3 Stones Custom Homes was founded in 2010 by Chris Lawrence, licensed carpenter/contractor, and Bill Crilly, P. Eng. (structural). Together they bring a unique combination of skills and knowledge to every project having purchased, renovated, and sold a large number of homes in downtown Toronto. 3 Stones Custom Homes is po read more...
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3Stones did a major renovation and redesign of the second and third floors of our old Victorian house. They provided a detailed day-by-day! timetable and quotation of the work at the start. Every two weeks progress of the work and the budget was reviewed on site, detailed invoice for payment, and receipts were provided. Except for structural surprises and agreed-on savings as the work progressed, they kept completely within budget, and within the timetable. The work by all trades was excellent, progress meetings valuable and instructive. We feel very fortunate to have them do our work in such a transparent and excellent way.
Bill and Chris were very professional - they did a good job keeping us informed of budget and timelines. It seemed as if they were always aware of cost and were respectful and considerate when detailing options. It was obvious they took pride in their work and I was comfortable that all details would be handled correctly even if I couldn't see them. I would highly recommend them for any home improvement project.
Thanks Robin-Anne - it was great to work with yourself and Jules! We hope you're enjoying your new home!
We have done multiple renovations over the years, this was our first renovation with Chris and Bill of 3 Stones Custom Homes and our best experience.
During the initial interviewing process 3 Stones was highly professional. They did a thorough walkaround, listened to our key requirements, and prepared a detailed budget and timeline. Communication was great for both my husband and I.
With 3 Stones, we used a time-and-materials contract instead of the more typical fixed-price contract. All renovations have surprises and unforeseen issues after the demolition starts and these can cost extra regardless of the type of contract. A time-and-materials contract can be more effective when a homeowner and contractor are collaborative, mutually trustworthy and decisive. The original projected 7 month project was fully complete in 7 months + 3 weeks, despite Covid issues and material availability issues due to supply chain disruptions.
Throughout the renovation process, we met with Chris and Bill at least every 2 weeks. They provided detailed times when decisions were required, construction alternatives when various issues arose, useful recommendations based on their past experience, and typical costs associated with the alternatives. As our renovation happened during Covid, there were a few estimates that were off that could not have been anticipated, but Chris and Bill were effective at helping find reasonable alternatives in each case (e.g. substitute joist type, different vendor, modifying an existing fireplace, etc). At all times we felt we knew how, where and when money was being spent. This approach let us work out details and changes on the fly that resulted in a much more effective and great-looking renovation.
They continue to follow up effectively on details after project completion.
Chris and Bill are highly experienced and have great long term relationships with their trades. They are highly people-focused and a pleasure to work with. We are highly satisfied with the result and highly recommend Chris and Bill. We feel lucky to have worked with them.
Thanks very much Bayla. It was a real pleasure working with yourself and Richard! Wishing you many happy years in your new home!
Renovations are a field of land mines that you have to face every day and if there was anyone you need by your side to calm you down and get the problem fixed and give you the results you need, it’s 3 Stones. Chris and Bill gave us our dream home and in the deadline they promised. They were there at the drop of a hat when we needed help and had creative solutions for any issues we faced. We might buy a new home just to work with them again!
John and Tanya Aird
We hired 3 Stones Custom Homes for the gut renovation of our house in Little Italy.
It was a very complicated project since the house was in very poor shape structurally and on very bad soil. Not only that, but all of the framing in the house had been warping for a hundred years, so there were no straight lines.
We were the architects on our project and we worked directly with Bill Crilly from 3 Stones for structural engineering. Chris Lawrence managed the construction of the project.
