Construction and Building

Beginning with an idea and then execution; this Permaculture flower bed was the client's idea to cover up a stump in her yard. The unsightly stump will, with time, turn into soil and feed the new plants around it. Sev laid a block foundation and then covered the planter in veneer cultured stone. He finished off with a Tristar pre-cast cap and Fabrikem sealer.

Sev enjoys building POP (point of purchase) displays as they often encompass his wide skill set. Sev has worked in retail as well as in sales so he understands the value of displaying products in visually appealing ways. This creative solution was for a client in Powell River BC.

This working platform was built for Telus to service their junction plane. Sev has a background in custom home building where he learned a vast set of building skills. This was a safe, simple solution to Telus’ accessibility issue that Sev did without any drawing. He knows sometimes you have to get a job done with limited information. He calls it “freestyle framing.”

This was Sev's second job after moving to Powell River B.C. It was a difficult job as the scope of the project kept changing as the work progressed. Spray foam was all that was holding up the back steps and one corner of the house was completely rotted out. Sev fixed the foundation and load-bearing points before replacing the siding. After the framing and structure were repaired 4 doors and 2 storm doors were installed. Budgets got tight and the client had to wait a few months before the final painting could be done and job was complete. Finding a solution is Sev’s goal.

In Powell River B.C. there are a lot of people who use wood stoves to heat their homes. The masonry chimney needs to be maintained or it will leak. After years of neglect, restoration will be required to stop leaks and other issues. Concrete is strong and stays together when taken care of, but it will deteriorate quickly once water and moss get into cracks. Regular pressure wash cleaning and sealing will ensure your concrete chimney lasts longer and has fewer issues in the future. Here is a before and after restoration with a new top/pot.

This project started with a picture off the internet and an address to a sample door. Sev took these inspirations, picked up materials, and went to work in his shop. From the wood selection, design, and painting everything was done by Sev and the client received a door they loved.

Brick, concrete, and stone chimneys need very similar maintenance. Sev pressure washed and re-pointed the loose mortar joints then used a sealer. A fresh chimney cap from Tristar Brick and Block provides weather protection and easy future flute cleaning.

Kitchen renovations and improvements can be very important for health. Even small to moderate leaks in a kitchen can lead to mould growth which can be very hazardous around stored food and food prep surfaces. In this facelift job, Sev installed the countertops, cabinets, door handles, hinges, and a sink.

This job of fixing a leaking metal roof was a struggle. Many previous contractors had come in to try different fixes, which meant a lot of investigation and research to find the potential issues and the best solutions to the various problems with the roof. Ultimately, Sev recommended and brought in an expert to help him complete the job. Sev’s university education has given him the skills necessary to effectively research information and find solutions.

On this chimney repair, the concrete bricks were pitted. In this case, painting to seal the chimney was needed to waterproof the bricks’ surfaces again. The cleaning and painting, or sealing, is the type of maintenance that should be done approximately every 5 years. This provides weather poofing to stop the elements from entering the brick surface causing decreased life. The top replacement is the repair side of this job. Sev used pre-cast caps cut for the top to finish the chimney off.

Bathroom renovations are tough as there is usually more water damage than most clients expect. Water leaks can cause major damage when left unnoticed. In this job, the client thought the sink was leaking, however, when the floor was pulled up to investigate, it was determined that the shower was the source of the leak. From there Sev replaced some of the framing and a few joists. He worked his way up to the floor, sink, shower, and then finishings.

Sev started masonry renovations when he was 19 years old and continues in this field today. This job is in the Lower Mainland and because it’s a correction facility, we cannot show most of the work. Sev said this was the physically most demanding job he ever had because of the location. A restoration project like this one uses unconventional building methods. This is the kind of challenge Sev enjoys. Sev has called it “reverse building.”

This repair was a bigger one; the backside mortar joints needed to be ground out and refilled from the top to the bottom. The client bought the house and the chimney wasn’t topped or sealed properly causing extensive damage inside the home. The top was resurfaced with hydraulic mortar to ensure it was watertight. To finish it off a new top cap was added to stop rain from directly entering the chimney. Sev had to wait 21 to 28 days for the curing of cement products then finished it off by acid washing the excess mortar off and sealing it with a concrete sealer.

Finding supplies can be a challenge in certain situations. With direct manufacture access to the Terra Force retaining wall block it makes for a more streamlined install. Having a visual drawing is important to each job. Sev can create drawings in Sketch-Up, to mitigate changes once a job has been started. The aim is for the finished results. Stacked supplied and installed on this job. The conner cores of the block were filled with re-bar and concrete. This is for strength, less shifting in the wall, and keeping pressure in the length of the wall.

In British Columbia Canada it RAIN! A LOT! Having a coved entrance helps to keep some of the wet and dirt out. Cutting the direct wind on a door helps save the door seal. When the wind blows on a door it will eventually drive water through the seals. The job here was to stop water getting in during storms and the wind blowing the door shut. The awning and clear wind block did the job well visually improving the building.