RTC Renovations, Robert Thompson Contracting
(519) 897-1561 Start a project
  1. Home
  2. Our process

Nine steps from first call to final walkthrough.

Every RTC project follows the same sequence. It keeps surprises out of your renovation and gives you a clear decision point at each stage. The first four steps cost nothing, and you approve the proposal, the concept, the scope and the schedule in writing before construction begins.

Start a projectCall (519) 897-1561

Deposit at step five. Milestone payments during construction. Nothing before you have seen real numbers.

White shaker kitchen with a farmhouse sink, brass bridge faucet and garden window
Steps 1 to 4

Understand

Inquiry, evaluation, a site visit and a written preliminary proposal with projected costs. All at no cost, so you decide with real numbers.

Steps 5 to 8

Design and define

A deposit covers measurement, drawings and permits. You approve a concept, then a detailed scope of work and budget, then the schedule.

Step 9

Build

One project manager, our crews and long-standing trade partners, and payments tied to construction milestones rather than dates.

  1. 01

    Initial inquiry

    No cost

    It starts with the short form on this site or a phone call. Tell us about the room, the house and what is not working. We review every inquiry personally and get back to you to talk through next steps.

    A client in her completed white kitchen
  2. 02

    Project evaluation

    No cost

    Every project is different, so we look at feasibility first: location, scope, budget range and timing. If it is a fit for how we work, we move to a site visit. If it is not, we will say so and point you toward a better option.

    Home office desk with charcoal millwork and open oak shelving
  3. 03

    Site visit and consultation

    No cost

    A project manager visits your home to walk the space, take notes and ask the questions that make an estimate accurate. This is where we learn how you actually use the room and what the finished result needs to do for you.

    Staircase with black metal spindles beside a white sofa
  4. 04

    Preliminary proposal

    No cost

    You receive a written preliminary proposal with projected costs and an estimated timeline. It gives you a clear picture of the investment before any design work or planning begins, so you can decide with real numbers in front of you.

    Detail of white oak island drawers with slim brass pulls
  5. 05

    Measurement and deposit

    Once you approve the proposal, we schedule a detailed site measure for architectural drawings and permit applications. A project deposit covers pre-construction costs such as permits and design documentation.

    Detail of charcoal shaker cabinet doors
  6. 06

    Concept presentation

    Included

    Our designers present a concept plan tailored to your home: layout, elevations and the direction for finishes. Revisions are discussed and settled here, before anything is priced in detail.

    Dining table detail with the wine wall beyond
  7. 07

    Scope of work and budget

    Included

    With the concept approved, we finalize a detailed scope of work and project budget, consulting our trade partners where needed so that every line is accounted for. No allowances left vague.

    Marble backsplash and brass pot filler above a gas range, styled with ceramics
  8. 08

    Approval and scheduling

    Included

    You approve the scope and budget, and we lock in your timeline and start date. Materials with long lead times, such as cabinetry and stone, are ordered so the site is never waiting on a delivery.

    Detail of floral wallpaper above a quartz counter
  9. 09

    Kickoff and construction

    The crew arrives, the dust walls go up and the transformation begins. You get a single point of contact throughout, and payments follow the milestones agreed in your schedule rather than the calendar.

    White oak kitchen island and dining chairs in natural light
The goal is simple: by the time the crew arrives, there is nothing left to guess about.
How we run every project, from a powder room to a whole house
A client in her completed white kitchen
Photographed in a completed RTC kitchen

What the process feels like from the other side.

I recently reached out for a project that I wasn’t sure how to complete, and was put in touch with Chad from RTC. He was so communicative, friendly, and helpful. He followed through on everything he said he would do, at the time he said he would do it. His crew was equally as professional on site. The quote for the work was fair and the quality of the work was great. Exactly what I had asked for.
Emily PeatHomeowner
1 / 2

Process questions, answered.

If yours is not here, the fastest answer is a phone call to (519) 897-1561.

Step one is a conversation.

Tell us about the project. We will review it, call you back and, if it is a fit, book a free site visit. No cost until you have approved a written proposal.

Shop6 Colby Court, Unit 5, Waterloo, ON N2V 1Y9

Fully insured, bondable and WSIB covered. Building in Waterloo Region since 2007.

White kitchen with a farmhouse sink below a bright window

Please add your name.
A phone number helps us reach you.
That email does not look right.
Let us know where the home is.
Pick the closest option.

No cost and no obligation. The first four steps of our process are free.