Germano Creative Interior Contracting Ltd. specializes in custom design basements and interior home renovations. We have dedicated 18 years to people like you who are looking to rediscover the endless possibilities and changes that are possible in your home before considering an expensive move or relocation. Whether you're looking to renovate your b read more...
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After 3 years of researching and completing a list of needed renovations, reading reviews and getting advice, we met with 3 contractors. We were ultimately and immediately most impressed with Suzette and contracted Germano Creative Interiors for renovations throughout the spring and summer of 2015. Throughout the process Suzette was always very organized and never failed to communicate what we could expect in advance and during every stage of the project. She worked with us to keep costs down and guided us on jobs we chose to do on our own. Her attention to detail and experience with her tradesmen gave us confidence that each project was completed with accuracy. She has excellent skills in recommending a course of action in reno's or design and is highly communicative so everyone is on the same page and all expectations are met. Every room in our home had some level of work done, some to correct the builders errors and other rooms were completely gutted and redesigned. Suzette was very generous with her time to create a relationship so she could determine our sense of style (or lack of!), then assess our comfort level when it came to financial decisions. This was extremely helpful when sourcing out materials as well as problem solving. We often sought out and readily took her advice especially on design, colour choices and practicality. Can't say enough about her work ethic nor quality of work. If you have any reservations about hiring a woman to do a contracting job, rest assured you have the right man for the job! We will always be thankful in our selection of Germano Creative Interiors for our reno's. and have fallen in love with our home again.
From the moment we had our first consultation to the very last full inspection, Suzzette and her team were very professional, courteous, and easy to work with. She even made sure there was no work being done during our new-borns nap time.
Suzzette's team of workers are veteran professionals who work in both residential and commercial contracting. This being said, you are getting top-notch people working for you.
Everything was explained in an easy to understand contract. Any additional add-ons and/or changes where added promptly as well.
Suzzette is more on the expensive side of contractors, but when you see the end result, we think it was worth spending the extra for the customer service and top-notch workmanship.
When I ask people today how they would rate our basement out of a 10...their answer is always 12.
Suzzette's team is returning to do our front porch. I will write a review about this experience as well.
We had not considered renovating our basement until we saw a friend's basement in Cambridge finished by Suzette Mariz at Germano Creative Interior Contracting Ltd. My wife and I immediately decided we should embark on our renovations and do something similar - employing the same general contractor.
We found Suzette to be professional, personable, courteous, knowledgeable, a real pleasure to work with, and felt an instant trust and rapport with her. She was able to take our ideas for the basement and make them a reality - the office area/sewing room, living room, washroom, small kitchenette, 2 bedrooms, laundry room and floating shelves for my wine bottles and floating shelf for my TV which I really love.
Her team was professional, courteous, accommodating and considerate of our privacy. Unlike many stories you hear about contractors - they showed up on time and cleaned up before they left every day. This added about 1000 sq. ft. of new living space for us. Despite having more than adequate living space in our home, having such an exceptional finished basement has really completed our retirement dream house. We are extremely pleased with the finished product, as it gives us a great area for entertaining for friends and family and a great hangout area for our grandchildren
The project was completed on time and budget. There were no delays that you often hear of with other contractors. She addressed all of our concerns and kept the project running smoothly with her team. The direct and continuously open lines of communication throughout the project via e-mail, in person and telephone were second to none. Her recommendations were excellent and right on the mark. The attention to detail was amazing and her ability to accommodate our requests during the project; even made some suggestions that saved us some money. It was those little extra touches that made the finished product so unique.
We continue to receive glowing compliments from family and friends. We highly recommend Germano Creative Interior Contracting Ltd., and will be contacting Suzette for future remodeling projects.
Angelina from Kitchener
Germano Creative Interior was hired to do a compete renovation of our washroom (a difficult space), replace all baseboards, trim and inside doors on the main level, 1 exterior door, paint kitchen and living room, and install a few updated fixtures.
