Somerset Construction Ltd.

We highly recommend Somerset Construction. We chose them to build our new dream custom home. We were impressed by their building know-how, innovative solutions and flexibility to incorporate our wish list – from the exterior waterproofing, to plumbing, to the spectacular glass staircase/skylight and to the incredible snowmelt driveway. It was a pleasure working with Graeme and his team.

Graeme, Sandeep and their team did a fabulous and beautiful job on our renovation which many felt was quite a complicated project due to the roof line, HVAC requirements and plumbing design. Due to the extreme weather conditions we had this year delaying the trades we started 3 weeks late however the project was completed on time! They were fast, professional and sensitive to our needs taking into account that my husband and I continued to live in our home during this process (our girls were at university). We highly recommend Somerset Construction to anyone considering a major renovation. Lucy (family pet) will miss you Sandeep.

Graeme and his team did an amazing job on our renovation. They were fast, professional and clean. They were sensitive to our needs and made the stressful situation of moving into the house part way through the construction as painless as possible.

I highly recommend Somerset Construction to anyone considering a major renovation as they helped make my vision a reality and treated me with honesty and reliable service.

We were very happy with Graeme and his team at Somerset Construction. Communication was excellent. Work was performed as and when expected. The quality of the workmanship was spot on. Overall, they were very professional and we wouldn't hesitate to use Somerset again.

I contracted Somerset to build a home. I was very happy with the time Graeme took to explain the process.

His regular and frequent conversations with me were open and honest.

The final result was terrific.

Graeme, you and your team were fantastic and I will be pleased to recommend you.

We bought a bungalow built in the 50s that had never been touched. We gutted the inside of the home from top to bottom including structural changes to open up the main floor, all the plumbing, upgrading the electrical, new HVAC, new floors, 3 washrooms and the entire basement. We were very nervous about the whole process as this was our first reno and had heard so many bad stories. However the experience was great and the result was even better. Somerset was super thorough while delivering great build quality and staying on budget and on time. One massive benefit was that we were able to work very fluidly and they demonstrated great flexibility and advice on build options as they came up. They used great trades people who spoke very highly of them which made us feel good the whole way through. They were tremendous when it came to communication and guidance and we are very happy and confident in our house now.

Somerset did my renovation and I wish I had never let them into my house.
Three days in, with the roof off and the tarps on, we were blasted by a microburst. My insurance company refused to cover (rainwater), but Graeme's did, after a fight. I always thanked Graeme for this and recommended him to others, saying he kept his word. I am now in the process of reaching out to those people to let them know what has happened.
We didn't realize the sump pump was damaged in the first flood, and there were a second smaller one about five weeks later. He installed a new sump pump, and we asked for a battery backup. (Graeme claims not to remember the battery backup part of the conversation. He wrote in an email he didn't know where to get one.)

Anyway, the sump pump was installed...with no backup. We had a couple of close calls, where the water got high and I was concerned. However, I had a real problem finding anyone to install the battery part. Anyway, you know the rest...the sump failed Monday and with no battery backup, we were clobbered.

After the flood, the neighbours made suggestions on where to get the backup done. Too late of course, but we hired a plumbing company to do it. They laughed at the sump that was installed by Somerset, saying it was "cheap" and not built to handle the job. I thought that was an upsell, but did some research and it appears that is accurate.

Because of the two floods on Graeme's watch, my insurance company demanded a massive deductible for sewage backup -- even though it did not have to pay a cent. As a result, I am on the hook for at least $10,000 of this mess. It is extremely likely I will be on the hook for all of it, as the insurance company may determine all of it is rainwater.

In addition to all of this, I did not want to make the final payment of $5,000 to Somerset because there were some issues. For example, the bathtub installed in our master bathroom upstairs is leaking into the living room. Graeme would not look at it until payment was received. I paid the $5,000 wanting to get it done -- last week -- not realizing it was actually a little less than $5300 with GST. Anyway, Graeme refused to look at anything until that extra amount was paid.

Just beware. I wish I'd never met him.

Elliotte Friedman

EDIT: Graeme's response is below. He and I could argue back and forth about this, and he deserves his say. But I cannot let one statement go unchallenged: "Your project is everything we promised you; it is fantastic."

That is simply not true.

For example, we spent $2,200 on a beautiful jacuzzi with air jet streams...and cannot use it. It leaks into our main floor. Graeme refused to repair it until he was fully paid. It remains unfixed (although, at this point, I will not allow him to touch our home). There are some other smaller issues, too.

Sadly, we are headed towards litigation. It is a hugely draining and frustrating process. To say the work is fantastic is just not correct.

If anyone wants more information, please contact Homestars, and I will be glad to speak to you.

We selected Somerset for our custom build, and they did not disappoint. The work completed was to a good quality, the process as all builds, quite frustrating but they guided us through every step of the way. The secret to Somersets success is their staff - they are really brilliant, well mannered and clean. Every hitch that occurred was delt with. Having gone through this process once-I'd hesitate to do it again but should I, with Somerset I now know what to expect.