Penguin Basements

We too had a very negative experience with Penguin in 2018 when they finished our basement and are still suffering years after the project. It would have been better if they had taken our deposit and did nothing because then at least we wouldn't be out so much money. So whatever credit I can give them for actually finishing the job doesn't even MATTER because we're now faced with the reality that NOT EVEN 5 YEARS LATER we may have to redo the whole damn basement again. If I tried to list every issue we had during our way-too-long renovation, this review would be an essay and I still would have likely forgot things since it was issue after issue, I was pregnant at the time and it was 5 years ago. Trust me and do NOT use this company for ANY renovations in your house. We've recently learned they did not even waterproof the shower they installed, and WHEN their crappy grout job started cracking water was travelling under the flooring to other rooms. Mold has started growing behind furniture that we had no idea about until recently when we moved the furniture. Tried to call and the number was disconnected, finally got someone over email and they said we weren't under warranty anymore and they stopped responding to emails. The cost to repair this is now almost worth redoing the entire basement AGAIN and it was only 5 YEARS AGO. We are devastated by this experience and may never renovate again.

The team at Penguin Basements created a legal basement apartment for us. They are very knowledgeable on the process and requirements and obtained the permit for us quickly. Great ideas for layout and functionality that helped us create a valuable rental unit. The work was done in good time start to finish and the apartment is lovely. The work was quality and the team support and guidance was very much appreciated throughout the process. One suggestion would be more frequent site visits from the project management team to coordinate with trades and ensure updates are communicated to avoid unnecessary corrections.
Very happy with Penguin and we are using them for our next project as well.

I had a great experience working with penguin. I received quotes from multiple companies but decided to go with penguin. Matt was helpful and knowledgeable throughout the process. Bruno was dedicated, upfront and hardworking the whole way through. Im very happy with my new basement, thank you all so much!

As with any huge home renovation there are hiccups. At times I felt that communication is poor but I also recognized that I was not their only customer. Rodrigo unfortunately got the not so great side of my personality because as a customer this is a huge investment and easy to become frustrated. Rodrigo however wears many hats and I hope he is duly compensated. However I am pleased with the outcome and would recommend this company. Special shout out to Josh who explained so much of what there was to do. I recommend, that you avoid change orders once the work is started and itens delivered because that ran up my costs. Also as a recommendation to Penguin educate your staff on courtesy a simple hello is not that hard after all you are doing work in a paying client's home. Job well done and coordinating it all Rodrigo.

My only negatives are: 1)the framing we lost 12 inches of space and windows are very deeply set 2) the plumbing mistakes meant my floors had to be broken again which Josh fixed.

Penguin basements genuinely delivered as promised the secondary legal unit in the basement from getting the permit, architecture, building and inspections. My secondary unit registration was completed within 3 months from the start of the building of the basement. I am very happy with the quality and outcome of the product. Penguin basement follow the building code and their 2 year warranty program keeps your stress away. However, I would like to give one feedback that frequent site visits can reduce the rework and hence save the time and efforts. I would like to recognize Rodrigo, Steph, Jon, Drew, Bruno for their constant touch with owners and keeping them assured. Ofcourse, the Owner of the Penguin Guy should be appreciated for having such a transparent working model. Penguin basement keeps track of the schedule and co-ordinate all the activities with sub contractors and City.

Rodrigo, David, Bruno and team have been wonderful in helping us build our basement. They completed everything we asked for and have been so good at answering all communications and questions quickly. They were very accommodating and we found everything went smoothly.

Penguin finished my basement quickly and professionally. The price was reasonable based on the multiple estimates I got and we received top notch project management from them. I will definitely be recommending Penguin to friends and family.

EDIT: All of my concerns below have been addressed/corrected to my satisfaction by Penguin.

Let me start by saying I don't write bad reviews. Most of the time I can't be bothered but I also don't like being the reason someone loses out on business. With that said, I feel very strongly about my experience with Penguin and have given them every opportunity to rectify my issues, to no avail.
I had them do a full 1 bed 1 bath rental unit in my basement and the beginning of the process was extremely smooth. The owner called and gave a hell of a sales pitch and the job was planned to my satisfaction. After demo and framing, things began to take a turn. The quality of work performed was lacking - including the electrical, painting, drywall finishing, and carpentry. I also found at least one worker drinking alcohol on the job.
I requested and hose bibb be replaced on the outside of the house by my driveway. I was charged $452 but the work wasn't done for months, despite constant reminders. After the interior was finished, that made replacing the hose bibb far more difficult so, without my permission, they drilled a hole on the complete opposite side of my house and installed a new hose bibb there, leaving the old one. When I told them that was unacceptable, the office said it was my fault because I didn't give them approval by a certain date. I then provided them proof that I did provide such approval and they instead offered me $100 to buy a hose to wrap around the house. I explained why that didn't solve the issue and they have still refused to either replace the hose bibb as agreed or provide a refund for the service not rendered.
There is also a bunch of warranty work (marked kitchen counter, scratched cabinets, gouged/stained floors, etc.) that I was told would be rectified over a month ago and and have heard nothing since.

I paid a premium price of $120k (was quoted much less) all said and done and I don't feel like I got what I paid for. Prior to hiring Penguin I read reviews mentioning inexperienced trades, no management coming to inspect the work done by the trades, mistakes covered up by more mistakes, and lack of responsiveness of the office staff who coordinate the work. Sadly, this too was my experience and I wish I wasn't so dismissive of the negative reviews.

EDIT: I have spoken with Penguin and they have advised that the issues highlighted in my review are in queue and will be addressed immediately. I am optimistic that I will have these issues remedied in the next couple weeks. I will update as the situation progresses as I look forward to a positive outcome with Penguin.

I am thrilled to provide a glowing review for Penguin Basements, the contractor that completed our basement renovation. From start to finish, our experience with them was exceptional, and we highly recommend their services to anyone in need of a basement renovation.

From the initial consultation, it was clear that Penguin Basements was committed to providing high-quality service and ensuring customer satisfaction. They took the time to listen to our needs and vision for the space and provided us with a detailed plan and timeline for the renovation. Throughout the entire process, they remained patient and accommodating, always willing to listen to our requests and make adjustments to ensure that we were completely satisfied with the work being done.

The quality of workmanship provided by Penguin Basements was outstanding. They used high-quality materials and paid great attention to detail, resulting in a beautifully finished basement that exceeded our expectations. Their team was professional, knowledgeable, and dedicated to ensuring that every aspect of the renovation was completed to our satisfaction.

One of the things that truly stood out about Penguin Basements was their commitment to customer satisfaction. Even after the job was completed, they came back to ensure that everything was perfect and made a final fix to a minor issue we had raised. Their willingness to go above and beyond to ensure that we were completely happy with the renovation was greatly appreciated and demonstrated their dedication to customer service.

Overall, we are extremely satisfied with the work done by Penguin Basements. They exceeded our expectations in every way, from the quality of their work to their attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction. We highly recommend them to anyone in need of a basement renovation and would not hesitate to work with them again in the future.

After reading the reviews of several companies, Penguin ended up being our first and only call when it came time to finish our basement. They were professional, courteous and very detail oriented; we have no regrets. We look forward to enjoying our new space for years to come.