Myron in Toronto

I had an existing BBQ gas line that was done in soft copper pipe by my heating contractor, however it was poorly run with several kinks along the run - which probably reduced gas flow. My BBQ gas line will also run a portable backup generator, so it's important I have adequate flow for the generator. Gas Guys replaced the copper line with GasTite lines. They recommended 3/4" with much better shut off valves than I had before (one of the valves my heating contractor installed was leaking!). Gas Guys' attention to detail and code requirements assured me that I won't have any issues with this install. The pipe runs were done very cleanly, and I was impressed with how quickly the work was done. They did not rush whatsoever, left the job site clean and walked me through the completed work. I didn't want the cheapest gas fitter - I wanted the best. I think that's apparent, judging by the quality of the work. (there were NO shortcuts with Gas Guys!! - it's done properly!) I also had them install a line for a gas dryer - just in case I ever want to install one in the future. The installation was pressure tested - something I've never seen before! Gas Guys takes pride in their work, and it shows. I highly recommend them for your project! (I was also impressed by their recommendation to improve bonding of the iron pipe gas lines to the water lines for proper ground - in order to keep things safe!). I can now look forward to a summer with a working BBQ again! Thanks, Gas Guys!

First off, I can't be happier. Now read my story. Before you hire anyone, educate yourself. Understand how work SHOULD be done, and you'll thank yourself later. I consider myself "handy", but I know my limits. Tiling is that limit! Years ago, tile setters used to use screen and scratch coat for your floor. I knew that wouldn't work in my application, and I wanted Schluter Ditra on the floor and Kerdi membrane on the shower walls. Every tile setter I contacted suggested "ah, you don't need that stuff.. it's expensive." Sure, and after they're long gone, and I have a failure - it's too late (that's exactly the reason why I was tiling in the first place - failure of grout, lead to wall decay, and ripping down the walls to find mould). From the moment I talked to Peter, I felt comfortable with his knowledge of using Schluter product. He takes the courses and understands how it's supposed to be installed for a trouble free installation. After I saw the quality of his tools, I was even more comfortable. I am PICKY, and I have a very high attention for detail. Peter's attention is quite higher than mine, so I had no issues with leaving him to do his work. I had him tile one 9 foot wall, floor to ceiling which came out perfectly flat. He ensures that the tiles are flat along the plane with a clicker, a nice touch. Many other tile setters I visited skipped this important step - which does show up later, especially with recessed lighting (casting shadows). Everything is perfectly level and straight, without any shifting of the tiles across the span of the walls. The floor was unique as well. Peter installed a NuHeat mat, prepped the subfloor for the cables, and installed the Ditra on top. The floor tiles went on ultra flat, and in a very unique configuration. I had him install Epoxy resin "riverstone" tiles as an insert, and other floor tiles around them as a border. Looks fabulous. The grouting is top notch, and two colours (one wall meets another wall with different colour grout). No grouting job is 100%, especially with 1/2" thick tiles, but this exceeds my expectations. I've seen some very bad grouting. Also - the materials he chooses to work with are excellent. Yes, the big box stores sell good stuff, but Peter suggested premium grout and thinset (Centura and TEC Grout XT for a shower). Don't cheap out, the end result will be worth the small amount extra that the materials cost. As I mentioned, I'm handy. So when I saw how he worked, I was amazed (many contractors I've met just do it quick, without worrying about details). Peter just makes it as perfect as it can be. Don't hire someone based on price. Don't hire a contractor based on years of service. But DO hire someone based on good value for good work, and someone who has proper training and takes pride in their work. Hire PHB and you'll see that the job is done right. I have pics to post soon, the vanity is being made at the moment and waiting for some finishing details.

Unfortunately, I had a roof leak.. GREAT... It was leaking around the flashing of the chimney, right onto a beautiful plaster ceiling and crown moulding. The damage is minimal, and luckily, inspection behind the wall revealed no significant damage or mould. So, on to the roof fix - These guys quoted, were very competitive, and understood what had to be done, and they came VERY quickly! Not only that, the repair was done seamlessly. I couldn't tell WHERE the repair was!! New singles were added, but matched so well. The only way I could tell was that the flashing was new, and the nails poking through the boards on the underside were new! The old flashing was poorly done, and the new one was carefully crafted. I also asked for them to install a roof vent for my kitchen exhaust. I put a screw threw the roof of where I wanted it (I wasn't home to tell them where I wanted it), and when I came home after work, it was done! A nice 10" compatible kitchen fan exhaust (I was connecting the ducting inside myself, I don't climb roofs!). I'm very happy with the work, and unfortunately, I'm due for a roof soon - and I will certainly have them do the work. I have no doubt that they'll do a great job. Also, there was NO mess. Nothing for me to clean. I was very happy about that.

