Regan Properties - Patrik Regan
Regan Properties first engaged John Juzyniec and his company solution Renovations in Oct. 2001 to prepare our recently purchased apartment building in North Vancouver for the installation of 57 new Starline vinyl windows. During the window prep John discovered a problem with the front wall of the building. "Leaky condo" type of rot had been well hidden by fresh drywall and clever window sill installation by previous owners.
We contacted our engineer, and he devised a plan for the leak repair. The problems got even worse as Solution Renovations stripped the drywall away. We consulted again with the engineer and changed our plan from one of repair -to a total reconstruction of the front wall of our 3 story building. This reconstruction began with a shoring up of the building so the total front of the building could be removed and reconstructed. Solution Renovations was able to complete this work on time and on budget even in the middle of a rainsoaked Vancouver winter. It was a difficult project which included building a 'Hardiplank' exterior and properly flashing all of the areas where leaks could occur.
We were impressed with Solution Renovations' ability to execute our engineer's complex rainscreen plan which adhered to the newer, tougher and more expensive building codes that cities are now a dopting here in the Lower Mainland.
We were so satisfied with the finished work that we engaged Solution Renovations to construct a new living room on the roof in the penthouse suite where we live, with an adjoining covered deck.
We decided later to add an elevator to the property, and Solution Renovations came through again, building the 48 foot elevator shaft on time and budget to the specs of the elevator engineering company. After that, we engaged them to deck another large part of the roof, with raincover and a perimeter fence. John Juzyniec and his team know how to build according to plans & specs and are honest about what is and isn't possible with the money allocated for the project. We highly recommend Solutions Renovations,We have since engaged them for the remodeling of various strata units that we use as rental properties.
Sincerely
Patrick Regan
Cardero St - Forth Floor Addition to Heritage Home
I wish to express my complete satisfaction for the wonderful job that Solution Renovations did constructing the fourth floor addition to my 1907 West End character home.
John Juzyniec and his firm faced quite a challenge.
In 1999 the previous owners of my home undertook a major restoration—raising the house one foot (to accommodate a two-bedroom suite below), pouring a new foundation, restoring the original siding hidden beneath a stucco exterior, and gutting the house to the studs - all in order to restore as much of the original character as possible yet incorporating the conveniences of today's technology. This was the scene when I purchased the home.
The major problem for me was the diminutive six foot high attic, which I wanted to develop for my working art studio. In January 2002 I applied for a permit to develop the attic (which necessitated demolishing the existing roof, building new walls, and constructing three dormers, which would maintain the home's character yet allow in enough light to do my art work). The city made it apparent that they would not approve this or (after many redrafts) any other developmental design for the attic. The Board of Variance was the only alternative, and, after much time spent preparing and presenting my case, they granted the development permit.
But the frustrations continued. More delays: I found I also had to obtain an actual building permit; the development and building permits were not rolled into one. Fourteen months later I finally received my building permit. This was a trying beginning and I hadn't even secured a contractor!
Foremost on my mind were worries of pricing, the relatively quick starting time, the contractor's integrity, pride in and quality of workmanship, and his confidence in finding a solution for this complex job - in the middle of the rainy season with me living in the house!
This is where Solution Renovations enters the scene.
Most of the contractors I approached were unwilling to undertake such a complicated project. John Juzyniec, however, regarded it as a challenge and approached it with overwhelming enthusiasm. His answer to the problem (so worthy of the "Solutions" in his company name) was to design an unique protection for the project—he constructed an outer skeleton over the entire house (10 feet above the existing roof!). This was complemented by an exterior staircase that rose to the top floor and allowed all trades to come and go in a timely manner without being delayed by the weather and without going through the house. Two days after signing the contract they arrived with two boom lifts and started the job. The project was finished on time, within budget, and to a very high standard of quality and workmanship.
Renovating is extremely stressful, yet John was always conscientious about minimizing the stress to his client. He takes great pride in his work and I truly believe that his main concern is customer satisfaction. If at any time I was unsatisfied, John went the extra mile to change things. His other main concern was the assurance of quality. Because of these (and other) factors I found John to be a trustworthy person of high integrity.
I am very proud of the finished project. My neighbours and passers-by constantly give me compliments on the renovations.
