We Are GTA's Most Trusted Basement Renovation Company! We specialize in basements, let our experts show you why! Our services include basement finishing, remodeling, and complete demolition and re-build. As a family owned business, we take pride in our work, and we hope we hear from you soon to show you why we are the #1 Bas read more...
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So here is our experience working with Penguin, and you can judge things on your own. Hired the team for the kitchen and 2 bathrooms renovation, Guy, the owner, walked through the process and all very professional. The project got a bit delayed during pandemic but at the end they have completed the work. Now one year after, we discovered one of the bathroom grouts all got chip away, and clearly a design flaw. Especially the biggest selling point for us to hire them was because they told us they will waterproof the entire bathroom. So we reached out for warranty.
April
Contact the team on April 6th to get one of their team member to assist the damage. Sent over more than 10 emails finally they told us someone would come visit on April 21th, confirmed the date within hours of the emails. On the 21th, waited all day, no one showed up. Got a bit upset and emailed again finally able to get one of team members on 25th. The Penguin employee showed up on the 25th asked us to replace the bathroom fan and they would take care rest of the damages.
May
Used the contact they referred to us, and it took the fan guy almost one month plus $1000 to get the fan replaced. Contacted Penguin again since we fulfilled their request. Then we got completely ghosted by the project manager. We’ve sent a daily email to follow up but he basically just ignored us at this point. Had to emailed to owner, and finally got a response after almost 2 weeks. Got a call and told us that he will be coming Friday, June 10th, to get the job done.
June
Forward to June 10th, again waited all day with no show, no email, nor call. Messaged the person at the end of the day got no response, messaged him again on Monday June 13th with no response.
So this is what we’ve experienced, and it just felt chaotic and unprofessional at this point. We are very disappointed at the outcome from this. When you work on any expensive home project, trust is always the number one things you look from a team. After we’ve been lied and deceived so many times, it will be impossible at this point to trust this team anymore for us.
Overall my wife and I are really satisfied with the work Penguin Basements has done. With all of the horror stories you hear about renovations, it turned out to be a mostly smooth and rewarding process.
We started out with Rick giving us some amazing designs to choose from. It was a detailed and informative meeting that gave us peace of mind knowing that everything would be done correctly, with permits and necessary inspections.
One of our biggest concerns was the schedule and timing, with a newborn at home and Christmas around the corner. We were concerned with sticking to the agreed to timeline. Permits caused an initial delay but Josh (our Project Manager) and his team were great at accommodating our project and minimizing the lost time. Using the buildertrend app and having access to Josh and the schedule was very helpful. It made it much easier to plan with our dog and newborn at home.
Our basement has gone from an original 1960’s basement to a modern day masterpiece. While we knew issues came with an old basement, they did a great job of overcoming and maximizing those challenges through design and construction. It is a much more efficient use of the space and in a cost effective way when it came to where to place bedrooms and having egress windows, etc. We now have two bedrooms, a large open common area, a bathroom, a laundry room, and a functional storage room.
Josh, Kyle and supporting crew were friendly and accommodating to work with. We had a side entrance to our basement so at times we hardly noticed they were working; At other times they made sure to update and coordinate with us while they were there.
They turned something I particularly thought would be stressful and painful experience into a process I could handle. Now we have a basement we’ll love for a long time and that is ready for our growing family! The kids will have the best parts of the house!
This company signed a contract with us to renovate our kitchen. They held our deposit for a year while we spent hours going over and over the designs with them as they kept changing their designers, some left and some were fired. By the third designer we were very worried and asked to meet the owner. He came over and apologized for "disappointing us" but said "its like you wanted a Porsche but came to a Toyota factory" so I think we will not be able to do the job. I was stunned!. We could have finished our kitchen a year earlier with a different company but they told us they would be doing a better job and that we could "trust them" so we cancelled the first contractor. Now we are left to start the whole thing over again.
I highly recommend Penguin!
Things had a rocky start with them. However, once the communication issues were resolved, I had nothing but a positive experience. Everything was on time, the finishes are perfect and our apartment looks amazing. We are so happy we chose Penguin.
Shot out to Vince, our project manager. He listened to us, provided us with almost daily updates and honestly did a great job.
If I ever have another place that needs a reno, I will call Penguin without a doubt.
Thank you!!
