A WINDOW OF A DIFFERENT COLOUR
Design and elements of style continue to be on the uptick in the windows market, as homeowners balance between form and function, style and utility. “Now windows are more part of the…
NEW YEAR, NEW HOME: RENO TRENDS FOR 2019
Canadian contractors are coming off a busy year in the home renovation and remodeling market, and it’s expected to con- tinue into 2019. Castle members and designers across the country are optimistic…
WHAT’S IN STORE FOR LUMBER IN 2019?
After a year of supply shortages, production curtailments, logistics and environmental concerns wreaking havoc on lumber prices, 2019 appears to be set for greater stability. “Twenty-eighteen was the most volatile year in…
Keeping Cozy
Options and innovations for adding warmth to your abode this fall and winter. The multi-hued beauty of falling leaves, crisp autumn air, the harvest moon, pumpkin pie; fall brings with it a…
Leave them floored
Where there were once mainly choices between carpet, tile and hardwood, today there are options abound, allowing contractors to provide just the right performance and aesthetics to meet or exceed customers’ specific…
L’engouement pour les aires de vie extérieures : un monde de possibilités pour les entrepreneurs
En matière d’installations extérieures, il n’y a plus de limites. Les options pullulent. Les entrepreneurs doivent donc aider leurs clients à comprendre les possibilités et à choisir les produits et les matériaux…
Outside Opportunities
The open sky’s the limit. With backyard construction options abound, contractors should take on a more consultative role to help homeowners understand and focus their choices of product, material and more. “You…
Eyes on Youth and Diversity: Working to Solve the Skills Crisis
An impending skills shortage has already reached some skilled trades, and experts say overcoming it will require a focus on areas of diversity, women in trades and inspiring youth. In 2012, the…
Gypsum innovations
With savvy homeowners demanding ever-healthier and higher-performing homes, innovations in gypsum drywall, tile backerboard and related products may be playing a larger part in your next home renovation job. While not always…
Ceilings to Look Up to
If you haven’t considered the impact of the ceilings on your dream homes, experts suggest it’s about time to. Over the last few years, this “fifth wall” has become a more popular…
Put on a Bold Face
Seasons change and with them fashions too. A home’s roofing and siding, however, is built to last. So for contractors, the question is, how can they help homeowners pick out styles and…
Renovation Trends to Watch in 2018
By their nature trends come and go; however, in the renovation and remodelling industry there are a few business mainstays. For example, contractors can always expect kitchen and bathroom upgrades to remain…
Energy Efficiency: The future is now
As building energy codes become stricter, and consumer energy costs continue to climb, energy efficiency in new homes is becoming more than a luxury. Ever-more energy efficient houses are becoming the necessary…
La belle et le bain
Le temps est-il venu de construire votre salle de bain de rêve ? Les salles de bains, ainsi que les cuisines, sont les deux principaux projets de rénovation les plus fréquents dans…
Des plafonds remarquables
Le « cinquième mur » de la pièce revêt plus d’importance que ce que certains entrepreneurs lui confèrent, particulièrement vu la popularité des résidences multifamiliales, des cinémas maison et des salles de…
Beauty and the Bath
Is it time to build your dream bathroom? Bathrooms, along with kitchens, are consistently two of the top remodelling projects in the home, and with good reason. For homeowners planning to sell,…