We bought our cottage in late 2021, and there were many large changes and upgrades that we wanted to do. With all the construction pressures COVID was putting on the industry, A&A came through with innovative designs and a surprisingly quick turnaround on the builds. We still have more projects ‘in concept,’ and we will be trusting A&A to see them through.
A&A helped us develop a vision for our cottage and turn it into reality. They have the experience, team, and capabilities to handle all aspects of the job and gave us confidence that the work and timeline could be delivered to a high standard.
I highly recommend A&A services for all cottage projects, big and small. Our island cottage build went entirely seamless and stress-free, thanks to their exceptional service. The staff was always available to answer my questions and was incredibly patient with the numerous last-minute design changes I made. Their clear communication and support made the journey of building my cottage a positive and enjoyable one. I am extremely satisfied with the outcome and grateful for their professionalism and expertise. They have completed many additional projects for me and my family over the past years, and we’ve always been exceptionally happy.
We have worked with A&A since 1999, starting the build of our cottage in North Bay Honey Harbour and a subsequent addition in 2014. Beside our cottage, A&A provided us with waterfront landscaping and a high-quality dock system, which we continue to enjoy today. Both build projects were professionally handled in all respects, from design through to completion. The fit and finish was excellent. Completion and costs were per our budget. We continue to enjoy our relationship with A&A. They are always available to meet any new needs we may have. We highly recommend them!
We have enjoyed working closely with Armin, Kyle and all the folks at A&A since we purchased our cottage in 2019. They rebuilt our shore dock and added a new dock complete with a custom arched bridge, all using heavy steel and aluminum structural shapes and pins, as well as custom welded brackets for posts, piles and structural framing. They then repurposed and reconfigured a dock that was stripped, immaculately restored, and coated with several coats of marine-grade paint, then finished the decking with high-quality Douglas Fir decking materials, using special galvanized fasteners that you cannot find in a typical hardware store. The decking around the shore was expertly coped and fit piece by piece to ensure a safe, durable, and aesthetically pleasing finish. The design and workmanship were beyond our expectations for quality and service. From design to completion and beyond, the team at A&A was always flexible, communicated well, and considered all design inputs from us while keeping our project on time and within our budget. Since then, we have engaged A&A in two other substantial projects: a boat house project that involved restoring and building a new deck and shore dock as well as the structural piles and cribbing under an existing structure, and a new custom deck around our cottage that will be complete this spring. We will continue to work with A&A on future projects as we restore and update our classic Pan Abode cottage and bunkie.
Our experience working with Armin and Annemarie and all the staff at A&A Services and Marine Contracting has been very positive. The process of procuring a lot in Cognashene, building a bunkie and a cottage has taken place over the last 6 years, which was the time frame that we had requested. A&A was very helpful with liaising with the municipality and securing permits for installation of the septic system and building construction. As the projects proceeded communication was good in order to keep us informed of progress. Any issues that arose were promptly dealt with to our complete satisfaction. Now that we’re done we are very pleased with the level of quality in the construction and finishing of both buildings as well as the landscaping. A&A brings a level of knowledge and expertise that can only come from having successfully completed many custom, high end building projects in a pristine area that presents numerous construction challenges. This experience enables them to advise on design, materials and techniques for all facets of the project. Most importantly all A&A staff were professional, responsive and enjoyable to work with. We look forward to many years of enjoyment of our property in this special part of the world and happily provide this testimonial to A&A’s service.
“Kevin and I are always pleased to have the opportunity to recommend A&A. The fact that we had A&A build our first cottage, then totally renovate it again 15 years later says it all.
We had never been involved in a construction project when we decided to build our first cottage in 1996. We were very green, so we needed a builder who could instill confidence in us that they could handle the job. The cottage was to be built on an island an most of the construction was going to be done over the winter. Armin and Glen gave us the feeling of confidence that we were looking for.
We had our cottage design, but we didn’t know exactly where on the property it should go. We knew the perfect spot was exactly where a massive boulder sat. That boulder was probably the size of half of the cottage. It never occurred to us that the boulder could be blasted. Armin and crew blasted the boulder and the construction in February, and I saw it for the first time in May of that year. Email was just becoming popular and cell phones didn’t have the ability to send photos or emails at that time. We relied on phone calls and faxes. Even without being able to communicate the way we do today, we would say that the experience was painless. We trusted Armin and Glen to build us our cottage, and the did exactly that.
Fifteen years later, our needs had changed and it was time to enlarge and reconfigure the cottage. The renovation was very complex so there really was no question in our minds who we were going to use to do this work. The renovation is now complete and we are once again thrilled with the finished cottage. We have always been so impressed by the quality of the people that Armin hires. From foreman Jeff and his crew, to the sub trades, they all have an incredible work ethic and it shows up in the level of detail and quality of their work
If we were to do it again, (which we won’t be doing), we wouldn’t hesitate to hire A&A Services again.”
“Hi Armin,
I just want to say thank you for the opportunity that you’ve provided me. It’s a pleasure to work with everyone at A&A Contracting. The office staff and the skilled tradesmen are not only the best at what they do but they are also some of the best people I’ve ever worked with. That starts at the top! Thanks Again!”
“Armin,
May I take this opportunity to once again say thank you for the AMAZING work you continue to do for us. The quality of your work, the creativity of your ideas, and the service you provide is second to none! I am very appreciative of this!!
Thank you…”
“My wife and I had a dream, to build an unusual cottage on an island in one the world’s most inhospitable landscapes…Georgian Bay! We found the right property (thanks Armin!) and set about making plans. That was the easy part…now we had to build it from the ground up.
From the permit stage to the final toast on the dock…we felt like we were working together to create something that would last for generations. The A&A crew offered us sound advice at every turn, advice that came from years of building experience and most importantly, family experience. They were not just concerned about the structure, they were concerned about what it would feel like to actually live in the building. This attention to detail became the hallmark of our experience with Armin and Anne Marie.
If you are considering a build or a renovation and looking for the best…you need not look any further!
Building a dream in Georgian Bay? Go with A&A and like us, you’ll end up glad you did!”