Penguin Basements

Basement Renovation
Toronto ON M3J 2C4
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Reviews for Penguin Basements

Average customer rating:
8.9 10 (340 reviews)

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Jen & Jon
Jen & Jon
0 reviews Cambridge, ON
10/10

FIY Reno

We did a Finish It Yourself basement reno. We were happy with the whole project. From our initial consultation with Matt to our final call with Stephanie and Guy, everyone was great!
Thank you, Penguin Basements

Approximate cost of services:
$37,000.00
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Company Response

And thank you for being so easy to work with. We look forward to seeing photos of the final furnished space in the future.

L Tozzo
L Tozzo
1 review East Gwillimbury, ON
2/10

Basement apartment

Thorough research should be done before hiring Penguin. Be aware that they are taking on so much business that they cant keep up with, so we had trades in our home who had never worked with Penguin before. In addition to inexperienced trades, no one from management ever came to our home to review the work done by the trades. Trades would show up unannounced and do work without any information given to the homeowners. Penguin employees and management were rude to us anytime we questioned the work done in our home. After the final work was done, we realized how many mistakes were covered up by more mistakes. Our wheelchair accessible bathroom was the most important part of this job, and it is absolutely awful. When Ive followed up about things done not according to drawings, or very poor quality work, Im left with silence.
Do not hire this company.

Approximate cost of services:
$115,000.00
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Company Response

This kind of review is never fun to read, but we do read them, look into them and see what we can do to improve from them. That being said, we believe the reason this review was written with so much bite is it turns out that the client reached out during our Christmas period shutdown, and we simply missed their message, and never got back to them. That should not have been the case, and for that we’re very sorry.

Now moving into the time of this review being posted, the client felt that their only way of “getting our attention” was this review. We probably deserved that, and again sorry. We will do better.

Now that we are aware of the concerns, we are quite relieved to see it’s an easy fix. Essentially this basement was built for a senior family member that required accessibility features for every room. There’s an elevator, custom bar, accessible shower, and a platform for the toilet to bring it up to a perfect height of 20”.

So where did we falter? We built the platform at the 20” height, or so we thought, but we didn’t consider the mortar, tile and tile edge installed by our tiler, which lifted the total height of the seat by about 1”. This consideration is so exact that it wasn’t even identified during our substantial completion walk-through nor communicated understandably until weeks of use made the error obvious.

We’ve spoken to the client and the parent that’s using the space. We confirmed their preferred height is exactly 20” and we’ve scheduled an appointment to take care of it.

A few more points with reference to the comments made; this highly complex and detailed project took about 2 months to complete, including a permit revision (considered reasonably fast when dealing with some municipalities). There was an assumption made that we have “A” and “B” trades, but that simply isn’t the case. We did engage a new Plumbing Service Tradesperson on this particular project who was highly recommended, and we spoke with them via a series of phone calls over the course of this build, and their work had no impact on our error as noted by the client.

We are thankful that the client brought this matter to our attention, because this important detail could and should be rectified for the safety and comfort of the user. We have a good line of communication now, and we expect that the review will reflect that when we’re done. Pobody’s Nerfect, as they say, we’ve owned this error and fully intend to rectify it to everyone’s satisfaction. We strive to do the best we can do with each and every build!

We hope your parent will be able to fully enjoy this unit you had built for them.

Tom in Maple
Tom in Maple
1 review Oshawa, ON
10/10

This company is the best in the business!!

We recently finished our basement with Penguin and could not be happier with the result! We first hired Penguin to finish a basement 5 years ago for another property and we were so impressed with them that we hired them again to finish the basement in our new home. The quality of material and workmanship cannot be understated, but its the people at Penguin that make this company so great. They finished this project in less than 3 weeks!! From start to finish they made the process so easy; Stephanie and Rodrigo helped us personalize the design of our space, Bruno and his team framed it to perfection, Victor helped us make informed decisions about the electrical specs, Sunny worked tirelessly to tape and mud and keep the project on schedule, Fabio built us beautiful built-in shelves, and Josh was there to make sure that the job met all of our specifications. We also worked closely with Roberto, and he scheduled regular touch-points to make
sure we were satisfied with the ongoing work. At the end of the job they brought in cleaners to prepare the space for our family to enjoy! The schedule and correspondence was conveniently done through an app, and at the end they followed-up to make sure we were happy.

We want to thank each and every member of their team for all their hard work and dedication, they demonstrated a great deal of respect for our home and our family. We would not hesitate to recommend Penguin to all our family and friends! Thank you all!!

