Reviews of Newsam Construction (Contractor)

Tom S

We had MAJOR PROBLEMS with these contractors Before I describe concerns note that concerns were raised to owner who placated us with guarantees that were not met (e.g. setting up recurring PM status meetings) Had 2 Project Managers - 1st was nice but couldn't manage tasks, the other was rude and condescending, did not respond to telephone calls unless called from unknown number - on the "1.5" month project we didn't hear from him for 4 weeks at one point Our project was in two phases both delivered late (e.g. the second took 4 months as opposed to 1.5 month plan). Invoices were almost invariabily inaccurate requiring significant review and fixing No timesheets were used and reported time did not match our records so conflict over billing Quality of work was mediocre, windows and bathtubs damaged, lots of paint spatter on hardwood floors

Olivier aghaby

From the moment I got in touch with Paul from Newsam until the delivery of the project, the whole process was not only professional, but thoughtful, creative and optimized. Costs reports were clear, Brian was an exceptional project manager: things were done on time, with a lot of carefulness, the whole project was delivered beyond my expectations. I bought a 3rd floor that looked like hell and they managed to build something new, modern, where all the details were thought of and delivered without major problems. When there was a surprise during the process, it was always explained carefully. They do it as if it was their own house.

Scott Redmond

I was really disappointed with poor service in getting an estimate. My impression was that the project manager was more interested in his iPad than our project. There were multiple red flags, from mistakes in setting up appointments for preliminary work, to providing an estimate that missed major aspects of the design, to being unable to leave a voice message because the voicemail was full (of what? other clients' unheard messages?). I decided not to have Newsam do the work and feel like I dodged a bullet. That said, the worker that came for the preliminary work was very professional, doing the work quickly and leaving it quite clean.

Kevin Becker

The team at Newsam Construction did a major renovation for us in 2019-2020, converting our duplex to a single family home. We absolutely loved the quality of work they executed, as well as the professionalism and experience the team brought to our project. When it came time for us to do our deck remodel, we knew who to call. In 2021, the Newsam team did an outstanding job building us a spectacular two-level deck as an extension to our home. They offered expert advice on materials and landscaping options, while staying within our budget. The carpentry and landscaping team did a fabulous job executing the build and ensured the design plan was mirrored in the finished project. Once again, the work was completed on-time and impeccably executed adding so much value and living space to our home. This project is a wonderful extension to our home, truly bringing the 'inside - out'! Kev & Kat

Mark Bergman

Only great experiences with this company. I've used them for the last 9 years for renovations at my home. This past summer they built our roof top deck, and created much needed space in a bedroom + closet. Super professional, CLEAN, and extremely detailed. Highly recommended!

R G

Trying to get someone to provide a quote is impossible after being told they would be available for the dates I mentioned.

Sergio Asensio

We had our kitchen renovation work done by Newsam and couldn't be happier with their work. Their crews are professional, knowledgeable, punctual and accommodating. Something to really highlight is their site protection crew, they are amazing. When the work was finished and all the protection was removed, the house looked like nothing had happened, kudos guys. I have no doubt whatsoever that I will use and recommend Newsam from now on for any renovation work.

Ahmad H.

