Looking for a Property

To Whom It May Concern,
Nathan has a background as a tradesman’s assistant since he was eight years old doing renovations and buildings houses, sometimes involved in projects up to a million dollars. Skilled labour project work includes several commercial and townhouse projects as well as all aspects of building dwelling units i.e. houses.
The scope of work in semi-detail format includes primary and/or co-leadership in the following trades: typical classification would be “Skilled Labourer”.

• Landscaping: lot grading to finished ground; plant and shrub installation; maintenance, nursery work: growing potted plants, flowers, shrubs, trees.
• Surveying: assistant surveyor in bush and field surveying for exploration companies; and city commercial projects – office, retail and apartment high rises developments.
• Concrete: Formwork: complete formwork preparation for concrete pouring, mixing, pouring, vibrating; finishing including sidewalks and driveways.
• Drainage: tile installation, dampproofing, septic tank, distribution box and field preparation, drain tile installation; irrigation installations; troubleshooting and rectification of leaks and drainage problems.
• Framing: from sill plates to rafters, joists, beams, and columns, subfloors; door and windows lintels and trimmers, frames and door jambs; hanging of doors, window installation; renovation: some design, wall, window and door removal and installation.
• Stairs: construction and installation.
• Cladding: sheathing application; rain screen protection including eave and soffit installation and ventilation; installation of cedar siding, vinyl siding, stucco.
• Soffits: framing, plywood and wire mesh installation, perforated metal installation.
• Plumbing: pipe installation from cleanout and sewer hook up to sink and toilet installation to wet vents.
• Electrical: from stud and joist drilling to running wire; installation of outlets, switches, junction boxes, recessed lighting, track lighting, ceiling fans; fuse and circuit breaker replacement.
• Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning: Oil and Gas Low Efficiency and Mid Efficiency Furnace removal and installation; ducting. Hot Water Tank removal and installation. Air Condition Unit installation.
• Insulation and Ventilation: Batt insulation and vapour barrier application for crawl spaces, walls, doors, windows and attics.
• Drywall: measure and cutting, installation, taping, mudding, sanding; patch and repair: renovation.
• Flashing and Caulking: for roofing, chimneys, openings around door, windows. Fireproof caulking. Caulking expert.
• Doors: door sill and jam installation, door hanging, hardware installation; glass sliding door, screen, storm door, closet door installation and deficiency rectifications.
• Windows: window frame and sill, header and trimmer preparation and installation, single pane glazing and installation.
• Flooring: sub-floor installation; hardwood flooring installation; hardwood refinishing, carpet installation.
• Finishing Carpentry: baseboard installation, doors and windows casings, railing installation; closet door, shelving, hardware installation; cabinet and countertop replacements.
• Painting: exterior and interior fine finishing painting residential, townhouse, commercial, strip malls, warehouse and industrial; antique restoration. Considered a high end, detailed painter, painting professionally for five years.
• Roofs: sheathing installation; tar paper/felt underlay application; asphalt shingle two tab and three tab installation; cedar shake installation; tar and gravel, torch on roofing application; replacements and repairs: roof vent flashing installation, roof leak repair: asphalt shingle, cedar shake and shingle, tar and gravel, roll roofing and torch on membrane replacement and repair; troubleshooting leaks, repair.
• Chimneys: cleaning, damper installation, flue installation; chimney wall and top brick replacement and repair, flashing repair and installation.
• Swimming Pools: construction; maintenance.

• Apartment Buildings
  Nathan had an interest in Apartment Buildings and has acted as Relief Manager for Sunnyside Villas for a year and also for Barclay Apartments for six months and also many years ago for the apartment building at Oak St. & 12th Ave in Vancouver. Duties included showing of suites, minor handyman repair and maintenance, security, responding to tenant concerns, liasoning with trades, responding to emergencies.

• Professional Painting
  While not a Red Seal Tradesman, Nathan owned, managed and operated Ocean Painting and Restoration completing several projects over a five year period, sometimes employing a team of four, or operating as a subcontractor working with a hired helper. Projects included interior and exterior multifamily units, townhouse and condo units; commercial, warehouse, and industrial offices while specializing in residential homes. Nathan, painting for over thirty years in various kinds of projects beyond acting as a Skilled Labourer, was known as a high-end, detailed, skilled exterior and interior painter and caulker. His organization and method of application created fair pricing for his satisfied clients. References available upon request.

