Modillion Construction

"Bringing people & value together"

Telephone: 604-998-8882

Email: info@modillion.ca

Featured Project

'Growing Room'

Modillion transformed this smaller West Side bungalow into a fully built-out home that could serve a growing family. Challenges included matching the old-time stucco, inaccurate design drawings, some unexpected existing structures, a very complicated roof, and weather issues.

The owners started out with some basic concept/permit drawings, and we helped them refine the design for enhanced function and aesthetics in many areas, even to the point of changing rooflines and completely reworking some of the room layouts. In addition, we scoped, budgeted, and produced a complete interiors / exteriors and specifications package for the project, from drawer pulls to paint colours.

A new upper floor, back addition, and complete reworking of interiors gave this home both the space and the elegance the owners desired. Creating an open floor plan out of the dated main floor layout enhanced livability superbly. The project also required that we get the details right. In addition to our normal care and accuracy, we rectified deficient design details for more seamless functionality and architectural expression.

Modillion construction makes design-build a personal & rewarding experience:

You’re our priority. You work directly with the owners.

A UBC Architecture grad with 25 years in Vancouver’s West Side, Doug is a committed expert who will bring your vision to life on a budget you can live with.

You never have to guess about any aspect of your project — we’ll tell you in plain language.

We continue to serve you with scheduled inspections of your home for 2 years after project completion.

Some of your neighbours have worked with us and they would be happy to talk with you.

Before you start, call us. We’ll sit with you & provide you with honest dialogue on your project’s feasibility.

Philosophy

Building a Better World - One Job at a Time

A simple philosophy is your best guide for working with a contractor. At Modillion Construction, we keep it simple. You work with the owners directly on planning and construction. Design and the realities of building are under constant scrutiny. Feedback is continuous and projects tend to evolve quickly. The owners are always available (almost!), and we pride ourselves on doing what it takes to make each project a success.

We feel that being there for our clients is the key to our success. Thus, Modillion will remain small, so we can continue to be there, in person, for you and every homeowner we have the pleasure to work with.

People

Doug

Dave

David Barkovic and Doug Willoughby

created Modillion Construction for people who want professional, transparent design and construction services in the GVA. David has managed 50 million dollars in construction projects, a perfect compliment to Doug’s architecture degree and his production of about 25 million dollars in design and construction contracts. Both owners have worked within all kinds of project delivery models including the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. Now, they operate a design/build firm that brings their 45 years of experience under one roof. Doug and Dave have developed Modillion Construction’s unique model for those who want real industry experts helping them achieve a predictable and successful result.

Testimonials

"I don't know why anyone would hire anyone other than Modillion. They are fantastic."

— NH, Vancouver

“Courteous, Timely, and Budget-Conscious”

I have worked with Doug Willoughby many times (over the years) and I cannot make a strong enough recommendation of him and Modillion Construction. We have done 2 major projects, and 2 minor projects, and I have gone back to them every time. Every one of the projects were done on-time and on-budget. All the staff at Modillion are delightful to work with, and that counts for a lot when you are dealing with the stress of a renovation! Both Doug and Dave are professional, well-informed, courteous and fun-loving. I have recommended them to many friends, and they have all had excellent experiences as well. So, go for it! You'll be glad you did! — QY

“We would do this all over again in a heartbeat”

We cannot strongly enough recommend Doug and Dave and Modillion Construction for your home renovation needs. Modillion added an upper level to our bungalow, did it on budget and on time, working with astonishing efficiency. All the trades showed up and did the work when they were supposed to, and Dave coordinated it all from his laptop. Our neighbours could not stop telling us about how smoothly it went, and how polite and unintrusive the Modillion crew was. Most of all, Doug and Dave were always working to make sure we were happy, doing many small things outside of the contract to make sure our home was just right. We would do this all over again in a heartbeat with Modillion.
— SL

“skilled, reliable, and great problem-solvers”

When Modillion Construction put a 700 sq. ft. addition on the back of our house in the summer of 2010, they were everything you would want in a renovator: skilled, reliable, and great problem-solvers. Doug coached us through several difficult decisions with great patience, and Dave took challenges in his stride while keeping the project moving. The crew enjoyed their work and each other’s company, which made them a pleasure to have around. We heartily recommend Modillion for any renovation. — A&PJ

We are writing this letter of reference for David Barkovic because we were very impressed with all of his efforts as Project Supervisor for the major house renovation undertaken by him and his crew for us in 2008.

He brought many proven skills to the project:

Extensive knowledge of approved construction methods and city inspection requirements
Exceptional capacity to organize the project in a very time efficient manner
Facilitation leadership of crew and sub-contractors
Consistent communication with us regarding our needs and requests
Oversight of a tidy and safe worksite
Excellent quality control of all aspects of the construction and finishing
Very helpful advice on materials

If potential clients of Modillion with to be in touch with us regarding specifics or clarification, we would be pleased to speak with them.

