Testimonials

  • "We recently worked with Kinswater on our kitchen renovation - which involved gutting the entire kitchen and dining area. From demolition to the skilled treatment of material like natural quartzite shelves and countertops, they were masters of their trades - carefully integrating modern custom cabinetry and appliances while maintaining the mouldings and architectural details of a Victorian house. Every element from painting to heating was executed beautifully. Kinswater's expertise in carpentry allowed for a special project of cutting down our 14 foot over varnished Douglas fir dining room table and refinishing it with a soft wax finish that turned it into a centrepiece. We loved the results of the renovation and most important, we enjoyed the experience. Philip Barton and his team were great to work with, and he brought the project in on budget as well!"

    - RACHEL, Annex

  • "Kinswater Construction is superb. I can't say enough about how wonderful the entire team was to work with from the beginning to end. Our renovation involved taking the main floor down to the studs, removing walls and installing 3 large supporting I beams, enlarging the stairwell and installing a new set of stair from the first to third floor. New kitchen, new bathroom, new flooring, custom mouldings, new windows and doors. The worksite was at all times well organized and clean, the project moved forward with very few delays and the building was completed on budget. Philip Barton is very knowledgable and highly professional, he is an extremely good communicator so any issues raised were dealt with swiftly and efficiently. His entire team are well informed, professional and highly skilled. Every inch of the house was exactly as we had hoped and beautifully finished. All the small finishing details we identified when we moved back in were completed within a few weeks. Kinswater continues to support us with the house and we engaged them again to build our deck. We highly recommend Kinswater Construction."

    - AMANDA, Century House

  • "Worldclass! Trust and transparency are critical and so difficult to find when looking for a contractor and Kinswater exceeded our expectations. As we looked to do a complete tear down and rebuild of our home it was a significant investment and had heard all the horror stories, but from the first time we sat down with Phil and his team we knew they were the right partner. They guided us through budget, discovery, design and build with a level of professionalism that blew us away. I would strongly recommend them and will use them for any and all project related to our home. Feel free to contact us and come see their exceptional work."

    - NEIL, Topped House 1

  • "Kinswater Construction Inc. was recommended by our architectural firm as a general contractor with the experience, expertise, trade contacts, and demeanor to be a good fit for us. Philip Barton and team proved to be that in spades! From pre-build to finish, they handled the renovation of our three-story 1910 semi-detached home, stripping it back to the studs, reframing, and rebuilding it from outside in. Before we signed on with Kinswater, Philip took the time to help us understand the scope of what we wanted to achieve, patiently answering our questions about process, budgeting, and construction options as we contemplated a project bigger than anything we’d ever undertaken. He was up front about the challenges of renovating an old semi, and throughout the build, we appreciated his team’s communication of progress and collaborative problem-solving to find solutions that worked for us. Thanks to their approach and careful planning/budgeting, we encountered few surprises along the way. Kinswater expertly reframed our upper two floors, rebuilt and fortified the shared wall with our neighbour to minimize sound and air flow, and completely replaced the basement’s concrete slab. The team oversaw custom design features that included interior stonework and tiling, millwork, metalwork (interior and exterior), stainless steel countertops, a polished concrete floor in the basement, and hardwood flooring elsewhere. We had trust in Philip and his team to handle all logistics, procurement, and tradespeople despite the challenges of managing the entire project during the COVID-19 pandemic. Philip, Graydon, Nick, Brian, and Tony all had a hand in turning our house into the beautiful home it is today. They are true professionals who work incredibly hard and showed us, our home, and our neighbours great respect throughout the 14-month long renovation."

    - PETER & KATHLEEN, Tree House

  • "We spent months researching contractors to do our home renovation. We met with several contractors and finally had a shortlist of 3 that we were seriously considering. We finally decided on Kinswater Construction for a few reasons: First, the team led by Phil were professional, articulate, and had a good sense of design. Second, their quote was accurate and extremely transparent and detailed. Third, we viewed several of their projects, and talked to several of their clients, and their "workmanship" was top quality. Other contractors quotes were less expensive, but with Kinswater, you get what you pay for. The project ended up being completed on time, and on budget as well. Yes - who ever hears of that? As we began the reno, we were so impressed with Phil and Graydon's team. They were such good guys, always working hard, and always had smiles on their faces. They listened to our needs, and offered creative ideas as the project went along. They had an "eye" for what would work and what would not, from small thing such as cabinetry hardware to larger things such as paint colors and flooring. The detail of their workmanship was top notch, and they went above and beyond in every aspect of this renovation. We would highly recommend Kinswater Construction to anyone looking for a seamless renovation. All of their tradespeople were excellent from the painter, plumber, cabinetry/kitchen guy, and tile and bathroom team. Even after the renovation, when required help or had a question, they were very responsive in helping out."

