When we decided to put an addition on our bungalow, we interviewed many different contractors and construction companies. We were most impressed with Woodsmith because he seemed to be the most realistic in terms of timing, and stressed that he would do his best to keep our project within our budget. Woodsmith was the only company of the seven we interviewed who could commit to giving us a detailed print out of all costs including materials, labour and his mark-up. We got these print outs every 2 weeks and found this to be super helpful as we were able to see where most of our money was going. The one time we had a concern, Chris was able to address it. Chris worked with the guy who did our drawings to ensure that we were doing the most with the money we had. In doing this we found ways of saving money which enabled us to actually add more square footage to the house.Chris’ crew was both pleasant and professional. We had one issue with one of the sub contractors and when we brought it to Chris’ attention, he dealt with it immediately and ensured that we were happy and satisfied with the compensation.
Chris was such a pleasure to work with. Whenever we had questions or concerns, he answered them immediately and often came to meet with us. We have absolutely no hesitations at all in recommending Woodsmith Construction. Chris is more than just a contractor. He brings an excellent eye to a project and reassurance and patience when working with the customer.
We hired the company to perform structural improvements and renovations. The work was done on a good professional level with attention to detail in the most efficient way. The work was completed on schedule and within a reasonable budget.
We hired Woodsmith Construction and his team to turn the attic of our 1905 home to a master suite. In addition to the all-round good vibes we felt from Chris, he showed signs of being the most honest, capable, and confident in comparison to the other companies we interviewed. We felt like this was someone that we could trust with our savings and the future of our home.Chris provided us with an itemized budget prior to the start of the renovation. From the beginning we could see clearly how much each portion of the project would cost. This was updated every couple of weeks to reflect the actual costs of the work that was completed or underway. This was extremely helpful and reassuring.
Woodsmith Construction also has a number of professional and courteous team members. We had an excellent experience with all the trades and sub-contractors that worked with Chris to make our home beautiful. Most importantly we are extremely happy with the workmanship and can tell that each member of the Woodsmith Construction team takes pride in creating quality spaces.
Our project was not lacking in obstacles along the way but ultimately we are delighted with the end result and would highly recommend Woodsmith Construction for any project.
Thank you Chris, Angelina and everyone at Woodsmtih for creating our dream space.
We worked with Chris for over a year as he and his team renovated our semi in the west end. It was a total gut job of an old house so had it challenges from the beginning. Chris was excellent at explaining the options and giving us pros and cons of each so that we could make informed decisions. Chris was always available during night or day to answer questions or return email. Chris was also excellent at managing our neighbours who proved quite problematic throughout the entire process. He always had an eye on the budget and timing and his projections were very close. His billing was transparent without any hidden costs. We continue to work with Chris and his team to this day on the update of our exterior.
The Woodsmith team did a phenomenal job of rebuilding our house to match our dream on-time and within our budget. Chris (the owner) was always accessible, open to ideas and patient with questions. This made all the difference for us. He understands that a job of this scale is something that an owner will likely only do once, and he offered great advice and put all our fears at ease. We constantly knew exactly how we were tracking to our budget (to the dollar) and our job site was clean and orderly at all times (which our neighbours very much appreciated). We were nervous about our year-long adventure in renos (we’ve all heard horror stories), but Chris helped us spread out decisions over time and provided clear options for any challenges his team encountered, making that year a surprisingly pleasant one. All of the work was top-quality and has garnered unsolicited positive comments from anyone who sees our home (including other contractors working in our neighbourhood). I have no problem recommending Woodsmith; you will be in very good hands.
Woodsmith Construction ReviewProject Date:Sept 2009Project Price: more than $50,000
“We were recently married and purchased our first home shortly after. We immediately decided that the kitchen had to be fully re-done, however, our finances we more than a little short at the time. Recommended to us by a friend, Woodsmith assessed the kitchen and developed a realistic budget schedule to fit our needs and financial situation. The end result was a spectacular kitchen which has increased the value of our home by $30,000.00, appraised this year. We were so happy with their performance and attention to our needs, that we are now looking to renovate the home for our expected child, and would think of using no one else.”
Woodsmith Construction ReviewProject Date: Sept 2010Project Price: more than $50,000
“I recently purchased a new home in which the bathroom needed to be re-done. After researching numerous contractors, it was on the recommendation of a family friend that I finally went with Woodsmith Construction. Previous experiences with contractors had left me skeptical of their performance and honesty. Woodsmith has changed my opinion in this regard. They completed the bathroom on time and under budget, delivering more than what I had expected, so much so that I hired them a second time to renovate my home office. In a business of fast talkers and quick bucks it is nice to know there is Woodsmith.” You guys are the best…Thanks a bunch.
