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If a pipe bursts in your basement or your roof leaks, where do you turn? Find out your neighbours' favourite fixers, where your neighbours like to go out to eat, who they go to for piano lessons, and more. This list is a compendium of listserv posts from four local lists.
House Maintenance
NOTE: THIS PAGE IS AN ARCHIVE -- NOT UPDATED SINE 2015
Welcome to the House Maintenance page...
...where neighbour recommendations, as well as local business people's promotions, give us a guide to some of our neighbourhood businesses.
See also http://homestars.com/on/toronto.
Appliance Repairrecommendation posted September 18, 2012 From: Cheryl Huber Less than a year ago I called Cornel "Ray" Messam to repair our washing machine and dishwasher. He was great about coming out to the house to assess the problems and then make recommendations. He charged for the service call but then deducted that amount from the final invoice. He was very personable, didn't leave a mess, and really went out of his way to come in the evening when it was easiest for us to be home. I'm not sure if I can comment on how affordable given the type of repairs he had to do (replace motors and other major parts), but I would have no hesitation in suggesting you give him a call. I took his contact information from the Dufferin Grove Park website: Cornel "Ray" Messam, 416 410 1317 h, 416 566 9302 c, 416 510 7710 pager messam@sympatico.ca From: Paola Giavedoni Ray is the man!!! Photography recommendation posted February 14, 2012 From: Gretel Meyer Odell For the small home improvements, try Kay Lambert (she lives on Delaney Crescent) From: Danyelle Boily I recommended her too! From: Brendan Powell City Appliance Repair TAS Canada (Toronto Appliance Service Ltd) recommendation posted August 12, 2011 From: Jessica Zippin I know a really great repairman - his name is Mr. Suzuki, hopefully he'll continue to work for a while cause he's definitely beyond retirement age... anyway he's very thorough, honest and reasonable and he lives in the area. I highly recommend him. I believe his number is 416 516 8146 recommendation posted June 21, 2011 From: Kynan Cheng Some refrigerators have a tray underneath (you might need to remove the front grill) that collects condensate from the condenser. I'd try those simple things first before calling the repair guy. From: Robert F. Kennedy I use RHD Appliances, they used to be on College at Sheridan but their lease was too expensive to renew so they moved to the east end but they still service this area. Technician in the field is a part owner of the company. 416-588-7035 ask for Dennis. recommendation posted July 27, 2010 I've used Accurate appliance service 905-509-7118 and have no reservations in recommending him. I got his name a while ago from Bloor Applicances, he's the guy they use From: Cherie Lunau If you are ever in need of having your vacuum repaired I highly recommend A2Z vacuum repair at Brock and Bloor. I spent about an hour taking apart and trying to find out what was wrong with my vacuum today. I'm usually pretty handy with these things and I thought I had checked all the hoses for clogs etc. So I decided to take it in to the closest shop I could find.\\ I was positive it was something wrong with the new filter we bought. But just to be safe I brought the vacuum with me (no small feet with all the construction and no car). I asked the owner to sell me a new filter. He actually refused to do that before checking the vacuum first. I should mention that the filters are $20+ each. He looked at it right away and had it unclogged within seconds. He refused to take any money from me.\\ If he hadn't insisted on checking it in front of me I could have easily been hosed (sorry for the pun) for not only a new filter but he could have kept the vacuum and charged me for some sort of repair fee or something. I wouldn't have known any better. posted March 12, 2010 CAUTION From: Catherine Roberts I would like to let the group know about a very negative experience I recently had with All Canada Refrigeration and Appliance. My dryer recently broke down, so I left messages for All Canada and for Ray Messam at PM Refrigeration - both recommendations obtained from this list. All Canada responded first, and told me that both my heating element and my timer needed replacement, which they proceeded to do. The next day, Ray Messam called back, and apologised for not being able to check messages as he had a new blackberry he was still figuring out. He told me that it was not necessary to replace the timer and that once the heating element was repaired, the timer would begin to work again. Unfortunately, by the time I spoke to him, it was too late. I called All Canada to discuss the matter, and despite the fact that I was very polite, the woman answering the phone denied that the repair had been unnecessary and then hung up on me. When I called her back, she hung up on me again, immediately. Perhaps others have had better experiences, but I certainly would not recommend All Canadian Refrigeration and Appliance. Ray Messam, on the other hand, was very friendly and helpful over the phone. I have not used him so cannot comment on his work, but I will definitely call him again the next time. My two cents, for what it's worth. recommendation posted March 12, 2010 From: Deacon, Elizabeth Hello-I used, for the 2nd time, an appliance repair company that I feel good about recommending. Both times (first was my freezer and 2nd washing machine) they sent someone that same day, and both times were good to their word and returned with the part required at the exact time and day they said they would. Their prices seemed reasonable and we didn’t feel we were being ripped off. > They go by two names :”All Canada Refrigeration and Appliance” 416-704-9930 –we used “Ram” and really liked him And “Strictly Appliance Repair” They also told us about a great place to buy brand name appliances for a much more competitive price than the Future Shop, Sears, Bay etc. it is called “Billa Appliances” and is at St Clair and Victoria Park. I haven’t checked it out myself but he used the example of my Maytag dishwasher at $400.00 versus the standard $600.00 If anyone looks into it, please advise what your findings were. recommendation posted March 12, 2010 From: Paola Giavedoni Ray Messam is fantastic..have used his services many times..!! posted September 30, 2009 recommendation From: Deacon, Elizabeth Hello-I used, for the 2nd time, an appliance repair company that I feel good about recommending. Both times (first was my freezer and 2nd washing machine) they sent someone that same day, and both times were good to their word and returned with the part required at the exact time and day they said they would. Their prices seemed reasonable and we didn’t feel we were being ripped off. They go by two names :”All Canada Refrigeration and Appliance” 416-704-9930 –we used “Ram” and really liked him And “Strictly Appliance Repair” They also told us about a great place to buy brand name appliances for a much more competitive price than the Future Shop, Sears, Bay etc. it is called “Billa Appliances” and is at St Clair and Victoria Park. I haven’t checked it out myself but he used the example of my Maytag dishwasher at $400.00 versus the standard $600.00 If anyone looks into it, please advise what your findings were. recommendation posted September 10, 2009 From: Pat Rayman recommendation posted September 10, 2009 From: Paola Giavedoni posted May 25, 2008 Changing To An Electric Water HeaterFrom: Emily
recommendation posted September 19, 2004 From: "Arthur Irwin" To: dufferingrovefriends@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [dufferingrovefriends] Appliance Repairperson We have a fabulous appliance repair guy. We have been using him for many years. He is very reliable and reasonable. His name is Frank and his company is Romco Appliance Repair 416-633-2531 (you have to have him paged from this number). Arthur Irwin recommendation posted September 20, 2004 On Wed, 1 Sep 2004 10:34:48 -0400 "Alan Shisko" wrote: This might not be for you, but why not repair it yourself? Go to this web forum... ... and post your problem. The moderator (Jeff) will get back to you in no time with suggestions, manuals, diagrams, everything you need to fix it yourself. Don't be intimidated! Many repairs are so easy you wouldn't believe it! This forum has been one of the most valuable resources I've found on the internet: I've saved hundreds and hundreds of dollars doing it myself. Allan recommendation posted January 23, 2008 Best guy is Frank at Romco Appliance. 416-633-2531. Can fix anything. Doesn't overcharge. Always shows up when he says he's going to. Think I got him from this listserve to begin with. recommendation posted January 25, 2008 From: Charlotte Elder PM Refrigeration and Appliances repair and installation to all gas and electric stoves, dryers, dishwashers, washers, fridges and air conditioners. Ray Messam Electriciansrecommendation posted January 5, 2012 From: Bruce posted January 10, 2012 From: Brenda You should call the store and ask his wife , who runs it, to have Ken call you. He is generally very busy but very reasonable. 