Wo-Built's Newsletter Volume No.1

Wo-Built's Newsletter Volume No.1, January 2009

Wo-Built Inc - A Design & Build
Contractor with a Difference

01/01/2009 Volume No.1

New: Home Maintenance Plans

Ladies, wouldn't it be great if all the little things around the house were done without having to do a "Honey do list" and then having to wait forever until the list is done.
Gentlemen, wouldn't it be great not to be nagged all the time to do the "Honey do list".
We can help! Wo-Built has created a unique service! A one-stop maintenance service for your HOME.
We will minimize your stress and hassle of repairs to your home and send our highly professional, INSURED trade persons to cover a wide range of repairs on a regular basis for a yearly fee.
This is also a great option for those loved ones that can no longer care for their home for themselves. A maintenance plan can bring peace of mind for both the client as well as the family who do not have to worry.

Basic Plan $1,497
This plan includes 3 hours of regularly scheduled home maintenance service every 6 weeks for a total of 27 hours of maintenance service per year

Advanced Plan $2,496
This plan includes 3 hours of regularly scheduled home maintenance service every 3 weeks for a total of 48 hours of maintenance service per year.

CUSTOM PLANS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE

For more information call: (416) 402-2679

Renovations with a woman's touch...

Our Work Mandate:
Attention to detail, to design and careful execution:
Flair for colour, design, artistic detail and finishing touches
Ability to interpret the client’s vision
Develop seedling ideas and make them grow
We will go the extra mile to deliver a quality product
We are a bridge for the client and our renovation team

The manner in which we consult with the client:
Able to recognize and express the client’s visualization
Able to draw out the client’s thoughts and ideas
Insight into the client’s needs and requirements
Ability to embrace innovative ideas

Our communication style:
Empathetic to the clients' needs
Ability to suggest solutions
Giving balanced proposals
Ability to achieve high quality standards from our trades

Our Training Mission:
Helping women enter and succeed in the building trades
Giving women training and employment opportunities in the building trades
Devising our own training programs for women
Giving mentoring advice to women – both for career advancement and business matters

Our Community Commitment:
Helping Not-for-Profit organizations with Women and Training mandates with their building and renovation needs.

www.wobuilt .com
(416) 402-2679

If you would like to subscribe to our quarterly newsletter,
please send an e-mail to newsletter@wobuilt.com

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Colour for Your Home and Your Life: Colour Trends 2009

Colour Trends 2009

This is the last part of our series of articles entitled "Colour for Your Home and Your Life with Wo-Built Inc."

Colour Trends for 2009


What will the colour choices for home decor be in 2009?

The top picks for the year have been influenced by our concerns about the economy and by our optimism for a brighter future. Our move towards nesting or "anchoring" (when things get tough people move indoors) means that we’ll be looking for ways to brighten up our spaces. And, what better way than to add a splash of colour to our surroundings. In these tough economic times the easiest and cheapest way to achieve this is with paint. As in Wo-Built’s article of "Paint Color Trends 2008….Are you making the most of your investment?", some colours continue to be popular in 2009 such as graphite while some are making their debut such as purple.

Below are some of the top colour choices in home décor that appear to be most popular for the upcoming year 2009.

1. Grey - Grey is appearing everywhere as the new neutral. Grey is not as harsh as black or brown and will neutralize harsh colors to give your home a soft but classic look.
2. Purple – This colour is a must-have this year for home décor. It is a vibrant and happy colour and seems to represent our optimism for better times ahead.
3. Blue – The color of the sky and water appears to reaffirm our commitment to living greener on this planet. We’ll be seeing all shades of blue from lighter shades such as sky blue to deeper colors such as navy or cobalt in 2009.
4. Yellow – The neutrals may have softened but a bright accent colour like vivid yellow is the stand-out accent for 2009. It radiates a liveliness that gives us hope of stimulating the economy and energizing us in the year 2009.

If you are looking to spruce up your interior surroundings with a splash of colour, Wo-Built Inc. would be happy to help with a colour consultation before we proceed with your desired change.