• Other Work…..Business Experience
  In-term prior to painting, Nathan owned and operated: Maps Maps Maps; Nathan Wilhome Distribution; Pacific Rainbow Distribution Ltd. 1987-1997 where Pacific Rainbow had approximately 1350 accounts comprised mostly of all the major chain stores, convenient stores, service stations and bookstores. Products were over 300 map titles including World Maps, North American Provincial and State and City maps, BC Outdoor Recreation Maps, an exclusivity with the BC Transit (now called Translink) Transit Guide. Other products were primarily greeting cards: The Image Craft Greeting Cards, and Spirit Art greeting cards. Pacific Rainbow implemented a training program for 115 Field Department Store managers throughout Western Canada. Nathan employed two full time staff and fourteen seasonal part time staff; servicing achievement included being commended for providing the best account development and servicing the Transit Guide since its inception. Service included Horseshoe Bay to Hope, seasonally to: the Okanagan, the Kootenays, the Interior to Prince George, Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Nathan had a 99.98 non-complaint track service record over 10 years. Operations included writing many proposals…..particularly to the Chain stores and Head Buyers of the Service Stations.
• Pursing his personal hobby interest, Nathan has a full pre-med diploma from the Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy (1981); a second Diploma as a Chartered Herbalist with the Dominion Herbal College of Canada (1987) and a Diploma as a Graphic Designer and Desktop Publisher with Burnaby College (1998). A notable distinction, he had the highest mark given with the Dominion Herbal College since it was established in 1926. As an Instructor, he guided many students to higher marks than his, namely 97% to 100%.

• BCIT Home Inspection Graduate – 2009-2011
  Nathan registered in the Property Inspection Courses at BCIT (British Columbia Institute of Technology) in 2009 and completed each of the required five courses to qualify for Home Inspection Certification and Licensing with BCIPI (British Columbia Institute of Property Inspectors) and ASTTBC (Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC).
• Of interest and knowledge he completed the BC Building Code; Housing, Part 9 course two times and continues to make his own specialized List of Formulas and Methods of Application, and Computerized Code References for New Construction and Home Inspection.
  

  Property Inspection Courses included:

• BCBC: British Columbia Building Code to June 01, 2006 with updated amendments to 2010 and updated further to 2011. BLDG 1810 BC Building Code: Housing, Part 9 – Spring Term (April to June 2009) Mark: 70%
• BLDG 1810 BC Building Code: Housing, Part 9 – Autumn Term (Sept. to Dec. 2010) Mark: 78%
• BLDG 2915 Home Inspection Level 1 – Winter Term (Sept. to Dec. 2011) Mark: 88%
• BLDG 2925 Home Inspection Level 2 – Winter Term (Jan to April 2011) Mark: 87%
• BLDG 2935 Home Inspection 3: Report Writing – Winter Term (Jan to April 2011) Mark: 89%
• BLDG 2945 Home Inspection 4: Field Inspection Spring Term (April to June 2011) Mark: 70%
• Overall Mark: 82%
• Reading Residential Blueprints – Winter Term (Sept to Dec. 2011) Mark: 92%
• Also completed a 475 page Home Inspection Code Checklist, the first of its kind and was for a time prior to the 2012 BCBC Edition, in negotiation with the BC Government over royalty fees and publication of this BCBC Binder. The Program Head of BCIT’s Construction Department has expressed his wishes this binder be in his library as excellent educational material and be made available for sale at BCIT. He has a donated copy of it.
• Researching, also developed a 26 page Booklet: Electrical Inspection Code Checklist and a 61 page Booklet: Chimneys and Fire Place Code Checklist.

