Mainland Ventures

Paul and his team first came to work on our home more than five years ago during a pipe leak. Paul expertly identified the problem, and his team seamlessly handled all the restoration in the weeks after.

Paul always puts the homeowner first. A great example of this took place recently when I believed there was a new leak under my kitchen floor tiles. Paul kindly came for an in person consult and correctly surmised that the leak was coming from my freezer drawer. While this did not result in a project opportunity for Paul and his team, Paul still took the time to help me and my family identify the root cause of the problem.

I can say with confidence that I will continue to look to Paul and his team for any future home projects and look forward to the next opportunity to work together!

Paul always stayed in touch with us regarding schedule and any changes. He was on site daily to check on the work being done. He was very helpful and had great tips and ideas that helped with the project. We got a detailed estimate and it was adhered to. All of the workers did excellent work and took care not to cause any damage. The site was always kept clean and all materials removed daily. The project was completed on time and we are very pleased with the result! We would recommend and have recommended Paul to anyone looking for a contractor.

General information:
Our house was built in 1911 and although there have been considerable modern upgrades to the interior, we dearly love its old style and want to preserve it as much as possible. We have never done major renovations before and we heard the usual horror stories about builders and contractors; which is partly why it took us many years to commit ourselves to a basement renovation. In fact, we went through the process of searching for a contractor twice – the first time about 10 years ago. Both times, we got about 5 quotes from different companies and both times we selected Mainland Ventures as our top choice.

Why did we decide to go with Mainland Ventures?
Right from the start, we really appreciated Paul’s manner and careful attention to our interests. We found contractors to range from aloof (as if they were too good for the job) or perfunctory (as if the job was nothing special). Although we have lived in the house for about 25 years, both of us immigrated from Europe and have nearly no knowledge of Canadian wood houses. Paul spent a good amount of time with us, going over our plans and wishes, explaining how the work would proceed.

Extent of the work
The basement renovation included gutting the whole basement down to its bare bones and re-doing major structural work. List of work done: repairing the concrete foundations; insertion of a supporting iron beam that stretched half the length of the house; replacing the supporting posts; fastening the house properly to its foundations; insulating the foundations and walls to code; replacing the existing windows and designing and building a new basement suite. The basement suite is legal and includes a separate entrance, one bedroom, a bathroom, its own washer-dryer unit and a kitchen - living room area. Plumbing and electricity were also re-done from scratch.

Other work included renewing the plumbing system in the whole house; installing an on-demand hot water system and new heating system; re-ducting the basement; installing a new electrical panel; replacing the stairs at the back and front of our house and replacing some of the siding (including the second floor dormers). Minor repairs and improvements were done on the main floor: repairs to the ceiling from previous leaks and installation of a washer/dryer on the main floor.

Our comments for the work of Mainland Ventures
We knew our project would take a long time (estimation 6 months) but when we discovered shoddy work and structural problems done by previous builders and owners, we had to fix them, and the time extended to almost 10 months.

We continued to live in the house throughout and were able to witness every step in the process. Paul or Conor patiently answered our questions when structural issues or previous inferior work was revealed. They never made us feel that we were asking dumb questions and we felt completely connected and updated with all that was going on. Despite the intensity of the work Conor was courteous and helpful and ready to explain any technical details. For each new problem, they offered us a series of solutions, including the Pro’s and Con’s of each, and didn’t push us into choosing the fastest or the most expensive. They were open and honest, and we were reassured and confident that the solutions we chose were the best options for us.