We signed with Newsam in February 2021 for a basement renovation that they said would be finished in 2-3 months. Here we are in November with a still unfinished job. 1) Cost: The quote was for $74k. We added/removed a few things later and brought the total price down to $69k. Towards the end of the project, without warning, Newsam asked us to pay $101k. Some examples of why the costs are higher: • They stated that their quote was irrelevant in the end and it was just an estimate, and they bill time and materials. This was not discussed at the beginning of the project and the contract is not clear on this (e.g., it states explicitly that it is a “quote” with a “total price”). • They asked their plumber to provide a quote for some potential additional work, and instead of giving a quote, he executed the work. Newsam asked us to pay for it anyway. • They want us to pay a new significantly higher electrical quote ($11.7k vs $7.5k) that they never asked us to approve. After several slow back-and-forth exchanges, Newsam agreed that they would come fix their (18) deficiencies if we pay $85k. We are unhappy with this amount but we agreed to pay it as a compromise to have our basement renovation finished. 2) Our safety During demolition, Newsam filled our entire house (two floors on top of basement) with a huge amount of dust (no joke, it was like an explosion, with even clothes inside boxes two floors up from the reno were covered in dust). Despite our repeated requests to address the problem, Newsam did not install proper dust control and my wife had repeated asthma attacks. We were forced to move out to an AirBnB on short notice which was very inconvenient. 3) Quality of work Mid-July, Newsam stated that they completed the work, but we found more than 30 deficiencies (e.g., doors not closing, obvious holes in the walls, heating cable for drain not installed). Newsam and their sub-trades were generally sloppy. A few examples: a) Without authorization, Newsam's plumber (sub-trade) drilled through our stone foundation to the front of the house. b) The bathroom sink and faucet are not aligned. We mentioned this to Newsam before the walls were closed but they forgot to fix it. c) We had to remind Newsam at least 4 times before they fixed our stairs’ handrail. d) We asked Newsam to remove a pile of bricks from our house, and we received two emails that this will be done. However, this was not done. e) Newsam lost two finishing caps from our toilet. Newsam claims to provide high-end services but they told us it’s just a finishing cap, it would be a hassle to find a replacement, and suggested we try to find it ourselves. f) The electrician (sub-trade) came on site unaware of many details that we have agreed to with Newsam and he had no electrical plans. We had to direct him as he undid his work to fix things. g) Our doors still do not close properly, despite several back-and-forth exchanges with Newsam. h) Documents Newsam sent us often had mistakes. 4) Strange bill Newsam asked us to pay $2.5k, which they claimed were plumbing fees because our furnace had an original error in installation. We do not believe the plumber was on site nor that the furnace had an error in installation. We challenged this bill and Newsam waived it. 5) Timeline The deadline for the work continuously pushed further. 6) Final note We went with Newsam instead of other cheaper contractors so we could have the full-service experience, and have a peace of mind with an experienced high-end company that takes care of all the details and respects our budget. Instead, it has been a long, drawn out, time consuming, very expensive, and emotionally draining experience.

Nisso Ifrah

What an amazing experience! We initially hired Newsam in 2019 to do a complete renovation on our new home. We were so satisfied with the experience, we recently had them renovate our rooftop terrace. Newsam is a professional company. The estimates were bang on. All the workers that came by our house were very professional and courteous. The project manager was always on top of things, and when I couldn't reach him the owners were happy to step in. I highly recommend Newsam

james yacoub

Horrible service, most do not hold CCQ Card and very dirty. I don’t know if CCQ check on their worker. And do not respect the code of CSST. Never again

Vp.autodetaillngmtl

“Hired Newsam to do 2 kitchens im my duplex. From the planning stages all the way to the completion of the project Brian and Paul where on the ball took care of all the details the place was always kept super clean and organized, has i would pop in time to time and i was never once deceived by the quality of the workmanship and materials used were top quality and no corners were cut they delivered on time and within the budget we set. I would definitely hire them in the future.

Katherine Calder-Becker

From start to finish, the entire team at Newsam was a pleasure to work with. They were very professional in their approach and presented us with a thorough budget for review based on the scope of work. They also guided us though the various quotes that were tendered for each aspect of our project so we could make the best decisions based on our needs. They put together an amazing team of trades and kept us well informed as they worked through each stage of the renovation. Everyone on the team was polite and courteous, and the carpentry staff in particular kept the job-site very clean and well organized. They brought experience, creativity and innovation to our duplex conversion project, and keep our renovation on-time and on-budget. A major renovation can be a daunting task, but for us, the team at Newsam made our construction project go exceptionally smooth. We would highly recommend them.

