M-Squared Contracting Inc.

We recently renovated our home that involved a three storey addition. This included a kitchen and basement renovation and the addition of a master bedroom and ensuite. At the beginning of the project, our architect, Wanda Ely, recommended M-Squared Contracting. We were absolutely thrilled with the job that M-Squared completed. Right from the beginning, Mike Lawrence, the owner, was professional, punctual and detailed. Every aspect of the project was well managed. Given our home was built in 1925, there were many elements that we wanted to preserve and were not being touched during the renovation. Mike’s team painstakingly protected the specific areas of the house that were not being renovated to ensure that no damage was done. Wainscoting was protected, existing light fixtures were carefully wrapped, labelled and stored and floors were properly covered. This level of respect continued throughout the renovation. The jobsite was kept very tidy and clean. Neighbours commented that at the end of each day, the yard was tidied up and was not an eyesore. One of the main features of working with M-squared is the staff. Every employee is friendly, respectful and hardworking. The staff showed up everyday to work. Not one day was missed. No request was too small and everyone we encountered was polite and anxious to make sure that we as clients were happy. Mike is extremely detailed. Project list were kept up to date and were very detailed. Budget meetings were held on a regular basis. If there were any changes to the budget, we were notified and were presented with change orders. There were no surprise financial items presented at any point during the project. In addition, when the project began, M-Squared committed to and met the completion date. Being on-time and on-budget, is something unheard of this industry and is a testament to M-squared organization level of commitment. M-Squared also worked very well with our architect and her team. Together they problem solved and came up with creative solutions to any issue. There was never finger pointing or blame, just solutions. Overall our experience with M-Squared was excellent. We are very happy with the quality of work and the end result. We would highly recommend working with M-Squared, no matter the size, scale or detail level of the project.

Mike and the M Squared team are world-class, I can't recommend them highly enough. They helped us with a top to bottom renovation and made the process a breeze from start to finish. Having worked with many contractors over the years I've not seen anything close to M Squared's knowledge, collaboration orientation, attention to detail, and extent of relationships with premium subcontractors. It was an eye opening experience, they earned our trust quickly and it was clear they had our best interests in mind at every step - I lost count of the number of times they went "above and beyond" to make sure timelines were met and that we were satisfied. Dave was our Project Manager and Brian our Site Supervisor, both are true professionals that brought an impressive level of dedication and creativity to our project every day. They were a real pleasure to work with and ensured the end result was not only stunning to look at but safe and sound in all respects. I sleep well at night knowing my family has the good fortune to live in a house built by the M Squared team. I can't imagine working with another contractor - they really are second to none among builders of modern custom homes.

We were introduced to M Squared by our architect Wanda Ely, along with other contractors. We were not sure how to choose, this was our first such project, so we were naturally worried about making a mistake. M Squared came across in the comparison as a premium builder with an established business and sufficient relationships with subcontractors, suppliers and others to carry a large project like this big gut job. The initial meetings had the feel of forging a partnership to do something well and with pride. They were very helpful with scope and budget which were not decided by then. Mike offered realistic estimates of costs and time and he offered advice that was spot on; even though it was not always what we wanted to hear. For instance Mike was confident he can be within 10% of the budget but also was confident that we will revise the budget higher by our own choosing. After a lengthy project M Squared were within 10% of budget as promised. When the construction started we discovered to our pleasant surprise that M Squared is an exceptionally well run company. Even our new neighbours were impressed with the clean site, the vigorous and consistent pace of the work, the considerate planning with the neighbours for parking, fences, etc. The site manager John is extremely good at managing the endless complexities that arise day to day and he's particularly effective with subcontractors. He was always there and managing every detail. I could go on about the details but one can imagine. As the project evolved and actually grew, as Mike predicted at the start, we felt that our architect and contractor were very good at working together and communicating well among themselves and with us. In fact one of us stopped coming to the site meetings fairly early on because of the sense of confidence and trust we had in the team. Wanda Ely and M Squared work really well together. Both have very high standards. When we saw the finished product we were extremely pleased with the finishes, the millwork, the crisp clean build in every detail. Mike is particularly keen on a perfect outcome. As we moved in, we wanted to change a few of our choices like rounding the stairs or changing a green driveway to stone. To our surprise M Squared did not bill us because these were covered by their warranty. That exceeded our expectations, and with the rest of our experience with M Squared, left us convinced beyond doubt that we could not have made a better choice. We recommend M Squared without hesitation. Thanks M Squared for the beautiful workmanship.

