2017 was another excellent and busy year in the buildings industry. The year got off to a slow start with the weather. It looked in February like it was going to be a beautiful and early Spring, however Mother Nature decided to rain from March through June, delaying the start of many construction projects and impacting many others. The run on effect lasted throughout spring impacting Construction and the availability of trades. This even affected my own home renovation.
As we look forward, Economists suggest that our economy is currently at full capacity. That means we will expect labor shortages and similar delays in construction as projects compete for limited resources. As always it is important to get ahead of this demand and have work priced early in the year.
Our staff continue to develop well. In his first year Geoff Carleton has provided light steel design design for EcoFRAME and our ongoing design work. Frances continues to provide good support to our clients’ construction projects and the smooth running of our building assessments.
We are grateful to be able to continue working with many of our long-standing clients. We enjoy the relationships that we form and the deep attachment and knowledge of our buildings that we develop over time. This connection allows us to improve building value over time, helping our clients improve their net worth.
Truman delivered approximately 2.5 million dollars of renovation projects this year including one major $450,000 garage restoration at a commercial condominium and an eventual $500,000 restoration of the exterior cladding at a triple tower residential complex. We also provided structural design services to projects with an estimated construction value of almost five million dollars. These projects are primarily residential, typically architectural design homes through the GTA and Ontario. A unique feature of our design capability includes light gauge steel using the EcoFRAME system, which can provide spans of up to 35 ft at a 16in joist depth. Truman has worked extensively with the owner to commercialize this product over the previous 2 years and is excited to see the first projects come to market in 2018.
Last year we also provided design management and project management services to a two and a half million dollar mechanical retrofit at two towers in Mississauga. The project includes replacements of major building systems as they have approached the end of their service life. Truman has worked with the board over the past two years to refine this project and to develop the reserve fund plan to extract the maximum value from the overall retrofit. Truman has provided continuous support and guidance to the board and the building owners throughout the process, including the adoption of a borrowing by law to achieve the board’s Financial objectives.
In general, our approach is to develop repair plans in keeping with the Owner’s facility and budget objectives, while maximizing long term value. TESI’s 2017 major projects include the following:
- 1360 Glenanna Road, Pickering – Townhome roof replacements and repairs – $85,000
- 1000 The Esplanade, Pickering – Garage leak investigations and repairs – $225,000.
- 25 Telegram Mews and 4K Spadina, Toronto – Garage membrane repairs – $300,000.
- 55 Delisle Avenue, Toronto – Driveway repairs and garage repairs – $150,000
- 163-179 Bleecker St and 205 & 207 Wellesley St, Toronto – Condominium stair repairs – $125,000
- 2750 14th Avenue, Markham – Major garage repairs including concrete repairs, drainage repairs, and electrical repairs – $400,000
Complete garage restoration to address a failed roof membrane and significant concrete deterioration due to an asphalt overlay that had been installed 10 years ago. Work also included lighting repairs, exhaust improvements, and painting while maintaining the operation of the commercial condominium building. TESI also assisted the Board with renderings and design for a façade renewal project, to be undertaken in the near future. - 10 Dayspring Circle, Brampton – Condos exterior cladding repairs – $250,000
TESI was asked to step in to provide technical and project guidance for an exterior envelope rehabilitation. Significant aspects of our service included ensuring proper materials specifications and use, coordination with materials suppliers to ensure complete warranty coverage to protect the Corporation’s investment, reviewing balcony glass failures and developing a balcony guard repair protocol, and investigating other moisture and air penetration issues. TESI developed a complete specification based on the Contractor’s original scope of work and extended that work to the other two buildings at the complex. TESI was also asked to deliver Reserve Fund Studies for the various corporation, in order to develop the best financial plan moving forward. This work included determining appropriate and cost-effective garage repairs, and to address site traffic and paving issues. - 32a Henry Lane, Toronto – Garage repairs and drainage improvements – $125,000
- 268 Poplar Plains Road, Toronto – Hydro vault repairs – $300,000
TESI applied both our unique structural design and repair expertise, along with our knowledge of Toronto Hydro repair standards to develop the repair of a severely deteriorated Hydro Vault. Unique aspects included the overall age of the structure, the vault location under the main entrance lobby and driveway, and to improve the older vault to meet current Toronto Hydro standards and ensure the Client’s compliance with the Toronto Hydro Servicing Agreement.
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