FOUNDED ON INTEGRITY

Tailored solutions that respond to the specific needs of our Clients within the Construction and Insurance Industries.

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About Us

HFS Construction Consultants Ltd. was founded by our principals, Tomas Gardulski and Steven Fries. These gentlemen have been providing consult ing services throughout Canada since 2008. Their experience includes a wide range of services related to quantity surveying, project management, project cost analysis, expert witness and dispute resolution services.

HFS Construction Consultants Ltd. opened in 2015 with Mr. Gardulski and Mr. Fries continuing to provide expertise related to site damage assessment, construction cost estimating and detailed cost analysis.

Our Philosophy

Our approach to consulting is founded upon integrity and supported by a focus of providing effective, quality solutions to our clients needs.

Our experiences team of consultants is the structure upon which our success is built. Each member of our team continually demonstrates fair and reasonable philosophy where our professionalism is a direct reflectionof our Clients Brand.

Our team of Construction Cost Estimators, Roofing Consultants, Thermographers and Restoration Consultants have extensive experience providing quality services to our Clients all across Canada including Northern and remote areas.

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SERVICES

Our diverse consulting experience allows us to provide an extensive set of services to our Clients which empowers them to make informed, cost effective and timely decisions. Our team can provide a tailored solution to Insurance Professionals, Property Managers, building Owners and legal council to meet their project needs.

Property Loss - Site Damage Assesment
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Our dedicated team will attend the site to assist in the determination of an accurate, clearly defined, scope of damage.
 
We can then prepare an Initial Site Report, detailing our observations and identifying the scope of damage observed. The report concludes with an estimated cost to complete the required work and identification of project specific concerns that should be contemplated to effectively make decisions.
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Our Clients rely on our expertise and analysis of the local market conditions to provide timely, accurate, Loss Estimates or reserve recommendations for budgeting purposes.
 
Our experienced team can provide Order of Magnitude or detailed Cost Estimates with the requisite level of detail to suit the specific needs of our Clients.
 
Order of Magnitude Estimates or project budgets can be prepared for every kind of property loss, including fire, water, wind, hail, impact, mould, hazardous materials and structural failure.
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We regularly prepare Tender Packages for competitive bidding on repair or reconstruction projects. This includes working with Architects, Engineers and Design Professionals to ensure the updated design and intent is clear, concise and relates to the loss related damage.
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Project Monitoring is practical when a project is completed on Time and Material and depending on the complexity of the project, we can also provide Clerk of the Works services with additional or full-time attendance on site.
 
Project Monitoring requires experience to be able to identify issues before they become problems. Project monitoring and clear communication can result in effective solutions so that additional costs may be minimized or eliminated.
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Cost analysis can provide a level of control to ensure the submitted costs are fair, reasonable and are entirely related to the scope of the loss.
 
We define the scope of work and pre-negotiate pricing on the front end of the project, whenever possible. This will provide a greater level of cost transparency, often mitigating the need to dispute cost at the end of the project.
 
When invoices are received, our team reconciles the costs to ensure accurate submissions and that the costs are reasonable for the work completed.
 
Our Consultants are immersed in construction costs, market conditions and changing construction practices so that we can opine on the reasonability of project costs with the level of confidence and expertise our Clients demand.   
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We can provide construction cost estimating which is developed using information gathered on site, building analysis, Architectural or Engineering reports and Construction Drawings or Specifications.

We have the expertise to prepare estimated costs for demolition work, emergency or restoration work and repair or replacement scopes; as well as, defined Code Upgrades.
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Our methodology used to calculate Actual Cash Value depreciation considers the estimated betterment for each building component.

Periodic replacement of building elements through building renovations or ongoing maintenance may, reasonably, extend the life expectancy of building elements. Our methodology also considers the pre-loss condition of building elements to ensure ongoing maintenance and renovations have been properly accounted for in our depreciation recommendations.
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We understand that projects damaged during the course of construction can be extremely complex and require a specific skill set to provide accurate cost recommendations.

Construction contract analysis and Change Order or Change Directive analysis is crucial to ensure the work is being completed according to the original agreement in place between the Prime Contractor and the Building Owner.

Course of Construction projects may require project monitoring, Clerk of the Works, indentification of pre-existing conditions, conceptual and detailed estimating, repair cost monitoring, accelerated construction versus buisiness interruption analysis, document review and analysis, contract negotiations and schedule or delay analysis.

Expert Witness & Insurance Dispute Resolution - Umpiring Services

All of our services are provided with the core principle that we may be asked to defend our opinion as an Expert Witness.

We have been called upon to provide unbiased and objective information in relation to projects where we have provided other services; as well as, new matters that fall within our areas of expertise. We have provided our opinions both in written reports and during questioning by counsel.

Additionally, our knowledge of construction costs, market conditions, general construction and restoration practices; as well as, an understanding of the principles related to procedural fairness have defined our ability to provide independent, objective opinions as part of the Dispute Resolution Process. 

We have been selected to participate in formal appraisal processes as key members of the appraisal team; as well as, umpiring the Dispute Resolution Process for insurance disputes in Western Canada.

FOUNDED ON INTEGRITY

Our team has successfully consulted on large and complex projects including commercial, industrial, governmental, infrastructure, manufacturing and residential, agricultural and special structures with the use of project scoping and monitoring, budgeting and analyses of costs in a skilled manner.

