Reviews of OakWood Designers & Builders (Contractor)

Christopher Dolan

An incredible facility and experience for anyone who is considering building the dream. The tour is fantastic and John and staff have thought of everything.

Isabelle Boucher

Great customer service! My husband has been dealing with Oakwood for years, for good reasons! We found ourselves in a pinch and Oakwood sent us someone right away to fix our issue. And the work was well done. Thank you so much!

Tim McKee

Are taking care of most of my renovation myself I turned to Oakwood and their team to build and install the new heart of my home. We selected the traditional line of cabinets in 2 custom colours with quartz tops. The kitchen is now the focal point of our home. Their design is amazing and the functionality is great. I cannot recommend their team and Dan in particular enough!! I wish I could give more than 5 stars for their efforts!!

Jean-François Bérubé

The best in town for sure, their out-of-the-box thinking and solutions really helped us envision our project and realize what we dreamed of. The selection in their showroom is unreal! Everything we wanted, they had a it. They made the whole process a smooth and easy one.

Tarndeep Singh

Best renovator in Ottawa. Did my basement and I've loved it ever since.

Caelah Devlin

Very professional, non-pressured customer service.

Sarah Kitney

From fruition to completion, Oakwood has proven to be professional and true to the excellent workmanship and quality service you come to expect. I would highly recommend Oakwood for any and all renovation and design projects. Having worked alongside them from both a clientele and professional level, they always exceed my expectations!

Erik van der Torre

When we decided to have some major renovations done to our 1920s home, we knew the single most important decision we were going to make was which contractor to hire. Gutting a bathroom, taking out walls for added closet space, and taking the roof off an older home pretty much guarantees surprises along the way. Each time we encountered such a surprise or challenge, OakWood helped us make the right decisions. They were able to make what could have been a harrowing roller coaster ride a smooth one. Working with OakWood wasn’t just the most important decision we made, it was also the best decision we made. From start to finish, OakWood worked with us to meet all challenges and deliver a stunning upgrade to our home. Everyone within OakWood - from the design team, the office staff, to the work crew - is professional, courteous, and highly skilled. Within a month of moving back into our home, the 6 month renovation process seemed a distant memory, which is a true testament to OakWood’s professional and dedicated approach. We couldn’t be happier with our “new” home and we thank OakWood for making it happen.

Ariane Richard

I really can't underscore how much Oakwood's guidance helps to bring clarity to a process that is complex and very new to me. The relief in being able to lean on a team with their level of experience is invaluable. An otherwise stressful experience is made easy and streamlined.

HALFCUT CUSTOMS

Super detail oriented in what is a very stressful environment that is renovations and building! The Design Centre is full of spectacular choices where we got to pick all our finishes for our kitchen with the sales and design team. Once the project began, the Project Manager was with us every step of the reno. Can't say enough how happy we were with the entire project!

Abdullah Hosseini

Very professional and hard working people. A great company to work with for anyone considering a design and build project.

Lisa Anne

After approaching multiple contractors in 2018-19 we decided to go with Oakwood based on their thorough quote and professional approach. Our project began during the pandemic and despite a challenging project and the challenges of the pandemic Oakwood went the extra mile to do the best work possible. All work was done to the highest quality and the contractors for all the jobs were top notch. One particular aspect stands out in my mind wrt quality. Our new 3rd floor room floor is level with the existing floor. No easy task in an 100+ yo house. Rather than building on top of existing material which would meaning having to step up into the new room Oakwood brought the construction area back to the skeleton and built things correctly from there up. This makes a major difference in terms of final outcome. Yes it takes more time and money but is far better than putting the new room on top of what was there. The end result is a new room that is integrated with the rest of the house that uses modern construction and ensures additional weight is kept to a minimum. I would not hesitate to have Oakwood do more work in the future and I thank them again for their dedication and professionalism.

Marg Holt

I had OakWood do a pretty big remodel for me and they were great. I think the most important aspects of hiring a contractor is making sure you can trust them and communicate with them. That's why I hired OakWood to do my job. The work involved fixing the foundation adding a bathroom, remodeling a kitchen (and moving it around to be more finctional) redoing a bathroom, building a staircase, removing dry rot and fixing it... It was a lot of work! If I didn't have someone I could trust, I think I would have gone crazy. I am glad I picked OakWood. I felt the job was done right and the price was fair!

Sam Va

One of the best decorated design center. They have put a impressive showroom together. However you will pay a premium price for it.

