--- title: "Tom Carter — General Contractors | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/tom-carter-pfvwus-pf~1510065166 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1510065166.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Tom Carter" category: ["General Contractors"] address: "Burnaby, Burnaby, British Columbia V2S 5A7, Canada" latitude: 49.0589 longitude: -122.2865 phone: "(778) 524-6745" website: http:// rating: 0 review_count: 0 followers: 6 last_updated: 2026-09-03 --- # Tom Carter Original Houzz profile: [Tom Carter](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/tom-carter-pfvwus-pf~1510065166) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** General Contractors - **Location:** Burnaby, BC - **Serves:** Burnaby - **Houzz rating:** 0.0 out of 5 (0 reviews) ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Houzz Influencer - 100 Ideabook Saves bathroom specialists ### Areas Served - Burnaby ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Tom Carter | | Address | Burnaby, Burnaby, British Columbia V2S 5A7, Canada | | Phone | (778) 524-6745 | | Website | http:// | | Followers on Houzz | 6 | ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Tom Carter](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/tom-carter-pfvwus-pf~1510065166) - **Website:** http:// - **Phone:** (778) 524-6745 ## Selected projects - [Traditional luxury in a small bathroom](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/traditional-luxury-in-a-small-bathroom-pj-vj~1356168) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 10 - Description: Small bathroom with traditional luxury touches: heated marble floor, heated towel rack, custom console marble sink, custom stain glass window. [See all 1 project](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/tom-carter-pfvwus-pf~1510065166) ## Ideabooks - [Sevilla cabin](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/185626475/list/sevilla-cabin) — 4 ideas - [Wet bar](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/176202319/list/wet-bar) — 8 ideas - [deck and yard](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/28310616/list/deck-and-yard) — 19 ideas - [Back Deck](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/126302528/list/back-deck) — 28 ideas - [Rear Roof Reno](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/127452781/list/rear-roof-reno) — 121 ideas - [garden shed](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/143503080/list/garden-shed) — 3 ideas - [New House](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/111283968/list/new-house) — 112 ideas - [entrance room](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/59423158/list/entrance-room) — 27 ideas - [carterkitchen's ideas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/1202882/list/carterkitchen-s-ideas) — 61 ideas - [Rec Room](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/96634073/list/rec-room) — 21 ideas - [laundry](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/84112866/list/laundry) — 9 ideas - [den office](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/45495486/list/den-office) — 62 ideas - [DIY traditional luxury in small bathroom](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/55172660/list/diy-traditional-luxury-in-small-bathroom) — 14 ideas [See all 13 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/carterkitchen) ## Community Q&A **Q: Curtain rail** *(in Photo Questions)* Hi Tom. Is the curtain rail for this sub not interrupted by a ceiling support halfway along? If so, how does that work? Is it just supported by its mounting at either end of the run? A: Originally I installed without the support but I have since put it in. **Q: GC I'm considering says this is extremely difficult, is it?** *(in Kitchens)* I'm about to start a kitchen remodel. I have an electric range and am switching to an all gas range. I want a particular style of range hood, of which my cabinet maker is custom making for me. This is the style of hood I'm getting: The GC I had considered hiring is giving me a lot of grief. He has never installed an inside exhaust fan system, and said his cabinet guy told him it's a lot of work, does he realize that, etc. He said he'll have to find some way to 'figure it out'. The GC is reallllly making me feel like this is a VERY difficult thing to do, and of course he'll be charging me extra. He's said I have NO IDEA how difficult it would be to secure the inner exhaust. Now, he's not talking about the duct work to vent outside, simply attaching the exhaust system inside that hood securely. Is it really that difficult? He said it can be done, but I have no idea the difficulty in work I am asking for. Should I be alarmed that he's never done this before? I admit I was a bit shocked that he wasnt aware of how to do it but would 'figure it out'. The guy builds houses for a living. Is it really that difficult? He's a bit of a complainer in the first place. A: As to being your own GC - one of the biggest values the GC provides is understanding when one sub's changes/requirements impact the next (or previous). ie the plumber needs to change the drain or venting plan b/c of a load baring wall/ducting/joist etc...and that then pushes it too close to the wiring or switch box (so an electrican needs to come in) or the framing needs adjusting (framing carpenter) or the cabinets will need adjusting (cabinet maker). These type of integration questions are really important, and see the issues early is important. You will have great difficulty getting the sub's out for 1 hour jobs, over and over...or they will charge you $$$$. I'm not trying to scare you off of self-GC'ing...lots of people do it successfully ( I do ) but unless you are confident you can see the big picture and how it is impacted from the small details, I would try to find another GC. Just because your first GC experience was poor, does not mean they all are. Caspian **Q: Counter Depth or Built In** *(in Appliances)* We're building a house and trying to decide on the refrigerator: built in vs. counter depth. I know that with a built in we can have it paneled, but frankly I'm not sold that I want panels and am would be OK with stainless if that is all there is. Are there other things we should consider in making the decision between the two types of refrigerators? We're looking at Electrolux, Jenn-aire, Thermador, and Kitchen-Aid. Thoughts? A: After getting over the price shock, the panelled Gaggenau fridge is the nicest appliance in the kitchen. (it is the sister fridge to the integrated Bosch/Thermador fridges but has a nicer interior). It is subtle as it looks like the rest of the cabinet panelling. It is quiet (silent) and keeps food amazingly well (far better than we expected) It is huge on the interior yet everything is accessible. The Gag come with a standard 5 year warranty and the insides are all stainless and aluminum. From every angle, it was worth the money! If the budget can run to it, I would seriously consider it. caspian **Q: Do you really use 6 burners?