1.
OBC 2012 OBC 2017 NEAR ZERO
90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10
ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 2018PUBLICATIONNUMBER42408014
INSIDE
Meet Our Award Winners
Savings by Design
TowerHouse:
The Best of Both Worlds
Getting Better Every Day
Resilient Construction Techniques
Simply
theBest!Winners of the 2018 Cross Border Builder Challenge

2.
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3.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 2018
16
1
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
2
Peace, Order and
Good Building
by John Godden
THE BADA TEST
3
My Experience with
Savings by Design
by Lou Bada
INDUSTRY NEWS
4
Heathwood Homes Inspired
to Make a Difference
by Rob Blackstien
INDUSTRY EXPERT
6
Getting Better Every Day
by Gord Cooke
BUILDER NEWS
8
Brookfield Residential
by Rob Blackstien
SITE SPECIFIC
11
Savings by Design Helps
TowerHouse Build Better
by Alex Newman
BUILDER NEWS
15
Going Green Project
by Better Builder Staff
20
Geranium Homes
by Rob Blackstien
22
Castleform Developments
by Alex Newman
26
Empire Communities
by Rob Blackstien
INDUSTRY NEWS
28
Cross Border Builder Challenge
Awards Dinner
by Better Builder Staff
FROM THE GROUND UP
31
Resilient Construction Techniques
by Doug Tarry
FEATURE STORY
16
TowerHouse: The Best of Both Worlds
Bringing commercial construction precision to the residential market
by Rob Blackstien
22
ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 2018
Images internally supplied unless otherwise credited.
11
26

4.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 20182
“Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without
newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a
moment to prefer the latter.” — Thomas Jefferson
In a rapidly changing world of politics, ideas and technologies, the free
press provides a context where objective, fact-based decisions can emerge.
Single-minded government agendas, programs or policies need to be vetted
against concrete facts and measurements.
When we wish to compare Canadian built homes to America’s built ones
as we do in the Cross Border Builder Challenge, the ERI is “a standards based
approach” to determine the lowest score of energy performance.
In the Ontario context under SB-12 2017 a package A1 reference house scores
an ERI or HERS 53 and exceeds the IECC requirement of 54 (see chart page 5).
On April 27, the Sustainable Housing Foundation hosted a dinner to
celebrate the winners of the RESNET/CRESNET Cross Border Builder
Challenge. The challenge is a friendly annual competition between
American and Canadian home builders to determine just how energy
efficient builders can build. The rule is simple: the lowest HERS/ERI
score wins. Like the free press, the HERS index draws a line where we can
objectively determine how home builders can compete in a free and open
market to determine leadership and excellence.
There are six categories for Canadian builders, with awards sponsored by
Enbridge, Dow, Icynene and RenewABILITY. This issue features each of the
winners. It is notable that all the winners (with the exception of one custom
builder) are graduates of Enbridge’s Savings by Design (SBD) program,
which incentivizes builders to achieve 15% better performance than the
2017 Ontario Building Code. SBD empowers builders through an integrated
design process (IDP) to retool their production to meet new energy
performance required by the Building Code. We delve into the Enbridge
Vision 2020 Session on page 15. We also feature TowerHouse, an ambitious
new builder and graduate of SBD, on page 16. And in his column, Lou Bada
reflects on how the IDP works, as he is the first of a few builders to utilize the
SBD program a second time (page 3).
Beyond the Cross Border Builder Challenge, the international theme
continues with Gord Cooke sharing lessons from the fifth annual Building
Science Spring Training Camp, featuring expert presenters from Canada
and the U.S. (page 6). Doug Tarry reports on his Project Agua Vita humani­
tarian work initiative in Puerto Rico (page 31). With a new mission and a
larger team, the project is truly ramping up, and donations can make a big
difference. The Sustainable Housing Foundation is proud to have raised
$2,000 for Project Agua Vita through a raffle and auction. Thanks also to
Lifebreath, RenewABILITY, ROCKWOOL™
and others for their kind donations.
Like the “newspapers without a government” invoked by Jefferson, this
magazine will always strive to objectively and impartially measure, report
on and celebrate the best of sustainable building. Congratulations to all of
this year’s Cross Border Builder Challenge winners – I look forward to next
year’s competition. BB
Peace, Order
and Good Building
PUBLISHER
Better Builder Magazine
63 Blair Street
Toronto ON M4B 3N5
416-481-4218 | fax 416-481-4695
sales@betterbuilder.ca
Better Builder Magazine
is a sponsor of
PUBLISHING EDITOR
John B. Godden
MANAGING EDITOR
Wendy Shami
editorial@betterbuilder.ca
To advertise, contribute a story,
or join our distribution list, please
contact editorial@betterbuilder.ca
FEATURE WRITERS
Rob Blackstien, Alex Newman
PROOFREADING
Carmen Siu
CREATIVE
Wallflower Design
www.wallflowerdesign.com
This magazine brings together
premium product manufacturers
and leading builders to create
better, differentiated homes and
buildings that use less energy,
save water and reduce our
impact on the environment.
PUBLICATION NUMBER
42408014
Copyright by Better Builder
Magazine. Contents may not be
reprinted or reproduced without
written permission. The opinions
expressed herein are exclusively
those of the authors and assumed
to be original work. Better Builder
Magazine cannot be held liable
for any damage as a result of
publishing such works.
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER
All company and/or product
names may be trade names,
trademarks and/or registered
trademarks of the respective
owners with which they are
associated.
UNDELIVERABLE MAIL
Better Builder Magazine
63 Blair Street
Toronto ON M4B 3N5
Better Builder Magazine is
published four times a year.
publisher’snote / JOHN GODDEN
John Godden
Alex Newman
Gord Cooke
Rob Blackstien
Lou Bada
Doug Tarry
CONTRIBUTORS

