Inside Guys Underpinning

I had a great experience with Inside Guys.

My brother-in-law who's a contractor, reviewed the quotes I'd collected and recommended going with IG. This aligned with the way I remembered a friend in the neighbourhood raving about their work, and so I chose them.

Not being an engineer myself, I can't exactly comment on the technical aspects of the work. However, I used to love going downstairs at the end of each day to see how many new sections had been excavated/framed/filled etc. As we neared the end I assumed that he might dig out the whole lot (as there were so few left) and do one final foundation pour but no, Jakub made sure that there was only ever a minimal portion of the house unsupported at any time.

Speaking of going downstairs, apart from the giant holes in the floor, you would hardly know it was a construction site. The crew always completed a certain number of holes each day, and swept the remaining floor within an inch of its life so that walking around was easy. Tools were neatly set up for the next day and the outside bin was always fenced off.

Because our house is close to our neighbours, and there was really only one access point for the excavation, a section of their pathway was slightly damaged. Inside Guys ended up removing a large section of the path (include some previously damaged concrete) and hand-pouring a beautiful new path.

As with any reno, issues arose as I sorted out things like sump pumps, new window wells etc. On a few occasions I called Jakub for help and he always found time to stop by. First he checked that it was not IG work that was causing the issue (it never was...) but then he'd go above and beyond to do what he could to help solve the problem regardless of the cause. He is an incredibly conscientious person.

I would recommend Jakub and his Inside Guys team without hesitation.

I would highly recommend Inside Guys Underpinning, Jakub and his crew did a great job with our flush mount underpinning and we could not be happier. Very clean and professional service. No matter what time or day if we had any questions or concerns they always responded immediately to us.

Working with Inside guys was by far the best experience I have ever had with a contractor. Starting from our initial consultation, Jakub carefully explained the entire process and was able to offer practical solutions to problems other contractors were unable or unwilling to solve. His pricing was transparent and there were no extra cost surprises during the job. It was actually the opposite! During the first week of excavation we discovered that the foundation for the back half of the house went down over 4 feet in depth below the original slab and did not require underpinning. During the initial 2-3 weeks, Jakub refused to take any payment (Based on the original payment schedule) until the back portion of the house was fully excavated, assessed by their engineer and they had a plan on how to proceed. Jakub re-quoted the job and lowered his price significantly based on the reduced project scope.
I used all of Jakubs trades to help ensure the process went as smoothly as possible. For the most part, they were all excellent to deal with. Especially his Architect Branko and George, his plumber. I ran into a few issues with the HVAC contractor, but Jakub was quick jump in to have the work corrected. 
The Inside Guys team took time to thoroughly clean and organize the jobsite every night before leaving. 
Jakub is an excellent communicator and kept me apprised of the work being done each day and what to expect. He is extremely easy to get ahold of by phone or text.  
But most importantly, their workmanship is exceptional. I was left with a beautiful, dry, basement ready for finishing. The whole process was seamless and painless!

We hired Jakub and company to handle our underpinning in the Spring 2022. The team was very efficient, punctual (showed up at the same time every day) and worked very quickly to shore out the basement. My wife and I were expecting a baby, so the timeline was crucial. Jake and team kept their word and delivered a sound product and delivered on schedule. This is not easy work, it is messy and difficult! But the team handled everything incredibly well and we are happy with the results. It is important to help support family run businesses like this that deliver excellent results for a fair price. Thanks again Jakub and Inside Guys for helping to create our beautiful new basement apartment. Taylor, Michelle & Sevy

Jakub and his team were absolutely AMAZING!!! Honestly, if every trade worked this hard and this diligently - construction would be such a higher standard. From our very first meeting right through every stage of the 8 week project, Jakub was friendly, personable, effective at communicating and laid things out for us to understand easily and have confidence in the work they were completing. The team turned up on time, in good spirits every day and worked so hard to achieve what they needed to. At any time, they would pause for questions or clarification and communicated well every day. They were also very thoughtful during the project as we welcomed the birth of our first child half way through.

I can not recommend them enough and the level of quality and professionalism is next level. I hope we need to underpin again in the future, as this team makes it seamless and easy and are our favourite contractor!

Jakub and his crew run a very professional operation. We underpinned our basement in summer 2021/ adding 2 feet to our ceiling height and even creating a whole new large bathroom in what used to be a crawl space. We added to the scope of our work and in real time they took it in stride and stuck to their revised timeline. Our neighbours were very happy because these guys were really clean and organized each and every day of the job. Even the inspector said to us over the phone (because we were out of town) that he was happy it was The Inside Guys on the job because of their well earned trusted reputation in the industry. Jakub is very responsive to any questions/ check ins/ photo updates/ picking up the phone always calling back. Communication was excellent.

A good friend had recommended them to us originally so we trusted them immediately - these guys are the best and we would highly recommend them and hire them again.

We could not be happier with the underpinning work completed by Jakub and the Inside Guys - it was a perfect 10/10 experience. This team of remarkable professionals will be the one that we compare all other contractors against.

