On a sunny Saturday in May, CBR’s own Chris Dos Santos showed some dealers and homeowners how to refinish wood decks the BRODA ® way, at a seminar held at Vancouver’s Greenworks Building Supply.

“The key is taking your time, and preparation” said Dos Santos. “Don’t rush it and don’t go cheap on your coating products.” The show began with a demonstration of ABR X-180 Weathered Wood Restorer, a relatively mild acetic that takes greying and light staining off of the surface of the wood, making it very receptive to the new finish

The seminar also focused, naturally, on the advantages of water-borne oil finishes over solvent-based products.

“A solvent-based finish, besides off-gassing toxic fumes, creates a non-permeable film that can crack and peel. That means when it’s maintenance time, you’re stripping off old stain again,” Dos Santos continues, “Water-borne stains like BRODA ® soak into the wood and let it breathe. Maintenance is as easy as washing and re-applying right on top.”

Dos Santos then explained the differences between BRODA ® Siding Log & Timber (SLT) and Deck & Rail (DR) formulas. The SLT is designed to be fade resistant for vertical surfaces, while the DR has more ingredients that repel standing water for horizontal surfaces.

“Buying local is important, too.” Dos Santos says, “If your your deck is in British Columbia and your finish is made in Arizona, it’s not going to be made for the job. BRODA ® products include ingredients that reduce the growth of fungus and mildew, which is critical in a damper environment.”

Participants were handed a step-by-step sheet of tips and tricks, and brought some of their own questions to be answered.

“You can be friends with your deck,” Dos Santos concluded, “You just have to put a little water-borne love into it.”

For his PDF of tips and tricks or to book a seminar for your group or dealer, just email Chris Dos Santos. He’ll even bring the beer.

Want the beauty and elegance of a handcrafted wood home without the big footprint price tag? Think tiny.

Like, 140 square feet tiny. In a space smaller than some bathrooms, Chris and Malissa Tack designed a whole home, with gable roof and dormers. The Tiny Tack House sits on a 7’ x 20’ trailer bed, which makes it as mobile as it is beautiful.

It’s equipped with solar power generation, carries its own water, has a full kitchen and bathroom, but is also capable of plugging into the grid at an RV Park if need be.

The Tiny House movement is growing in North America, and many people are finding they can get by with less, and still have a beautiful lifestyle. It just means if you want to have a huge party, you have to do it in the yard. Which is easier to clean up anyway.

Thanks to the SAB Blog for putting us on to this one.

Pantone®, makers of designer color books and printing inks, is one of the largest online resources for tints and hues, and they regularly release their hot colors for the season. Very useful for an architect when determining a coating specification for green building and for home decorating purposes.

A recent article on the Country Living website shows how some of their most influential bloggers are using some of 2013’s hottest Pantone® colours in home décor and wood stain colour. We took a look at some of these shades and realized a good number of our stock BRODA ® wood stain tints are very ‘in’. The ‘Glamour Palette’ above, for instance, is matched almost directly with colours from our own west coast palette.

Of course, we can match pretty much any colour you can bring, including Pantone’s 2013 Colour of the Year, Emerald Green.

It just goes to show low-VOC wood stain can be high fashion, too.

istockphoto

It may be blossom season in Vancouver, but April and May can still bring a lot of cool, damp weather throughout Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest. Fortunately, BRODA ® PRO-TEK-TOR natural oil wood stain works great in these kinds of conditions.

Because the oils are water-borne, damp wood readily absorbs the BRODA ® stain, so you don’t have to wait for dry weather to stain decks, fences, siding or any other wood project. As long as the temperature is between XX°C and XX°C and you can tarp off to avoid rain getting directly on the freshly stained surface, you’re pretty much good to go. If you want more tips on BRODA ® application techniques for different conditions, please give us a call directly at 1-888-311-5339.

It’s never off-season for us!

We see these roofs on ground-breaking green buildings. We may even know that they help to moderate a building’s temperature and control storm water in urban areas. But what makes them work? What different kinds of technology are used?

If you want the basics on green roofs, check out this video from greenroofs.com – it’s enough info to make you sound really smart at a dinner party and at least get you into the conversation at a professional level. Want to go further? Greenroofs.com has a whole library of online videos to watch, and is even hosting a ‘Virtual Summit’ on green roof technology.

So the next time someone asks you whether you prefer extensive or intensive green roof technology, you’ll be able to pipe up.

