Denys Builds Designs Renovations

I bought a 1944 brick bungalow and had a list of things to do to it, but being new to town, did not know who to call. I did some research online and found Paul Denys, not only with a persuasive website, but with TV appearances showing his masterful building restoration work. Pretty soon, he had looked at my old windows (which are lovely but they did not open and close well,) and retrofitted them with (invisible!) new hardware. Now they work like new windows but are 80 years old! He also added (invisible) weather stripping so the windows no longer rattle when trucks drive by. Reverence for original design and great attention to process and detail are rare things, let alone in a single individual. And on top of all that, the way I worked out the price for all of it, I think I would have paid the same if not more for new vinyl windows that would be toast in 25 years. I am confident that my 80-year-old windows will be FINE for the rest of my life. This is a bonus when you think about the carbon footprint of trash-and-replace home renovations. In addition to my windows, I have a more or less original kitchen in this house. There is no doubt in my mind that I will be calling Paul to mastermind that renovation as well.

We are extremely satisfied with the renovation and restoration work that Paul and Adam accomplished on our property. We highly recommend Paul for his professionalism, expertise, and craftsmanship. He was also consistently committed to guiding and supporting us with openness and tact throughout the project. He successfully established and maintained a trusting relationship with us, and we feel fortunate to have had the chance to work with him. We would not hesitate to work with Paul again in the future, as he is truly a rare gem in the renovation and design industry.

Paul and Adam know now about all aspects of houses, old and new. They renovated all the windows of our daughter’s 1840 house and changed a patio door and window in our 1950 bungalow. In both cases, they did an impeccable job. But their expertise is not limited to windows. Paul went around the heritage house pointing out this and that that would need repair. They fixed the most pressing problems so it would not deteriorate. We are very lucky to have come across such beautiful «artisans» and are extremely grateful for their dedication. Of course we hope to have them around for a long time, to help this colonial home back to health and good looks. Anne Mauffette

Careful consultation and excellent craftsmanship characterizes our experience with Denys Builds Designs. We are delighted with Paul's realization of my concept of an urban writer's shed (commonly found in the UK; George Bernard Shaw called his "London" so that visitors to his country home could be told he was away in London). A simple design, well-executed and beautifully finished, while somewhat expensive, fits inobtrusively and in harmony with our 1920's arts and crafts style house and garden. It will serve both practical storage needs and as a private retreat.

Denys Builds Designs is everything a client hopes to get from a contractor. Paul is meticulous with planning and executing our project. He is above average considerate with timing of arrival and cleans thoroughly at the end of each work day. His extensive experience and depth of knowledge about all aspects of our walk-in shower renovation was impressive. If you want and expect the best, then Denys Builds Designs is the company to use.

Paul and his team were able to meet any and all needs I asked of them. Paul especially is deeply professional, and clearly cares about his client's satisfaction and holds himself to incredibly high standards. His attention to detail, understanding of style and his clients personal taste, and deep industry knowledge made him a triple threat of a contractor. You add in the fact that he's honest, on time, and incredibly hard working, and I genuinely don't know what else you need in a contractor. He's been an absolutely invaluable part of our home improvements, elevating our plans and giving us important advice as we moved along in our various projects. I cannot recommend Denys Build Designs highly enough.

After years of hiring Paul Denys for different building contract, I have no hesitation to recommend him. I totally trust his skills and artistry. Always calm and diplomat, his work approaches perfection. Because perfection in old buildings is impossible, otherwise.

excellent professional work done in a timely manner. Especially appreciated care to retain traditional character of our home. We enjoyed the experience.

I was very close to undertaking a complete window replacement of my 120-year-old windows when someone recommended that I speak to Paul Denys about restoration. Because my top requirement was maintaining the character of my home, I decided to go ahead with the restoration after consulting with Paul, and doing some research on restoration vs. replacement. In hindsight, I am extremely happy with my decision, and I am extremely happy I found Paul. Denys Builds Designs are true craftsmen. Their workmanship is superb. Paul's knowledge of building science is deep. Now my 120-year-old windows look and function like new. I am also very pleased with their thermal performance in my first winter with them. There is no way I could have reproduced the beauty or character of my original windows had I replaced them. I also know my restored windows will last for the rest of my lifetime (and then some). I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Denys Builds Designs, whether it is for a restoration project or any other type of build or renovation.

We hired Paul to renovate our tiny bathroom, but we also wanted a longer tub. Paul was the only contractor that we spoke to who took the time to research and suggest the appropriate products for us to choose from. We ended up splurging a bit (since this is our only full bathroom in the house, and wanted it to be really nice) and added things like a heated towel rail and underfloor heating - which is super nice now the cold weather has arrived. Paul pays extremely close attention to detail and certainly doesn't cut corners (in fact I'd say he's a bit of a perfectionist). We chose a rather 'challenging' tile option - lots of long narrow tiles from floor to ceiling. He measured multiple times and layed out the tiles, and levelled the floor & ceiling all around (which definitely were not level to start with), to make sure that there were a whole number of tiles that just fit. The result is spectacular and I'm sure could have looked awful if a cheaper contractor without that level of care had done it. We also had regular check ins each day to review progress and go over any design choices / questions.

Paul did a relatively small job for us, but he did it with great care and skill: He replaced the intricate wood cladding that, for 20+ years, had surrounded the large bay window on the front of our house and was in serious need of professional help. We chose Paul to do the work because we were impressed with his expertise in heritage restoration and repair. We were absolutely delighted with the final result and the process that got us there. He explained the nature, cause and scope of the problems and presented a range of options for us to consider, from cosmetic repairs to a complete re-build using more up-to-date construction materials and techniques. We opted for a thorough re-build and redesign. (Fortunately, he was able to replace the rotting sill on one of the casement windows—something a manufacturer’s rep had told us was “not possible”—sparing us the cost of new ones. To our amazement and delight, the window now looks and operates as good as new. His skills as a carpenter are impressive, to say the least.) The original cladding included panels of tongue-and-groove boards and lots of vertical and horizontal joints where moisture could intrude. Paul’s new design is cleaner, more contemporary and much less susceptible to moisture, while remaining appropriate to the age and style of the house. We love it. We appreciate the fact that Paul showed us what he was doing—and the materials he was using—at key points in the construction process. As a result, we know what lies beneath the handsome new façade and have complete confidence in its quality and durability. We also appreciate that he completed the work on schedule and within his original cost estimate. The bottom line: We would highly recommend Paul for any work requiring the skills and expertise he brought to this project.

Paul Denys helped us with our attic reno. From design to implementation and execution, Paul was first rate during the whole process. For any of our future house renos, he would most certainly be considered. His knowledge and professionalism inspire confidence that a project will be done right.