Reviews of Macanta Design Build Inc. (Contractor)

Mike Chung

It was great working with Macanta from start to finish to rebuild our basement! Cory was very helpful in the early planning process to help us figure out how to get what we wanted, inform us of what was essential, and stay within our budget. The proposed designs were beautiful. Once the team was on site, Rob managed everything so professionally. We were kept informed every step of the way and a few small issues that inevitably arose were dealt with in a very fair manner. We felt in such safe hands with this team. They have on multiple occasions gone above and beyond what was required of them both during and even after the end of the project. We would recommend Macanta with no hesitation.

James Wiebe

Very friendly knowledgeable staff!

Mike MacKenzie

I have worked with Cory on several projects over the past 7 years. He has always treated his clients with great respect and works hard to make every project a success.

Joe Hill

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTOR -

Arielle Godbout

We had such a great experience with Macanta renovating our 110-year-old home. We interviewed multiple companies before choosing Macanta, and were impressed by the team’s knowledge, and the thoughtfulness they put towards our project. From the thorough design stage to the excellent attention to detail in the construction phase, our interactions were friendly and professional. When hiccups did occur (as they are bound to in a project of this size), we were satisfied with the communication and problem-solving — it always felt that what Macanta cared about most was that we loved our finished dream home. We have and will continue to recommend Macanta to others as an excellent design-build option.

James Wiebe

Very friendly knowledgeable staff!

Lance Letain

My family and I have just finished working with the Macanta team for the last 2 plus years and after all is said and done we know we made the best choice. Contrary to what seems to be norm for most home renovations, Macanta came in on budget and finished on time which in part can be attested to the Macanta Process. This process is not only logical and it’s based on listening to their clients. At all times there was a high level of professionalism and perhaps most importantly there was that feeling that they cared. Cory Kloos was our first point of contact and guided us from start to finish. He set the tone and followed through with all of his commitments. When working with Cory you will quickly learn that he listens to questions being asked of him and that your needs are important. This is not to say that he is a pushover but rather that he cares. Cory is organized which I believe allows him to plan for setbacks you may have instead of reacting to unforeseen issues. It took us more than a year to finalize the design and not once did they make us feel like we frustrating them. There were at least 3 different main floor designs drafted and the scope of the project grew, shrank and then grew again based on our needs and budget. After choosing our design we began our working with Desmond Sweeney on the contract and financials. Desmond’s meticulous attention to details assured us and our financial institution that our project was always within the parameters of our budget and being completed on time. Our lender actually commented on how well structured and written the contract was. When we started working with Clarice To on the design we made it known that we put our trust in her. We are not people to spend too much time in Home Depot etc. looking at a never ending list of options. This required Clarice to have a sense of who we were are as a couple, how our family operates and how we plan to live in our house for years to come. Clarice is the expert, we were paying her for this expertise and what she did simply blew us away. Our project manager Rob Seniuk could easily have his own reality home renovation show, something I think Macanta should consider. We couldn’t ask for a better manager. His years of home construction work are evident when you see him on site. Rob’s honesty with is valued and he never once hesitated to talk with us about the (unexpected/expected) issues . Rob surrounds himself with top notch professionals which undoubtedly gives him the confidence that the work will get done right. On more than one occasion Rob helped guide us through some difficult decisions and we knew that he put our interests first with each of our choices. We trusted Rob and came through for us each time. Seriously get this guy in front of a camera. Ron Patenaud was the Master Carpenter for our project and was often on site hours before the sun rose and would continue working until it was dark. Ron is a professional that worked as if it were his own home. Rob and Ron work well as a team and each has years of experience so they know how to manage your project and the work that’s involved to get things done on time. Ron well deserves to be known as a Master Carpenter as his work is first class.

David Gamble

I have known Desmond and Cory from Macanta for a long time and I know that they have extremely high standards. I've relied on their input numerous times when completing small renovations around my home. My projects are small enough that I act as my own general contractor, and I can't tell you how fortunate I feel to be able to call on Macanta's expertise when I run into issues. One example -- a couple years ago I had the windows and doors in my home replaced. Overall I was satisfied, but the window in my back door kept icing up. The company I bought the door from (who also installed all my doors and windows) blamed it on the humidity inside my house and refused to inspect it in person at no cost. While I do understand that high indoor humidity levels during winter is a leading cause of window moisture issues, I have a smart thermostat that tracks my humidity; this was not the issue. I asked Cory for his help -- he came by with his kit of diagnostic tools; using his Flir thermal camera it took him only a few seconds to determine what the issue was -- the window was not properly installed in the door -- cold air was leaking in and causing condensation and freezing! I now no longer have this issue. Without Cory's help I'd probably still be stuck with an icy door -- the company who made my door was very quick to point fingers and very slow to accept responsibility. I can't imagine the number of issues like this that would come up in a large-scale renovation. While I'll probably continue to do smaller renovations myself, when the time comes to complete a major renovation I'll hire an expert like Macanta. They're worth it!