• Comment on BCIT Level 4 Instructor: It is on the opinion of many students that the level 4 instructor should never have been allowed to be an instructor. Sometimes you get an excellent instructor, sometimes it doesn’t happen. Never in my own life have I ever lodged a complaint, however, in this case that is exactly what I did. A long story could be created here, but to keep it brief….the Assistant Dean of BCIT as well as the Program Head of the Construction Department both wished to fire this particular instructor as there had previously been numerous complaints in serious verbal manner from the students. They investigated into firing him based upon my complaint: Firing could not occur due to union protection contract clauses for all instructors. Requirements for cause of firing required at least three verbal calls to the Program Head followed up by formal written complaint. Three verbal calls were made by three students, however, I was the only one within the time limitation to forward a written complaint (11 pages). One student who was not given a passing mark, an Architect, was eventually given the passing grade at 70% while I did not bother to pursue arguing for a higher mark with this instructor, the fact is if he had done his job even in a reasonable manner, he could and should have known the answers to a dozen questions which i had for him. As it basically was against his mandate to answer questions, myself and many other students did not ask the questions we had. Even the creator of the Home Inspection Courses several years ago when initially becoming aware of this person allowed to be signed up as an instructor immediately complained that this person was never a good student in any of his classes and that he should never be allowed to be an instructor. Again, later when I made a complaint, it turned out that the BCIT Course Creator, a tremendously well respected house and commercial property inspector… upon my conversation and request to him, returned to BCIT again requesting this instructor not be an instructor any further. Still, his complaint and request did not result in this instructor being replaced. My complaint was the only complaint ever forwarded by any student and pursuant to discussions with the Program Head and the Assistant Dean, because students….especially new immigrant and new foreign students are not aware of the complaint process, a new coordination with students has been made to make students ‘aware that they have a right to complain and how to do it effectively so it is effective from the perspective both from BCIT’s concern as well as their own and their fellow students concern so an instructor may indeed be fired and replaced.
• If all had gone well, then the Level 2 Instructor, Steve Banfield would have taken up the Level 4 Instructor’s position as well continuing with Level 2 Instruction…..upon that occurring, I would have taken the Level 4 course again. I had questions he would have answered about electrical panel inspection and about hot water tanks and boiler heaters testing, i.e. HVAC Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning inspection. Although knowing most of it, still there are specific procedures which must be followed during the testing process and i was not in my opinion 100% aware of the best procedures. The other instructor wasn’t capable of teaching these things (plus many more other things) in my opinion.
• Consequently what I did was a substantial amount of research which resulted in the creation a Booklet for Electrical Inspection Checklist of 26 pages…..it defines everything, however things are forgotten easily unless one does things practically. I have yet to have a mentor regarding this process.
• As regards to heating, I again researched and created a 61 page Booklet for Chimney and Fire Place Code Checklist, and again say I am best to take another course on HVAC and be mentored in it. I say this despite formerly employed with a Plumbing/Heating company many years ago de-installing and re-installing many hot water tanks, oil tanks and oil stoves, gas furnaces and have personally repaired many steam pressured radiators and repaired and installed numerous electrical baseboard heaters. Still, I say, I need proper instruction in this. No one in the Level 4 class got any instruction is this facet of home inspection whatsoever and I say it is still needed.
• I will be registering with Inter-Naci, (International Association of Code Inspectors) for courses for both these subjects: HVAC and Electrical Inspection, but do not have in intention to become a BC Registered Licensed Home Inspector……my original purpose in taking the home inspection courses was purely ‘to learn what I didn’t know’ and ‘to know what a contractor and a home inspector or commercial property inspector is really talking about….if he knew at all what he was talking about’….and thank him appropriately. For many years, co-workers had encouraged me to take the Home Inspector’s Courses as they thought i knew a lot and would be good at it. The truth is, i was very happy to take the courses and aside from the Level 4 Instructor, all the other Home Inspection Course Instructors were very good and excellent and by themselves are a testimony to excellent quality education provided by the good instructors at BCIT.
  At some point, I will take the Building Code Course for Commercial Properties….and create my own checklist. As it is, the Home Inspection Code Checklist which i developed (it is mainly developed for new construction ) is sufficient for ‘almost all’ aspects of inspecting a commercial property should I wish to personally use it.
• For home inspections for residential homes only, investigating the question of whether to invest in a certain property or not, I will do my own inspection using this Checklist which the Level 2 Instructor gave me as an exchange gift while I gave him a copy of both my Electrical Code Inspection Checklist, and a copy of my Chimney and Fireplace Code Checklist. Even if I do my own inspection, still, every property prior to putting investment in it will have a registered professional home inspector do an inspection on the house and a Commercial Property Inspector for commercial property investments. It is, in BC, part of the law to have a house inspected and is always mandatory to be done before signing any document prior to purchasing decisions as well as a requirement to allow the house to now be sold.
• Transcripts of marks are available upon request by contacting Nathan by phone or email (may take up to two weeks) or may be referenced by calling BCIT.

Sincerely Yours,
Nathan Wilhome