416- 535-4564 From: Cheryl Huber\\ I highly recommend Ken Lam who works out of Bastone Home Hardware at Dufferin and Hallam. His number is 416.720.6815. I've had Ken do a number of jobs around our house and he has always been very professional as well as affordable. From: Colette Snyder recommendation posted October 07, 2011 From: Gretel Meyer Odell Angelo Garcia lives on Delaney Cr. (not sure if he still does...) he did electrical work for us a few years ago and we were very happy - this is the info I have for him. 416-723-0166 posted May 13, 2011 recommendation From: Michele The electricians I use are PowerHouse. They're very reasonable, prompt and efficient. 416-896-2420. Good luck! From: Ayal Dinne Robert Kennedy is a local guy who did some basic work at our place. He is nice, honest, and does a good job. His email is rfkennedy@gmail.com recommendation posted January 08, 2011 From: Cheryl Huber Bastone Home Hardware Store: 416-535-4564 recommendation posted October 27, 2010 From: Claudio Tapia recommendation posted August 04, 2009 From:Michelle 416-716-5645 recommendation posted July 28, 2009 From: Brenda Kamino Master electrician, reasonable and fair. Very busy, though, because he is so reasonable. May take a while for him to fit you in. The store's number is 416-535-4564. His wife will give you his cell. recommendation posted July 28, 2009 From:Cheryl Huber From:Marcia Cunningham recommendation posted April 10, 2009 From: Gretel recommendation posted December 03, 2008 From: Rosary recommendation posted December 02, 2008 From: Cheryl Ken Lam, Electrical Contractors, Bastone Hardware, 1212 Dufferin Street Toronto, ON, tel: 416-720-6815 recommendation posted September 23, 2008 From: Cheryl Huber recommendation posted September 17, 2008 From: Catherine Roberts recommendation posted September 17, 2008 From: Bernard recommendation posted May 02, 2007 For electric I recommend Tesla Electric on Bathurst. I've found them very helpful and friendly. They are also fire alarm and extinguisher experts - came over and tested our alarms for no charge after a small oven
fire failed to set them off! Very reassuring. recommendation posted October 31, 2006 Posted by: "Alan Shisko" We had Angelo Georgiou in to do some electrical work for us recently, and were very pleased with the service we received. We needed to send a new line to our shed, plus another external outlet, along with some miscellaneous small electrical jobs around the house. He arrived promptly, finished the job when he said he would, cleaned everything up nicely and stuck to his quote. He's a commercial electrician who moonlights, and appears to really know his stuff. Angelo: 416-998-4521 Regards, Alan recommendation posted January 14, 2005 Yves and I would like to highly recommend Gordon Burke as an Electrician. He is an honest and enthusiastic trouble shooter, very tenacious and friendly. The inspector who visited our house was specially impressed by his careful work! You can contact him through his company HUB ELECTRIC @ 416-530-1209. (He is local too!) Gillian Green recommendation posted November 20, 2004 Here is a good electrician: Her name is Rosarii Lannon and her company is Electro Dame. She is a master electrician and does everything from whole house re-wires to smaller jobs (she is also a really nice person!). She lives in the area and I highly recommend her. You can reach Rosarii at 416-255-5415 Arthur Irwin recommendation posted November 20, 2004 Try Tony Vella at 416-509-3035. Kate Fireplace Maintenancerecommendation posted November 28, 2007 It’s hard to “judge” a chimney sweep isn’t it? We’ve been very pleased with JOHN’S CHIMNEY SERVICE… John 416-4454329. [He’s done all 20 Hepbourne Hall chimneys for four years.] We’ve tried others and found that he was far superior in both service response and consistency. Theresa Sears & David Switzer recommendation posted September 20, 2004 Ted England 08/09/04 9:07 AM I am on my fifth fireplace, first two I rebuilt myself and they work poorly, I then started calling Tom Mc Allister 374-4499, he rebuilds completely. The exterior mantle and restoration usually is done separately. What kind of fireplace do you have, sometimes it is a blocked chimney because there is a nest or brick lodged in there, check that first. Ted recommendation posted September 20, 2004 From: "Cate Cochran" Foundationsbasement clay pipes recommendation posted November 11, 2008 From: Chris Greene recommendation posted November 11, 2008 From: Sheila Pin posted July 21, 2008 Tree lover in need of help with problem treesFrom: Nancy Winsor Though I really don't like the idea of cutting down trees and I love the shade, an arborist came by and said all 13 trees can be removed without a permit since the diameter of each tree is 30'' or less. What are my neighbour's legal and financial responsibilities and/or obligations? Mine? I would welcome any suggestions/advice. recommendation posted December 4, 2007 Our basement was leaking right after we moved in and we used Wet Basement Systems to fix it. I don't know if they do assessments to foundations but you could call and ask for Godfrey at 1 800 853 3222. And if your basement is leaking, I highly recommend them. The quote was half what another company quoted us, he was in and out in one day, and left our house clean and dry. And it's still dry a year later. Molly Furnace Maintenanceposted June 21, 2011 recommendation From: Sarah C. wonderful wonderful both furnace and AC guy- called shane (a licensed technician) at CJK HVAC (Heating and AC)- phone number cell 647-298-6770 tell him that Sarah C. recommended him. he is a whiz (former enbridge employee and really expert) and also excellent, fast customer service. does all my furnace and Air con tune ups and cleaning and its always worth the money to keep it maintained/tuned up. recommendation posted April 20, 2011 From: Megan Gary @ Tan Heating & Cooling 416-249-2666 recommendation posted January 12, 2010 From: John Botelho These guys are great and very trustworthy price is very competitive recommendation posted November 02, 2008 From: Paola Giavedoni recommendation posted November 05, 2008 From: Jutta Mason recommendation posted November 05, 2008 From: Sarah RubensteinSipco switched ours from oil to gas. recommendation posted September 20, 2004 From: Anrea Stauber-Nichols To: dufferingrovefriends@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, August 16, 2004 11:33 AM Subject: Re: [dufferingrovefriends] furnace maintenance Hi, we used World of Comfort, Melvyn Ing, (416-598-4115, 308 Dundas St. W.) is a great person to deal with. I had 5 quotes on our project. Melvyn came up with the best solution. He was not the cheapest, but also not the most expansive. The work was executed with precision and no frustration on our part. Andrea F. Stauber. recommendation posted October 19, 2004 From: Sheila Pin Sent: Monday, October 18, 2004 4:29 PM Subject: Re: [dufferingrovefriends] furnace person Before you do anything with your furnace or heating system, check out the Energy Efficiency Canada website. The feds have a program right now that if you pay about $200 for an energy efficiency inspector to look for ways for you to save energy, the gov't will reimburse you up to $3000 for any of the reccomended changes you make. You have 18 months from the date of the inspection to make the changes. 'Otherwise', we replaced our furnace a few years ago (before I knew about the above program) and Dupont Heating and Air Conditioning. The phone number is 416 532-2859. did it. I got three quotes and then ran them by a family friend in another city who then reccomended I go with Dupont. My neighbours used them as well and were pleased. Sheila recommendation posted January 13, 2008 From: Erella Ganon To: dufferingrovefriends@yahoogroups.com Sent: Fri, 11 Jan 2008 15:33:09 Subject: [dufferingrovefriends] Listserv -furnace recommendation I was pretty freaked yesterday learning that I was furnace-less facing a winter weekend. I am thrilled with the quick work of members of this list. World of Comfort was recommended to me and after getting 3 quotes I went with them. The salesman, Brian was knowledgeable, very helpful and able to work in a hurry, around the peculiarities of my crazy old house. He also sent me this link to this organization that recommends energy auditors. Energy Efficiency Canada website I am going with green tech after talking with a few of them. http://greentechservices.ca/incentives.html These guys know about the substantial government incentives and will FILL OUT THE FORMS for you even though their price was only $25 more than the cheapest one.Got to love that! Thought I would give you an update.
