Posted on
April 29, 2013
by
Keith Vines
Yaletown's Blue Water Cafe has been named the best seafood restaurant in Vancouver Magazine's 2013 Restaurant Awards. (Blue Water Cafe)
The debate over Vancouver's best restaurant never stops. The coversation just got a little louder with the results of Vancouver Magazine's 2013 Restaurant Awards.
Hawksworth on West Georgia Street was named Restaurant of the Year for the second year running. Chef David Hawksworth also picked up the "Chef of the Year" award.
The magazine agreed with the Georgia Straight's Golden Plate Awards, which named Hawksworth best fine dining establishment, though Chambar took the prize for Best Overall Restaurant .
But Hawksworth didn't come close to first in Yelp.ca's survey, which named popular Indian restaurant Vij's the best in the city, followed by Cafe Medina and Guu with Garlic in Vancouver's West End.
It also didn't pass muster with TripAdvisor's readers, who made Bishop's on 4th Avenue the top-rated restaurant in the city, followed by L'Abattoir and Miku.
Check out the top restaurants in Vancouver, according to a number of lists.
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Hawksworth
This gallery shows Vancouver restaurants that have been voted the city's best. First on the list is Hawksworth, which was named restaurant of the year by Vancouver Magazine in its 2013 Restaurant Awards. Address: 801 West Georgia Street <a href="http://www.hawksworthrestaurant.com/" target="_blank">http://www.hawksworthrestaurant.com/</a>
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Diva at the Met
645 Howe Street <a href="http://www.metropolitan.com/diva/" target="_blank">http://www.metropolitan.com/diva/</a> Awarded "Silver" in the Best Upscale category at Vancouver Magazine's 2013 Restaurant Awards.
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Wildebeest
120 West Hastings Street <a href="http://wildebeest.ca/" target="_blank">http://wildebeest.ca/</a> Awarded "Gold" in the Best New Restaurant category at Vancouver Magazine's 2013 Restaurant Awards
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Tojo's
777 West Broadway <a href="http://www.tojos.com/" target="_blank">http://www.tojos.com/</a> Vancouver Magazine named this number one in its "Upscale Japanese Dining" category at the 2013 Restaurant Awards.
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Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar
1095 Hamilton Street <a href="http://www.bluewatercafe.net/" target="_blank">http://www.bluewatercafe.net/</a> Awarded "Gold" in the Best Seafood category at Vancouver Magazine's 2013 Restaurant Awards.
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Cioppino's Mediterranean Grill
1133 and 1129 Hamilton Street <a href="http://www.cioppinosyaletown.com/" target="_blank">http://www.cioppinosyaletown.com/</a> Named "Best Upscale Italian" restaurant in Vancouver Magazine's 2013 Restaurant Awards.
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Chambar Restaurant
562 Beatty Street <a href="http://www.chambar.com/" target="_blank">http://www.chambar.com/</a> Named Best Restaurant Overall in the Georgia Straight's 2013 Golden Plates awards.
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Dockside Restaurant
1253 Johnson Street, Granville Island <a href="http://www.docksidevancouver.com/" target="_blank">http://www.docksidevancouver.com/</a> Named "Best Patio" in The Georgia Straight's 2013 Golden Plate Awards.
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The Boathouse
1795 Beach Avenue <a href="http://boathouserestaurants.ca/" target="_blank">http://boathouserestaurants.ca/</a> Rated "Best View Restaurant" in The Georgia Straight's 2013 Golden Plate Awards.
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The Noodle Box
1867 West 4th Avenue <a href="http://noodlebox.net/" target="_blank">http://noodlebox.net/</a> Named "Best Takeout/Delivery" in The Georgia Straight's 2013 Golden Plate Awards.
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Vij's
1480 West 11th Avenue <a href="http://www.vijs.ca/" target="_blank">http://www.vijs.ca/</a> Voted number one on Yelp.ca's survey of the best restaurants in Vancouver.
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Bishop's
2183 West 4th Avenue <a href="http://www.bishopsonline.com/" target="_blank">http://www.bishopsonline.com/</a> Rated number one restaurant in Vancouver by TripAdvisor readers.