At CBR we like things natural – wood, natural oil stain, fresh powder… so when we came across Kickbutt Nuts™ natural cleaner for laundry, and learned it was actually made from 100% natural ‘soap nuts’ we thought it was too good not to share. Unlike commercial powders and liquids, Kickbutt Nuts are actually the dried fruit shells of the Sapindus tree. You simply put 4 of them in a small cloth bag right in with your laundry. The natural cleaner in the nuts causes the water to foam up and lift out the dirt. Afterwards, you can dry the nuts out for up to 3 more uses. Then they go straight into the compost. No waste!

I have tested them on our own laundry and so far they have worked just fine, even removing some pretty serious ski gear funk.

You can also soak the nuts in a jar of water, creating your own soapy solution that can be used for a number of household cleaning tasks.

Kickbutt Nuts also work well on the social side of the scale. Every package bought online contributes to giving adolescent girls living in poverty in the developing world a chance.

So if you want a way to clean your clothes and your conscience, try some of these nuts.

Who knows, they might even work for cleaning water-borne BRODA® natural oil wood stain out of your brushes!

Photos: Lorne Craig

It seems like just yesterday… the world was watching Vancouver 2010, and the CBR BRODA® crew was glued to the screen, hoping to catch a glimpse of… the lodge.

Yes, the Day Lodge at Whistler Olympic Park is a BRODA® PRO-TEK-TOR coated project, its huge timbers protected with our low-VOC water-borne natural oil stain. Now it is a legacy for cross-country skiers of all ages and abilities.

A day at Whistler Olympic Park in the Callaghan Valley is well worth the trip. Drive for about 10 minutes off the Sea-to-Sky highway, 115km north of Vancouver, and you are in a quiet world of towering trees, sparkling cake-icing snow and perfectly groomed trails. You can rent all the gear you need for snowshoeing, skate skiing or traditional cross-country. You can even take a biathlon lesson if you want to practice marksmanship at the same time. And if Grandma doesn’t cross-country, well there’s always the toboggan area.

The ski jumps loom over the learning area like some sort of spacecraft launch facility, and have hosted several international jumping events. (The jumps are not open to weekend tire-kickers or Grandmas, though that would be amusing)

In the summer you can hike, ride trails on your bike or even go for a horseback ride.

But let’s get back to the lodge.

Inside, the day lodge is bright and beautiful, with lots of big beams and some beautifully carved doors and accents. The low-VOC wood stain really brings out the wood’s golden colour. The restaurant has some really tasty fare, no more expensive than any other remote-location lodge of this type. (Oh, and they serve Whistler Beer as well!)

We are happy to report the wood surfaces are still looking good, after 4 hot summers, cold winters and wet off-seasons of coast mountain weather.

Why not head up and check out Whistler Olympic Park for yourself? It’s a good reminder of the great environmental legacy that is ours to enjoy and protect. And Grandma will love it, too.

Photo: Lorne Craig

When I received a phone call from Chris de Santos, VP of Sales at CBR Products asking me to share the Safehaven – Mark Mueller relationship with you, their blog followers, I was indeed honoured.  CBR Products has always supported us with donated products when asked. I believe the best way would be to share this with you is to write the never been written story about how this Blessing came to me.

IN THE BEGINNING

In 2001 after the lack of industry confidence encouraged by 9-11 and the lumber softwood dis-agreement between Canada and the USA (40% of our business was in lumber wrap and covers) I found myself unemployed from a well paying job.  One year later on January 1, 2003, I made the decision to establish and develop the child care division of my brother’s Curved Space freeform furniture company and concentrated my activities primarily in the Toronto area.

Of all the markets I could have picked none could have been more life-changing than the child care industry.  Truly an industry so filled with pure love.  One segment of the market which we knew our high quality bean bag chairs were well suited for was that one serving the people with special needs.  Safehaven Project for Community Living being one of the established leaders for respite care in the Greater Toronto Areas (Toronto, Etobicoke, Woodbridge, Aurora and York), were to become very important Customers, especially from the perspective of further strengthening the brand in Toronto.

The moment I first visited the Safehaven facility at Bloor Street I could feel the love and could see the great things they were doing.  They had a huge heart hanging along the side of the building – kept getting damaged so the decision was made not to direct funds in constantly repairing it. Since I finally made it to being President (albeit of one) I made it my mission to get close to the Customer to best understand their needs by Volunteering.  I learned that by laughing and singing with these kids who are classified as non verbal, we can break this barrier: for when they express their laughter and smiles they are indeed verbalizing and we are communicating.

Beautiful too that by opening myself up in this manner I was able to endear myself with the staff and administrators also. This is how it all started.

