Lower Newcastle, Miramichi, NB

Miramichi General Contractor

Grayson Construction is a general contractor in Miramichi, based on Route 11 in Lower Newcastle and run by owner Daniel J. Savard. We build fences and decks, put up siding, install windows and doors, renovate bathrooms and kitchens, and take on the handyman jobs that pile up before winter. As a construction company in Miramichi, we work on both sides of the river and up to 100 km around the city, from the Acadian coast to the Southwest Miramichi.

You deal with one local company from the first visit to the last cleanup, and you know who to call if something needs a second look.

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Storey-and-a-half house with light grey vinyl siding, white windows and a new wood deck, spruce trees behind
  • Owner-runDaniel J. Savard, Lower Newcastle
  • 7 servicesOutside and inside the house
  • Up to 100 kmAround Miramichi, both sides of the river
  • Price Before Work StartsYou know what is included
  • One Local CompanyFirst visit to final cleanup
  • Small Jobs WelcomeHandyman visits too
  • Both Sides of the RiverNewcastle and Chatham
  • Built for NB WintersFrost, snow and wind
  • Walkthrough at the EndSite cleaned up
Gloved hands measuring a wood board with a tape measure on a sawhorse outside a house

Who we are

The Construction Company Miramichi Homeowners Can Reach

Miramichi is a city of 17,695 people (2021 census), and most of the work here comes by word of mouth. That keeps a contractor honest. The people whose fence we build in Douglastown are the same people we see at the grocery store on King George Highway.

Grayson Construction is a small, owner-run company. That means fewer layers between you and the person doing the work, and quicker answers when plans change. It also means we are clear about what we take on: exterior work that has to stand up to a Miramichi winter, and interior renovations that make an older house easier to live in.

Much of the city's housing went up in the years when the mills employed a large part of the city. A lot of those homes are now on their second or third round of siding and still have original windows or a 1960s bathroom. That housing stock shapes almost every job we quote.

Home Renovations Miramichi Families Plan Around the Seasons

Exterior and interior work run on different calendars here. Fences and decks need thawed ground, so they are built from late spring to fall and are best booked early in the year. Siding and windows can go in for much of the year. Bathrooms and kitchens are indoor jobs that suit the winter months, when the outside work slows down.

New cedar privacy fence with tall posts beside a brick and vinyl-sided house01

Fence Installation and Repair

A fence in Northumberland County has to deal with deep frost, wet springs and wind off the bay. Posts that are not set deep enough get pushed up by frost, and a leaning fence after a hard winter is usually a post problem, not a board problem. We build and repair privacy, picket, chain link and vinyl fences, plus gates that still close in March. Before the first post goes in, we walk the line with you, talk about height and spacing, and check where the ground stays wet in spring. Repairs start with the posts, because new boards on a rotten post only buy you one more winter.

Learn more about fence installation and repair.

New pressure treated wood deck with wide stairs and black metal balusters, spruce forest behind02

Decks and Patios

A deck here carries a heavy snow load for months, then gets soaked in spring. That is why the footings, the frame and the ledger board matter more than the boards you walk on. We build new decks in pressure treated wood, cedar and composite, and repair decks whose frames are still sound. If an old deck is soft underfoot or pulling away from the house, we look at the frame first and tell you honestly whether it is worth fixing. Patios and steps are planned at the same time, so the whole back yard fits together.

See our deck builder page for materials and options.

Blue-grey vinyl siding being installed with white soffit and fascia, house wrap still showing on one section03

Siding

Siding on the Miramichi takes salt air near the bay, strong winter winds and the occasional post-tropical storm. Fiona in September 2022 stripped siding off homes across the Maritimes. We install new siding, replace damaged sections and handle soffit and fascia, so the whole outside of the house is sealed against the weather. When old siding comes off, we look at the sheathing and the wrap underneath. Water that got in behind the old siding is much cheaper to deal with while the wall is open than after the new siding is on.

Read about siding installation.