Derek Blanche

I thought of our bathroom renovation to be a small project but Oakwood did not treat it as such. Every step from design, demo and installation they were there to answer all questions we had and ensured we were aware of every issue that could or did come up. Very personable and professional staff.

William Szepesi

Excellent craftsmen and management. You get what you sign for a d the results are beautiful based on the selection of great components, the professional designs and the beautiful finishing.

Chris McGuffin

Updated at bottom... Non-disclosure Clause. Read and understand your contract (the section on disputes). After a month of discusions, site visits and meetings I thought we had a well described scope and budget to restore a fire damaged house. Oakwood presents us with the contract and it includes a non-disclosure clause: if we post an unfavourable review we are subject to a penalty of 50% of the value of the contract. My wife and I were unwilling to sign away our Charter Right to Freedom of Expression. We asked our Oakwood agent to remove the clause. We even met with the owner and told him we are happy to acknolwedge the consequences of liable and slander on our part but the non-disclosure had to be removed. He refused and appeared surprised when we walked away. I think the presence of a non-disclosure clause makes the public reviews of Oakwood an unreliable indicator of their services. I have no personal experience with the quality of their work. UPDATE: In response to the owner's feedback, I have increased my score from two stars to three which reflects a generously neutral review. My experience with Oakwood is limited to 5 or 6 in-person meetings and the costing of a scope of work (I provided a detailed SOW which they entered in their system to generate a quote). The contract was dated 5 March 2020, before the pandemic had any impact on construction, labour or materials. I post this review now because my house fire claim has finally been resolved. I have a history of posting favourable, neutral and adverse reviews without hiding behind a pseudonym. Readers can draw their own conclusions.

Françoise Verschaeve

We trusted Oakwood right from the start of our construction project and we highly recommend them! The follow-up of the project was very serious and professional. The construction of our custom home itself was carried out exactly according to our quality criteria, even beyond. We have maintained an excellent relationship with the entire team and know that we can count on them even after the construction. We are very satisfied and proud of the result! Françoise Verschaeve & Vincent

William Feere

They are the most skilled in Ottawa. People that really care. I highly recommend them.

Meghan O'Connor

Excellent services, very professional.

Yue Gao

We had planed a custom build project. John gave us a tour of his office and we met a few designers. We were very impressed with their technology advance, project organization and attitude towards work. We have no doubt to trust them and put custom built or renovation projects in their hands.

CarWrapSupplier

Used Oakwood for a while. Had our apartment completely renovated and once we made our upgrade to a house we got them to do the renovations there too so we could move into a complete and new home. We appreciated the care and professionalism. Their system is amazingly accurate and on-time with a dedicated project manager checking things to go smooth... and it did! We still use them for the odd jobs under thier handyman pro service when we are not handy enough to handle some things.

Gordon Thomas

We did renovations with Oakwood almost 7 years ago any they have been excellent at addressing any issues. Recently second floor toilet was leaking due to improper installation and they fixed it with no questions asked even during the pandemic. Great service.

Sue Pitchforth

As a Designer, I know how important it is to make sure you align yourself with the best in the business! Oakwood Designers & Builders are the absolute best in service, customer care and listening to what clients are looking for. They provide top notch, professional advice and staff to make sure that you as the homeowner are always up to date on the progress of your renovation. They are innovative, creative and always ready to help create special spaces for clients. I am proud to refer and be involved with such an amazing company! Sue Pitchforth Decor Therapy Plus

L.E.R Alliance Specialists Inc.

Oakwood’s ongoing growing team is by far the most pleasing to deal with of all construction builders in the Ottawa region. Communication, punctuality and service is the least that comes to our company’s mind when we hear the phone ringing from their part. Thanks again, L.E.R. Alliance Specialists Inc.

Federico Boccheciampe

We haven't worked with Oakwood just yet, however, we've researched a LOT and we've found out based on Experience, Construction System, Reliability, Reviews, and other variables that Oakwood is the Construction Artists Collective that we want to work with whenever we can build the home we want for us and our baby girl. My Wife's an architect and a photographer and she has a sophisticated eye for lines and spaces, and every time we visit oakwood's website she exudes this sense of completeness that fills the room. Let me tell you one more thing, nobody can erase or annulate 50 years of experience and thousands of grateful customers by just arbitrarily deciding so. Not possible, not reasonable, not going to happen. Happy Holidays

Sifiso Nkosinathi Nobela

This is by far the most addictive places to visit and get to see how the construction industry has grown and it gives you access to tons of ideas of how can your future house be like, I have found this place a perfect location if you are looking to do renovations and looking for something unique and special I recommend this location it’s close to the road easy to find and very helpful people in there.