Hawksworth
801 West Georgia Street
Vancouver Magazine's 2013 Restaurant of the Year
Diva at the Met
645 Howe Street
Silver: Best Upscale, Vancouver Magazine's 2013 Restaurant Awards
Wildebeest
120 West Hastings Street
Gold: Best New Restaurant, Vancouver Magazine's 2013 Restaurant Awards
Tojo's
777 West Broadway
Gold: Upscale Japanese, Vancouver Magazine's 2013 Restaurant Awards
Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar
1095 Hamilton Street
Gold: Best Seafood, Vancouver Magazine's 2013 Restaurant Awards
Cioppino's Mediterranean Grill
1133 and 1129 Hamilton Street
Gold: Best Upscale Italian, Vancouver Magazine's 2013 Restaurant Awards
Chambar Restaurant
562 Beatty Street
Best Overall Restaurant, Georgia Straight's 2013 Golden Plates Awards
Dockside Restaurant
1253 Johnson Street, Granville Island
Named "Best Patio" in The Georgia Straight's 2013 Golden Plate Awards
The Boathouse
1795 Beach Avenue
Best View Restaurant in The Georgia Straight's 2013 Golden Plate Awards
The Noodle Box
1867 West 4th Avenue
Best Takeout/Delivery in The Georgia Straight's 2013 Golden Plate Awards
Vij's
1480 West 11th Avenue
Voted number one on Yelp.ca's survey of the best restaurants in Vancouver.
Bishop's
2183 West 4th Avenue
Rated number one restaurant in Vancouver by TripAdvisor readers.
Posted on
April 25, 2013
by
Keith Vines
Canadian retail sales rose for the second consecutive month, advancing 0.8 per cent in February. Higher sales were reported in 7 of the 11 retail sub-sectors. However, inflation adjusted sales were flat. Even with a relatively strong start to the year for the retail sector, we are still tracking first quarter real GDP growth in the Canadian economy at around 1.5 per cent
Retail sales in BC diverged from the national trend, falling 0.3 per cent on a monthly basis and declining 1 per cent year-over-year. We anticipate that BC retail sales will post below average growth in 2013, perhaps around 3 per cent but with some risk to the downside
Posted on
April 24, 2013
by
Keith Vines
BloombergApartments in the Knightsbridge complex cost more than $11,000 a square foot, nearly three times the typical price of luxury London real estate.
London’s One Hyde Park is one of the wealthiest and most secretive residences in the world.
Apartments in the Knightsbridge complex cost more than $11,000 a square foot, nearly three times the typical price of luxury London real estate.
But relatively little is known about the people who own homes there. Of the 76 apartments sold in the 86-unit building, 64 are registered to corporations and just 17 are listed as primary residences, according to Nicholas Shaxson, who wrote a great exposé of the building in this month’s Vanity Fair.
Even so, Shaxson and others have found out who some of One Hyde Park’s owners are. Get to know some of the sheikhs, oligarchs, and global rich who own apartments at the world’s most expensive apartment building.
One Hyde Park, located in Knightsbridge, is adjacent to Hyde Park and the Mandarin Oriental hotel.
The per-square-foot price of a unit at One Hyde Park is 10 TIMES the price of average residential real estate in London, and nearly three times more than luxury real estate in the city.
Among other perks, there’s a stainless steel ozone pool, an entertainment suite, a golf simulator, and a spa run by the Mandarin Oriental.
There are also three retailers on site: Rolex, McLaren, and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank.
Security in the building is insane. There are panic rooms, bulletproof glass, and guards trained by British Special Forces, according to Vanity Fair.
One Hyde Park was created through a joint venture between high-end real estate developers the Candy brothers and Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, the Prime Minister of Qatar.
Source: The Daily Mail, The Guardian
Photos are of apartments currently for sale at One Hyde Park; not actual residences.
The owners were some of the first people to buy into the building. The Sheikh paid $64 million for his triplex, which Vanity Fair calls “the best apartment of all.”