    - JENNIFER & DAVID, Midtown Classic

  • "We were extremely pleased with the service provided by Phil Barton and his team at Kinswater. We live in a 3-storey semi-detached Victorian home. When we moved in we had the first two floors gutted and completely redone (Jan-May). We subsequently had our third floor completely refinished (Dec-Feb). We went with Kinswater on the recommendation of our real estate agent. We shopped around and their quote was a little higher than some of the competitors, but we were extremely impressed with professionalism and organization of Kinswater, so we decided to go with them, and in retrospect we are so glad we did! Not only did they do excellent work and ensure quality craftsmanship from all of their subcontractors, but a few things stood out as particularly exceptional: 1. Communication - before and during our renos, Phil and the team were always readily available and responsive. Voice and email messages were always returned promptly, and there was always someone onsite and available to talk to for updates and progress reports. 2. Timing – Phil set out very clear and reasonable timelines and always ensured that progress was being made. Kinswater does NOT disappear for weeks at a time leaving you wondering if and when they might return to restart your project. 3. Reasonable Budget (and stuck to it!) – Kinswater set out a clear and logical budget, and gave us regular transparent and detailed updates so that we could track how and where our money was being spent. Our projects were both on (or under) budget!! 4. Stress free. In the years since our renovation we have met many friends and acquaintances who have undergone similar projects with different contractors. Their recollections are rife with stories of absentee contractors, poor craftsmanship, skyrocketing costs and general frustration with the process. With Kinswater we did not have to deal with any of that. Phil, Graydon and Darren were a pleasure to work with, and we thoroughly enjoyed every step of the planning and project process. We have (and would) highly recommended Kinswater to anyone we encounter that is considering a renovation of any size."

    - LUKE, Row House

  • "When we decided to renovate our home, we chose Kinswater based on a strong recommendation by friends. The project involved gutting and rebuilding most of the house and adding a 2-storey extension. We couldn't be happier with the results. Quality, professionalism and reliability are very important to us and Philip and his team did not disappoint. We had a detailed budget and schedule from the start, all changes were discussed and managed openly, and the work – including by subcontractors – was high calibre. Even our neighbours commented on how professional and considerate they were. We do not hesitate to recommend them and have on several occasions."

    - JOYCE, Chaplin Estates

  • "To call Kinswater professional is an understatement. They were impeccable. Philip provided a clear sightline at all times with respect to progress, timing and budget. The team was absolutely awesome. They were clean, respectful, on time and extremely polite and accommodating. Their work was exacting. We would happily work with Kinswater again."

    - MARK,Dovercourt

  • "Kinswater provides exceptional value. Philip, Graydon and team are excellent, knowledgeable craftsmen who deliver the highest quality work-product. They are transparent about costs and provide realistic budgets. We have had them perform both large and small jobs, always with great results."

    - MICHAEL & KELLY, Moore Park

  • "Buying a house that had not been touched since 1960 was daunting - we knew we were in for a ton of work - and all on a tight budget. The Kinswater team was sensitive to this and worked with us tirelessly to make it work – whether it was budget, design options...or redesigning as the case often was, they had solutions to make it all work! Phillip and Graydon seemed to genuinely enjoy figuring out creative ways to solve problems that arose...and were always great at communicating options. The whole team was professional and courteous and they worked hard to get us in for Christmas!" "We love the result and highly recommend Kinswater...we can't believe we live here - Thank you!"

    — PAM & TED,Moore Park

  • "I spent 6 months researching contractors, calling references and conducting site visits to help determine who would do our year-long renovation. We decided on Kinswater because every single one of his clients was thrilled with their renovation, every site we visited was top quality with great attention to detail and all jobs were executed on time and on budget. We are so pleased that Kinswater did not disappoint with our home renovation. Our renovation was a complete rebuild and the experience was enjoyable throughout - no issues, no surprises, and great communication. We love our home and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Kinswater team to anyone interested in renovating their home."

    — NATALIA,Oriole House

  • "We’ve used Kinswater exclusively throughout the renovations on our century old home, both on the inside and on the outside. As a result, they’ve been involved with an extensive range of projects including, for example, a complete basement rebuild, a major kitchen renovation, the upgrade of all six bathrooms and the repair of our chimneys. Philip and his team earned our trust very quickly. We could rely on them to provide open honest advice and to do the right thing right with top quality. Philip is our first call when we need help with our home."

    — VERA AND STEVE,Rosedale

  • "We employed Kinswater to undertake a complete renovation of our 100 year old Toronto home. It was a daunting project as we were unsure what we would find once we took it down to the studs but Kinswater made this process understandable and manageable at every step of the way. The company is a mid sized boutique firm that prides itself on transparency, professionalism and attention to detail. They did not disappoint in any of these categories. Many of the key workers are trained in fine carpentry, ensuring that finishes are finely executed. The sub contractors are all reliable and courteous. In our case, we hoped to retain a sense of an old farm house with very modern interiors and amenities. Kinswater always listened carefully to and executed our wishes, offering helpful advice as to our options on design, structure, and finishes. Two aspects stand out from our experience. First, the ongoing updating of budget items, scope, and add-ons meant that there were no financial surprises. We collaborated on establishing a detailed budget and schedule and then Kinswater stuck to it, with each progress payment invoice accompanied by a line-by-line update of actual progress versus the budget and schedule. Second, this company is filled with professional, trustworthy and down to earth people. The interactions were always respectful, knowledgeable and friendly, which made the experience a joy. We highly recommend Kinswater to everyone we can."

    - PAUL, Farm House

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