5.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 2018
My Experience with
Enbridge’s Savings by Design
3
S
tarlane Homes recently
participated in an integrated
design process (IDP) with
Enbridge for their Savings by Design
program for a second time. Savings by
Design is part of Enbridge’s demand-
side management (DSM) program.
Implementing a DSM program for
energy conservation is part of a
utility’s mandate, which is regulated
by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB).
Power and gas utilities not only sell
you electricity or natural gas, but
must also help you conserve it.
Setting aside the debate on the
value and challenges of programs and
incentives for the moment, Savings
by Design is not only a financial
incentive but also a tool for builders of
production homes. It enables builders
to reach for “better than code”
conservation targets that are being
(properly or improperly) mandated
by municipal governments. One of
Savings by Design’s greatest attributes
is that it facilitates and imparts
knowledge through sharing and
collaboration.
The IDP is a requirement of Savings
by Design – however, it is also an
opportunity for builders. It brings
together a group of individuals from
different sectors to explore, evaluate
and ultimately decide on the best path
forward to achieve greater energy
efficiency in our homes. Included
in this group were: home designers,
construction management staff and
executive staff from Starlane; staff
members from plans examination,
building inspections and planning
from the municipalities involved;
energy evaluators; and building
thebadatest / LOU BADA
product manufacturers. Through­
out the IDP, Enbridge program
administrators were available to
quickly answer questions. A very
knowledgeable facilitator provided by
Enbridge led the day-long process.
The product of the IDP for Starlane
is not only a recipe for the construction
of more energy-efficient homes but,
more importantly, the creation of
a culture within our company of
continuous product and process
improvements and a clearer under­
standing of our goals. Our people now
have insight and, crucially, input into
the direction we are going. We also can
learn together and team build.
“Integrated” is the operative word
in IDP. All attendees are encouraged
to freely share experiences, challenges
and concerns. These ideas are distilled
and absorbed into an integrated
solution that everyone had a share
in crafting. Networking also takes
place in a collegial atmosphere.
The IDP builds trust between all
parties because we are able to see the
challenges through each others’ lenses.
So, we not only acquire knowledge but
we also understand each other better.
The Savings by Design program
through the IDP also exposed us to new
ideas and technologies that we may not
have otherwise known about. We were
able to discuss and begin to evaluate
hybrid heating, fuel switching and
electrical peak-shaving technologies
that may very well be the future of
sustainable home building in Ontario.
The integrated design process has
been used in architecture and
sustainable building design for some
time and is a valuable and necessary
step in deriving competent solutions
with the input of multidisciplinary
teams. It’s a holistic approach to design
that will help drive continuous
improvements in home building. Our
experience with the Savings by Design
program at Starlane has been positive
because of the IDP and the support of
Enbridge and all those involved in the
process. BB
Lou Bada is vice president of low
rise construction at Starlane Home
Corporation and on the board of
directors for the Residential Construction
Council of Ontario (RESCON).
One of Savings by
Design’s greatest
attributes is that it
facilitates and imparts
knowledge through
collaboration.

6.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 20184
industrynews / ROB BLACKSTIEN
A
lways well respected for its
brand, Heathwood Homes
added yet another feather to
its cap by winning the 2018 CRESNET
President’s Award, bestowed upon
the company for its Forest Hill on
the Green subdivision in Richmond
Hill, Ontario. All 113 homes in this
subdivision earned a HERS rating
well under 54, with the average home
rating being 44 (almost 17% better
than Code). Having just turned 40
last year, Heathwood is clearly getting
better, not older.
There’s no secret formula to how
Heathwood’s brand has become so
revered: the company has always
prided itself on going the extra mile to
ensure its customers’ happiness. Its
goal is to leave people with the feeling
that they’re being treated differently.
The award-winning subdivision
consists of single-family homes on 43-
and 50-foot lots that feature nine-foot
basements, 10-foot main floors and
nine-foot second floors. Other premium
items include ROCKWOOL™
thermal
insulated sheathing board, insulation
under basement concrete floors, and
solar and greywater rough-ins.
Since the Richmond Hill project,
Heathwood has begun construction on
a new discovery home in Whitby to be
completed next year, says Silvio Longo,
chief operating officer of construction.
Hot water tanks that can also help heat
the home and ERV systems are just two
of the energy-efficient features that
Heathwood will be test driving in the
Whitby house, he says.
Inspired by success
For Heathwood, winning the Presi­
dent’s Award “gives us inspiration to
move forward with” plans for more
energy-efficient homes. Longo says
that the award indicates “that we’re
on the right track and can make a
difference for the industry.” The award
confirms that Heathwood is doing a
better job and can give consumers a
better house that doesn’t produce too
much carbon.
He says that keeping the entire fleet
under HERS 54 was accomplished “by
keeping track of what we were doing
and the site management making sure
that” they had airtightness.
Heathwood employed a variety of
features – upgraded furnaces, ERVs,
drainwater heat recovery systems –
“everything that made the house very
green in terms of consumption.” Longo
says the whole community was built
that way.
In typical Canuck fashion, Longo
brushed off suggestions that his
company is now an international leader,
saying he doesn’t give much thought
In this year’s RESNET/CRESNET Cross Border Builder Challenge – an event celebrating excellence
in energy-efficient home building while promoting the HERS (Home Energy Rating System) index –
Canadian firms fared very well, taking home several prestigious awards. Interestingly, despite the
modern and cutting-edge technology on display, the winners were old-school builders, all at least
a quarter-century old. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?
Canada Shines in 2018
Cross Border Builder Challenge
Heathwood Homes
Inspired to make a difference

7.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 2018
to that and prefers to focus on doing
what he’s doing. But compared to
other builders across North America,
Heathwood is clearly doing pretty well.
Driven to improve
Now that it’s achieved an entire
subdivision with no homes higher
than a HERS 54, Heathwood wants
to improve on that “in the very near
future.” It’s not easy, Longo says, but
it’s better to be a leader than a follower:
“We’ve always strived toward that.”
Next up for Heathwood is a new
subdivision of 240 single homes in
Whitby, a project that’s just starting.
He says they again plan on using the
HERS scale. “We’ll use this experience
with this new (test) house that we’re
building to see what else we can do.”
A veteran of the Savings by Design
program – which charges builders
to create homes at least 15% better
than Code – Longo says it was “quite
challenging,” but created a win-win
scenario for both Heathwood and its
home owners.
Heathwood employees also take
great pride in the company’s charity
initiative, The Mikey Network. Named
in honour of former company partner
Mike Salem, who died of a heart attack
in 2002, the Mikey Network places
defibrillators across the world and is
responsible for saving 39 lives since its
inception. BB
Rob Blackstien is a Toronto-based
freelance writer. Pen-Ultimate.ca
5
PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Heathwood Homes received the President’s Award for all 113 homes in their Forest Hill
on the Green subdivision. From left: John Godden, Rocco Longo and Silvio Longo of
Heathwood Homes, Bruce Young of Icynene, and Rod Buchalter of RenewABILITY.
44
2015 IECC
ADOPTED ERI SCORES
BY CLIMATE ZONE
CLIMATE
2015 IECC
ADOPTED SCORES
ZONE 1 52
ZONE 2 52
ZONE 3 51
ZONE 4 54
ZONE 5 55
ZONE 6 54
ZONE 7 53
ZONE 8 53

