The Hammer

Hosted by Canadian Contractor Magazine

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Episodes

104

Latest episode

Aug 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

August 21, 20261 hr 3 min

Episode #77: Reduce Complexity to Reduce Carbon - Rockford Boyor, Elastochem

Calculating the embodied carbon of a building is a process of adding up all the inputs. So it follows that the more inputs there are, the more opportunities there are to increase a project's global warming potential and make the project less sustainable. Not a big concern for most projects today, but soon will be as code authorities move closer and closer to limiting the allowable GWP of new builds and renovations. As a building science expert working for Canadian spray foam manufacturer, Elastochem , Rocky Boyor has taken a deep dive into these issues and realized that each layer in a wall assembly adds multiple sources of carbon that often aren't counted, but might be under a strict GWP-limiting regime. He brings the receipts with a story about a project where his company was able to eliminate three of five wall layers in a heritage retrofit by using spray foam insulation, thereby eliminating the carbon contribution of materials, transportation, installation and replacement for dozens of wall components.

August 19, 202634 min

Episode #76: Building from the Inside Out: A smarter approach to continuous insulation. Mickel Maalouf, building science manager at Huntsman Building Solutions

With Mickel Maalouf, building science manager at Huntsman Building Solutions Builders and contractors: as energy codes evolve, smarter wall assemblies can help improve thermal performance, airtightness, jobsite efficiency, and long-term comfort. In this episode of The Hammer podcast, Huntsman Building Solutions discusses how interior-applied continuous insulation with closed-cell spray foam can help reduce thermal bridging, support faster construction sequencing, and deliver high-performance building envelopes for today’s Canadian projects. Listen now to learn what this approach could mean for your next build.

August 17, 20261 hr 3 min

Get More From Your Rental Store Special Episode: Here's what specialty rentals can do for you - Derek Cashmore, Cooper Equipment Rentals

Jobsites are changing, technology is changing and Canadian rental stores are changing along with them. Equipment rental operations are no longer just dingy garages where you pick up whatever is there - today's operations feature specialty divisions with rare equipment you won't find anywhere else and expert advice on how to accomplish your toughest tasks. Derek Cashmore, director of sales for Cooper Equipment Rentals, joins Get More From Your Rental Store week to explain how specialty rental operations deliver solutions to complex construction tasks like concrete curing, trench safety, dewatering, jobsite power supply, safety and more.

August 17, 202657 min

Podcast Episode #75: The Get More From Your Rental Store panel

When you talk to equipment rental people, you quickly learn there is no group more dedicated to helping you and your projects. As evidence, we present the Get More From Your Rental Store panel, featuring Canadian Rental Association directors from across Canada. Learn about how equipment rentals work, how they've changed over the years, what help you can get beyond just picking up equipment, online vs in-person rentals and renting from equipment dealers in this energetic conversation with Warren Carriere (Cooper Equipment Rentals), Shelley Cole (GNS Equipment Rentals) and Peter Kinney (Unique Diesel Solutions).

July 23, 202631 min

Episode #74: Turning Data Into Profits - Dan Morton, JACK

A long-time contractor in his native Australia, Dan Morton became frustrated with using multiple software tools from multiple vendors, none of which could communicate with each other to generate a holistic picture of how his business was performing. So he went into the app business, creating JACK . In the process, Morton has learned a lot about how construction firms – even small construction firms – can use the information that is already in their offices to get better organized, find efficiencies and cut costs. He joins The Hammer to share some tips and insights.

July 21, 202642 min

Episode #73: AI and cybersecurity - David Mill, Scelta

Much has been said about the promise of AI and its possible threat to jobs. But how might this powerful new technology affect an old concern: your company's data security? David Mill, CEO and founder of Scelta , a Windsor, Ont., construction software provider, joins The Hammer to talk about the ways AI might empower bad actors to produce better scams, steal data from your systems, spoof your reviews and even damage your processes if allowed inside. We also discuss how AI-powered security might thwart these threats and allow you to operate with less worries about the old challenges.

July 10, 202642 min

Episode #72: Renology - Sarah Caron, CHBA Renovation Services

CHBA is doing more than ever to serve, assist and represent its renovation sector members. Renovation Services director, Sarah Caron, joins The Hammer to talk about the special nature of renovation contracting as a sub-sector of the home building business. She explains the various member benefits and services to the industry that Renovation Services is offering, including the Renomark https://renomark.ca/ program, the Renovation Market Index and the various events and education sessions coming up. Finally, she previews Renovation Month, coming this October.

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!