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FAQs

Clear Answers to Your Renovation & Home-Building Questions

We believe in transparency. Here are answers to the questions we’re often asked – so you can feel informed and confident from the start.
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“Anyone would be nuts not to pick these guys. I will 100% be using them for anything in the future.”
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General Questions

Yes. We can help you with both! Whether you want to transform an existing space or build a brand new home from the ground up, our experienced team is equipped to manage your project. We bring the same dedication to quality and transparency to renovation and construction alike, ensuring a smooth experience either way.

We proudly serve Kingston, Ontario and its surrounding communities. Typically, we are able to serve clients in a one hour radius from Kingston. 

Yes, we have five million in liability coverage. We have licensed carpenters and apprentices on staff who attend recurring training to stay up to date on industry standards and safety.

Our passion for our craft. The finished product is our number one priority. We have built a team and network that shares our level of passion and strives for perfection every step of the way.

Project Process & Timeline

We follow a proven process to keep each project on track and smoothly managed: 

  1. Obtain project information

  2. Provide ballpark pricing

  3. Determine best fit for a client and designer

  4. Client and designer complete design together

  5. Provide firm price and preliminary schedule based on new design

  6. Obtain permits

  7. Begin project

  8. Manage changes and expectations as project evolves

  9. Weekly meetings with designer/client

  10. Project completion

The timeline depends on the scope of work. There are a lot of variables that can impact duration. Generally speaking: 

  • A home addition takes 6–8 months
  • A full-home renovation takes 3–5 months
  • We can finish a bathroom in 4 weeks
  • A custom home may take 9–12 months

During the planning phase, we’ll give you a clear schedule breaking down each phase of work. We pride ourselves on finishing projects on schedule whenever possible, and we will always communicate openly about any changes. Our goal is to deliver quality work efficiently, without cutting corners.

Our availability is flexible and can vary based on our current project commitments at the time the agreement is executed. Depending on the project’s scale, openings may become available within one to two months. Typically, we commence larger-scale projects approximately 3 to 5 months after the agreement is signed.

Please note that prior to formalizing the agreement, we usually spend one to two months collaborating with you to refine the project scope and design.

Planning & Preparation

We provide complimentary ballpark estimates for all projects we deem a good fit. For clients working directly with a designer, we offer a free full quotation. For those not collaborating with a designer, we charge a fee for comprehensive estimates. The fee will be credited back should they choose to move forward with us on their project.

Yes, we can manage the permit process for any of our projects.

Clean out all areas within the work zone. This area will be clearly defined before the project begins. We will worry about protecting all of the vulnerable areas from dust and other damage.

Budget & Payments

We offer free ballpark pricing to everyone. We offer free full quoting to clients working with a designer either directly or through us. We charge a fee for full estimates to clients not working with a designer. And sometimes if we’ve provided multiple quotes for the same clients. Clients are credited the fee back if they proceed with us for their project.

We usually have 3–5 payments, made up of a deposit, milestone payments, and a completion payment.

Yes, we require a deposit to block off our time in the schedule. We typically do not block off time until the deposit is collected.

We recommend that clients allocate a contingency fund, typically calculated as a percentage of the total project cost. Additional costs generally arise from unforeseen finding after the demolition phase or from clients making design changes outside the original scope. We handle these changes systematically by either providing a fixed price for the modifications or performing the work on an hourly basis. In both cases, we secure the client’s approval, either a firm price or a ballpark estimate before proceeding.

Please note that we do not undertake any extra work without prior written approval from the client, whether via email or text.

Materials & Design

We are able to accommodate with some minor selections during the course of the project. However, we do not typically take on projects where we or the client are responsible for selecting all finishes and design elements. For a higher-quality outcome, and a smooth project we recommend engaging a designer to handle those decisions.

We try and stay flexible for our clients. In the custom world, clients sometimes bring us very unique fixtures they’d like to install. Say for example you find an antique light fixture or specialty tiles you fell in love with, and we do our best to accommodate these special touches. 

We won’t work with custom fixtures when:

  • They don’t meet our local building requirements 
  • Installing the fixtures would add undue time to the project schedule and workload

 

At the end of the day, our goal is to make sure you get the exact look you want, and we’re comfortable working with both client-supplied items and those we source for you. We consider client-supplied materials as case by case and we have a limit to how much we’d like our clients to supply.

 

The designers and architects we work with always have the option for renderings.

During Construction

It depends on the scale of the job. If the project is greater than a main floor renovation we recommend the clients leave throughout the duration of the project. It’s less stressful for them, we’re able to be more efficient and the job gets completed sooner.

Our first action on any project is to set up floor and dust protection. We build barriers where required to close off areas outside of the construction work zone. We also cover all cold air returns with furnace filters to help reduce dust making it to the furnace. We make sure to replace the homes furnace filter throughout the project as needed. We also supply air scrubbers and dehumidifiers to control the air quality throughout the duration of the project.

Our hours on site are typically 8 am–4:30 pm. Sometimes we start a little earlier or later. Trevor is available by phone 24/7 if you have any concerns or questions throughout the project.

If we discover potential mold or asbestos on site we immediately shut-down operations and contact a professional company to perform testing. If tests are positive, we consult with our trusted abatement companies to remove it as required.

Structural issues that are discovered are provided to the engineer on the project and the engineer will provide a design to remedy the issues.

Any costs additional to the original scope of work will be handled as described above.

These types of changes happen on every project. There are always changes in custom home construction. If a client would like to make a change from the original scope, we are happy to provide a price and execute the desired work.

After Completion

Holleford Homes promises that all work performed will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 1 year, and structural defects for 3 years as a minimum. Some of our sub-trades provide longer warranties on their work.

We arrange a time that works for the client and visit the site to remedy the issue.

Yes, we clean up everything related to our project. We also provide professional cleaners to clean the space before we hand it back over to the clients.

Communication & Team

You’ll have an assigned project manager and site lead. If a designer is involved throughout the duration of the project your main point of contact will be the designer first, our project manager second, and the site lead third. Trevor can also be reached at any time for questions or concerns.

We encourage weekly meetings throughout our projects, as custom renovations involve numerous decisions to ensure every detail is executed precisely. Depending on the project stage, we typically meet every one or two weeks to keep all parties aligned. These meetings include our client, project manager, site lead, and, if involved, the designer.

Additionally, we maintain an ongoing email thread and group chat to facilitate more immediate decision-making and ensure seamless communication as the project progresses.

Yes, we have our schedule mapped out before the project begins. Our sub-trades are all aware of the schedule and ready to work when we need them.

Reputation & References

Holleford Homes has been proudly transforming homes in Kingston and the surrounding area since 2019.

Yes, feel free to ask for a reference for any of our projects.

See the See Our Work section for photos and details of featured projects.

Still have a question that isn’t answered here? Feel free to contact us directly – we’re here to help, and we want you to feel comfortable and informed about every aspect of your project.

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Let’s Build Something Great

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Collaborate & Plan

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Enjoy Your Perfect Home

With our team on the job, you can watch your dream space take shape minus the stress.