We have had the opportunity to work with the team at M-Squared on several renovation projects, and in each case found them to be knowledgeable, organized and always conscious of budget and schedule. Their work is of high-quality, as is their client-interaction. We are happy recommend them as a top-notch builder/renovation company.

I recently hired M-Squared to undertake an extensive renovation on my 110 year old house in Toronto and I highly recommend their services. From start to finish, the renovation was flawlessly executed. Mike estimated and managed the budget and timeline professionally, offering multiple solutions at different price points as I increased the scope of the project. Dave did an exceptional job of coordinating all the work and trades. Honest, professional and hard-working I had no reservations leaving my house in his care! The team of M-Squared carpenters and the trades they engaged, delivered superior quality craftsmanship. They pulled out all the stops to make good on a promised move-in date before the Christmas holiday. I highly recommend M-Squared and hope to work with them again on a future project.

We had a fantastic experience with Mike, Mark and Beth-Anne. A truly outstanding team, and we are more than happy with the results and the process. Mike is so well organized and from the get go made us feel comfortable that things were going to get done correctly, on time and within our budget range. Mark is a pleasure to work with and always going out of his way to make things as smooth as possible. Beth-Anne's energy and keen eye for design helped ensure my wife and I ended up with a cohesive well thought through design. Tremendous team. Of the contractors we received bids, M-Squared was not the cheapest, but they gave us the most confidence during the selection process, and they did not let us down during the entire build process. I have no regrets and would highly recommend M-Squared Contracting to any of my friends (in fact I have :))

We had the absolute pleasure and fortune to work with Mike and his fantastic team. If I could give more than 5 stars, I most certainly would! We were renovating our bungalow after waiting a few years to transform our home. Mike and his team quickly understood our vision and produced an end result that was beyond what we had ever envisioned. Mike and his team are incredibly thorough and anticipated much of what was discovered in the home prior to commencing the project. Our home is now not just stunning but incredibly functional and most importantly, safe. Thank you to Mike and his team for giving our family the gift of such a beautiful home and in the timeline promised!! You are amazing and have such a gift and talented eye. This has been the most wonderful experience!!

I have had the pleasure of working with Mike and his team over the past half year. We are now in the middle of construction. I sought out Mike for one of my clients, while still in the early design stages, because I had heard about his company, M2, from several sources who raved about how they were on time and on budget. It was clear to me within a few minutes of showing Mike the design, that he was a contractor that was incredibly knowledgeable and more importantly, I could see that he completely understood the subtleties of what we were trying to achieve with our design (aesthetically and functionally). As an architect who meets a lot of builders, meeting someone like Mike was a breath of fresh air. He quickly put together a project budget, at no cost to the client, and has worked collaboratively with me and my team ever since. He has great advice while at the same time respecting the role of the designer. I am very pleased with how all the coordination and management is going and am positive that we will be working together regularly in the future. I would definitely recommend M2 to homeowners as well as to other architects and designers of high end, modern homes.

Mike and his team at M-Squared are the top-notch. They executed and delivered 3 incredible transformations for the HGTV hit show Property Brothers: Buying + Selling while we've been filming in the GTA. Working closely with Jonathan Scott - Mike, Danny and Nat took care of every detail to ensure the spaces were not only camera ready but also above standard so that homeowners could sell their homes for top dollar. If you're looking for a build firm that will deliver impeccable results on time and on budget - M-Squared is 2nd to none.

Our family had been planning a home renovation for a few years. We met with several reputable contractors but Mike Lawrance was clearly the most organized. Mike provided a few pivotal structural design suggestions that made a huge impact on the overall feel of our home. We were fortunate to have Danny as our site Supervisor. He is clearly very passionate about his work. Beth-Anne was a pleasure to work with and guided us with our design choices. The talented team at M2 delivered high end results. In hindsight, we were very lucky to have worked with M2 and we would definitely recommend them.