Source: The Daily Mail
Photos are of apartments currently for sale at One Hyde Park; not actual residences.
Christian Candy reportedly has two apartments that cost $85 million. And Nick Candy owns an 11th-floor duplex penthouse.
Nick (L) and Christian (R) Candy
REUTERS/Luke MacGregor
Sources: The Guardian, Vanity Fair
In 2010, Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov paid $216 million for a penthouse in the complex. It’s the most expensive home ever sold.
Photos are of apartments currently for sale at One Hyde Park; not actual residences.
Two apartments worth $43.7 million are owned by Professor Wong Wen Young, likely the Taiwanese business tycoon Winston Wong Wen Young.
In April 2011, Australian pop star Kylie Minogue dropped $25 million on a three-bedroom flat in the complex.
Source: The Herald Sun
Photos are of apartments currently for sale at One Hyde Park; not actual residences.
Mohammed Saud Sultan al-Qasimi, head of finance for the government of Sharjah, part of the UAE, reportedly paid $18 million for his apartment.
Source: The Guardian
Photos are of apartments currently for sale at One Hyde Park; not actual residences.
At least one apartment is owned by Russian real-estate tycoon Vladislav Doronin, who is dating supermodel Naomi Campbell.
Source: Vanity Fair
Photos are of apartments currently for sale at One Hyde Park; not actual residences.
Nigerian billionaire Folorunsho Alakija is believed to have spent $123 million on several apartments there, all supposedly registered under the name Rose of Sharon.
Source: Vanity Fair
Photos are of apartments currently for sale at One Hyde Park; not actual residences.
Vladimir Kim, a copper baron and the wealthiest man in Kazakhstan with a net worth of $2.3 billion, also owns a home there.
Source: The Daily Mail
Photos are of apartments currently for sale at One Hyde Park; not actual residences.
And Rory Carvill, an insurance entrepreneur and chairman of U.K. based R.K. Carvill & Co. Ltd. reportedly paid $33.5 million for his residence and additional storage space.
Source: The Guardian
Photos are of apartments currently for sale at One Hyde Park; not actual residences.
Two apartments held by Irina Viktorovna Kharitonina and Viktor Kharitonin, presumed to be a co-owner of Russia’s largest domestic drugmaker, cost $49.8 million.
Source: Vanity Fair
Photos are of apartments currently for sale at One Hyde Park; not actual residences.
Want to live in One Hyde Park? You’re in luck—a 5-bedroom flat there recently came on the market. At $101 million, it’s the most expensive apartment currently for sale in London.
Posted on
April 23, 2013
by
Keith Vines
 We've all heard tales about "landlords from hell," but this one might make all those nightmares look like sweet dreams. When actress Laura Evelyn inspected an apartment for rent in London, she says that she was handed a typed list of 31 "house rules" by her potential landlord, which she posted to Twitter. The lengthy list of directives include "No Pork EVER IN HOUSE or fridge," no more than two visitors a month, no showers longer than 15 minutes -- and only in the mornings between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and evenings between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. -- and no cooking for longer than 30 minutes. Also, overnight guests are prohibited unless discussed two weeks in advance and are subject to landlord approval. Broken rules would lead to fines, a lost deposit or even immediate eviction. Unsurprisingly, Evelyn chose not move in.
Posted on
April 22, 2013
by
Keith Vines
The facade of this hospital in Mexico City is made up of Prosolve370e, a type of tile whose shape and chemical coating can help neutralize smog. According to Fast Company, the wall can suck up the same amount of air pollution that would be produced by 8,750 passing cars each day.
So how does it work? In a nutshell, the tiles are coated with titanium dioxide, a pollution-fighting technology that is activated by UV light. When light hits the wall, a reaction is set off that reduces the surrounding air pollutants into harmless amounts of carbon dioxide and water.
The tile’s honeycomb-like design maximizes the smog-reducing reaction by slowing wind speeds and creating turbulence, which better distributes the pollutants across the wall’s active surface.
A helpful design with a pleasing look. Perhaps something cities like Vancouver will want to consider as the summer approaches…
For more, check out Fast Company.
