Ackard Contractors Ltd.
For For the the third third year year in in a a row, row, Ackard Ackard Contractors Contractors has has won won Gold Gold in in the the Edmonton Edmonton Journal Journal Readers’ Readers’ Choice Choice Awards. Awards.
“It’s “It’s always always great great to to hear hear that that we’ve we’ve won won an an award, award, especially especially one one that that comes comes from from the the public,” public,” says says Ackard Ackard coowner coowner Aquilino Aquilino Naccarato. Naccarato.
“Our “Our goal goal here here is is to to always always create create great great spaces, spaces, and and by by hearing hearing that that from from consumers, consumers, it it solidifies solidifies for for us us that that we’re we’re on on the the right right track.” track.”
Naccarato Naccarato and and fellow fellow Ackard Ackard co-owner co-owner Richard Richard Plamondon Plamondon became became friends friends while while working working together together more more than than 35 35 years years ago. ago.
They They could could see see a a place place in in the the market market for for custom custom renovations renovations and and home home building, building, so so they they started started Ackard Ackard Contractors Contractors in in 1982, 1982, specializing specializing in in quality quality renovations renovations and and custom custom home home building. building. Projects Projects cover cover the the gamut: gamut: bathrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, kitchens, outdoor outdoor living living spaces, spaces, full full home home renovations renovations and and new new builds. builds.
While While the the focus focus has has been been on on quality quality since since the the get-go, get-go, much much has has changed changed since since those those early early days. days. The The city city of of Edmonton Edmonton has has grown, grown, along along with with Ackard Ackard Contractors, Contractors, which which now now has has 55 55 employees. employees.
Trends Trends have have changed, changed, too. too. Because Because of of the the Internet, Internet, people people are are more more aware aware of of global global renovation renovation trends, trends, and and they they expect expect to to find find those those trends trends at at home. home.
Clients Clients also also have have more more to to choose choose from. from. Take Take countertops, countertops, for for instance. instance. Thirty-five Thirty-five years years ago, ago, most most were were laminate, laminate, and and there there were were a a dozen dozen or or so so colours colours to to choose choose from. from.
Now, Now, the the possibilities possibilities are are almost almost endless: endless: laminate, laminate, granite granite and and other other natural natural stone, stone, you you name name it. it.
“There “There is is so so much much selection,” selection,” Naccarato Naccarato says. says. “It “It can can be be challenging challenging to to pick.” pick.”
That That is is why, why, earlier earlier this this year, year, the the Ackard Ackard team team opened opened a a showroom, showroom, where where customers customers can can check check out out the the latest latest offerings offerings in in home home renovation renovation and and home-building, home-building, everything everything from from flooring flooring to to cupboards. cupboards.
There’s There’s someone someone there there to to help help you you envision envision your your updated updated home, home, too. too. When When Plamondon Plamondon and and Naccarato Naccarato started started in in the the industry, industry, they they showed showed paper paper plans plans — — line line drawings, drawings, really really — — to to clients, clients, who who had had to to visualize visualize what what the the final final result result would would look look like. like.
“But “But now now you you can can give give them them a a 3-D 3-D rendering rendering that’s that’s almost almost like like a a photograph,” photograph,” Naccarato Naccarato says. says. “It’s “It’s a a lot lot easier easier now now to to meet meet a a customer’s customer’s expectations.” expectations.”
These These days, days, Naccarato Naccarato and and Plamondon Plamondon are are starting starting to to mentor mentor the the next next Ackard Ackard generation. generation. It It only only takes takes a a moment moment or or two two of of talking, talking, however, however, to to hear hear the the passion passion they they both both still still have have for for their their business. business.
“There “There are are challenges, challenges, but but we we have have 55 55 dedicated dedicated and and amazing amazing employees,” employees,” Plamondon Plamondon says. says. “And “And we we both both still still really really like like what what we we do.” do.”