8.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 20186
industryexpert / GORD COOKE
I mention this because it reinforces
the important theme of the overall
agenda: continual improvement. In
fact, this year’s agenda was influenced
by a pre-Camp survey of attendees as
to the major challenges the industry
faces as we all strive to improve the
health, safety, comfort, durability,
efficiency and profitability of our
building industry. It will come as no
surprise that on the minds of the 120
attendees were two main themes:
the ever increasing expectations of
home buyers with respect to quality
and comfort, and the ever greater
difficulty in finding skilled and
motivated labour and trade partners.
These themes played out in a
number of sessions presented over the
two days. For example, John Straube
of RDH Building Science labs offered
a nice historical perspective of how
prefabrication of housing components
helped the industry respond to
the significant labour challenges
in the post-World War II era. This
era spawned the development of
prefabricated windows, cabinetry
and trusses that helped overcome the
on-site shortage of these important
skills. John then showed a variety
of project prefabrication ideas from
around North America and beyond
that should be considered by the
industry today: wall panels at various
stages of completion, completed floor
and roof assemblies and modular
building sections can all help
overcome the skilled labour shortages
the industry faces. John pointed out
that a transition to more prefabrication
would require better planning and
significant capital investment – in
short, a longer-term vision for an
industry that struggles to look past the
next piece of land or the next economic
slowdown.
A complementary session by Jeff
Armstrong of Cold Climate Building
in Ottawa highlighted work he has
been doing on creating a panelization
system for deep energy retrofits of
existing homes. The premise of Jeff’s
work is that we are going to need a way
of effectively re-skinning the millions
of poorly insulated existing homes
with high levels of insulation if we are
to really make a dent in aggressive
energy efficiency targets.
Jeff’s process is helped by new
technology that can precisely and
quickly measure the exterior façade
of a building to facilitate the off-site
manufacturing of precision insulated
panels to reface the building. Jeff
and his team, with help from Natural
Resources Canada, have demonstrated
proof of concept on a simple trailer
building and now will apply it to
an actual row house project. Both
John and Jeff reminded the audience
that the off-site manufacturing of
components requires a fanatical
focus on methods that ensure on-site
assembly results in thoroughly water-
managed building enclosures. After
all, the longevity and sustainability of
houses starts with proper detailing of
water-resistant barriers.
I was so pleased that my good
friends, Mark LaLiberte and Justin
Wilson of Construction Instruction
from the U.S., were able to come to
Spring Training Camp. In preparation
for Camp, Mark and Justin had sent
up plans for mock-up walls so that
they could demonstrate valuable
techniques for proper installation of
water-managed windows and doors.
Mark and Justin are so passionate
Getting Better Every Day
T
his April saw the fifth annual Building Science Spring Training Camp, which
we at Building Knowledge Canada were pleased to host with Tex McLeod.
Tex always designs a comprehensive and complementary agenda that
incorporates a nice range of different learning experiences to ensure the event is
fun, interactive and memorable. This year was no exception, with a formal debate
(well, more fun than formal, along the lines of the popular CBC Radio The Debaters
program), followed by an open mic night and a movie night (including popcorn).
Mark LaLiberte (left) and Justin Wilson of
Construction Instruction.

9.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 2018
about the importance of hands-on learning for
our industry that they have set up a new learning
centre in Phoenix, Arizona. In this new facility,
builders and their trade partners can attend a two-
to three-day learning event and play around with
different materials and installation techniques
for weather barriers, thermal barriers and air
barriers, and then actually test the performance
of what they have learned. This new, unique
learning experience is called Ci Live. I am certain
many readers can think of more than a few of
their staff or partners who would benefit from a
high-level, in-depth opportunity to learn. Ci Live
helps participants really understand the attention
to detail required by our increasingly complex
buildings (and expected by our home buyers).
The three Camp sessions mentioned above
were just Day One in Huntsville. If we are to
respond to the challenges facing the industry
with respect to skilled labour shortages, we can’t
just lament that “you can’t find good people
anymore.” Rather, let’s go out and invest in
systems that leap-frog past the shortages – such
as more prefabrication – or invest in continual
and progressive training of that most valuable
of resources. As you consider your own path of
continual improvement, consider how much and
how often your people need learning experiences.
Fortunately, there are resources available to you.
For more information on Ci Live, go to
www.constructioninstruction.com.
Gord Cooke is president of Building
Knowledge Canada.
77
NRCan’s Jeremy Sager presents findings on hybrid
heating as a means of reducing CO2 emissions.

10.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 20188
buildernews / ROB BLACKSTIEN
D
espite pushing 65 years in
existence, Brookfield Residen­
tial continues to reinvent
itself, as evidenced by taking home
the lowest HERS score by a Canadian
production builder honour in this
year’s Cross Border Builder Challenge.
Cross Border Builder
Challenge veteran
Brookfield’s award-winning home
– part of the company’s Fieldstone
subdivision, located just outside of
Orangeville, Ontario – scored a 38 on
the HERS scale. Of course, excelling
at the Cross Border Builder Challenge
is nothing new to Brookfield. The
company has been participating
since the contest first ran in 2012, says
William Greig, director of contracts
and purchasing.
Given the success in its HERS
scores, Greig says John Godden
recommended Brookfield enter the
challenge. It’s worked out extremely
well, as this marked the third time
Brookfield has won for the lowest score
for production builder, having also
earned the honour in 2015 and 2017.
Brookfield also won the CRESNET
President’s Award in 2015 and 2017.
Often times, companies will build
homes specifically for the purpose of
entering this contest. But Brookfield’s
winning home this year was a prod­
uction model. “Since we did not design
this home with the intention of win­
ning an award, and it was treated the
same as the other homes in the com­
munity, it came as a pleasant surprise,”
Greig says. “It is a testament to how
well we build our standard home.”
Clearly, all these Cross Border
Builder Challenge awards have posi­
tioned Brookfield as an international
leader, but at the end of the day, all this
innovation is simply for its customers.
“We are happy to be viewed as an
international leader. However, we feel
we are simply doing the right thing for
our home owners,” Greig explains.
Balancing energy efficiency
and affordability
To remain a cutting-edge builder,
Brookfield has spent much time
experimenting with different building
techniques in an effort to balance
high energy efficiency with afford­
ability. A couple of years ago, it built a
discovery home in Tottenham,
Ontario. It had a HERS rating of 13
and was 77% above Code, if solar
battery storage is used (a near-zero
rating of 57% better than Code, or a
HERS 31, if achieved without solar).
The home had a bevy of energy-
efficient features:
• Fuel switching: a gas-fired furnace,
but also an air conditioner heat
pump. In the shoulder months, the
Brookfield Residential
Pushing Boundaries
88
LOWEST SCORE CANADIAN PRODUCTION BUILDER
This is the third time Brookfield Residential has won the award for lowest score
among Canadian production builders. From left: John Godden, Michael Da Estrela
and Jamie Corbett of Brookfield Residential, and Rod Buchalter of RenewABILITY.
38

