Websites for general contractors.

Fixed price when the scope is clear and the selections are made; you carry no risk on labour overruns and can compare quotes properly. Cost plus makes sense on gut renovations and older houses where nobody knows what is behind the walls yet, as long as the markup and the reporting are written down. We will tell you which one your project actually is instead of defaulting to whichever suits us.

Yes, and we schedule the inspections. Structural work, new plumbing and electrical, basement suites, additions and decks over a certain height all need permits. Skipping them saves a few weeks now and creates a disclosure problem the day you sell — plus insurers can and do deny claims on unpermitted work.

A bathroom is typically three to five weeks on site, a kitchen six to ten, assuming selections are finalised before demolition. The single biggest cause of delay is decisions made mid-project: a cabinet or tile changed after ordering can cost more time than the whole demolition. We give you a decision deadline schedule up front.

For a single room, usually yes — we dust-wall the work area, keep one bathroom and the kitchen usable where possible, and work regular hours. For a gut renovation or anything without heat, water or a working bathroom, plan to move out. We will tell you honestly which one yours is at quoting, not in week three.

Anything outside the signed scope gets priced in writing and approved by you before it is done — no verbal extras, no surprises on the final invoice. Some changes are ours to absorb because we missed them; some genuinely could not be known until the wall was open. The contract spells out which is which.

A deposit to hold the schedule and order materials, then progress payments tied to completed milestones rather than dates, and a holdback until the deficiency list is cleared. Be wary of anyone asking for a very large share up front — that is the most common warning sign in this trade.