After the initial work of demolition was completed and reconstruction was under way, we began to appreciate the incredible care and attention that Conor and his excellent crew (Sean and Walter) took over every detail. Coming from Europe where we were used to houses built to last centuries, both my wife and I were initially apprehensive about the apparently flimsy nature of North American wood houses. We were extremely impressed with the way Conor constructed and assembled everything, from the solid concrete footings to the supporting beams and posts. Most of all, we saw that both Paul and Conor genuinely seemed to understand the need to maintain the essence of the old house and yet to meet modern building codes. On several occasions there would be a problem that Conor needed to solve, and he always came up with a substantial solution that not only gave us confidence but also respected the design of the house. The quality and craftmanship of their work were astounding. Conor is justifiably self-confident and while we, at first, didn’t understand why, we soon appreciated that he builds to exacting standards. Conor’s work is all about excellent alignments and perfect horizontals and he was able to fit this care within the constraints of the 100-year old building. In fact, a new measure of standard that has entered our everyday parlance when assessing quality of work is “is it Conor-worthy”?

As the project shifted into the later stages the type of work became even more precise and almost delicate. Although we wanted an awning over the basement suite entrance, we had no specific design in mind. After advising us to view online photos of awnings and to visit neighbourhood examples Conor took our ideas and carefully created something that fit the style of the house. The finished product is beautiful, immensely strong (solid) and looks as if it was constructed 100 years ago along with the house.

At the end of each day we would survey the basement for progress. The worksite was always left tidy and clean and it was satisfying to see the work completed and to visualize the work to come.

Mainland Ventures worked as closely to the schedule as they could – the old house thwarted us with some unanticipated problems and the schedule was extended by a good three months. Paul kept us informed and the project met the revised schedule. Both Paul and Conor gave us valuable advice and recommendations and it was always with an eye on the budget, best practice and in keeping with the rest of the house.

If you need customized and high-quality craftsmanship (structural or cosmetic) and want peace of mind, we wholeheartedly recommend Mainland Ventures. We were especially impressed by their problem-solving skills, their craftsmanship, their professionalism and the pride and pleasure they took in their work. They were open and honest and always careful to minimize disruptions to our life. We felt that we paid for quality work and that’s exactly what we got. After the work was completed and our neighbours had a chance to view the project, we noted that they all commented favourably about how hardworking the crew was and how well they interacted with and respected the neighbourhood. All in Mainland Ventures are also genuinely nice people.

We recently completed our second project with Paul and Mainland Ventures (the first was in 2013). This project was much larger than the first, but we were so pleased with Paul and team the first time around, we didn’t bother getting quotes from anyone else this time. I had absolutely no concern in making that decision because of my complete faith that Paul would treat us fairly. That said, the first time we got 4 or 5 quotes and Mainland’s was competitive with the others. If it turns out Mainland is slightly higher than anyone else, I guarantee you will more than make it up in quality, professionalism and reduced stress.

Our project this time around was essentially the entirety of the main floor of our 1930s craftsman house, which had been “updated” many time over the years with varying levels of quality. I don’t know that the scope of work is so important as the way Paul and team (specifically Conor) approached the work. Firstly, we were staying in the house while the reno was going on by living in the basement and sleeping upstairs, which required us to go through the main floor at least twice per day. The team was extremely diligent in keeping the site clean and their tools put away neatly every day. They also installed a plastic barrier with a zipper door that allowed us to get upstairs without debris from downstairs migrating up. We never once had any sense that having to work around this setup was an inconvenience for them, though I’m certain it was.

My primary compliments of Mainland are:

(i) The quality of the workmanship is exceptional and the standards they set for themselves and their subtrades are extremely high. When I pointed out very minor things that were almost certainly within the tolerance of reasonable quality, Paul always addressed them anyway; not once did he or Conor say or imply “that’s good enough”.

(ii) Paul is always available and extremely responsive.

(iii) If anything goes slightly wrong (which it’s bound to eventually), whether a miscommunication or an error, Paul immediately takes ownership of it. I’m sure there were occasions where I misremember conversations and Paul could have rightly said “you told me X not Y” but every time it was just addressed without any argument.

(iv) Paul and Conor are very flexible in changing the plan as you go. We made some major changes (including changing out windows and moving a window a few feet, which meant all kinds of unplanned exterior work) and they were always happy to accommodate.