New white double-hung windows and a new entry door in a beige vinyl-sided wall, autumn leaves on the ground04

Windows and Doors

Older single pane and early double pane windows are still common in the city's mid-century homes, and on a cold January night you can feel the draft from across the room. We replace windows and install entry, patio and storm doors, sized and sealed for a New Brunswick winter. The window itself is only part of the job. The way it is insulated and flashed into the wall decides whether the draft actually stops, so we take our time around the frame and the trim.

Find out more about window and door installation.

Renovated small bathroom with a walk-in shower, glass panel, black fixtures, grab bar and wood vanity05

Bathroom Renovations

Many bathrooms in local homes date back to when the house was built: a cast iron tub, small tiles and a single outlet. We renovate bathrooms from a simple update to a full remodel, including tub to shower conversions and walk-in showers that make the room easier to use as you get older. Bathrooms in older houses often hide water damage under the floor or behind the tub surround, so we plan for what we may find once the old fixtures come out.

See our bathroom renovation page.

Renovated kitchen with sage green shaker cabinets, white countertops, subway tile and a window over the sink06

Kitchen Renovations

A kitchen renovation usually starts with the cabinets and the counters, then the question of whether a wall can come out to open up the room. We work through cabinets, countertops, backsplash and flooring, and plan the job so you are without a working kitchen for as short a time as possible. We sort out the layout and the order of the work before anything is torn out, so the room is not left half finished while you wait on materials.

Read about kitchen renovations.

Gloved hands patching a drywall wall with a putty knife, joint compound bucket and tool bag on the floor07

Handyman Services

Not every job needs a full crew. Drywall patches, trim and baseboards, mounting, caulking and the small repairs you notice before winter all add up. One visit takes care of the list. It is also an easy way to see how we work before you plan a bigger project. Write the list down as you notice things, and we can go through it together on the visit.

See our handyman services.

Wondering what a project might cost? Our renovation cost guide explains what moves the price for each of these services.

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Service area

Where We Work: Miramichi and 100 km Around It

The city is a 1995 amalgamation of Chatham, Newcastle and several villages, and people here still say which side of the river they mean. We work on both: the Newcastle side, where we are based, and the Chatham side across the Centennial Bridge.

Inside the city that includes Newcastle, Chatham, Douglastown, Nelson, Loggieville, Nordin, Chatham Head, Lower Newcastle and Napan. Up the rivers we cover Sunny Corner, Red Bank, Sillikers, Strathadam, South Esk and Williamstown, along with the Mi'kmaq communities of Natoaganeg (Eel Ground) and Metepenagiag (Red Bank).

Beyond the city, we travel within about 100 km:

AreaCommunities
Neguac and the Acadian coastNeguac, Esgenoopetitj (Burnt Church), Tabusintac, Lagaceville, Brantville
Rogersville and AcadievilleRogersville, Acadieville, Collette, Barnaby River
Blackville, Doaktown and the Southwest MiramichiBlackville, Renous, Quarryville, Doaktown, Boiestown
Baie-Sainte-Anne, Escuminac and Bay du VinBaie-Sainte-Anne, Escuminac, Bay du Vin, Hardwicke
Tracadie, Bathurst and the North ShoreTracadie, Pokemouche, Bathurst, Allardville
Richibucto, Rexton and Kent CountyRichibucto, Rexton, Kouchibouguac, Elsipogtog

The farther the drive, the more it makes sense to group work into one visit, so mention every job on your list when you call.

How it works

How a Job Starts

  1. 1
    You call or send a message. Tell us what you want done and where the house is.
  2. 2
    We come out and look. We measure, check what is behind the obvious problem, and talk through options.
  3. 3
    You get a price before any work starts. You know what the job includes before you decide.
  4. 4
    We book it in the right season. Outdoor work is scheduled for when the ground and the weather allow it; indoor work can often go in sooner.
  5. 5
    We finish and walk through it with you. The job is done when you are happy with it and the site is cleaned up.
Request an Estimate(506) 251-9424
Contractor holding a clipboard and tape measure in front of a vinyl-sided house with a wood front door
Older house interior during renovation with one wall opened to the studs and plaster and lath showing

Older homes

Renovating an Older Miramichi Home

Many home renovations in Miramichi happen in houses that were built decades ago. That brings a few things worth knowing before the work starts.

