Testimonials

Bree Bolduc

"I have been meaning to email to thank you and praise you for your work! The house is finally looking the way it should - on the outside anyway :) I know that I told you while you were here how impressed I was by the work, the detail, and the professionalism! It's refreshing and not taken for granted. Renovations are never fun to live through but this experience didn't feel like a reno. Rick and Steevo are missed around the house by both Jiggs (the dog) and Hudson. Thank you again for being awesome and making my house look awesome."...

Carol Cunnigham

"Mike and his team were amazing! Even before the project was started, Mike was very approachable and easy to communicate with. He and his team were all very professional, reliable, conscientious and extremely detailed in their work. They arrived when they said the would, left the site tidy and we felt perfectly comfortable with them around. We loved watching each step of the renovation process and would recommend them to anyone looking for a quality contractor."...

Cindy & Joe

"We were introduced to Mike by a designer we had been working with. We were planning an addition to our home, as well as a new kitchen and a new deck with a special enclosed part for our pets. We had done renovations before, and knew the challenges involved. When we met Mike we liked him immediately. He was knowledgeable and professional. In fact we were so impressed we decided to look no further; MRB Contracting would do our renovation. They were likely not the least expensive option, but dealing with such professionals was well worth the cost. It is important to be comfortable with who is working in your home (we have all heard horror stories). Additionally we had concerns about our pets – we have several (ok, lots!!) of rescue pets who would need special monitoring during the construction. We were assigned a project manager to work with. He was helpful in all ways. He kept us updated, was available to meet whenever needed, and ensured the budget and timelines were adhered to. As the construction progressed we were pleased with the skill of the workmen and the quality of the materials. Our neighbours even commented on how hard the crew worked! And we could track the project on the MRB website – that was impressive. I can honestly say that the MRB crew went above and beyond. Whenever I asked them for input on decisions they had great expertise to share. Any concerns we had were taken seriously and addressed right away. The special requests we made were accommodated, and the crew even did some original designs for our pet area. Speaking of pets – there were no issues! All the MRB crew were careful, and they ensured that the sub-contractors knew of our special needs. We never regretted our decision to hire Mike and the MRB Team. We love our new living space and the quality of the craftsmanship. From the operations staff, to the project manager, the foreman, the carpenters, and EVERYONE at MRB Contracting – we had the best of service. They were skilled, professional, and helpful. "...

Dana & Lesley Deamel

"The scope to renovate the exterior of our Victorian rental property was a challenging endeavor that was a major concern for us both structurally and financially. The plan was to encompass the removal and repair of the rotted cedar shakes of the full exterior, correct/fix the newly built 2 level decks to ensure proper structure and drainage from weather – (the deck was built by an independent contractor not associated with MRB Contracting). Replace/repair the fascia and soffits and have new gutters installed, repaint the entire exterior from top to bottom. We had met with several other contractors before choosing MRB Contracting. We decided on MRB almost immediately after Simon’s extremely professional presentation of showing us how our vision could become a reality. The experience, understanding and honesty Simon showed lead us to sign a contract with MRB Contracting. All the work was detailed in the contract as well as qualifications to what was and was not included intheir proposal. A detailed project plan and a payment schedule were provided in the paperwork. There was a daily communication to us from the office of MRB Contracting through its easy to access online platform, Buildertrend.com. Updates included pictures, progress with the renovation, when each sub contractor would be starting, a timeline of delivery dates for materials and if there were any anticipated delays at all. They also followed up to ensure their sub contractors were on time and that the project was going as planned. Simon was very diligent in making himself a presence at our rental property when a new sub contractor was starting a project. He was very thorough to ensure everything was on schedule and that the delivery of materials had arrived prior to the contractors starting the work. The Project Management was excellent. The first phase of the project was the demolition of the rotted cedar shakes on the back part of the large Victorian house. This had the most area requiring repair. The installation of insulation, where needed, new plywood and Tyvek/drainage system on the exterior wall, then the installation of the new cedar shakes over this system, was flawless. It was then MRB Contracting had 100% of our confidence and we were certain we had made the right choice. MRB continued through the other phases of the project to repair the other sides of the Victorian house, the decking areas and soffit and fascia. The workmanship was top notch and the old Victorian house looked like a new house again as it did back in its era! It is with sincere thanks to Simon and his team at MRB Contracting for doing an outstanding, professional and expeditious job. The place looks amazing and we still get positive comments about how wonderful the outside of the house is. Now it looks as great on the outside as it does on the inside!!"...