11.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 2018
heat pump can provide the space
heating with the furnace kicking
in when it gets really cold outside
• Insulation: two inches of exterior
R-10 polystyrene foam on the
outside, plus R-24 ROCKWOOL™
in the main walls. It’s a panelized
home featuring less wood in the
cavity, meaning more insulation
can be added
• Windows: triple-glazed windows
with a U-value of 1.0
• Exhaust fans: includes Panasonic
WhisperGreen fans, which
displace more air while using a lot
less electricity, and
• Greywater: Greyter Water Systems,
a unit that supports drainwater heat
recovery, collecting that water in a
holding tank to use shower water to
flush toilets.
In addition to all they will learn
from the Tottenham home, Brookfield
has opted to voluntarily rate all its new
construction homes using the HERS.
“We’ve decided to do that standard,”
Greig says.
He also revealed some of the
company’s plans going forward.
“As we learn from past successes
and challenges, we will continue to
push our boundaries by testing new
products and building techniques,”
Greig explains. “Our next ventures
include incorporating smart home
technology into our model homes in
Aurora Woodhaven, and constructing
a discovery home in Pickering New
Seaton featuring a more energy-
efficient building envelope.” BB
9
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12.
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13.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 2018
R
oss Tyrell says he could sell just
about anything in a housing
market as hot as this one. But
the site manager for TowerHouse
doesn’t do that – because he and
the construction company he works
for want to create the best product
possible. That’s why he spends
as much time as he can learning
about better building practices and
integrated design.
Recently, Tyrell attended a full-day
workshop that Clearsphere held on
integrated design called Savings by
Design. Bringing together builders
and like-minded suppliers and
manufacturers – like ROCKWOOL™
,
Greyter Water Systems, Uponor and
Enbridge – the intent was to introduce
builders and developers to the latest
products aimed at helping them
reduce their carbon footprint.
At the eight-hour workshop, held at
the TowerHouse presentation centre,
the various suppliers and manufac­
turers demonstrated their products
and discussed existing construction
methods and what could be done
better using these systems or products.
TowerHouse had already imple­
mented many green building prac­
tices, including some of the items
discussed, but Tyrell says they also
“plan to add more of the features to
see just how much we can achieve in
terms of energy savings. We aim to go
better than the standard, but you have
to examine the numbers too and plan
to spend your money wisely.”
A motivating factor in upgrading
to products that improve R-values, or
create more efficient HVAC systems,
is that the upcoming Building Code
in 2020 will contain more stringent
requirements. “We already have a
great building code – one of the best
in the world – but the 2020 Code will
really challenge builders to reduce
their footprint, and to understand that
fundamentally building is about much
more than putting up walls and a roof.
A big benefit of the upcoming code
will be eliminating the fly-by-night
builders,” says Tyrell, who manages
and supervises TowerHouse sites
ranging from multi-residential projects
to luxury singles to east-end Toronto
new-build movie studios.
Currently, Tyrell works with
Clearsphere on the company’s multi-
residential project at 20 Perth Avenue
in Toronto’s Junction neighbourhood.
“So far, the collaboration has been
fantastic, because as a builder we
want to be better, greener.” But over
the past year or so, Tyrell has involved
Clearsphere in other projects as well,
to conduct insulation inspections,
provide advice on how to build better
homes, make their recommendations
on improving the building envelope
and connect TowerHouse with
appropriate trades and vendors.
The Savings by Design seminar
pulled it all together by bringing
builders and suppliers together in
one place, demonstrating clearly how
to build greener while keeping costs
down and efficiencies of homes up. “It
11
Savings by Design
Helps TowerHouse Build Better
sitespecific / ALEX NEWMAN
TowerHouse’s Jordan Brooks, site manager
Ross Tyrell, and Zachary Schwartz.
“We aim to go better
than the standard, but
you have to examine
the numbers too and
plan to spend your
money wisely.”

14.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 201812
was all right there, easy to see and
discuss, ask questions,” Tyrell says.
The workshop reinforced some of
the good construction methods and
products TowerHouse was already
using. “A lot of the Savings by Design
workshop was on insulation. We’re
doing ROCKWOOL™
in our homes,
in all dividing party walls, as well as
exterior walls up to a value of R-22.
And we’re using a zoned high-velocity
combination heating system.”
But the program also showed
where they could improve. For
example, Tyrell is considering
roughing in for a greywater system
using the Greyter product, and giving
customers the opportunity to install
later (this would be on single custom
homes). “It’s good to know about
what’s available and to either start
installing now, or to make it so they
can be added later. Right now, some
of these products and systems are
complicated for end users, but part of
the process for us as builders is to learn
how to make it easier for home buyers
to understand how to use it.”
Tyrell, who started working in
construction at 18, says he did not
learn anything about construction
through books. “I did it by using my
hands. The job site is my classroom
and I understand these trades and how
they work.”
He started in construction when
he went to work for his uncle doing
cabling in Quebec, then became an
apprentice in electric, and did fine
woodworking and cabinetry, which
led into construction framing and
concrete work. He decided – with all
that expertise – to become his own
general contractor, but after six years,
he was growing frustrated with the
lack of professionalism he dealt with
in some trades. “I’m a little OCD
that way,” he says. So he looked for
a company that shared his exacting
construction standards, which is how
he ended up working with Jordan
Brooks and Zachary Schwartz at
TowerHouse.
Currently, Tyrell conducts daily site
inspections, looking for safety compli­
ance and work quality, and connecting
directly with trades, architects, devel-
opers and inspectors. His approach is
always about “respect. I value profes­
sionalism, and if you’re professional in
your trade, you should be able to work
in an environment that respects that.
Because the person who does their job
well, and with a level of professional­
ism, will always have work.” BB
Alex Newman is a writer, editor and
researcher at alexnewmanwriter.com.
12
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15.
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16.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 2018 15
buildernews / BETTER BUILDER STAFF
This charrette was organized to
demonstrate that it is possible, at the
design stage of building a home, for
the home building industry to achieve
energy efficiencies 15% above and
beyond the requirements of the 2020
Ontario Building Code.
Enbridge is incentivizing builders
to do this through a $2,000 rebate per
house for up to 50 homes (a cap of
$100,000). The program is founded on
the belief that there has to be a better
way to build a new home and a greener
future, and it starts with bringing all
parties together and getting them on
the same page.
So, how is this energy efficiency
achieved? It’s done through a series
of technical innovations. The
checklist is extensive, but here’s a
top-five summary:
1. High-performance building
envelope through the use of new
and advanced building materials,
including an air-barrier system
(such as Blueskin VP [a vapour
permeable adhesive building wrap]
and ROCKWOOL™
insulation)
to ensure airtightness, prevent
condensation and heat loss, and
even reduce sound in exterior walls.
It also includes proper flashing of
windows, doors and mechanical
penetrations in the exterior to
prevent water entry and air leakage.
2. High-performance HVAC with
proper installation, commissioning
and balancing of the heating
and cooling system – including
components such as the furnace, air
conditioner, ERV/HRV, humidifier
and distribution ducting – to ensure
indoor quality.
3. Precision wood-framed structures,
comprised of panelized wall
and floor sections built off-site
in a controlled manufacturing
environment, to raise the quality of
production.
4. Reduce water usage through low-
flush toilets and adding a rough-in
for greywater.
5. Efficient lighting and material
management with 90% compact
fluorescent lamps or LED lighting.
Can all this be achieved?
“Yes, it can,” says home builder
Zachary Schwartz of TowerHouse. “We
proved it today through the modelling.
To achieve these kinds of efficiencies
across the industry, the trick is that
everyone has to agree to strengthening
construction practices at the design
stage of a home – but they don’t all have
to be the same.”
Schwartz’s TowerHouse colleague,
Jordan Brooks, added: “There are a few
different ways to get to 15%, and there
are several benefits of building this way:
cleaner air, a smaller carbon footprint,
moisture control, even cost savings. It
was a very eye-opening experience. It
was a pretty amazing meeting of the
minds.”
Perhaps most importantly, there was
agreement from a municipality – the
City of Toronto – that this would be a
program that it could support.
“The charrette provided a lot of good
technical information, and I learned a lot
from it,” said a building inspector with the
City of Toronto. “This is a program that I
would recommend to my department.”
Scott Bullock, program manager
with Enbridge, says that the program
has been a success during its seven
years of existence and that they
welcome more low-rise builders to join.
“We were happy to sponsor today’s
Vision 2020 Session and strongly
believe that the incentive we provide for
implementing energy efficiencies in the
construction of new homes encourages
the industry to continue to strive for
excellence,” Bullock says.
But will the buyer know the
difference? Enbridge, and Savings by
Design builders, are betting yes: new-
home buyers will want to know about
the savings on gas and electricity, and
how they can breathe better and feel
more comfortable in their new home.
“I think it’s a bit cynical to say that
all that home buyers care about is
location, location, location,” Schwartz
says. “There are a lot of home buyers
that are hungry for information –
probably more than ever – on their new
homes. That’s why I think they’ll like
what they see through the Savings by
Design program, and we’ll be happy to
give them the homes they want.” BB
Going Green Project
A Towering Achievement in the Making
O
ne scan around the room at the Savings by Design charrette revealed that
every head in the industrial-style office space was, at some point, nodding
in agreement.
When you consider the cross-section of professionals that were in attendance –
builders, civil servants, consultants, engineers, energy evaluators – it’s rare to see
representatives of different sectors all buying into a concept and vision. But that’s
what was unfolding at the Enbridge Vision 2020 Session.