SUPPORTING A WINNER – THE BEST

As a not-for-profit organisation I also saw how their Administration was so efficient being that only 5% of all monies raised goes to the Administration and that the other 95% goes directly into caring for the children. I also saw how Safehaven is built by the Community and sensed it would be so amazing to participate in this activity.

Since I was producing this furniture with access to the Curved Space quality production process (can’t build a business attending to repairing bean bags when offering a one year warranty on all seam and zippers in a child care environment – did anyone say no jumping) I was able to provide favourable pricing when needed. For me I revelled in Volunteering and was there to help in the trenches as best I could. Being with those who served the children with special needs I opened my cost structure to the care-givers so that were they to identify a child that needed our product yet couldn’t afford the premium price that the specialised production process warranted, we could get it to them at cost and or subsidize it if we were experiencing good sales or could find someone to donate what was necessary.  Totally radical behaviour from a capitalistic focus, especially for someone starting a business.  And yet it was the most loving thing to do.  I believe since I was connecting with the Safehaven loving energy I was learning how to become the hunter and gatherer I wanted my “company to become”.  Unbeknownst to me at this time I was on the start of my journey to test and explore the sales hypothesis: If people buy from you because they like you, what happens when they Love you? 

One fabulous project I was involved in was building Christopher’s bed: a bed that needed to be opened in any of six ways at the sides. One of the Occupational Therapist’s father enjoyed wood-working and was very skilled at it so with me as his helper we built it for Christopher.  On a personal business level this was a success because as a hunter and gather we asked CBR and they donated the wood finish and adhesive plus the cost of shipping.  The power of the Community at work!  A custom built bed at a fraction of a retail price.

Being close to the Customer means that when purchase opportunities become available you are in the forefront of the decision-makers’ minds and since they knew of our past success of delivering and servicing quality furniture I was in a good position to win the order. Plus since I was a Volunteer here it made sense to ensure I had the best pricing for value – it was imperative for me as a president to ensure that all bean bag chairs at Safehaven are in fact the best – the best being Curved Space bean bags chairs: even though I am no longer developing this market I do still have access to the process– which means I can be helpful in maintaining their investment when need arises.

Over the years Safehaven has been one of my greatest supporters – both business-wise and emotionally as a friend. (A very special friend because as an entity of it’s own it contains many beautiful people with whom I share a common bond of serving Safehaven with).  Recently they commissioned me to build a Sensory Room at one of their homes.  They have hired me to paint rooms, repair furniture, etc. They have also been helpful to my friends giving them opportunities to earn income.

Without a doubt what really put me into overdrive in my passion to serve Safehaven and in fact has been instrumental in my business’ evolution to serve the Community was when in 2007 they honoured me with being their Volunteer of the Year. I was at Safehaven just the other day and saw my name engraved on the Catherine Zoe Whittaker Award – the year after my Safehaven Hero: Tony Zingaro, received the award.  Having received this distinction instilled in me an intense passion and desire to always live up to this.  What is magnificent is that our relationship has blossomed and their leadership has made me a better person and my company has a stronger sense of purpose and direction.

When I first entered into serving people with special needs someone told me that the children have so much to teach us.  For me one of the nicest lessons they teach me is to slow down and experience pure Love.  So often I will have my busy agenda planned that will include a stop at Safehaven and my unplanned interactions with the staff and children will put a beautiful smile into my day: stop and share in some laughter yoga and guide us in some breathing exercises and stretching. 

Of course when I visit I have to say hello in the office.  The loving and caring of this great organisation stems from the incredible leadership of Safehaven’s CEO: Beverly Gordon. She has been so helpful to me – always there to share a smile or talk about my “great visions” and share in my successes and offer counsel re. my challenges. 

I was even given the opportunity to apply for a care-givers position when I considered pursuing full-time employment – made it all the way to being invited to participate in an observation shift.  It was here that I saw my role was a marketer – a hunter and gatherer.  After this experience I have even greater respect for the responsibilities a care-giver at Safehaven has – I was never one for needles let alone applying them plus feeding tubes make me queasy.  Since I would have been serving the sickest children in Toronto (and Ontario) the attention to detail, ensuring proper medications and dealing with seizures (where proper response can determine life or death), I felt my skills would be best served in other capacities.  Most importantly I had no experience and didn’t feel full confidence that I could perform this demanding role. 