As professionals who have renovated a few houses in Toronto, I have to say that our experience with 3 Stones was extremely positive and we hope to work with them again soon. Throughout the process there were several aspects of working with 3 Stones that made it so good:
Realistic estimates of schedule
Realistic and real time estimates of budget
Quick estimates of costs of design changes (we made a lot of design changes)
Openness to changes and to all of the one of a kind details that we designed
Professional demeanor
Friendly and positive attitude
High quality work
3 Stones has a schedule and budget update issued with every invoice. This helped us to adjust our expectations and to understand the consequences of the design changes we were making. Throughout the project, we also kept finding little opportunities for improvement on our design; 3 Stones helped us evaluate each of these potential changes in very fast estimates. We were always really impressed with the way that Chris could usually do the math on most of these changes in his head and let us know what it would set us back right after we explained it.
Chris and Bill were also always upbeat and open to anything that we proposed. Our experience with some of the other contractors that we interviewed for this project was that they frowned a lot in order to seem competent. Bill and Chris had a demeanor that gave us more confidence because it was clear they were up to the challenges.
On the whole we were really impressed with the work that they did. Their teams were extremely friendly, efficient and talented. All of the interior finishes, mechanical systems, millwork and trim were done with such an incredible amount of care. Our house now looks beautiful but also feels solid and well made. We can’t recommend them enough.
Working with Chris and Bill made what could have been a stressful experience enjoyable.
We took a long time to choose contractors and after watching them complete another renovation on our street we knew we had found the right company. They were considerate of the neighbourhood and the quality of their work was excellent.
While not the cheapest quote we received, they did come in on-time and under budget.
I once heard that you can only have two of three expectations met from a renovation, under budget, on-time, and well done. 3 Stones managed to deliver all three!!!
Thanks Tamara - it was a real pleasure working with you on your main floor and backyard renovation project!
We are so pleased with our renovations and highly recommend 3 Stones Custom Homes!! Chris and Bill are a perfect team and an absolute pleasure to work with! They are highly skilled with many years of experience, extremely organized and truly care about their clients and doing a good job. Throughout the renovations, we always felt confident that we were in very good hands. Chris and Bill worked very well with our designers and have obviously built excellent working relationships with all of their trades’ people over the years as all of them are knowledgeable and work well together in a timely and efficient manner. Chris and Bill are always very responsive. They get back to calls and texts immediately and are good at fixing any small deficiencies in their work without delay. We especially like that Chris and Bill provided us with a detailed break down of all costs and expenses, along with a chart setting out the timing for different parts of our various projects, so that we could keep up to date with exactly what was being done and how much was being spent. They scheduled regular check-ins to go through progress, solicit feedback and provide updated charts so that we continuously felt satisfied that things were getting done in best way possible to meet our needs. The results speak for themselves! Our top floor master bedroom with walk-in closet and bathroom is particularly lovely. Thank you 3 Stones!!
Thanks for your positive comments - we're thrilled to hear how much you enjoyed working with us and your new space.
We did an extensive renovation project with 3 Stones that included fully gutting and rebuilding the basement and third floors and rebuilding our front porch. Chris and Bill always provided expertise and great advice as we went, which was especially helpful during the permitting process with the city. Of the three quotes we got at the beginning of our project, they actually came in the highest, and we were nervous about that, but in the long run we were reassured by their open-book budgeting process, which meant we knew exactly what we were spending, and on what. Remarkably, they came in slightly under budget, despite some scope changes along the way.
Overall, it was a real pleasure working with Chris and Bill. They and their tradespeople were always efficient, courteous, and kept the place clean as they went. On top of that, they always showed up when they said they would. This was a real change from our previous renovation experiences! They brought a great depth of knowledge and imaginative solutions to their work with us. We can't recommend them highly enough.
We were delighted with the entire renovation process with 3 Stones Custom Homes. This was our first major renovation, and Bill and Chris took the time to explain (in great detail) the entire process & anticipated costs. It was so helpful to have a step by step calendar which outlined exactly what would be happening at any given time - with detailed deadlines for homeowner decisions/input/payments. We also received week to week status reports, so there were no surprises. Dealing with Bill & Chris was a true delight, and our home (built in 1913) looks like a new home. I also appreciated the knowledge they shared which allowed us to cut costs.
The tradesmen who did the work on the house really took pride in their crafts, and the results show this attention to detail.
