ia\g LIFESTYLES

st people happy
with renovation quality

IF YOU’RE planning some
renovations around your home,
you'll be interested in details of a
new survey by Canada Mortgage
and Housing Corporation.

The survey, conducted in 1986,
indicated that homeowners,
although basically satisfied with
the quality of renovation work,
weren’t happy with the time it took
to complete it.

Results of the survey were an-
nounced recently by the Hon.
Stewart McInnes, minister of
public works and minister respon-
sible for CMHC, who noted that
in previous studies there was some
concern with the quality of work
done, mainly because of the dif-
ficulty reported by renovation
firms in finding skilled labor.

LANDLORDS SATISFIED

The CMHC study, he said,
revealed that 89 per cent of prop-
erty owners, particularly landiords,
reported being satisfied with the
quality of materials used and 83
per cent with the quality of work-
manship. There was slightly less
satisfaction with the timeliness of
the work.

With one million housing units
needing repair, said McInnes,
tenovation has become a _ big
business in Canada.

It now tops the $15 billion mark
and is expected to grow to $20
billion annually by the end of the

ENERGY EFFICIENT |
AIR TIGHT STOVES |

"VAGLIO FIREPLACE LTD.

3600 E. HASTINGS ST, VAN., BC. {

298-6494

“Until 1986, there was limited
information available on the con-
dition of housing but renovation
was known to be a growth in-
dustry... and expenditures are in-
creasing at a rapid rate.”’

It is difficult to estimate the
over-all size of the renovation in-
dustry because a national inven-
tory of renovation firms does not
exist, he said.

“There is a lack of consumer
knowledge (about contractors) and
a lack of consumer confidence in
the industry.”

TWO COMPONENTS

The industry is made up of two
principal components:

Firms which supply labor or
professional expertise — general
and renovation contractors and
specialty subtrades; and firms
which supply niaterials.

Specialization was most
prevalent in Ontario and least evi-
dent in Atlantic Canada. Among
firms specialising in renovations,
79 per cent were involved prin-
cipally in repairs and improve-
ments. Fewer than 20 per cent
derived over half of their revenues
from additions or conversions.

The CMHC study also indicated
that renovation firms were some-

what older and larger than
previously thought. Nationally,
renovation firms were found to
have an average of 5.3 full-time
employees and to have been in
business for 10.5 years.

In terms of consumer protec-
tion, iwo-thirds of the firms
surveyed reported that they pro-
vided written contracts for the ma-
jority of their work. Two-fifths
provided written guarantees.

CONTRACTS AVAILABLE

The use of written contracts and
guarantees also appears to be
related to firm size and age.
Renovation firms with more than
10 employees reported a higher in-
cidence of using written contracts
and guarantees for more than half
their renovation jobs than smaller
firms.

The same trend was evident said
the CMHC report, for 10 years or
less.

McInnes also announced that
CMHC had done a public con-
sultation on housing renovation.
The public as well as interested
groups from every part of the
renovation industry were asked to
participate. He said government
policy will be developed from the
results of the consultation.

ET LINWOOD WE'VE GOT
PLANS FOR YOu!

® Plans for Growing Families

¢ Plans for Retirement Dream Homes
© Plans for Gulf Island Retreats

© Plans for Mountain Ski-Chalets

FEATURED:
“CROWS VICTORIA”
2158 50.¥7.

$58;,274.00

© Contemporary styling with
the charm of years past * 4
bedrooms * 3 full baths
® formal dining room
© carousel windows © covered
verandah and more © shelled to
“LOCK UP” on 2‘ crawl space
on your level fot ... Vancouver
and vicinity ¢ will quote your
custom plans.
—

80 MODEL PLANBOOK & PRICE LIST 6.00 VISIT OUR SHOW HOME

Your: ea

 Neigueeninoea

Tile Store

| meen Beige Tiles
- | atAx4lle . AOE,

PREE CUSTOM ‘CUTTING

‘FREE PROFESSIONAL ADVICE .

UM

Mon.-Sat. 9-5:30
428-5 East 24th St., NV.
988-3160

LINWOOD HOMES LTD.

8250 River Road, Delta, B.C.
V4G1B5 PHONE 946-5421

Visit

, wu Y> SHOWROOM
MIC TILE SALE.

Floor Tiles
B° x8"
AH modern colors

Marble Tiles

12?

GUARANTEED INSTALLATION
PERSONALIZED SERVICE
-FROM KOSTA & HELEN

13 - Friday, September 2, 1988 - North Shore News

—s eee

DEVELOPMENT. 1S co. LY D.

STRUCTURAL REPAIR SPECIALISTS

e FOUNDATION CRACKED?
e WALL CRACKING?
© SINKING HOUSE?

BUYING A HOME?

RICHMOND, B.C. 276-8868

THE LEADING EDGE
IN CARPET FASHION

Right now we are sale-pricing

carpet from California's leading j

manufacturers in almost every §

conceivable color and style |
(Residential & Commercial)

with sale prices from $23.80 sq. yd.

“THE LEADING EDGE”
is affordable