Our real estate agent referred us to Ryan at Riverside Construction. Before putting in the offer to purchase our home, we wanted a rough estimate of how much it would cost to complete proposed renovations. Ryan was able to provide us with reasonable cost estimates at a really short turnaround time, which was just what we needed. We bought the home, and have been working with Ryan over the past year on our renovation.

We have been consistently pleased with the high level of professionalism, responsiveness, and the quality of the work of Ryan‘s team at Riverside Construction. The same applies to the trades – plumbing, electrical, painting etc. – with whom he has contracted on our behalf throughout the renovation process. From the start, Ryan spoke of his trust for his team and guaranteed us we could feel comfortable being away from our home while workers were in.

Over the past year we have had much interaction with Ryan and his team. Living with renovations is always tough until the dust settles. We have appreciated Ryan his team members‘ patience and generosity with us as we changed our minds, sometimes took way too much time to come to a decision or forgot what we had decided. We have found them to be without exception respectful, professional, and pleasant to be around. The best part of all
of this is, as the saying goes, the proof of the pudding is in the eating of it.

Our renovations were completed a week ago today. We are loving our renovated home, and are enjoying being in the spaces that Ryan and his team have helped us create. We are delighted to recommend Ryan at Riverside Construction and his team.

— Carrie

Ryan Willets and his team at Riverside managed the renovations for our century bungalow in Hamilton in 2019/20. We have been extremely pleased with the quality of the work that was done, and the care which was taken to complete the work.

As newcomers to Hamilton, we relied on his local knowledge and network of trades people, to guide us through all the stages and details of the renovations. Ryan was a pleasure to work with, professional and personable, and he went over andabove to take care of everything. Even though we were living at home during most of the work, his team were always respectful of our house and our privacy, and a delight to be around.

We expect that there will be other work we need or want done to our house in the future, and that we will call on Ryan to do it.

— Tim

It was our extreme good fortune that Riverside Construction was one of the contractors from whom we requested an estimate. When the owner of the company Ryan Willetts met with us for the first time, we could not help but be impressed with his punctuality, professionalism, knowledge, and overall personality. We were also impressed with the fact that his was a small company (just himself and one apprentice), which meant that he would be on site throughout the entire project and not off somewhere in an office while employees did the work.

Our good fortune extended even further when he submitted a very reasonable and competitive bid for the work – with the stipulation that he would be responsible for obtaining all necessary permits and that even though the concrete and electrical work would be sub-contracted out, he would be on site to oversee the work. Once we were in receipt of his estimate, we knew without a doubt that Riverside Construction would be the company that would meet our needs, not only in terms of completing the work, but also in terms of being able to forge a strong, respectful, and professional working relationship.

Once the work began, we saw immediately that the completed work would far exceed our expectations. Along with the necessary skills for this work, Ryan has set his standards of workmanship very high and continually strives, problem solves, and works until those standards have been met. His skills are those of an “old world craftsman”, once found in a time when individuals took pride in and stood behind their work, when completed projects would stand the test of time – a quality of work that is rarely found in our current “get it done as quickly and as cheaply as possible” mindset.

Ryan and his apprentice are a rare find in the current world of construction and we could not be more satisfied with the work that he completed. 

— Derk and Gary

Riverside Construction is a No Worries, solid, professional and passionate about every build, contractor. Ryan and team built our second story patio deck, second story addition, with utmost care and with attention to every detail. As our project began, our wish list grew to re-facing the front of our house, re-covering our roof and tiling our front entrance. Ryan’s fantastic ability to adjust, coordinate and schedule made sure our newly added projects got done, demonstrating just another amazing part of Riverside’s business model.

The project was laid out that our family would do the insulating and the finishing. Riverside Construction went well beyond, by assisting with the purchasing, delivering of all the insulation, of all wall board, gave us advice, tips, and so much more. Ryan and team have their pulse on customer service and satisfaction which was demonstrated throughout the project.

We highly recommend Riverside Construction for any build or project; he is who we are calling for our next project.

— Patti, Rob and Elwood

I met with Ryan, around Christmas of last year, to discuss replacing our 25 year old two tier cedar deck. It overlooks a ravine and is the hallmark of the house. I really wanted to make sure that it was done properly by a trained professional, who would obtain the proper permits etc. Within minutes of talking with him, I knew that Ryan was the person who would be building it. There was just something about his level of enthusiasm and overall demeanours that I liked. His quote was competitive and that was that.

He obtained the necessary permits and plans in the spring and within 2 weeks he and his helper Phil had ripped down the old deck and built a beautiful new one. The workmanship and commitment to detail was quite noticeable and friends and neighbours are constantly commenting about it every time they come over.