Project Date: August 2010Project Price: more than $100,000
“I used Woodsmith Construction to build a rear addition on an investment property which I had purchased in the upper Beaches. It turned out that the job escalated from a rear addition to an entire re-build of the home and if it were not for the expertise of Woodsmith Construction and their staff this project would never have materialized into what it is today.” Thank you for a job well done.
Project Date: January 2011Project Price: more than $100,000
“Chris Smith and his team did our kitchen renovation which turned into a kitchen, main floor bathroom and foyer renovation. They arrived everyday on time, I spoke with Chris daily, they were efficient, clean and professional. They had creative ideas and overall made our home a true 10. I would recommend them without hesitation.”
Project Date: April 2011Project Price: more than $20,000
“I recently bought a condo that needed a fair bit of work. Woodsmith and staff came highly recommended and delivered on everything they promised. Not only were they skilled professionals, they showed up on time, and finished when they said they would. I would rehire them in an instant… Thx guys”, ~A
Project Date: March 2011Project Price: more than $100,000“Our challenge for Woodsmith was to re-build a 4000 square foot commercial space for the new owners of the company. Chris was very honest, realistic and on time with the work that needed to be done. Sometimes a re-build can be more challenging than a project from scratch. In this case it definitely was and Chris and his team saved the day. Not only was the project finished on time and on budget but the finishing looks fantastic! Thank you Woodsmith”. Brad Nelson
Project Date: August 2011Project Price: more than $100,000
“After experiencing water damage to our basement, Chris Smith and his team came in to save the day. They were professional, trustworthy, and competent. They provided insight and delivered on everything they promised. I would highly recommend them to my family and friends and I would definitely use them in the future.”
Project Date:September 2011Project Price: more than $100,000“Chris the owner is wonderful to work with. His best quality is that he is very honest – rare to find in this business ! My entire main floor got renovated in a very short time period. If you provide the contractor with what they need they they will produce the work on time. I have recommended this company to many of my friends who are all happy with the work.”
Project Date: July 2012Project Price: more than $100,000
“My wife and I had just bought our first home and needed to have a lot of work done to accommodate our needs. The kitchen needed to be gutted, the master bedroom was woefully short of storage, the furnace/laundry room had to be rearranged to comply with the building code, there were a number of minor waterproofing/insulating jobs to be done on the exterior, and the attic needed an access hatch and an extra load of insulation. Friends recommended Woodsmith Construction Inc., and after meeting with the owner, Chris Smith, we were confident we had the right team for the job. Chris was very easy to work with and was always available when we needed him throughout the renovations. He was personally involved in every stage of the renovation – from design and planning to execution and follow up. His crew was very professional and respectful and did excellent work. We are extremely pleased with the results. All our friends and family rave about the design and quality of our new kitchen and the way our new wall of closets has transformed the master bedroom. We highly recommend Woodsmith for all your renovation needs”.
Project Date: Sept 2012Project Price: more than $100,000
There is no such thing as a “perfect” renovation, especially not at the scale we were involved in along with all the complications fully gutting and renovating a 100 year old home and adding a 24 x 20 foot full addition (basement, main and 2nd floor @ 480sqft per floor). So why am I giving Chris and the good guys at Woodsmith Construction a 10? If everything was straight forward, then all we would be talking about is price, timelines and quality of product. IMHO, that is the bare minimum… How you deal with the surprises and unforeseen problems is really what defines the character and ethics of a Contractor. Sure there were issues and surprises and we’ve seen many articles and TV shows about the horror stories… but the main reason I stick to a 10 rating is that Chris ALWAYS made it right. If there was something we were not happy about, Chris found a way to make it right, either by correcting it or finding an alternative. I probably have over a thousand E-mails and easily thousands of minutes of talk time with Chris. Chris was never “out of touch” and we talked many times a day. When Chris says “Hey, I want you to have what you want” he means it in the most genuine way and has shown us in action for the past 1+ years of working together. Chris is extremely flexible with arrangements and allows you to source various solutions as needed and does not force you into a fixed or “Woodsmith” only solution. Chris is very knowledgeable with many years of experience (despite his young appearance) and definitely contributed to some of the design of our project even though we came to him with architectural designs completed and permit from the city – ready to build. We know most of Chris’ workers and subs by name and have enjoyed working with the bulk of them and in fact we are still completing our basement as I write this and a detached garage will also be completed in the future. One final note about Chris is that he is genuinely “helpful” and wants to and I’d say even likes to help and educate. I was talking to him months before we signed the deal and he was never unavailable to chat, give pointers and educate me even though I may not have chosen him. Chris wants to educate the home owners and won’t stand for artificially inflated prices that a lot of subs and other contractors push just because you live in a popular area.
