Builder Licence

All successful construction projects require an organized structure and plan that allows the construction team leader to provide all the necessary construction management and administration. This course will cover all the stages for successful construction management. Beginning the process just prior to the tender of the work to a contractor, the construction manager/administrator will be involved with the procurement process so as to define the roles, responsibilities and risk to the most appropriate parties to the contract. For a successful construction project, the construction manager/administrator will have established a plan that will manage the project through to its inevitable successful end and occupancy by the owner and/or their end users.

Modern construction projects involve a bewildering number of technologies and building system improvements. The general understanding of which is explored in this course, Construction Technology. To start with, basic concepts that drive construction technologies are covered in the areas of energy efficiency, quality improvements and sustainable building practices. The remaining sessions will examine various areas of building technologies commonly being applied from the foundations systems all the way through to the mechanical systems that are essentially the life-support systems of any building type.

It is critical for the home builder to understand the expectations of the home owner. Service excellence, reliability, empathy, and responsiveness are essential to building a successful project. The framework of customer service requires the builder to establish expectations, transfer them into the finished project, and successfully transfer the project to the homeowner. Provision of an effective maintenance manual and an explanation of the home warranty process is also essential. This course will cover all the aspects of service excellence and the home warranty process to assure a successful project.

The home builder needs to understand the BC Building Code as it pertains to residential house construction. This code interacts with other codes and regulations as well as municipal regulations and bylaws. The permit process is integral to the construction process. The builder must also understand bearing capacity of different soil conditions, seismic and climate zones of BC, structural materials and methods of assembly, building envelope, and sound transmission. This course will cover all the relevant enactments.

Legal issues in construction projects can affect the finished project in dramatic ways if they are not handled properly by competent contractors. Students completing this course will have a thorough knowledge of: the legal vocabulary and concepts that apply to the business of construction, the fundamentals of carrying on business in British Columbia, the basic law and legal principles of contracts and tort; the roles and obligations of the participants in the construction process, the standard form construction contracts, the application of construction contracts (CCDC 2) to practical construction situations, labour law and relations in the construction industry, environmental law and issues relating to construction, the law related to bidding and tendering, the law and legal principles of builder's liens, bonding and insurance in the construction industry, and dispute resolution methods in the construction industry.

Turn opportunities into viable business ventures. Learn to develop your own approaches, guidelines, and skills for being an entrepreneur. Topics include business idea generation, market research, marketing and sales strategies, writing proposals, financing options, human resources, and successfully operating your business after start-up. Each student will learn how to complete a business plan as part of the course content.

Learn accounting concepts, tools, and methods in concise and understandable terms. Students will learn basic skills such as reading financial statements, analyzing financial reports, developing and modifying revenue and expense forecasts, and identifying and monitoring critical measures of business performance. This is finance for non-financial managers.