XL Renovations

After getting 4 other quotes from well-reviewed Homestar companies, I decided to hire Gerald from XL Renovations because he had the best package in terms of experience, breadth of knowledge and cost. The work included demolition of existing basement bathroom, build/install new bathroom with expanded footprint and new tile flooring/paint of adjoining bedroom. Gerald and his assistant Mike did all of the work themselves and it was completed within the initial quote and expected timeframe (allowing for unexpected issues like old linoleum/tar under the carpet - surprise!). Gerald and Mike were punctual and tidy, and Gerald kept me updated on daily progress. Gerald was easy to communicate with - responsive whether it was phone, email or text. The finished product is well done, showing attention to detail and care. A prospective client who is considering hiring Gerald came to look at the space and also agreed that it was good. I would recommend Gerald and will be looking to him for future renovation projects. Note: price shown below is for labor and construction materials only (eg - drywall, wiring, etc). It does not include "aesthetic" items like tile, vanity, fixtures, etc. ****JANUARY 2016 UPDATE -- Regrettably, I am reducing the rating from 10 stars to 2 stars. We discovered that the water in the shower pan does not drain (the water begins to pool in the pan within seconds) and the shower head's hot & cold water are switched. We contacted Gerald via email, phone & text to resolve these two issues, but have not heard from him in over a month. We sent a final email to him last week, giving him one week to respond. He did not respond within the timeframe, so we conclude he has decided to walk away from the project unfinished. We will be looking for another contract to fix these problems. I withdraw my recommendation and would instead advise potential clients not to hire Gerald of XL Renovations. I will keep a 2-star rating (as opposed to 0-star) for the work done.