House Calls Renovation Advisors reviews (83)

Two years ago, I consulted Jay about a problem we where having with our upstairs bathroom. We had just re-tiled one wall about four months earlier, however some new tiles were loose and others were falling off the wall, and we didn't know why. We had paid the contractor, and were unclear how to proceed. Jay suggested we remove the tiles and drywall. Upon a detailed inspection, we discovered that there was no insulation or vapour barrier on this outside wall. As a result, condensation was occurring in the cold space behind the drywall. We had a new contractor install the correct wall system and new tiles, and the problem has not recurred. This was an incredibly helpful conversation that saved us time, effort and aggravation! I plan to consult with Jay again should we run into any further problems with our house.

We wanted to renovate our kitchen. We consulted Jay before we went ahead, because the house had some issues - uneven floors, some cracking masonary. We asked Jay to help us decide whether the house was structurally sound enough to invest in a new kitchen without having to do additional structural work. Jay pointed out a number of indicators that suggested that significant structural work would be needed in the next few years. Based on Jay's advice we sold the house to someone who was able to underpin and completely renovate it. When they dug out the basement, they found a "floating wall". If we'd hung on to the place we'd have been faced with $50 K or more of foundation work. Instead, we found a new home, and last year finished renovating the kitchen. Instead of a financial disaster, we ended up with a great investment! Thanks Jay.

A number of years ago, I was building an Artist Studio for my wife. I hired an architect to draw up the plans, and a contractor to execute the drawings. However, as the project progressed, and as much as I trusted the contractor, I realized that I had no idea whether or not he was doing the job properly. This was a major undertaking for us. Simply trusting that all would unfold as it should seemed liked a foolish way to approach an expensive enterprise. I quickly discovered that calling in my architect to assess the contractor’s work on a regular basis would escalate the costs of the project astronomically. So, how to proceed effectively without breaking the bank? Well, as luck would have it, I met Jay Charendoff, an architect and project manager who offered his services at a fraction of the cost of my architect. Hiring Jay was the best move I could have made. After the contractor had finished his work daily, Jay would show up and assess the job and give me detailed notes on what needed to be changed, adjusted and\or improved. And each morning when the contractor arrived, I was able to intelligently discuss the work that was required. I quickly became “an expert” in the minutiae of construction, and my wife now has “The Best Built” Artist Studio in T.O., thanks in large measure to Jay Charendoff. Sincerely, Ron Singer