The cottage is your happy place, but it’s beginning to show signs of wear. Or maybe you just moved in and realize your dream cottage needs a bit more work than you had expected. Or perhaps you came up this spring and found that the winter has taken a big bite out of your summer.
Don’t worry – you’re not alone. And you don’t have to deal with it by yourself.
“Renovations are as much a part of cottaging as cannonballs off the dock,” says Don Hammond. “Just a lot less fun!”
Don and his son Elliott run Coppergroup, a construction and renovations company based in Muskoka. Don has lived in the area since the 1980s, and Elliott was born and raised here, and they understand the wear and tear that Muskoka takes on buildings.
“Winters here are long and snowy,” says Elliott. “Even a regular winter will dump three metres or more of snow – a heavy winter like this past one can bring double that.” Add in ice storms, spring flooding, and tornado-like winds in summer, and it’s not surprising that decks can start to tilt, boathouses shift, garages collapse, and entire cottages develop worrisome cracks.
Not all renovations are the result of wear and tear, of course. Trends and preferences come and go, and upgrades are common. Taking out the golden oak cabinets and wall-to-wall pine, opening up the interior, expanding a deck to take advantage of the view – these and many more upgrades can breathe entirely new life into the cottage.
“Need more bathrooms, or a larger kitchen? Or perhaps an addition so you can have the grandchildren up? No problem,” says Elliott.
Working exclusively in Muskoka, the duo have extensive knowledge of local construction conditions, including understanding how to get materials to remote job sites. They have also built up a large network of regional experts to support them, no matter what kind of project they take on.
Although father and son have different backgrounds, they do share a number of attributes, including a dedication to excellence.
“People often say that they’re amazed by our work ethic,” says Don. “But really, we’re just dedicated to seeing a job through to completion at a high level of quality. It needs to be built right, or else what’s the point?”
TEXT A. WAGNER-CHAZALON
PHOTOS ANDREW FEARMAN