Words are not enough to describe how fortunate we feel to have worked with Mike, Beth-Ann, Mark and the entire M-Squared Team. We hired Mike and his team to build our dream house. We absolutely love our new house and the vision Mike and Beth-Anne helped us achieve. M-Squared team did an amazing job. We couldn’t have asked for a more trustworthy, committed and responsive team than M-Squared. The house was built in a record of 7 months. The M-Squared workmanship was superb and their dedication and timing of completion were fantastic. What made this project very successful was also the cohesiveness of the M-Squared team: Mike, Builder; Beth-Anne, Designer and Marc, Project Manager, their competence, creativity and passion undiluted by competing voices. What impressed me the most was Mike’s passion as if he was building his own house. Mike and Beth-Anne also guided us throughout the life of the project and went over and beyond to enable us to make the right decisions . We would work again with Mike, Beth-Anne, Mark and M-Squared team in a heart-beat. We cannot recommend them highly enough.

We hired MSquared to renovate our master suite - bedroom, bathroom, and closet. The project included a complete gut of the third floor down to the studs, new roof, windows, electrical, plumbing, flooring, and adapting the HVAC system to meet our needs. They were extremely professional, completed the project early, and overall great to work with. I would highly recommend them!

We recently renovated our north Toronto home and Mike, Beth Anne, Dave and the M-Squared team did a fantastic job. We couldn't have asked for a more dedicated and responsive team. M-Squared made the process easy for us and any issues or challenges encountered came with solutions already planned and thought out. This work ethic extends to any trades or vendors that were used as part of the project. Overall, we had a great experience and we highly recommend M-Squared!

The team at M Squared did an incredible job. My greatest fear in undertaking such a large renovation was finding someone we could trust. The M Squared team always had my interest at heart – whether it was budget, design options or something as key as communicating to let my neighbours know what was happening. I love the completed project – the attention to detail is beyond anything I could have expected. I love coming home now. Thanks Mike, Beth Anne, Danny and the M Squared Gang.

We hired M Squared to transform our narrow North Toronto house into a beautiful modern home and we are absolutely thrilled with the results. By choosing M2 you are choosing to work with a professional, highly skilled group of people. Mike was at the table from the start of the design process and connected us with our designer and architect. He was critical to the pre construction design and approval process allowing us to go from a vague idea to plans, committee approval and demolition in just under 5 months. Our site supervisor John was absolutely exceptional. He is smart, skilled and a pleasure to work with. His calm demeanor and problem solving skills were a huge asset since construction always involves changes and challenges. Mark M and Rob the carpenters on the project were excellent. The site was always clean and John worked extremely hard to maintain a good relationship with neighbours. We moved in 4 months ago and they have not disappeared. Small issues are to be expected post construction and Mike and John have been very good following up on everything. We would highly recommend M Squared.

We have spent the last year working with Mike, Mark, Beth-Anne and the M-Squared Team to renovate our 120+ year-old house in High Park. Choosing M-Squared as our contractor was the best decision we ever made. They transformed our house into our dream home and in the process taught us the true meaning of building a home. We did a complete gut of the original home back to the studs (and then some!). It involved a complete redesign of our 2.5 story house increasing the square footage from 1600 to 3000, to include 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, walk-in pantry, butlers pantry, wine cellar and roof top terrace. We also underpinned the basement 4 feet, re-bricked the exterior, designed a custom roof to maximize the height and square footage of the 3rd story, replaced all the existing floor joists to adjust the floor levels and increase ceiling height. M-Squared went above and beyond to transform our house and everything exceeded our expectations! Months before construction began, Mike came and viewed several properties with us before purchasing to ensure we could build what we wanted. During the renovation, we experienced many challenges that come from gutting a 120+ year old home. Mike and Mark were always upfront about issues, provided us with multiple solutions and gave us their honest advice for how to handle them. M-Squared are extremely meticulous and detail oriented in their work and their craftsmanship is second to none. Mike, Mark and Beth-Anne are in this business because they LOVE what they do - and it shows! They genuinely care about their clients and work tirelessly to ensure each project is completed to the highest standard. They listened to our needs, understood our vision, were transparent and collaborative in the planning and decision making process and executed it flawlessly. They were available to us 24/7, no issue was too small to be discussed and we valued their regular updates and ongoing communication. Mike was always budget conscious - a rarity in the contractor business - and project timeliness were always met or exceeded. Their crew are exceptional carpenters, the utmost professionals and all around great guys! In the final month, they worked evenings and weekends to ensure our house was finished before the birth of our daughter, even going as far as helping us move into our home on the final weekend! In addition, M-Squared has fantastic relationships with suppliers and a terrific team of sub-contractors that are as equally professional and skilled. When making the biggest investment of your life, you need to work with someone you can trust. We HIGHLY recommend M-Squared Contracting and would be happy to discuss our experience further with anyone considering working with them. Personally, we can't wait to work with them again on another project!

