Want to learn a thing or two about how to build, design or renovate right, the first time? A popular source for such education about homes is “Measure Twice, Cut Once,” a podcast presented by Homebuilders Association Vancouver, or HAVAN.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, the Surrey-based association includes close to 1,100 member builders, developers, renovators, designers, suppliers, sub-trades and other local professionals in the business of homes. “We are an association of knowledgeable, trusted, resourceful and local professionals who build over 65 per cent of Metro Vancouver’s homes,” says a post on havan.ca.
Now in Season 7, HAVAN’s podcast is hosted by Mike Freedman and Jennifer-Lee Gunson, who drill into topics such as real costs, budgets, building codes, material choices and processes. In plain language, they focus on lifestyle, safety, efficiency and more.
Special guests have included Bryan Baeumler of HGTV fame, and B.C. housing minister Ravi Kahlon. The latest episode of “Measure Twice, Cut Once,” number 60 in the series, launched April 30 with guest Barb Silverthorn of Capture Energy.
Past episodes have explored whole-home renovations, aging in place, the benefits of energy-efficient homes and an entire season following the Burden family through a real-time renovation in Vancouver. Season 8 will feature 2024 HAVAN award-winner projects, announced May 4. Episodes can be heard and watched on havan.ca/measuretwicecutonce and also Youtube.com.
Todd Best from Best Builders shares a story on rebuilding a home from a devastating fire and what will be the first Zero Carbon home built in Canada.
— Homebuilders Association Vancouver (@HavanOfficial) April 30, 2024
🎧Episode 58: Zero Carbon Home - https://t.co/QyHCu3rT2i#podcast #vancouverhomebuilder #zerocarbon pic.twitter.com/gDCosWEJKO
Owner of AI Technology & Design, Freedman works with builders in the community to help design and future-proof homes that work for you, says a bio. He lives in a small bungalow in White Rock with his wife, three kids, three dogs and one cat, and dreams of renovating his home one day soon.
Podcast co-host Gunson, a former radio host and owner of jPod Creations, grew up in a construction family and continues to help the family business with marketing support. She speaks “the builder’s language,” says a bio, “and helps to break down the podcast conversations into layman terms. Renting in an older apartment in Vancouver with drafty windows and shared laundry, she is keen to help drive the conversation around alternative housing archetypes to help find solutions to the missing middle.”
The Capture Energy episode of “Measure Twice, Cut Once” finds Silverthorn breaking down the role of an energy advisor and the benefits of their calculations when building new or renovating a home.
“If we can make the energy model work with double-pane windows versus triple-pane windows, that’s an enormous savings to the cost of that build,” Silverthorn says. “And that money then can be put towards other aspects. Same thing if we increase the insulation, that cost can be more than offset by reducing the size of the HVAC system, which will be a lower cost for that smaller system. We actually help manage your budget and put that money to the best use.”
Podcast partners include FortisBC, BC Housing, Trail Appliances, Rami Films, jPod productions and AI Technology & Design.