We contracted with Nick to completely renovate our basement rec room turning it into a games room/home pub. I found Footprint construction on Homestars and called them because of the positive reviews on the website.
If you read the reviews I did, you will pick up on two common notes regarding Footprint construction. The first is that they finish what they start, attending the job per schedule and consistently until completion. This was absolutely true in my case. It starts with them showing up for the first appointment to check out the job and delivering a quote on a timely basis.
The second common thread is reference to their assistance in the design. I did not think I needed this when I first called them as I had pretty specific plans for my renovation drawn up. However, from the first meeting when Nick started asking questions about some of the details of the finishes I learned I needed a lot of help.
When he returned to present the quotation he also came with a mock-up of the wainscot design almost to full scale. His preparation at the quoting stage really impressed me. Ironically we rejected the design for the wainscoting, gave him some feedback and he altered the design to what you now see in my basement. Custom designed and executed by Nick Van Egmond. This was just the beginning. He and Trevor made so many other design suggestions that really make the finished product stand out.
The execution of the trim work was excellent. Nick did a lot of this himself and he truly is a master carpenter.
The greatest strength that Nick brings to the table is his communication skills. This is reflected in his ability to draw out your desires into a finished design both literally and figuratively. It is also reflected in the daily understanding of where he and his crew will be, what they are scheduled to do and then, an end of the day progress report. I always knew where I stood regarding the progress of the job and what to expect to be done on a daily basis.
Nick is also accountable for his trades. You should expect this from a general contractor but Nick delivers. He was trying out a new painter that did not work out very well but Nick ensured the finished product was up to his high standards. This is important. Trades can disappoint, people make mistakes, but the General Contractor is there to resolve any issues and "make it right" as Mike Holmes would say and Nick delivers on that promise.
I ended up with a lot more custom elements in my basement renovation than I ever expected. It is a unique product and I am very proud of the result. Thanks to Nick, Trevor, their staff and team of subcontractors. I hope to work with them again.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $30,000.00
- Any advice to offer fellow homeowners facing a similar project?
- I thought I had detailed plans for my renovation but there were a lot of little details I had overlooked that Nick helped co-ordinate for me. Details such as the style of knobs for the cupboards or types of door design. Try and make all these design choices in advance if you can or start working on them as soon as Nick or Trevor point you in the right direction. It will mitigate the stress.