Trade Secrets

It’s the time of year for “shoulds”. You should exercise more, eat better, improve your mind. Maybe re-organize your house, clean out your closets or renovate that bathroom too.

You can cross a few of those “shoulds” off your list with these recommendations for the best tradespeople to know (and call) in Ottawa.

For Your Happy Feet
We fully support the idea of your home having a lived-in feel. But there is a limit. When playing “name that stain” replaces your family’s favourite board game, you need to call Steve McNaughton.

Steve patches, stretches, binds, rips up and re-lays. He’ll save your old carpet or recommend the best new one for you and install it too. Whether it’s a wall-to-wall overhaul or a small repair, Steve’s a carpet whiz with a great attitude.

The Renaissance Master (Painter)
It takes a pro to know a pro. Interior designer Catherine Liebe, SavvyMom of two, wants all her clients to love their finished homes. She trusts painter Brian Elliott of Heritage Painting Co. for the perfect final coat and to treat clients professionally in the process. That’s a stamp of approval we like.

Brian knows that fresh new paint can show up all the little things in your home that aren’t so fresh and new so if you ask nicely, he’ll replace molding, put up a light fixture; do what it takes to make sure your house looks great when the last coat dries.

The Major General (Contractor)
Now we come to the “shouldn’ts” on your list. You know what we mean—for those jobs a certain someone is convinced he can tackle after watching one too many episodes of Mike Holmes. Take our advice—if it involves plumbing, electricity or moving anything that appears to be supporting part of your house call Vaughan Russell of Accomodex.

Vaughan’s prices are fair and he does each job right. That means the parts that don’t show work the way they should (always a good thing when it comes to wires and pipes) and the parts that do show look great.

Not to be underestimated is the fact he’s a nice guy to have around. Your contractor was

hired to broaden your little angel’s vocabulary (with the exception of “drywall”, “grout” or “junction box” which are, of course, very useful terms for any child to know).

So let your resident Mike Holmes put his tools away for now. Help is just a phone call away.