I have these guys finishing up my basement as we speak, we are now entering the 7th week of a project initially planned for 4-5 weeks, without any clear communication on delays or the reason behind pushing out dates...beyond my own frustrations with their lack of communication here are a few facts about some of the things I had to experience through my project (still unfinished):
Signed my contract back in April 12 with a start date of early June, they called me mid-June to ask for a early July, I had to call the day before planned start to realize they had forgotten my start date and scrambled through making last minute shifts to start me on July 4th
Material Delivery went well -Framing went well (I thought), they were asking questions along the way which was good -When the boarding started, the drywall guys couldn't install their boards as the framing was off and unfinished...work had to stop -Electrician came for his part, did his job and followed my instructions for pot lights positioning, framing guys came back and misaligned everything (pot lights were 3-4 inches off and not forming one line) - HVAC guy connected the return to the air supply, and still not fixed, funny thing is that HVAC guy is actually arguing someone changed his install - I noticed trades were coming in and off without any quality control, I emailed them asking who does QC they replied stating that my site manager was on vacay...through the period though no one controlled boarding, mudding/taping, first paint or flooring, etc...
There were also a number of imperfections, all called out during the substantial visit, I'm not mentioning any of them here as I consider all to be "normal" and they were good saying they'll be fixing all We did the substantial visit on Aug 3rd, and I had left town for business for one week, came back on Aug 12 and found that no work was done for a whole week, no heads-up of delays or issues communicated to me... I understand projects have challenges, but I need a better communication and transparency to the timelines along with a better follow up on the issues I keep calling out, I plan to post another review once the project is complete and will share how things ended up being closed.
Thanks
We appreciate your review and you are not the first to comment on the communication issue. We have had rapid growth in the past year and indeed, managing communication has been an issue. But it is one we are not ignoring. This is a critical process to us and we are taking these comments seriously. We are implementing new training and communication protocols, that will be rolled out as soon as possible, in an effort to better address problems such as these. We are not always perfect, unfortunately, but we are always striving to be, We value our clients and their feedback, and we are dedicated to building the company as it grows to be the best Basement Build company in the GTA.
Great team, always answered any questions that I may have. They were very prompt to reply to my calls and text messages. The decor centre has a variety to modern color materials to choose from. The quality of their materials are mold free for life. It's especially great if you have small children playing in the basement.
One of the major factor I chose Penguin was the material they use. I wanted my basement to be integrated into the rest of the house as a full functional space. The fact they use magnesium oxide board with steel frame peaked my interest the most. These boards are stronger, mold/mildew free and provide superior fire resistance.
After contacting the office, they set up an initial consult, which require 2+ hours at my house. David, the designer was very kind and courteous. He took time to answer all the questions provided very detailed quote. I had a good feeling about the company already at this time, judging from their quote system and professional teams that would take care each category of jobs separately. I especially liked the fact that they don't rely on subcontracting, which could cause so much problem.
At the initial meeting, I signed the contract and was set to go. Project manager was assigned to me and contacted me to set up a meeting at their designer center, where I would select materials to be used(color or floor, door, etc). It was quick and easy process. The only thing was that their supplier for the floorboard did not have stock for the exact color of floor I wanted at the time. However, it was not a major issue and rather than delaying/waiting, I wanted the job to be done before winter, so I chose alternate color that works as well.
The actual process took about 4 weeks, that includes framing, board, floor, staircase carpeting, electrical wiring, painting. I also chose open ceiling where beams and wires are exposed but all painted.
Each team/person for the job would arrive as per the schedule(the details and any changes to work order, payment info are posted on Builders Trend site), and project manager checked in regularly to oversee the job. Any changes to the initial quote would be posted on the Builders Trend in the form of work order. I really liked the professionalism of the whole process.
Their onsite teams are comprised of well experienced crews. Each team will come in the date they are assigned and finish the job quickly and neatly. I could see they are very skilled and have good knowledge about finishing basement.
Asides from minor glitches, I am very satisfied with their quality of work, the whole process and systematic quote/work order. Penguin is definitely not cheaper than other contractor, but The material and workmanship are worth the money. I suggest anyone who is planning to renovate basement to have clearer vision in their mind regarding the space they want to create. The more detailed your plan is, the less changes to the work order, hence quicker and smooth process.
My daughter, who rarely came down to basement, now would not leave the newly renovated basement. After renovation, it not only became very integrated part of the house, it actually became main family hangout area.
