Ottawa Renovation & Construction Corp

Worst company in the world. Never replies, never sticks to a schedule. He (Aurel) is one person, no actual company. He points out other issues to pull more money out of you. He wants the money before the job is done and refuses to come if the money is not paid. The cracks reappeared one year later and he refuses to fix it. He is the worst.

I hired this contractor to replace a sliding patio door with a single door and complete a small renovation on my kitchen (counter/backsplash). When we met I told him our budget and he said he was sure he could work within it. Foolishly, we agreed to a $2000 down payment to secure the time in his calendar. When he sent us the contract it was our max budget PLUS tax (meaning we were 5000 over what we had discussed). When I asked him about this he claimed that all contracts are designed this way and since the before tax price is within what we had discussed I couldn't complain. This has not been the case with other companies hired for work your budget is the final cost.

Still, we thought this might just be a miscommunication and continued with the contract. As other customers have mentioned, we paid 70% upfront for him to purchase the materials etc needed for the job. After one day of work, the contractor asked for the remainder of the payment. I refused and he said he has "been burned too many times" so he always get paid upfront. I told him that if I pay him 100% now, what leverage to do I have if he were to not come again? He said it was a "trust thing". I agreed to pay him an additional 10% to continue the work and told him at this point he has thousands of dollars of my trust.

The contractor didn't come at all that week. He claimed that it was because our counters were delayed and he could not continue any other work until the counters were installed (even though all the work on the door/wall had nothing to do with the kitchen). He said he only wanted to bring his saw once, so he was planning on doing all the cutting at the end. So we fast forward to the counters being installed (a week later). He is not able to come and do the backsplash etc for several days because he has other work booked. This timing issue is now my fault because of the "custom" counter I chose. There was nothing custom about my counter other than cutting it to size. He now claimed that all work being done is a favour because he has other jobs.

This contractor gets upset if you ask him questions (in his words we paid him so we don't have to ask any questions because he is the expert). I have never had someone speak to me the way he does. His disrespect is palpable. He called while my dog was having an xray taken and we were still talking when the vet came back into the room. He motioned that I could finish talking while he waited, and reviewed her xray on the computer. When the conversation was over, he said, "I cannot imagine ever speaking to someone the way he spoke to you. I am impressed you were able to stay so calm and polite". I felt validated because this contractor gaslights you into thinking that he's not being as rude as he is.

This contractor never shows up on time (says 8am, shows up closer to 11am or later). When I complained that he never came when he said he would, his response was that its "contractor time" and he works for himself so he can show up whenever he wants. He said he would come at 7am to start the backsplash and when I texted him at 10:30am he said his saw broke so he would be there soon. He showed up after 1pm. I told him that I don't care when he comes, I just don't want to be expecting him and then be wondering if/when he will come hours later. He told me I was being unreasonable and rude by asking him questions and expecting to be informed of his progress.

This contractor's full day of work is approximately 3-4 hours. He is a one-man show who will occasionally bring a companion with him (if help is needed, such as lifting a door), but it is clear they are his helper (aka. a teenage boy). There is no one from senior management as the responses on his google reviews alludes. It is 100% him.

This contractor installed about two feet of backsplash and I pointed out all the areas where the tiling was uneven, or even badly chipped (around the light switch). He claimed that the tile I chose (he made it seem like I was dead set on this tile when in reality it was one of the options he presented to me) was delicate and difficult to cut. He said I was being picky because I have watched too many home renovation shows. His exact words were, "I would like to see you do a better job". He installed my backsplash through a light switch because "I never told him to go under/over it". He then blamed me for the light switch because I "should have really moved it before he started". My husband and I both work from home if he encountered this issue it would have taken him 2 seconds to say, "Hey, you're not going to be able to put a cover over this light switch if I go through it, did you want me to go over/under?". I have approached other contractors and they said that OF COURSE the tile would need to go over it. How could a seemingly experienced contractor not foresee this issue? He will claim I asked him to go straight with the cabinets. In actuality, he said he would and I said sure - not knowing there would be an issue! This is what you pay a contractor for: THEIR EXPERIENCE. This contractor clearly has none and proceeded to place blame on us for any and all issues with his work.

More than a month after starting my project, and after delaying his final day of work from Thursday to Friday to Monday, this contractor then refused to finish the work remaining on our contract UNLESS I SIGNED A NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT that prevented me from leaving an HONEST review of his work. Look at these pictures this is not an experienced tiler. He either doesn't have the experience, or just doesn't care. Either way hire someone else.

I'm certain he will claim this review, like the others, is false but from my experience it seems like the reverse. The 5 star reviews on google fooled me into hiring this guy, and I have learned a very hard lesson. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions and I will prove to you that I am indeed a very real and very reasonable person who made a poor choice hiring this company (aka one-man show).

Red alert for this business. The owner pressured us for good reviews before job was completed. Then he totally botched the job to the point of no repair. The company we hired to completely redo the job, was in disbelief at what they saw. Ottawa Renovation and Construction has no clue what they are doing. Unprofessional, unethical, careless and disrespectful. Amateurism at its best!!
Stay away!!

Do not take this Company owner/company at his word and do not believe all the promises he will make to get you to sign a contract with him. Unless he hires real professional tradesmen to work for him, you will have to get another contractor to fix up their shoddy work, and correcting below substandard renovations will cost you more money and legal challenges. He has taken thousands of dollars from us and walked away without completing the work. He misled us and did not deliver the products and quality work that we paid for. Our family has suffered much financial stress due to this company's unprofessionalism. He gets into tantrums everytime we bring up our signed contract. This is a red flag you should watch out for if you are dealing with this company. Don't let the promises of free complimentary stuff fool you (e.g. a 4K projector).