Hi all, I own the home I grew up in. I love it. So I'm quite familiar with the furnace that was in the house since 1980. It was a Lennox 70% efficient furnace that only stopped working once, due to a faulty hi/low temp limit switch - not bad for a 30 year old unit. I was set on using Lennox for my replacement system, but I compared to Carrier as well. I had five different quotes. One particular salesman from one particular "huge" company was full of sales pitch. I suggested to him that I wanted a specific Honeywell thermostat, and an HRV. He balked at the idea that I wanted to change the "menu" from his sales pricing. He was intent on having me sign that night, however, his high pressure sales tactic wasn't going to win me over. I researched the equipment I wanted, and called Visic. Angelo came out to visit me in December 2009. He looked at the faded inspection tag on my 30 year old Lennox, and guess what?!? It was Visic who installed it! Angelo suggested that my plenum was too large, and he was right (one other company - Laird and Son who was my only other choice - suggested the same). I asked for a Lennox cased coil to sit on my G71MPP variable gas valve and DC drive motor furnace. I also got a 15 SEER air conditioner, also a Lennox. Lastly, I wanted the best Honeywell thermostat, the Vision Pro IAQ. It can control my Honeywell TruSteam humidifier (which I recommend for this furnace), which Visic also supplied. It can also control my HRV (when I get it installed this winter), not to mention, it varies the humidifier output based on outdoor temperature. The installation took two days, and Angelo's son John did the work with several other key technicians. They made a new plenum, a new J return, and installed a nice Lennox MERV16 filter. The furnace sits on four riser blocks, so it's off the floor. A nice touch, as my floor isn't anywhere near level, AND.. the unit won't rust from sitting on the floor - if there was ever a water leak. The Honeywell TruSteam humidifier works like a charm, and works perfectly when the furnace is only putting out 40% of its total output. Now, it took a while to get used to the furnace, because the air movement is MUCH lower than my old one due to the variable speed fan. No big deal, once the house was warmed up, the Vision Pro IAQ thermostat manages the temp SO well, that it is incredibly comfortable. That is to say, it's the same temp, all the time.. no peaks, no dips. Sure, it wasn't cheap, but I didn't feel comfortable with some of the other companies, especially with this kind of money. A furnace is one of the most important things in your home, and it's worth every penny you spend for comfort (and energy savings!) So far, my heating bill is more than 40% lower, due to how this unit works. Would I recommend Visic? Yes, absolutely. I'm having them come back for a bbq gas fitting and dryer rough in, oh, and an HRV after my second energy audit.

Hi all, First off I must say that I'm very happy with my windows. So much so, that I am returning to them and doing the rest of the home (including a 7ft sliding patio door). I had prices for my project ranging from $5500 to $11,000. Most of the companies that quoted could not do the large window sizes that I wanted, mostly because their frames were vinyl and would certainly sag. The next issue was the jamb extensions... I wanted Mahogany, and essentially, everyone offered paint grade wood and very small jamb extensions - which would make blind installation very difficult. I am VERY picky.. and consider myself an amateur architect.. so I wanted this to look right. I purchased casement windows in custom colours to match my soffit and garage door. Everyone on my street has bright white shiny vinyl, and now my windows "blend" into the home, and not make them a "feature". It looks top notch. Second, these guys did brick to brick (I have a full masonry construction home, double brick). They lined everything up perfectly, as I expected! The casements operate smoothly, even though my windows are tall and quite heavy. Oh, they also made the windows fit tightly to the brick (with the required minimum spacing for expansion) - this gave it a built in look compared to some installations I've seen by competitors.. take a look at the aluminum capping of a retrofit relative to the glass area, and you'll lose upwards of six inches from the brick! My rep was Joe Rose, and I have now gone back to them - having some more windows installed (in the middle of winter!). They are replacing my old aluminum windows, which are durable, but not efficient. My fiberglass windows have no condensation, but the aluminum framed units are COLD!! All in all, I am quite happy with the service, and the installers in Toronto (Mike and Tony) were great to deal with. Oh, and they also offer a fiberglass jamb extension which I used in my bathroom, another feature no one else could do. My window is in my bathtub/shower, so it can get wet.. and painted wood won't do! Since these guys are busy, be prepared to wait for your order. I am patient, as I won't go elsewhere just for matter of speed of delivery. Vinyl windows = bad.. especially sliders.. Go fiberglass and "feel" the difference.. oh, and their profile of the window frame suited my "Mid Century Modern" look. The competitor's windows looked too "fancy" with all sorts of steps and reveals.