Chris in Oshawa

Our home's windows were <13 years old and some showed signs of failure. While the windows could have sufficed for another 5+ years, we decided to replace the windows in advance of remodelling our main floor. Stone River (Oshawa) provided us with a thorough estimate and patiently worked with us as chose options to upgrade the windows throughout the home. Our final selection resulted in a majority of casement windows, with awnings above our kitchen sink and master ensuite, and a new patio sliding door. We took advantage of customizing the windows along the side of our home with extreme sun exposure by changing the glass (LOĒ³-366), and added texture to the windows in our laundry room and bathrooms (goodbye blinds!). The three day installation was generally uneventful. Though, we weren't prepared for the mess left by the crew on the second day; day two was rainy and windy, which resulted in dust and debris everywhere. The follow-up service has been exceptional. The entire team is responsive to my inquiries and have resolved a few very small issues within one or two weeks.

I've heard stories about duct cleaning companies doing the bare minimum and, as it turns out, that wasn't the case with the first vendor I used to clean my air ducts 5 years ago. The same is true about Dave's Duct Cleaning, who visited our home yesterday. In a smoke-free and animal-free home, it may have been premature to clean the ducts within 5-6 years. But, we finished our basement last winter and wanted to ensure our air ducts were clear of drywall dust and any other material. Throughout the 2 hour job, both Brendan and Scott were detailed in their cleaning and responsive to my questions. The entire process was hassle-free and it was my pleasure to invite Brendan and Scott into my home. I was impressed with the two technicians and the job they completed. I was even more impressed when it came time to pay. You see, my home has 24 vents and I had anticipated paying the $5 for each additional vent above the minimum of 15. Yet, because my air ducts were in good condition, I had to only pay the minimum charge: $299 for 15 vents. Dave's Duct Cleaning has earned a new advocate. A job well done deserves recognition!

Shawn was recommended to me by another contractor to repair my gas fireplace and to clean my furnace. Unfortunately, Shawn could not replicate the gas fireplace issue I was experiencing despite testing all of the components. Other individuals might have suggested we replace the sensor or two to ensure the problem never occurred again. Instead, Shawn took the time to educate me about what could have caused the issue and what would need to be fixed in the future if, indeed, a problem was identified. Thanks, Shawn, for your honesty and advice!

I found Just Basements and Reiner Ehlers through Home Stars and, coincidentally, had heard good reviews from a few work colleagues. After evaluating quotes from six other contractors in the Durham Region, Reiner Ehlers took our basement vision and contributed valuable ideas to ensure we made the best use of the space available on the ground and overhead: Reiner was the only contractor to suggest realigning the ductwork (HVAC) to improve headspace and one of the few contractors to provide a line-by-line, item-by-item quote. When I met with other contractors, they appeared to be listening but returned with floor plans that required multiple revisions to meet my preferences or quotes that were too general (i.e. a hundred dollars here, a thousand dollars there). Reiner’s cost was slightly higher than others, but it wasn’t unreasonable: you’re paying for a professional, well-established and knowledgeable contractor and crew to produce a quality product. “You get what you pay for,” and in this case you won’t be disappointed. Reiner is also very fair in his charges -- in our case, Reiner had to build an extra decorative column (to hide an exposed support pole) and didn't charge for it since he underestimated in the original quote. During construction, a few unexpected surprises were exposed: our gas line needed to be enlarged, water heater vent fixed, the electrical box expanded and bib of an external water pipe raised. Reiner took care of it, no problem! There were a few delays, but none that Reiner could have forecasted: custom material (e.g. French doors and custom carpet for the basement stairs) were delayed in transport. After three months of construction, Reiner's crew built a professional, high quality living and recreational space which includes a home gym, a sewing/craft area for my wife, a kids’ play area and finished hiding space under the stairs, an open TV/family room, and unfinished storage and furnace rooms. With our basement now the crown jewel of our home, my wife and I are eager to refinish our main floor. Reiner does not only build "just basements", he also does custom cabinets and built-ins. So, when our renovation fund has been replenished, we’ll likely call Reiner to finish our reading and dining rooms.

My wife and I researched landscape designers/contractors for 6+ months and chose John of Nature's Reflection Landscape because he brought the best design ideas and made us feel very comfortable in making the decision to transform the outside of our home. John came within our budget and exceeded our expectations; we couldn't be happier! Even after adjusting the original design to add a retaining wall, the cost didn't change. Before Nature's Reflection took a week to transform the front of our home, we were lucky enough to have the standard builder's step and a few concrete slabs. Now, we have six steps and an attractive landing to enter our home after a long day's work.

We searched everywhere for the 'perfect' blinds to finish the window coverings in our home. Previous owners had purchased from Kevin. So, we decided to visit his showroom. We easily made our decision but Kevin suggested a home visit just to be sure. We were very comfortable dealing with Kevin and are very pleased with the Hunter Douglas product we purchased. When we need more window coverings we'll definitely return to Preferred Window Coverings in Whitby!

When I called Randy to install my 2nd garage door opener, he made himself available around my schedule. Although I was in no rush to have the opener installed, Randy fit my job in between others and ensured the job was complete within a specific timeframe.

For a one man show, Dave did great work. He provided a great commentary as he cleaned the ducts and, in addition to explaining everything as he progressed through our home, he also shared helpful tips. Thanks, Dave!

Gord has re-keyed the exterior locks of two homes for me. When I need to book his service, he is always available and flexible with his schedule. The most recent project required Gord to come back and re-key one of the locks -- it was sticking -- and he gladly stopped by the house and fixed the issue within two hours of my call.