Daniel MacIvor

"Having had the experience of working with many contractors in the past, on projects both large and small, I can say that Mike is by far the most conscientious and creative I have come across. Practically, his quotes are always realistic and he sticks to them, and aesthetically he has an excellent eye to style and function. Not only does he get the job done, and beautifully, he's the kind of guy I'm happy to sit and have a coffee with; I can think of no greater recommendation than that."...

Erica and Rick Baker

"We've been beyond thrilled with Mike. With respect to the quality of his work, his attention to detail and craftsmanship are amazing. It is like he is building his own cottage. MRB's perfectionism is seen in every inch and corner of our cottage. As a businessman, Mike has been a true pleasure to work with. His professionalism, level-headedness, responsibility and dependability is impressive. He takes pride in his work and in his company and provides a level of service and commitment that I think is unparalleled. His energy and enthusiasm are contagious and can also be seen in those who are working for him. With respect to quoting of costs - Mike has been pretty much dead on. Our final price is higher than our quote - BUT this was due to changes and decisions that Rick and I made, and that Mike fully discussed with us. Through any job there are changes and decisions that are made that add to the scope of the work that will very probably result in additional costs. Mike, with the assistance of Builder Trend, and Lindsay, was on top of every cost and fully transparent with respect to budget. We also worked closely with an architect, which I think made a world of difference... Mike's timeline has been slightly off (approximately a month). Part of this was the result of Rick and me making changes to the plans, part was the result of building through the winter, and part may have been due to scheduling subs and building in Lunenburg. We never had any concern that the team was not working - in fact on at least two occasions when we stopped in on the weekend to check things out, Mike and/or workers were unexpectedly on site working. Given the finished product - an extra month has been worth it. We never felt like the work was being rushed or that there were other jobs that were more important. I do credit our architect for much of how special our cottage is, but there is no question in my mind that MRB provided us with a product that no other team would have provided. Knowing what we now know, if we were doing it all again, we wouldn't even bother with quotes from another company -if we have any future projects MRB and Chad Jamieson (our architect) will be contacted first. My only concern is that shortly down the road, Mike will be so swamped with work that he won't have time to fit us in."...

Ian Hamilton

"This was the first time we had employed MRB Contracting, and it won't be the last. Mike Burns' crew of highly talented, organized , professional contractors exceeded our expectations. Not only did they put together a complex project with an astute architect , they completed the fantastic job on time, within estimate, and with care and pride in their work. Being involved in Health Care, site safety is one of my main concerns, and they exceeded the norms. For a crew of relatively younger carpenters in the highly competitive field of construction, they worked with expertise and ability of seasoned pros; with a progressive, modern and refreshing feel and look at residential construction. My family and I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for quality work, done on time, within budget, and a kind of "worry-free" work-site environment that is generated by their professionalism, safety consciousness and ability to deliver solid project construction."...

James White, Owner / Broker | Canoe Realty

"Mike is a dedicated, energized and driven contractor who works hands-on with his crew and sub-trades. His warm and professional personality has developed strong professional relationships with them, ensuring that they care as much as he does about consistent quality and a smooth process. Mike is committed to being available to his clients and stands behind his projects with a natural and well deserved pride. I recommend him with confidence."...