M-Squared managed my entire renovation and construction project which consisted of basement underpinning, interior gut and remodel, and a modern rear addition to 120+ year old home. I am so happy that I found Mike and Mark and their team. I can't imagine another contractor who would be so capable of handling our microscopic attention to detail, limited budget and tight timeline in such an exacting, professional and courteous manner. Mike and Mark seemed to genuinely enjoy figuring out creative ways to solve nitty-gritty practical problems to achieve the type of look we were going for. Their crew were highly skilled and respectful of the job site. The trades that M-squared tended to work with similar integrity and discipline as the core team themselves. They have a keen design sensibility and clearly they have pride in their craft. Also to note, they have good relationships with a number of high quality vendors for construction and finishing materials. I truly feel lucky that I found them and it all worked out that we were able to complete this big project together. Thanks to Mike and Mark and the M-Squared team! Obviously, very highly recommended!!

We undertook a major renovation of our old and outdated High Park home with M-squared contracting. From the initial consultation to the final handing over of the keys, I have nothing but the highest praises, gratitude, and satisfaction for the how the project was handled, and of-course the finished product! After seeing a few signs around the neighbourhood and then seeing his work and reviews on Houzz, I gave M-squared a call. We first met Mike, one of the two founding directors of M-squared, after meeting with about 4 other companies. Within the first few minutes of meeting with Mike at our house, I knew he was the man for the job. He was extremely knowledgeable, professional, and punctual, and I could immediately see he was a perfectionist! His rough quote for the job was in line with others. Our goal was to take our 3-bed 1-bath, relatively non-existent kitchen, 102-yr old house, into a 4 bed 3-bath house, with 2 story addition, and finished (and deeper basement). I thought this was a relatively big job, but for Mike et al., this is considered ‘standard.’ I was further reassured when I saw that most of the work by M-squared has been relatively modern/contemporary in design, including Mike’s own house, which was the esthetic we were striving for in our renovation (although they do traditional/transitional just as well). So we took the plunge and hired them! My wife and I, in retrospect, often talk about how lucky we were to have stumbled upon those initial signs around the neighbourhood. Our renovation story was relatively quite easy. In fact, dare I say it, enjoyable. With M-Squared/Mike’s experience, the process of moving from concepts to drawings to actual buildings, with the all-important aspect of budget incorporated into these steps, was all organized. Mike gave us numerous, (very detailed) financial and time budgets along the project that kept us on track. His initial budget was bang-on to the final cost, except for the frivolous changes in design/products that I made along the way. I was most impressed with Mike’s commitment to timelines. He promised a move-in date of ‘labour-day’ which was quite important for us for schooling reasons. He stuck to this, and handed over the keys on August 30th, even though him and his team pulled ‘all-nighters’ the last two weeks of the project to make this deadline happen! Truly impressive! I also have to commend Mike and team on handling the minor, and major stresses, of the project without putting any undue stress on me. At the beginning of the project, Mike explained that his job was to “handle everything” and I was not to be bothered by city permits, project setbacks, faulty product, etc; he would do this all. And he certainly did plus more, including the extremely professional and dedicated manner of handling a notoriously difficult/sociopath neighbour in the neighbourhood. I can go on positively about Mike, but I’ll turn now to the rest of the team. If I did write anything more about Mike it would be biased by the fact that we have now become friends even after the project is done. But this too is important to highlight as it speaks to the ease and enjoyment of how this 5-month project unfolded. I dare you to find another home-owner and contractor who aren’t more than ready to divorce after 5 months of home building! We met Beth Ann, the in-house designer, a couple of times. She too was bang on in her assessment of the look and esthetic that we were going for, and on her first consultation nailed it down to the point that no changes needed to be made. Amazing! She does modern/contemporary proficiently, and looking at her pics of traditional/transitional, they look great too. The crew that did the work (about 2-7 guys varying throughout the project), and in particular Rob, were also incredible. Their workmanship and attention to detail was phenomenal. In talking with neighbours, I was told they were courteous, clean, and quiet (as much as possible). Neighbours were very impressed with the work, and as I understand it, have already called M-Squared for projects of their own. I was most impressed that little things like an off-centred light switch or plug outlet would be corrected without me having to say anything. And if something did need to be changed, it was always answered with “no problem, we will make that happen.” At the beginning of the project, Mike told me they take each project as if they are building their own dream house, and want to make it perfect. In seeing how they completed the project, and refusing to take short-cuts, I can see that this statement was true to the word. Probably the most deserving of a compliment is John, the project supervisor and crew-lead, who without even once showing frustration, worry, or doubt, made this project go off without a hitch. He too understood the look and finished project desired, and I could trust him to make decisions on my behalf and alter plans on his own. Amazing work! As for negatives, I really don’t have any say. As you can see, I more than recommend M-Squared for a building project. In fact, I have told Mike he can’t retire until I build my next dream house in 10-20 years. So if you are thinking of building, do yourself a favour and give them a call. They have a >1year waitlist (which only speaks further to their work).!!!!