Posted on
April 10, 2013
by
Keith Vines
When Michael Green imagines the buildings of the future, he sees skylines built from a material that is not only cheaper and more environmentally friendly than steel and concrete, but one that has a distinctly Canadian feel. Now the Vancouver architect just has to convince the country of the benefits of wood skyscrapers, which are beginning to crop up in several countries around the world.
“The hardest part of this job in advocating for these ideas is not the technical side, it’s the perception side,” says Green, whose portfolio includes the Ottawa airport and the North Vancouver City Hall renovation project, both of which heavily incorporate wood. In a lecture Green is delivering at Toronto’s Ryerson University next week, he includes a picture of the first skyscraper, a 10-storey building erected in Chicago in 1885. “Apparently people were terrified to walk below it. But four years later, Eiffel was building the Eiffel Tower,” Green says.
Five years ago, tall wood buildings (those six storeys and higher), were not even on the radar for architects, engineers and developers in Canada. But since the idea has caught on in Europe and Australia, and boasts distinct environmental and economic advantages, it is slowly gaining ground.
If “mass timber” is to achieve mass popularity, however, it will have to overcome significant skepticism about its safety.
“It’s really just opening the building officials’ and the public’s eyes toward what is actually possible with wood,” says Geoff Triggs, a consultant at LMDG Building Code Consultants who contributed to a report Green produced earlier this year called The Case for Tall Wood Buildings. “We are making baby steps now, but I would say that the momentum is gathering, definitely.”
In London, England, a nine-storey wood apartment building was completed in 2009. Its 29 units sold in just over an hour. There is also a seven-storey wood building in Sweden, and Melbourne will soon boast the world’s tallest wood building, a 10-storey apartment building currently under construction. If plans to build a 30-storey wood building in Austria go ahead, Melbourne may not hold the title for long.
There are a number of research initiatives and projects currently under way in Canada, including plans for a six-storey building in British Columbia. Green says that once Canada completes a building at a certain height and the safety is proven, tall wood buildings will become a regular part of the skyline. “As soon as we build one at 20, it’s, like, we’re off,” he says.
Steps are being taken to get there. In 2009, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada announced funding to examine what it calls innovative wood products and building systems, with 40 researchers working on the issue over five years.
“A lot of the work we’re doing is trying to make wood be fairly considered as an alternative material,” says Ying Hei Chui, a professor with the faculty of forestry and environmental management at the University of New Brunswick who is leading the research network.
Two properties of wood – that it can rot and is flammable – are the root of most people’s concerns, Dr. Chui says. “But these days, if you have the right kind of building design, that risk could be substantially minimized.” A study published earlier this year and authored by the fire chief for the city of Surrey, B.C., found that fire-protection systems such as sprinklers “more than mitigate” the risks of building taller wood buildings. Some engineers, however, have cautioned that rock-solid data on safety, particularly resistance to seismic and wind forces, is simply is not available.
Key to overcoming what Green calls the perception problem is understanding that tall wood buildings are not made out of two-by-fours, says Triggs. A material called cross-laminated timber is used – large, engineered wood panels layered together with adhesives or fasteners. “It’s almost like you’re building a building out of solid timber instead of solid concrete,” Triggs says. “The wood is as strong as concrete but it’s lighter, so it’s actually beneficial in terms of structural design.”
These panels can be made off-site and then installed, which drastically reduces construction time – no waiting for poured concrete to dry, for example – and thus costs. “The rising cost of steal and metal and concrete make wood more competitive,” Chui says.
The most compelling reasons to turn to wood are environmental, according to Green. “Steel and concrete were fine until climate change came along,” he says. As he writes in his report, “A typical North American timber-frame home captures about 28 tonnes of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of seven years of driving a mid-size car or about 12,500 litres of gasoline.”
The report was commissioned by the Canadian Wood Council, an industry group that represents manufacturers of wood products that are used in construction.“The intent of the study was to confirm the business case and that it’s doable,” says Etienne Lalonde, vice-president for market development at the Canadian Wood Council.