I was fortunate to have had Solution Renovations as the builders of my project.
Sincerely
Dr. Sam Naccarato
Vancouver - Home Damaged by Vehicle-Restoration
Dear John:
I am writing on my behalf of my family to express our appreciation for the excellent work Solution Renovations did for restoring our home after it suffered damage from a vehicle accident. I am glad I discovered your company and I understand why your company is winner of awards from the Canadian Home Builder's Association at the National and Provincial levels for the Cardero Project.
Your professional approach differentiated you from the other contractors I was dealing with. You spent the time to listen to my concerns and explained to me what was required to have our home repaired back to where it was before the accident, After seeing the finished restorations I also see that you have attention to detail and quality.
I am quite impressed with your organization skills. It was not a burden for my family and me during the restoration period. You had the tradesman in and out as quickly as possible. As you were aware I had to stay in a hotel for ten days, however, you were able to have us back home days ahead of schedule; (I am sure the insurance company was very happy to hear that!).
I look forward to asking you to do more work with my other properties and I would not hesitate to refer you to others. Keep up the excellent work. Yours truly,
Andrew Au-Young
CFP, CGA
Vancouver - Ottawa Avenue Project
Dear John
Our meeting was through the Yellow Pages and you cemented our association by showing me a job you had recently completed in, Vancouver which included nesting new paralams into a basement ceiling.
My first impression was the meticulous finishing of the job and the cleanliness of the jobsite.
Our subsequent negotiations and eventual agreement related to the replacement of existing 7x6 wood beams with paralams in preparation for an eventual second floor addition.
You started the job in mid October and within 3 weeks you had the entire lower south side of our house exposed to the elements and the main floor supported by 2 x 4 temporary walls.
As you know, we had planned for company from Europe for Christmas and you completed this extensive framing and structural refit in time for me to arrange the balance of the trades and to actually finish the final touches the day of arrival of our company.
It should be noted that 4 years prior to the basement renovation we had completely gutted and rebuilt our kitchen including new tiled floors. During the basement renovation and suspension of the main floor by temporary walls and the final nesting of beams into the floor joists of the main floor, there were no cracks in our kitchen floor which, again, is a testament to the ability of your company to complete complex renovations without causing damage to existing finished areas.
The second phase included forms, construction of a massive 42 ft square by 42 ft high tent to encompass our current structure and to accommodate the new second floor and roof yet to be built, placement of a multitude of additional paralams and the complete framing of a second floor including some rather challenging clearstory roof details and vaulting requiring the use of both steel and wood beams.
The roof came off in late January and following some input from my engineer and some tweaking by Solution Renovations, we lived the winter out mostly with a blue tarp covering the open main floor while living in our newly renovated basement.
I think we can both agree this was not a small project. In retrospect, I would consider myself to be a rather green general contractor at that time so I was lucky that your framing foremen was so helpful. I appreciated his ability to look ahead several days in order to prepare me to make upcoming decisions regarding drawings vs. actual. As a result of his expertise and dedication to the project I was able to, in many instances, deviate from our drawn ideas in order to create a more functional and visually pleasing space.
I can tell you without any hesitation, that had Solution Renovations not been able to offer this high level of expertise, our project would have been much less successful.
John, you finished all of our agreed tasks in a professional and timely fashion and within the bounds of our agreed upon budget.
I appreciate your honesty and integrity during this project and thank you for employing such a high level of dedicated and skilled individuals.
Yours Sincerely
Tim Maguire
West Vancouver B.C
North Vancouver - Backyard Deck & Wheelchair Lift
John Juzyniec has not asked me to write this letter of recommendation. Very simply, the caliber of the work he did for us demanded that it be written.
In the summer of 2001, John undertook a major, multi-faceted project for us that revolved around the construction of a backyard deck and wheelchair lift. As an intelligent and experienced carpenter, he quickly grasped the scope of our wishes and was able to translate that big picture into reality. When our wishes were vague, he made sensible counter-suggestions. He was utterly committed to the project. His attention to details, including those we would otherwise have overlooked, was impressive.
John is a perfectionist but also respects the financial limits that families must work within. He also knows his own limits. If a task lay outside his own expertise he hired specialists. His expectations of other tradespeople are as high as those he places on himself.
