FAQ

Lots of homeowners will have unrealistic renovation expectations due to their following of popular TV shows.  Contrary to life on TV, a full house reno cannot be completed in a week.  Poor planning by your contractor not only leads to extra costs, but also pushes back completion dates. It is best to have a realistic schedule upfront to avoid disappointment. We try to prevent this by ordering all the specialty materials (windows, doors, countertops) as soon as the contract is signed, and then we build a construction schedule around material arrival dates. 

Yes we do.  As a General Contractor we have Lead Carpenters, Apprentices and Labourers on staff.  In addition we oversee top quality subcontractors who, in most cases, have been with us for years and adhere to the same high quality standards and expectations we hold ourselves to. All of our subcontractors are licensed in their respective trades. 

Yes, we carry 5 million liability coverage ensuring that you, the homeowner, are not held liable for any on-site accidents or damage.  In addition our workers are fully covered with Alberta Workers Compensation Coverage and take part in an in-house safety training program before they start on any jobsite.

The age old question! Honestly, we could give you a ballpark number but it doesn’t do you any good.  Your basement development is going to be different from your neighbours basement development.  The quality of finishings you want, whether or not you want a wet bar where plumbing has to be moved.  Did you want a bedroom and bathroom vs one large open room? All of these will cause a ballpark number to change. We find it is best to meet with you and get a better understanding of what your desires are and what your budget is.  Then build an estimate and a building plan that you can afford. 

Unfortunately, no.  We are responsible for the safety of our employees and the subcontractors. Therefore we only hire from a vetted, trusted pool of subcontractors. 

This is also a no. We have a 2 year warranty on the work that we do and the materials used in your renovation.  That is why we only purchase our building supplies from Edmonton suppliers who we have rigorously tested the quality of their products.  Based on the long relationships we have with them we are able to get great pricing that allows you to get better quality for a lower price.

Potentially, yes.  This is not something that you have to do however.  We will file for any building or development permits that are required for your renovation as well as set up the inspections that are required. One more added benefit of using a General Contractor. 

Yes, we stand behind the work that we provide our clients.  At the end of the renovation we will do a walkthrough of the project with you allowing you to review the work and point out any deficiencies that you have.  After that initial walkthrough with you, you will have a 2 year warranty that will cover the labour and installation.

We put extensive work into building your quote.  When you sign off on a project to be completed we have already talked to our suppliers to get pricing, our subcontractors to get their pricing for the work we will need them to provide, checked current lumber prices (which are fluctuating all the time).  We put in the work so after a contract is signed we do not come back to you and say the price of your project has gone up.  That being said, if you change your mind once the project has started and want to add to the scope, change finishes, change the original layout of the room, those changes will be made through a change order.  We will go through the same steps we did for the original quote and let you know how much your changes will cost.  If you want to go ahead, all parties sign off and we revise our construction schedule to include your changes.

Many General Contractors offer a free estimate upon the homeowner’s request at the very start of the renovation process. It’s basically putting a total sticker price on a renovation and letting a homeowner say yay or nay. Like anything else fast and furious, it’s not very effective. For one thing, General Contractors don’t price apples-to-apples. For another, General Contractors are never of equal caliber.

Building a house or undertaking a large-scale renovation is one of the largest investments, in terms of both time and resources, that you’ll make in your lifetime .You’ll have to live with the decisions you make today for years to come. When you go with a free estimate rather than a Pre Construction Agreement, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Or rather, you’re setting yourself up for budget problems down the road.

Pre Construction Agreements are less commonly used, but we truly believe it’s the right way to select a General Contractor. When a homeowner selects a contractor based on an early estimate, they are short changing the hiring and overall construction process. Our Pre Construction Services Agreement encompasses:

– Drawings – Specifications – Allowances – Budget –

– Architecture & Design – Engineering –

1. Develop a relationship with the homeowner. And anyone else already involved in the project, such as an architect.
2. Assemble a team of experts. This may include: architect, subcontractor, structural engineer, interior designer, and/or landscape architect.
3. Provide our professional insight. Constructability, material choices, preferred vendors, and/or design details.
4. Help with selections for your new home.
5. Create an initial budget. We use starting cost inputs. Then we revise the budget through conversations with homeowners and project leads, to arrive at a final budget we can adhere to.
6. Draft a custom home project schedule. This way the homeowners and the building and design professionals understand what to expect and can commit accordingly.
7. Work up plan and specifications. Draft a set of construction plans, meet cost goals, detail expectations for various inputs of labour.