By Sarah Caron, CHBA Director, Renovation Services
Jim Zsiros of J. Zsiros Contracting is no stranger to winning awards. Starting with the 2017 Vancouver Island Building Excellence Award for Best Renovation Under $100K to the most recent 2024 CHBA National Award for Housing Excellence for Best Whole Home Renovation $300-500K, the company has amassed 23 awards at the local, provincial and national level.
Jim Zsiros is the owner and president of J. Zsiros Contracting, a custom homebuilder and renovator located in Courteney, BC specializing in high-performance, energy-efficient homes. His small team of five full-time employees has been building and renovating homes in the Comox Valley and greater Vancouver Island for more than 25 years.
Zsiros joined the Canadian Home Builders Association – Vancouver Island (CHBA-VI) in 2008 to access the educational benefits offered by CHBA and exchange information on new building techniques and materials with other local builders. A life-long dedication to learning and a keen interest in the latest building innovations led the company to build the first Net Zero home in North Vancouver Island in 2018. This passion and dedication for Green building practices is also evident on the renovation side of the business. The renovation process involves educating clients on energy efficient updates and potential rebates that could result in cost savings now and in the future.
With the increasing costs of construction and land, Zsiros is seeing more clients chose to renovate rather than build new homes. To further bolster their credibility as a renovator, the company joined the RenoMark program in 2020 to “provide clients with the knowledge that the renovations were completed to exacting and warranted standards.” Looking ahead, Zsiros says he believes there is a growing opportunity to regulate the home renovation industry in BC. This is an issue that he will continue to advocate for as the current past president of CHBA-VI and a member of the CHBA-BC Renovator’s Council.
Winning project: Sandpines
This renovation project, which won a CHBA national award in 2024, is a meticulous blend of sustainable innovation and thoughtful design, driven by the clients’ priorities of health, energy efficiency and comfort. The transformation of this 1970s home not only addressed the challenges of modernizing an aging structure but also honored the homeowners’ commitment to an eco-conscious lifestyle.
A reimagined floorplan opened up the interior, creating a more efficient and family-friendly layout. The removal of a bathroom and fireplace allowed for an expanded kitchen that seamlessly integrates with the living area, promoting social interaction. The bathroom was redesigned with an integrated bath/shower, underfloor heating, a heated towel rack and bidet – offering both luxury and practicality.
To meet the client’s sustainability goals, the home underwent substantial energy-efficient upgrades. Existing electric baseboard heaters were replaced with a ductless heat pump, and a high-efficiency wood stove took the place of the original fireplace. Additionally, all windows were upgraded to triple-glazed, drastically reducing energy consumption. The home’s insulation was also replaced, enhancing R-values for better thermal performance.
All materials used were certified as non-VOC, ensuring a toxin-free environment. Timber frame beams and ceilings were stripped and refinished with natural products, maintaining the home’s original character while promoting environmental responsibility. Materials that could not be reused were donated to Habitat for Humanity, further underscoring the project’s commitment to sustainability.
This renovation tackled significant hurdles, including budget constraints, supply chain disruptions and the need to bring all systems up to current code standards. Sourcing local non-VOC materials proved difficult and costly, but exhaustive research and strategic partnerships helped overcome these barriers. Structural changes were minimized to save on engineering costs, and innovative sourcing kept the project within budget.
Fast Facts
Company Name: J. Zsiros Contracting
Head Offices: Courtenay, BC
Number of Full-Time Employees: 5
Projects per year: 2-3 per year
Website: zsiroscontracting.ca