** *(in Appliances)* We were trying to decide between a 30" range and a 36" range with a griddle and 4 burners. Now my DH wants to get a 36" range with 6 burners since the griddle adds about $700 to the cost. We would then use a stovetop griddle. I have been cooking for the past ten years or so with only 3 burners (1 is broken). I can't imagine ever needing or using all 6 burners. Is it worth the extra money to get the 36" with 6 burners? Am I better off keeping the extra 6" for countertop/cabinets? It is a small kitchen. A: I've been using my 36 inch, 6 burner for a couple months now and its great for that extra room. The pot of pasta does not interfere with the sauce or the sauteing veggies or the browning meet... plus there is almost always some room to move a pan off the heat, or to lay down a hot dish out of the oven even with lots going on the burners. another benefit is that my wife and i like to cook together and with the extra width, we can both be at the range without being in each other's way. caspian **Q: DIY Lessons Learned** *(in Kitchens)* This thread is for all of the DIY or partial DIYer's out there. Our cabinets went in on Thursday and I've been thinking about what I've learned so far. Hopefully this will help anyone who is earlier in the process. If you have already done your kitchen, please list the things that you learned, too. 1\) Do not paint until the floors are in. Installers are not careful. If you paint the kitchen, expect to do a lot of touch-ups. (I have to repaint the hall and part of the kitchen.) 2\) Measure, measure and measure again and remember that the crown molding sticks out from the upper cabinets. (Learned when my recessed lights hit the crown in two places.) 3\) Hire out for the things that you do not do well. (For us is was drywall and hardwood floors.) 4\) Do not assume that hiring out for part of the work is not in your budget. Get 3 estimates and then decide. 5\) DIY is not for the faint of heart. Not only do you have to make the decisions, you have to act upon them. 6\) Most things will take longer than you think they will. (I have spent 2 days measuring and cutting shelf/drawer liners. I am still not done. Also, our floors were a 2 day job that turned into five when we found out they needed to be sanded first.) 7\) The dust is never ending. (This goes for all remodels.) A: 1\. you can be plumber, electrician, framer, floorer, finish carpenter all in one day...try that with external trades :-) 2\. the pace you work at (weekends, after work) dictates that you will have more time to make decisions and more latitude on what your choices are 3\. you can take some of the labour money you saved and buy really nice appliances/tile/hardware etc. 4\. you need to have an understanding partner becausse it will take alot of your time (12 hours tiling on Sunday) 5\. subscribe to a good home magazine like Fine Home builders so that you do the work right (eg, exterior window flashing, tile backerboard) and with modern materials/techniques 6\. you need to have the tools...even as a DIY, the tools you need are the same ones as the pros. There is a tool for every job and its darn hard to do it right without it. Some of the tools are really expensive - factor that in before you do the job... 7\. ask youself honestly if you have the skills - especially in the finishing 8\. sub out anything that you answer "no" to in question 7. I no longer do drywall mud/taping - I'm crap at it. 9\. Some work is only by the pros - its just not available to a DIY to buy or install - My floor finish is like that - it is a specific, vendor product that I could not replicate, even if they would sell me the product. really know your 'code'. you can make dangerous errors if you mess up electrics, venting, plumbing, structural you need to do tonnes of research - especially for a kitchen - do you know how to do all of it? if not, do you have a reliable guy that can come in to fix or complete things? Many trades are not keen on doing small parts of jobs or fixing a DIY's errors. if you are the GC, can you be home when the trades you do need are working on your home? do you have a good source of contractor priced building products, not HD or Lowes but a real builders store - much cheaper and pro grade stuff, not retail. I could go on but that's enough for now :-) caspian **Q: New home (BlueStar, Kobe instead of Viking)** *(in Appliances)* Hi folks, We are currently building a new home and trying to sort out appliances. In our current home we have the following: \- Miele 36" induction cooktop that we love \- KithenAid electric oven/microwave combo unit that is somewhat mediocre (especially the microwave) \- KitchenAid french door counter-depth fridge with internal water dispenser (love it) \- KitchenAid dishwasher (vanilla, but works well and seems quiet enough) For the new home we have no space for a wall oven and I want to go gas. So initially we spec'd out an all-Viking kitchen with a 36" AG range (no self-clean), a Viking 10" hood, Viking fridge identical to our current KitchenAid (I guess Amana makes both), and the 301 series Viking dishwasher. From what I've been reading, we're making a big mistake by going down this road with Viking, and we also really shouldn't be trying to just match all of our appliances to a brand... despite how happy my wife would be to have matching handles on everything. So at this point I'm thinking of the following, instead: \- BlueStar 36" RCS366BCN from COSTCO \- Kobe Hood (maybe the CH-191, although I'd love a recommendation. I'm looking for nothing taller than 10" and our kitchen will have 12"-deep uppers Now I need help for the fridge and dishwasher. I was looking at Thermador or Bosch dishwashers, and I'm still thinking we should stick with our fridge unless someone has a real reason not to. The fridge would be the Viking VCFF236. Finally, am I going the right route with the BlueStar and Kobe? Growing up we had an open burner propane stove and that is what I learned to cook on. I have reservations about sealed burners, and so the BlueStar looks great. It's also $3200 at Costco compared to the $6200 pricetag on the Viking AG. I really appreciate any advice - thanks! A: the comments about bluestar dumping in canada don't seem accurate to me. In fact, during my research, i could get an RCS in the US for about the same price as the costco RCS in Canada. The real story is that most other dealers in Canada charge way too much and the Costco RCS is the only high end range with prices comparible to US vendors. Caspian --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-03.*