17.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 201816
featurestory / ROB BLACKSTIEN
TheBestof
BothWorlds
Lower Junction Townhouses
32 townhouses complete with all associated
servicing, site work and landscaping.
Architecture: TACT Architecture
Interior Design: Jules Valentine
Developer: Castlepoint Numa, and Greybrook
Realty Partners Alfredo Romano, John O’Keefe
About the Developer
Now in its 25th year of leadership in the development industry, The Castlepoint
Group creates communities and employment areas across the Greater Toronto Area
and in select markets in the United States. Castlepoint Numa is the largest private
sector landowner on the Toronto waterfront. Its projects are recognized for their
vision, aesthetics and innovative expertise. Castlepoint Numa excels in heritage
preservation, brownfield reclamation and the revitalization of sites in decline.

18.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 2018 1717
TowerHouse brings commercial construction
precision to the residential market
D
espite being a relatively
new company, TowerHouse
is not short on experience –
or aspirations.
“Our philosophy is just to build
better,” says co-founder/construction
manager Zach Schwartz.
By taking what he and fellow
co-founder Jordan Brooks gleaned from
their years in commercial construction,
and marrying that to residential
construction techniques, TowerHouse is
able to provide custo­mers with the best
of both worlds.
“We took a lot of the knowledge that
we gained in commercial construction
– the precision and expertise that
exists on that side – and began to sort
of transfer it over to the residential
market,” Schwartz explains.
“Part of our goal is to bring this
level of trade in the residential
market up to the production that we
were accustomed to. So we spend a
considerable amount of time making
sure people are performing up to the
way they’re supposed to be performing
– to complete the construction projects
on time, on budget and with the quality
that we’ve come to expect,” he adds.
Eventually Schwartz and Brooks
opted to strike out on their own,
forming TowerHouse in 2013. The name
harkens back to medieval times, when
tower houses were custom homes for
aristocrats – always unique and always
regarded by their owners as a castle.
Hands-on approach
Schwartz says because he and Brooks
both come from the field, they remain
very hands-on. That isn’t likely to change:
“Really our intention is to not grow too
big that we can’t still get our hands in
the field and be there to monitor quality
and what’s actually happening on site.”
The 11-employee company had
built around 40 custom homes before
launching into its first multi-home
project: The Lower Junction, which
consists of 32 luxury townhomes
located at Bloor and Sterling in Toronto,
expected to begin occupancy in October.
TowerHouse’s philosophy “just to
build better” was put to the test with
this project, given that the homes lay
adjacent to train tracks, causing a
serious issue with sound migration.
Schwartz says many townhomes use
less expensive materials on the outside,
but part of vetting sound comes from
mass – so, in this instance, the back of
all these townhomes are solid masonry
brick. The issue was also addressed with
extra ROCKWOOL™
SAFE’n’SOUND®
insulation, a much denser product
which has sound attenuation properties.
What also helps mitigate sound,
Schwartz explains, is a continuous
air barrier “because even a small hole
which allows air to get through will also
allow sound to get through.”
Finally, they employed Henry Blue­
skin VP100 building wrap, while paying
extra attention to insulating those walls
that directly face the train tracks.

