Penguin Basements

Basement Renovation
Toronto ON M3J 2C4
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Reviews for Penguin Basements

Average customer rating:
8.9 10 (342 reviews)

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Chris
Chris
4 reviews Caledon, ON
10/10

Basement renovation

The perfect score I have rated Penquin basements is only for their Site Manager(Walter) and his crew of trade professionals. The work actually started on time and once it was handed off to Walter, it became evident that we had made the right decision. Up until then, the head office staff really made us think we made the wrong choice and threw away a big deposit. They only lived up to about 25% of their promises. Calls were not made and appts. were missed.
But Walter and his team changed all that. He quickly took control and scheduled his teams to begin turning about 1000sq ft. of my basement into an attractive, comfortable living space. From Antonio(Custom framer), to another Walter(painting crew), Eric(electrician) and carpenters, tiler etc. all showed a desire meet the tight schedule that Walter had set out. Not only that but the quality of their work was outstanding, all with the care of the customers needs in mind. At the end of the day you hire a contractor that will live up to the quality of work that was promised which Walter and his team delivered. Just wished that Penquin's head office staff had taken a page out of Walters customer satisfaction page. Thanks Walter

Approximate cost of services:
$60,000.00
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Company Response

We are happy that you are happy with Walter, and the finished basement. And we will take you valid criticisms of the office staff to heart. We have been growing rather quickly and adding new staff on a regular basis. Not an excuse, just an acknowledgment that we may need to our efforts on a more seamless and timely staff integration program. Thanks for your help.

Tania in Belleville
Tania in Belleville
1 review Whitchurch-Stouffville, ON
10/10

Basement finishing

We chose Penguin over other companies because they do quality work and they complete the work correctly. We had interviewed a number of companies before we decided and Penguin was the only one that priced the job with no "surprise extra costs" as some of the other companies mentioned. We were pleased that they take building permits out and that they employ their own trades who were very respectful in our home and quality workers. What really impressed us was the mold free materials used to finish the basement versus traditional materials. We would definitely use them again if we move to another home some day.
Great job to Juliano and his crew, Amy, Robert, Rick and Guy for fitting our job in and working very quickly to finish it in just 3 1/2 weeks! We are looking forward to using our basement and enjoying lots of family time.

Approximate cost of services:
$0.00
What could this company do to improve their services?
Any advice to offer fellow homeowners facing a similar project?
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Company Response

We are happy to hear your experience went as they all should. Thanks for the review, and enjoy your basement!

Jeff in Whitby
Jeff in Whitby
1 review Whitby, ON
10/10

Basement renovation

Since having a baby we decided that more usable space was needed in our house. After careful consideration we decided to go with Penguin Basements for our renovation. We were very happy with how quickly the job was complete and how nice our basement turned out. Juliano went out of his way to make sure everything was finished exactly how we wanted it. We are looking forward to enjoying our new basement for many years to come!

Approximate cost of services:
$65.00
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Company Response

Jeff, thanks for the very kind review. We are happy you're happy. Enjoy the basement!

APlaha in Toronto
APlaha in Toronto
1 review Vaughan, ON
10/10

Full Basement Reno

We were interested in renovating our basement and Penguin Basements was the first, and only, company we contacted.
From the moment we contacted Penguin Basements for an initial quote we were blown away from their exceptional service. They understood our vision for the basement and offered very helpful suggestions that we did not initially think of. The construction workers were respectful to both our home and family.
Our project manager Seth was nothing but attentive to detail, accessible during the day, and was understanding of any requests we had. He definitely made the process much smoother and less stressful as he quickly resolved any inquiries we may have had.
We are very happy with the finished, high-quality result and look forward to using our newly done basement. Would definitely recommend Penguin to anyone interested in renovating their basement!

Approximate cost of services:
$100,000.00
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Company Response

Glad to hear we were top of mind when you decided to finish your basement. And even happy to hear all went well. We always strive for a flawless job, and are always thrilled when everything goes exactly as it should.

Angela in Toronto
Angela in Toronto
1 review Whitby, ON
8/10

Basement

We had our basement finished from the concrete to where it is now. The end result is a great additional living space. There were some bumps along the way. I had to remind everyone I talked to that we didn't need a permit since we didn't do anything with the water. I would figure a company that's done numerous renovations by now wouldn't need the customer to remind each person. The designer Amy called to book our consultation; however, we had already done that with her which was scheduled 4 days from her call which evidently got cancelled and we had to move it and I had to take a vacation day for it. We were advised by 3 people that they would move the ceiling vents down to the ground level, which they didn't and we didn't know it wasn't being done, nor did it have to be done until they already finished putting up all the mag boards! Had to advise a couple times that the accent wall was still to be painted and when we paid for an additional 4 pot lights; however, only 3 were installed was a little odd. As well, make sure you get EVERYTHING in writing. We had worked out a few things with Dan which ultimately didn't get done because all of a sudden they were additional costs or were done but not exactly how we wanted them. Overall, we were happy with the end result; however, communication I think really needs to be addressed.

Approximate cost of services:
$30,000.00
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Company Response

Angela, thank you very much for this review. As you noted there was a communications breakdown on this job, and as a result the job sequence was not followed which was not only frustrating to you, but costly to us. We are looking into what happened to ensure that does not happen again. We are glad however, in spite of this, your experience was generally positive. If there are any outstanding issues or items you would like addressed please do not hesitate to update info on builder trend or to contact your PM.