Most of the momentum for tall wood buildings in Canada comes from B.C., the heart of Canada’s lumber industry. In 2009, under former premier Gordon Campbell, the province launched the Wood First Act, which requires the use of wood as the primary building material in all new provincially funded buildings.
That same year, the province’s building code was changed to increase the limit on wood residential buildings from four to six storeys. (A private member’s bill in Ontario seeking the same change was in the works prior to the prorogation of the legislature.)
A six-storey Wood Innovation and Design Centre will begin construction in Prince George, B.C., in February.
The hope, says Pat Bell, B.C.’s Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, is that the centre will establish the viability of tall wood buildings, as well as open up new opportunities for the province’s forestry industry. “A demonstration project like this we think will be key in achieving that goal,” he says.
If you build it, the saying goes, they will come.
Dave McGinn
The Globe and Mail
Posted on
April 9, 2013
by
Keith Vines
Canadian home-builders broke ground on 184,208 new units at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) in March, a slight increase from February's 183,207 starts. However, new home construction continues to trend lower from last year's highs. On a year-over-year basis, housing starts were down 15.5 per cent.
New home construction in BC urban centres rose 13 per cent month-over-month in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 24,400 units. On a year-over-year basis, total starts were 18 per cent higher than March 2012. Single-detached starts were 16 per cent lower over last year, while multiples bounced back from a steep year-over-year-decline in February, rising 33 per cent compared to March 2012. The first quarter of 2013 saw a 13 per cent decline in total housing starts compared to the first quarter of 2012.
Looking at census metropolitan areas (CMA) in BC, in the Vancouver CMA total starts rose 35 per cent year-over-year due to a 42 per cent jump in multiple starts. Single-detached starts were also up by 2 per cent.. New home construction in the Abbotsford CMA continued to recover from a difficult 2012, rising 57 compared to March 2012. Conversely, housing starts in the Victoria and Kelowna CMAs declined year-over-year in March, falling by 10 per cent and 27 per cent respectively.
Posted on
April 8, 2013
by
Keith Vines
The wine is held by aircraft cables in this captivating cellar designed by Robert Cameron.
I like wine cellars even more than I like wine, which is saying something. I used to have one in the basement of an 1870s stone house. This fantasy cellar had the ancient stone walls of the home’s original foundation, new rough-hewn granite floors and wine racks made from reclaimed oak by a perfectionist craftsman. It kept wine at the requisite 56F to 57F, with humidity about 70%. Who knew cellars were in basements for a reason, as temperature and humidity didn’t need much mechanical assistance here to be ideal for wine?
I loved the cellar and bought cases for it to make sure the room was picturesque — right out of a French château. The room had a 600-bottle capacity. Practically speaking, my partner and I would have been fine with a 24-bottle wine fridge, but antique chairs and an elaborate tasting table don’t suit such a setup.
After we sold the farmhouse, we disposed of the wine to friends, also indulging in a massive liquidation binge ourselves, starting with wine at breakfast.
The enduring lesson: If you like wine, you’re likely a sensualist who loves the total experience, and that includes where you store your horde. I was reminded of this connection of the palate and the eye by a friend, Robert Cameron, who is a wine sommelier, certified by the International Sommelier Guild, which I know is quite an accomplishment. He’s also a designer, and he successfully merges these skills when he creates cellars.
“When people take great care with how they choose wine, they usually want to store it properly and have a cellar that also reflects their design aesthetic,” Robert says. “So many cellars are ordinary, functional spaces that often haven’t been given the same careful design consideration as the rest of the house.
Robert says “creating a cellar isn’t just about how it looks, but rather begins with how it works. Controlling temperature and humidity is no easy technical accomplishment, especially when you’re adding a cellar to a house and have to be concerned about how to exhaust an air-conditioning unit, or combine a less frigid wine-tasting area in an otherwise chilly cellar.”
Robert continues that, “new technology makes surmounting these challenges possible,” (though, I assume, not inexpensive).