Landscapingrecommendation posted October 31, 2009 From: Janis I do know any amazing structural engineer who just did the plans for underpinning my house. His name is Ken Davis and he has a web site you can look at. If you need any more info you can contact me at klargrrl@sympatico.ca recommendation posted August 2nd, 2007 I highly recommend Mike Dampf of Personal Gardens. He'll work with you on a plan that suits your needs and wants and talk budget later (possibly in stages over more than one year), instead of limiting the job to the immediate budget. I've often heard people say that it's the first question they get from a contractor so Mike gets you to think outside of the box. Give him a call at 416-778-4764, or info@personalgardens.com Good luck! Genevieve
Natural GasCAUTION posted October 23, 2009 Mike the Gas Man returned my first phone call, saying he'd soon be in touch, and over a period of what I guess was at least a couple of weeks, did not call back despite my at least three follow up calls trying to get him to make that promised next call so I could get an estimate for some work I needed (still need) to get done before winter. Herschel Stroyman recommendation posted May 1st, 2007 I'd recommend Mike the Gas Man, 416-247-9396. We had gas lines put in to turn the electric stoves to gas. Cynthia
Handymanrecommendation posted September 18, 2012 From: Danyelle Boily I know a great local handywoman who fits that description. Here is her website: www.kaylambert.ca Feel free to pass it on to your friend. Regards, From: Suzanne Manvell I wouls also recommend the father and son team that did all of my decking and fence work Justin and son Richard and not too far away Their number is 416-827-5639 From: Carolynne Another option for you: www.oddjobsgeoff.com/home.html recommendation posted June 21, 2011 From: Risa Rubin I'm glad to write this note on behalf on my Handyman Service. He sais that he'd be glad to look over any work you need to have done. My Husband and I used A&M Masterbuilders. The foreman and his team did a bathroom and kitchen renovation for us, and installed a new boiler. The company and foreman were honest, reliable, professional, had terrific customer relations skills and was reasonably-priced. I'd highly recommend them for any handyman work. They also does great brick/stone work and exterior handyman things as well. They gave me an estimate, which included the overall price based on the elements they were going to do and the estimated number of days it would take to do, but they did the work in a shorter amount of time than what was projected: posted May 15, 2011 recommendation From: Jean Rajotte Terry Silverman, cell: 416 732 2504, home: 416 532 3504 Did superb work for 2 bathrooms. One was superficial, the other was a deep renovation. Friendly, expertly, affordable. recommendation posted April 13, 2010 From: David Shore I've been using Seyed Zaker for years. We've become good friends. He's very honest and always does a great job. Tell him that I gave you his number. You can page him at 416-468-0226. From: Regina Soares Try this guy. He is detailed, honest and reasonable. Regal renovations. His name is Euclid and his number is 647-864-7366 From: Diana Ballon We have also used Euclid for a few different things - smallish ones, and now a basement reno. He is very good, very calm, very patient with us! Good luck. recommendation posted June 25, 2009 From: Tyler Clark Burke posted March 28, 2009 recommendation From: Anne posted March 28, 2009 recommendation From: Elizabeth recommendation posted November 21, 2008 From: Diana Ballon recommendation posted September 24, 2008 From: Pat Rayman recommendation posted April 05, 2008 I'm partial to my father-in -law, Bryan Smith. He is a carpenter/handyman
with very good rates. He is responsible for the built in porch at 488
Gladstone and I believe he has done a few things around the 'hood for
various people. He can be reached at 416-530-4965. recommendation posted October 25, 2005 Charlie Shillolo is a carpenter and a terrific handyman. A regular Charlie of All-Trades! From my experience, Charlie was really clean while doing his work, cleaned up the best he could when he was done, and was really great with my two cats who are incredibly nosy and underfoot. He also made sure that the cats didn't sneak out during the many times that he had to go in and out the door. Charlie has a six year old son and a four year old daughter, so he's great with kids as well. He took the time to explain what he was doing and answer several questions from my eight year old daughter. A really nice guy! His number is 647 866 5613 or email : solidsolutionreno@gmail.com Helena Soukup
Home Repairrecommendation posted February 17, 2013 From: M.U. You will be interested to know that I did find a garage door repair man: reliable, good and reasonably priced. Instead of offering (like all others) to replace the door, the motor or both, Pat just fixed the old door in under half hour. I am happy to recommend Pat, his cell phone is 416 565 5296. promotion posted October 30, 2012 "Doctor Concrete" company: 20 years of experience as a concrete contractor in both the residential and commercial sectors. We can start any concrete project, frame, pour and finish. We can repair existing foundations, walls, walkways, driveways, basements and garages. We can knock down and remove all waste. We can add Backwater Valve Systems to older homes and buildings. Just tell u what you need and we can do it
416 513 1578 office recommendation posted February 17, 2012 From: Danyelle Boily I shopped around and found Young &Young surveying to be reasonably priced. I've used them myself and recommended them to clients. recommendation posted January 10, 2012 From: Kate recommendation posted October 07, 2011 From: Risa Rubin I'm glad to write this note on behalf of my Renovation Service Contractor. He sais that he'd be glad to look over any work you need to have done. My Husband and I used A&M Masterbuilders. The foreman and his team did a bathroom and kitchen renovation for us. The company and foreman were honest, reliable, professional, had terrific customer relations skills and was reasonably-priced. I'd highly recommend them for this and any otherhandyman work. They also do great brick/stone work, waterproofing work, boiler installations and exterior handyman things as well. They gave me an estimate, which included the overall price based on the elements they were going to do and the estimated number of days it would take to do, but they did the work in a shorter amount of time than what was projected. If you contact me, I'd be glad to forward you pictures of the renovation. Company Information: Owner: Howard Cooper, recommendation posted August 12, 2011 From: Danyelle Our very own Kay Lambert in Brockton Village does. Check out her website www.kaylambert.ca recommendation posted April 20, 2011 From:Sara T.S. services - 416-822-4427 has done lots of work for me, including my basement, and has done work in the neighbourhood as well. He is fast, honest, thorough and does a great job. From: N Henry You will never go wrong with Nuncio Zaccaglino. He lives in the neighbourhood. He is professional and a decent person I would leave my keys with. 416 532 8474 posted March 11, 2011 recommendation From: Jean Rajotte cell: 416 732 2504 From: Kate Andrew posted March 11, 2011 recommendation Drywall and vent/ducting specialists From: Robert F. Kennedy I strongly recommend Fred Cohen for general construction work. He can be reached at (416) 992-5617. posted March 11, 2011 recommendation we have water coming into our basement apartment (one corner) and its a bit more than something towels can deal with. Can anyone recommend someone to help us fix this exterior-sealing problem, and perhaps deal with re-routing the water so that it does not pool on the concrete? posted March 11, 2011 From: Harvey Cowan I am an architect living on St. Clarens. I have an excellent contractor who has done this type of work for me. Please call Frank Perri at 416 999 6042. posted November 27, 2010 Does anybody have any experience with tree roots permeating the clay pipes under the basement floor and not allowing water to exit from the drain? Sfar wrote: the other problem may be the braking of the clay pipe by the roots. if the tree is on city property( iie front yard) you may be able to get the city to fix the problem- i think they have a flood program to deal with this ( tell them your basement is back flooded From: Liz Bohnen Unfortunately you're right, it is an expensive problem to fix. My repairs involved digging up the multiple clay pipes at the front of my house and under the basement and replacing them with plastic pipes. Absolute has special ultrasound type equipment that tells them where the tree roots are in the pipes, so they know where to dig. But do contact the City as they have a reimbursement program. My question is, why did the City plant a maple tree on my very little front lawn, knowing that the roots would ultimately cause problems? posted August 29, 2010 From: Laura I booked an appointment for the water meter installation that was presented as a very simple process. In order to access our main shut off, he had to cut a bigger hole. But he did offer a cover for that, which I will have to paint, but whatever. In doing his work, the guy snapped a pipe that got lost in our wall. He cut two holes in a brand new perfect wall, and still hasn't found the pipe. His manager is on the way now, but they are saying that Neptune, under contract to the city, is not responsible for patching my wall. They will fix the plumbing, if they can get to it, but I'm annoyed that I now will have to find someone to patch and repaint the wall that was perfect and brand new 3 weeks ago. They're blaming it on old pipes being fragile. I think the city should send someone to put my wall back the way it was, or Neptune should.... no? Has anyone else had problems with this water meter installation program? Is this a "complain to your MP" kid of thing? Any advice would be appreciated. This has turned into a total pain! posted July 28, 2010 recommendation From:Harvey Cowan I am an architect living on St. Clarens at Dupont for the last 20 years ( the same building as Dyan Marie ). I have a wonderful small contractor who would be perfect for your project, totally reputable, reasonably