The pleasure of dealing with this consummate craftsman and fine human being will only be exceeded by the lasting satisfaction his work will give us through the years.
I cannot recommend him highly enough.
Paul Luke
Hoskins Rd. North Vancouver, B.C.
North Vancouver - Sundeck Renovation
In the summer of 2001 I had little time to search for a qualified and reputable builder for sundeck renovations. A chance article in The North Shore News led me to John. Simply put, the people interviewed in the article praised him, so I gave him a call.
He responded quickly with an assessment of the deck. We agreed on a price, drew up a small contract, and he and his crew went to work.
Although my project was simple in nature, complications did arise. How John handled them should be told to illustrate the admirably professional and caring characteristics of John Juzyniec and Solution Renovations.
What impressed me most, was John's dedication to quality craftsmanship and a properly executed job. He explained, for instance, that the existing stairs would benefit from greater solidity, and proposed double stringers for the stair sides (to replace the singles that made the stairs somewhat shaky) and one running up under the middle of the stairs. The rebuilt stairs are incredibly solid—not a fraction of movement when one travels up and down.
This is John—he does the job right.
Similarly, when he removed the original stairs and found the facia boards behind the top end of the stringers were rotten (so much so that the damage went into a vertical supporting beam for the deck) he knew he would have to renegotiate the price, for this was indeed an added problem and cost. John treated the matter with the utmost professionalism and sympathy for my concerns about increased costs for which I hadn't budgeted. We negotiated an additional amount that I feel was more than equitable and that stemmed from John's fair-mindedness and integrity.
Pride and integrity, what more can one ask of a contractor!
The praise in the newspaper article was well-deserved! John's politeness, courtesy, fair-mindedness, attentive responses to my questions and concerns, solid work pace throughout the day and fair pricing for the premium work he does, all attest to his professionalism and personal integrity. For future renovations, I know who I will call. Such peace of mind to a homeowner, as the current T.V. adds say, is priceless.
I could not have been more pleased with the work done by John Juzyniec and Solution Renovations.
Bryant Knox
North Vancouver
Regan Properties first engaged John Juzyniec and his company solution Renovations in Oct. 2001 to prepare our recently purchased apartment building in North Vancouver for the installation of 57 new Starline vinyl windows. During the window prep John discovered a problem with the front wall of the building. "Leaky condo" type of rot had been well hidden by fresh drywall and clever window sill installation by previous owners.
We contacted our engineer, and he devised a plan for the leak repair. The problems got even worse as Solution Renovations stripped the drywall away. We consulted again with the engineer and changed our plan from one of repair -to a total reconstruction of the front wall of our 3 story building. This reconstruction began with a shoring up of the building so the total front of the building could be removed and reconstructed. Solution Renovations was able to complete this work on time and on budget even in the middle of a rainsoaked Vancouver winter. It was a difficult project which included building a 'Hardiplank' exterior and properly flashing all of the areas where leaks could occur.
We were impressed with Solution Renovations' ability to execute our engineer's complex rainscreen plan which adhered to the newer, tougher and more expensive building codes that cities are now a dopting here in the Lower Mainland.
We were so satisfied with the finished work that we engaged Solution Renovations to construct a new living room on the roof in the penthouse suite where we live, with an adjoining covered deck.
We decided later to add an elevator to the property, and Solution Renovations came through again, building the 48 foot elevator shaft on time and budget to the specs of the elevator engineering company. After that, we engaged them to deck another large part of the roof, with raincover and a perimeter fence. John Juzyniec and his team know how to build according to plans & specs and are honest about what is and isn't possible with the money allocated for the project. We highly recommend Solutions Renovations,We have since engaged them for the remodeling of various strata units that we use as rental properties.
Sincerely
Patrick Regan
Cardero St - Forth Floor Addition to Heritage Home
I wish to express my complete satisfaction for the wonderful job that Solution Renovations did constructing the fourth floor addition to my 1907 West End character home.
John Juzyniec and his firm faced quite a challenge.