Private User
Private User
Private User reviews Ajax, ON
10/10

Basement Renovation

The people at Penguin Basements treated me not as a client but as someone who they were happy to be working with.

The range of services they offered from consulting, design, and project management were outstanding and conveyed a level of knowledge that further reinforced my confidence in their work.

They took their time and outlined the activities that were involved in the completion of my basement.

Juliano and his team were a pleasure to have as contractors and are a good example of how others should follow in the industry.

The end result was a basement that offered not only a great sense of hospitality but also peace of mind knowing you were getting a quality product.

Approximate cost of services:
$80,000.00
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Company Response

Hi Private. Thanks for the review. Our attitude comes from valuing our clients, and loving what we do. So happy that you felt that attitude. Enjoy your basement.

Joe
Joe
1 review Toronto, ON
10/10

Basement

We couldn’t be happier with the outcome of our basement. From start to finish the whole process was handled very professionally and everyone was so easy to work with. Our project manager Seth exceeded our expectations by being available whenever we had questions or needed ideas. It was a pleasure working with him and the whole team at Penguin. We would recommend Penguin Basements to all our friends and family.

Approximate cost of services:
$50,000.00
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Company Response

We've passed on your review to Seth. Thanks. Enjoy!

Don Oakville in Oakville
Don Oakville in Oakville
1 review Oakville, ON
10/10

Full Basement

I contracted Penguin Basements not only because of their use of high quality materials, but also because of their overall approach to design, project management, and project coordination.
Our Site Manager Jeremy was a pleasure to deal with. From the initial walk through, I knew Jeremy understood the project was important to me, and that attention to every detail of the build was an essential priority.
Jeremy reacted with confidence and knowledge whenever a
situation called for extra scrutiny. I could also tell, that as Site Manager he had the respect of all trades assigned to the project.
Even though Jeremy was working multiple sites across the GTA, he was responsive to all my requests, and always arrived on site with a smile.

Approximate cost of services:
$85.00
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Company Response

Thanks for the kind words Don.

Samantha in Toronto
Samantha in Toronto
1 review Toronto, ON
9/10

Basement Reno

Penguin Basements recently finished our basement. They used top of the line materials to ensure the basement stays dry and warm and to protect it from mould should there be a flood by using magnesium board rather than drywall. During construction time, the workers (especially Donald who was here the most) were very respectful to both our home and my young kids and dogs.
During the process, Juliano was our main point of contact. As there were a few expected hiccups, Juliano was quick to rectify and offer a solution that worked for our needs. In addition, Juliano was able to provide suggestions to things we hadn't thought of. He made it easy to ask questions and was a huge help in making things go as seamlessly as possible (he also helped get rid of a spider :)).
We are very excited for our family to start using our gorgeous new basement! Thank you!

Approximate cost of services:
$65,000.00
What could this company do to improve their services?
Any advice to offer fellow homeowners facing a similar project?
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Company Response

Thanks for posting your review Samantha. Sorry about the hiccups, we all wish they didn't happen but sometimes that's the nature of contracting. Glad it all worked out to your satisfaction in the end. Enjoy your basement!

The reviews on this page are the subjective opinion of the Author and not of HomeStars Inc.

More about Penguin Basements

Penguin Basements is your full-service Basement Renovation Company.

Nothing beats a finished basement as a cost-effective way to add living space or rental income to your home in the Greater Toronto Region. Whether you need design, permits or a stunning build, be sure to call the Renomark certified contractor Penguin for a Free Estimate today.

You'll find hundreds of our satisfied customers all across Southern Ontario in the GTA, the Tri-Cities Area and the Greater Ottawa Area. Our experienced, trained professionals make it easy for Penguin Basements to stand behind every job we do. So, If there's a basement renovation in your future, contact Penguin Basements today, where 100% total satisfaction is guaranteed! Don't get scammed by fly-by-night operators, unrealistically low prices, too short build times or fake reviews. We invite you to visit us in person anytime.

• Basement Renovation Specialist
• Guaranteed Mold-Resistant Materials
• FREE In-Home Design & Estimate
• Easy Financing Available
• No Interest for 12 Months*
• Transferable Limited Lifetime Material Warranty
• 2-Year Comprehensive Warranty
• Exclusive Penguin Benefits

Be sure to check our one of our Basement Showcase Open House weekends where you can inspect our work up close and in person!

CATEGORIES
Basement Renovation
PRODUCTS
Fully finished basement design and build inclusive of Kitchens, Bathrooms and Custom features.
SERVICES
Basement renovations, basement waterproofing, foundation repair, crawl space encapsulation.
BRANDS
Penguin Family of Companies Penguin Basements Penguin Condo & Reno
STYLES
Classic, Country, Modern, Contemporary, Retro, Unique.
SPECIALITIES
Custom basement builds within your budget.
WEBSITE
http://www.basementscanada.com
YEAR ESTABLISHED
2011
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
120
LICENSES
Fully Licensed in every municipality we serve.
MEMBERSHIPS
BILD, RENOMARK
LIABILITY INSURANCE
Yes
WORKERS COMPENSATION
Yes
BONDED
Yes
WRITTEN CONTRACT
Yes
WARRANTY TERMS
2-Year plus Limited Lifetime Material Warranty.
Company profile information is not moderated by HomeStars. Ask the contractor to verify before hiring.