David Boyer

I keep looking out the window to see if any OakWood vehicles are pulling in. Sad in a way that it's all over – my wife on the other hand is pleased that her space has been returned. In short it was a brilliant success! The end result exceeds expectations and along the way we met lots of great people with great skills and talents. The entire process was professional, well managed, well-staffed and we had complete confidence that the end result would be worth any renovation anxieties along the way. Thanks to everyone.... any OakWood employee or sub trade is welcome at any time to stop by for a cold ‘beverage’ and a look at the finished product.

David McClelland

It is difficult to write a review for Oakwood because some people will find it hard to believe. Our family hired Oakwood to do home renovations and even though I live in the west end of Ottawa it was worth my while to drive to Orleans to see their stunning design center. They were very organized and have a systemized process for everything. If you don’t like process or would rather “wing it”, there are many other renovators out there for you to take a chance on, we simply did not want to take the risk and did not have time to watch over them. We were very happy with their organization and the work was first rate. They did exactly what they said they would do. About 6 months after they were finished I contacted Oakwood because we had a problem in our kitchen. Our double steel sinks had dropped about four inches under the granite countertop which caused the sink to leak, leaving us in a very messy, bad situation. I called oakwood and within a few hours they had a service tech at my home and the problem was resolved in no time. He was one of the nicest guys you could have asked for. Very polite, explained everything in detail. Plus on top of it all the job was very well done. I thought my wife was going to ask him to dinner. The most impressive part of this was that the granite tops and sinks were not installed originally by Oakwood, yet they still took care of me. They exceeded our expectations. The first number I will call if I ever decide to do more work around your house will be to Oakwood.

John Izmok

If you are looking for quality work and service, I recommend OakWood.

Jeremy Smith

Had a blast at their gala. A very beautiful design studio with a wide variety of products and finishes. Love the fact they're partners with Mike Holmes. The Oakwood team are the best of the best. Highly recommended !

Daniel Martin

My wife and I met the CEO John to discuss a possible construction project. We were very impressed by his quick response to meet with us and for spending over an hour and a half answering all of our questions. We have no doubt whatsoever to give them our project should we move forward. We were very impressed with their HQ offices, teams and technologies/tools used to manage their projects. Thanks again John and well done! Josée and Dan.

Tara Davis

OakWood has the best Design Centre in Ottawa, hands down. If you are looking for inspiration and high-quality materials for a design and build project, look no further.

Atallah Atallah

Very professional

Catherine Fair

I recently had OakWood HandymanPro services come and do some trim work for me. It was a particularly difficult set of corners and rises on a set of stairs. The work was immaculate! The fellow who came to the house was professional, and cleaned up after himself!!! I would highly recommend OakWood for any handyman, renovation, design, or custom build work. They care!

Horizon INFO

I am proud to say that we have been working for Oakwood for almost 5 years now. They are a top notch renovator/builder with a solid team that is always working hard to provide nothing but the best. You always get what you pay for with Oakwood.

David Armengau

Them claimed to be the best, but I found that their prices were the highest. They refused to consider another advice from another firm pretending to have the best which created issue. Poor finish and now my house had mice for the first time. They never came back to fix it.

John Fraser

Our family was planning a new large home renovation with a new kitchen and addition. We hear about all kinds of builders having problems and also designers that cannot stay within a budget so we looked for a strong, well-established design and building company that we could rely on in these unsteady times. We looked at all the established builders and researched over 36 different companies. I research and dig deeply into companies for a living. After exhaustive research, we decided to go with OakWood for the complete design and home renovation work. They warned us that we are in the construction world and that things would go wrong but they had our back and we would be part of their team. I was surprised that they also made it clear that it is also my responsibility to be a good client. Their over 65 years of being in business, successful completion of over 10,000 projects and solid reputation convinced us, so we trusted them to do the right thing. Our trust was well placed. Things did happen with the supply chain and a few trades did not perform as per the OakWood standard but we never worried because OakWood always took care of everything for us. We are so happy that we went with OakWood and our home is now perfect for us. Our experience has been excellent and we would highly recommend OakWood for anyone considering a larger project or simply anyone that wants that piece of mind. Their workers are super nice and wonderful to work with and they are very much a 5 star company with deep process. Our family is grateful and recommends them for quality work.

Daren Morissette

The people here are all super helpful and the products may be a bit expensive but they're higher quality than I've found elsewhere. I definitely recommend it.