priced, experienced and dependable. His name is Frank Perri, 416 999 6042 and I am copying him on this email. Please let me know if you need any more info. recommendation posted July 09, 2010 From: Anne Shaddick I know of just the person for you David Savoie, who own Green Home Design and Renovations and he lives in the hood. David can be reached at 416 655-5006 or you can email him at: david@eco-innovations.ca recommendation posted June 12, 2010 From: Paola Giavedoni They busted out our basement drain and repaired the cement floor..great service. recommendation posted April 20, 2010 From: Regina Soares Euclid Morais from regal renovations is the guy i would recommend. I dealt with renos many times and would never hire anyone else. He is precise.detailed.honest.reliable and reasonable From: N Henry I would highly recommend Nuncio Zaccaglino 532 8474. He has lived on my street more than 20 years and has done professional work for everybody here. recommendation posted April 13, 2010 From: Brandy Light-Davis I would highly recommend Leslie Endes of Endes design. http://www.endesdesign.com/, http://homestars.com/companies/2773358-endes-design?show_review=42042 recommendation posted November 24, 2009 From: Regina Soares recommendation posted May 22, 2009 From: Suzanne Manvell He does plumbing, drywall, taking down walls, putting up reinforced walls, has an electrician to do the elctrical, in effect does everything and oversees his men. If anyone has a project pending, please give me a call. 416-768-3858 recommendation posted April 30, 2009 From: Annabel recommendation posted April 17, 2009 From: Megan and Eduardo posted April 5, 2009 recommendation From: Elizabeth If you want to call him, his name is Bruce 416-805-6058 posted March 10, 2009 recommendation From: Kate McQuiggan posted May 15, 2008 recommendation From Lisa Their number is 416-425-8055. recommendation posted April 05, 2008 Paul Horrigan is a guy for reno work – an artist and carpenter ( not roofer) but experienced with sky lights etc. He’s honest-and like to work with owners to keep costs down ( ie for people willing to do part of the work them selves etc) – can reach him at paulhorrigan@sympatico.ca He’s also good at inspections looking for major energy leaks- not sure about the environmental audit. recommendation posted April 05, 2008 Anthony Smith is a local contractor who does really great renos. You
can reach him at artisans@bellnet.ca. recommendation posted April 05, 2008 Here's an intro to Paul Davies a fab guy. Paul is a general
contractor. His tele number is 416.254.2351. CAUTION posted January 31, 2008 I called Godfrey to look at our basement. he came by and looked, said he needed to check the outside and would be back the next day. We haven't heard from him since. Just wondering if there are any other recommendations out there? Michelle recommendation posted January 29, 2008 From: Molly recommendation posted December 9, 2007 Try Tom at Antiqa renovations, 416-882-9095. I was operations manager for an apartment complex, and he did an excellent job at re-doing bathrooms (his company handles houses as well). He's an all around great guy, and has tilers, painters, and light plumbers. He has good contacts with a plumber if you need to do signifcant re-piping. Justin recommendation posted June 22, 2007 My neighbours had bad flooding in their basement last winter and they had to get work done right away (basement apartment). In the bitter cold, a company called "Mud Monkeys" came and did the work, hand-digging out from the back wall (through the frost line!), laying weeping tile, refilling, carting all the mud by wheelbarrow-loads to their truck in front. My neighbours said they got the name from friends who had recommended the company, and in this case also they did excellent work. The contact name is Darby Braun, at 416 891-8884 (cell) or 905 697-1937. recommendation posted February 19, 2007 Anthony Smith (a parent at the park), his rates are quite reasonable, as far as I know. Several people who go to the park have used his services, and from what I've heard he is very reliable and hard-working, and he produces excellent results. -John
Home Staging and Decorationupholsterer recommendation posted July 12, 2012 From: Danyelle Boily My friend Michelle works at Plush and Plump with the owner Erin. I know Michelle does beautiful work, but check out their website: http://plushnplump.com/ From: Suzanne Manvell Here is another local upholsterer to add to the list of recommendations, Maggie Ren on Queen Street West, just a few doors west of Designers Fabrics is great. I have all my draperies made there, and often see chairs being upholstered. She is very reasonable and I will be bringing her a couple of dining chairs soon. Maggie Ren – 416-801-8898 We have a lot of good tradespeople in and around our little neighbourhood. It is wonderful to have the choice to find the right fit for you. Happy sprucing up and re-doing your nest – spring is such a perfect time for freshening things up. From: Cherie Marina's Interior Design and Decor Terminal at 1554 Dundas St. West also offers reupholstering. They are most known for selling paint. I've heard of several people referring to it as the "paint store". They are on the north west corner of Dundas and Sheridan. I hope this is helpful. The website is listed below. www.decorterminal.com From: Genevieve A friend of mine raved about her experience with Designer Sewing on Queen, between Brock and O'Hara. Very affordable too. promotion posted February 2, 2006  Harvey Winks Hello, my name is Harvey and along with my wife, Suzanne, and our two kids we have lived in the neighbourhood for ten years and we continue to enjoy all that Dufferin Grove Park offers. My company, Home Vision, offers Home Staging and Interior Decoration services. For those that don't know what Home Staging is, it's the preparation and decoration of a property for resale on the real estate market, to attract the largest number of prospective buyers and maximize the potential for the best return for the property. My services are reasonably priced and scalable to any budget, and I always strive to minimize costs by using and showing what you already own to the best advantage. I also offer interior decoration services including colour consultations, room makeovers and assistance choosing finishes, furnishings and accessories. For a free estimate please call Harvey at: Home Vision Home Staging, Organizing & Interior Decoration T: 416. 537. 7404 C: 416. 704. 4777 homevision@rogers.com House Painting - Interiorrecommendation posted January 17, 2011 From: Sharon Zikman and Michael Levine We would highly recommend Lionel Tissot of Boreal Painting 416-897-4883. Many in the community may be familiar with his bright green van. Lionel has worked on two of our homes. He painted and did minor repairs on the exterior of our former house and he painted and plastered the entire interior of our current house. Lionel is a skilled painter, who is reliable and reasonably priced. His great attention to detail leads to fine craftsmanship. He is very personable and works well with the other trades. He was on time and on budget. We look forward to hiring him to paint the exterior of our house this spring. recommendation posted November 20, 2010 From: Kathleen Mullen House Painter Sandy painted my house. She is an excellent painter. Clean, efficient and reasonable. She also does colour consultations! posted February 03, 2010 recommendation Winston last year painted my whole house for a very reasonable price. And he did an excellent job! He's on time and very clean/organized and good to deal with - he had been a referral from a friend. His contact info. is Winston Dennie cell 647-400-8746 posted February 01, 2010 recommendation From: Deacon, Elizabeth I have a good referral for you. I have also recommended him to others who have been quite pleased: Joe 416-358-9459 From: Pat Rayman Domenic at 416-624-8550 is a really good and efficient painter. He is a find. posted May 15, 2009 recommendation From: Andrea Kuzmich posted January 15, 2009 recommendation From: Sheila p posted January 15, 2009 recommendation From: Pat Rayman recommendation posted April 05, 2008 I would highly recommend *Lana Tetlock* as an interior house painter.
She worked on 2 projects for us last year and was reliable, hard-working
and a pleasure to have around. She works quickly and neatly and, being
an artist, was able to advise us on some difficult colour decisions. Her
skills include small plaster repairs, wallpapering and any kind of
special wall finishes including murals etc. Call her at *416-766-9864*. recommendation posted March 18, 2008 From: Jane Brooks recommendation posted March 18, 2008 Karen Nordquist at 416-912-6017 or zizzle@sympatico.ca. We had new wood-framed windows installed last year and they were badly painted by the contractor. When the window manufacturer came to do an adjustment on the windows he remarked, "shame you spent so much on beautiful windows and the painter wrecked them". He then gave me Karen's name - who paints the windows in the manufacturer's showroom. Karen was incredibly detail-oriented and careful. Her price was reasonable and work was top-notched. I highly reccomend her and will be using her again in the future. recommendation posted January 12, 2007 John Beaderski 416-530-4043 is an excellent painter. I highly recommend him, and he lives right in the neighbourhood. Nancy Winsor recommendation posted January 12, 2007 Hi, I would recommened Allen Fenton who did some work for a few years back. His number is 416 483-8369. Anne Shaddick recommendation posted March 14, 2006 After I sent you the suggestion to put out your request to the list serve, I was visiting my friend Mary Jane and admiring her house and I asked her who did the beautiful paint job. She gave me the name: Cass Clark. I talked to Cass on the phone and she told me she's been painting rooms for 25 years. Mary Jane says she was great (and it shows). Plus she seems to have a sense of humour, which is always nice. Cass's number is (416) 208-3181. She doesn't do e-mail. So now we'll post that info on the web but I just wanted to let you know as well. best, Jutta Mason promotion posted April 13, 2008 My name is Mark Stafford and I have lived with my family in the Dufferin Grove neighborhood for more than 15yrs. I