Much like people who want to bring the glamour of contemporary spas they visit to their own homes, I imagine many are inspired by the beautiful cellars in restaurants that celebrate wine, as well as keep the establishment’s assets potable. They want the same kind of design finesse for their wine storage.
Looking at a rendering of one of Robert’s recent projects, I understand why he’s the go-to guy for big-deal cellars. This particular 6×6-foot cellar with 470-bottle capacity — give or take — is for a basement of an Annex house. It incorporates monolithic slabs of travertine and solid wenge shelves; the wine has been suspended with tensioned aircraft cables, both for the minimalist aesthetic as well as for maximizing bottle capacity. Bronze mirror is behind the Champagne for an intoxicating impact. When I question why the Champagne is upright, instead of on its side like the other wine, I am informed — nicely but firmly — that “that is the way it should be kept.”
Robert also points out that he also plans to install LED lighting, and that lighting is often neglected in cellars.
The problem I had with how to fill my stone farmhouse cellar once it was built isn’t one you have when Robert designs yours. When he’s done, it’s on to the wine store with him. Unlike my choices of wine where the appearance of the label is paramount, Robert switches hats and has taste, not style in mind, when it comes to accessorizing a cellar with bottles. Which is why, you built it in the first place, right?
Posted on
April 5, 2013
by
Keith Vines
VANCOUVER - The City of Vancouver has been selected one of Canada's best diversity employers for 2013.
In making the announcement Tuesday, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said the national award recognizes the city's work through its advisory committees with disabled people, women, seniors and the LGBT communities.
Toronto's Mediacorp, in partnership with Globe and Mail, made the selection which was sponsored by BMO.
The city has also recently created an Urban Aboriginal Peoples Advisory Committee and partnered with an aboriginal career organization to advise on matters of concern to Vancouver's urban aboriginal population.
Other notable diversity efforts cited include:
- Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services work to increase the number of women on the force;
- Engineering services work with the British Columbia Institute of Technology to offer opportunities for women enrolled in the trades;
- A partnership with the Native Education College and BCIT to offer work placement to aboriginal students
Posted on
April 4, 2013
by
Keith Vines
By MIKE HOLMES
I saw a notice recently about a class action lawsuit against a shingle company. The problem was with their organic shingles not lasting as long as they should.
A couple of companies have recently come under fire with this product. What’s the problem? They’re cracking, curling and even being torn off roofs within a few years.
Most shingles come with a 25- to 30-year guarantee. The ones involved in the lawsuit did too. But many homeowners have had to replace the shingles within eight years — sometimes even as little as five. Who’s to blame?
Homeowners say the product’s no good. Manufacturers claim it’s poor installation. What’s the verdict? In some cases, the jury’s still out. In others, settlements are being reached. But the truth is, settlement or not, homeowners just want a good product and a good roof. The hassle of re-roofing is a headache for everyone.
Booking a good roofing contractor is difficult — the best ones are booked months in advance. If you’ve already gone through the trouble once and have to go through it again within a few years — plus pay additional labour costs — it can make more than a just a couple of homeowners angry.
There’s some confusion about organic shingles. Some people think they’re green, environmentally friendly or made from organic material. That’s not the case — it’s just clever marketing. When it comes to shingles, organic means non-synthetic.
Organic shingles are regular asphalt shingles — the same petroleum-based shingles that have been on the market for decades. The reason asphalt shingles are now being called organic is because there’s a new kid on the block: fibreglass shingles.
Most organic shingles have a layer of non-synthetic materials underneath the asphalt and granules, usually recycled newspaper and cardboard. Fibreglass shingles have a layer of synthetic material — glass fibre.
Organic and fibreglass shingles look the same. They’re both made from asphalt and granules. They’re installed exactly the same way too. But the layer of glass fibre makes fibreglass shingles absorb less moisture and be more resistant to heat, which increases their durability in warm climate.
Fibreglass shingles usually hold up better if a roof has poor ventilation. This can make some homeowners want to choose fibreglass — a kind of Band-Aid solution for a poorly vented roof. But I say fix the ventilation.