19.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 201818
For this project, TowerHouse
went through Savings by Design, an
incentive program run by Enbridge
designed to help educate Ontario’s
builders on the latest energy-efficiency
techniques and products with an
eye towards meeting and exceeding
stricter provincial Building Code
changes coming in 2020.
Achievement without
prescription
Savings by Design helps builders
exceed Building Code energy stand­
ards – and get their building permits
approved – without having to use one
of the Code’s prescribed packages.
Calling it a market transformation
effort, program manager Scott Bullock
says “We are encouraging and helping
builders get to the level they want to
get to.”
Here’s how it works, in a nutshell:
builders fill out an application form,
submit to inspections and tests to
ensure the energy goals are being
achieved, and attend valuable semin­
ars where they can learn about the
latest energy-efficiency techniques and
products. Upon successful completion
of Savings by Design, builders receive
a rebate of $2,000 per home, to a
maximum of 50 units.
Bullock says the educational
component is the real gem here. “The
$100,000 to a builder is nice, but there’s
$10 million of builder expertise in the
room.”
Approximately 25 to 30 builders
go through the program annually
(it was 28 last year, and the goal is a
“significantly” higher amount this
year), with over 120 having gone
through it since it launched. Bullock
says because some builders have gone
through it more than once, close to
200 projects have been subsidized by
Savings by Design.
When the program began in 2012,
Bullock said it was geared towards
getting builders to achieve 25% better
than code. When the Ontario Code
changed in 2017, the qualification
threshold was reduced to 15%. Other
alterations made to the program at
that time included: municipalities
were included in the sessions in an
effort to familiarize them with what’s
being planned in the hopes it will help
expedite approvals; energy advisors
(like John Godden) were included to
help run the seminars; and it’s no longer
targeted solely at larger builders.
Forward thinking
That final part is important, Bullock
says, because “in our experience, some
of the smaller builders are the ones that
are doing the most imple­mentations of
these technologies.”
Take TowerHouse, for instance.
Bullock often hears from newer builders
“oh, we’ve only built two or three
subdivisions, we haven’t gotten there
yet” as an excuse not to tackle energy
efficiency.
Not so with TowerHouse. “These
guys wanted to do it in their first devel­
opment, which to me was impressive.
I saw them as very forward thinking.”
For TowerHouse, the program simply
augments their existing goal of building
a better product, Schwartz says. “This
just further incentivizes you to make
those decisions on materials and stuff
that you might not otherwise consider
doing on this type of project.”
He notes that Savings by Design can
become a marketing tool for builders,
but agrees with Bullock that the heart of
the program lies in the training por­
tion. “That’s probably one of the better
parts of the program, is that they’re
really educating the builders on what’s
available and what can be done. We’ve
taken a lot out of it,” Schwartz says.
TowerHouse has an additional
15 townhomes currently under con­
struction beyond the Lower Junction
project, followed by another townhome
project in the west end of Toronto (at
Islington, just south of Bloor Street). BB
Rob Blackstien is a Toronto-based
freelance writer. Pen-Ultimate.ca
The self-sealing permeable Blueskin protective barrier is installed prior to brick installation. Self-sealing Blueskin® VP100 “air tight, water tight and
weather tight” properties eliminate uncontrolled air and moisture movement, resulting in increased thermal performance of the wall assembly.

20.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 2018
For a more comfortable, durable
and energy-efficient home
Drawing on decades of commercial air barrier experience, Henry®
Company has
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uncontrolled air leakage to improve building comfort, safety and energy efficiency.
• Vapor permeable water and air barrier
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21.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 20182020
L
ike Heathwood, Geranium Homes
turned 40 last year. And similarly,
no one would accuse Geranium
of slowing down as it ostensibly
reaches middle age – certainly not
after another award-winning showing,
with a home in its Bloomington Woods
subdivision in Stouffville earning a
HERS 42, winning Geranium mid-
production builder honours in the
Cross Border Builder Challenge.
Well versed in land acquisition,
planning and process, engineering,
servicing, design and construction,
Geranium calls itself one of the
province’s few fully integrated land
development and building companies.
Not a one-trick pony
The 100-plus employee company has
built over 8,000 homes, including
many master-planned communities.
But Geranium is anything but a one-
trick pony, says Boaz Feiner, president
of homebuilding.
“Our portfolio is very wide ranging,”
including mid-rise construction, estate
homes, single-family units, towns
and stacks. “That’s why we’re forced
to push the envelope, because we
don’t do the same thing over and over
again,” he adds.
Vice president of construction
Louie Morizio, who originally joined
Geranium 30 years ago, explains its
philosophy: “It’s always about building
something you can be proud of... that
you can put your name to.”
He continues: “if you have the
satisfaction of the purchasers, the
people that are buying our homes, they
see the product that goes in, they see
the effort, the outcome – you can’t help
but be proud of the product.” Ultimately,
that translates into repeat business and
success over the company’s lifetime.
Geranium’s formula for becoming
an industry leader is simple: it is always
pushing the envelope through R&D and
always seeking new products. “We have
to hand select products we can stand
behind and are comfortable with,” he
explains.
This approach is especially appli­
cable in Geranium’s approach to energy-
efficient home building: “One of our
main focuses is energy consumption
and how it affects the environment. We
are socially conscious and we want to
make sure we put in the right product so
that we know the people will be happy
and we can stand behind it.”
Willing to try new things
Geranium will steer clear of products
that “aren’t going to cut the mustard,”
Morizio says. But he does believe in
trying out the unproven in a quest to
push the envelope.
buildernews / ROB BLACKSTIEN
Geranium
Ahead of the Curve
LOWEST SCORE CANADIAN MID-SIZE BUILDER
Geranium Homes won the award for lowest score by a Canadian mid-size builder.
From left: John Godden, Luke Giampietri and Brent Shaw of Geranium Homes,
John Bell of Sustainable Housing Foundation, Bill Jewel of Geranium Homes,
and Rod Buchalter of RenewABILITY.
42

22.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 2018 21
For instance, Geranium is currently
experimenting with a liquid tar
material for sealing the exterior of
flat roofs. Once poured into place, it
becomes a rubber membrane that
is puncture resistant, eliminating
the common issue of having nails
penetrate the roof and cause leaks.
This could translate into less servicing
for purchasers, a better sealed unit,
less draft and more durability, he adds.
In winning the Cross Border
Builder Challenge, Morizio says the
company spent a lot of time perfecting
its construction techniques – making
sure it sealed the ductwork and units
well, performed inspections to check
everything, and “[did] all sorts of
different things” to perfect airflow and
eliminate leaks to get these results.
“It’s an indicator that we’re doing
something right,” he says of the award.
“It tells me that we are a leader in what
we do. Our efforts have not gone unnot-
iced, which is a great thing. Recognition
is always a positive thing for people that
are trying to put something like this
together to build a better product.”
Further, it tells him that “we are ahead
of the curve from the other guys.”
After trying it out in Stouffville,
Morizio says Geranium is now exploring
sprinkler systems inside its homes as
standard fare. BB
Rob Blackstien is a Toronto-based
freelance writer. Pen-Ultimate.ca
“Our portfolio is very
wide ranging… That’s
why we’re forced to
push the envelope,
because we don’t do
the same thing over
and over again.”