Health Canada notes that asbestos was used in a variety of building materials in some homes built before 1990. Its advice is to have the home tested by a professional before you start, and never to disturb or remove asbestos yourself. If you are planning to open walls, ceilings or old flooring, ask about testing early so it does not hold the job up later.

Older houses also settle. Floors slope, walls are rarely square and window openings are often a different size from one side of the house to the other. None of that stops a renovation, but it does mean measuring every opening on site and planning the work around the house you actually have, not the one on paper.

Permits

Building Permits in the Miramichi Area

In the Miramichi region, planning and building permits are handled by Planning Services at the Greater Miramichi Regional Service Commission (GMRSC). As an example, the Village of Blackville lists decks, fences, structural changes to walls, finished basements and changes to window or door sizes as work that needs a building permit. Cosmetic interior work such as painting, new flooring and new cabinets is exempt.

Rules can differ from one community to the next, and towns farther out, such as Tracadie, Bathurst or Richibucto, fall under other regional service commissions. If you are not sure whether your project needs a permit, check with the local planning office before the work is booked.

Before you hire

How to Check a Contractor in New Brunswick

New Brunswick does not license builders or renovators. The province's Financial and Consumer Services Commission says plainly that it "does not license, oversee or regulate builders and renovators." Electricians and plumbers are the exception: they must be licensed with the New Brunswick Department of Public Safety.

Because there is no licence to look up, the Commission suggests homeowners protect themselves another way:

  • Get the contract, the price and any warranty in writing
  • Ask for references from similar jobs and read reviews
  • Avoid cash-only, "under the table" deals with no receipts
  • Make sure electrical and plumbing work is done by licensed trades

Those are fair questions to ask any contractor, including us.

Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question that is not here? Call (506) 251-9424 or send a message through the contact page.

A general contractor manages the whole job: planning the work, ordering materials, scheduling the trades and making sure each step is done in the right order. You make one call and deal with one company. Grayson Construction handles fences, decks, siding, windows and doors, bathrooms, kitchens and handyman work.

No. New Brunswick does not license builders or renovators, according to the Financial and Consumer Services Commission. Electricians and plumbers must be licensed with the Department of Public Safety. Ask any contractor for a written contract, references and written warranty details before work starts.

We are based in Lower Newcastle and work across Miramichi on both sides of the river, plus communities within about 100 km, including Neguac, Rogersville, Blackville, Doaktown, Baie-Sainte-Anne, Tracadie and Richibucto.

Book early in the year. Fences and decks need thawed ground for the posts and footings, so they are built from late spring to fall. Calling in winter or early spring gets you a spot before the busy season fills up.

Yes. Our handyman service covers drywall repairs, trim, mounting, caulking and other small repairs. Grouping several small jobs into one visit makes the most of the trip, especially outside the city.

Usually, yes. Around the city, Planning Services at the Greater Miramichi Regional Service Commission handles building permits. The Village of Blackville, for example, lists decks and fences as work that needs a permit, while painting, new flooring and new cabinets are exempt. Check with your local planning office before work is booked.

It could. Health Canada says asbestos was used in a variety of building materials in some homes built before 1990, and many homes in the area are older than that. Have the house tested by a professional before opening walls, ceilings or old flooring, and never disturb or remove suspected asbestos yourself.

Grayson Construction is owned and run by Daniel J. Savard, from our base on Route 11 in Lower Newcastle, Miramichi.

Talk to a Local Contractor

Whether it is a fence that leaned over the winter, siding that came loose in a storm or a bathroom that has not changed since the house was built, tell us what you have in mind. As a general contractor in Miramichi, we will come out, look at the job and give you a price before any work starts.

Request an EstimateCall (506) 251-9424
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