Get your Home Ready for Winter Weather
Does the prospect of soaring winter heating bills give you the chills? You can slash your winter energy bills and prevent emergency repairs with these simple home maintenance tips.
Builder Insights / Blog
Category / DIY
DIY Gone Wrong—Some Projects May Actually Lower Home Values
Don’t DIY and devalue your home: learn all local building codes before attempting repairs, and keep documents of any inspection results. #DIY
Are Triple-Pane Windows a Good Investment?
As efficient building envelopes become more of a priority for builders, you may be considering investing in triple-pane windows for the R-value they offer. The technology behind window design has improved in leaps and bounds as manufacturers attempt to overcome the poor insulation value that windows traditionally offer the home builder. Unfortunately, the improved insulation comes at a high price. Do triple-pane windows offer sufficient energy-saving to justify the investment?
Five most Time-Consuming Call-backs: Wall Systems
The dreaded call-back from an unhappy customer often takes up time and money that eats into your profit margins. However, successfully dealing with these issues can boost your customer service and improve word-of-mouth business. Turn your clients into raving fans with these call-back fixes.
Where Water Damage Hides
Protect your home from water damage: Water damage can be avoided by regularly checking windowsills, frames and more. #WaterDamage
How to Grade the Installation Quality of Insulation
Grading insulation installation quality made easy with RESNET Home Energy Rating System (HERS).
West Fraser’s “BECOME A FRAMER” Campaign Aims to Recruit Young Framers
Start a career as a framer with West Fraser’s Become a Framer outreach.
Programmable Thermostats; Do They Really Save Money?
Programmable thermostats do have the potential to save the homeowner money, but they can also cost more. The secret to success is the way in which you use them. Whether you are installing one in your own home or in a home for your customer, it’s imperative to educate users so that they are able to effectively save energy (and money) by installing a programmable thermostat.
5 Hardwood Flooring Problems and How to Prevent Them
The appeal of wood is its natural makeup and warm texture. But that which most attracts us to hardwood flooring is also the reason for most of the call backs flooring installers have to deal with. When problems occur, inspectors must determine who the culprit is and it’s usually moisture. Understanding how moisture affects a flooring and sub-flooring installation can help you to avoid problems and expensive call backs.
The Pros and Cons of Unventilated Attics
Unventilated attics can help to mitigate energy loss through leaky ducts or ceiling fittings. The energy savings touted by unvented attics can be as high as 20%. However, if moisture is able to enter the unvented attic space, it may lead to roofing panel issues.