The worksite was always left clean and safe. The overall experience was great and they were fun to have around for a couple of weeks. Every day, I’m reminded, that my gut instinct about Ryan doing the job was right. I would certainly recommend Ryan as the person to build your deck and I’m sure that he’d do a great job undertaking any other project.

— Howard

When we decided to add a shower to our basement powder room to give us two full bathrooms in our first home, Riverside Construction was the first to get back to us for a quote and we never looked back.

Ryan and his crew were extremely professional and the quality of their workmanship was excellent. Ryan was in constant communication with us about what was going on and any changes were run by us first. He was prompt with answering our questions and gave us his honest opinion when we asked for it, and brought things up that we hadn’t even considered. The work was finished on time and on budget and it turned out exactly how we wanted it. We feel extremely confident that this bathroom will be enjoyed for years to come.

In addition to their quality work, we were so impressed with how friendly Ryan and his crew were. They always stopped to chat, and left everything tidy at the end of the day. They even became friends with our dog, who was a regular visitor to their work area.

— Kim & Vic

I would highly recommend Riverside Construction for any renovations that are needed in your home. Ryan and his team arrived when they said they would to start the work. The renovation was completed within the time frame estimated and we were consulted each and every step of the way. For someone like myself who has very little knowledge on carpentry and renovations, the process was explained to us thoroughly so we could make informed decisions.

We never felt pressured by Ryan and his team and at the same time helpful suggestions were made by a professional. I appreciate many of those suggestions today as we work and live in our new kitchen.

Unlike other trades people we have had in the past, Riverside started and COMPLETED our kitchen renovation and were there daily until it was completed. This is not necessarily the norm with other trades as we have experienced.

At the end of the work day, the area was neatly tidied up to make it livable until the next day of work. The kitchen itself is marvelous. Every day I walk into it I am thankful for the great workmanship. Thanks Riverside for a job well done!

— Kirsten

As the spring started to roll in, my wife and I decided it was time to improve our yard to get more out of it for us and our extended family, so we decided on having a deck built. I contacted four contractors and received quotes from three. During the initial site visit, Ryan definitely stood out from the others. Coming from a construction engineering background myself, I was able to spot his professionalism almost immediately; he was polite, knowledgeable, and creative with his ideas.

During the construction process, Ryan and his associate worked very efficiently and kept everything tidy. Every morning before work I would step out to the yard to greet them and would have a brief discussion about the project. Ryan would let me know what was planned for the day and would keep me informed on any details that required attention. Every evening when I would look at the back yard, I would be pleased with the progress and the tidiness.

In the end, I was left with a beautiful, 2 tiered, cedar deck that I have been enjoying every evening. I would confidently recommend Riverside construction to any of my closest friends and relatives.

— Fady & Deanna

I just wanted to thank you for the outstanding work you did of enlarging the basement window for my son’s bedroom. I know it’s a very difficult job to excavate the space and enlarge a foundation window to code, but the quality of your finish work is impeccable. We were also very impressed with your professionalism; your quote was fair and you performed the work as promised at a quality beyond our expectations.

— Phil

It is with some reluctance that we are giving this great review for Ryan and his team. The reason for this is that we are very selfish and do not like to share. If there were any way possible financially, we would like to keep them working with us.

I understand that dealing with a contractor can be a very frustrating experience but not with Ryan. Ryan and his brother Matt made it such a pleasure. They were always accommodating, always helpful, always open to all of our suggestions. When we were not sure, they had some of the best ideas for how things should look.

We are so pleased with the finished room and know if it had not been for Ryan and his team it would not be as perfect. We look forward to working with Riverside Construction on new projects as we are able.

— Ken & Gwen

My first encounter with Riverside Construction was in 2011 to obtain a quote for work on my barn which had been beautifully restored in 2001 by Mennonites. Unbelievably, Ryan and his crew took that barn to a new level of quality and appearance I never thought possible. The new addition and exterior cladding was nothing short of a work of art and professionalism.

As a result, Riverside Construction has completed two other projects for me since then. Both projects, like the first, were completed on time, on budget, and beyond expectations! I have two other small projects on the books for that company to do. I have to wait in line.

— Ron

Thank you Ryan. You were able to take our ideas for the construction of the pergola we wanted on our patio and create a design that complements our back garden perfectly. Your knowledge and experience were always evident throughout the construction. All the inevitable surprises that this kind of project entails were met with cooperative problem solving skills. We really appreciated the way you discussed any issues with us as they occurred and also the care you took to keep the job site clean and tidy. We love the details you included in our pergola and have received lots of compliments from neighbors and friends.

— Terry & Carrie

Thank you for all of your hard work on our house (& in dealing with the permits, inspections, etc…) we are thrilled in the end result and so appreciative of your skill and patience. A small thank you (for a big job) included. See you soon!

