Devan from Toronto

The front pillars of our home were looking significantly worn and faded. Various details pertaining to their construction made us reluctant to undertake the painting ourselves, but the size of the job left many painters less than interested in taking on the work. Not so Painters Plus. Karin and the team were very communicative throughout the process, even informing when weather conditions necessitated a brief delay. The painter did a great and impeccably neat job, with excellent results.

We recently completed a major renovation project of an older home in Toronto (East York). Monarch was one of several companies that we brought in to provide a quote for the project, and although several were well qualified, what impressed us with Monarch was their full service approach and long-standing reputation for excellence and high standards. Make no mistake - this was a challenging project and was beyond the scope of a typical kitchen or bathroom renovation in a more recent subdivision home, and Monarch managed and executed the project very well. From the very outset, Monarch's designer Janet was hands-on and very involved in working with us to choose finishes that would suit our design sense. At the same time, she created original designs for challenging spaces that were frankly masterful and which we don't believe others would have been able to execute on our behalf. What made our experience with Monarch so incredible wasn't just the general quality of the work (which was high), but their accessibility, communication and punctuality. All trades and components were meticulously scheduled and organized by Monarch, and always showed up when they were supposed to. When issues arose that resulted in delays, these were thoroughly explained and action plans implemented. Additional costs were discussed prior to work, alternatives considered, and any fees meticulously invoiced and tracked. As I was coordinating many other trades as part of the overall project, Monarch's back office support was invaluable, especially the ongoing coordination from Kelly and Melissa. It truly felt as though I had access to a whole team of specialists on any issue that arose. Make no mistake, issues did come up, as they will on any project. Nevertheless, Neil, Monarch's principal, was able to visit the site several times per week during construction and usually called me with updates and to discuss issues and changes well before I had a chance to. He was also always available and responsive - and what issues that emerged did not go unresolved for long! They stand by their work and don't hesitate to make sure that problems that come up after completion are dealt with. Above all else, Monarch performed a challenging and changing renovation to a high degree of quality and with exemplary support and communication. At a cost that is competitive with many of their competitors specializing in bath & kitchen renovations, Monarch is an outstanding choice for a home of any age.

Dryer Vent Wizard replaced a old plastic dryer vent line and seized (and improperly vented) bathroom fan in our newly-purchased Toronto home. Great customer service and knowledge from a father-son team that really knew their stuff and sticks to their knitting. Despite some unexpected surprises, the work was done on short notice and with great professionalism and quality. A pleasure to work with and highly recommended trouble-shooters.

Having recently purchased a home in Toronto, we were discouraged to learn that noise from passing buses on our otherwise fairly quiet street was much worse and obtrusive than originally thought. After some initial scrambling, we began to look into options to address the situation. We came across marketing and reviews for Encore's bquiet soundproof window systems, and got in touch with Mike, one of their representatives. He visited our home that same week, and we quickly determined that the front ground floor window and door were the worst contributors, as well as the front bedroom window. Mike provided a number of options for addressing these and other windows in the house, and we were able to visit their offices to see demonstrations of the windows. While Encore's estimates were fair for the scope of the work, they were not inexpensive and we were not certain that the technology would help. We decided to replace the front window with a new double-pane window (replacing the existing double-pane garden window) and a bquiet soundproof window, as well as the old panel door with glass insert with a new windowless steel door and aluminum storm door. The manufacturing of the windows and doors took about 8 weeks, and installation was on schedule and completed within the 2 day period indicated. The first time we visited the house after the soundproof window was installed, we weren't impressed - we were AMAZED! Despite our initial concerns, the bquiet window is worth every penny, and significantly exceeded our expectations. Regular motor traffic is inaudible, and a passing bus that previously drowned out conversations in the living room is little more than a muted background noise. I can comfortably read without distraction in a front room and hardly notice! The bquiet windows and new doors from Monarch were among the best value for money investments we made during our renovation, and we're planning to similarly improve another window early in the New Year.

On a weekend, our recently purchased house developed a leak in the old valve connected to the hot water tank. Additionally older valves in a basement washroom were stuck and restricting water flow. Within an hour, Alex from Metro Plumbing and Drains was on site and fixed the problems. He also pointed out several important improvements for the long-term "plumbing health" of the house. Very satisfied with the service.

Required a home inspection prior to purchasing a renovated home. Alan was prompt and very thorough, revealing a number of significant issues. We ultimately did not proceed on the purchase, and appreciated Alan's insight into the condition of the property. Would highly recommend to others and will likely use again in the future.