When my husband and I bought a big old derelict house in downtown Toronto, it was a major challenge to bring the property up to the standard we wanted, while retaining the original character and charm that had interested us in the first place. For budget reasons, we had to do the project in stages, but every time I had Beth Contracting do the work. This involved complete rewiring, re-plumbing, mostly new heating, repair of all walls, new kitchen and bathroom, refinishing of floors, doors and a hardwood stair that is a highlight of the house. The tradespeople that they have are all top-notch, and were very careful and respectful during the process. The major work in the first phase was all done before we moved in, but all the work that was done after that was completed with minimum disruption. This has ended up being a beautiful restoration with really fine craftsmanship, and we love our house! Once we had our space mostly done, we then wanted to convert a very dank and grubby basement into a separate apartment. Brian did an amazing job, right from a design that made the most out of the floor-plan and sight-lines, to finishing details like a floor tile he recommended which completely seals out dampness, but looks warm and comfortable– not like usual floor tiles. The space looks awesome, and we had people competing to rent it.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $260,000.00
- Company Response
It's not every day that I get to work on a house from the 1910s that is in almost original condition. That is, all the original floors, doors and mouldings were intact and largely undamaged, no new partitions or original walls removed, but the house had been neglected for many years and was in very poor shape. But it was worth it. The client wanted a renovation that would keep the original character of the house, not turn it into a high-end design wonder, which is very satisfying to someone like me, who respects old-time design and craftsmanship.
The basement was a different story, and we went for a very slick, high-tech look that was complemented by the exposed brick walls-- sort of a loft feel, though below grade.