Lighthaus Built

Dave was the project manager and lead on our whole-house renovation. He made our large project as stress-free as possible and kept it running smoothly the entire way through. Dave kept our project on time (he’s great with organization and time management) and made sure we were always working toward our final budget. He’s very knowledgeable, conscientious, responsive and attuned to the client’s needs. He doesn’t cut corners and was a pleasure to work with on a daily basis. Never did we not think he had our best interests in mind, and he helped us balance quality and costs. We’d happily work with Lighthaus again in the future.

I can't recommend Lighthaus enough. We had a major three floor reno of an 1800's Victorian house that included underpinning, creation of a new living space in the basement, soundproof music studio build and load bearing wall removal to name a few things. Plans and budget were clearly laid out, communication was constant and problems that arose were brought to us with numerous recommendations for fixing; all with pros, cons and cost input. Jason (the site manager) communicated well and made sure everything was executed on time. Dave had numerous meetings to make sure we brought the project in on budget. On time and on budget seem never to happen on other renos we hear about, but ours did both.

As architect on a recent laneway house project in Toronto, I had the opportunity to collaborate with John and Dave from Lighthaus Built throughout the design and construction phases. Lighthaus is the complete package: they bring a high level of construction expertise, an attention to detail with a refined design sense, a well-organized project management style, and rigorous control of construction costs and schedule. Clear communication throughout the project ensured that our client could make informed decisions with confidence. John and Dave and their crew were a pleasure to work with. I would recommend Lighthaus Built to any prospective homeowner, as well as to any architect or designer.

We engaged Dave Cook from Lighthaus Built to help finish our basement in a typical Toronto semi-detached home. Overall, we were very impressed with the Lighthaus Built team, as well as all their trades who worked on our renovation. A few highlights from our experience working with them: - very responsive and communicative, the team regularly kept us updated on progress or when things needed to pivot, they were very organized, clearly articulating what work was happening when so we could anticipate and plan around it - timely and respectful of the fact that we were working from home through the reno, the team always showed up when they said they would and were careful about keeping our home clean with minimal disruption - sharing their expertise and recommendations on what works well/what to avoid in completing many of the finishes for our basement. Dave had really good suggestions and gave us things to consider that we hadn't thought about, as well as suggestions on how to cut down on costs where possible. - attention to detail and high quality of finish on all the work completed, we had no final niggly bits at the end or anything that didn't get completed. Everything was finished as expected and with great quality. - they also went above and beyond on a few asks we had that really wasn't in our contract for the basement, but they helped out with anyway Overall, I'd say, with Lighthaus Built, you get what you pay for --- really great partners, high quality and timely work and professional and thoughtful, to us it was totally worth it as it made the renovation process painless. We would 100% work with them again and recommend them to anyone looking to do a renovation/work on their home.

As an architect, I've had the privilege of collaborating with numerous contractors over the years, but my experience with Lighthaus truly stands out. They are not just a trustworthy builder; they are a partner who consistently makes architects shine and ensures that projects are executed with precision and excellence. One of the most commendable aspects of working with Lighthaus is their unwavering commitment to doing what they say they'll do when they say they will do it, making them a dependable ally in the construction process. I've never hesitated to bring clients to the job site during construction because I know Lighthaus will deliver on every promise made, and they consistently maintain a tidy and organized job site throughout the entire project. Their excellent communication skills ensure that everyone involved in the project is kept informed and aligned every step of the way. Lighthaus operates with a solid management structure that prioritizes quality control and client satisfaction. The inclusion of full-time supervision as a core component of their business is a testament to their dedication to quality control and minimizing mistakes. This proactive approach not only ensures that projects stay on track but also maximizes efficiency and architect and client satisfaction. I wholeheartedly recommend Lighthaus to fellow architects seeking a partner who shares their commitment to excellence and craftsmanship. Zuzanna Krykorka Studio Z Design

We hired Lighthaus Built to take on a challenging project (build a laneway house in downtown Toronto) at an impossible time (2021, height of supply-chain challenges). Their ability to navigate very tricky logistics, while still paying super close eye to details and design, is superior. Dave and John are also great at following up and have kept their warranty promises, more than two years on. Highly recommended in every way.