When we first met Jakub for an on-site visits it was clear that taking care of our property through this major renovation was his top priority. He operates with an extreme attention to detail, and his quoting process was thorough, transparent, and responsive. We received our quote within 48 hours, and he was available for multiple calls to answer all of my questions and put my mind at ease.

Where other underpinning companies were more interested in putting their competition down, Jakub was far more interested in focussing on the smallest details of the job to gain my trust and respect. Most impressively, Jakub provided me with a comprehensive list of recent customers that he encouraged me to reach out to for references. I sent 11 emails to all of the provided contacts and was stunned when every single one got back to me with effusive praise for their work! I was sold and locked in the job.

When the work commenced, my wife and I decided to spend the first two weeks in a nearby Airbnb. When we stopped by to check in on the work, we were blown away by the care exemplified in Jakubs prep work. Our entire main floor was wrapped neatly in plastic blankets. All of my furniture, carpets, kitchen counters, and appliances were protected from the initial dust bomb when we broke ground. Our hardwood floors were protected with a series of cardboard runners. Simply put, Jakub cares deeply about the property he works on, and I felt like our home was in excellent hands while we were away.

Jakubs crew of underpinners clearly cares about their relationship with homeowners. They arrived early each morning around 8:00am, and concluded work around 5:00pm every day. Our neighbours frequently commented on how courteous every member of the team was. When it snowed, they shovelled our patio and sidewalk, and often even our neighbours walkway. At the end of the day, they thoroughly swept the surrounding area to ensure both our property and the adjacent homes were left better than they found them.

From a communication perspective, Jakub sets an extremely high bar. We set an update cadence of every 48 hours, and he stuck to this without fail. He picks up his phone when you call with questions or concerns. He responds to emails in under 24 hours. He deposits cheques the same day he picks them up. He is consummate professional in every sense of the word. Hes also just a lovely guy, and we became fond of seeing him around our property.

Before the work commenced, my wife and I were really concerned about living through underpinning while we both working from home, just due to the noise and dust. We feared this would be a major disruption to our work and personal lives. In retrospect, our fears were totally unfounded. The overall impact of this job on our lives was about a 3/10. To those reading this worried about WFH and underpinning, simply get yourself (and your neighbours) a good pair of noise cancelling headphones and you wont even notice it during the day. The underpinning did create a lot of dust, so we purchased a couple of air purifiers that really made a difference.

The professionalism shown by the Inside Guys was exceptional. When other trades needed to be involved, Jakub ensured co-ordination was proactive and well communicated. The services offered included a professional cleaner which made a huge difference in the livability of our home during the dig down. We liked the cleaner so much, in fact, that weve decided to hire her on permanently!

We did not experience any significant problems or issues over the course of the 6 week job. On an especially windy day, some specks of concrete found their way onto my neighbours car. When I informed Jakub, he sprung into action and arranged for a mobile auto detailer to come on site to clean the vehicle. This kind of incredible efficiency and care for the customer defined our experience with the Inside Guys. It was really really impressive.

Overall, we are incredibly happy with the underpinning work. With newly 8.5 foot ceilings, interior waterproofing, and the protection of sump pump and a sewage ejector, we feel we got a ton of value out of this project. Impressively, the Inside Guys crew was so efficient that we finished a whole three weeks ahead of schedule! When does that ever happen in construction? Simply awesome.

Ive asked Jakub to proudly add my name to the list of referral customers. An experience like the one the Inside Guys delivered for our family is one absolutely worth sharing!

We had Jakub and his team come and lower our basement approximately two and half feet for a total finished height of 8 and half feet. It went great. We had plumbing for a 4-piece bathroom roughed-in too. Two things that stuck out the most: first, Jakub and his whole team were always very polite and courteous. Second, the entire crew was super clean and tidy during the entire job. Jakub also co-ordinated all the sub-contractors that we would need for the job (HVAC, architect, structural engineer, plumber, mason, etc) everyone that he brought in was also extremely amicable. He ensured we had all the correct permits and organized city inspector visits. We opted for in-floor heating (water tubes in the concrete floor) and the installation with subcontractor went great. The final concrete is relatively smooth and no cracking during curing. At the end of it all he even arranged for a cleaning service for the house. Overall, top quality job.

My husband and I hired inside guys to do an excavation job and underpinning on our 6 ft basement. They took the ceilings to about 8 1/2 feet in about 2 months.

Jakub and his team were amazing. Despite being stuck at home during lockdown for an underpinning process the team made us feel as comfortable as possible. They were respectful of our neighbours and kept the site as clean as possible. To top it all off the work that was done was impeccable (we have gotten a lot of compliments from our finishing contractors).

I was referred to the Inside Guys from a neighbour who claimed they were able to deliver exactly what they said they would...on time and on budget.

I'm pleased to say that they delivered on that and more. Jakub and his team were responsive, knowledgeable and created a seamless outcome for our basement project.

The perfect trades company...do what you do...do it on time...do it on budget. All three boxes checked. Beyond that, every chance Jakub had to help with other trades and elements of my job that were outside his scope, he was happy to do it.

I can't speak any more highly of Inside Guys. My only sadness is that I won't work with them again, because can't underpin again!!!