Alex & Vina in Toronto

We had wanted to renovate our 1950s-built bungalow not only from an aesthetic/update standpoint but also wanted an energy efficient home. Our biggest worry was finding the right contractor to carry out what we envisioned. Reiner provided valuable guidance during the planning phase, helped us find the right contractor to carry out what we envisioned, as well as quality control during the execution phase. Aside from his experience and knowledge in construction techniques, Reiner keeps up-to-date with the latest and emerging energy-efficient technologies and products here and abroad. This enabled us to set the highest standards that our budget can afford. We are truly happy with Reiner’s contribution, integrity, and reliability. We highly recommend him.

We’ve now had one winter with our Geneo windows and in comparing them to the 10-year old locally made windows we previously had, the difference is like night and day. The standard to which these windows were built is far superior to what is manufactured in Canada currently. The evidence is the comfort they provide, significantly lower heat loss, absence of condensation, and resulting energy savings. In comparing the estimates we received from local triple-pane window suppliers, the superior quality of Geneo windows makes them worth more than the price differential. Dealing with Reiner has been very straightforward. There were absolutely no surprises. We highly recommend him and the products he offers.

We engaged DiRenzo Group to renovate our basement and replace our backyard fence in September 2015. The aim of the renovation was to update the entire downstairs area, create additional living space and storage and to enhance overall functionality. We also wanted to improve the heat retention and insulation in the house. Mike delivered on all fronts and more! He offered great value and fair pricing with the work he and his crew did. We found him to be flexible, easy to work out any concerns with, accessible and accommodating. He scheduled his projects such that he did not have them all going at the same time which enabled him to be on the jobsite every day and stayed on top of the job as it progressed. That plus the everyday communication as to what was to take place next and notifying us of potential issues were very much appreciated. His crew, headed by Tony and Ariel, were efficient, reliable, punctual, and always respectful of our space. They kept our place clean and safe throughout the project. Mike mostly brought in tradespeople (plumber, electrician, tile layer etc.) whom he knew well and is used to working with. All inspections and code compliance certification were done and issued with hardly any holdups. Whenever there were emerging needs or surprises (which any renovation project can bring up), he proved himself to be responsive and was quick to resolve such to our satisfaction. He worked with us to keep the costs within our budget. The only extras we paid for were upgrades and changes from our original plan which we requested and approved. The custom-built vanity (which we were responsible for) was delayed so the project went a bit over schedule. Once delivered, Mike and his crew were back in our house to finish the remaining work in no time. Now we have a bright, inviting lower level where we expect to spend many a winter day for family time or entertaining – plus a solid and sturdy backyard fence all set for our next summer bbq! We will continue to pass his name around to friends who need an honest, reliable, licensed and insured general contractor.

If you are looking for price and value, well-trained eye for design and functionality, experience, flexibility and good collaborative skills, Cadaxx Design is the one for you. We engaged Alex and Shoshi of Cadaxx Design in the pre-renovation planning, permitting and design work for our basement this Fall (Phase 1). They did our residential house plan and design for a new exterior, revised floor plans for both the main floor and basement, secured city permits, helped in the selection of finish materials (paint, tiles, floor and vanity) and with supplier recommendations. We found them both very easy to work with. We appreciated their ability to listen and interpret exactly what we required. We were impressed with their responsiveness and quick delivery. The end result is a brand new downstairs space which is beautifully finished, incredibly livable, much brighter and modern looking. It truly reflects our taste and what we wanted our basement to look and feel like. We can’t wait to work with them again and get the Phase 2 of our project underway!

We engaged Ontario Villa for our below grade waterproofing and insulation this Fall. Angel’s team, led by Lucio, are incredibly hard workers. They were excellent from start to finish and left the site remarkably clean considering the excavation they had to do. We were very happy not only with the results but also the quality of service Angel and his entire team provided – they were helpful, proactive, reliable and responsive during the entire process. The job was completed just before the big rain we had sometime in October and everything stayed nice and dry in our basement – with us hearing only the occasional hum of the new sump pump running. This winter, albeit milder than usual, we can definitely feel how those 4” foam board insulation they installed on the exterior enhanced the overall comfort in our basement. Just last week (around 8 weeks after their job completion), we called Ontario Villa with a request for some topsoil to fill low spots and to level our front lawn which has settled quite a bit after the below grade work. Angel immediately scheduled Lucio and his team to come out and do so as requested. That response speaks volumes about the level of their customer service! We are definitely happy to recommend their services and will not hesitate to hire them again in the future!

Having heard quite a bit of reno-related horror stories, we had a lot of concerns as well as questions at the beginning of our below grade insulation, waterproofing and full basement reno project. We wanted to avoid costly mistakes and minimize reno-related stresses if we could. Luckily, we chanced upon The Reno Coach through online research and after our first meeting, we knew Reiner will bring in the necessary know-how and due diligence services we were looking for to approach our project with more confidence and peace of mind. Initial consultations with him defined the possibilities for us both in financial and construction terms. His knowledge helped in setting realistic budget and expectations early on. We went ahead and engaged The Reno Coach from the get go and got him involved every step of the way - from discussing our renovation goals and requirements, estimating project cost, identifying potential areas of savings and trade-offs, selectively hiring a designer and contractors well suited and qualified for our project, getting multiple bids, reviewing contract agreement, permitting, to doing inspection, spot checks and quality controls during the renovation process. We couldn’t be happier with our decision. Reiner was able to ensure that our reno work commenced and progressed to completion successfully. His overall expertise and work ethic made what was initially a daunting task and challenging proposition into a satisfying endeavour - with time, money and resources justified and well spent. We look forward to working with Reiner again on the second phase of our home renovation this Spring!