Jeff Amos

"I first met Mike Burns and MRB Contracting just after my company(Amos Wood Mouldings & Millwork, Blockhouse, NS) had bought half a run down duplex in old North End Halifax and our local contractor had bailed on us. Alright, we had ventured into the City (from Lunenburg County), who do we know in the City. Right, we had produced a house worth of siding for MRB~ let’s see what they are about. It turns out MRB offices and shop are around the corner of the same block we had bought. Being shown what their contemporized duplex had been, their experience in what I was facing was evident. As more of the details of their renovation were explained, I felt I had found a crew that knew how to go about a project like ours. Then Mike began to explain their business practices. As half our business is conducted with contractors, I have had many discussions learning about business practices, most of them not being very thorough or progressive. A full explanation of billing costs, and timely computerized tracking was meaningfully laid out in front of me. This was plainly a company who knew how to work, and was building a business. It was explained that a deposit would put our project in the work order. Others were in discussion. I was back with our deposit within an hour. I write just as we are finishing. I’ve been working with the right group of people." ...

Jennifer Badley

My timing to find MRB could not have been better. It was late in the Fall and from my home in Toronto, I suddenly decided that I wanted to build on the land I had on the ocean just outside of Halifax and I wanted to enjoy it the next summer. I had no design. I had no builder. I was going to have to manage it all remotely. A series of happy coincidences put me together with Mike. Elaine had just joined the MRB team. I was to be their first custom designed home. Perfect! Elaine was superb and within months I had, on paper, my dream house. The design was modern, minimal and fit into the landscape beautifully. The interior was simple, compact and extremely well thought-out and livable. I was excited but nervous: how would the process develop from the plans to the build, especially with me so far away. I shouldn’t have been worried. MRB was amazing. From the initial consultations, which included climbing in deep snow with Mike and Elaine to ensure the perfect site location, through the planning , costing and construction every step was professionally, skillfully and artistically completed. Scott who headed the building crew was amazing, he took such personal pride and pleasure in building my house that I was constantly aware of how fortunate I was to have such a skilled craftsman working on my project. Simon oversaw the project with such competence that it was only well after the fact that I learned of the many headaches and complications my build entailed. The rest of the MRB crew and the trades who I met on my visits to the site were all, without exception, hardworking dedicated craftsmen, who loved their work and it showed. Simply, they are the best. I got my perfect house by the following summer. I highly recommend MRB for their high level of design and aesthetic, craftsmanship, attention to detail, and work ethic. They are great people who do great work....

Jess Tasker, Owner & Designer

"Mike and the crew at MRB Contracting clearly take pride in their craftsmanship. In a world where many contractors take shortcuts, the crew at MRB simply won’t stand for it. They are devoted to their craft and creating beautiful structures. Working with them and seeing my project take shape has been a pleasure. By choosing MRB you are ensuring that the vision you had for your project in the beginning, will be exactly what you had hoped for in the end."...

Jill Beaton

I recently had a whole kitchen renovation completed by MRB, and we can’t begin to explain how thrilled we were with both the process and the outcome. We had a very strict timeline which we needed to adhere to, and the boys at MRB not only met, but greatly exceeded our high expectations. MRB was able to take the vision we had for our new kitchen, and by listening to our ideas, and filling in the gaps we had not anticipated, turn it into reality. Their attention to detail is second to none, and shows not only in the clean lines and minor details they put into all of their work, but also in the project as a whole, ensuring everything was finished to the highest standard. Their crew was punctual, friendly, and above all respected our home; never leaving the site without ensuring everything was complete and things were cleaner than when they arrived. They were able to answer all of our questions, and provide us with multiple options for every eventuality that arose through the course of construction. For a seemingly young contractor, you quickly realize Mike Burns has been doing this for years, and does it well. His head carpenter Adam Smith is extremely knowledgeable, and hardworking, and this gives you the assurance that your project is in good hands at all times. Their cabinet makers work speaks for itself, as does that of the rest of the crew, and we are happy to have it in our home. We would recommend MRB to anyone who is looking for professional, quality, and original work, and can’t wait to use them on our next project....

Joanne & Brian Titus

John & Tina Rogers

"We entrusted MRB with a major renovation of our 20-year old custom designed house. Mike Burns and his team did an excellent job at understanding our design requirements, adapted to the existing engineering constraints, and delivered an outstanding result – a complete second story addition! The team promptly arrived each morning, put care/pride into their craftsmanship, and cleaned up each & every day. Mike coordinated all activities with the building inspectors, suppliers, and trades to ensure that the schedule was maintained. The end result was fantastic – and most importantly, was delivered on time/on budget! A great job, by a great team!"...