Project Date: October 2012Project Price: more than $50,000
“Woodsmith helped completely renovate a bathroom, re-stain hardwood floors and install new doors and baseboards. Chris was a pleasure to work with. He was very reliable and always upfront about costs. I would definitely work with him again.”
Project Dates: 2013- 2016Project Price: more than $100,000
I have worked with many professionals in this industry over the last decade or so, and have found few that consistently deliver the same level of construction experience and expertise as Woodsmith. It’s one thing to talk a great story with the client, it’s another thing entirely to deliver a final product that is exceptionally high in quality and still on budget and on time. A huge contributor to Woodsmith and their success is their relationships with their clients and their ability to communicate throughout the course of a project. I think communication and clarity during a renovation goes a long way to calm a clients nerves and keep them in the loop during all stages of the project. I would highly recommend anyone who maybe considering a renovation of any complexity to meet with Chris of Woodsmith and hear first hand what his company can do for you.
Project Date: May 2013
Chris provided me with online advice regarding my kitchen and home improvement project. It’s hard to find professionals that will respond to queries and really want to help in the sometimes difficult process of selecting finishes and materials. Chris went out of his way to offer me advice at no charge, just wanting to help with the process. Woodsmith Construction does beautiful work, so I value Chris’ opinion.
Project Date: July 2012Project Price: $10,000-$49,999
I’ve worked with Woodsmith Construction on several projects and have never been disappointed. Not only is Chris extremely knowledgable about his craft, he is incredibly reliable, sensible, and skilled. My client’s happiness is paramount to him and he’s quick to go that extra mile if and when necessary. Construction on any level is an emotional experience, and with Woodsmith Construction you can rest assure that you’re in great hands.
Project Date: September 2013Project Price: $10,000-$49,999
Woodsmith Construction was the sole contractor executing a project comprising of enclosing a walk out balcony, effectively extending our kitchen and equipping it with a dine-in space. I did not extensively shop the project around as I was quite pleased with Woodsmith right away – I value the confidence I have in a contractor on par with the cost. The contract was based on full cost disclosure (hours, receipts) plus profit, and I could help out with some things to keep the costs down. If I had to isolate the one factor I was most impressed with Woodsmith it would be the quality of all workmen and trades. In quality, I mean professionalism, punctuality, skill and interpersonal skills – the latter are often at a premium in the industry, at least in my opinion. The project moved along at a reasonable pace given the size and all aspect of the built, framing, exterior and interior work were done well and with the appropriate attention to detail. In addition, I can’t recall one instance when I was not able to reach my contact at Woodsmith within 5 minutes or less. In terms of communication, I can’t say enough good things about the company and to me communication in a way equals confidence. In summary, I found the company to be dedicated and committed to all of their trades, which in turn resulted in a successful project execution and an excellent end product.
Project Date: September 2013Project Price: $50,000-$100,000
My husband and I recently hired Chris/Woodsmith construction to renovate several aspects of our newly purchased home. Right away we clicked with Chris and felt at ease and confident hiring him. He was great about providing a full cost estimate and really worked hard with us to come in line with our budget restrictions all while not compromising on quality. Over the course of 3 months he did a lot to the house including 2 bathroom remodels, Fireplace facade, stairwell railing remodel, refinishing all hardwood floors, electrical work, Built in cabinets etc… There was a lot to be done on the house and no matter how big or small the job Chris and his team were professional and amazing. I am a very design oriented person and was super happy that Chris was totally open to listening to all my ideas and truly turned this house into our dream home! He was also really amazing at completing the job in a bit of a crunch when a family emergency put us a on a tight move in timeline. We are so happy with how everything turned out – the house is now exactly what we were looking for!
Project Date: February 2014Project Price: $1,000-$9,999
Chris and his team removed 2 load bearing walls for us. He was friendly and always picked up the phone if I had to call him with any questions. The job took a little longer than anticipated, but Chris explained everything to us as we went along, and ultimately he did a great job and managed to come in under budget (we paid less than his initial quote which was already a good price). Would recommend. The work was neat and tidy and the space looks great now.
Project Date: June 2014Project Price: more than $100,000The workmanship was of an extremely high caliber. The company used very experienced workers, carpenters and trades. Our home came out better than expected. That is because Mr. Woodsmith provided great recommendations in terms of what work should be done and what colours should be used.
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