(v) Paul really watches the budget and is always looking for opportunities to do things more efficiently or save some money. That said, in most cases we decided to take the more involved route to solving problems, and were never made to feel like we should just take the easy way to save time. It was always, “here are the pros and cons, it’s your call”; though Paul and Conor are always willing to provide advice if asked.

(vi) Once the job was 99.9% done we had no issues getting Paul and Conor back to clean up the few straggling things. I have heard others say it’s taken them years to get a contractor to come back for the last 1% of the job once they’ve started the next thing; that was not remotely a concern for us.

Finally, the difference between Mainland and others is how Paul responded to adversity. We did not get a building permit for our project on the logic that we weren’t doing anything structural, so it shouldn’t be required (in fact we added new walls). However, the city disagreed with this assessment and two months into the job (right as drywall was about to start going up) we were shut down. I have heard stories from others about contractors basically saying “give me a call when you get your permits and we’ll fit you in when we can” when this sort of thing happens. Paul did the exact opposite and immediately had architects, engineers, energy assessors and anyone else we might need on the phone (the architect literally came the day after we’d been shut down). I think we had our permit application in within two weeks of being shut down and then Paul continued to follow up with anyone he could to move it along. We were ultimately down for almost two months, but I’m certain it would have been double that without Paul’s diligence.

To put into perspective how highly I view Paul and team, I am actually offended that Mainland’s HomeStars reviews total 99%, not 100%. I actually went looking for these reviews that are less than 10 and it’s all people with great things to say, but then giving a 9 for some reason.

We will be using Mainland for all projects, large and small, until the day Paul retires (and then I’ll probably be begging him after that).

We recently had Mainland Ventures do a small renovation to add a small kitchen into our basement suite. We contacted other contractors to get an estimate, but Paul took the extra step and came back a second time with his plumber to get an idea if our reno was doable. This was the reason why we went with Mainland Ventures, as Paul put thought into our reno.

Paul was very professional and clear regarding the scope of work and the budget. His foreman, Conor who was onsite everyday, was exceptionally skilled and very good to work with. The project moved ahead steadily without delay and they were always punctual and the tradespeople were there everyday working on our reno. Paul’s workers (plumber, electrician, cabinet makers) did an excellent job! Conor was exceptional and his skills and craftsmanship were amazing.

After the reno’s were done, it looked like the kitchen was part of the house and it blended in perfectly with the house! They also cleaned up after the reno job and left everything in an orderly manner. They were respectful as well, and contacted us when they needed to turn off the water or electricity during the renos.

Paul kept us uptodate on the budget and the work schedule and was easy to reach by text and in person. He was very accommodating to our ideas and good to work with.

In the end, our basement and kitchen looked amazing, the workmanship was excellent and we were very happy with the result. The reno was finished within the timeline and within our projected budget. We felt Paul did a great job and Conor was superb.

We would highly recommend Mainland Ventures (Paul and Conor) to anyone is renovating their house and we would contact them without hesitation if we need further house repairs/renovations.

I’m so pleased that Mainland Ventures were able to renovate my bathroom as I’m so satisfied with both the result and with the process. At every stage, my requests were met with consideration and promises made were always honoured. The project was reasonably priced, came in on budget and the workmanship is excellent. There was never any delay that might have arisen through materials or tradespeople not being available. Work always started on time, building debris was promptly removed and the work area was clean and orderly at the end of each work day. Amazing! Thank you so much to all the team members at Mainland, especially to Russell, Paul and Mira.

