Archive for 2020
Let’s Walk the Talk on Intensification
Last year GOHBA presented information about the then-forthcoming Official Plan, the intention to accommodate more homes through intensification in existing neighbourhoods and the need for everyone to understand the profound changes Ottawa is going to see as its population grows by 400,000 people to 1.4 million by 2046. Now the draft Official Plan is out…
Read MoreOur Commitment to Energy Efficiency
On September 22 GOHBA won EnerQuality’s Home Builders’ Association of the Year award, which recognizes “outstanding leadership in high-performance home building by promoting and participating in EnerQuality programs and the high-performance homebuilding construction industry.” GOHBA is the proud voice for excellence in the home building community, and one of the things we’re most proud of…
Read MoreHow Lumber Supply Affects Housing
If you’re building a new home, thinking about one, or have bought lumber for a home renovation project recently, you’ve likely seen media reports about supply constraints and sharp price increases in wood products — specifically pressure-treated wood, plywood and framing lumber. A big part of what you’re seeing now is the lag effect from…
Read MoreRenovating for Energy Savings
In August 2019 in this space I spoke about improving your home’s energy efficiency through renovating, and how improving the energy efficiency in existing housing is extremely important to our future quality of life in Ottawa. Since that time there have been two important developments: First, the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) certified the first…
Read MoreSummer Renovations
In the long, warm, sunny days from May to October, you might want to spend as much time outside your home as you can. And that can mean renovating the outdoors, in a manner of speaking. Your professional renovator can provide you with lots of ideas about the things that beautiful summers are made of.…
Read MoreMaking the Shift to Infill
The health and safety of workers and homeowners is the priority while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. This requires an increased focus on health and safety considerations on renovation jobs or warranty work in a new home. The Association has worked with a number of partners, health authorities and regulators to develop protocols for working in…
Read MoreCommunicating for Renovation Success!
No matter how badly you want your renovation to go smoothly, and no matter how great the skills of your renovator or design professional, if there’s no communication, the project could be rocky. This is one reason a project’s site supervisor, project manager, foreman or owner is so critical to its success. These people talk…
Read MoreListen to your Best Friend
Suppose that your dog could talk. And suppose you’ve scheduled a renovation of your main floor, maybe going as far as also landscaping the backyard. Imagine yourself asking your dog if she or he has any ideas about the way things should go. Such a conversation could be the impetus for the development of a…
Read MoreRenovating for Kids!
Renovating a bathroom or a kitchen is one thing. Creating a space for kids is quite another. When you are planning an addition or renovating a floor in your home, this is probably the ideal time to come up with a special child-space. But it needs careful consideration ‒ more careful, perhaps, than choosing appliances…
Read MoreHousing Affordability in Ottawa has Deteriorated ‘Markedly’
May 5, 2020 – Housing affordability in Ottawa has declined from “affordable” in 2005 to “seriously unaffordable” in 2019 according to the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) and the Frontier Centre for Public Policy (FCPP). In anticipation of the City’s discussion on a growth management strategy for the new Official Plan, GOHBA asked FCPP…
Read More