23.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 201822
buildernews / ALEX NEWMAN
A
lthough custom home builder
Peter Voong had been primed
by Clearsphere that he had the
lowest HERS scores for any custom
builder in the Cross Border Builder
Challenge, he was still stunned to
receive a congratulatory email from
RenewABILITY Energy Inc.
The Cross Border Builder Chal­
lenge is a friendly competition
between Canadian and American
builders that was started by the
Residential Energy Services Network
(RESNET) in hopes of improving
green building practices across
North America.
Voong, president of Castleform
Developments, entered the
competition with a home he built
in south Etobicoke in partnership
with Panasonic. While Voong’s aim
is always high-performance/low-
carbon, this home is super-high
performance.
As would be expected with a joint
effort with Panasonic, the house
was outfitted with solar panels and
Panasonic’s latest storage battery.
But a lot of other energy-efficient
products went into the home as well,
he says. Appliances and interior doors,
water-efficient plumbing fixtures and
AIRMAX high-velocity dual zone HVAC
were just some of the components
that were used. Even the look of the
home was designed to be modern to
match the technological features.
Because Voong sees reducing fossil
fuel use as key to reducing carbon
output, he is all for alternative energy
sources, and he applauds Panasonic’s
efforts to create an appropriate
manageable home battery to draw
power from photovoltaic solar panels.
To accommodate the PV panels – an
extra five pounds per square inch
load on the roof – Panasonic had to
do the rough-in before construction.
Otherwise, the roof structure would
have been compromised.
They considered a dual fuel system
on Clearsphere’s recommendation, but
ultimately didn’t go with it. However,
it makes sense for the future, Voong
says, especially if electricity becomes
cheaper off peak and PV technology
advances allow home owners to easily
generate their own electricity at home.
Super-High Performance,
Super-Low HERS
Peter Voong on Collaborating with Panasonic
Castleform Developments’ HERS score of 20 was the lowest among Canadian custom
builders. From left: John Godden, Peter Voong of Castleform Developments, Eric Belley
of BP Canada, and Rod Buchalter of RenewABILITY.
LOWEST SCORE CANADIAN CUSTOM BUILDER
20

24.
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Learn more at Panasonic.com

25.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 201824
Voong started Castleform 13 years ago after a suc­
cessful career in the financial industry. He wasn’t overly
concerned with energy efficiency until the Ontario
Building Code dramatically raised efficiency expectations
through greater insulation, tighter building envelopes,
higher rated windows, HRVs/ERVs and better use of
building technologies.
Now Voong’s homes are 40% more energy efficient
than the current building code, which is significant
considering Ontario’s code is already 14% better than
the Paris Accord. He’s achieved it through an integrated
approach combining all aspects: tight envelope, efficient
zoned HVAC and proper ventilation.
When he was approached by Panasonic to work
together on this home, he really didn’t think twice
about it. “A lot of things we’re not scared to try out, like
a building product from BP Canada called R5-XT, an
extruded polystyrene structural insulation board. We’re
the first to use it in Canada, and [when we wanted to
use it] in this project, the suppliers didn’t even have it –
hadn’t even SKU’d it yet.”
Voong’s philosophy is: “how do you know it’s not good
unless you try it?” Once he’s tried something and sees it
works, he will incorporate it into the package of standard
features, which includes a rough-in for an electric
car charger, energy-efficient windows and enhanced
building envelope with walls 24" on centre.
Castleform is big on airtightness, because leaking
air means wasted energy on heating or cooling. So
Voong focuses on using the best products to create
efficiencies, like insulating with ROCKWOOL™
to up the
R-value and wrapping the house in an insulated exterior
sheathing down the foundation wall to the slab to create
a continuous air barrier. Because airtightness requires
proper ventilation, Voong puts a high-efficiency vänEE
ERV in every home to exchange the air and keep fresh air
circulating throughout the house.
The final consideration is the bottom line – you can
build all the energy efficiency you want, but if it’s not
affordable, the public won’t buy it. Voong, who builds
custom homes, always thinks about operating costs.
Home owners want to keep these down, to the point
where they’ll pay more for efficient features. BB
Alex Newman is a writer, editor and researcher at
alexnewmanwriter.com.
Email info@clearsphere.ca or call 416-481-7517
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27.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 201826
buildernews / ROB BLACKSTIEN
E
mpire Communities, celebrating
its silver anniversary this year,
is another builder that’s well
versed in what it takes to win the
Cross Border Builder Challenge.
Having previously won in the
inaugural challenge with a HERS
37 score, it took home two awards
this year: the Enbridge Innovation
Award for its hybrid home in Breslau,
Ontario, and the Net Zero Canadian
Builder Award for a HERS 19 home in
the same community.
Vaughan, Ontario-based Empire
employs over 350 people and has
crafted over 10,000 new homes and
condominiums in its history.
An impressive resume
This pair of awards further cements
Empire’s reputation as an early
adopter of energy-efficient home
building methodologies and techno­
logy. Consider that it participated in
the launch of the Building Canada
program (the precursor of ENERGY
STAR) way back in 2003. Empire went
on to become one of the first ENERGY
STAR builders, creating a discovery
home in 2005. Three years later, it
built a LEED silver home, and three
years after that (in 2011), it was named
the BILD Low-Rise Builder of the Year.
Indeed, Empire’s resume in green
building has few peers.
Now, says vice president/co-foun­
der Paul Golini, the company is
taking what it learned with its TEETH
(Three Energy Efficient Test Homes)
initiative in Breslau and is “in the
learning phase.”
Golini says winning the awards is
part of an ongoing trend for Empire.
“This is continuing on our tradition
of being an early adopter … [and] just
reinforces our leadership position
and our focus on future proofing our
homes on an approach to continuous
improvement in testing, monitoring
and ultimately exploration of
innovative building techniques.”
He admits that since Canadians
are typically humble, it’s hard for us
to own the concept that we’re world
leaders. However, he points out that
“we in Ontario have one of the best
building codes in the world, and so
the fact that we can build in Ontario
and win an international award
further reinforces the fact that we are
competing on the world stage … We
here in Ontario are building better
than any place in the U.S.”
Empire Communities
The Early Adopter
26
Their hybrid home in Breslau, Ontario netted Empire Communities two awards.
Below, Steve Doty of Empire Communities is joined by John Godden, Sue Swing of Dow,
and Bruce Manwaring of Enbridge. Out of frame: Rod Buchalter of RenewABILITY.
NET ZERO AWARD CANADIAN BUILDER
AND ENBRIDGE INNOVATION AWARD
19

28.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 2018
Improving the user experience
Among Empire’s goals for this year,
Golini says, is to see if there’s a way
to properly incorporate smart home
interfaces that allow the consumer
better access and control of all the
goodies that are being added to their
homes. While they keep building
better and better homes with greater
energy-efficient technologies, “we
tend to put aside the user experience,
the user interface.”
So it’s full speed ahead for Empire.
In fact, about the only thing slowing
down the company these days are
the wheels of bureaucracy, Golini
says. “The speed at which we’re able
to apply some of the learning has been
hampered by the speed at which we’re
able to access permit-ready lots.”
He feels that it’s an “oxymoron”
when governments talk about acceler­
ating change and innovation in energy
efficiency only to see it tied up in the
building permit process. Empire would
like to apply and reapply and test as
quickly as possible, but can’t “because
of the bottleneck in the regulatory
environment” and the effect that’s
having on the new land approvals.
Golini explains that his other
challenge is remaining innovative, yet
still consumer accessible. Trying to
follow where the thread leads – from
the regulatory realm, the Building
Code, the provincial election, the
climate change action plan and how
that will all affect the industry – is
tough while trying to maintain “a
balance of being ahead of the curve,
but not too ahead so that the consumer
can still follow.” BB
Rob Blackstien is a Toronto-based
freelance writer. Pen-Ultimate.ca
27
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info@clearsphere.ca www.clearsphere.ca416 481 4218

