We want to extend our thank you to the Homebuilders Association of Vancouver (HAVAN) for organizing our recent case study of our NetZero ready new build in Burnaby, BC.  Our online webinar had 74 attendees, followed by a site tour of 21 people (multiple small groups, sanitized, masked up, and physically distanced of course)!   We hope you found it informative and took away some great points that building a NetZero ready home can be affordable.  If you missed it don't fret, we have the tour filmed and you'll be able to access it online through HAVAN's E-learn platform.

Please be advised that we will be closed on Wednesday July 1st in lieu of Canada Day.

LED Skylights
LED Skylights emit artificial light that closely resembles the visible spectrum of natural sunlight. In its purest form natural sunlight has a temperature of around 5,000 degrees Kelvin and a Color Rendering Index of 100. 

Install: Simple process, which any electrician can perform with minimal wiring. No retrofitting required.  Controlled by a wall mounted digital control pad which can link up to 60+ skylights.  Most companies also offer standard sizes like 2' x 2' or 2' x 4'.
Maintenance/Cleaning: Virtually no maintenance required, and cleaning is fairly easy.
Heat Gain/Loss: LED Skylights do not have any impact on the air temperature.  As we move towards building more energy efficient homes, this is a great way to have less openings in the building envelope while still getting the benefits of natural light!
Glare: LED Skylights do not produce UV radiation or glare and do not interfere with projectors or any other light emitting technology. LED Skylights have a dimmable range of 1% to 100%.  They provide up to 50,000 hours (5-6 years of continuous usage).  This period can be extended by replacing the parts that might fail after the initial lifespan has ended. 
Other Notes: Some LED skylights also provide background images of scattered clouds or clear blue sky.  A single LED panel can light up to an area of 15 m² with 4,500 Lux if installed at a height of 3 meters. At a height of 6 meters, the same area will receive 3,000 Lux.  

The Vancouver housing market is strong and there is also a lot of demand here for small footprints, affordability and independent living for older generations.  Bonus: the utility bills incurred in laneway homes are relatively low. Almost half of occupants reported that they pay less than $50 per month on hydro and gas when polled in a survey by the City of Vancouver.

Here are some tips if you're thinking about building a laneway house in Vancouver:

• For a more desirable rental unit, build at least 2 bedrooms.
• If you have a large lot, consider building a single-storey home to maximize space, as design guidelines permit building only 60% of overall square footage upstairs. Stairs take up a lot of room and can be prohibitive for the elderly.
• Consider where the morning and evening light will fall when designing the space and placing windows.
• As municipalities move away from using gas to heat our homes, consider a high efficiency heat pump for heating and cooling.
• Consider stratifying the laneway home so you can potentially sell it on the market separate from the main house down the road. 
• Hire a licensed, reputable, and experienced builder to bring your laneway home dreams to reality.

Don’t forget to read through relevant city regulations before you begin building. If you live in Vancouver and want to add a laneway home to your property, the City of Vancouver has compiled an easy-to-follow list of steps to take.

When your laneway home is complete, check with the city before moving in to see if you need an occupancy permit.

To learn more, discuss your plans or request a free quote, please don’t hesitate to call 604-568-9983, email us, or complete our online contact form today.

Thinking of renovation your bathroom? Don’t make any of these 5 common bathroom renovation mistakes.  A bathroom renovation may seem like a simple endeavor, considering its size. However, bathrooms can become one of the most troublesome areas; the following are five of some of the most common mistakes that people make.

1. No plan: Before you begin your bathroom renovation by ripping out tile and removing sinks, you should have a clear plan as to what you want to do with the bathroom. Your plan should include a rough sketch of the finished project, as well as what needs to be taken out, added in, plus the cost of all the materials that will go into the room. This plan will also save time in the long run, as you will know exactly what you need when you visit the hardware store – rather than “playing it by ear,” which usually results in multiple trips to get items you have forgotten.
2. Forget the fan? A bathroom fan is an essential part of your bathroom – not only does it keep your mirrors are clear when you have a shower, it also prevents mold and mildew from growing on your paint and grout. This moisture can easily cause deterioration, which may lead to repair or replacement in the future. Fans should also be vacuumed and cleaned to ensure they are working correctly. To determine if your fan needs to be cleaned, place a piece of toilet paper below the fan – if it sticks, the fan is working; if not, it needs to be cleaned.
3. Unrealistic budget: It is a common belief that “do-it-yourself” projects cost less than hiring an outside contractor; which may be true, but only because you are saving on the labor. The costs for materials should still be factored into your budget. Figure out what you want your finished bathroom to look like, and price out the different parts that need to be purchased; the countertop, new cabinets, tiling – and don’t forget the small things, like grout, which can be easily overlooked. Having a budget also makes shopping for the project an easy task, as you can write up a list based on what you need. Hiring a professional can save you money In the long run by having the project done correctly.
4. Overlooking small mistakes: It may seem easy enough to ignore that cracked tile, or forget about the excess sealer in the corner of your bathtub. Unfortunately, these small issues will become more troublesome later on – if you can see the issue, other people can as well – so fix those problems as you notice them.
5. ​Losing focus toward the end: Just like any project, focus can be lost when renovating your bathroom – especially if you are completing the task during weekends. You might get frustrated and decide to just leave it as is. 
6. Not hiring a professional: Hiring a professional with lots of renovation experience can help you save time and money.  It will also give you the peace of mind of not having to stress about your project.

Contact us today to inquire about your next home renovation project!

A brief video of Jeff Langford describing how we reinforced foundation walls with the use of carbon fiber reinforcement polymer (CFRP) on our latest renovation project in Burnaby, BC.

For this type of situation we decided it was best to use a Carbon Fibre Reinforcement Polymer (CFRP).  Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Polymer (CFRP) is an extremely strong and light fiber-reinforced plastic which contains carbon fibers.  CFRP has a tensile strength approximately 10 times that of steel.  As a result, it is commonly used wherever high strength-to-weight ratio and stiffness (rigidity) is required, such as aerospace, superstructure of ships, automotive, civil engineering, sports equipment, and an increasing number of consumer and technical applications.  This product is also used in both repairing and strengthening of reinforced concrete structures. ​

Our contracted company used a grinder to smooth all the walls and used epoxy injections to fill a total of 76 lin. ft. of fractures in the concrete.  The walls were then primed before applying the vertical and horizontal pieces and they fixed any bubbling that occurred.  More resin was applied and heaters were brought in the ensure optimal temperatures and proper curing.  A 3rd party company will then do a pull test, measure, and inspect that the CFRP has been adhered properly before they and our engineers sign off on it.   All in all this was a two week process.  Although this discovery was not expected for our homeowners and comes with an unexpected expense they can now move forward with the rest of their renovation with the peace of mind that their home is safe for their family.

The JDL Homes & 1910 Construction Group family would like to extend a very happy lunar new year to all.  Wishing you a happy, healthy, & prosperous lunar new year!