Men At Work
Men At Work Design Build is a Toronto-based, family-run design-build contractor founded in 1989 that specializes in major renovations and additions for older homes in mature Toronto neighborhoods, serving mid-market homeowners through an integrated in-house design and construction model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Men At Work does
Men At Work Design Build is a privately held, family-run Toronto-based residential design-build contractor founded in 1989 by Paul Gallop. The firm specializes in major renovations and structural additions for older Toronto homes in mature neighborhoods such as High Park, Junction, Leslieville, Little Portugal, and the Beach area. Its service is structured around an integrated design-build model in which architectural design, engineering, and construction management are delivered in-house, providing homeowners with a single point of responsibility from concept to completion. BCIN-qualified lead house designers with formal architecture degrees and an award-winning interior design team staff the design function.
The company's product portfolio is built around seven core offerings: Design Build Services (the umbrella turnkey service), Home Additions (one-storey, two-storey, second-floor, and third-floor configurations), Full Home Renovations, Kitchen Renovations, Bathroom Renovations, Basement Underpinning and Finishing, and Custom Millwork (cabinetry, built-ins, integrated furniture). Project pricing is quote-driven and spans roughly $270K for a small one-storey addition to $900K+ for full-home gut renovations, with supplementary line items for millwork ($8K–$50K), appliances ($10K–$80K), and smart-home electronics ($5K–$50K). This is augmented by an in-house online project management portal that gives clients login-secured visibility into contracts and progress, and a content-marketing function that publishes a public Home Renovation Price Guide and educational articles. The proprietary assets are operational — design-construction integration discipline, BCIN-certified design talent, and craft specialization in heritage Toronto housing stock — rather than software.
Men At Work runs a sales-led, direct-to-consumer go-to-market motion reaching homeowners through its website (book-a-call flow), phone consultations at (416) 763-0763, and in-person engagements. Marketing channels include content marketing via the company blog, email newsletter, organic social on Instagram and LinkedIn, a Houzz professional profile, and press features in Style at Home Magazine, Reno & Decor, National Post, and REMODELING Magazine. The customer base is composed entirely of mid-market individual Toronto homeowners, and over 80% of revenue is sourced from past customers and referrals, with 2,000+ clients served since inception and roughly 22 projects completed per year at an average annual revenue of approximately $4M CAD (2014/2015 reported baseline). Industry recognition includes BILD Renovator of the Year (2012), REMODELING Magazine Big50 (2017 — only Canadian firm on the list), NKBA Ontario Chapter First Place awards in Kitchen and Large Bath (2016), and Top 500 rankings in 2018 and 2019, placing the firm among the top 0.5% of approximately 50,000 Canadian remodeling firms with payrolls.
Men At Work firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Men At Work
- Legal name
- Men At Work Design Build
- Website
- https://menatwork.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Men At Work Design Build is a Toronto-based, family-run design-build contractor founded in 1989 that specializes in major renovations and additions for older homes in mature Toronto neighborhoods, serving mid-market homeowners through an integrated in-house design and construction model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Men At Work industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Residential Home Renovation Services
- NAICS
- Residential Building Construction (23611), Building Finishing Contractors (2383), Custom Architectural Woodwork and Millwork Manufacturing (337212), Interior Design Services (541410)
- SIC
- General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Residential Interior Fit-Out (Multi-Family & High-End) (IMAFANAE), Joinery, Millwork & Casework Installation (Cabinetry, Built-Ins) (IMAFANAJ), Trim, Baseboards, Crown Molding & Finish Carpentry (HSAPAFAD)
Keywords
Where Men At Work is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Men At Work business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Home Renovation and Addition Services: Project-based fees for design-build renovation services including home additions, full home renovations, ground floor renovations, basement underpinning and finishing, and custom millwork installations. Pricing varies by project scope with estimates ranging from $270K to $900K+ depending on complexity.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Second-Floor Addition: Adding a second floor to a 1,000 sq. ft. bungalow including full renovation of 1,000 sq. ft. ground floor |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | One-Storey Addition: A 300 sq.ft. one-storey addition with 600 sq.ft. ground floor renovation including stunning new kitchen |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Two-Storey Addition: A contemporary 2-storey, 300 sq.ft. per floor rear addition on helical piles with a full renovation of the existing 1,200 sq. ft. two-storey house |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Basement: An underpin and finish on a 700 sq.ft. basement creating a cozy and functional space |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Men At Work product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Men At Work Design Build is a Toronto-based residential design-build firm that delivers integrated design, engineering, and construction management services for major home renovations and additions. Its core offering is turnkey project delivery for older Toronto homes, encompassing home additions (second-storey, one-storey, two-storey, third-floor), full home renovations, kitchen and bathroom remodels, basement underpinning and finishing, and custom millwork, with all design and construction professionals in-house acting as a single point of responsibility from concept through completion.