Approximate cost of services:
$70,000.00
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Company Response

We appreciate you taking the time to write this review Tom. Our team did say it was a pleasure working with you. Enjoy the basement for years to come.

Susan & Glenn T.
Susan & Glenn T.
1 review Ottawa, ON
10/10

The final result we were looking for!

When we decided to get our basement finished, we looked at a few different companies, but after a call with Guy we were sure Penguin was the right company for us.

With a very straightforward process, we were able to get a general design mapped out in our initial call with Matt. Further modifications were done with Jordan, after measurements were taken, allowing things to really take shape. Stephanie really helped us with the design, giving us the right flooring and paint options to give us the fresh, modern look we wanted. Plumbing and electrical work was done to a very high standard. Inspections were passed without issue.

The part of the process which really stood out for us was the framing and drywall. Filipe and Eyal worked incredibly hard to finish that part of the process in record time and to a very high standard. Filipe was instrumental in ensuring the final layout really maximized the use of the space, especially with what could have been an awkward entryway.

A special thanks to Josh who came in near the end to take care of the few outstanding issues so we could have our basement in time for Christmas. Our kids were extremely happy about that!

Thanks to Penguin we have the basement we wanted - a beautiful, bright and modern space which perfectly suits our needs.

Approximate cost of services:
$65,000.00
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Company Response

Wow, thank you for this. And name checking your team. Not everyone who invites us into their home treats us like fellow humans, never mind friends. A pleasure working with you. Enjoy the basement.

Tania
Tania
0 reviews Ottawa, ON
10/10

Basement Finishing

We are very happy with the services provided by Penguin Basement. Our project was completed on time and within the budget. The contractors were very proficient and knowledgeable about their respective fields. They took care while moving building materials and supplies and made sure that they did not damage existing structures, stairs or walls in the house. The contractors were friendly, easy going and made sure they seek approval before making any costly modifications . Overall we are satisfied and would be happy to recommend to our friends.

Approximate cost of services:
$31,000.00
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Company Response

Thanks for the kind words Tania. We enjoy working with clients such as you who respect the time and process. Using BuilderTrend really does allow us to work better for you. Glad you are happy with the results. Enjoy the basement.

Mark
Mark
0 reviews Guelph, ON
10/10

Basement Renovation

We decided to have our basement renovation done by Penguin for three reasons:
1. Turnkey project - from design to permitting to completion.
2. Compressed timeline. Start to finish in ~ 3 weeks.
3. Competitive pricing.

The design stage was collaborative and well executed.
We visited the showroom and picked out finishes with Stephanie. She offered some good suggestions for us to consider in making our choices.

Construction started at the end of November 2022 and finished in December prior to Christmas. Around 3 1/2 weeks from start to finish. Penguin has a very structured approach to the build process and it is effective. We have done renovations with other companies in the past and the schedule constantly elongated. Penguin did what they said they would do.

Penguin uses a portal, Builder Trend, to have a central information source for the project. Everything from schedule to changes to billing is on the platform and is easily accessible.

The construction crews were great. The workmanship was excellent and we are very happy with the end result. Special callout to Jon the finishing supervisor. He did a good job with the final project elements and is a great communicator.

As an opportunity for improvement Penguin could do a better job in communicating schedule changes. We had a couple of instances where crews did not show up the day they were scheduled. An email or a phone call the day before would be appropriate in terms of managing customer expectations.

We had a project closing meeting with Penguin that covered warranty information and customer feedback. Guy, the CEO, attended and was genuinely interested in our experience and comments.

All in all we are very happy with our renovation and would recommend Penguin to anyone.

Approximate cost of services:
$50,000.00
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Company Response

Hi Mark. Thanks for the thorough and comprehensive review. We are happy it was a positive experience for you. As an aside, and to anyone reading this review and response, we are not a "3-week" basement company. In fact we often finish in less time, but we've also had a build go for months. Rather than promise a 3-week build, we treat each project as individually as it is and present a timeline along with the estimate in many cases. Have a great summer Mark and enjoy the basement.

jvaill36 in Nepean
jvaill36 in Nepean
0 reviews Ottawa, ON
9/10

Basement reno

The design (both architectural and design) were good. We were presented with options and got what we wanted.

Framing and drywall was good with great workers. There were some project management/scheduling issues as well as some issues with taping, painting and finishing touches.

The project supervisors were great and fixed most issues.

Many of the project management issues we faced have now been fixed as the company adapts to the Ottawa market.

Approximate cost of services:
$70,000.00
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Company Response

Thanks for taking time to post a review; it is appreciated. We will look into the issues and review your BuilderTrend file to see where there is room for improvement. Our Nation's Capital is important to us ;-) Enjoy the basement.

