We have all heard of home reno projects that rival the thrills of a good horror movie. If you’d rather avoid that and watch an exciting adventure flick where the good guy gets the girl and they move into their dream home, then hire Caruana Interiors!
We decided to hire Caruana to renovate our master ensuite not only because it was a local company with a good reputation, but because Graham’s responsiveness and professionalism put our minds at ease. We are business owners ourselves, and when Graham mentioned that Caruna uses the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to run the business, like our company does, we knew they were a company to be trusted.
And yes, you do pay a premium when hiring Caruana for a project, but as the old saying goes “you get what you pay for.” It is definitely worth the investment. In Caruana’s defence, we did get four other quotes from other reputable companies which were all in the same ballpark.
Our project started in February 2020, and right from the get-go, we felt confident in our decision. Some highlights include:
1. They respected my “obsession” to keep my home as clean as possible during the demo and construction. Our bathroom and bedroom were double tarped and sealed, and a special negative air pressure machine was used. This cut down the airborne dust/fumes.
2. All tradespeople were friendly, came when they said they would on most occasions, and cleaned up after themselves.
3. Caruana discovered that an overhang wasn’t insulated properly (roof and floor) and arranged to have it dealt with quickly. No wonder the bathroom was so cold!
4. COVID lockdown hit right in the middle of my project. I was stressed about having tradespeople in and out of my house, but Caruana went above and beyond to make sure only one tradesperson was there at a time and everything was cleaned afterwards.
5. There was difficulty getting the right wood stain for an open niche in my linen tower. Graham didn’t stop trying until he found the right plywood and stain. I had a vision and Caruana’s staff went above and beyond to make sure the finished product was what I wanted.
6. My bedroom and ensuite were fully cleaned after the renovation.
7. Any changes were done with proper paperwork, which I appreciated.
8. The project managers – Carl and Cal – were incredible. Always answered my calls and questions. If something was not right, they fixed it right away.
9. They estimated the project would take two months and they were right on time…even with COVID.
10. Great warranty service. Had a couple of minor things that needed looking into this month and Graham was on it right away.
Not everything was perfect (but when does that ever happen when doing a big reno?). For a balanced review, I feel it is important to talk about the negatives too:
1. There was confusion over our custom cabinetry that could have been prevented if I had double-checked the blueprints/specifications to what was quoted. Whatever company you go with, review every line item to make sure you get what you are expecting.
2. Some errors were made in the framing, which was frustrating, but Caruana made sure it was done right in the end.
3. There were other minor mistakes in plumbing fixtures, etc. but again, the issues were always fixed.
4. One tradesperson put his foot through our basement roof, but it was repaired right away.
5. The wet saw in the garage made a mess. I had no idea that cutting tile creates a greasy dust that gets everywhere. Tarping off an area in the garage would have been the best strategy.
We would definitely recommend Caruana Interiors. In fact, we have just hired them back to upgrade our front door. Again, I know I am paying a premium for their service and expertise, but I know that it will be done right, and I will get exactly what I want.