The company asked for 70% downpayment as soon as you sign the contract before they even start the work. By the time half of the project is done all the money has been collected. Stopped working but continued asking for more money. Never fulfilled the contract. He forced us to sign another document to get the electrician to finish electrical installation and excluded the finishing materials that he assured us that he had already secured as part of the first downpayment. We are left with no flooring, no baseboards, no doors nor casings, no railings, bathroom is not finished, wall painting is not done and a lot more. No consumer should ever go through this stressful situation specially if you have saved good money to do basement for the family.
I can not recommend this company.

This is review is a warning to anyone who has plans to invest money into a home renovation with this company. Do not disregard any of the other 1 star reviews. I am well aware I will be attacked on here by the owner of this unprofessional company (don't let his email claiming to have a team of employees fool you). I have read his rebuttals and any company that talks like that about their former clients should be your first hint not to hire him (sorry his team).

Second hint of his willingness to pull the wool over your eyes is to have clients write reviews (pressured) about how he (sorry again - his team) is doing with the renovation. Let me tell you this, he gave me the skeleton on what he wanted written in the reviews, and as my review he pressured me to write only after a week on site was complimentary it by no means paints the whole picture of his techniques he uses to fool a client.

Third hint on his deceitfulness is the use of his app for estimates. The JOIST app he changes continually to suit his needs and never has you sign any updated copies. Any changed copies are overwritten and NO prior estimates are available. If you have unfortunately hired this person (sorry I keep forgetting he has a team working for him) ensure you print the estimate and check continuously if he has changed it. In the end after he realizes the client has caught on to his deceit he deletes the estimate and thus you cannot get a copy of it.

I hope you as a potential client is starting to see a pattern with this person (company).

Fourth hint (to note these hints are what I have experienced and are not made up). His timelines: in his ever changing estimate app one part always remains - his guarantee(s). He never strived to meet any of them. He was never here from 7am - 4pm (he work from at the earliest 10am and was usually done at 2pm), he did not provide a DETAILED work order, he says building and finishing material are included, he will personally be here everyday (most was 3 times one week) of the renovation and that he will have work done by a certain date (3-4 weeks turned into approx 12 weeks).

I have more hints I could describe here but I will let him (company) reply with his scathing comments on how ungrateful yet another client was. On how to disregard my comments as false and made up. Once he does his usual song and dance I will provide you with more details on how he completely botched my kitchen renovation and pocketed money for an incomplete, unprofessional, substandard, subpar attempt at a renovation. How he likes to blame anything that he finds to hard to do on the previous builder or more likely than not the client.

Please again potential client of this company do take heed on what I have written this is just a small portion of what this person (company) has put myself, my family and other clients through.
One final point on this review before his attempts to tell you I am not a real person or I took advantage of him is that I hired him also due to the fact he has the "Bauemler Approved" on his websites (he has different names for his company - wonder why??). Please do not be fooled by this inclusion on his websites. The Bauemler Company is well aware of this contractors unprofessionalism and has suspended its endorsement and does not approve this company(they are investigating). Further details on that to follow.

Now I am sure you will be entertained with the company's reply to my review. Enjoy the fiction that will be spun!

For~ Ottawa Renovation & Construction Corp.

If I could give more than 5 stars I would!!!! We hired Ottawa Renovation & Construction Corp. to do a front entry, side garage entry and powder room renovation. We wanted everything done: New tile in 4 areas, trim, new closet door, painting, bathroom fixtures, etc...top to bottom, everything changed.

At first we were concerned with booking someone to work in our home during the current Covid-19 lock down. However, we called Ottawa Renovation & Construction to come give us a quote. To begin with, our call was returned promptly and a meeting to discuss our project quickly followed. During our meeting, all Covid precautions were in place, and we immediately felt at ease booking Ottawa Renovation & Construction Corp. to move forward with our renovation.

Fast forward, our front project is nearly complete. Everything looks amazing so far and the work has far surpassed my expectations. Our renovation has been handled with care by the guys, with attention to detail and professionalism. Aurelio is always ready to answer my questions and often offers suggestions about how to make things even more pristine. Our project timeline has stayed nicely paced and on budget. Things have run seamlessly and the entire renovation has been hassle free. Even added details such as leaving the work areas cleaned up & tidy each night. They really do consider every detail and go above & beyond.

We’ve been so impressed, that we have actually already booked Ottawa Renovation & Construction Corp. to move forward with two more home projects. The first being some additions and work on our existing deck. The second is a complete kitchen renovation/family room refresh. I have a “very specific” design in mind and Aurelio has completely catered to this with our planning, even offering added suggestions about how we can get the most out of our renovation design, but still stay within our budget.

If you are considering a renovation project, big or small, and are searching for a professional and meticulous construction team, I recommend with 100% certainty, Ottawa Renovation & Construction Corp. Look no further, you’ll be glad you did. I’m thrilled we have an incredible company we can turn to now for ALL of our home projects in the future.

He was hired in February 2021, started the projected, completed approximately half the work, and then chose to not show up or answer and calls/emails/texts despite him having our money.

He has choosen to use cheaper products then discussed. Did not build straight walls. Did not mud flat tiling.

The worst part is he bought the wrong size shower, cut the drywall roof and tried to hide the top of the shower in the roof. And then blamed us on not measuring it.

I feel for the mistake of hiring this company (one man) and have since lost money, have a renovation half-way completed, and the parts that were completed are not satisfactory for any home owners.

Buyer beware.

I want to thank Ottawa Renovation and construction Corp for installing my kitchen fan. They were a referral from z friend and what a great job they did. He was very professional, very respectful of the COVID19 measures. He did an amazing job. It was harder than expected because of the wiring but he was patient, walked me through the steps. I will definitely recommend them moving forward!!