Renovation contractor in Muskoka and the Almaguin Highlands.
Garland Contracting renovates homes, cottages and commercial spaces within 100 km of Sprucedale, from one room to a whole floor. One crew handles framing, insulation, drywall, flooring and finish carpentry.
What a renovation covers
A renovation changes a building that already stands. The work begins with what you find when you open a wall, a floor or a ceiling. Old framing may need repair, insulation may have settled and a floor may have moved. A good renovation plan allows for those surprises.
- Framing, beamwork and structural framing
- Insulation and drywall
- Hardwood, laminate and subfloor installation
- Finish carpentry: trim, doors, stairs and built-ins
- Cottage winterization and seasonal repairs
- General maintenance and punch-list work
Electrical and plumbing work needs licensed tradespeople. Tell us what your project includes, and we explain how the parts of the job fit together.
The order of work
- Plan the scope and decide what stays and what goes.
- Open the walls, floors or ceilings that need work and inspect the framing.
- Repair or reinforce the structure. Beams and framing come first, because every later step sits on them.
- Insulate the walls, floors or ceilings.
- Hang and finish drywall.
- Install flooring.
- Fit trim, doors and finish carpentry.
- Clear the punch list: the small items that finish the job.
The photos show three stages from our work: framing and insulation, drywall around a door and a ceiling above a stairwell. Each stage sets up the next, and a mistake early shows up at the end.
Structure and beamwork
Dylan Garland has close to twenty years in the trades, including beamwork. Beams carry loads across open spans, and a renovation that removes a wall or opens a floor plan often needs one. We install beams and framing to carry the load, and a building official can confirm the requirements for your project.
If rot or damage turns up in the framing, we repair it as part of the job. See rot repair.
Insulation, drywall and floors
Insulation keeps a heated building comfortable and a cold building dry. We install it in walls, floors and ceilings as part of a renovation. Drywall follows, with taped and finished seams ready for paint. For floors, we install hardwood, laminate and subfloor, and we prepare the surface so the new floor sits flat.
Cottage winterization and seasonal repairs
Cottages need different care than houses. A winterization job prepares the building to sit empty through the cold months. Seasonal repairs fix what winter did. We handle both, along with general maintenance and punch-list work you want done before you open for the season.
Questions to answer before you start
- What do you want the space to do that it does not do now?
- Which walls, floors or ceilings must change?
- Do you need to live in the building during the work?
- What deadline matters, such as an opening date or a family visit?
- What budget range suits the project?
Write short answers to those, add photos and send them to us. A clear starting brief shortens the quote and prevents misunderstandings.
What a punch list is
A punch list is the final list of small items that remain when the main work finishes: a touch-up, a loose trim piece, a sticking door. We walk the job with you and clear the list before we call it done. General maintenance and punch-list work also stands alone. If you have a list of small repairs, send it.
Living in the house during a renovation
Plan the work in stages. We open one area at a time, close it when we can and keep walkways clear. Dust moves, so we hang barriers across doorways and clean up at the end of each day. Tell us which rooms you must keep, and we sequence the work around them.
Phasing a larger project
A large renovation can run in phases when the budget or the calendar calls for it. A first phase might repair framing and add insulation. A second might hang drywall and lay floors. A third might fit trim and doors. Each phase leaves the building safe and usable. Send the full wish list and we price it whole and in phases.
Getting a price
Text photos of the space to (705) 238-8634, or fill out the form. Tell us what you want to change and what budget range you work within. For larger renovations and commercial spaces, Dylan walks the site and sets the price. Quotes are free.
Questions about renovations
Do you do more than siding and rot repair?
Yes. Siding and rot repair are most of our work. We also renovate, roof, build decks and handle framing and beamwork, flooring, cottage winterization and general repairs.
Do you renovate cottages?
Yes. We work on year-round homes, seasonal cottages and rental properties across the Almaguin Highlands, Muskoka and the Parry Sound District.
Do you handle electrical and plumbing?
Those trades need licensed professionals. Tell us what your project includes, and we explain how the parts of the job fit together.
Can you remove a wall or open up a floor plan?
Yes, when the structure allows it. We install beams and framing to carry the load, and a building official can confirm the requirements.
Do you offer free quotes?
Yes. Fill out the form or text photos of the job to (705) 238-8634 and we will get back to you.
Can we stay in the house during a renovation?
Yes, in most cases. We open one area at a time, hang dust barriers and clean up each day. Tell us which rooms you need and we sequence the work around them.
Keep reading
Where we do this work
- Renovations in Muskoka
- Renovations in Almaguin Highlands
- Renovations in Sprucedale
- Renovations in Huntsville
- Renovations in Parry Sound
Other services
Request a free quote or call (705) 238-8634. Page updated October 27, 2026.