From the moment Suzette first met with us, my husband and I had a good feeling about her. She was knowledgeable and thorough when looking at the scope of the project. She was up front in her assessment of some of the work to be done, suggesting in one case it needed to be done "right", unlike another contractor who suggested we try and hide the issue. Suzette did not try to low ball the amount of time the renovation was going to take, and was up front with that as well.
Not only does Suzette have the knowledge of the physical space and the construction end of it, but she also has an eye for the design elements of the space which was very helpful. She could visualize what would look good and made suggestions, but was very clear that we were in the driver seat as to what the final decisions were. More often than not, we went with her suggestions and are glad we did. The transformation is amazing!!!
Suzette kept the trades on time, continually updated us as to what happened that day or would happen the next day. She is friendly, competent, goes way above and beyond and her customer service is impeccable. During the messy parts, Suzette and her daughter came to clean up after the trades left each day and at the end of the job did the most thorough clean I have ever experienced. Her attention to detail is amazing.
We have already recommended Suzette and Germano Creative Interior to others and will continue to do so. She takes great pride in her work and it shows. We would not hesitate to choose Suzette and her company as a contractor again.
The floor tiles are loose, cracking, and the grout is coming out. The tiles were not laid properly or installed correctly. The framing was poorly executed (not square). I spoke to Suzette about my concerns and all I received were arguments and she blamed everyone except here workers. I am extremely disappointed with the end result. I would not recommend this contractor to a friend or an enemy.
Martin,
I am sorry you feel this way.
I was contracted to do renovations in your home in February 2011.
I have all correspondences regarding the renovation process, in which you and I discussed solutions in a professional and consultative manner every step of the way. In fact, no work was performed unless you had approved the way in which we were going to deal with the issues. Unfortunately, the difficulties we experienced were structural in nature i.e. walls and floor heights. In the end, you expressed your gratitude and I was paid in full for all work performed. In fact, we even discussed further renovations for your washroom and kitchen.
Highlighted issues:
1. The flooring in the kitchen area was part of a new addition and the subfloor had been installed by other contractors. The flooring in the washroom and laundry room were installed at different times, the kitchen tile height was going to be higher due to in floor heating, thin set mortar and tile.
2. The subfloor in the hallway between living room and kitchen was higher because this was the original floor of a century old home. We shaved one board down by 1/4" and installed fiber rock to reinforce subfloor.
3. Wall by the side entrance door in the kitchen was out of level, my framers built out wall but measurements were taken from another wall which was also out, framers came back to address wall.
4. The misalignment of the tile between the kitchen and hallway was less than 1" and was due to the walls being out of square in the first place, however tiles between 2 floor areas do not butt because the kitchen and hallway floor are at different heights, a 3 1/2" by 1 1/2"oak reducer was installed at doorway.
5. Options offered to Martin: a) remove floor tile in the hallway and re install it b) credit for tile installation, Martine accepted credit c) fix structural wall in hallway, this would camouflage tile at doorway. Martin requested repair to structural wall.
Martin s last correspondence regarding the renovations sent on August 3, 2011.
"Hi Suzette:
Thanks for inquiring how the job went.
When Vasile arrived we had marked the location of the loose tiles. Vasile, for whatever reason, decided to only fix 4 loose tiles. The tiles located in front of the washroom and refrigerator were not removed but re-grouted. These tiles still move. Other than that, I have no complaints. We will mark these tiles again and hopefully they will be taken care of.
Thanks, Martin"
Comments on ratings:
6. Timeliness: the work was completed on time; the oak thresholds had to be custom made due to different floor heights.
7. Budget: The project was on budget. Additional fees for work performed were requested and agreed to by the client.
8. Cleanliness: The project was kept organized and clean, drywall dust is difficult to contain and is expected. Floors were vacuumed and washed on completion.
9. Quality: disappointed with this rating
10. Communication: 169 email correspondences during the renovation process.
11. Courteous: acceptable rating.
Martin contacted me 2 more times since the repairs in August 2011.