29.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 2018
buildernews / BETTER BUILDER STAFF
1 On April 27, 2018 the SHF hosted
the 5th annual Cross Border Builder
Challenge awards dinner. The
evening started with a trade show 2
featuring premium products from
Amvic, Airia Brands, Inc., AO Smith,
BP Canada, Dow, Icynene, Power-Pipe,
ROCKWOOL™
, Ventilation Maximum,
and Uponor.
Keynote speaker Bruce Manwaring
of Enbridge 3 kicked off the dinner
with a presentation about achieving the
trifecta of building energy performance:
low carbon emissions, affordability,
and resiliency. Bruce outlined the
importance of delivering the right
energy at the right time with multiple
fuel sources and storage strategies.
Sue Swing of Dow and Trudy Puls
from ROCKWOOL™
4 presented
the preliminary monitoring results
from the Empire TEETH houses
(three energy efficient test houses)
– specifically the research on hybrid
basement insulation systems that
eliminate moisture management
problems at a reasonable cost.
Paul Lowes of BP Canada 5 pre­
28
sented Wendy Shami, Managing Editor
of Better Builder magazine, a stone
carving celebrating the 25th issue.
The VIPs of the evening were the
winning builders of the Cross Border
Builder Challenge who were honoured
for the accomplishments in building
low carbon high performance homes.
The evening ended with a present­
ation from Doug Tarry on his Agua Vita
initiative that stressed the importance
of building resilient homes. A raffle
and auction 6 raised $2,000 for
Doug’s efforts in Puerto Rico. BB
1
6
4
5
3
2
5th Annual Cross Border Builder Challenge Awards Dinner

30.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 2018 29

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32.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 2018
I’ve said many times that it was
as if Animal, the drummer from the
Muppets, had come to life – only
there were 10 of him and they were
all attacking one house. At least that
might have been how it seemed from
the local perspective. So, while the
team was up and running towards a
successful mission, it took a few days
to gain the trust of the community
outside of our original team of helpers.
Interestingly, it was the women
of San Lorenzo who first started to
engage with us. But within a few days,
we had many residents participating.
And then we saw something really
cool happen – they really wanted
to learn! It was like they wanted
personal empowerment and they
were very curious. I was able to show
a pair of volunteers – that is, a pair of
grandmas – how to flash a window
using the Tyvek window flashing
within about an hour. And boy, did
they enjoy doing it for themselves.
During our mission, we were able
to divide our team into sub-groups so
that we could best help the residents
of barrio San Lorenzo. While one team
continued to work on the reframing
of roofs, another team set up the local
residents with power tools, materials
and professional materials specialists
to repair concrete roofs. Again, we
were thrilled to see the number of
women who wanted to learn. By the
end of our last mission, they were ready
to get to work, and all they needed was
some sunshine.
We also had a small team who
took on a special mission to help an
elderly couple who had a leaking roof
and were sleeping on a wet bed. We
were able to get the roof repaired and
provide them with a new bed and
bedding, repaint their home and make
them comfortable. It was a big moment
to show why we were really there: to
bring hope.
Now it is just a few short days
until my wife, Carolyne, and I depart
for our next mission (May 5 to 12),
with a larger team and a much
larger mission. We are thrilled to be
joined by two executives from the
Canadian Home Builders’ Association,
including first vice president Stefanie
Coleman-Dias. We will also be joined
by Sarah Stevenson, an engineering
PhD graduate student from Western
University who is studying hurricane-
resistant construction techniques for
wood-frame construction. Also coming
with us is Jennifer Sanders, a professor
who is a mentor at the Women in
Carpentry program at Fanshawe
College. Stef, Sarah and Jennifer are a
view to the future of construction here
31
Resilient Construction Techniques
If a Puerto Rican Grandmother Can Do It…
fromthegroundup / DOUG TARRY
I
’m writing this article as our team prepares for our next mission to barrio San
Lorenzo, Puerto Rico. Our mission in late January was very successful…But it
got off to a bit of a rocky start.
Our original mission focus – to help rebuild the school – needed to be changed
to working on individual residences, just two days before we shipped out. That
meant that we arrived to work on homes that had not been prepared for us. We
had the framing team and all the volunteers begin tearing out the remains of the
damage from the hurricane on the first home.
Nancy and Norma, two of our
wonderful local volunteers.
Jennifer Sanders (top) and Sarah Stevenson

33.
BETTERBUILDER.CA | ISSUE 26 | SUMMER 201832
in Canada, and we are
glad to have them join our
team of skilled men and
women who make our
missions possible.
I would be remiss if
I did not mention that
a very significant part
of our focus during our
mission will be to look at
more hurricane-resistant
construction techniques for Puerto Rico, and how we
can apply these lessons back here in Canada. If we can
make it simple and cost effective to install in barrio San
Lorenzo, by a largely unskilled workforce, then perhaps
it will not be overly difficult to use as best practice back
home. We believe this added resiliency will also help
home owners reduce their home insurance costs by
purchasing a new home that has these details:
• Flashing windows to prevent water penetration into
the wall cavity,
• Taping or covering sheathing seams on the roof to
stop water intrusion if shingles are lost,
• Using a tighter nailing patter and ring shank nails to
keep the sheathing on the roof,
• Installing gable lookouts back into the next truss, and
• Using hurricane clips, tie downs and wall sheathing
with rigid insulation (or other combined products) to
strengthen the home’s resiliency.
We hope to share these lessons openly with our
peers back here in Ontario. After all, if a Puerto Rican
grandmother can learn how to do it, we should be able to
make it work here. BB
If you would like to know more about our ongoing missions
or make a contribution, you can find us on the web at:
www.hopeaguavita.com
www.facebook.com/hopeaguavita
www.gofundme.com/hopeaguavita
Doug Tarry Jr is director of marketing at
Doug Tarry Homes in St. Thomas, Ontario.
Roof truss and wood
sill connection.
Simpson Strong Tie
MGT system shown
Drywall
screwed
into amvic
polypropylene
webs as per
building code
Electrical
outlet
Wood sub-floor
installed as per
local building
Simpson strong tie
ICFLC and wood floor
joists connection
Amvic insulating
concrete forms
Amdeck floor &
roof system
Exterior wood
siding installed
as per local
building code
Amvic high
impact
polypropylene
webs
Acrylic,
standard
ptucco or eifs
applied to
exterior face
of Amvic ICF
Brick veneer
Parge face of
exposed
brick ledge
Grade
Peel-and-stick
waterproofing
membrane (or
equivalent)
as per local
building code
Perforated
weeping tile
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John Godden presents Doug
Tarry with an honorary award
for Hope House.

34.
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