M-Squared worked with us on our house and office renovation. This was a big project that required gutting a 90 year old house and tripling the size of the house with an addition. They worked with us to navigate financing issues and mashed budgets with scheduling adeptly. We have worked with them in the past and will recommend them in the future. Dave Cook our site super was fantastic and easy to work with.

When our contractor bailed out on us last minute, I went into panic mode to say the least. Little did I know that it was a blessing in disguise. I contacted my interior designer Alexandra Naranjo asking her who she would recommend (as she is a perfectionist), she would only recommend M-squared contracting. We had purchased a new home in Unionville and had only 6 weeks to renovate the entire house before moving in. Our friends had warned us that contractors never meet their deadline and with all the work that had to get done to our place 6 weeks would not be enough! They were right, six weeks was tight, but to our delight the project was completed on time and on budget. Mike promised that he would meet the deadline and he was true to his words. Mike and his team did a beautiful job at our house. The attention to detail is second to none and is evident in every room that was completed. Nothing was missed by him or Danny (our site manager). The quality of their work is absolutely brilliant! We are delighted with our new home! Could not have found a better team for this job. If you're looking to hire a professional and trustworthy team of contractors that can deliver superior workmanship, M-squared contracting is the company to call. It will be the best experience you will ever have with a contractor. Renovating a house should not be a painful experience and Mike and his team ensured that it would be a great experience for us! They certainly exceeded our expectations! Thank you Mike and Danny and the rest of the team for a brilliant job! it was a pleasure working with you. Manda

Fast forward 3.5 years since our ground up build finished with M Squared. Does a house get better with age like a fine wine? No... But the closest thing would be the house that Mike and his team (John Maher Honorable mention) at M-Squared built for us! Choosing a builder can be a daunting task. We interviewed several till we sat down and met with M Squared Contracting. The search ended then and here we are today with a beautiful custom home looking as new as the day it was built with zero issues. Let me save you the researching, interviewing and hair pulling decision making... CHOOSE M SQUARED! We're glad we did!