Abiola
Abiola
0 reviews , ON
10/10

Basement finishing

Penguin Basements did an amazing job to finish our basement.
The process from start to finish was smooth and within the schedule.
Great service overall.

Approximate cost of services:
$70,000.00
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Company Response

Thank you for the kind words. Enjoy your basement.

Lak
Lak
0 reviews Guelph, ON
10/10

Basement Apartment finised from start to finish

To be honest start of the process was not that good have some communication issues.

Initially i wanted to go with other provider but Guy really great in explaining the advantage with Penguin basement and their pricing. I will strongly recommend them to anyone who wanted to complete their basement hassle free.

Once project started and when it got to Roberto, Edgar and Jon it was seamless. In my city the inspections was pain and they keep on pointing out something or other but everyone in Penguin basement take every effort to complete the complains in timely manner and get the permit cleared at the earliest. I really loved everything after the project started.

Special appreciation to Iva, Jon, Roberto, Edgar, Bruno who went above and beyond to accomplish their duties in a quick, personable manner.

Approximate cost of services:
$96,000.00
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Company Response

Thank you, Lak. Your words will be heeded wholeheartedly and we will continue to strive to better our service. We will make sure the ones you've mentioned hear your kind words and we hope you enjoy the new basement!

Mihaela in Innisfil
Mihaela in Innisfil
0 reviews Milton, ON
10/10

Basement renovation

We decided to go with Penguin Basement for our project to finish the basement in our house. We liked the fact that Penguin offered flexible options for their services for a partial vs full basement finish and we went with the first one. First of all, this company differentiate themselves from the more traditional general contractors group by making it all about the process and the customer experience. Starting with great communication (using Builder Trend App) and transparency about the steps, the schedule of the work and ending with final review and feedback from the client , it was all in all a great customer experience. Each trade came in on time and worked really hard to complete the work within the timing communicated upfront and without compromising on quality. Special thanks to Bruno, Rodrigo and Stephanie for their professionalism. We highly recommend this company to anybody looking to get a basement project done.

Approximate cost of services:
$55,000.00
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Company Response

We are happy to have more positive feedback on our FIY basement option, or as we call it Penguin unfinished basements. Just as we read each and every review to determine how to improve our business, we also listen to our customers to develop new products. We are glad that the partial build suited you and that your experience was the team was a positive one. Enjoy your basement.

The reviews on this page are the subjective opinion of the Author and not of HomeStars Inc.

More about Penguin Basements

Penguin Basements is your full-service Basement Renovation Company.

Nothing beats a finished basement as a cost-effective way to add living space or rental income to your home in the Greater Toronto Region. Whether you need design, permits or a stunning build, be sure to call the Renomark certified contractor Penguin for a Free Estimate today.

You'll find hundreds of our satisfied customers all across Southern Ontario in the GTA, the Tri-Cities Area and the Greater Ottawa Area. Our experienced, trained professionals make it easy for Penguin Basements to stand behind every job we do. So, If there's a basement renovation in your future, contact Penguin Basements today, where 100% total satisfaction is guaranteed! Don't get scammed by fly-by-night operators, unrealistically low prices, too short build times or fake reviews. We invite you to visit us in person anytime.

• Basement Renovation Specialist
• Guaranteed Mold-Resistant Materials
• FREE In-Home Design & Estimate
• Easy Financing Available
• No Interest for 12 Months*
• Transferable Limited Lifetime Material Warranty
• 2-Year Comprehensive Warranty
• Exclusive Penguin Benefits

Be sure to check our one of our Basement Showcase Open House weekends where you can inspect our work up close and in person!

CATEGORIES
Basement Renovation
PRODUCTS
Fully finished basement design and build inclusive of Kitchens, Bathrooms and Custom features.
SERVICES
Basement renovations, basement waterproofing, foundation repair, crawl space encapsulation.
BRANDS
Penguin Family of Companies Penguin Basements Penguin Condo & Reno
STYLES
Classic, Country, Modern, Contemporary, Retro, Unique.
SPECIALITIES
Custom basement builds within your budget.
WEBSITE
http://www.basementscanada.com
YEAR ESTABLISHED
2011
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
120
LICENSES
Fully Licensed in every municipality we serve.
MEMBERSHIPS
BILD, RENOMARK
LIABILITY INSURANCE
Yes
WORKERS COMPENSATION
Yes
BONDED
Yes
WRITTEN CONTRACT
Yes
WARRANTY TERMS
2-Year plus Limited Lifetime Material Warranty.
Company profile information is not moderated by HomeStars. Ask the contractor to verify before hiring.