Product overview
Men At Work is a Toronto-based design-build home renovation company providing integrated design and construction management services since 1989. The company offers a unified design-build service model with in-house design professionals, project managers, and trades, serving as a one-stop solution for major home renovations. The core product is the Design Build Services encompassing the full renovation lifecycle, supplemented by specialized offerings including Home Additions (one-storey, two-storey, second-floor, and third-floor), Full Home Renovations, Kitchen Renovations, Bathroom Renovations, Basement Renovations, and Custom Millwork. The company also provides complementary resources such as a Home Renovation Price Guide with project cost estimates and Design Consultation Resources including articles on renovation planning. Services are delivered exclusively in Toronto, with over 2,000 clients served.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Design Build Services Integrated design-build construction management service for major Toronto home renovations, providing complete turnkey support from concept through completion with in-house design and construction professionals acting as a single point of responsibility. Targeted at Toronto homeowners undertaking major renovation projects.
- Home Additions Structural home additions including one-storey additions (starting around 300 sq.ft.), two-storey additions (around 600 sq.ft.), second-floor additions on bungalows, and third-floor additions, for Toronto homeowners needing additional living space.
- Full Home Renovations Complete gut renovations of entire homes, including full-home renovation projects for Toronto residences, with high-end projects documented starting around $900K. Award-winning whole home renovation work including BILD 2015 recognition.
- Kitchen Renovations Custom kitchen design and renovation including open-concept layouts, custom cabinetry, millwork, and integrated appliances for Toronto homeowners. Includes award-winning kitchen designs recognised by NKBA Ontario Chapter and BILD.
- Bathroom Renovations Complete bathroom renovations for Toronto homeowners, including custom cabinetry, ensuites with freestanding tubs, custom showers, and contemporary designs. Multiple NKBA Ontario Chapter Large Bath award winners.
- Basement Renovations Basement underpinning and finishing services to add ceiling height and create habitable living space in Toronto homes. 700 sq.ft. basement underpin-and-finish projects starting at $290K-$310K.
- Custom Millwork Custom millwork solutions including wall trim, moulding, doors, door frames, cabinetry, fireplaces, mantles, kitchen hoods, beams, built-in shelves, and multifunctional furniture, tailored to maximise space and provide specialised storage solutions for Toronto home renovations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 80% of business comes from past customers and referrals
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Men At Work
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Men At Work technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Men At Work partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- BILD (Building Industry and Land Development Association)coreLong-standing member for over 25 years. BILD is the voice of the land development, home building and professional renovation industry in the Greater GTA, affiliated with Ontario and Canadian Home Builders' Association. Men At Work has been recognized multiple times by BILD including Renovator of the Year 2012.
- RenoMarkcoreRenoMark is a nationwide program for professional renovation contractors managed by BILD. Members commit to a Code of Ethics and renovations-specific Code of Conduct. Men At Work has been a RenoMark member for 17+ years, demonstrating professional standards and consumer protection.