March 12, 2012, Martin left a message regarding water damages to hallway ceiling which he suspected may have been caused by a screw during the renovations back in February 2011. My response: if we had punctured a plumbing line, water damages would have been visible on day 1. Martin contacted me 2 days later stating his plumber was the cause of the problem. Martin said he would contact me for ceiling repairs. I never heard back from Martin.
Earlier this year, Martin contacted me saying, he was ripping out floors and I was responsible. I said I was willing to meet to assess complaint although warranty had expired.
It saddens me to read this review as I truly care about my clients. I always encourage my clients to contact me if they have any issues and concerns as I will help them anyway I can.
I wish Martin all the best in future renovation endeavors!
Suzette and her team did an excellent job and would not hesitate to use them again. I still get compliments on my basement. Suzette's experience and her work ethics are apparent in the finished product. I am still amazed that the work site was cleaned every night after the trades where in and the project was finished ON TIME.!!!!
Suzette worked with us every step of the way from quotation to completed project, understanding our every need and wish, keeping the work on time and within budget. When there were choices available she made recommendations that suited our needs and wallet perfectly. Her choice of subcontractors was perfect, best craftsmanship and highest quality with very reasonable price. She worked with us to allow our participation where our skills (plumbing and painting) integrated with the other subs. Our basement is beautiful, functional and will last a long time.
I can't say enough about this company and their professionalism. I was very impressed and extremely happy with my kitchen and all the other things I added on because I felt so much confidence that it would be done properly. Suzette e-mailed us every night to let us know what would be happening the next day. Our job was completed when promised.She was so friendly, it was like talking to one of my family every time I saw her. She is also on site everyday making sure her workers are doing what is expected of them. My reno was completed in Oct/13 and I just "LOVE" my new kitchen, my whole new painted house, new baseboards,crown mouldings etc.The price I paid was also a phenominal great price!! Couldn't compare, It was better than any other quotes I received . Suzette even went with us to pick out our floors, counters, backsplashes and all borders. If I ever decide to do more renovations, she would be the first person I call. My Brother also had jobs done by her and was very satisfied as well. I have given her name out quite a bit to friends and family!! Very, very satisfied with this company!!
This is the second renovation done by Germano Creative in my home.
Again, I found Suzette to be honest and professional. Her attention to detail in preparing the proposal, in daily project updates, and in the final price breakdown, was very much appreciated. I always knew what was happening, when, as Suzette would, daily, either be here on site or email updates.
She seemed to know that I was uncomfortable choosing some design items as I have difficulty "envisioning" the final look. To my surprise, Suzette took me shopping for tile and granite and helped me choose what, ultimately, looks wonderful! I so much appreciated this advice and "personal" touch.
I will, definitely, hire Germano Creative for my next renovation.
If you're looking for a cookie cutter basement renovation with a lightning fast completion schedule that gets the job done according to someone else's vision for design and materials then Suzette Mariz and Germano Construction IS NOT the choice for you!
If, however, you want a company that comes in and, right from the very beginning, works with you to achieve the results that YOU imagine, then Germano deserves your attention.
From the moment Suzette walked into our home, we had an intuitive sense that we would work well together. She took way more time than any other company in the beginning stages of listening, measuring and planning the best possible use of our space.
From the very beginning of the project to the end (today!) Suzette kept us informed of work schedules, who would be coming and going and when she would be on site. She provided daily updates and gave us ample time to make decisions that needed to be made along the way.
The worksite was cleaned at the end of each day and we were able to live our lives without worrying about what was happening downstairs.
Suzette worked with the Town on parking easements, permits and inspections. This was truly her project.
You often hear about projects going overtime and over budget. In our case, Suzette kept both on track and our project has been completed on time and on budget!
But there are two very important things with which I'm walking away. First, we have a basement that we're very proud of. The attention to detail and finesse along the way has left us looking forward to many years of living in this space.
