Peter in Edmonton

After running our 40 year old Rheem air conditoner last summer, we quickly realized that it barely cooled our home and we were stuck with a $700 utility bill for the month of August. Needless to say that was the last time it was turned on. We receieved three quotes and decided to go with Hydro-Flo partly based on price but mainly based on service. Incidentally, they sell Rheem as well, so we figure if it lasts half as long as the old one we'll have gotten our money's worth. An added challenge was that our old A/C was mounted on the roof and we wanted to keep it up there due to the narrow amount of space we have between our neighbour and it also helps with the noise. You can barely hear it while it's running since its not right outside your bedroom window. With that factored in, they quickly pulled together a quote for us and we set up a date to start the install. It was mid-late April so we had to give it a few weeks for the weather to warm up. The guys showed up right on time and got to work. It took a bit of wrangling but we managed to get the unit up onto the mounting bracket on the roof and they got to work hooking it up. They had some sheet metal work to do in the basement and also the existing line set had to be replaced because it wasn't compatible with air conditioners built in this century. After the install was complete it still wasn't warm enough to pressure up and test the system so we had to wait another couple weeks for the weather to cooperate. After everything passed muster we fired up and it worked just as we had hoped. We also got them to replace our old thermostat with a digital one (so much better). Only after we everything was complete, did they send us the bill. I was expecting a higher price than we were quoted since I'm not sure they anticipated replacing the line set and the extra work that went along with that, but I'm happy to say they stuck to the quote and we gladly paid our invoice. I'd also like to add that my very pregnant wife (and I) appreciate how clean everything was at the end of the work day. The guys cleaned up after themselves and kept everything neat and tidy. We couldn't have asked for a friendlier company to do business with. Thanks Todd, James, Tammy and whoever else helped out!

Too much to add in the subject line, so here's what we had done: - Pipe new 3/4” gas up to range (includes permit) - Add new 8” combustion air for boiler and hot water tank. - Add new 8” fresh air into R/A duct including electric damper and 240V 5kw duct heater. -Install range exhaust fan with new pipe out the roof. - Remove old exhaust fan - Supply and install new 110 cfm bathroom exhaust fan. - Connect to existing piping and electrical ------------------------------ For our kitchen renovation, we decided to switch from a (50 year old) electric to a gas stove. After picking out a stove and appropriate range hood, I contacted Butler Plumbing to give us a quote on running a gas line to the kitchen installing the range hood, and putting in a new bathroom fan. This was our third time contracting Butler, so we were confident that we were getting the right people for the job. Kevin came out, had a look around and informed me that due to the powerful fan in the range hood (600 CFM), we would need a make up air system to replace the large volume being removed by the fan. I had assumed you quickly run a gas line, slap a range hood over the stove and you're good to go. Nope, not even close. For the uninitiated (which included me) a make up air system is necessary in order to avoid negative air pressure in the home, the build of of carbon dioxide created by the burning natural gas and to draw fresh air in from the outside. Or something. Not one to ignore the advice of a professional, we of course gave the go-ahead. Bryce came and had the system ready for the electricians from Robart Electrical (another GREAT Edmonton business) in 3 days. This guy worked his tail off and I can't say enough good things about the quality of the Journeymen that Butler Plumbing have sent to our home. They call you when they are on the way, clean up after themselves, answer any questions that you may have and always pull permits when required. There were a couple of small hiccups getting the system 100% operational, but after conferring with Bryce and Kevin, the electricians got it done quickly. I really, really do appreciate the fact that Butler took the time to share their knowledge of the system in order to give the electricians the information that they needed to get things working as they should. That's why you hire professionals, people.

After the installation our make up air unit (for our powerful new range hood fan; see review of Butler Plumbing) we called in Robart to wire up the controls and interlock the system. We have an inline duct heater and electric damper that needed to come on with the furnace fan when the hood fan was switched on in the kitchen. As well we wanted to add some outlets above our countertop. Chris and his apprentice arrived on time and got straight to work. They did have to make a second visit to tie up some loose ends and were in contact with the plumbing company to get some information regarding the make up air system that wasn't entirely clear on their first visit. After that little hiccup had passed we had a fully functioning system! There was a little extra work involved from the original quote, but I feel we were charged fairly for the additional labour. If you are looking for a friendly & professional electrical contractor, look no further. Thanks again Chris, Mindy and Rob!

As we turned on our heat for the first bit of cold weather of the year, we observed the house wasn't really warming up that well. We called Butler as they had done work for us in the past on our rental unit and we were pleased with the quality of and the professionalism of their Journeyman. I expected a bit of a wait as I'm sure we're not the only household in Edmonton that has heating issues when the weather changes, but when I called Chelsea told me someone could be there first thing in the morning! (between 8-30). At 8:15 the next morning, David called me to let me know he was leaving the shop and to expect him shortly. When he arrived I explained the issue we were having (to the best of my ability) and he got straight to work. Throughout the job, the communication was excellent. David took the time to explain what he was doing and made suggestions as to other things we could do to get the most out of our 60 year-old boiler. As it was an older heating system, David made a phone call to an older, more experienced Journeyman to get his input. I must say this impressed me the most about the job. He didn't pretend he knew everything, and as a Journeyman myself, I know you'll never know everything there is to know about your trade. Asking for advice and help when you need it is the sign of a true professional. As for the technical aspect of the repair, it was discovered that the impeller cartridge on the boiler pump was worn out (loose bearing, shaft play etc) which would cause pressure loss. David made a few phone calls, tracked a cartridge down and went out to get it. After the install he bled the air out of the lines and installed and auto air vent. It took a few hours for the system to get up to temperature again, but I must say it made a difference having proper water pressure flowing through the lines of our baseboard heaters. I've read most of the reviews here and the biggest complaint I seem to be seeing is the cost. It is annoying to see a low rating given to a company based on cost alone. I don't remember seeing a complaint about the workmanship, which is where you see the most value for your hard-earned dollar. Butler isn't the cheapest by any stretch, but where's the deal if the work isn't done cleanly, professionally and correctly the first time around? For us, quality craftsmanship, communication and promptness is paramount, and is the main reason we continue to avail of Butler's services. ------ Update (November 3, 2016) As recommended David on his last visit, Bryce and Keith came today and performed a power flush on the boiler and took care of a couple of minor plumbing issues ($1330.21). It took about 5 hours for the service and as expected, the work was performed professionally and promptly. Very friendly guys and pleasure to work with. Thanks again!