That's Me

Negative experience. Cannot recommend. I was excited for the project and was looking forward to working with Macanta. Ultimately I found it surprisingly difficult. Simply put, in my opinion, Macanta design could improve by treating all clients with the same level of respect despite the size and cost of project and maintaining professional conduct despite personal tendencies/differences. Timelines, cleanliness, workmanship, *communication* and common courtesy could be improved. Owners did contact following review to push for retraction. I feel honest customer feedback is valuable. I hope it is helpful.

Rachel McLean

I have had the pleasure of working with Macanta (Cory Kloos & Desmond Sweeney) for the last couple of years. As a Winnipeg Realtor they are invaluable to have as contacts. In the past I have had clients fall in love with a house but unfortunately the house was slightly too small for their family’s needs. That’s when the people at Macanta are able to use their creativity, expertise, and high-quality craftsmanship to make my clients dream home a reality. Their knowledgeable and professional staff go above and beyond from start to finish. I have had the pleasure of walking through a few of their work sites and have been FLOORED by how gorgeous and timeless their work is. I have seen firsthand the care and meticulous craftsmanship they put into each project. I have gone through thousands of Winnipeg homes both new and old and I have never been wowed from a home addition/ reno like I have with Macanta. I have complete confidence and ease referring any of my clients to them, knowing they are going to get taken care of 110% and have a GORGEOUS finished product. Rachel McLean Winnipeg Realtor Century 21 Carrie Realty

Brad Burnett

Cory and Macanta Design Build Inc. are extremely professional, easy to work with, and trustworthy. Being out of province, it could have been difficult to find a business to fulfill our Site and Floor plan needs. We contacted a couple of businesses and Macanta replied with the most thorough, quick, and reasonably priced quote. After proposing a project outside the nature of their work, Macanta referred us to an appropriate business just as professional as them. Five Stars.

Chad Penner

Working with Macanta Design Build on a renovation was exactly what I wanted - a company with great customer service and expertise to handle all aspects of the renovation. The team at Macanta Design Build delivered and surpassed my expectations. The renovation work was great quality and workmanship, and communicating with Cory and Desmond regarding the renovation was prompt and professional. I have and will continue to refer Macanta Design Build for all building and renovation work!

Tammie Rocke

Cory and Desmond are organized, timely and have a high level of expectation on themselves and every trade they work with. They are very clear with their clients on what to expect at every step along the way and deliver projects that bring them on-going referrals and repeat customers- the true sign of a good contractor.

Steve Monchamp

I've done a couple projects with Macanta and I've had nothing but great experiences and have seen very satisfied home owners aswell!! Highly recommended

Kate Stuart

Highly recommend! I can't say enough good things about this company. They were easy to work with, friendly, professional, and very quick to solve any complications that came up. They worked with us to create a plan that fit our budget and the work they delivered was excellent!

Jamie Townsend

We are thankful for the energy and effort both Genevieve and Cory put into our project. They were a great team helping my wife and I walk through our aspirations for the house we wanted and mapping out a plan going forward. It's difficult to merge design aspirations with practicality and they were able to do both. They have a unique process that allowed us to see our potential designs both visually, but also with realistic pricing. This really helped speed up the process and narrow our focus to what matters.

Dee

Hands down a top notch company to work with. Respectful, professional and very knowledgeable. Project was very well managed. Amazing work guys. I will most definitely be recommending to others looking for a home renovation.