Second, we have developed a relationship with someone who is passionate about their work, knows their stuff and has a great eye for design.
For our next project, we will skipping the search and estimate phase and contacting Germano Construction!
Germano Creative Interior Contracting Ltd. has a TrustScore™ of 4.4. The average TrustScore™ for other businesses providing similar services in Cambridge and the surrounding areas is 3.1. 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 | 6 | 72 |
Approved | 6 | 72 |
Unverified | 0 | 0 |
Suspicious | 0 | 0 |
Overall Rating | 5/5 | 4.9/5 |
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 | Available upon request |
Company Website | Yes |
Social Media Profiles | |
Endorsed by Peers | Not yet endorsed |
In Business Since | 2002 |
Member of TrustedPros Since | 2008 |
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.
We specialize in finishing and remodeling bathrooms of quality workmanship and take great pride in offering our clients unique and custom designs to suit their needs and style. Browse through our bathroom portfolios to find inspiration for your bathroom design!
We specialize in finishing basements of quality workmanship and take great pride in offering our clients unique and custom designs to suit their needs and style. Browse through our basement portfolios to find inspiration for your basement design!
We specialize in remodeling kitchens of quality workmanship and take great pride in offering our clients unique and custom designs to suit their needs and style. Browse through our kitchen portfolios to find inspiration for your kitchen design!
Cabinetry and Millwork, Carpentry, Carpeting, Ceiling, Countertops, Drywalling, Electrical, Fireplaces, Floor Heating, Floor Refinishing, Flooring, Framing, General Contracting, Heating & Air Conditioning, Home Additions, Home Construction, Home Theaters, Hot Tubs, Interior Design, Painting, Plumbing, Roofing, Siding, Tiling, Wallpapering, Windows and Doors
Germano Creative Interior Contracting Ltd. specializes in custom design basements and interior home renovations. We have dedicated 18 years to people like you who are looking to rediscover the endless possibilities and changes that are possible in your home before considering an expensive move or relocation.
Whether you're looking to renovate your basement, bathroom, kitchen, build a home theater, add a fireplace, etc...we will create the quality space for your individual needs and increase the value of your home.
Germano Creative Interior Contracting Ltd. offers many integral services and has an experienced team of professionals committed to ensuring excellent quality workmanship. Every project is professionally managed by a project manager with continuous on-site communication from start to finish.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Suzette
Wishing you all the best with your renovation endeavors!
Germano Creative Interior Contracting Ltd. was awarded Best of TrustedPros in 2019 for Bathroom Renovations in Cambridge.
Germano Creative Interior Contracting Ltd. was awarded Best of TrustedPros in 2018 for Basement Renovations and Bathroom Renovations in Kitchener.
Germano Creative Interior Contracting Ltd. was awarded Best of TrustedPros in 2017 for Basement Renovations, Bathroom Renovations and Kitchen Renovations in Kitchener.
Germano Creative Interior Contracting Ltd. was awarded Best of TrustedPros in 2016 for Basement Renovations in Kitchener.
Germano Creative Interior Contracting Ltd. was awarded Best of TrustedPros in 2014 for Basement Renovations in Kitchener.
Germano Creative Interior Contracting Ltd. was awarded Best of TrustedPros in 2013 for Basement Renovations in Kitchener.
Main contact(s) | Suzette Germano dos Santos |
Alternate Phone Numbers | 519-722-1720, |
Listed with TrustedPros since: | 2008 |
Residential work | Yes |
Commercial work | Yes |
Warranty | We provide a 1 year warranty. If any issues arise within one year, you will need to contact the contractor and deficiencies will be addressed promptly. |
Accepts credit cards | No |
Year established | 2002 |
Offers financing | No |
24 Hour emergency service | No |
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.
Germano Creative Interior Contracting Ltd. has contributed 9 responses to the following questions posted in the 'Ask the Pros' forum