Genesta from Ottawa

OVMF supplied and installed red oak hardwood on two floors of our home, as well as two sets of staircases. They also installed baseboards, shoe molding and flush-mount vents throughout the house. Due to OMVF's busy workload, the work was carried out over the course of 6 weeks and was, in fact, completed ahead of schedule. Bernie, Steve and their crew always arrived when they said they would and were very accommodating fitting us in around other jobs. The flooring laid in the den was installed over concrete sub floor, which required a lot of glue and specific expertise. Some other companies we spoke with did not have the skills to do this work. Bernie and his team did. Some service people who have been through our house completing reno work have commented on the quality of their craftmanship, particularly with the installation of the baseboards and stairs. My husband and I are very happy with the quality of the wood and its installation. It matches the hardwood that was already installed on the main floor very well. Further, with some difficulty, Bernie was able to find baseboard to match the existing baseboard on our main floor making the transition from old to new flooring seamless. I work from home often and was frequently entertained by Bernie, Steve, Alex and Shane! Thanks for the laughs! We have other work that will need to be completed at our home over the next year and intend to work with OVMF again.

After reviewing postings on Ottawa Homes Stars and receiving phone estimates from a few of the top rated companies, my husband and I decided on Ring Electric based on price, reviews and their insistence on safety. Before acquiring our new-to-us home, we invited the owner of Ring Electric, Bryan, to come by to provide us with an estimate. In addition to style changes we wanted to make, Bryan was able to quickly pinpoint areas that needed to be enhanced in order to meet and, in some cases, exceed code. Over the course of 3 subsequent visits, Bryan's team of electricians efficiently completed the following work at our home: installation of 5 pot lights; addition of two dimmer switches; replacement of existing under cabinet lighting in kitchen with LED lights; furnishment of overhead lights in 3 rooms; installation of a surge protector for entire home; addition of a ground fault receptacle over a washer tub; set-up of two pendant light fixtures; supplied and installed two boxes and vanity lights for bathrooms; and replacement of ceiling fan. His staff was punctual (starting at 7:30am each time they visited), polite, and speedy. Bryan even had his electricians replace an outdoor plug - at no charge! - because he thought it would be safer. I didn't even know about it until the lead walked me through the work when it was finished. All of the work that Ring Electric carries out is ESA certified. If Bryan cannot be onsite, he has his staff take photos of their work so he can view it to ensure it meets his standards. The project came in on budget and whenever we needed to amend the estimate to add or remove items, Bryan and his administrative assistant, Beata, were entirely accommodating. We would not hesitate to recommend Ring Electric to our friends and family and look forward to working with them again this fall to carry out additional work at our home.

My husband and I have been renovating a home with custom oak kitchen cabinets and built-in bookcases. Although the cabinets are made from select oak and probably cost the original owners a small fortune, they are not to our taste. Resurfacing and replacing the cabinets were out of our budget. When we began to discuss the possibility of getting our cabinets spray lacquered, everyone we spoke with said the same thing: “Paint Magic.” Paint Magic is open only by appointment, so we made arrangements to meet the owners – a delightful husband and wife team – Dave and Susan Hawken at their studio located around Main Street. They welcomed us with samples of their work and photos of past projects. Before leaving, we had selected a paint color and new hardware! The way it works is simple – 1) you are given instructions to prepare and paint existing cabinet carcasses (trim, gable, etc.) and remove existing cabinet doors; 2) by following the instructions, you remove the doors, paint the carcasses, and drop the doors off for lacquering; and 2) collect the cabinets when finished and install yourself. My husband and I are very happy with the results! We essentially have a new kitchen at a fraction of the cost. We are so happy that we intend to have the cabinets lacquered again in the future, rather than replaced. Throughout the process, Susan kept us up-to-date – she was quick to respond to emails and even initiated them (a rarity in our home improvement experience). When we found a small imperfection on one of the finished lacquered doors, Dave was excellent about repairing it and doing so quickly. I would not hesitate to recommend Paint Magic to friends, family and colleagues! In fact, I have already begun to.

The short of my review is: Just hire Jamie. You will not be disappointed. The details: My husband and I found Jamie on Ottawa Home Stars. We recently bought and began renovating a home in the west end of Ottawa. We had several drywalling repairs that were needed to walls and ceilings. Jamie showed up to give us a quote exactly when he said he would and then sent the quote the same evening - a rarity in our experience. The price was very reasonable. Unlike another contractor who claimed we would need to remove existing drywalling and have it replaced, Jamie was able to salvage the existing drywalling saving us money. This set the tone for the rest of the work. Jamie came to our house everyday on time to carry-out the work. He was meticulous and careful and the results are amazing! The nicest walls and ceilings in our house are Jamie's work. Jamie is a polite, charming, hard-working and cheerful person. You can tell he really likes his job and it shows in his work. I joked to him that he is an artist, but in all seriousness his work really is an art. His drywalling work blends seamlessly with the old drywalling. I will be recommending him to my friends, co-workers and neighbors who need drywalling repairs carried out in Ottawa.