When looking for hardwood flooring, a co-worker of my wife recommended Timbertown. We didn't really need to look anywhere else. They have an excellent selection, great pricing and very knowledgeable sales people. As we unboxed our flooring, we found it to be of a very consistent quality (a variety of lengths, not too many short pieces) and almost no damaged/unusable pieces. There were however a few gouges in the baseboard, but nothing too serious. I would fully recommend Timbertown for any construction/renovation project you may be thinking of undertaking. I'll be back!

We've been renovating for a few months now and our garage was getting very cluttered, so I contacted Remove My Junk after seeing their excellent rating on homestars. I booked around 11:00 at night using their website and asked about delivery to our home for 10:00am the following morning. I received a call around 8:30am the next day confirming my address. They dropped off what looked to be an almost new bin right on time. I gave them my payment information, signed the paperwork and they were on their way. Over the next few hours I loaded the bin (glad I ordered the bigger one!) and got my garage back in order. I then called them to come get it, and within an hour it was gone! Fantastic no-hassle service and the drivers were very courteous and friendly. I have no problem at all recommending Remove My Junk to anyone. A++

We didn't plan on replacing the front door of our new 60 year-old home right away, but as with most home renovation projects, this decision was thrust upon us. The lock was non-functioning, the door itself was a poorly (barely) insulated barrier from the elements, plus it was just plain old and had to go. As usual, we consulted Homestars to help us find a suitable vendor. We had an idea of what style we were looking for (Craftsman) so that was a place to start. Based on the favourable customer reviews, we visited the Capitall showroom and were promptly helped by Cindy, who took us through all the options that were available to us and how the estimating/ordering/installation process works. A couple of days later Craig (the owner) came out take some measurements in order to give us an installed estimate. As you can see from the pictures, the door opening is arched-shaped and the radius above the door would need to be filled in. I told Craig we were hoping to put a transom window in there, and he assured me that they could do that and fill in the remainder of the radius with a composite material. Craig said that due to the complicated nature of the opening, he would be here to assist with the install. I have to admit I was a little hesitant on how good the filler piece would look, but Craig assured me it would look fine so I took him at his word. A short time later we received our estimate via email. At first we were taken a little aback at the price, but after talking to quite a few people, we deduced that a quality front entrance costs roughly 1% the value of your home, so that really helped put things in perspective for us. After having settled on a style and color, we paid our deposit and counted down the days. About 9 weeks later we got the call and coordinated a date for installation. Craig, the owner came out for the install along with Terence and his helper. Total installation time was about 3 hours, a lot quicker than I thought it would be. This included the door removal, new door installation, new trim/header and clean up. We are very pleased with the service we received and won't hesitate to contact Capitall for our next project. Great job guys, thank you!!

My wife had originally found Robart Electrical a few months ago on the homestars site when we needed a minor electrical problem resolved at our condo. We were so satisfied with the prompt service and reasonable pricing; they were the only vendor we considered to solve a fairly major issue with our new (to us) home. We had what we believed to be, as told to us by our home inspector, 60 amp electrical service to our home. I knew that was an issue that had to be addressed immediately, so I called contacted Robart via email and Rob (the owner) phoned me within 12 hours to set up a time for a site visit and assessment. Rob showed up (exactly when he said he would) and informed me that it looked like we actually had 100 amp service to the house, but the main panel was a 60 amp panel that was full to capacity with some of the breakers were double tapped, insufficient breakers for appliances..etc. Another concern was that as typical a 60-year-old home, it was wired without ground to each outlet. Dreading the worst (re-wiring the whole home) I asked Rob what our options were. Luckily, he said we could use GFCI breakers in the panel and add surge protection to the entire system to protect the sensitive items (TV, computer etc). Phew. Rob also took a look at where the power was tapped from the utility pole leading to our garage and noted that the electrical mast was not up to code and would need to be replaced along with the meter. We weren’t expecting that, but again, surprises are to be expected when dealing with an older home. After receiving and accepting the quote, we set up a time for it to completed. Robart took care of the necessary permits with the city, coordinated with Epcor to disconnect power and the final electrical inspection before power could be restored. Both electricians arrived on time and were done in about 8 hours. They were the consummate professionals who did a very tidy job on the install and cleaned up everything when they were done. We were expecting the bill to be higher than the original quote because I think there might have been a bit of extra work that they hadn’t anticipated, but Robart were true to their quote (actually a little cheaper) and we couldn’t have been more pleased with both the professional service and the honesty in their pricing. I would not hesitate to recommend Robart Electrial Services to anybody, and we will be most certainly calling on them when the next electrical gremlin makes an appearance. Thank you so much for making our home safe (and insurable!) Peter and Kristina P.S. I can't forget to thank Mindy from the office for being so friendly, helpful and prompt with replies :)