Lonya is the staff writer for Wo-Built Inc.

links:
Wobuilt Inc.: Kitchen Color Trends
Wobuilt Inc.: Paint Colour Trends 2008... Are you making the most of your investment?
Wobuilt Inc.: How many paint colours?!
Wobuilt Inc.: Colour for Your Home and Your Life with Wo-Built Inc. (Part 1)
Wobuilt Inc.: Colour for Your Home and Your Life: Intention Of Space (Part 2)
Wobuilt Inc.: Colour for Your Home and Your Life: Classic Colour Schemes (Part 3)
Wobuilt Inc.: Colour for Your Home and Your Life: Colour Trends 2009 (Part 4)

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Career Possibilities for Women in the Building and Construction Trades

Screenshot: Possibilities Article: Breaking Stereotypes, Building Houses
Credit: poss.ca

We would like to thank Possibilities for including us in the article which brings more awareness to women about the opportunities in the trades. This is especially important in an economic climate where jobs become more scarce. Then it is more easy to be discouraged to enter a non-traditional career. Hence we need more encouragement not less.

Martina Ernst
CEO
Wo-Built Inc.

Screenshot: Possibilities Article: Breaking Stereotypes, Building Houses
Credit: poss.ca

Breaking Stereotypes, Building Houses

January 2009

A woman on a construction site may still be considered a novel idea but there is room for handywomen in the building trades. If some employers still resist the notion, many recognize that women bring valuable skills to the construction industry.

And although not every woman has the aptitude for working in the skilled trades the provincial government and organizations such as On-Track for Women are encouraging them to at least think about exploring the trades.

"For your own sake, please don't exclude yourself from these careers because they are lucrative or can be lucrative," says Marie Heron, executive director of On-Track, which offers a pre-employment program for women and helps link women to apprenticeships. (Currently On-Track is partnering with Centennial College to offer a free Automotive Service Technician Pre-apprenticeship Program.)

The minute you mention how much money you can potentially make working in the trades On-Track participants "buy in" to the concept, says Heron. Being able to apprentice and earn while you learn is what "really, really, really, really attracts women to the trades."

Still, the number of women in the trades is staggeringly low. According to statistics, women made up only seven per cent of workers in transportation, trades and construction work. And in some of the building trades, such as carpentry, the number drops to one per cent.

"It's a very male-dominated environment that we're trying change," says Colleen McDougall, an assistant instructor with The Centre for Skills Development & Training in Burlington, which offers the Women in Skilled Trade's Enhanced General Carpentry Program.

Sponsored by the Ontario Women's Directorate this 46-week course gives up to 22 women the chance to learn floor, roof and wall systems and partake in work placements.

Women "tend to undermine themselves a little bit," says McDougall, a former analyst who graduated from the program in 2005 along with her sister. She notes that women-only courses allows students to "put all the other stuff aside for the period that they're in school and focus. They get lots of support and they don't feel stupid and they don't feel weak."

Women are very capable at working in construction, but to succeed they have "got to be able to handle the tools and not be afraid of them," says McDougall. Although women considering the field should be fairly physical, McDougall notes that it is "not always about strength." For instance, she points out that women can learn techniques to help them lift heavy construction materials. (And do keep in mind that some female-identified careers, such as nursing, can involve a lot of heavy lifting as well.)

Excelling in Finish Work
Although the course trains women in both rough and finish carpentry, McDougall says that women often excel in finish work, working away at a project until they've mastered it. (Finish work is basically any work that won't be covered up, such as moldings or trim.)

"I think the women are very, very focused on detail," says McDougall. "I do think that they spend more time at it [then men] and maybe sometimes that could be a disadvantage, I guess, but for the most part it's a good thing."

Martina Ernst, chief executive officer of Wo-Built, a women-led construction company thinks those who do finishing work should "have a certain amount of perfectionism." Ernst and Wo-Built's president Elida Huignard are in the process of establishing a women-only training on the finishing trades at the Pre-apprenticeship Training (PAT) Institute. (Finishing trades include finish carpentry, drywall finishing/plastering, painting/decorating, tile setting and floor covering installation.)