Kevin and Jodi , The Shoebox

"An artist with a painfully scrutinizing eye for fit and finish along with a registered architect and residential developer that has directly managed the creation of over 1500 homes squarely qualified us demanding clients. In addition, living in Vancouver meant that we would be building remotely. This set up our two main criteria for selecting the builder of our dream cottage: 1. Someone we could trust implicitly as we couldn't be there. 2. Someone that was capable of digitally communicating every detail of the progress on the site, every day. 3. Someone that really understood modern architecture and the attention to detail. We investigated nine builders, interviewed four, then narrowed it down to two to provide initial proposals with their thoughts on budget and timeline. Ultimately we settled on MRB and we are very glad that we did. MRB completely delivered on our expectations with respect to communication that included almost daily photographs, e-mails, and precise budgeting/invoicing. Through this detailed communication and the ongoing dialogue through the many design iterations and budget adjustments MRB ultimately delivered on our first criteria; trust. With respect to attention to detail every aspect of the build was scrutinized by MRB. The natural wood siding on our cottage would make any fine furniture builder envious, the joinery is nothing short of exquisite. MRB will not be the least expensive builder that you will be able to hire. However, we can honestly say that you would be hard-pressed to find a builder that will pay closer attention to the details and deliver the quality and ultimately give you the value for your money that MRB will. It has been my experience that a home that is well built the first time, by passionate individuals that stand behind their work and are in it for the long haul is worth more than a few dollars you may think you are saving by going with the cheapest bidder. The individuals that we dealt with from Smitty on the site, Lindsay in the office, Tom in the Shop and Mike guiding the ship were all an absolute joy to deal with and we have an ongoing friendship that really is ultimate testament to a successful project. We still get compliments from our new neighbours along the lines of "we miss those polite young men that built your cottage" or " I have never seen such a ridiculously tidy construction site". At the end of the day we are looking forward to the possibility of future endeavours with Mike and his crew and a lifetime of visits from our friends at MRB to our Kingsburg cottage." ...

Mark Atwood, Architect

"Mike Burns was instrumental to the success of our project when we added onto and renovated our home, while he was under the employment of David Watts Construction Services. Being an architect, we obviously invested a lot of time and care designing the project. We were extremely appreciative of Mike and his crew to spend the same level of effort and care reviewing all the small but important details with us, to make sure that things worked out perfectly. In fact Mike’s efforts are a big reason our house landed on the cover of East Coast Living Magazine. His crews are talented, dependable, resourceful, fair and reasonable with money, and above all a treat to deal with. Mike is wise beyond his years and I highly recommend him for any residential project large or small."...

Melanie Kelly

"Mike Burns and the MRB Contracting team completed the renovation on my lower floor and installed a bathroom and heated tile floor. They did an amazing job. My renovation was completely taken care of for me, including all permits and inspections. I was kept up-to-date on all construction progress and costs on-line, so that I could check-in regularly to see what was accomplished and what was planned. I was impressed with the quality of the workmanship and the professionalism of the crew under the direction of foreman, Steve. The work site was left clean and organized during the entire construction process and the end job looked even better than I anticipated. Thank-you to the whole MRB team!"...

Mike Merrigan, Peak Audio

The entire process of recreating our retail storefront could not have been smoother...from design to materials specification to pricing and execution, the superior professionalism and communication of MRB allowed us to concentrate on our business while they did theirs. ...

