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'We wanted to see young blood': For many years, Guy Moffitt watched others take home the top prize. Two weeks ago, the unassuming expert of hammer and nails was named Renovator of the Year. The Ottawa Citizen
Saturday, November 5, 2005
"My wife called me on my cell and asked how the Renovator of the Year was doing," chuckles Mr. Moffitt, who owns GSM Construction & Design Inc. along with his wife, Barb. "Not too glamorous." The 32-year-old won the prestigious award at a gala presented by the Ottawa-Carleton Home Builders' Association at the National Gallery two weeks ago. He also won an award for best custom bathroom under 75 square feet. The soft-spoken Mr. Moffitt, who has been running his own company for the past six years, is a hands-on renovator who prides himself on being on site every day and on keeping his clients happy. His desire to manage the renovation site, as well as do the work himself, appealed to the panel of judges. "All the competitors for this award were very solid and each of them deserved to win," says architect and judge Shawn Lawrence. "We liked Guy's submissions and wanted to see some young blood. I look forward to seeing his work in the years to come." The other candidates for the award included Steve Barkhouse, president of Amsted Construction and Michael J. Martin, owner and president of Michael J. Martin Luxury Renovations. Mr. Barkhouse took home six trophies and Mr. Martin has won honours in previous years. Mr. Moffitt, who operates his company from an office in his Stittsville home on Granite Ridge Drive , says the award is an acknowledgment of his hard work and places him on equal footing with the city's top renovators. "We're doing well and are gaining respect in the field. We're competing for jobs with some of the top builders in the city." The key to success is that he treats each project as if it's his own home and uses only high-quality products and finishes. He also prides himself on coming in on budget and time. Several testimonials from clients rave about his professionalism, thoughtful demeanour and quality work. This year's winning bathroom oozes relaxation with a freestanding soaking tub surrounded by oversized windows, a large walk-in shower encased in glass and warm cherry cabinets with granite counters. Another project in Centrepointe impresses with its dramatic stone fireplace, stone hearth and cherry mantel. A large renovation on a home in Manotick featured a second-storey addition and an expansive free-floating deck with glass panels. It's his job to keep his two-man crew of Tracy Evans and Geoff Gladman busy, but he can often be found with a hammer in his hand helping out with the building work. "We are all good friends -- I only want good-natured people working on crew. I hire the same tradespeople on each job. Clients really like this." He takes on about 10 jobs a year, including bathroom, basement and kitchen work. Mr. Moffitt also relishes the design end of the business and will do all the work on small jobs himself -- from the conceptual drawings to construction. The company did $600,000 last year in business and $800,000 this year. "Almost all of my clients stay in their house during the renovation process. We have a very good rapport and have made fast friends with many." For the past nine years, Mr. Moffitt has often teamed up with veteran designer Gerhard Linse of Gerhard Linse Design & Building Consultants. The two took home top prize for a $40,000 to $100,000 renovation at last year's design awards. A member of the OCHBA's Renovation Council, he is also keen to volunteer his company's time on community projects, including the recent overhaul of Bruce House, a hospice in Westboro for people living with AIDS and HIV. Mr. Moffitt, who got bitten by the renovation bug at an early age, spent most of his teen years working odd jobs on weekends and summers for a building company in Carp where he did everything from framing and drywall to plumbing, carpentry and electrical work. In 1997, he graduated from Algonquin College with a diploma in architectural technology. After working for several high-end renovation companies, he and his wife decided it was time to try it on their own. "It was always are No. 1 goal. We bought a big van and started taking on jobs. Basically, we are getting work by word of mouth." "I've been working towards this award for years," beams the young renovator. "For years, I've been going to this awards night watching others take home top prize. This shows what we are capable of." You can reach Guy Moffitt at www.gsmconstruction.com. |  Created By: Rubber Tincan Interactive |
The Sunday morning after his big win as Renovator of the Year at Ottawa 's 2005 Housing Design Awards, Guy Moffitt was on a job site covered in mud and tar and soaked through by a relentless freezing rain.