Sheldon in North York

We had obtained proposals from three companies to replace our aging and crumbling wood deck. Then, a friend -- who happened to be completing a deck at that time -- recommended Golden Valley Decks. On contacting Ryan, he was quick to respond and very thorough. He readily understood our goal of creating a wheelchair-accessible transition between our house and the redesigned deck. He accomplished this objective by raising the deck's height to eliminate an unwelcome step at the door sill. Ryan offered some thoughtful suggestions to reduce the project's cost while retaining the deck's aesthetics and functionality. In performing the work, his team was punctual, diligent, efficient and neat. The final result was a beautiful deck comprised of Trex composite boards with a black aluminum railing and balusters. The backyard was thoroughly cleaned of sawdust and small cuttings. The project was completed on budget and ahead of the original schedule. We were very pleased with the outcome.

With our kitchen definitely showing its age, we decided to embark on a thorough renovation. The plan was to reproduce the basic layout with modern cabinets, countertops, appliances and lighting. We started the process by visiting the informative showroom at K-Wood Kitchens which we and close relatives had used a few times before. At the showroom, we contacted Ryan who had skillfully coordinated a previous project, and we arranged a site visit. On coming to our house, Ryan easily understood our concept and recommended some improvements that we approved and he incorporated in the preliminary drawings. The proposed layout mirrored the existing one with the notable exception of the removal of a bulkhead which enabled the cabinets to reach the ceiling. Another salient difference was the replacement of a built-in peninsula table by a free-standing table. With the assistance of K-Woods interior designer Endrina and the helpful samples in the showroom, the selection of materials and colors was effectively handled. Ryan prepared detailed design drawings and a schedule which his team fulfilled admirably. During the course of the project, the work crews worked diligently from early morning into the early evening. They made every effort to minimize dust by setting up plastic barriers and vacuuming throughout the project. Ryan was responsive to any concerns that we raised and dealt with them promptly. Our only criticism was that there were times when the sole crew member at our house did not speak English. Fortunately, however, we were always able to contact Ryan quickly and he would resolve the issue by talking to the team member on the phone. We are extremely pleased with the quality of the custom cabinets, quartz countertops with matching quartz backsplash, recessed and under-cabinet lights, as well as the installation workmanship. The entire project was handled professionally within the proposed timeline and budget. We highly recommend K-Wood and renovation coordinator Ryan.

The job entailed the replacement of a saddle valve with a ball valve, and a quarter-inch plastic pipe with a copper equivalent. Nick arrived before the prearranged time, and clearly explained what the job would involve. He worked carefully, methodically and efficiently to complete the work. His expertise was evident, and he was personable as well.

Paul of Birch Grove provided a very competitive quotation and was able to start the following week. He stayed true to his proposed schedule despite encountering some incredibly hard clay conditions necessitating a switch to a different power auger. During the demolition and construction of the fence, shared with my neighbour, Paul ensured that the neighbour's deck -- which had been tied into the fence posts -- was supported properly. Paul and his assistant Taylor worked diligently and efficiently to complete the project expeditiously. They clearly explained every aspect of the work, and readily accommodated my requests for a couple of modifications without affecting the budget or schedule. In summary, it was a stress-free experience with an outcome that was beyond satisfactory.

On a Saturday morning of a long weekend, a cable on one of our two garage doors broke. The first couple of companies that I called for service told me that they could not come until Tuesday, unless they charged "emergency rates" which were significantly higher than the normal rates. Then, I happened to call Nazar of Garage Door Geeks who came over within 25 minutes. He efficiently replaced the broken cable and bottom bracket, as well as the other side's hardware which were severely rusting. Nazar also tightened some loose nuts on the hinges, and oiled various parts. He patiently outlined self-maintenance that I could do. Finally, the cost of the service call was very reasonable.

The rain cap, which sits at the top of the vent for our natural gas furnace and water heater, had fallen on the ground. Initially, I called our furnace maintenance service and was told that the furnace and water heater had to be shut down. Being early in January, it was urgently required to find a roofer to replace the rain cap. After numerous calls to roofers, I discovered that many roofers were unavailable at this frigid time of year. Fortunately, Victor did answer my call and arrived at my home within hours. Unable to find an exact replacement, he repaired the old rain cap by riveting the metal components which we had found. Braving some extremely cold temperatures, he went onto the roof to replace the rain cap. Incidentally, the price that he charged was 40% less than the estimate that the furnace maintenance firm quoted.

During a heat wave at the start of September, our 21-year-old central air conditioner only circulated luke warm air through our house. Under the furnace, there was a puddle while ice started to form where the coolant entered the furnace. After calling one of the largest service companies in Toronto, we were told that the coolant was probably leaking and that it would not be economic to locate & seal the hole in view of the age of the unit. The best solution was a new air conditioner. After checking HomeStars, the next day I called Max to get a second opinion. Max diagnosed the unit and determined that there was probably no leak. He refilled the freon and cleaned the outside condenser. Voila! So far, so good.

My desktop computer failed to start. Based on Fujitech's stellar rating on HomeStars, I took the machine to Fujitech where Joseph quickly -- within 10 minutes -- diagnosed the problem to be a faulty power supply, and provided an estimate. He told me that the machine would be ready to go in about 90 minutes and called me when the work was completed as promised. I was impressed with Joseph's professionalism, clear explanation of the problem, and adherence to his estimate.