— Sae

We are so happy with the siding! This may have been the biggest home improvement that we’ve undertaken, yet, the least stressful. It was so nice to have someone who could look after our needs on this project. Never for a moment did I worry about the results. We completely trusted your judgement and knew you would look after our home by doing everything properly. You were always available to answer concerns and you communicated the progress of the job. You and Phil were very professional and we really appreciated coming home to a clean site every day!

— Anne & Ward

Ryan of Riverside Construction demolished our old, rotten deck and built a new one for us. We are very satisfied with the final result. Ryan is very professional, and he is also a very approachable and pleasant person. Ryan was open to discuss all the ideas I brought up and also made some very good suggestions on constructive details. Ryan worked very clean too, which is something I always appreciate. I would work with him again any time and I highly recommend him for his work and professionalism.

— Laura

We hired Riverside construction to do some renovations prior to moving into our first home. From the moment we spoke to Ryan he was working ONLY for us in that he attended to our every question and need regarding the work we wanted. He gave us a prompt quotation of which we were unable to find a better price in the city and he helped us with every aspect of our renovation ideas. He was able to recommend and hire great work for our other electrical and painting needs and helped us with research and our eventual referral for our kitchen renovation.

When it came to the actual work, Ryan again operated in such a way that we felt like we were his only customer. They were always on time, dedicated and focused on getting not only a timely job done, but also on doing a quality job and they certainly did not disappoint. We were so impressed with every aspect of the job from first contact to the finished product that we can’t recommend any other company for your project. In fact, we have hired him for all of our subsequent renovation projects which we have been overjoyed with the job done.

Ryan’s team operates on his same work ethic which translates into efficient and quality service from start to finish! Thank you so much Riverside Construction!

— Jehaan & Andrea

In the summer of 2009, we decided to build our dream covered veranda that could serve us during hot summer days and cold winter days as well. We found something close to what we wanted on the Riverside Construction website and called Ryan Willetts. He impressed us with his punctuality, attention to details, construction knowledge and commitment to the project that he enrolled. He assisted us in preparing drawings for building permit, and dealt with the inspector on all stages of the project. Ryan came up with excellent design ideas in response to our needs.

Ryan also expressed compassion that went beyond his contractor’s duties. He understood our needs to have a veranda before winter and managed to squeeze our project into his busy schedule. We are very grateful to Ryan for his respond to our personal situation. The veranda is now completed, and we are very pleased with the result. It is a cozy and great looking addition to our house, where we can just enjoy fresh air regardless of rain or shine. Ryan is very professional, trustworthy and ensures that work will be completed in a timely manner and to a high quality standard. We have no reservation in recommending Riverside Construction for any project.

— Perelman Family

In the fall of 2009, we undertook a major renovation in our 50-year-old home. We decided to build an addition on to the back, which would enlarge the kitchen to add an eating area. The renovation also included a full foundation, a complete kitchen re-design (new cabinets and counters), and giving an update to two upstairs bathrooms (one was a complete tear down, the other a partial update). In addition, we were ripping the flat roof off the existing family room adjacent to the kitchen to create a new sloped roof that spanned the family room and kitchen addition.

For several months prior to starting, we interviewed 4 local contractors and received estimates. We decided on Ryan Willetts and Riverside Construction. Ryan impressed us with his professionalism, construction knowledge, and commitment to ensuring we’d be satisfied with the final result. Although this was the first project Ryan took on of such a major scope as a self-employed contractor, after checking with Ryan’s previous references and talking to him, we felt confident that he would deliver the outcome we wanted to achieve.

The project is now completed, and we are thrilled with the results. Ryan always handled himself with utmost professionalism. He is very trustworthy, and pays impeccable attention to detail. He was on-site working every day over several months, and supervised his labourers and sub-contractors to ensure their work was perfect. When anything needed correction, he did so without complaint and in a timely manner.

Ryan responded to all our questions and resolved any problems that arose – sometimes very creatively. He assisted to obtain the drawings for building permit, and dealt with the inspectors as needed. He always strove to ensure we were completely satisfied.

Apart from his responsibilities as a contractor, Ryan displayed compassion that went above and beyond his duties. We have an elderly dog with health issues. Although at times we endured difficult living conditions associated with the construction, Ryan always made sure both the interior and exterior of the house was safe for our dog. On some days, that was a challenge. Each day, the construction area was tidied as he understood people were still living in the house.

When exterior walls were torn down over the winter, he constructed temporary insulated walls to keep the area we were living in warm. During the Christmas holidays, he and his workers ensured we had a family room to gather in, and a functioning bathroom that our daughter home from university could use. After the holidays, these rooms were back under construction. When we had to create a makeshift kitchen in the basement, Ryan helped us set it up.

Ryan treats his clients and their homes with respect. That is not always evident with some contractors. We have no hesitation in recommending Ryan Willetts and Riverside Construction for any renovation project.

— Benita & Gary