The Hammer

Hosted by Canadian Contractor Magazine

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May 2026

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About the show

The Hammer is your deep dive into the issues and information that drive Canada’s renovation and custom homebuilding contractors. Join Canadian Contractor editor Patrick Flannery as he talks to top experts from inside and outside the industry to generate new insights and ideas for your business. Find new and past episodes online at canadiancontractor.ca or subscribe through your favourite podcasting service.

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60 recent

June 15, 202657 min

Episode #71: Going DIGITAL: Amy Vilis, DIGITAL, and John Reid, Faber Technologies

The effort to get our industry to fully embrace the latest technology tools grinds on. Amy Vilis is the director of housing growth innovation at DIGITAL, a Vancouver-based non-profit working on bringing technology and construction companies together for mutual benefit. Working with Vilis is John Reid from Faber Technologies, the developer of Faber Connect, an AI-powered software tool that connects construction companies to a pool of over 100,000 skilled labourers across western Canada. Vilis and Reid join The Hammer to talk about the potential benefits to contractors of "going digital" and about the larger productivity gap in construction that continues to hold us back from building the housing we need.

May 1, 20261 hr 0 min

Episode #70 - Make It Here, Build It There - Antonio Manchisi, Sapphire Balconies

After decades in the commercial facade business building whole sections of skyscrapers in factories before shipping them to jobsites, Antonio Manchisi of Sapphire Balconies knows a thing or two about prefabricating construction components. He joins The Hammer to talk about how offsite and modular building are the norm in other parts of the world; how they can save costs, improve quality, efficiency and safety; and where they might not work best in residential renovation and custom building. In an environment where we're all looking to get more done faster with less skilled labour, Manchisi brings some hearty food for thought on how we structure our project process.

April 20, 202645 min

Episode #69: The Alignment Problem - Paul Amato, Tallin Advisory

Paul Amato of Tallinn Advisory brings 20 years' of professional experience advising construction companies to the question of how to get the different parts of your organization working better together. He joins The Hammer to talk about what he means by “alignment”; the elements of a good mindset; the barriers to great customer service and quality; and how to build a culture that succeeds. Take some time with Paul to think about how you do business!

March 23, 202644 min

Episode #68: Don't Stress Out - Sandra Primiano, Dialogue

Contractors work in a high-stress jobs for sure, where frustration, time pressure, conflict and long hours can grind us down. We view workplace stress as part of the lifestyle, but Sandra Primiano from online mental health services provider, Dialogue, says it has very real and measurable effects on productivity and quality. Those effects can include workplace accidents and addiction problems, so it's something we need to pay attention to. Primiano joins The Hammer to explain how job stress leads to decreased performance; what signs might point to a co-worker who is struggling; and some practical tips for mitigating issues when they arise.

February 24, 202638 min

Episode #67: Let's Talk Skylights - Mark Taylor, Velux

Skylights are a feature that transform an interior space when done right and risk a lifetime of headaches when done wrong. Modern designs have come a long way from the old plexiglass domes and now offer great energy efficiency, smart home options and the ability to improve the environment throughout a home. Mark Taylor, national Canadian sales manager for Velux and 27-year veteran of the business, joins The Hammer to share tips on how to do skylights right and really boost the impact of your renovations and custom builds.

February 10, 202644 min

Episode #66: You Can Make an App – Amanda Spann

Amanda Spann is the author of I Have an App Idea - The Essential Guide to Building an App Without Tech Skills and she has good news for all of us. You don't need to spend in the five figures or burn hundreds of hours of staff time to develop an app any more, thanks to new AI-powered tools and reasonably priced professional services. The even better news is, as experts in touch with the needs of their businesses, building trades professionals are in a position to make more useful and targeted apps than anything coming out of Silicone Valley. Whether developing something to help your team internally or making a product you hope to post on the App Store, there's an opportunity here to help your efficiency and potentially add a revenue stream to your business.

January 23, 20261 hr 21 min

Episode #65: The New Green Metrics - Kelly Doran, Half Climate Design

Embodied carbon and an increased focus on building resiliency are coming soon to a building code near you. When they do, we're going to need a lot of information about the amount of greenhouse gasses embodied in our building products and how to build structures that will last longer in the extreme weather events happening in the regions where we build. Kelly Doran and his team at Half Climate Design have stepped up with two new documents that are included in the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's Housing Catalogue: the Materials Guide and the Climate Resilience Guide. Doran joins The Hammer to walk us through the new documents and explain how they will help as we make the adjustment to thinking about things we never had to before.Materials GuideClimate Resilience GuideHalf Climate Design

December 3, 202551 min

Episode #64: R is for Resiliency - Duncan Rowe, RJC Engineers

Building resiliency is the hot focus for sustainable building regulators developing the next wave of codes and standards we will all have to follow. Resiliency impacts our designs two ways: making buildings last longer with less maintenance, and making them resist extreme weather and natural disasters better. Both are related to climate change in that buildings that last longer prevent new carbon emissions from having to repair or replace them, and climate change is already leading to weather changes that our present designs are not ready for. Duncan Rowe, a principal with RJC Engineers, deals with these issues daily both as a building engineer and in his role sitting on various code committees. He joins The Hammer to discuss resiliency and how it might impact our designs and practices going forward.

November 7, 202538 min

Episode #63: Now Streaming in B.C. – Bryan Reid, Kindred Construction

Bryan Reid, president of Kindred Construction and Kindred Custom Homes, joins The Hammer to discuss B.C.’s latest attempts to make it easier to build homes. He covers the recent prompt payment legislation and a large attempt to streamline B.C.’s approval processes with 187 amendments to legislation. He also offers his perspective on whether these moves will make life easier for B.C. contractors and the sources of the housing crisis in general. Reid has a law degree and knows his stuff, so enjoy this informative conversation.

October 24, 20251 hr 2 min

The Hammer Special Epsiode: Spray Foam, Environmental Impact, Energy Efficiency, and the Future of Healthy Homes

Growing concern over building emissions and occupant health has led experts to re-evaluate how we insulate and protect our homes. Spray foam insulation, once valued mainly for its high R-value, is now at the center of discussions about sustainability, environmental impact, and indoor air quality. How does spray foam contribute to lower carbon footprints? What innovations are shaping the next generation of energy-efficient and healthy homes? And how can builders balance performance, cost, and environmental responsibility? Mickel Maalouf, Building Science Expert at Huntsman Building Solutions, joins The Hammer to unpack the science and future of spray foam in sustainable construction.