Based on the excellent reviews on HomeStars, my wife and I chose Richard's company to supply and install crown moulding in our master bedroom. Richard returned our telephone call promptly. His estimate and schedule were reasonable. On the day of installation, he arrived slightly early with the selected crown moulding. He worked efficiently to complete the work in about two hours. Richard was very personable in explaining some of the "tricks of the trade" including how the corner and end-to-end joints are made so tight. The key to his company is that Richard does all the work himself to assure the high quality of the service.

Our main and ensuite bathrooms had not been renovated in thirty-six years. The goal was to remove everything down to the bare walls, and to completely upgrade the tiles and fixtures. In the ensuite, we planned to replace the tub with a walk-in shower. As usual, we began our search for a contractor on HomeStars where we were impressed with the reviews for HSG. Unlike some other contractors that we interviewed, HSG provides both design and contracting services. Richard and Jennifer readily understood what we wanted to accomplish, added some great ideas of their own, and provided a competitive proposal for their broader scope of services. We spent most of a Saturday morning at their showroom in reviewing a computer design of the bathrooms, and selecting in detail the products, styles and colours, to be used in the renovation. Jennifer was invaluable in ensuring that the selections blended together coherently to achieve the effect that we wanted. Richard and his crew were well organized, punctual, courteous, and industrious. At the end of each workday, they cleaned as much as could be reasonably expected. Efforts were made to minimize dust migration from the construction zones with the use of plastic barriers. During the construction period of four weeks, we endured a three-day power failure resulting from the pre-Christmas ice storm. Nevertheless, the crew managed to complete the project in the scheduled time by working during the Christmas/New Year holidays. They were respectful of our privacy as they minimized intrusions. With their experience, expertise, consistency and innovation, Richard and his team met any challenge that arose during the course of this work. The crew demonstrated impressive craftsmanship, as well as rapid response to any minor glitch or concern that we raised. The project was on budget and schedule. We would certainly recommend HSG to anyone wishing to undertake a quality, stress-free renovation.

I contacted Pierce to come and privide me an estimate for replacing a damaged downpipe in my front walkway. Pierce came by promptly to do an estimate and conveniently emailed a clearly written estimate via email. He also followed up a couple of times via phone calls and we decide to hire his company. They came by and replaced the old downpipe with a new larger downpipe and were able to match the color exactly. The job looks great and we are very happy. While it hasn't rained much since they did the job, I wouldn't hesitate to hire them again since they did a good job at a good price.

The whole process -- from initial phone call to final cleanup -- went very smoothly. Within an hour of my first call at the start of the week, Derek scheduled an appointment for later in the week to drop by my place for an estimate. He was very punctual and polite; the estimate was quite reasonable. After I requested that he proceed with the work, he returned two days later with a crew of five at the appointed time to undertake the project. They performed the pruning and shrub removal in a professional manner, removed the branches and plant from the property, and fed the cut material through an on-site shredder. As Derek had promised, the work was completed in an hour and our yard was debris-free.

From our first contact with Mulligan Woodworking until the final installation, every aspect of this project was well handled. Guided by HomeStar's ratings, we obtained estimates/proposals from four leading companies including Mulligan. Our selection of Mulligan was based on the quality of their past work, thorough understanding of our needs, design suggestions, punctuality, responsiveness, and price. Kellye promptly responded to various questions that we had during the detailed design phase. The installation by Michael and his team over the course of two days was very professional. We are very impressed with the craftsmanship in the construction and finish of the cabinets as well as the matching of the new and existing moldings (baseboard and crown).

From our first contact with William for an estimate until the completion of the widening of our interlocking driveway, it was a pleasure to deal with this company. William was always punctual, informative and very competitive in their pricing. For no additional cost, William suggested that we eliminate a step between the driveway and walkway to produce an integrated transition. We have already recommended Ludwig to friends who were also pleased with their services.

The entire process of selecting, measuring, scheduling, preparing, installing, and follow-up was extremely well handled by Lehel and his staff. With Lehel's guidance, we chose laminate for most of the basement, along with carpet for the stairs and media room. Alliance coordinated the scheduling of contractors to prepare an uneven concrete floor for the laminate, and to install the flooring materials. Through effective communication between ourselves and the various contractors, everyone was punctual, clean and courteous. The results were just excellent. Afterwards, Lehel came to check that everything was done to his standards and that we were completely satisfied. There is no hesitation on my part to recommend Alliance for carpet and laminate.

Water was collecting in the upper part of our fridge, just below the top-mounted freezer. We called The Appliance Guy based on the high rating of customers in HomeStars. Joe came the same day as our call, and efficiently diagnosed and cleared a plugged drain line. He made custom modifications to increase the heat available to the drain to inhibit the reformation of a blockage. During the repair process, I observed Joe's methodical approach and professionalism. At the same time, we chatted about his extensive experience and changes that have occurred in appliances, and their repair, over the years. He communicated clearly as he explained in some detail the nature of our present problem and the chance of a recurrence. The fee for his service was quite reasonable. In summary, Joe deserves to have such a high rating.

When carpenter ants suddenly appeared in our kitchen and basement, we tried in vain to eradicate them with ant traps. After two weeks, we called Pesticon which provided a reasonable quote relative to other companies that we had phoned. Waheed arrived promptly the next day at the agreed time. He patiently explained our problem and its solution, as well as the possibility of a recurrence. He explained that the work was warranted for 6 months, during which he is prepared to return as often as required to resolve the problem. Waheed sprinkled a non-toxic powder in strategic locations. As I write this review, two weeks after the treatment, the ants have been controlled very effectively.

Rob provided a very competitive estimate. With his crew, Kevin and Kyle, he installed drywall throughout the basement. He taped and finished the drywall, displaying his wonderful craftsmanship. Rob was courteous and professional. The work was completed on budget and in a timely manner.