Ernst thinks that finishing work is a good fit for women because women are often detail-oriented and the work is not as physically demanding as some other construction jobs. She points out that installing drywall takes a lot of physical strength whereas mudding and taping needs someone who is precise but not necessarily physically strong.

(Last year Ernst participated at a skilled trades forum held at Toronto City Hall. The PAT Institute's Rui Cunha, who also spoke at the forum, noted that women seem to excel at jobs that demand precision and dexterity such as working with network cabling or fibre optics.)

Employment Options
Although "some women are very comfortable working along side of men and swinging a hammer," this is not true for everyone, says McDougall. Luckily, for those who don't fancy the construction site, there are other options for women with knowledge about the construction industry and/or skills. For instance, you could find a job with a supplier or work in such areas as sales, purchasing, cost estimating, or construction site management.

Some women choose the self-employment route, working as a handywoman or renovator, which allows them to use a variety of skills and to have some flexibility with their hours. (According to On-Track's Marie Heron, 39 per cent of women in the skilled trades end up opening up their own business.)

And for those women who do want to work on a construction site, some companies are hiring a more diverse workforce, says McDougall. "There's a lot more women out there now and they're getting recognized," she says. "Initially that was a bit of a problem because they are just not typically seen on a site. That's changing. It's going to take time. We're not there yet, but [it's] definitely changing."

Credit: Possibilities: Toronto Online Employment Recourse Centre

Screenshot: toronto craigslist: city of toronto: skilled trades jobs: Handy-Women Needed!
Credit: toronto.en.craigslist.ca

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Colour for Your Home and Your Life: Classic Colour Schemes

Colour Wheel

This is part three of our series of articles entitled "Colour for Your Home and Your Life with Wo-Built Inc."

Classic Colour Schemes

There are many colour schemes to choose from and below you will find a few combinations that Wo-Built would recommend. In selecting your particular colour scheme, these are a few of the basic combinations that work together and will help you to create the particular mood that would complement the design of your space.

1. Monochromatic Colour Scheme
The monochromatic colour scheme uses variations in lightness and saturation of a single colour. This scheme looks clean and elegant. Monochromatic colours go well together, producing a soothing effect. The monochromatic scheme is very easy on the eyes, especially with blue or green hues.

2. Analogous Colour Scheme
The analogous colour scheme uses colours that are adjacent to each other on the colour wheel. One colour is used as a dominant colour, while the others are used to enrich the scheme. The analogous scheme is similar to the monochromatic, but offers more nuances.

3. Complementary Colour Scheme
The complementary colour scheme consists of two colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel. This scheme looks best when you place a warm colour against a cool colour. An example would be red versus green-blue. This scheme is basically high contrast.

4. Split Complementary Colour Scheme
The split complementary scheme is a variation of the standard complementary scheme. It uses one colour and the two colours adjacent to its complement. This provides a high contrast without the strong tension of the complementary scheme.

5. Triadic Colour Scheme
The triadic colour scheme uses three colours equally spaced around the colour wheel. This scheme is popular among artists because it offers strong visual contrast while retaining harmony and colour richness. The triadic scheme is not as contrasting as the complementary scheme, but looks more balanced and harmonious.

6. Tetradic (Double Complementary) Colour Scheme
The tetradic scheme is the most varied because it uses two complementary colour pairs. This scheme is hard to harmonize, if all four hues are used in equal amounts, the scheme may look unbalanced so you should choose a colour to be dominant or subdue the colours.

Lonya is the staff writer for Wo-Built Inc.

links:
Wobuilt Inc.: Kitchen Color Trends
Wobuilt Inc.: Paint Colour Trends 2008... Are you making the most of your investment?
Wobuilt Inc.: How many paint colours?!
Wobuilt Inc.: Colour for Your Home and Your Life with Wo-Built Inc. (Part 1)
Wobuilt Inc.: Colour for Your Home and Your Life: Intention Of Space (Part 2)
Wobuilt Inc.: Colour for Your Home and Your Life: Classic Colour Schemes (Part 3)

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Colour for Your Home and Your Life: Intention Of Space

Image: Four color floral circle design

Image Credit: Microsoft Office.com: Four color floral circle design

This is part two of our series of articles entitled "Colour for Your Home and Your Life with Wo-Built Inc.". In part one we explored a brief history of the colour wheel, psychology of colour to help you choose the right colour combinations that will work for your home!