I am normally overly verbose when writing reviews like this, but in Mainland Ventures case it’s simple. If you’re considering doing any kind of renovation in the biggest investment of your life, you need to give MLV a call before you make a final decision.
Talk to Mira in the office, and she’ll somehow get Paul to give you a call. Paul will then take the time to work with you and adjust the scale of your project to fit your budget whatever that is. Our budget was small so Paul allowed us to do some of the work, ( remove old cabinets and drywall, build new cabinets ), ourselves to save on costs, and then had his people do the more technical things like replacing drywall, new electrical and plumbing and the install of the new cabinets. Everybody Paul sent over was extremely professional and their work meticulous. Paul managed our project on our schedule and never tried to rush it along. We couldn’t be more pleased with the results of the remodel, and would absolutely recommend Mainland Ventures to anyone looking for honesty, integrity and the genuine desire to make your dreams come true.
Thank you Paul, Mira, Sean, Russell, Howard from AB Tech, the electricians, Matt and Thomas, and of course, mascot Rocky!

We chose Mainland Ventures to do our improvements based on the stunning reviews we read on Homestars! What a fortunate decision that was!

We live in a heritage townhouse. We chose to convert our bathtub to a walk in shower. From our initial consultation with Paul, we knew we were in good hands. We felt as though we were Mainland’s most important clients (knowing full well we were anything but). In spite of the small size of our job, we were afforded Paul’s attention and expertise. We were encouraged to describe our vision and advised if we were exceeding our budget. Any unforeseen costs were reviewed before proceeding.

Russell was here everyday and worked hard. He is such a great guy who does amazing work. He is a perfectionist. His attention to detail is remarkable. After 4 weeks working daily on a bathroom, we felt he was close to being a member of the household. He arrived on time, was as quiet and unobtrusive as a tradesperson could possibly be. At the end of his day, he would tidy up (vacuuming!) and leave the project in the best possible shape. Outstanding!

Mario did our tile work. He is very skilled having learned the business from his family. We marvel at the gorgeous results.

We didn’t get to know the other tradesmen as well, but electrician, plumber and shower glass folks were all prompt and pleasant. Their work is more than satisfactory.

We are so very pleased with the work Mainland Ventures did for us. We won’t hesitate to contact Paul for any future projects. My only concern....after all these amazing reviews, they will be so busy we’ll have to get in line :-)

Mainland Ventures was an irreplaceable partner to the Regional Animal Protection Society in the creation of the RAPS Animal Hospital.

Mainland – and their professional trades team – executed the entire $500,000 build of the veterinary hospital – a project that would have cost closer to $900,000 had Mainland’s expertise not saved us more than $300,000 on the project. They also donated about $100,000 of in-kind value to the project.

They took a dilapidated 6,000-square-foot space that had been used for several years as little more than storage and reinvented it into a truly breath-taking, sparkling state-of-the-art hospital.

Their attention to detail throughout the project has been amazing. They confidently guided us (most of our team being largely inexperienced in such matters), implementing the most difficult technical aspects of building a hospital, including an x-ray room, surgical room, integrating unique machinery, complex piping installations and complex HVAC, including separated and confined systems to stop cross-contamination between rooms to keep them sterile.

They worked so smoothly with our team and always were communicative and collaborative. Inevitable emergencies were handled immediately. They even handled all city permits for us, which took a huge burden off our staff.

Mainland managed all outside tradespeople and have clearly built superb relationships with professionals who do exceptional work. Even after the project was complete, Mainland continues to assist us when any issues arise. Their work is guaranteed and we have every confidence in the excellent quality of absolutely everything they have done for us.

As a bonus, they even took it upon themselves to donate the time and equipment to rebuild the cat room at our City Animal Shelter.

To say Mainland went above and beyond is an understatement. They made what was a daunting process for us as straightforward and stress-free as a project of this magnitude could be. We are so grateful and have not the slightest hesitation in recommending Mainland Ventures with the highest praise.

Paul and his crew were terrific and made a huge improvement to the back of our house. They were patient and willing to accommodate extra side jobs that cropped up. We are very pleased with the end result and look forward to seeing them in the spring to help us with some more improvements.
We congratulate them on recent additions to their families and wish them the very best for Christmas and the New Year.
Thank you,
Diana and Patrick