first posted my painting/plastering skills in on Friends of Dufferin Grove 2004. Since then I have enjoyed meeting and helping with many house projects in the area. I have several references and I am reliable and knowledgeable to tackle your finishing needs. They include: Plastering over Stucco Finishes (ceilings), fixing holes in plaster (damage, crack and separation repair, electrical plaster renovation), and finishing. I have over 25 years of experience. Please feel free to call or email with your inquiries. Thank you for your consideration. birdstafford@sympatico.ca, recommendation posted January 16, 2005 We just had in Mark Stafford, who lives in the neighbourhood, to paint, plaster and touch up the interior of our house, which was in pretty bad shape. He is a professional film set painter, and his experience shows. He can quickly size up what needs to be done, and do it very well. And his rates are very reasonable. The house looks great now, and we would recommend him very highly to anyone. He can be reached at 416-533-3454. Max Wallace Plastererrecommendation posted July 31, 2009 From: Philip Share recommendation posted July 30, 2009 From: Eric Klaver Did our place. Respectful, fast and relatively inexpensive. Please let him know that Eric form 373 Perth recommended him if you contact him. From: Scott A Wolfe Garden/ Landscape Designerposted October 11, 2014 recommendation I know a terrific gardener/cleaner (a singer/videographer the rest of the time). Meg Uremovitch has helped make our place much more pleasing than it was before she came. She's helped us out at the park too. She's looking for a bit more work. I asked her to put together a few sentences on the kinds of work she likes to do: Here's what she wrote: I am a local musician/artist looking to supplement my income by helping REAL people out around their homes...Whether it be cleaning top to bottom or only doing windows, organizing closets or boxes of receipts, outdoor work including garden maintenance, assisted landscaping, lawn mowing, snow shovelling...I am up for anything. I have many years experience in this kind of work and can provide multiple references. Email: us.girlss@gmail.com recommendation posted October 11, 2009 From: Adrienne Trent Yes, my friend Koreann does this gardening and cleaning service, she lives around Bloor and Ossington! Here is her email address: korychey@sympatico.ca From: Rob Cummins Hardwood floor refinishingrecommendation posted March 11, 2011 From: Robert F. Kennedy His phone # is +1 (416) 277-6026. recommendation posted December 27, 2009 From: Robert Kennedy I recommend Brian +1 (416) 277-6026, he does a good job at a reasonable price. I been using him for years. |
House Painting - Exteriorrecommendation posted September 13, 2010 From: Peter Zimmerman We've used Jill Rochon. She's a real pro with reasonable pricing. She's at (416) 893-9834. recommendation posted January 05, 2010 From: Deacon, Elizabeth We recommended Joe at 416-240-9238 to someone else on the list not long ago and I believe they were quite satisfied. His prices are very reasonable and has excellent workmanship and very reliable. From: Jag Bhathal I can recommend an excellent painter. He painted my house last Spring and did an amazing job. And he is trustworthy, reliable and very organized. His price is absolutely reasonable. His name is Winston Dennie of True Colors. His tel. # is 647-400-8746. recommendation posted November 05, 2009 From: Cynthia They are great. recommendation posted October 14, 2009 From: Silvie Straight Up Painting - Corey McLean 416-529-3056. recommendation posted October 14, 2009 From: Deacon, Elizabeth Hi there..we have used a great guy, as have some of our friends. His name is JOE. He is very reliable, clean and resonable. Tell him Liz and Bruce referred you. 416 240 9238 recommendation posted October 06, 2008 From Pat Rayman recommendation posted October 06, 2008 From: Sheila Pin recommendation posted October 06, 2008 From: Cynthia Phone is 416-480-0414. recommendation posted May 7, 2007 hi there,,my friend Steve has a company called Riverview,,he did my mom's house and does excellent work, 416 806 8969,you wont be disappointed. James recommendation posted May 7, 2007 We used Platinum Professional Painters Inc. We had a good experience. The contact's name is Elvis and his number is (416) 873-9747 Good luck! Insulationrecommendation posted October 13, 2009 From: Michelle Green Neighbours 21 is hosting an eco fair on November 1, 1-4pm at the Wychwood Barns, where there will be several contractors that have been used by that community. It will be an excellent place to talk to insulation contractors. See http://www.gn21.ca for more info. recommendation posted October 13, 2009 From:Silvie Hi Ian we used Jerry's Insulation and used Icynene what an amazing difference. Goggle it, it's worth investigating. We had cellulose before we redid our 3rd floor and found it was mostly piled in the dormers not really doing much of anything. The great thing about Icynene is that it fills between the studs. Basically it an expanding foam. What they do is drill 1" holes up and down the walls and blow in the foam which expands to fill the cavity. You will have to repaint but they do fill the holes. We had an exterior bedroom wall done as well which was so cold that a wet cloth left on the floor was frozen by morning. This was after the new windows in. Once the icynene went it I can know comfortable be in my bedroom on a cold winter night not shivering my ass off under the covers. Hope that helps. recommendation posted October 11, 2009 From: Marcia We used greensaver. From:Silvie Hi Ian we used Jerry's Insulation and used Icynene what an amazing difference. Goggle it, it's worth investigating. We had cellulose before we redid our 3rd floor and found it was mostly piled in the dormers not really doing much of anything. The great thing about Icynene is that it fills between the studs. Basically it an expanding foam. What they do is drill 1" holes up and down the walls and blow in the foam which expands to fill the cavity. You will have to repaint but they do fill the holes. We had an exterior bedroom wall done as well which was so cold that a wet cloth left on the floor was frozen by morning. This was after the new windows in. Once the icynene went it I can know comfortable be in my bedroom on a cold winter night not shivering my ass off under the covers. Hope that helps. recommendation posted January 22, 2009 From: Rachael Frankford recommendation posted August 7, 2005 I would reccomend that you look into a product called 'icynene pour-fill' The process involves drilling a +/- 2" hole at the top of each stud cavity and they 'pour' an expanding foam which has the ability to expand (at a low pressure) to 100 times it's volume finding every crack to fill without bowing out your plaster walls. It's the only green foam insulation product that I have come across and its off gassing is extremely low. The website has a link to find recommended installers. The installation would take probably one day + time for patching up the holes and painting. You may also want to get a report from an inspection company which will rate your house for efficiency and you may be able to get a federal grant as part of your work. Yves Bonnardeaux recommendation posted August 7, 2005 I had an inspector come and do just that. He was very thorough and helpful. They do a blow-through on your home to see where the leaks are etc. etc. I used Pro Home and Building Inspections 416-725-1029. You get 18 months to complete the work the inspector suggests and then can apply for a rebate. Check out the nrcan website: sheila pin
Plumbersrecommendation posted April 23, 2014 From Jutta Mason: We recently had a failed DIY attempt to unplug our own bathroom sink, and our daughter told us she's had very good plumber experiences with Tony O'Donnell and Sons. We called them, Ben O'Donnell came out the same afternoon, worked for an hour to fix a nasty blockage, had to replace part of the pipe, and charged us $160, all in. Very reasonable, very friendly, very competent. Their phone number is 647 379 0661, and their email is tonyodplumbing@aol.com recommendation posted September 18, 2012 From: Danyelle Boily I have used Matthew Trace before and he was honest and reasonably priced. I hope he's available today for you! Mathew Trace: 416-567-4535 recommendation posted February 17, 2012 From: Danyelle Boily I've used Matthew Trace 416-567-4535 when our vent pipe burst behind the kitchen wall at Christmas (not fun) and he was professional, showed up on time, honest and he even cleaned up after himself when the job was done. His prices were reasonable. I've recommended him to many clients since. ps. He said that if I recommended him, to mention it and he'll give you 10% off. recommendation posted August 12, 2011 From: Therese Dave May - Royal Flush Renovations Dave was prompt, professional, courteous and honest. He gives a free estimate and is priced a lot less than the larger plumbing companies. He even has a $25 discount on his website for new customers. I'd highly recommend him. posted April 20, 2011 recommendation From: Carina For drains, I once had a total stoppage problem and I wholeheartedly recommend Mayday. (Review on home stars - http://homestars.com/companies/215876-mayday-drain-services?service_area=1827914) He cleared our drain, and though he warned me that it might need replacement at some point, he agreed that if just clearing it out every 5-10 years works, then that's all I'd need. Very reasonable price - I can't recall but it was either $90 or $110 or something like that. Not even up to $150 I think. I'd recommend him! Good luck! from: Robert F. Kennedy I can recommend Kia of Kia plumbing. His phone # is +1 (416) 604-3274. recommendation posted June 12, 2010 From: Deacon, Elizabeth This is his home number which isn’t the best way to get a hold of him but I can’t locate his cell number off hand. From: Michelle Webb From: Regina Soares recommendation posted January 06, 2010 Tino and his son, who own Crown plumbing at 114 Margaretta St. 416 258 5595 They have both done many jobs for us and are excellent! recommendation posted January 05, 2010 From: Shawn Whitney We have used Priority Plumbing on a couple of different occasions and found them to be very good, friendly, and efficient. Thought it's always