Project: Complete gutting and make over of our en suite and main bathrooms.
Knowledge: Excellent! Alex is extremely knowledgeable. In fact, it was his extensive experience and knowledge that won him the contract in the first place. We interviewed other contractors for the job but, they were not nearly as aware of what was involved with our project as was Alex.
For example, we wanted the toilet in the en suite relocated within the bathroom. All of the other candidates simply said no problem; Alex was the only person who told us it was possible but, also made us aware of potential complications and then offered an alternate solution if our primary wish was not feasible.
Hands-on Involvement: Excellent! Among the biggest concerns we had in hiring a contractor was: i) the contractor securing the job but, then outsourcing the actual work and not being directly involved in the project on a day-to-day basis ii) the contractor juggling multiple projects in addition to ours.
On both counts, Alex passed with flying colours. Alex (along with his assistant Josh) were on the job each day of the project and they did the work directly. Other than the glass enclosure for the shower which required a third party, Alex was hands-on just as promised. Also, the fact Alex was personally involved throughout the duration of the project meant that whatever time he blocked off for our bathrooms was dedicated to our project alone. We were not merely one on a list of many other bookings such that his time was being shared or he was distracted with other jobs.
Cleanliness: Excellent! Alex and Josh were very conscious of keeping the work area as clean as can be expected. Dust and dirt are inevitable with any renovation project but, to the extent possible, they kept it under control and cleaned the work area (sweeping, mopping, vaccuming, etc.) at the end of each day. They also removed all of the old debris and garbage from the initial gutting.
Punctuality: Excellent! Alex and Josh were always on time...if not early. :)
Quality of Work: Excellent! It is very clear that Alex takes great pride in his work and is detail conscious. On a couple of occasions, when things were not exactly right (whether pointed out by us or detected on his own), he had no problems adjusting/redoing those items to bring them up to par and to our satisfaction.
Communication/Interpersonal Skills: In terms of communication, Alex is direct and to the point. This is not meant to be a criticism--we are all different and this is simply his communication style. From our perspective however, there were times, when clearer communication would have helped.
Pricing: Alex is definitely not the cheapest contractor out there. Then again, do you really want to hire a contractor whose only advantage is cost? You get what you pay for so, if you want a contractor that is hands-on, who will complete the job as advertised, who is efficient and works to a high standard then, you have to be prepared to pay a little more. A little more expensive than others perhaps...but, no regrets given the finished product.
Concluding Comments: We would not hesitate to give Alex the highest rating and to recommend him to friends and family or to give him another project for our house.