Proper ventilation means the temperature difference is minimized between the attic and air outside. This prolongs the life of your roof. It also eliminates moisture that can get trapped inside the attic. If moisture stays there, it can lead to rot and mould.
Building code varies from city to city. But my roofing guys like to keep one square foot of venting for every 300-square-feet of roofing.
There are plenty of different shingle products out there. Most homeowners choose based on their budget. But like everything else, you get what you pay for.
Compared with other shingle materials, asphalt is inexpensive. That makes them popular. Most roofs — about four out of five homes in North America — have them. But they’re not as durable as other types of shingles.
Cedar shingles and cedar shakes are among the most expensive roofing materials you can choose.
These are the real “organic” shingles and they can be composted. Why are they expensive? Partly because of the material itself — cedar looks and smells great. But labour and installation costs are also high.
Installation is slow because each cedar shingle is nailed to the roof, usually by hand. It’s also high maintenance. It’s best to keep a wood roof as dry as possible, even if it’s cedar. And you might also need to add a fire deterrent. But keep in mind: Time and weather will reduce its performance.
Some fibreglass shingles come with a 50-year warranty. They’re also more fire-resistant than organic. Laminated or architectural shingles are thicker, making them more durable than regular asphalt shingles. But if you want top of the line, go with metal.
Metal roofs are my favourite. They’re easy to install, fire-resistant, and, in terms of durability, there’s nothing better — they last about 50 years.
What’s the downside? Metal roofs aren’t cheap. But they are definitely worth the investment. They last two to three times longer than asphalt roofs. Plus, metal roofs are recyclable. Some are even made from recycled metal. When you consider 10 million tons of asphalt waste ends up in landfills every year, metal roofs are the greener choice.
No matter what type of shingle you choose, quality is key. Always choose a high-quality product. It’s better to have high-quality asphalt shingles than low-quality fibreglass or cedar shingles. And make sure the shingles you choose are installed properly. You can have the best quality shingle, but if it’s installed improperly, it will not last. If you do it right, you do it once.
Posted on
April 3, 2013
by
Keith Vines
Buying Guide: Toilets
By Alison Mercer
Back in the roaring twenties, trailblazing decorator Elsie de Wolfe called it the “unspeakable” that designers couldn’t find a way to disguise one of the most essential household appliances: the toilet. Elsie even mused that it might be best for society to return to the outhouse — keep the unspeakable hors the home.
Today, not many of us would agree with that. In fact, our affection for indoor plumbing has inspired us to make our bathrooms showpieces. But the actual toilet? When shopping for this unsung hero, few of us spend enough time or money to make the right choice. According to the World Toilet Organization (WTO) the average person uses the toilet six – eight times a day; multiply that by the number of people in your house and your toilet is working overtime and then some. It’s just not enough to head to your local big box retailer and pick up the bargain of the week – keep these three important factors in mind when buying a toilet.
Style and features
Since its invention in the 31st Century BC, the flush toilet has evolved dramatically. Today, some models constitute works of art, with price tags to match. The Toto NeoRest ($5,000) is one such toilet: looks to kill and a laundry list of features to merit the price point. The Kohler Numi ($6,000) is equipped with a touch screen that allows you to program (among other things) a foot warmer, music and lighting, all paired with a futuristic design styled for ultimate comfort.
Of course, you don’t have to take out a second mortgage to get a toilet that makes a statement. Choose a toilet that will best express your design concept, be it traditional, modern or contemporary. Next, decide on any special features you may want. As we’ve seen, toilet technology offers a full range of bells and whistles, from heated seats to built-in washing devices. Some even analyze basal body temperature, hormone balance and urine for blood sugar levels (like this Daiwa House Intelligent Toilet)! If water conservation is as the top of your list, Canadian company Hennessy & Hinchcliffe invented the technology for a high-efficiency toilet that flushes with only three litres of water ($198). The important thing is to decide what you want before you shop: approach your toilet acquisition like you did your faucet, vanity, tile and paint colours.
