Denys Builds Designs Renovations

Paul and Adam know now about all aspects of houses, old and new. They renovated all the windows of our daughter’s 1840 house and changed a patio door and window in our 1950 bungalow. In both cases, they did an impeccable job. But their expertise is not limited to windows. Paul went around the heritage house pointing out this and that that would need repair. They fixed the most pressing problems so it would not deteriorate. We are very lucky to have come across such beautiful «artisans» and are extremely grateful for their dedication. Of course we hope to have them around for a long time, to help this colonial home back to health and good looks. Anne Mauffette

Careful consultation and excellent craftsmanship characterizes our experience with Denys Builds Designs. We are delighted with Paul's realization of my concept of an urban writer's shed (commonly found in the UK; George Bernard Shaw called his "London" so that visitors to his country home could be told he was away in London). A simple design, well-executed and beautifully finished, while somewhat expensive, fits inobtrusively and in harmony with our 1920's arts and crafts style house and garden. It will serve both practical storage needs and as a private retreat.

Denys Builds Designs is everything a client hopes to get from a contractor. Paul is meticulous with planning and executing our project. He is above average considerate with timing of arrival and cleans thoroughly at the end of each work day. His extensive experience and depth of knowledge about all aspects of our walk-in shower renovation was impressive. If you want and expect the best, then Denys Builds Designs is the company to use.

Paul and his team were able to meet any and all needs I asked of them. Paul especially is deeply professional, and clearly cares about his client's satisfaction and holds himself to incredibly high standards. His attention to detail, understanding of style and his clients personal taste, and deep industry knowledge made him a triple threat of a contractor. You add in the fact that he's honest, on time, and incredibly hard working, and I genuinely don't know what else you need in a contractor. He's been an absolutely invaluable part of our home improvements, elevating our plans and giving us important advice as we moved along in our various projects. I cannot recommend Denys Build Designs highly enough.

After years of hiring Paul Denys for different building contract, I have no hesitation to recommend him. I totally trust his skills and artistry. Always calm and diplomat, his work approaches perfection. Because perfection in old buildings is impossible, otherwise.

excellent professional work done in a timely manner. Especially appreciated care to retain traditional character of our home. We enjoyed the experience.

I was very close to undertaking a complete window replacement of my 120-year-old windows when someone recommended that I speak to Paul Denys about restoration. Because my top requirement was maintaining the character of my home, I decided to go ahead with the restoration after consulting with Paul, and doing some research on restoration vs. replacement. In hindsight, I am extremely happy with my decision, and I am extremely happy I found Paul. Denys Builds Designs are true craftsmen. Their workmanship is superb. Paul's knowledge of building science is deep. Now my 120-year-old windows look and function like new. I am also very pleased with their thermal performance in my first winter with them. There is no way I could have reproduced the beauty or character of my original windows had I replaced them. I also know my restored windows will last for the rest of my lifetime (and then some). I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Denys Builds Designs, whether it is for a restoration project or any other type of build or renovation.

We hired Paul to renovate our tiny bathroom, but we also wanted a longer tub. Paul was the only contractor that we spoke to who took the time to research and suggest the appropriate products for us to choose from. We ended up splurging a bit (since this is our only full bathroom in the house, and wanted it to be really nice) and added things like a heated towel rail and underfloor heating - which is super nice now the cold weather has arrived. Paul pays extremely close attention to detail and certainly doesn't cut corners (in fact I'd say he's a bit of a perfectionist). We chose a rather 'challenging' tile option - lots of long narrow tiles from floor to ceiling. He measured multiple times and layed out the tiles, and levelled the floor & ceiling all around (which definitely were not level to start with), to make sure that there were a whole number of tiles that just fit. The result is spectacular and I'm sure could have looked awful if a cheaper contractor without that level of care had done it. We also had regular check ins each day to review progress and go over any design choices / questions.

Paul did a relatively small job for us, but he did it with great care and skill: He replaced the intricate wood cladding that, for 20+ years, had surrounded the large bay window on the front of our house and was in serious need of professional help. We chose Paul to do the work because we were impressed with his expertise in heritage restoration and repair. We were absolutely delighted with the final result and the process that got us there. He explained the nature, cause and scope of the problems and presented a range of options for us to consider, from cosmetic repairs to a complete re-build using more up-to-date construction materials and techniques. We opted for a thorough re-build and redesign. (Fortunately, he was able to replace the rotting sill on one of the casement windows—something a manufacturer’s rep had told us was “not possible”—sparing us the cost of new ones. To our amazement and delight, the window now looks and operates as good as new. His skills as a carpenter are impressive, to say the least.) The original cladding included panels of tongue-and-groove boards and lots of vertical and horizontal joints where moisture could intrude. Paul’s new design is cleaner, more contemporary and much less susceptible to moisture, while remaining appropriate to the age and style of the house. We love it. We appreciate the fact that Paul showed us what he was doing—and the materials he was using—at key points in the construction process. As a result, we know what lies beneath the handsome new façade and have complete confidence in its quality and durability. We also appreciate that he completed the work on schedule and within his original cost estimate. The bottom line: We would highly recommend Paul for any work requiring the skills and expertise he brought to this project.

Paul Denys helped us with our attic reno. From design to implementation and execution, Paul was first rate during the whole process. For any of our future house renos, he would most certainly be considered. His knowledge and professionalism inspire confidence that a project will be done right.

Paul has done several small projects and a major renovation over the past 20 years. He is reliable and respectful of the household and his work is outstanding. I would highly recommend Paul for any renovation project.

We engaged Paul to redo the kitchen in our 55 year old home. He started and completed the project on time which is not the case with the contractors whom other friends have used. He completely removed our old kitchen and was careful in doing so that we were able to donate it to Habitat For Humanity and get a tax receipt for a charitable donation! His speedy but meticulous work meant that all was done on time when the kitchen cabinetry was delivered. Paul not only does the work but can provide remodelling and decorating advice. we benefited from that great mix of skills as some of what we had planned would not have worked and he was quick to suggest acceptable solutions. Without question, we will use Paul for any future renovations.