Most Sincerely,
G & VH

It was a pleasure working with you and your team to provide the finishing touches for our new Kits home. Your design and the quality of the installation and finishing of our interior trim and exterior railings was exceptional. We appreciate the way your tradespeople respected our space and were always on time and on task. We were particularly impressed with your complete commitment to finishing the job to meet our expectations. We would be happy to recommend you to anyone else who is seeking high quality construction or renovation services.

Best. M & BE

Our Services

Pre-Construction Renovation Rescue Design Building

Click on a discipline for more information.

Budgeting	Analytical Concepts	Schedules	Predicaments
Project Scoping	Architectural	Know-How	Solutions
Feasibility Studies	Permits	Feedback
Interim Budgeting	Specifications

'Superior Service - In Every Respect.'

Formal architecture training mixed with a total 45 years experience in design, project management, & construction sets Modillion apart from almost every builder in the lower mainland. Design & construction is all we do, hands on, every day.

Our winning design, our skill at value engineering, & the quality & efficiency of our execution makes Modillion perhaps the best value large scale renovator in Greater Vancouver today.

Budgeting

We work with you to balance your needs within a wide range of budgets. We can usually provide you with general budget guidance during our first meeting. We can show you how you can lower your costs by reducing your scope, using more economic materials, or looking at life-cycle costs.

Project Scoping

Project scoping involves the creation of a detailed or sketched description of your project. We creative this scope with you before we begin design. Our regular design services include the creation of a very detailed project scope, with a preliminary estimate for the work described. If you have a designer of your own, we welcome you to take advantage of this service as a part of our pre-construction services package.

Feasibility Studies

Perhaps you have an idea for a renovation on your home. The first question is, "Can we even do this project here?" The form of the existing building, condition of the soil, quality of the existing structure, bylaws and building code constraints, construction costs; these considerations and more will define whether you have a project you are willing to take on or not. Often, the process is quite straightforward.

Interim Budget Reporting

It is easy to start design, only soon to find that your budget has been exceeded. Our interim budget reporting provides you with timely and detailed updates during the design phase. As part of our pre-construction service, you can be sure your design requirements are being achieved within the budget you set. Protect your investment, and call us for details on how to start your project on the right foot.

Analytical Concepts

Analytical concepts would be useful to you if you are looking at several options, and don't know which option will produce the best result. Whatever your criteria are, our conceptual analysis is sure to highlight the most advantageous approach to take. Analytical concepts get you the information you need in the most efficient way possible. And, municipalities regard them highly. Ask us for more details.

Architectural Design

What does successful design mean to you? If your project is important to you, you should have a designer with an architectural background. If your budget is important to you, you should have a design team that can match your design with a realistic budget. We listen, and we will usually get your concept right the first time. Don't forget to ask us about our complete design portfolio!

Permits

A successful permit process ends with the issue of a building permit for the work. Congratulations! You have achieved a major milestone in your project. Your best bet, every time, is to retain a designer who knows how to work with municipalities to achieve what you want. Not all designers do, but we excel at the process. Our goal is always the same, and it drives our method: avoid surprises, backtracking, wasted time, scope changes, and added costs.

Specifications

Now, you have extra assurance you are getting what you want out of your renovation. We produce complete specifications for your project during design. And we do this in a way that is tailored to your requirements. You will always feel comfortable that your project is being created the way that you want.

Schedules

Would you like to shave up to 35% off your building schedule? Well, look no further. Modillion shines in the real-time delivery of projects in the field. Our accuracy is well known, but we are famous for our efficiency. Sometimes, the difference is surprising. Recentlyl, a project analysis indicated a 20-week schedule. The owner informed us that another contractor told them 8 months! When the costs of temporary accommodation and disruption to your family's life are critical, Modillion's superb efficiency makes sense.

Know-How

The secret to managing a construction schedule is to set reasonable timelines, and stick to them. The secret to setting reasonable timelines? Know your crews, know the logistics of project execution in the lower mainland, keep project accountability down to a single point, and plan, plan, plan. David, our partner in the field, has managed multi-million dollar projects, where maintaining momentum was critical to project success. We carry that sense of urgency into every project we do.

Feedback

At Modillion Construction, we get feedback from many sources, such as owners (of course!), subcontractors, suppliers, employees, project neighbours, passersby, consultants. For us, feedback is part of a cycle of communication that helps us to grow as professionals, as a company, and as people. We welcome the observations and opinions of others because we know that you can never know everything. When you have something to say, we listen. That's part of the way we keep things real, and provide one of the best construction services in the greater Vancouver area.

Predicaments

Imagine camping in your living room under a bare light bulb, your home in pieces around you. You haven't seen your builder in weeks. Where can you turn when your builder is billing aggressively, yet the work has clearly fallen behind the payments? Over the years, we have found improperly built structures, inaccurate cost-plus billing, missing envelope details, projects stalled for weeks or months, missing materials, illegitimate tool purchases, ignored specifications, and safety infractions that put your project back on track.

Solutions

If you find yourself in a predicament with your builder, there are ways to make things right. We can help you get your project back under control, and get you back into your home with minimal delay. Know that you are not alone, and that there are people out there willing and able to help you. Please don't allow a bad situation to get worse. Give us a call, and we can start helping you regain control immediately.