How a project runs
A fit-out or renovation goes through six stages, from the first call to handover. Here is what happens at each one, what we need from you, and what you get back.
Six stages, first call to handover
Your landlord, the city and your own team each come in at a known point. One contractor keeps the whole sequence moving.
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First call
You tell us about the space and what you need from it. A few plain details at this stage make the site visit useful from the start. From this first step, you are working with a contractor that is WSIB covered and insured.
- You provide
- The type of space, the address, the approximate size in square feet, your timing, and whether you are the tenant, landlord or owner.
- You get back
- A time to walk the unit together.
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Site visit
We walk the unit with you and look at what is already there: walls and ceilings, washrooms, the electrical and mechanical services, and anything left from the previous use. We talk through how you will use the space and what the building allows.
- You provide
- Access to the unit, any drawings you have, and the building's rules for contractors if the landlord has given them to you.
- You get back
- A clear, shared picture of the work before anything is priced.
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Scope and price
We set out the scope of work, item by item, with a price. You can read it against your lease, your landlord's work letter and your budget, and ask for changes before you commit.
- You provide
- Your questions and any changes to the scope.
- You get back
- A scope of work and a price you can check line by line.
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Drawings and approvals
The drawings are settled, the landlord signs off on the work, and the permits the project needs are in place before construction starts. If you do not have drawings yet, tell us at the first call and we will talk through what your project needs.
- You provide
- Your landlord's approval of the design, and the decisions on layout and finishes that the drawings depend on.
- You get back
- A start date and a construction schedule built around your move-in or opening date.
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Construction
Demolition, framing, rough-ins for electrical, plumbing and HVAC, drywall and ceilings, flooring, paint and millwork come in the right order on one schedule. The site is kept tidy and the work contained, so the building stays usable around it.
- You provide
- One contact on your side, and timely answers when a finish or detail needs a decision.
- You get back
- One company to call about every trade on the job.
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Inspections and handover
The required inspections are passed, we walk the space with you, and the last items on the list are finished. Then the unit is handed over, clean and ready for your furniture, fixtures or equipment.
- You provide
- Time for the final walk-through with us.
- You get back
- A finished space, ready to use.
Working in occupied and shared buildings
Most commercial units sit in a plaza, a mall or an office building, with neighbours who keep working while yours is built.
The landlord's rules
Buildings set their own rules for contractors: when noisy work can happen, which areas are off limits, and what the property manager needs to see before work starts. We plan the schedule to those rules.
Neighbouring tenants
The shop or office next door is still open for business. Dust, noise and shut-offs of shared services are planned and flagged ahead, so neighbours and the property manager are not caught off guard.
Access and deliveries
Loading docks, service elevators and parking are shared. Materials arrive when the building allows, by the route it allows, and common areas are protected on the way in and out.
Tidy and contained
Work stays inside the unit. The site is cleaned up as it goes, so the corridor, the storefront and the shared spaces around it stay presentable for everyone else.
Questions commercial clients ask
If yours is not here, send it with your enquiry and we will answer it on the first call.
Do I need a permit?
It depends on the work. Changes to walls, plumbing, ventilation, electrical or exits usually need a building permit from the city. We look at this at the site visit and in the scope, and permits are in place before the work they cover begins.
Who gets landlord approval?
Your lease sets this out. Most leases ask the tenant to have the landlord approve the work before it starts. We work to the building's contractor rules and can answer the property manager's questions about the work.
Can you work around my lease and opening date?
Tell us the dates at the first call: when you get the keys, any rent-free period, and when you need to open or move in. The scope and schedule are planned back from the date you need the space.
Who coordinates the trades?
We do. Framing and drywall, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, ceilings, flooring, painting and finish carpentry run on one schedule, and you have one company to call about all of it.
Can work happen after hours?
Some buildings only allow noisy or disruptive work outside business hours. Tell us your building's rules at the first call, and we will tell you how the work can be planned around them.
Do I need drawings first?
Not to call us. Send what you have: base-building drawings, the landlord's work letter, a layout or design drawings. Work that needs a permit needs drawings before construction, and we will talk through what your project needs.
What size of space do you take on?
We build out and renovate offices, retail stores, restaurants and other commercial units. Put the approximate square footage in your enquiry and we will tell you plainly whether it is a fit.
Which areas do you cover?
We are based in Mississauga and work across Mississauga and the Greater Toronto Area. If your unit is elsewhere in the GTA, include the location in your enquiry.
How do I get a price?
Send an enquiry with the type of space, location, size and timing. After the site visit we send a scope of work and a price. Pricing a fit-out without seeing the unit would only be a guess.
Do you renovate homes?
Yes: kitchens, washrooms, basements and general home renovations in Mississauga and the GTA. See the Homes page.
A client review on Google
“Best Contractor. They complete work on time with best quality. Recommend”
Start with the first call
Send the type of space, the location, the size and your timing, and we will get back to you to arrange a site visit.