We had a tight timeframe for the house reno (3 months) and although we added several additional jobs (new flooring, additional air conditioning, etc) we were still able to get the work done in 3 months. I think having open, honest communication was key to the process.
I can't recommend 3 Stones highly enough.
We recently purchased a newly "flipped" home that was renovated by 3 Stones Custom Homes, and have nothing but positive things to say about our entire experience with the company. In particular, we have been very pleased by the diligence, service and attention to detail provided by Chris Lawrence (a partner at the company), especially in the months *after* we purchased our home.
From our first visit during an open house, this home stood out from many other "flips" we saw during our search. It was clear that 3 Stones put much thought into the renovation. From the reconfigured layout of the home down to the every design detail, not an item was overlooked. This home was thoughtfully designed and beautifully refinished to be a functional family home.
In the months since we have moved in, Chris has been a phone call away at anytime we have found ourselves needing guidance or information (even on things that fall outside of his official purview). As first-time homeowners, this support has been invaluable.
We would highly recommend 3 Stones Custom Homes for any new buyers looking to purchase a renovated home, or homeowners looking to do some renos of their own. We love our home, and can't speak highly enough of our experience with the company and their work.
3 Stones Custom Homes Inc has a TrustScore™ of 4.7. The average TrustScore™ for other businesses providing similar services in Toronto and the surrounding areas is 3. For detailed information on how TrustScore is calculated, click here to learn more.
The following elements are used to calculate TrustScore:
Customer Reviews | Last 12 Months | All Time |
---|---|---|
Total Received | 1 | 13 |
Approved | 1 | 13 |
Unverified | 0 | 0 |
Suspicious | 0 | 0 |
Overall Rating | 4.8/5 | 5/5 |
Complaints Received | Last 12 Months | Last 3 Years |
---|---|---|
Suppliers & Creditors | 0 | 0 |
Employees & Sub-Contractors | 0 | 0 |
Transparency | |
---|---|
Posted License Information | Available upon request |
Posted Liability Insurance | Available upon request |
Posted Workers Compensation | Yes |
Company Website | Yes |
Social Media Profiles | Not yet provided |
Endorsed by Peers | Not yet endorsed |
In Business Since | 2010 |
Member of TrustedPros Since | 2015 |
TrustedPros does not validate certain information provided by contractors and vendors in conjunction with the creation or maintenance of their profile and we cannot endorse or guarantee the performance of any contractor. TrustScores are provided for informational purposes only. We urge you to use the TrustScore™ in conjunction with the tips provided in our Hiring Guide to maximize the probability of hiring the best professional for you project.
3 Stones Custom Homes was founded in 2010 by Chris Lawrence, licensed carpenter/contractor, and Bill Crilly, P. Eng. (structural). Together they bring a unique combination of skills and knowledge to every project having purchased, renovated, and sold a large number of homes in downtown Toronto.
3 Stones Custom Homes is powered by the expertise of our skilled trades people and our dedication to our clients in providing high quality results in a timely manner at a reasonable cost. 3 Stones Custom Homes offers high quality start-to-finish design, building permit development, and construction services on projects of every scale. We provide 'open-book' project delivery to provide our clients with full visibility on all costs from budget development through to final invoicing. At all times we have our clients' best interests at heart - with integrity and transparency as our core values.
For more information on our services and projects please visit us.
3 Stones Custom Homes Inc was awarded Best of TrustedPros in 2022 for General Contracting in Toronto.
Main contact(s) | Chris Lawrence |
Listed with TrustedPros since: | 2015 |
Residential work | Yes |
Commercial work | Yes |
Warranty | 3 Stones Custom Homes offers a 6 month "make-it-right" warranty on all of our supplied materials and labour. |
Accepts credit cards | Yes |
Year established | 2010 |
Offers financing | Yes |
24 Hour emergency service | Yes |
Legal structure | Incorporated |
Licensing information | Licensing information available upon request |
Insurance information | Insurance information available upon request |
Check local laws pertaining to license requirements and verify license and insurance details provided by the contractor prior to hiring.