Winmar Restoration review: A company you don't want in your home 8

So far I agree with Ron from 2014. I had my floor damaged by a broken dishwasher. They came on the recommendations of the insurance company. While they were very responsive during the first few weeks and got me to sign, I have not herd back from them in 4 mths. I have asked to meet so we can do the rest of apartment privately in one shot as well as paint the apartment. The costs were outrageous. There are parts of the apartment I didn't even think one would get painted but clearly I'm getting charged for this.
I had to bring in the adjuster to see if we can get another company involved. After reading this I'm glad I'm getting a second opinion. I actually blame the insurance company for not doing the homework (and myself for relying on them). I work two full time jobs so I don't have time to stay home and get quotes. Lesson to others!

I would not recommend Winmar Calgary at all. I am involved in an insurance claim which required in part removal of existing and restoration of hardwood flooring following water damage. This occurred on September 24, 2016. The flooring I was advised to order by Winmar was apparently not available within a reasonable timeframe. I was offered three options that could be installed by December 31, 2016. None of the products were hardwood - specificially 3/4" maple. What I was offered was engineered flooring but never advised I was accepting a substandard product. In less than 4 months this flooring is showing considerable wear and tear and is not acceptable. On January 25, 2017, the project manager Ray Hodgson visited my home and provided copies of documents he had downloaded from Google - one document, in particular, is of interest: SOLID HARDWOOD is manufactured from a single piece of wood, the most common thickness of a solid hardwood plank is 3/4". The most widely used profile is tongue-and-groove. ENGINEERED HARDWOOD consists of two or more layers. The TOP LAYER is wood veneer (industry norm is 2-4 mm thick top layer...the lower layers consist of either of several layers of plywood, HDF or solid wood ...with plywood and solid wood base layers.
This represents an unacceptable replacement product, however even though Hodgson agreed on January 31, 2017 and has put this promise into writing, he has now brought a non-certified flooring inspector into my home who claims problems can be repaired and lack of humidity in my home is the problem. It is now March 29, 2017 and there is no remedy in site. Hodgson is completely unreliable and dishonest. Working with him on this restoration has been a nightmare - unfortunately this is who the property manager for my condo has chosen to work with - DO NOT CONSIDER WINMAR for your project. Michèle L. 29Mar2017

Thieves! That's how I describe winmar, they overcharged us by $12000 for work they did not do at all to the point that I am very suspicious about the other 11k oweing. They claimed difficulties that did not exist in order to inflate the price, claimed equipment that was never used, even claimed rooms they never even entered. Stay far away from these crooks. If you have no choice then do what I did and take lots of before, during, and after pics. In court you would only need to prove they lied about a few things before the judge will see them for what they are.

The winmar employee was rude. they brought in 4 dryers and 2 dehumidifiers. They install a fan in one of the bedrooms without informing us. They are arrogant because they think that they have blanket authority to do anything by the building administrator. When asked who is gonna pay for the electricity, they say that it only consumes 2$ to 4$ a day for all 6 equipment (I was not born yesterday). Guess, that would be us the tenant. more than six days of blowing which did not even involve the circulation of air through the inside of the walls.

I have a child in the house, and he left the premises with the door unlocked (for who knows how long) without advising he is leaving.

I used Winmar as recommended by my insurance company adjustor to restore a damaged floor due to building flooding outside of my control. Winmar had a flooring specialist take care of my floor. He was incredibly responsive and very nice, however the job wasn't done, the rest of the job required the Winmar Project Manager to follow up with other specialists. Needless to say, after weeks of chasing him, calling him making and appointments on the day he was suppose to come, he didn't. I called, he said he'll investigate and call back, he never did and completely stopped answering my calls or calling me back to a point where I had to re-engage the adjustor. It's unfortunate how one person can give an entire company a horrible name and reputation.

Well, I did not even get to experience the quality of Winmar's work but I did get a feel of what's to come - I called the London's office 3 times in the space of 10days requesting a call back from Joe Kahr for a job I had lined up for him at an apt in London. First, I was never put in touch with him (out of office, in meeting, busy etc ..). I left a message with the secretary or receptionist or whoever the heck answers the phone [protected]) for him to call me back, then also left him a voicemail to that extent. Absolutely no call back whatsoever! So yeah I am very much inclined to believe and agree with the 'I don't give a ###' label bestowed upon this company by the reviewers on this site! Needless to say, I will be seeking another company to complete the job!

Let us not sugar coat this, business is a ###. No one is perfect and yes mistakes do happen. Even the best sometimes make mistakes. Apples to apples, Winmar employees have the highest level of training in all areas of restoration and remediation.
All restoration companies use temps (temporary workers) during times of catastrophes. ie. Heavy deluge, melting snow/sump pump failures or tornados.
On another note. There is no reason to be scared of John White. The man runs a tight ship hence the success of his business and diligence towards Winmar as a family.

Winmar will always come through for you!

Best of luck with all your Restoration needs

I agree with this. Having worked for the London office, they are probably the worst when it comes to restoration and disaster clean-up. The company relies soley on temps from ABL Employment(Nothing against this company) or Labour Ready for the grunt work. What's that mean? It means the guy you have inside your home has NOT been screened by the company, nor does he work for the company so he has no loyalty, nor does he give a ### about his job because it's just a temp job and not a 'real' one.

There's no telling if he's a sex offender or has some other kind of a criminal past since Winmar doesn't hire directly anyone unless you're a crew leader or a skilled tradesman such as a drywaller or carpenter.

While I admit I was working there as a temp, I was one of the few that actually did care and when I was in a client's home I was respectful of the property.

Also, the people that do work for the company are [censored]bags and would routinely pack us into vans without ANY seats at all. If we were lucky we got a milk crate or box of garbage bags to sit on, and the few skilled tradesmen they do have, refuse to shuttle around the grunts even though we're all going to the same place.

It's also normal for them to treat the lower employees like crap, and EVERYONE lives in fear of the owner, John White who runs the place like a power mad tyrant.

Nobody gets paid a fair wage either(unless you're management or that ### Dee that runs the back where customers items are stored), so you should expect them to steal from you even if they do work for the company.

If you need a restoration company, call Restoration Masters(based out of Strathroy I think) or another company, anyone but Winmar.

Another interesting note is that while your items are stored there, they are totally out in the open, unlabeled at that. So that box of DVD's or video games that was taken away for assessment? Expect at least several to never return.