A renovation is one of the largest investments most families make in their home. Before you sign anything, you want to know who you are hiring, how the contract works and who is responsible when questions come up.
OakWood Designers & Builders has been answering those questions for Ottawa homeowners since 1956. Here are ten reasons families planning a renovation in Ottawa choose to work with us, along with the facts behind each one.
1. A family business established in 1956
OakWood is a fourth-generation, family owned company run by the Liptak family. We started as a small general contractor and grew into a full Design & Build firm without leaving Ottawa.
For homeowners researching OakWood Ottawa reviews, the company’s long history and family ownership offer useful insight into its experience and established presence in the local community.
That matters for one simple reason. A company that has worked in the same city for decades has a name to protect, and it will still be here when you call about your project years from now.
2. One team from first sketch to final walkthrough
Many homeowners end up managing a designer, an architect and a contractor who have never worked together. As a design build company in Ottawa, OakWood keeps all of it in house: designers, project managers, estimators and specialized trades.
One Team, One Process, One Budget, One Accountability Structure. When a question comes up on site, you make one call and the person who answers can actually solve it.
3. Standard Canadian contracts you are free to talk about
OakWood uses the industry standard contracts published by the Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC):
- CCDC 2 (2020) Stipulated Price Contract for projects where the design is complete and we build the work for a fixed price.
- CCDC 14 (2013) Design-Build Stipulated Price Contract for projects where OakWood handles both design and construction under one fixed price agreement.
These are the same forms used by governments, architects, engineers and builders across Canada. The committee behind them includes the Canadian Construction Association, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies Canada and Construction Specifications Canada.
Neither contract contains a non-disclosure agreement. Our clients are free to share their experience with friends, neighbours and online, and we encourage it. If you are comparing any home renovation contractor in Ottawa, ask which contract they use and read it before you sign.
4. A clear plan and budget before construction starts
Every OakWood project follows the same five stages: Consultation, Concept Design, Detailed Planning, Production and Occupancy.
Most of the hard decisions happen in the first three. Layout, materials, finishes and the budget are worked out on paper and in 3D before a single wall comes down, so there are fewer surprises once the trades arrive.
5. A Design Centre where you can see and touch your choices
Pictures online only tell you so much. Our 22,700 sq. ft. Design Centre at 865 Taylor Creek Drive in Orléans has fully working kitchen, bathroom and living displays, so you can open the drawers, feel the countertops and test the lighting before you decide. It was named Best Design Centre in Canada by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association in 2017.
If you are planning a renovation in Orléans or the east end, it is a short drive. We also have a location in the Glebe at 555 Bank Street.
6. Cabinetry built for your kitchen, not pulled off a shelf
The kitchen is usually where a renovation budget goes furthest, or gets stretched thinnest. OakWood has its own production line inside Cabico, so your custom cabinetry in Ottawa is designed by the same team planning your space and built to fit it.
For a kitchen renovation in Ottawa, that means fewer handoffs between the designer, the cabinet shop and the installer, and one team answering for how it all comes together.
7. Every room, every size of project
Some families come to us for one room. Others want to change the whole house. Our team handles:
- Kitchens and custom cabinetry
- Bathroom renovation in Ottawa, from powder rooms to primary ensuites
- Basement renovation in Ottawa, including finished living space and rec rooms
- Home additions in Ottawa when you need more space without moving
- Whole home renovations
We work across Ottawa, including Orléans, Kanata, Barrhaven, Nepean, Stittsville and Rockland.
8. Room for family, and for rental income
More Ottawa families are planning homes that work for several generations or bring in rental income. OakWood designs and builds secondary suites, in-law suites and age-in-place renovations that let you stay in the home you love as your needs change.
If you are considering a secondary suite in Ottawa, we can walk you through zoning, layout and the federal Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit during your consultation.
9. Built to use less energy
OakWood is a Qualified Net Zero Home Builder under the Canadian Home Builders’ Association program. The same building science goes into our renovations: better insulation, tighter air sealing and efficient mechanical systems.
A net zero renovation in Ottawa or a targeted energy upgrade can make your home more comfortable through our winters and lower your monthly bills for years.
10. Recognized by clients and by the industry
OakWood has received the Consumer Choice Award from Ottawa clients every year since 2008. We were named Renovator of the Year by the Ontario Home Builders’ Association in 2014, and we are a RenoMark verified renovator and a member of the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association.
These achievements also give homeowners researching OakWood Ottawa reviews additional context about the company’s industry recognition and long-standing presence in Ottawa.
Awards are not the reason to hire anyone. They are a record that the work has been checked by people outside the company, year after year.