expensive. Their website is: http://www.plumbertoronto.com/plumbers/2460/Priority%20Plumbing/index.html recommendation posted September 23, 2009 From: Silvie We found Chris on the list and he was great and no he won't rip you off. Chris Holland 416-994-5162 From: Jennifer Stein I have always had really good service from Drainworks: http://www.drainworks.com/ 416-486-0000 They are really professional and have never tried to overcharge for unnecessary work. recommendation posted July 30, 2009 From: Silvie recommendation posted June 19, 2009 I would also suggest a plumber to snake it. Request a camera inspection after to avoid future problems... I would recomend you call Silverio.. Santos Water Service & Drain recommendation posted April 27, 2009 From: Elizabeth Santos Water Service and Drain Silverio 416 824 3352 website: https://santoswater.com/ Also Mud Monkeys 416-891-8884 Darby recommendation posted October 06, 2008 From: Pat Rayman posted April 05, 2008 recommendation I recommend Absolute Draining, 416-252-5557, if it's a drain issue. I had drain problems because of tree roots and they were very knowledgeable and efficient. posted April 05, 2008 recommendation Niagara drains have been working on my house and their prices are the best from my research. recommendation posted December 9, 2007 I just had a plumbing problem, badly leaking pipe in th bathroom. I called a few people on the list server and left messages, no replies.... But I did get hold of someone at Candu on College 535-5827 late yesterday afternoon, and he came this morning at 9:00! Anne recommendation posted December 3, 2007 I would recommend Roto Rooter though as I've used them twice now and one was a fairly major job and I was very pleased with the work they did. Liz recommendation posted November 19, 2007 I find the best bet is to join the Home Service club. It costs about $60 a year and they refer you to people. We had a basement flood on a weekend evening and they had someone there (All Canadian Drains) within an hour. You pay the guy by cheque. If it is not an emergency they send several people over to quote the job. I have used them for more than a decade and they have never let me down. _jeff rogers CAUTION posted March 30, 2007 I had a horrible experience with Brothers Plumbing. We had an estimate first, then when the workers came we were told by the head worker that we had to pay an additional $1000, and that we should pay HIM! I should mention that at the time of the quote we had given all the info on the situation and didn't hold a thing back - no mention that the price MIGHT change depending on what they find later. When I told this guy that we would definitely not be paying him and I was going to call Brothers directly, he completely freaked out, swearing at me on our front porch. Then they did the work. Then we got a call from their accounting person telling me that we owed this money. I told them flat out we would not be paying a cent more than the quote and explained what had happened with the rude guy. They called a few more times and then let it go. But, I'll never call them again. Cynthia CAUTION posted March 30, 2007 We also had a terrible experience with Brothers Plumbing. The tile setter they sent did such a horrible job it had to be completely redone. We also got a lot of ‘yeah we’ll be there tomorrow’ which caused the job to take about 3 times longer to complete. Which most renos do but at the time I was 5months pregnant and tired of using a basement bathroom in the middle of the night. Also they claimed we owed them money when we were fully paid up. We received about three calls on the matter and then they never called again. Perhaps they need a new accountant. We also will never call them again. Silvie and Simon CAUTION posted March 30, 2007 I'll add my two cents. I had a plumbing emergency last October and called Dennis. He said that he'd be able to drop by to check things out the next day, or maybe later that day if his current job went well. Around 5pm that day I got a call from him saying that he had arrived and 'orbited' for "15 minutes" looking for parking and couldn't find a spot. "No problem", I said, "Just pull up in front and I'll move my car and you can park there" (on street parking). His reply: "Too late. I'm halfway to the Gardiner". Frustrating on any day, but beyond words when a leaking pipe is slowly ruining your basement. He said he'd come by the next day, but I never received another call. Alan recommendation posted March 30, 2007 I have used Candu Plumbing they are in the neighbourhood on College.
921 College Street JD CAUTION posted March 30, 2007 I am looking for a plumber as well. I left a message for Charlie (see below), and never heard back. I left a message for Dennis (see below), and he did call back, and promised me that he would come the next week and would call and let me know what day, He never called, even when I called again and left a message. recommendation posted March 30, 2007 I have used John Sarino of Blue J. Plumbing for almost ten years. His rates are reasonable, he is polite and I have always found him to do a great job. He has done small (tiny) jobs and also did the re-routing and rearranging for our kitchen renovation. Less than two months ago he installed a toilet in our basement washroom. Here is his contact information:
John Sarino If you do use him, please tell him that I passed on his name. Thanks, Cheryl Huber recommendation posted October 5, 2004 We have used Dennis Huras [416-337-3897] since 1991 here at Hepbourne Hall both for larger "institutional" jobs like drains, and for small little leaks, repairs etc. He's very sensible, skilled and reliable. David Switzer recommendation posted October 5, 2004 Anthony at All Canadian Drain. Recommended to me word of mouth, honest, reliable, personable. Katharine posted May 23, 2013 recommendation From: Baruch Labunski They are located at 364 Munster Ave,
Etobicoke, ON
M8Z 3C7
Roofers/Eaves RepairFrom: Deacon, Elizabeth My sister used one that was on the our site and was really happy with not only the price, but the work and the 20 yr guarantee can you pass on any recommendations that you get as well to me? Miranda Roofing 416-532-6949 cell 416-509-0809 From: Danyelle Boily I recommend Roofworks.ca. They did a great job when replacing our eaves troughs and they were reasonably priced, too. recommendation posted January 10, 2012 From: Tyler Clark Burke RYR's quote was much lower, but they tried to add another 3.5k to the job by the end (and completely destroyed our yard). Alpine's quotes were competitive—not the lowest quote, but I learned the company with the lower quote tried to ding us in the end. The guy from Alpine told me (and I believe him) that they don't play the same games (mis-measure the roof in the initial quote or charge for removing layers of hidden shingles). From: Liz Deacon Miranda Roofing 416-532-6949 cell 416-509-0809 recommendation posted October 11, 2009 From: Cojeen, Carina Star Delta roofing were great. They did our roof, plus a 2-inch insulation which we needed and it was a good price and extremely well done (and quickly) I don't have the phone number on me at work. You can email me off-list if you need it. promotion posted May 05, 2009 From: Winston Abernethy If you know me well you know I will stand behind my work to an unreasonable degree...if you don't I would appreciate it if you could let me speak to you regarding any needs you have regarding your roof. recommendation posted February 10, 2009 From: Paola posted February 10, 2009 From: Sheila recommendation posted December 15, 2008 From: Shelia recommendation posted November 11, 2008 From: Sheila recommendation posted November 11, 2008 From: Vivienne Scott recommendation posted September 25, 2008 From: Vivienne recommendation posted September 22, 2008 From: Paola Giavedoni recommendation posted August 28, 2008 From: Matthew Curran recommendation posted June 25, 2008 From: Vivienne Scott - Michael Smietana recommendation posted May 30, 2008 From: Andrea Dawber The quality of the work and the cost were both excellent. The crew was polite, punctual and worked full days, so that completion of the project was not delayed. I highly recommend J.L. Morrell Roofing. James Morrell is a professional and a pleasure to work with. He is also a neighbour and lives in the riding of Davenport just north of St. Clair. CONTACT INFO recommendation posted April 05, 2008 We use Fernando 416.678.0196. He did my roof and did
it well, on time and on budget. recommendation posted April 05, 2008 We have a terrific roofer, Manuel Miranda, 416 533 4123. CAUTION posted December 1, 2007 I had a bad experience with White Shark. I had them clean my windows and troughs. The windows were streaky, and I had to get someone back a couple of weeks later to re-do the troughs. I would not use them again CAUTION posted December 1, 2007 If you have three stories, specify a forty-foot ladder. Jutta recommendation posted November 18, 2007 I highly recommend Gable Roofing. We had them do our eavestrough and some roof work and I recently had them back last week to install a roof vent. He is very prompt at responding. Here is a link to some reviews of his work and his contact info: www.homestars.com/companies/207552-gable-roofing Heather recommendation posted March 25, 2007 We recently had some eaves work done by RoofWorks on Roncesvalles. We dealt with Adam there and he was really great (helpful, informative, easy to talk to and ask questions, quality work, competitive prices). Anne Ruetz recommendation posted September 19, 2004 September 19, 2004 From: Arthur Irwin To: dufferingrovefriends@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 11:11 PM Subject: RE: [dufferingrovefriends] Roofers???? I recommend a fellow named Fernando Santos (Santos Roofing). He has done a lot of work for us over the years and has been consistently low in his quotes. He is difficult to get hold of sometimes but once he commits to the job he seems to be reliable. Arthur Irwin recommendation posted September 19, 2004 From: "Theresa Sears David Switzer" To: dufferingrovefriends@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 2004 8:03 AM Subject: RE: [dufferingrovefriends] Roofers???? Here at Hepbourne Hall we have had great service and quality from Bobbie at B&B Roofing for more than 12 years. Fine guy and decent