Stephen Francispillai

John and his team at Oakwood have assisted us with many of our extensive renovation projects and I must say they have exceeded our expectations every time. The level of service, care and finished product quality is phenomenal to say the least. Congratulations on a successful operation John. We look forward to our next project with you and the Oakwood team.

Thomas Steinberg

I spoke with the owner about building a custom home in Kanata and he is a wealth of information. I highly recommend consulting OakWood if you are considering building a custom home or any type of construction project for that matter.

Amanda Russo

Amazing company to work with. The design studio is a must see! I had the pleasure of helping my aunt pick out materials for her new kitchen and the end result is absolutely stunning!!

Alex Chan

I'm a small investor now starting to think and dream about building a small apartment building. I had an appointment with Trent and he was fantastic. He showed me a 4 unit multiplex they were just building which would fit my current available budget. I did not feel pressured at all, and didn't feel judged. I do have a few investment options at this time, but out of all the builders I've met with in Ottawa, his presentation and thoughtfulness struck me as top notch. I know I will DEFINITELY pick OakWood for any future opportunities in Ottawa. For any investors out there, check out OakWood. P.S. They have Fuji water and Perrier. ;D

Christopher Longair

I recently met with John to discuss some personal investments, as well as some future enterprises. Although I am just beginning & was looking for help, he took the time to give me good advice and answer questions personally. There was no pressure whatsoever and I was able to walk through the design studio & get a good look at the finishes they use.

Steven Clark

I met with the owner to discuss investment property opportunities with OakWood. He was very accommodating and extremely knowledgeable about the Ottawa market.

Stephany Hall

I hired OakWood Designers & Builders to complete a home addition renovation project. Their consultants and designers were able to quickly identify potential issues before construction began which saved us time and spared us from what would have certainly been a major headache. All of their staff and trades were very responsive and were able to address any questions and issues as soon as they arose.

Andrey Malkov

We hired OakWood to renovate our home based on the recommendation of one of our close friends. I now understand why he gave such high praise. Our kitchen has been completely transformed over the past few months and the quality of work is second to none. Based on the work that was done, I would feel confident recommending this company to anyone who is looking for a professional and high quality renovation.

Sarah Wagar

Very nice company. Love all they have to offer.

Talib Reza

We worked with OakWood to renovate our kitchen and bathrooms and the work was excellent. We did not hesitate to call them again to renovate our basement. They are very professional and hard working people. We are extremely happy with the results.

Julia Grazel

After seeing several companies we decided on Oakwood and we sure are happy we did! Our project was recently completed and turned out beautiful! Very professional and accommodating. Thank you!

Craig Brooks

I’ve worked with OakWood on multiple occasions for various design & build projects and cannot speak highly enough of their expertise and professionalism.

Anastasia Pavel

I worked with OakWood to renovate my kitchen and have only positive things to say about my experience. Despite the inevitable hiccups that come with large renovations, the entire process went very smoothly and I have to commend them for a job well done.

Shawn Miller

These guys are the best design & build company in the city, hands down. I hired OakWood to complete some renovation work on my home and have been impressed at every step of the way. I chose OakWood as I’ve been in this industry for over 20 years and everyone I’ve worked with and spoken to has nothing but good things to say about the quality of their work and the way things are run. I highly recommend them for any construction work.

Colleen Morris

From the very beginning of our ideas to the completion of the entire project, Oakwood has been very responsive. Reno was completed on time and the results are absolutely stunning. Have gone with other contractors in the past and finding out during our reno that there was alot that was done incorrectly. Oakwood ensured that everything was corrected giving us total peace of mind. Will definately be using Oakwood for all future renovation projects :)

Claire Simmons

We have hosted a lot of parties and dinners in the last 6 months and everyone has been truly impressed with our new kitchen. We would not hesitate to use OakWood again. Having renovated on our own it was wonderful to hand over our kitchen renovation to a professional team that kept us updated from day one and took the time to explain when problems within the original structure cropped up. Can't say enough about the trades and our project manager. The result is amazing. The space is warm and inviting, just what we always dreamed of but never thought we would achieve.

Lifestyle Construction

We work side by side with Oakwood on many project and we get to see how easy and well these guys make any job seem. A++++ Quality above all

Noah Knowles

We are very pleased to write this review for Oakwood Renovation Experts. They have successfully completed numerous projects for us to our complete satisfaction. We found John Liptak and his staff to be very responsive and professional. They kept the site clear of debris during construction and arranged for excellent subcontractors. We would recommend Oakwood Renovation Experts to anyone considering a construction project, whether a minor remodelling or a complete building construction.