Intention Of Space

In interior spaces, the right colours will support the purpose of the space. The wrong colours can challenge its function. These ideas are the foundation of visual ergonomics. Visual ergonomics uses applied colour psychology to produce a specific visual mood. Think of the different functions of space such as, lobbies, hospital, spas and bedrooms. Within each setting, a different set of visual ergonomic rules apply.

When selecting a colour, begin by asking questions such as:

1. What tasks are carried out here?
2. What kind of image do you want to project?
3. What mood do you want the space to have?
4. What kind of a first impression do you want to create?

By answering these questions, you will already have a good idea of which direction to go in and which colours would best create the visual ambiance you are looking for.

Below is a chart with several meanings for each colour. However particular colours may elicit other emotions in certain people. Therefore it is important to use your best judgment when deciding on a colour scheme and to get feedback on the colours that you use.

Colour Meaning Chart

Lonya is the staff writer for Wo-Built Inc.

links:
Wobuilt Inc.: Kitchen Color Trends
Wobuilt Inc.: Paint Colour Trends 2008... Are you making the most of your investment?
Wobuilt Inc.: How many paint colours?! 
Wobuilt Inc.: Colour for Your Home and Your Life with Wo-Built Inc. (Part 1)
Wobuilt Inc.: Colour for Your Home and Your Life: Intention Of Space (Part 2)
sessions.edu: Using Colors to connect With Your Audience

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What Are We Doing? Wobuilt Just Started Twittering

Screenshot: wobuilt is using twitter

Hey there! wobuilt is using Twitter.
Twitter is a free service that lets you keep in touch with people through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing? Join today to start receiving wobuilt's updates.

links:
Builder Magazine: Technology, Sales And Marketing: Builders Turn to Twitter to Connect with Buyers
Social media site allows home building firms to market to small niches, engage in conversation with customers at minimal cost.
By Alison Rice
toronto.kijiji.ca: Skilled trades & construction services in Toronto: Home Renovators With A Twist!
Wobuilt Inc. Offers a new service for maintaining and renovating your house. Check out http://www.wobuilt.com and see what we can offer you! Free home assessment, Interior Design services, additions, extensions, new home build.....and much, much more!
Date Listed: 08-Jan-09

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Colour for Your Home and Your Life with Wo-Built Inc.

Colour Wheel

Further to our previous articles on colour trends Wo-Built would like to expand on the importance of colour in your life and how it can work for you in your home.

Choosing a Colour Scheme For Your Home

When choosing a colour scheme for your home, the colour wheel can be your best friend in helping you to harmonize your colours and to create the mood that you are looking for. In the following weeks we will explore the history, psychology and different colour schemes to help you choose the right colour combinations that will work for your space!

A Brief History of the Colour Wheel

Colour theory is a set of principles used to create complementary colour combinations. Colour relationships can be visually represented with a colour wheel, the colour spectrum wrapped into a circle. The first colour wheel has been attributed to Sir. Isaac Newton, who in 1706 arranged red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet into a natural progression on a rotating disk. As the disk spins, the colours blur together so rapidly that the human eye sees white. From that point the organization of colour has taken many forms, from tables and charts to triangles and wheels.

Psychology of Colour

Can colours change how we think, feel and perceive things? Most definitely! Colour plays a vital role in the world in which we live. Colour can change the way we think, change actions, and cause reactions. It can irritate or soothe your eyes, raise your blood pressure or suppress your appetite.

The power of colour is something that most people are unaware of. It is important that we live with the colours that best suit our personalities so that we can enjoy a more contented and healthier life.

Lonya is the staff writer for Wo-Built Inc.

links:
Wobuilt Inc.: Kitchen Color Trends
Wobuilt Inc.: Paint Colour Trends 2008... Are you making the most of your investment?
Wobuilt Inc.: How many paint colours?!

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