In 1999 the previous owners of my home undertook a major restoration—raising the house one foot (to accommodate a two-bedroom suite below), pouring a new foundation, restoring the original siding hidden beneath a stucco exterior, and gutting the house to the studs - all in order to restore as much of the original character as possible yet incorporating the conveniences of today's technology. This was the scene when I purchased the home.
The major problem for me was the diminutive six foot high attic, which I wanted to develop for my working art studio. In January 2002 I applied for a permit to develop the attic (which necessitated demolishing the existing roof, building new walls, and constructing three dormers, which would maintain the home's character yet allow in enough light to do my art work). The city made it apparent that they would not approve this or (after many redrafts) any other developmental design for the attic. The Board of Variance was the only alternative, and, after much time spent preparing and presenting my case, they granted the development permit.
But the frustrations continued. More delays: I found I also had to obtain an actual building permit; the development and building permits were not rolled into one. Fourteen months later I finally received my building permit. This was a trying beginning and I hadn't even secured a contractor!
Foremost on my mind were worries of pricing, the relatively quick starting time, the contractor's integrity, pride in and quality of workmanship, and his confidence in finding a solution for this complex job - in the middle of the rainy season with me living in the house!
This is where Solution Renovations enters the scene.
Most of the contractors I approached were unwilling to undertake such a complicated project. John Juzyniec, however, regarded it as a challenge and approached it with overwhelming enthusiasm. His answer to the problem (so worthy of the "Solutions" in his company name) was to design an unique protection for the project—he constructed an outer skeleton over the entire house (10 feet above the existing roof!). This was complemented by an exterior staircase that rose to the top floor and allowed all trades to come and go in a timely manner without being delayed by the weather and without going through the house. Two days after signing the contract they arrived with two boom lifts and started the job. The project was finished on time, within budget, and to a very high standard of quality and workmanship.
Renovating is extremely stressful, yet John was always conscientious about minimizing the stress to his client. He takes great pride in his work and I truly believe that his main concern is customer satisfaction. If at any time I was unsatisfied, John went the extra mile to change things. His other main concern was the assurance of quality. Because of these (and other) factors I found John to be a trustworthy person of high integrity.
I am very proud of the finished project. My neighbours and passers-by constantly give me compliments on the renovations.
I was fortunate to have had Solution Renovations as the builders of my project.
Sincerely
Dr. Sam Naccarato
Vancouver - Home Damaged by Vehicle-Restoration
Dear John:
I am writing on my behalf of my family to express our appreciation for the excellent work Solution Renovations did for restoring our home after it suffered damage from a vehicle accident. I am glad I discovered your company and I understand why your company is winner of awards from the Canadian Home Builder's Association at the National and Provincial levels for the Cardero Project.
Your professional approach differentiated you from the other contractors I was dealing with. You spent the time to listen to my concerns and explained to me what was required to have our home repaired back to where it was before the accident, After seeing the finished restorations I also see that you have attention to detail and quality.
I am quite impressed with your organization skills. It was not a burden for my family and me during the restoration period. You had the tradesman in and out as quickly as possible. As you were aware I had to stay in a hotel for ten days, however, you were able to have us back home days ahead of schedule; (I am sure the insurance company was very happy to hear that!).
I look forward to asking you to do more work with my other properties and I would not hesitate to refer you to others. Keep up the excellent work. Yours truly,
Andrew Au-Young
CFP, CGA
Vancouver - Ottawa Avenue Project
Dear John
Our meeting was through the Yellow Pages and you cemented our association by showing me a job you had recently completed in, Vancouver which included nesting new paralams into a basement ceiling.
My first impression was the meticulous finishing of the job and the cleanliness of the jobsite.
Our subsequent negotiations and eventual agreement related to the replacement of existing 7x6 wood beams with paralams in preparation for an eventual second floor addition.
You started the job in mid October and within 3 weeks you had the entire lower south side of our house exposed to the elements and the main floor supported by 2 x 4 temporary walls.
As you know, we had planned for company from Europe for Christmas and you completed this extensive framing and structural refit in time for me to arrange the balance of the trades and to actually finish the final touches the day of arrival of our company.
It should be noted that 4 years prior to the basement renovation we had completely gutted and rebuilt our kitchen including new tiled floors. During the basement renovation and suspension of the main floor by temporary walls and the final nesting of beams into the floor joists of the main floor, there were no cracks in our kitchen floor which, again, is a testament to the ability of your company to complete complex renovations without causing damage to existing finished areas.