Dave and John had been referred to me by another one of their customers, so I decided to reach out for an estimate on my garden suite project. I had a really REALLY bad experience on a previous large renovation and wanted to take my time with selecting the right contractor this time around. Dave and John took the time to walk me through their process and developed a very detailed estimate after visiting the site. The fact that they showed up to make sure expectations were set right from the beginning was impressive, particularly given that some of the companies I reached out to never laid eyes on the property and provided high level quotes/guesstimates based on the architectural drawings alone. What really stands out about Lighthaus is their amazing crew. Awesome attention to detail and obvious care for the property, including being conscientious of neighbours. Sure, there were issues, but the lines of communication were always open and Dave and John were always available to navigate and problem solve. Overall, really happy with how things went, and garden suite looks fantastic. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Lighthaus to anyone considering a big build/renovation project.

Taking on a major home renovation is a big decision and one that we did not make lightly. Lighthaus Built had been recommended to us and after talking to several contractors we decided to partner with Lighthaus for a major reno of our Roncesvalles semi. We finished the basement, the main floor plus an extension and all of the bathrooms. From the beginning of the process Dave worked with us on the scope of the project and the budget / timeline and answered our MANY questions with patience and detail. When the project began, we were immediately impressed with John's level of organization and communication. The Lighthaus crews are a talented group of carpenters / tradespeople and they were all a pleasure to work with on a daily basis. Even when issues arose, Dave and John were responsive and accountable and we always felt like we were kept in the loop. They are both amazing problem solvers and are quick to come up with creative solutions. Now that we have finished the project, the word that comes to mind when I think of Lighthaus Built is Integrity. John and Dave have built a company based on the core values of honesty, transparency and trust. It's hard to put a price on that. We have been back in the house for over a month now and we are absolutely thrilled with our home. Again, it's a huge decision to renovate, and I cannot recommend Lighthaus enough because of the quality of their work and how they run their business.

Working with Lighthaus Built was better than I expected. Having worked with other full service construction companies before, I had a level of expectation that was completely surpassed. While Lighthaus delivered an exceptional service and final product, the main highlight was the personalized customer service and communication. Specifically John and Dave were always available for discussion, sent regular communications about timelines, budgets and supply/material updates. Lighthaus was very transparent throughout the process and offered many suggestions and areas for cost containment and effectiveness. They were also able to provide great fundamental design solutions based on their experience - which I benefited from significantly. The planning and budget documents provided were clear and easy to follow and were updated regularly. This gave me full clarity on the status of the project - both timelines and budget. Lighthaus supported me throughout the process and kept me on schedule as well. If anyone has a busy lifestyle, they will appreciate the timing and flexibility of John and Dave, as well as their patience! The quality of the staff and particularly the site supervisors was appreciated by my family and neighbours. They were professional, respectful and always neat and tidy. I am a repeat customer of Lighthaus and would highly recommend working with John and Dave!

The experience of renovating our home was daunting at the beginning due to the number of construction firms out there. Once we made the decision to go with Lighthaus Built, everything seemed to become easier. Lighthaus Built is a service based construction firm and we were able to be in constant contact throughout the entire build. Dave Cook & John Maher were always available to address our concerns and make recommendations towards the best course of action to make our renovation dreams become reality. If you are on the fence and not sure which renovation firm to work with, then I would strongly encourage you to go with Lighthaus. The construction crew was very professional and always at the site throughout the build. The job site was well organized, clean and their attention to detail was spot on. John Maher was our main point of contact and did a wonderful job at keeping the project on schedule, on budget and the lines of communication were always open. We are so happy with the finished product and can't thank the team at Lighthaus enough for their hard work and attention to detail. We love our newly renovated home!