I had the experience and pleasure of working with M Square Contracting, on a High End Kitchen/bathroom renovation that I had designed for my client. As an Interior Designer, the value in working with an experienced general contractor such as Mark and Mike cannot be expressed enough. They are phenomenal at project management and customer communications. They go above and beyond in all aspects of their work. They have the experience and reputation you would expect from a high quality contractor. I'm always referring M Squared to my clients. Thank you, Alexandra Naranjo Designs

I strongly recommend M-squared to anyone looking for superior quality contracting services. I recently renovated my kitchen and master bathroom and I was so impressed with the quality craftmanship and professional way they conducted all aspects of the project. Mike was precise with his monitoring of the budget and followed up with all my questions promptly and accurately. Mark's excellent execution of the project has amazing focus on both aesthetics and functionality and he delivered with attention to detail that I value. He worked well with my designer and with the management at my condominium and was always attentive to my questions and requests. Mark was a master at resolving any issue that came up (including my scope changes - thanks for making it all work). It's been great working with a company that cares about client service, sees things through to completion, and never compromises on quality. Mike and Mark, thank you for the care you've taken to make my home everything I hoped for - it's beautiful.

M-Squared was Magnificent. I recently hired M-Squared to construct an oversized garage on a complicated site. As an Architect I have worked with many general contractors over the years. I found M-Squared to be among the best in the industry. They were accurate with their initial assessment of the scale and cost of the project. They chose and managed the sub-contractors well. Their attention to our design details on this project was remarkable. Their craftsmanship was outstanding and completed with expert precision. The quality of the work is superior to most of the contractors I have worked with in the past. Along the way I found them to be courteous, attentive to our needs, and well organized. They are true professionals at every stage of the project. Their transparent approach with regards to costing, time logs, and record-keeping is rare in this industry. This speaks to their honesty and integrity which in turn leads to client satisfaction. We are one of those satisfied clients and we are thrilled with the end result. Thank you M-Squared Contracting for your efforts. We look forward to working with you in the future.

"Consider yourself lucky to have found M2! These guys are the real deal. They do things the way they should be done: Professionally, thoroughly and with a positive and creative attitude. Our whole job from beginning to end was a perfectly pleasant experience: · From our initial meeting where they understood and agreed to a timeline that had us finished on time. · Through watching Mark approach our project as if he were working on his own home. When any snag presented itself his attitude was "hmmm… lets get creative and see how we can address this?" Whether it was figuring out how to provide uniform ceiling heights, or moving a pipe stack to the most logical spot, or coming up with a creative banister design in a tricky spot. All were examples of his commitment to a great outcome and to the highest quality work. · Through every single tradesman being respectful, friendly and skilled. · To the final stages where M2 took the initiative to stay with every minor detail until the job was completed perfectly! Both our architect and designer have remarked on how impressed they were with M2. Both intend to recommend them on future jobs. These guys are likely to get very busy … so I would recommend that you don’t hesitate. Select these guys. I am confident that you will be relieved that you did!"

NEC PLUS ULTRA ! The house I bought needed extensive renovations, however the schedule was very tight. I interviewed eight general contractors, each one highly recommended through various sources and references. I decided on Mike Lawrance and his M-Squared Contracting team. Mike came across as a real professional. He listened to my ideas and requirements, gave advice as to which ones of my ideas were feasible and which ones needed to be revised, in short he neither tried to bring in someone else as a “designer”, nor did he just look around and say “leave it with me, you’ll be happy”. If needed, his team was also prepared to work on Saturdays – which most of the other interviewed contractors were not. Renovation results: Within the time frame of only three weeks Mike was given, he and his team did: -A full renovation of the kitchen and of the bathroom, -An extensive upgrading of living room and dining room, -A change of all windows and exterior doors, -The creation of a library and of a bathroom in the basement, -Repainting of the entire interior. One day BEFORE the deadline, Mike and his team were finished, and the house handed over to me, cleaned-up spic and span. The quality of the work was absolutely tops, first class, beyond my expectations. Billing: Except where absolutely unavoidable, the billings did not exceed the quoted prices. Each invoice was not only scrupulously itemized, but photocopies of Mike’s material purchases were attached to his bills. The whole process was completely transparent and verifiable. Attitude/ work relationship: The team members are competent and friendly, the communication between client and contractor – which I consider an important factor – was absolutely excellent. My conclusion: With M-Squared Contracting, one is dealing with friendly yet true no-nonsense professionals of the highest caliber, constantly striving for excellence.