prices, no fancy truck or ads etc but high level of commitment, tel: 416-424-2448,or 416-834-4429 David Switzer recommendation posted March 14, 2006 To: dufferingrovefriends@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [dufferingrovefriends] And we need a roofer, too Over the years, I have had good service and competent work from Adair Roofing 416-755-4472. They do slate roofs as well - I still have mine. Also : Dominion Roofing (416-785-9226) Someone from Dominion came to give me an estimate on some new eavestroughing on my house. I cited an estimate a smaller contractor had offered and the woman advised me to hire the guy - saying, with our overhead, as a big company, there's no way we can beat that price. She was very nice and in the end, this cheap roofer was a no-show - so much for his bargain pricing. In the end, I simply got the eaves repaired. Replacing them would have been overkill. But I really appreciated the honesty of the Dominion Roofing employee. (Dominion also does slate roofing). Finally, some friends with a LOT of rental properties once recommended a company called Blackjack Roofing. (no phone number) I've also noticed a lot of signs on people's lawns for Avenue Road Roofers. They're all over town - but have never used them myself. Cheryl recommendation posted March 14, 2006 Subject: RE: [dufferingrovefriends] And we need a roofer, too I once used Avenue Road Roofing and regretted it, even though they are supposed to have a good reputation. A couple of years ago, I booked them in the late fall for roofing work to be done the following spring. At the time of booking, they were very clear that they would not be responsible for any damage to property within the house and instructed me to take all pictures off the walls, secure any china in china cabinets etc., as it might be damaged by the vibrations due to hammering. We did not arrange for a specific time that the work would be done as it was weather dependent, but I was assured that there would be plenty of advance lead time. The following spring, we returned from our ten-day vacation down south to discover a bill from Avenue Road Roofing in with the mail. We then checked the voicemail to hear a message from someone with the company who had called late on a Friday afternoon while we were away, announcing that they would commence the roofing work the following Monday and to call if that was a problem. Since we were not home, obviously we did not call. They proceeded to enter onto our property and replace our entire roof, without ever speaking to us. In the process, (as we discovered), they dumped old roofing shingles onto our (new) car, which was parked in our front parking pad the whole time, and scratched and dented the hood. They also seriously damaged our climbing roses. And they installed the wrong colour of roofing shingles. Fortunately, none of our paintings had fallen off the walls inside, but this was only a matter of luck. At least initially, the people I dealt with after the fact could not understand why I was upset and could not see anything wrong with what they had done. I had to go all the way up the chain of command to the owner to get any satisfaction, and even then it took several phone calls. Apart from that, I have no complant about the quality of the actual roofing job itself. The new roof seems to have been installed competently enough and has not leaked. My two cents, for what it's worth. Cheers, Catherine recommendation posted March 14, 2006 I have used Gable Roofing 10 Canvarco Rd. Toronto, Ontario M4G 1L Tel: 416-696-6880 Fax: 416-696-7440 gableroofing@bellnet.ca Mike Gable is a nice guy and will give you a written estimate and send you digital photos of the areas that need repair. Good luck D'Arcy Mackenzie recommendation posted Jan.25 2007 About the roofing company 'Gable' Roofing & Aluminum: Their quote to fix the roof at the back of our house was close to $4000.00 after tax but the next estimate I got for the job was $1600.00. That is obviously the one I went with as he had a terrific recommendation from a local Hardware store on Ossington St. His name is Carlos Miranda at Miranda Roofing on Dovercourt Rd. Tel: (416) 532-6949 and cell phone: (416) 509-0809. The work done was excellent and I don't have any hesitation recommending him. Besides that he is very local. Mary Jane Young recommendation posted March 14, 2006 Wow. Everyone seems to need roofing at the same time. We had Doucette Roofing do our roof last summer. They did a great job and so far the roof has held through the rains. They came recommended to us by a friend and I am so glad we called them. They were fast, clean and even the workers were courteous. Bonded and insured and can do flat roofs too. Barry Doucette is the owner and is a great guy to deal with. The number is: 416-321-2273. If any of you call please say I gave you their name. Cynthia French recommendation posted April 06, 2009 From: Karen recommendation posted April 06, 2009 From: Della recommendation posted April 06, 2009 From: Paul recommendation posted April 06, 2009 From: Philip recommendation posted April 06, 2009 From: Lisa recommendation posted April 06, 2009 From: Danyelle recommendation posted April 06, 2009 From: Eli recommendation posted April 06, 2009 From: Gretel Tilingrecommendation posted October 15, 2006 I just had my bathroom done -- tiles all around and a new tile shower -- by a guy who did very good tiling. I'd recommend him. His name is Roni Kroitar and his number is 416-830-0767. Roni (pron'd RONNIE) is a general contractor and has other talents. Cheryl Hawkes Duct Cleaningrecommendation posted September 18, 2011 From: Rick Wallace "We just had our house done by "Dial One Duct Cleaning" for $240 plus tax. The guy who came, Will, was fantastic and he did a super job. He was incredibly thorough, knowledgeable, on-time, quick, gave helpful tips, showed us the dust and vents. Also, they used a whip device and not simply a suction from a truck which makes a big difference. Some companies don't do that. We would definitely recommend them. Their website is www.dialoneductcleaning.ca and their phone number is 416-896-4799." recommendation posted September 30, 2009 From: Cojeen, Carina Hi, we recently used Top Line Air Duct Cleaning, 416-456-4887 They use an old compressor, so they’re very noisy, but thorough. $200 cash, I think . recommendation October 25, 2006 Posted by: "Laura Repo" Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:10 am (PST) We just had work done by Bach Heating and Cooling(905-696-7641)and they
seemed to do a fine job. They charge a flat rate as opposed to breaking
down the fee per vent, etc...
It probably works out to a bit more than some other companies but in the
end seemed more upfront - $399.00 for a 3 bedroom house. And besides,
they use brushes and whips! Carpenter / Deck Carpenterrecommendation posted April 20, 2011 From: Laura Hi, I just thought I'd pass on a good experience I had with a fellow named Vlad, who's from High Park. I posted an ad on Craigslist looking for someone to help me rebuild my rooftop planters. Vlad got in touch right away, was very polite and professional, and did a great job in short order and for a very reasonable price. Here's some things I thought were great about him: 1) He showed up ready to talk turkey, i.e. he knew his stuff. He made some excellent suggestions as to alternative materials that I could use for my planters that were more environmentally friendly and would last longer. He knew how much things would cost, and was quick with the calculations. 2) Within about 1/2 hour of our meeting, he'd emailed me a diagram of what he proposed to do, like an autocad kind of thing, which was great. 3) He finished the project the same day (2 large planters)! Had all necessary equipment etc., and didn't leave a mess whatsoever. 4) The ultimate price was right on budget. 5) His wife is a horticulturalist so he knew all about everything I'd need to optimize my planters (which I did not! i built my old ones from scrap wood and they rotted out after 5 years). 6) He was polite, professional, smart, didn't overcomplicate things. 7) He didn't treat me like most tradesman/mechanics etc. do, i.e. as if because I'm a female I am clueless about "man" stuff. Which was nice for a change. I've found guys like this to be hard to find (the first responder to my craigslist ad showed up drunk, having driven in from Etobicoke - yikes!), so I thought I'd pass on his info in case anyone needs any help. My project was pretty small and discreet, so I don't think you need to be doing a major renovation to get his attention. Anywho, again his name is Vlad and his number is 416-427-8537. From: Therese Joyce I'd like to second the recommendation for Vlad 416-427-8537 & his work. Vlad recently helped me out immensely with some work in my basement apartment. He was reliable, honest, professional and gave a really good price. He also worked his other jobs around so he could get to my problem while my tenant was out of town for a few days. recommendation posted February 10, 2009 From: Paola Try Maia Plumbing at Havelock and College(next to Marquee Video )-they built a custom bathroom cabinet for me and have many samples of corian,quartz,marble etc.. Talk to Leslie or Steve. recommendation posted December 12, 2008 From: Alice Kent recommendation posted December 12, 2008 From: Paola recommendation posted May 12th, 2007 We had a 2nd story deck built last Fall - I'm sure he also does fences, etc.. The guy we used (his name is Alex) did a good job. He charged reasonably, and finished in about the time that he said he would. And we're very happy with the result. His telephone number is: (416) 936-5081 Hope this helps... Marta recommendation posted May 5th, 2007 Brian Smith is currently constructing our new beautiful closed-in porch at 488 gladstone. he's a highly skilled carpenter and i'd recommend him very highly for this and other projects. you can reach him at: 416-803-9550 (c) 416-530-4965 (h) matt recommendation posted November 23, 2006 Posted by: "Ted England" Tue Nov 21, 2006 8:53 pm (PST) For decks, I would highly recommend Marten De Vries commonly known as "Walker" the Dutchman (he walks everywhere). he is excellent and quite reasonable. His number is 416-871-0698 Rug/Carpet Installationrecommendation posted September 18, 2012 From: Dan Greenstein I have