While Jimmy Williams is a general contractor with mad skills in all aspects of home renovation, there’s nothing he enjoys more than landscape carpentry. So it’s no wonder that this Toronto-based craftsman receives so much praise for his outdoor projects. He’s passionate about what he does and it shows – especially when he and his crew are working with one of his favorite building materials.

“When working with Western Red Cedar, it truly is a labor of love,” explains Williams, who launched Churchville Contracting in 2005. “Whether it is a 12’x16’ rectangle or a wraparound deck with a screened-in gazebo set out on a pavilion, we enjoy every second we put into it.”

Aside from working with beautiful sustainable materials such as Western Red Cedar, Williams’ number one building tip for DIYers is “invest in the right tools.” His number two tip?

“Don’t be too committed to your drawings,” advises Williams. “The beautiful part of completing your own project is that you have the flexibility to add whatever you want along the way. I find that some of my most creative ideas have come half way through a project as the dream starts
to take a more tangible form.”

As for highlights from the Churchville portfolio, Williams takes pride in all his projects, but if he had to choose just one……

“My personal favorite is the cantilever pergola,” admits Williams, before adding, “WRC was crucial in this project because its natural resistance to rot, and with the amount of millwork that goes into our work, we need a material that is resistant all the way through.”