Metro Quality Flooring

I learned of Linus through a fellow contractor who recommened him to me in Dec 2008. I initially used him in June 2008 to install French doors and oak trim on my living room opening and to install two Safe-N-Sound doors on two bedrooms with oak trim. He initially installed the French doors swinging outwards and the first set of doors were warped. I bought him a new set of French doors, and he reinstalled them, swinging inwards, as I initially wanted, all for another $100 more!

I then used him for a basement bedroom renovation in October. I gave him my specs and he did the job according to my specs. I insisted on vapour barrier on the concrete floor, followed by 1" styrofoam, and then 5/8" plywood, all screwed down with Tapcon screws. He then laid 12mm Austrian laminate flooring. He also installed fire-rated 2'x4' CertainTeed ceiling tiles, as I needed the accessability to the basement ceiling. Now the basement bedroom is warm.

Unlike other contractors, he never demanded one third or one half up front. He only asked me for around $1,000 or $1,500 per week, enough to keep him going. He didn't mind my purchasing all the supplies at RONA (to eliminate any markup). He had to purchase some of his own supplies at Home Depot, but he presented the bills to me, and I paid him for the supplies. He initially didn't accept credit cards, but he set himself up on PayPal last fall, so new takes VISA, MC and AMEX. He also went shopping with me to RONA or Home Depot every Sunday in the fall.

He laid the same type of flooring and ceiling in the basement den in November as he did in the basement bedroom in October. He also remodelled my basement bathroom entirely starting in mid-Nov. Again, I laid out the specs and he followed them. I insisted on CertainTeed mould and moisture resistant drywall, along with Schluter orange Kirdy fabric behind the shower tiles. Again, I bought the supplies for him at RONA, and I bought the tiles at Sole Ceramics (far better quality and selection than Dufferin Tile or Profile Tile). He did a beautiful job on the basement bathroom. When I showed the basement apt to prospective tenants, they were amazed.

All in all, I'm very satisfied with Linus. All I ask in the future is that he use drop sheets on the floors and clean up better, but most contractors are like that.