Get the right size
Thought all toilets were the same? There are actually subtle variations in a toilet’s height and length that can impact comfort and suitability. Length: standard is 24.5"; the longer version, known as an elongated toilet, can reach up to 30.5". The elongated toilet can provide more comfort — but make sure you can afford the extra depth, otherwise those extra inches can turn into a porcelain pain. Height: standard is 14". Compare that to a typical (non-toilet) seat height of 18" and, believe it or not, those extra 4" can feel like a mile if you are very tall or have even mild mobility issues. A higher toilet, often called “comfort height” can be 16 – 17" high. Choose the height of your toilet based the occupants of your home. For instance, elderly people often find the comfort height more manageable, but young children benefit from a standard height toilet.
High performance
In response to the initial disappointment associated with low-flush toilets in the 1990s, Canadian engineer Bill Gauley created MaP (Maximum Performance) a voluntary, industry-recognized test to measure the performance of toilets on the market. Each toilet is tested and given a score ranging from 250 – 1000 representing the number of grams of solid waste that toilet can clear with a single flush. A score of 250 is the bare minimum you're looking for, get up closer to 1000 and you're in Ferrari territory, with power potential you'll probably never need.
How to use MaP? Two ways: Make a list of toilets you’re interested in and get their scores on the MaP site. Better yet, pick a toilet from “MaP PREMIUM”, a list of 85 toilets that flush with no more than four litres (most low-flush toilets use six) and have a MaP score of 600 or more. Just like you wouldn't buy a car with a crummy engine, pick a toilet that can do the job so you can enjoy years of carefree ownership.
Investing some time and extra money to get the right toilet — one that looks great and performs as it should — is pretty much the opposite of unspeakable: it’s worth talking about
Posted on
April 2, 2013
by
Keith Vines
To stage or not to stage? And if you do stage, do you admit to it? Submitting to this relatively new whim of real estate agents (do you think your parent’s ever staged their home?) somehow implies that the home you’ve been living in quite comfortably isn’t actually good enough for everyone else. The truth of the matter is that we can all learn a little something from professional home stagers. The good news is that many of these things are easy to do and budget-friendly to boot!
Declutter and Get Organized
Steve Gambrel, Design Sponge
The number one rule of home staging is to get rid of all clutter. The best way to do that is to have a designated place for everything whether it's file boxes in the office or storage jars in the kitchen. This task can seem daunting (which is why there are probably companies you can hire to do this for you) but if you think of tackling one room per weekend you could have a well organized and clutter-free house by end of summer.
Freshen Up with Paint
Ideas to Steal (L and R)
Home stagers will tell you that in order to have the best chance of selling your home you should choose neutral paint colours that appeal to a wide spectrum of buyers. I don’t know whether or not I absolutely agree with that but there is no denying that a freshly painted house seems cleaner, brighter and more welcoming. If it's been a few years (or decades!), you might want to consider a touch up. You’ll be amazed at what a difference a little paint can make.
Rearrange Furniture
Jonathan Adler via Apartment Therapy, Bjorn Wallander for House Beautiful
Oftentimes, all it takes to revitalize your home is a simple reshuffling of the existing furniture. Don’t be surprised if your home stager tells you to move some of your items into storage and distribute what's left around the house. In order to create more space and flow you might want to remove some of the chairs from your dining room and add them to your living space. Conversely, you might take an occasional chair from your living room and place it in the hallway. See what rearranging your own furniture can do for your space.
Add Decorative Touches
Desire to Inspire, Steve Gambrel
The role of a good stylist is to add those small decorative touches that turn a ho-hum space into something intriguing and dynamic. Take a look through your closets and see what accessories you have that could make your place look a little more pulled-together. Look for items that are either all in the same colour palette or the same shape. Repetition is key!
Create Zones
Desire to Inspire, Angus Fergusson
Potential home buyers like to imagine their life in your space. By creating distinct zones of eating, relaxing, studying, playing and working, you allow them to envision a harmonious day-to-day routine in their new digs. Take the time to walk around your house to see if there are any spaces that are not being used to their full potential. Try to think as a stranger -- what would bother you if you weren't already totally used to it?
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