The timing of this opportunity and the outcome were indeed Devine as shortly after this I was to become the primary palliative care-giver with my Mom.  What I learned during this observation shift and with my interactions serving people with special needs prior to this was very beneficial to me in my service with my Mom. Reflecting on this as I write, perhaps the greatest gift that helped me with Mom during her various stages is that despite whatever adversity life gives the main thing is to have fun and maintain a positive attitude of gratitude for what we do have and adjust to the communication levels as needed: “Oh here is a beautiful blueberry, yummmmm (encouraging to eat) and remember to smile when you swallow the blueberry.” I didn’t know it at the time but the reduced food intake was her body’s way of going into shut down mode.  I like to believe my Mom had a graceful exit from this earthly plain. That this could be as it was and that I could serve her as I did was in super large part owing to all that my relationship with Safehaven taught and nurtured in me. 

The path I am on now in 2013 is most beautiful.  Safehaven has given me the opportunity to present what I believe will be an innovative twist to referral sales to benefit the Community and of course my beloved Safehaven – since what is planned is totally rooted in the Love the Safehaven manifests. We’ll certainly be celebrating this announcement here on the CBR Products blog. 

And since we should take every opportunity to celebrate Safehaven relationships I should mention again my thanks (and Safehaven’s thanks too) for CBR Products supporting our efforts to successfully build less toxic environments for the children and staff whenever we have asked.  Your support of the referral sales concept is encouraging.  Thanks for being a great friend with Safehaven. 

In closing I encourage everyone to volunteer – wherever you passion fits best.  Should you be within geographic range of any of the Safehaven facilities stop by their head office and respite location (I like to call it the country club for the kids: there’s an awesome straight-away where you can drive the wedge (racing car) with the child strapped in at high speeds – and you’ll both be laughing so hard you break the non-verbal classification barrier – like breaking a speed record.)  Every time I leave (remember you have to leave in order to come back) I feel like the wealthiest person in the world – and pumped to strive to do great things. 

Should you not be in close proximity to Safehaven I encourage you to volunteer in your communities.  May your time devoted bring you much joy and strength as my relationship with Safehaven has brought me. Naturally I have to add if your are looking for a not-for-profit organisation that will put your tax-deductible donation to very good use I strongly encourage you to choose Safehaven for this is a place where children, who for the most part can not see, speak, hear nor walk (run, skip or jump) learn to laugh and smile and communicate and oh yes – boy do we dance at our yearly Gala. Moving mountains is so much fun! 

I invite your comments and feedback as per below.  Be sure to visit the Blog entry about how we built the least toxic sensory room for Safehaven’s Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada home.  As well I am re-launching my flagship website www.MTMSales.com  and have a Home page set up with many more pages to follow soon.  Please contact me when I can be helpful Toll free in Canada and the USA: 1.888.668.6248 or in the Toronto, Ontario, Canada area: 416 769-7700. 

Sincerely

Mark Mueller, B.B.M.

One of our long-time customers recently emailed us with a unique challenge. He has had an amazing ‘second home’ carved into the stump of a tree he cut down in his front yard, and he wants to give it the same long-lasting protection he has on the main house. (He coated his cedar siding with BRODA ® PRO-TEK-TOR 11 years ago and it still looks great. But that’s another story) Bob credits this amazing piece of handi-work to carvers Bill Christian and Luc Veys of the Slocan area.

Of course, we recommended the same BRODA ® PRO-TEK-TOR coating for the carved surfaces of the stump. But we also suggested he drill the base of the stump and insert Genics borate rods into the holes. These rods are often recommended for log homes, fence posts and other situations where extra protection is required. (Borates are one of the chemical groups effective in controlling and stopping fungal decay and many insects – at concentrations that are not even close to poisonous for humans and other mammals)

Take a closer look at Bob’s amazing carving. It’s definitely well worth protecting!

We recently received an email from a happy past customer in Nelson, BC, letting us know that they were finally considering some touch-ups on the BRODA ® PRO-TEK-TOR they coated their siding with 11 years ago.

“We treated the siding with BRODA ® PRO-TEK-TOR cedar tint, 2 coats applied by roller on all surfaces before the siding was installed. It was about this time in 2002. You’ll see that after 11 years it has retained the base cedar tone with nice coloring evolving. The only surfaces that have greyed are those that were subjected to rain wash off the roof before we installed troughs.  There is no structural deterioration at all of the siding.”

The happy homeowner continues to use BRODA ® PRO-TEK-TOR for other projects as well, such as a cedar shed and an amazing stump carving he has created in his front yard (see separate article here)

Thanks to Bob for sending us those great pics. If you have any questions about how to protect YOUR wood, just give us a call or drop us a line.