used James 416-838-5726 who is not local but is reliable and inexpensive. recommendation posted September 14, 2012 From: Megan Richards I would suggest Barton's @ queen and noble. Super nice guys, ends product and I believe they install... Rug Cleaning and Restorationrecommendation posted September 18, 2012 From: Abigail Pugh Replying to list because this guy (carpet and sofa cleaning) is superb: Delroy Moore, 416 606 1339. If you have kids, having your sofa cleaned is a revelation! Like new, for less than $100. recommendation posted March 05, 2010 From: Michele Landsberg I like Forest Hill Carpet Cleaners, run by Norman Levine, who lives on my street. He's efficient, professional and reasonably priced. Beides, he's a good guy who likes to live modestly. From: Jason We recently had a wool rug picked up, cleaned and delivered back in great shape by Northland Carpet Care 416-574-9000. The price was better than another company we had used in the past. recommendation posted February 13, 2009 From: Pat Rayman recommendation posted March 12, 2007 you could also try Turco Persian Rugs on Richmond Street - they do repairs recommendation posted March 11, 2007 I suggest Imperial Rug, Mr. Haig (416) 777-0304 located on Church Street. I have had Tibetan rugs cleaned and I believe they provide restorations and appraisals. Harvey R. Winks Window Cleaningrecommendation posted April 13, 2010 From: Nancy Tong Brian at new view window cleaners is an amazing guy. very reliable. reasonable pricing. he's been cleaning our windows for 7 years now. he also does refferals for small jobs (we haven't used this service yet but I think I would trust him if I did). here's his number: 416-531-8439 From: Deacon, Elizabeth I have always used “what a view window cleaning” for my windows and eaves. They have been great and I think very reasonable. Last time I paid $60.00 to do all my exterior windows Here is their info: http://www.weblocal.ca/what-a-view-window-cleaning-service-toronto-on.html recommendation posted May 7, 2007 We have had good luck with Sparkle windows @ Hepbourne Hall. [Ask for Hans, 416-2469374] Theresa Sears & David Switzer Window Replacementrecommendation posted July 12, 2012 From: Colette Snyder Last fall, I needed to get three new windows. I can't tell you how many places I called, which all seem to be way out in the suburbs, and I couldn't get anyone interested enough to come all the way downtown without the lure of a complete house-full of new windows. So I called someone who was recommended to me by someone at work: vinylwindow.ca (416-321-5555) and I spoke to David. He came within days to measure and give me an estimate, and then about six weeks later his installers came. They did a good job, were quick and neat, and the windows have been wonderful all winter (such as it was), and they're made in Canada. Someone else on this listserve asked about this and I recommended them, and I know they used them because David called to thank me for the referral, so maybe if they're still on this listserve they can comment on their experience. From: Cynthia I've used Arrow 2000 with good results every time (we have been slowly changing over all the windows - they have come at least 3 separate times so far). I don't have the number handy, but it may already be on the Dufferin Park site. From: Len Senater Walter at Window Bros. (416-786-6615 ) has done a consistently great job with both windows and doors at my house and my business From: Michelle Cader I am the person who asked for window recommendations in the fall. I used David Estrella at vinyl window and he was great and the price was reasonable. I would recommend him. From: Abigail It depends on the type of window you want; if it's a traditional, wood window, then I recommend Charles Sammut. Ask for Dan and say I sent you. (He may not remember but they did my entire house, years ago, and the windows are literally as good as new). Here's the URL: posted September 30, 2009 recommendation From: Erella Ganon This is the busiest time of the year for these guys. Here are the people that did my windows. We did them in the middle of winter, and the price was great and they have an energy rating and all. So professional too. I had several quotes with a huge range of time estimation and costs. They came when they said they would. See what you find. YURI FRANTS From: Zoey Zoric We just had some windows & doors done by Brock. We were very happy with the work, service & quality of doors & windows. You can check out other ppl's reviews on Homestars. http://homestars.com/companies/192821-brock-home-improvement-products-inc?service_area=1811690 From: Kathryn Scharf Hi - for the windows themselves, I would recommend Marvin Integrity. They are a line of fairly high-quality wood windows that seemed to be the lowest price for the best quality that I could find-- supposedly because they come in a standard range of sizes and offer relatively few different options in finishes. Much less expensive than Dundas Wood Windows or Pella. Their environmental claims are lofty (though somewhat uncritically accepted by me). There seemed to still be lots of sizes, so hopefully they would fit most pre-existing openings (thought that might be the flaw with them). They were installed by our contractor, so I can't recommend a company. Their local distriibutor is in Mississauga-- perhaps they install too. kathryn posted July 22, 2009 recommendation From: Silvie Joe Gering at Gem Windows let him know that Silvie and Simon recommended him. 416 533-4331 If you just need to replace the glass I recommend CGA Glass on Harbord near Grace. posted November 05, 2008 recommendation From: Sheila p Just one more thing. Before we put our new windows in, I had an energy audit done. The gov't offers rebates for some energy efficient changes you make to your home. Unfortunately, at that time, windows didn't count but the auditor told me that the key to energy efficiency in windows was the installation so you want to make sure that the installer knows what he's doing posted June 13, 2008 recommendation From: Jutta Mason After Chris was done at the neighbour's, he came right over and fixed our window in a jiffy, without having to remove it. He also showed me his album of work -- it was lovely, with both modern and traditional. So he can do plain (my little leaded-glass pane) and he can do fancy. My neighbours said they were very satisfied with his work as well, and their window looks great. Here's his phone number: 416 652-7790. recommendation posted December 3, 2007 We replaced ours last fall with Lowen and they are fantastic! Pricey but the quality is outstanding - wood built with metal overlay. sheila p Arboristrecommendation CAUTION posted September 18, 2012 From: Elisabeth Toronto Tree Service is excellent. They actually know about and care about the trees they are trimming. Avoid Davey Tree. My experience was that they do a hack job. Fast, not careful, not great for the tree's health. recommendation posted July 12, 2012 From: HARRY richardson Viking Tree Services 280-A Brock Av Toronto, ON M6K 2M4, (416) 880-3407 http://www.vikingtreeservice.ca Erik does a good job and is local! recommendation posted August 12, 2011 From: Sara I use Trevor Whiteside. He is good, has reasonable rates and is a certified arborist. His # is 416-873-4736. From: Phlox Viking Tree Service 280 Brock 416 588 9645. I am a gardener in the neighborhood and have recommended this tree service to several clients who reported back favorably. Good luck From: Harry I have known Erik for several years (he owns viking tree service) and have used his services. He is professional and does a good job. recommendation posted June 19, 2009 From: Kathryn Scharf recommendation From: Emma Patterson By Noon today the tree was down, my yard was clean and the guys were driving off. I have never been so impressed in my life! The best part is, I am still waiting for ANY of the other companies to call me back and I slept wonderfully last night! Trash Removerrecommendation posted August 19, 2010 From: Monika Goodluck We recently demolished our basement and I did a fair amount of research looking at the different prices between a bin rental and trash removal with several companies. I found that, for us, it wasn't worth renting a bin since we wanted the stuff out fast, so we went with junk removal; also the price difference wasn't much. We used Just Junk (http://www.justjunk.com) after reading reviews on http://homestars.com and checking out their website and other companies too. You'll see on their site that it tells you when they can come by - even the same day! We were quite satisfied with them and they are professional. It was great to have someone else do the labour since there were a thousand pieces of drywall, framing, etc to get out of our basement and it filled up the whole truck. The prices are similar to 1800gotjunk, but those are the going rates, based on my research. If you want cheaper, go with bin rental and carry it out yourself. I would suggest using M L Disposal 416-603-7878 (near Bathurst/Dundas). They were suggested to us by a neighbour's contractor. They charge by container size, not weight. We told another neighbour about M L and they used them - the bin was delivered and picked up promptly. Technical details to remember is that the price may depend on what type of materials you are putting in the bin; another detail is whether there is enough space for bin drop-off on your property, otherwise there are permit fees to put the bin on the street. House Cleaningposted October 11, 2014 recommendation I know a terrific gardener/cleaner (a singer/videographer the rest of the time). Meg Uremovitch has helped make our place much more pleasing than it was before she came. She's helped us out at the park too. She's looking for a bit more work. I asked her to put together a few sentences on the kinds of work she likes to do: Here's what she wrote: I am a local musician/artist looking to supplement my income by helping REAL people out around their homes...Whether it be cleaning top to bottom or only doing windows, organizing closets or boxes of receipts, outdoor work including garden maintenance, assisted landscaping, lawn mowing, snow shovelling...I am up for anything. I have many years experience in this kind of work and can provide multiple references. Email: us.girlss@gmail.com |