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.
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:
Home Efficiency Rebate Program
Winterproofing Program
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?
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.
How do you shower for a longer period of time but use less water? Seems a little tricky until you start to understand the science behind recirculating water showers. The technology of recirculating water showers is still very new with only a couple of companies trying to create an industry out of it. Nonetheless, it is still a very exciting idea that, if successful, will lead to a very large reduction in water usage across the world.
What is a recirculating Water Shower?
A recirculating water shower is a new technology that is capable of recycling water through a semi-closed loop system for reuse during showers. It was NASA-inspired technology that combated the issue of water scarcity in space. Since water scarcity is also becoming a larger and larger issue on our home planet there is a real-world use-case for this technology. In order for the water to be reused it has to be filtered, cleaned, UV treated, and reheated in order to maintain the correct level of purity and temperature humans enjoy today. In fact, due to the filtration steps in this technology, they claim that the water is more pure than the domestic water supplied to the system, pretty neat!
Savings numbers for a recirculating water shower
Supposedly, the savings numbers for this technology are staggeringly high for water and energy. The claim is that this technology can save up to 90% in water and up to 80% in energy compared to a conventional shower system. Since these systems need to operate in a semi-closed manner (sometimes draining to maintain proper levels of purity) that is where the 10% usage of water comes in. The combined savings in water and energy would be pretty awesome for a high use shower system!
Like any new technology, the cost to manufacture is high
Since the technology is still fairly new, the cost to supply and install is high. In checking Orbital Systems’ (the current leader in this space) website, they are selling their standard unit for 3 899 pounds (or $6 650 CAD). This is only for the supply of the system. Once the technology gets more commercialized and streamlined this cost will go down, but will still be more expensive than a normal shower.
Is this product currently available in canada?
Not yet, but it looks like there are plans to expand to the North American market. So far it looks like only a few European countries have supply chains for the product (Denmark, Sweden, Great Britain).
Possible applications for when the technology comes to north America
Where I see this technology thriving at first will be in higher-use shower applications, that is where people will realize a return on investment first. Places like gyms and hockey arenas where there are communal and frequent use of showers. The next area will be in homes that are targeting net-zero or better energy usage. Since the shower saves on both water and energy, this will be a great way to gain the net-zero accreditation for sustainable homes.
Conclusion
I cannot wait to see when this technology hits the North American market, and I will try to update the content in this blog once that day comes.
About Home Innovation Spotlight
BVM Contracting is committed to finding and writing about innovative technology, products, and services that are transforming the home and construction industry. In order to be the best General Contractor and Home Builder that we can be, it is important to stay in the loop on new trends and give people insight about the fun and exciting things coming to your home in the future!
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.