Stephanie Orford

Newsam completely redid 2 suites including kitchens, bathrooms, floors, electrical, plumbing, many walls, painting. Their workers were all polite, consistent, hard working, and did a beautiful job. I dealt mostly with Paul Schapira, a partner at Newsam, and I would recommend working with him. He made time for me, was very knowledgeable, and answered all my questions. He recommended some ideas to save on costs and suggested we do IKEA kitchens rather than custom cabinetry, which was a good choice for us and looks great. Here's a general recommendation for working with any contractor: Factor in 20% contingency budget and plan for the project to finish at least a month later than the official end date. Budget and timing caused some concern for me, but I have learned that it's the case with pretty much all renovations because surprises always happen — in this case, covid also delayed the project. I appreciate that the team at Newsam worked very hard and as fast as they could to get my project done to a high standard and I'm very happy with the results.

Stuart

Newsam has been our go-to renovation specialists for the last 20 years. They always come through with great service and competitive prices.

Carol Unruch

Amazing experience. Newsam had several projects to complete in our home. They were all done promptly and to exact specifications,no drama!Thank you for an awesome job!

Jaime Bladimir Alvarado

Newsam installed our floor they were on time, workers were friendly and informative. Once they started the job they were efficient and finished the job in s timely manner. The floor looks great and we are very pleased with the job he did. We would definitely hire Newsam as they are very professional and excellent in what they do best. Thank you Ronald

Ronit Amsel

I have worked with many contractors. This company is by far the most reliable, most honest and have a team of specialists that re second to none. Each person that came into my houser was stellar, professional, cared about my privacy and my space, protected the work area and cleaned up after, and most of all did expert work. I wouldnt work with anyone else.

Allan R. Chalmbert

They're not the cheapest and they're not the most expensive, but they're the best. For renovations, construction projects and any work to be done on my home or investment properties, there is only one company I will trust: NEWSAM. Dedicated and passionate team, high attention to detail, and responsive to the finish line and beyond. I highly recommend. In these types of projects, the most important aspect is the finish line, and this is where most companies fail in my experience; they slow down or stop when the majority of the work is done and then they move on to the next big and more lucrative project. This is where NEWSAM is different; they shine in the follow through.

David Mansworth

My goto team for any home reno or home repair We have been using Newsam Reno since we bought our home 60+ year old home in 2000. We have done at least 10 projects with them as we completely modernized the home. The team is of the highest caliber and the project managers are great. We just completed two bathrooms and a laundry room. They are stunning and the workmanship is fantastic. We have also done a cedar deck, all our windows and our unistone. Over the years we have also re-painted the interior a couple of times. Next up is a kitchen Reno in two weeks.

Allan Samberg

Working with Brian Newsam is like laying back and enjoying a wonderful symphony concert. Brian is the "maestro", the conductor, of the orchestra who leads the "musicians", the workers. All the work is co-ordinated and timed so that the orchestra doesn't miss a beat. The carpenters, electricians, plumbers, insulation, tiling etc., were all planned and timed so that the entire project flowed like a symphony concert. If you want to listen to your music,, have no stress, no worries and enjoy your renovation then call Brian.

Laine Roczniak

Newsam Construction recently completed our home renovation, we are satisfied with our choice of construction company. Paul was an excellent project manager, very responsive to messages, managed the construction workers well, recommended quality subtrades and worked with us to stay on budget. All of the work was well done.

Pearl Andrews

Few months ago I hired them to renovate my elderly parents kitchen and 2 bathroms. They suggested all the right materials, place was always kept clean, they were on time and they were a nice crew, especially to myself and parents. I would for sure hire them again!!!

marco marangi

(Translated) A big thank you for the work accomplished, and especially thank you to Perry and Sébastien for the professionalism. Marco and Sophie (Original) Une grand merci pour le travail accompli, et surtout merci à Perry et Sébastien pour le professionnalisme. Marco et Sophie