We have also successfully participated in dispute resolution on a variety of project types.

Institutional Buildings

  • University Laboratories

  • Educational Facilities

  • Schools

  • Churches

Infrastructure

  • Water Treatment Plants

Healthcare

  • Hospitals

  • Specialized Care Centers

  • Assisted Living

Residential

  • High Rise Apartments

  • Condominiums

  • Single & Multi-Family

  • Townhouse

  • Custom Luxury

Hospitality

  • Hotels

  • Restaurants

  • Health & Wellness Spas

Industrial, Manufacturing

  • Industrial Parks

  • Oil & Gas Batteries

  • Refineries

  • Warehousing

  • Recycling Facilities

  • Production Facilities

Commercial Properties

  • Office Complexes

  • Retail Centers

  • Tenant Improvements

Recreational Centers

  • Swimming Pools

  • Ice Rinks

  • Community Centers

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Steven Fries

Mr. Fries began construction estimating and cost consulting in 2008 and since then has gained a wide range of consulting experience in quantity surveying, project management and project cost analysis.

As a Project Coordinator for a construction management company in Calgary, Alberta, Mr. Fries’ project experience was related to tenant improvement projects and large scale commercial renovations across western Canada. Specifically, he was responsible for the creation and oversight of tender packages, issuing tender addenda and reviewing tender submissions. Additional responsibilities included initial space planning, issuing change orders, site instructions and conducting site inspections.

Mr. Fries then held a supervisory position as a Senior Estimator / Project Manager for a large consulting firm in Calgary, Alberta. He has provided consulting services to Insurance Providers, Adjusters, legal Counsel, Architects, Contractors and Owners relating to property losses, builder’s risk insurance claims, defective construction and project audits primarily in Canada and the high Arctic. He has also consulted on projects in the United States of America and the Turks and Caicos islands.

Upon starting HFS Construction Consultants Ltd. in 2015, Mr. Fries continued to provide his expertise on site damage assessments, construction contract analysis, scope of work determination, preparation of conceptual and detailed cost estimates; as well as, actual cash value depreciation calculations. Mr. Fries regularly completes analyses of project costs and mark-ups, evaluations of property replacement appraisals, tender submissions and proposed budgets, evaluates costs relating to building codes and completes negotiations related to a variety of project costs. 

Mr. Fries’ consulting project experience includes catastrophe project management, large institutional projects, laboratories, recreational complexes, religious facilities, resorts, northern construction projects, commercial and industrial buildings, retirement communities, single and multi-family residential complexes, high end hotels and condominiums, restaurants and earth work projects. His estimating and project management experience on these projects extends to the architectural, civil, structural, geotechnical, electrical and mechanical disciplines. 

Mr. Fries has also participated in formal appraisal processes as a key member of the appraisal team to resolve project disputes relating to work scope, scheduling and project costs; as well as, being appointed as Umpire for dispute resolution.

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Tomas Gardulski

Since beginning his career as a construction consultant, Mr. Gardulski has gained a wide range of experience in the fields of Architecture, Roof Consulting, and Construction Cost Estimating.

Working for an architectural design firm, while earning his Architectural Technologies Diploma, Mr. Gardulski gained practical experience in building design, construction technology and methods and spatial planning of buildings. His duties included preparation of construction plans using architectural drafting software and product research for building components used in the building designs he worked on. His architectural project experience included low-rise commercial buildings, a level 3 disease control and research center and a greenhouse research facility.

Upon graduating from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Mr. Gardulski  worked for a Roofing Consulting firm. As an Assistant Roof Consultant, he was involved with standards of construction and installation in the pre-construction design of roofing systems and waterproofing systems, roof failure analysis and redesign, on-site inspections of roofing assemblies and pre-start construction meetings. His roof consulting project experience includes low-rise commercial buildings, high-rise buildings, hospitals, an industrial waste treatment plant, office buildings, multiple schools and an airport terminal. Mr. Gardulski also assisted in forensic analysis on the roofing system for a warehouse property in litigation between the building Owner and the Roofing Contractor.

Mr. Gardulski then held an Estimator / Project Manager position for a large consulting firm in Calgary, Alberta. He completed detailed quantity surveys and construction estimates on property losses for buildings damaged by hurricane, flooding, fires and structural failures.

Mr. Gardulski started HFS Construction Consultants Ltd. in 2015. He continues to provide his services on site damage assessments, scope of work determinations, preparation of conceptual and detailed cost estimates and preparation of actual cash value depreciation calculations. Mr. Gardulski regularly completes analyses of project costs and mark-ups, evaluations of property replacement appraisals, tender submissions and proposed budgets. He also evaluates costs relating to building codes and completes negotiations related to a variety of project costs.

 
Mr. Gardulski’s consulting experience includes many categories of buildings including commercial, industrial, multi-unit residential, capital projects, hotels, universities, hospitals and outdoor sports stadiums. He has also consulted on schools, staff accommodations, industrial plants including treatment facilities and processing plants.
 

CONTACT US

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Get In Touch With Us

Steven Fries

(403) 870-8471

 

Tom Gardulski

(403) 703-0275

HFS Construction Consultants Ltd.

145B – 1610 104th Ave NE, Calgary, AB T3J 0T5