Murray & Katherine Doehler

"From June 2009 through to May 2010 Mike Burns acted as general contractor for two major renovations for us: our house and a basement flat. The renovations including gutting most of both spaces (to the studs) and removing or moving bearing walls. The improvements included insulation, electrical upgrades and rewiring, moving and replacing all plumbing fixtures, tiling three bathrooms, replacing two kitchens including tile back-splashes, replacement of drywall, installing new windows, adding a new front porch, replacing the roof, soffits and fascia. We highly recommend Mike for the following reasons: * his attention to high quality craftsmanship and detail; * his ascetic for design in all aspects of renovation; * the professional and genial tradesmen that work with him; * the high quality tradesmen that he sub-contracts (electrical, drywall, plumbing and roofing); * his consideration for the client in keeping mess to a minimum; * his willingness to tackle any aspect of a renovation; * his willingness to do research on products or approaches he has not encountered before (for us this included in-floor heated concrete in the basement flat, sourcing low-odour finishes and energy conservation devices); As with all renovations, unforeseen issues occur. Mike was quick to let us know about issues and advise us of options. He was always good-natured even when things were not going as planned."...

Omar Gandhi, Architect

"Mike Burns came referred to me by a good friend. He was described as a young guy with an incredible work ethic and a passion for craft. Trained by the best in the province, he not only learned about building but received the required education to provide detailed costing and project management skills. The first project that we worked on together was the Moore Studio which was an absolute success. Together we have received notoriety for the project due to its high level of craftsmanship, attention to detail and originality. Everything from the floor to the cabinetry and the custom lights were designed and built by our two teams. We are slated to produce half a dozen more projects in the coming year. On the final build day at the Moore Studio the entire team brought their own cameras – because it wasn’t just another job. Mike, his foreman Adam Smith and his entire team understand modern architecture as well as old world craftsmanship and are collectively as excited about the final product as I am. I use MRB Contracting because they care immensely about the client and they make me look good."...

Rob Green

"From the first meeting to the last coat of paint, I have nothing but positive comments for Mike and his team. Mike has replaced a bunch of windows, replaced a large patio and front door, and completely rebuilt my master bedroom en suite and walk in closet. If you could see the job he did on the en suite, you wouldn't need to read a word I've written! I have not one complaint about his business acumen nor the quality of his work. So much so, that when I go to reno my basement and kitchen, I won't even bother with quotes from other companies; either MRB Contracting does the job, or the reno waits until they're free. Mike has a keen eye for design, a breath-taking work ethic, and exceptional attention to detail. There is not enough space here for me to detail just how good he is."...

Rosemary LeFresne

"The challenges of having renovations to a 20 year old home would have been daunting since my husband passed away, if not for the excellent consideration and professionalism taken by Mike Burns and his most efficient crew. The first project was to have both bathrooms totally redone, and of course that meant I would have to be out of the house until work was completed. Leaving ones home while strangers take over can be unnerving; but when discussing plans with Mike his genuine sincerity was evident, and I knew I was in good hands. The bathrooms look awesome, and I could not be more pleased. I was so pleased in fact, that I have MRB Contracting returning to completely renovate my kitchen! From experience now I can say with confidence that from the first meeting to the last day of cleanup, Mike, Simon, Steevo, Adam, and all the crew are very skilled, professional, and ever so polite young men. MRB Contracting Inc., with their new and innovated building, design, and high standards will soon be (if not already are) the top contracting firm in Nova Scotia. Thank You Mike!" ...

Sara & Steve Earle

We bought a house and MRB made it the home we love and always wanted. All those little details that were important to us, became just as important to them. The entire company has a culture of pride in what they do – and they should be, because the work they did for us is amazing....

Scott & Allison

Our experience with the MRB team was excellent across the board. From the initial consultation to the quote through to the completion of our new deck and patio, our expectations were exceeded. Everyone on the project team, Brian, Adam and Bob, were very client focused and efficient. We are delighted with the outcome and definitely feel that we received value for our reno dollar. MRB will definitely be my first call for any future projects!...

Suzanne Hickey, Owner | Rouge

"Mike, owner/operator, truly is fantastic -- experienced beyond his years (you’d be making a big mistake to judge him based on his age), conscientious, honest and straight-up. Mike discussed everything with me…as little or as much as I wanted to know. I was updated every step of the way and there was a discussion each time there was a variation from what we agreed on. I always knew and understood all my options and felt very comfortable taking his advice and making decisions."...