Registered Energy Advisor (REA). You can schedule your initial energy assessment with any of the approved REA’s show below. When you successfully complete the upgrades, you will be reimbursed $550 for the cost of the pre and post assessments as part of your incentive cheque.

    Step 2: Complete two or more of the recommended upgrades provided by the advisor. As the homeowner, you can work with a general contractor of your choice.

    Step 3: Book your post-renovation energy assessment with the same Register Energy Advisor to validate the work has been completed.

    Step 4: Receive your incentive cheque in 8-10 weeks.

    Other important facts about this program

    • The maximum amount you can receive with this program is $5 000, and that is if you complete all of the above-listed activities. If you are only completing this program and no other renovations to your home BVM Contracting recommends working with your energy advisor to complete the upgrades that will give you the biggest bang for your buck (i.e. attic insulation and air sealing and both low hanging fruit usually).

    • The reason why a Registered Energy Advisor is used for this program is to help add a level of standardization and consistency to the program. You should expect the following from a Registered Energy Advisor

      • Prioritize your upgrades to get the maximum incentive available

      • Help you understand the payback period for the upgrades being considered

      • Reduce air leaks and identify why your house is cold in the winter and hot in the summer

      • Understand your home’s envelope and determine if additional “controlled” air flow is required

      • Determine if energy upgrades were installed as per recommendations

    • Instead of reaching out to Enbridge for this program, just reach out to a Registered Energy Advisor and determine if your qualify. They will be able to determine your eligibility.

    Are you completing Renovations to your home and want to apply for this program?

    If you are interested in this program and are also completing a major renovation to your home (full interior, basement apartment, home addition, etc.) it would be wise to enroll into this program and upgrade as much as possible. You will be working closely with both your General Contractor or Home Builder and Register Energy Advisor in this scenario so make sure you make the most of your investment and maximize your rebate from Enbridge.

    Just make sure that the pre-audit is scheduled before any renovations commence. BVM Contracting has worked with clients completing these rebates and would be able to help with the scheduling.

    Working with a Qualified General Contractor or Home Builder

    Working with a knowledgeable General Contractor or Home Builder in the Greater Toronto Area comes with many benefits, including getting to know where you can save money and how to complete your renovations most efficiently. For any renovation customers that BVM Contracting works with, we complete a complementary review of which rebates and incentives you will have access to based on the proposed home renovations.

    Please contact BVM Contracting if you would like to complete a complementary consultation of your home renovation options and/or ideas, we would love to start the conversation!

    ABOUT BVM CONTRACTING

    BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

    Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

    To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.

  • Build Process

    Build Process

    The Building Process

    Home Addition Scarborough

    Minerva Avenue

    One of the challenges on this project was creating a temporary roof or overhang, to protect the structure while the framing was being completed. The right side of the home was being worked on, while the left side (containing bedrooms and bathrooms) had a roof. Thankfully we worked quickly and Mother Nature was on our side, framing and roof installed in record time!

    The lower level of this build has a newly designed kitchen and eating area, complete with walkout to the yard.

    ABOUT BVM CONTRACTING

    BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

    Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

    To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.

  • New Home Build

    New Home Build

    New Home Construction in Markham

    The Build Process

    This project saw us start from the ground up

    Next step is exterior waterproofing

    Framing the structure is now complete – Plumbing and Electrical are also completed so we can begin Interior Finishing

    ABOUT BVM CONTRACTING

    BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

    Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

    To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.

  • Client Video Review

    Client Video Review

    Client Testimonial

    118 Eastwood Avenue

    Meet Scott, Jeannine, and Ciara

    Making the decision to renovate your home is one of the most challenging and stressful decisions anyone can make. Do we renovate? Or… Do we sell? Decisions of this magnitude cannot be taken lightly to say the least, and as we learned this was one of many decisions to be made along the way. Deciding to renovate in hindsight was fairly simple for our family. With an existing home in an area we love, the decision was made for us – now came the hard part. What do we do? How do we do it? Where do we begin? I have a saying; sometimes you simply don’t know what you don’t know! This is why choosing a general contractor or home builder that you trust becomes the critical decision in the process.

    A simple walk in our neighborhood some 4 years ago proved to be the turning point in this renovation journey. As is the case in most neighborhoods, renovations are becoming more and more the norm. One night I came across a house clearly under renovation, and we figured an email to the company on the front of this demolished house couldn’t hurt. This is where our renovation story starts. This is when we met Vince, Colleen and BVM Contracting. A few months later after meeting Vince we are “walking” the house under renovation with Vince he showed us the various steps in the process. From our first interaction we knew this was our contractor. Of course we were diligent and met with other companies, but our decision was a very easy one.

    Fast forward a year and a half contracts are being signed, and decisions are being made.

    BVM took us through the entire process – from the design, demolition and the creation of our dream home. Vince and his team, industry contacts and the subsequent retail establishments recommended to us were all spectacular, professional, and respectful of our wants and needs for our home. Vince walked us through the process, explained what was happening and what the next steps were. He answered our many, many questions, and gave us guidance along the way. You hear many stories about renovations being an awful experience, but you rarely hear stories about renovations being a good experience. This was certainly a good experience. We asked our 8 year old daughter what she thought about the renovation, and her answer was “Vince was nice, and he did a good job. I love my bedroom”. Vince and his team became part of our daily lives, and to be honest we’ll miss having them around.

    We quite simply could not have asked for a more well executed, on time, on budget renovation. I am tremendously thankful that we reached out to Vince and Colleen some 4 years ago. People ask us all the time if we would recommend Vince – the answer of course is always a resounding yes.

    Scott, Jeannine and Ciara – Toronto

    Home Addition & Complete Renovation

    ABOUT BVM CONTRACTING

    BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

    Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

    To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.