Marni Robert

We highly recommend Macanta. We’ve had negative experiences with builders and contractors in the past, but have nothing but positive things to say about Macanta’s renovation of our basement. The entire team is knowledgeable, professional and the quality of work is second to none. From Cory explaining the process and everything involved, making sure we understood and felt confident about moving forward with the project, from Clarice, designing our basement and picking out lighting, doors, etc., to Rob who kept us informed of the progress and smoothed out any little hiccups from previous contractors, to Ron and his quality craftsmanship, the whole team was able to make this experience the best we’ve had with builders and contractors. Thank you to the Macanta Team. Marni and Luc

Colin Matychuk

We dreamed about our renovation for close to a decade. After extensive research we hired Macanta. It may have been one of the best decisions we've ever made. The workmanship is exceptional. The communication was very clear, we knew the options available to us, and never felt out-of-the-loop. When something didn't quite go to plan it was promptly resolved. We were treated with utmost respect and they followed through on every commitment. Would I hire them again? In a heartbeat. And I likely will. Would I recommend them? Without question, yes. Cory, Desmond, Rob - thanks for turning our dream into reality and taking a lot of the chaos out of our chaotic family!

Mike Larter

Have had the pleasure to work with Cory & Desmond for the past 7 years. Their organization, communication and commitment to customer satisfaction is top notch. Macanta Design Build is the contractor I would recommend to my family & friends.

Sandy S

In our quest to find a solid, reputable and experienced builder for our home reno and addition, Macanta Design Build fell into our lap. We met Cory at the Reno show and was immediately impressed with his knowledge, enthusiasm, candidness and unique fixed price personal business model. We knew we had found our builder, but still did our due diligence in interviewing and getting quotes from 3 other of the larger home build companies in Winnipeg. A key difference with Macanta was that they personally “care” about the projects they undertake as well as the client’s happiness and understanding which we’ve learned is paramount in any development project. A full interior gut/demolition was the scope of work. We needed a new floor plan which meant new framing and insulation throughout. We needed all new electrical, plumbing, HVAC, drywall, lighting, kitchen, baths, deck and painting and trim work. Planning and creating was a pleasure with Cory and his team. Problems became challenges and Cory had solutions for every situation. Many conversations were held to keep the budget on track. And when the design process was complete, the working plan was clearly laid out with numerous opportunities for checking in and checking out the progress. The project was now in the hands of Rob, project manager extraordinaire! As we waded through the inevitable design and building decisions and unexpected occurrences that would send the calmest and most experienced of site managers into a tailspin, Rob was able to quickly and efficiently handle anything that happened. There was never any passing the buck. Rob went beyond our high expectations to ensure that sub-trades also performed up to his expectation of skill, craftsmanship and professionalism. With respect to quoting of costs - Cory has been pretty much dead on. Our final price was higher than our contract - BUT this was due to changes in higher grade finishings and materials that we made, and that Cory and Rob fully discussed with us. Macanta was on top of every cost, fair in their pricing and fully transparent with respect to budget. Nothing was a surprise. I've been beyond thrilled with Macanta. Their commitment to quality and attention to detail and is seen in every inch and corner of our home. They have been a true pleasure to work with. Their customer care and dependability is impressive. This company and provides a level of service and commitment that I think is unparalleled in this industry. Now that we are living in our home, and the invoices have been paid, an important consideration for us is the fact that Macanta stands behind their product and still responds to our questions and concerns. I highly recommend Cory and his team as a design-builder.

laurie ryz

We did a full scale renovation project with Macanta Design Build Inc. and would highly recommend them. Throughout our project, they were very professional and demonstrated knowledge and expertise to help navigate each stage effectively. The open communication and detailed planning, helped us to always feel in the know of projected timelines, etc. Macanta does a 30 day, 1 year, and 2 year walk-through, which certainly speaks volumes to the integrity of their company and their work. We are very happy with our newly reimagined space and addition!

Wanda Cain Johnson

In the world of questionable business practices and loss of faith in others, safe harbour can be found in Macanta. I love the fact that Cory listens. When our home was not able to have certain designs done due to how it had been constructed. He asked the questions that allowed us to get the look we wanted without compromise on structural integrity. Cory listens, he asks questions to better understand us and our needs. He helped educate us on new to market products so we could make an educated and informed decision. I will never look any further than Macanta for any work our home needs.

Benjamin Cabigting

Cory Kloos is like Mike Holmes of Winnipeg MB - doing everything right! He helped us with a lot of issues in our house in ways we could have never imagined. He is very professional in everyway in dealing with us and have put our concerns and benefit on top of his own. If you are looking for a contractor whom You Can FULLY TRUST, Cory and the Macanta Design Build Inc is the perfect choice!

Jordan Macfarlane

Cory and Macanta were offering up there professional advice and knowledge without even being a customer YET! I asked Cory alot of questions and he willingly and happily gave me professional advice. He was kind and professional and even suggested a different contractor for my smaller project. WOW! 100% RECCOMEND.