As a family, we had waited for the right time and the right contractor to provide us with the basement of our dreams. We had been discussing a basement renovation for extra living space for some time but had no previous experience in hiring a professional contractor. That is until we had researched Penguin Basements Ltd after seeing a lawn sign in our own neighbourhood. We had never been involved in renovations prior to this one and were not certain what to look for or what questions to ask when interviewing for a Basement Contractor. Penguin came by within a few days of contact- provided us with a very thorough presentation and also was attentive to our wishes of how the basement plans would be completed. Gerard was professional and well prepared for the first meeting at our home. The entire staff at Penguin was courteous, reliable and respectful of how we had wanted the outcome of the renovation to be. After that first meeting with Gerard, my husband & I were ready to commit with Penguin for our basement renovation. We were very impressed with the products used by Penguin, such as the magnesium oxide wallboards & steel framing, which is guaranteed by Penguin to be mould & mildew resistant. This was also an important health safety factor in making our decision in hiring Penguin Basements Ltd. The frequency & reliability of communication and job workmanship to us was important and amazing- making us truly feel that we were a part of the entire renovation process from start to finish. The 'Team Approach' was evident from the initial office meeting where Gerard introduced us to Guy. Later we were introduced to Robert at the Design Centre and then the Project Manager, Juliano. We were totally impressed with the entire team as a whole and with the professionalism and pride that was evident in the manner in which Penguin conducted business. We could not have asked for a better result with our beautiful basement. It is now a space that we can enjoy as a family for many years to come. This to us is what commitment to a job well done is all about. To anyone reading this review who is thinking of a Basement Renovation- then we would strongly recommend Penguin Basements - you will not be disappointed in the professionalism and workmanship results delivered by a great team.
Kerry and Rob Doucet
Ajax
We could not have been happier with our new basement. Guy Solomon and his team did a fantastic job turning our ugly and wet basement into a perfect home theatre room. The renovation was done as scheduled and all our requests were met. Thank you once again for creating such a great space for our family to have fun at!
No need to search anymore. Just hire Penguin Basements! When my wife and I decided to finish our basement I was quite hesitant. I had never done a major renovation on a home before and it seems that every night on the news there's a story about an unscrupulous contractor out there. This was going to be a pretty large under taking as there was 1200+ square fee to be finished. The Penguin Basements team was fantastic. The educational process about their process was very informative and made us very comfortable about making our decision to go with them. The project was kicked off with a detailed plan that we had access to and a dedicated project manager assigned. Our PM communicated daily with us and ensured that we were completely satisfied along the way. The attention to detail was incredible and very much appreciated. Our end result is 1200 square feet of additional space that we use on a daily basis that we couldn't be happier with. Anyone who had concerns about shady contractors like I did should hire Penguin Basements for their renovations. They were professional, accountable and most importantly, cared about what WE cared about. I would highly recommend them and would not hesitate to use them again myself.
Penguin Basements Ltd. has a TrustScore™ of 3.5. The average TrustScore™ for other businesses providing similar services in North York 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 | 0 | 18 |
Approved | 0 | 14 |
Unverified | 0 | 1 |
Suspicious | 0 | 3 |
Overall Rating | 4.2/5 |
Complaints Received | Last 12 Months | Last 3 Years |
---|---|---|
Suppliers & Creditors | 0 | 0 |
Employees & Sub-Contractors | 0 | 0 |
Transparency | |
---|---|
Posted License Information | Not yet provided |
Posted Liability Insurance | Available upon request |
Posted Workers Compensation | Yes |
Company Website | Yes |
Social Media Profiles | |
Endorsed by Peers | Not yet endorsed |
In Business Since | 2010 |
Member of TrustedPros Since | 2014 |
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 are a family owned, full-service Basement Renovation Company. We offered a mold free, fire-rated wall system that will turn a cold, damp basement into a comfortable, dry, living space. We offer a FREE, full inspection, digital design and complete detailed estimate. Call for your estimate today!
We Are GTA's Most Trusted Basement Renovation Company!
We specialize in basements, let our experts show you why! Our services include basement finishing, remodeling, and complete demolition and re-build. As a family owned business, we take pride in our work, and we hope we hear from you soon to show you why we are the #1 Basement Renovation Company in the GTA.
Main contact(s) | Guy Solomon |
Alternate Phone Numbers | 866-262-8289 |
Listed with TrustedPros since: | 2014 |
Residential work | Yes |
Commercial work | No |
Warranty | Warranty details not yet provided |
Accepts credit cards | Yes |
Year established | 2010 |
Offers financing | Yes |
24 Hour emergency service | No |
Legal structure | Incorporated |
Licensing information | Contact Penguin Basements Ltd. to request licensing info. |
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.
Penguin Basements Ltd. has contributed 4 responses to the following questions posted in the 'Ask the Pros' forum