- NKBA (National Kitchen & Bath Association)coreMen At Work team members have been recognized by NKBA Ontario Chapter, winning First Place awards in both Kitchen and Large Bath divisions at the 2016 Design Competition. Designer Natalie Venalainen was named top 30 under 30 in North America in 2017.
- REMODELING MagazinecoreMen At Work has been recognized by REMODELING Magazine, named to the Big50 in 2017 (only Canadian company) and ranked on the REMODELING 550 list in 2018.
- Qualified RemodelercoreNamed to the Top 500 remodelers of 2019, selected based on criteria including installed remodeling dollar volume, total years in business, industry association membership, industry certification, industry awards and community service.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Men At Work competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CRD Design Build: Seattle-based residential design-build firm with in-house designers, architects, and project managers serving premium renovation projects. Closely comparable operating model and target customer profile.
- Sun Design Remodeling Specialists: Washington DC-area design-build firm focused on residential additions, kitchens, and whole-home renovations. Comparable integrated design-build approach for premium neighborhood customers.
- BOWA: Washington DC-area design-build remodeling firm serving premium homeowners on additions, kitchens, and aging-in-place renovations. Comparable business model with in-house design and construction leadership.
- Normandy Design Build: Chicago-area design-build remodeling firm specializing in home additions, kitchens, and whole-home renovations for established homeowners. Comparable integrated design-build model and project pricing tier.
- Murray Lampert Design, Build & Remodel: San Diego-based design-build remodeler offering kitchen, bath, and whole-home renovation services for premium homeowners. Comparable integrated design-build model and project size tier.
- Case Design/Remodeling: Large mid-Atlantic residential design-build firm offering integrated design-build services for home additions, kitchens, and full-home renovations. Highly comparable business model with in-house design and construction teams serving high-end homeowners.
- Lamont Bros Design + Build: Portland, Oregon design-build firm specializing in whole-home remodels, additions, and kitchens for established homeowners. Comparable integrated design-build delivery model and premium pricing tier.
- Jackson Design Build: San Diego-based residential design-build firm offering integrated design and construction services for premium homeowners. Comparable end-to-end design-build model with custom millwork capabilities.
Broad incumbents
- Paul Davis Restoration: National restoration and remodeling franchise network serving residential customers across North America, including Canada. Comparable in residential renovation and addition services, though broader in scope (restoration, insurance) and franchise-based delivery.
Regional players
- Allwood Renovations: Toronto-area residential renovation firm specializing in home additions, custom homes, and major renovations. Comparable Toronto geography and renovation focus, though more general-contracting than design-build.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Men At Work social profiles
Digital presenceMen At Work financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Men At Work leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Men At Work funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Men At Work M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Men At Work
What does Men At Work do?
Men At Work Design Build is a Toronto-based residential design-build firm that delivers integrated design, engineering, and construction management services for major home renovations and additions. Its core offering is turnkey project delivery for older Toronto homes, encompassing home additions (second-storey, one-storey, two-storey, third-floor), full home renovations, kitchen and bathroom remodels, basement underpinning and finishing, and custom millwork, with all design and construction professionals in-house acting as a single point of responsibility from concept through completion.
Is Men At Work a public or private company?
Men At Work is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Men At Work founded?
Men At Work was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Men At Work based?
Men At Work is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Men At Work make money?
One revenue line is on record: home Renovation and Addition Services.
Who are Men At Work's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CRD Design Build, Sun Design Remodeling Specialists, BOWA, Normandy Design Build, Murray Lampert Design, Build & Remodel, Case Design/Remodeling, Lamont Bros Design + Build and Jackson Design Build. Paul Davis Restoration is listed as a broad incumbent. Allwood Renovations is listed as a regional player.
Does Men At Work have an API?
No public API is recorded for Men At Work.
What industry is Men At Work in?
Men At Work's product category is Residential Home Renovation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFABAE, Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders, with a secondary code of IMAFANAE, Residential Interior Fit-Out (Multi-Family & High-End). Its NAICS code is 23611 and its SIC code is 1520.