The second phase included forms, construction of a massive 42 ft square by 42 ft high tent to encompass our current structure and to accommodate the new second floor and roof yet to be built, placement of a multitude of additional paralams and the complete framing of a second floor including some rather challenging clearstory roof details and vaulting requiring the use of both steel and wood beams.
The roof came off in late January and following some input from my engineer and some tweaking by Solution Renovations, we lived the winter out mostly with a blue tarp covering the open main floor while living in our newly renovated basement.
I think we can both agree this was not a small project. In retrospect, I would consider myself to be a rather green general contractor at that time so I was lucky that your framing foremen was so helpful. I appreciated his ability to look ahead several days in order to prepare me to make upcoming decisions regarding drawings vs. actual. As a result of his expertise and dedication to the project I was able to, in many instances, deviate from our drawn ideas in order to create a more functional and visually pleasing space.
I can tell you without any hesitation, that had Solution Renovations not been able to offer this high level of expertise, our project would have been much less successful.
John, you finished all of our agreed tasks in a professional and timely fashion and within the bounds of our agreed upon budget.
I appreciate your honesty and integrity during this project and thank you for employing such a high level of dedicated and skilled individuals.
Yours Sincerely
Tim Maguire
West Vancouver B.C
North Vancouver - Backyard Deck & Wheelchair Lift
John Juzyniec has not asked me to write this letter of recommendation. Very simply, the caliber of the work he did for us demanded that it be written.
In the summer of 2001, John undertook a major, multi-faceted project for us that revolved around the construction of a backyard deck and wheelchair lift. As an intelligent and experienced carpenter, he quickly grasped the scope of our wishes and was able to translate that big picture into reality. When our wishes were vague, he made sensible counter-suggestions. He was utterly committed to the project. His attention to details, including those we would otherwise have overlooked, was impressive.
John is a perfectionist but also respects the financial limits that families must work within. He also knows his own limits. If a task lay outside his own expertise he hired specialists. His expectations of other tradespeople are as high as those he places on himself.
The pleasure of dealing with this consummate craftsman and fine human being will only be exceeded by the lasting satisfaction his work will give us through the years.
I cannot recommend him highly enough.
Paul Luke
Hoskins Rd. North Vancouver, B.C.
North Vancouver - Sundeck Renovation
In the summer of 2001 I had little time to search for a qualified and reputable builder for sundeck renovations. A chance article in The North Shore News led me to John. Simply put, the people interviewed in the article praised him, so I gave him a call.
He responded quickly with an assessment of the deck. We agreed on a price, drew up a small contract, and he and his crew went to work.
Although my project was simple in nature, complications did arise. How John handled them should be told to illustrate the admirably professional and caring characteristics of John Juzyniec and Solution Renovations.
What impressed me most, was John's dedication to quality craftsmanship and a properly executed job. He explained, for instance, that the existing stairs would benefit from greater solidity, and proposed double stringers for the stair sides (to replace the singles that made the stairs somewhat shaky) and one running up under the middle of the stairs. The rebuilt stairs are incredibly solid—not a fraction of movement when one travels up and down.
This is John—he does the job right.
Similarly, when he removed the original stairs and found the facia boards behind the top end of the stringers were rotten (so much so that the damage went into a vertical supporting beam for the deck) he knew he would have to renegotiate the price, for this was indeed an added problem and cost. John treated the matter with the utmost professionalism and sympathy for my concerns about increased costs for which I hadn't budgeted. We negotiated an additional amount that I feel was more than equitable and that stemmed from John's fair-mindedness and integrity.
Pride and integrity, what more can one ask of a contractor!
The praise in the newspaper article was well-deserved! John's politeness, courtesy, fair-mindedness, attentive responses to my questions and concerns, solid work pace throughout the day and fair pricing for the premium work he does, all attest to his professionalism and personal integrity. For future renovations, I know who I will call. Such peace of mind to a homeowner, as the current T.V. adds say, is priceless.
I could not have been more pleased with the work done by John Juzyniec and Solution Renovations.
Bryant Knox
North Vancouver
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