The short deck gives you the idea. The guide explains what happens before, during and after a TriCoast project—and what we expect from each other.
What Would Growth Look Like If You Could Focus on the Work?
You built your renovation business because you know how to build. But for a working owner, growth often happens after work: returning calls, visiting homes, measuring, drawing, quoting, following up and ordering materials.
If you wanted to add two more renovation projects next month, what would it take to get them—and when would you do all of it?
TriCoast's model is designed around more time producing and less time pursuing: adding construction opportunity without requiring the same increase in sales and administrative capacity.
Could you grow the profitable side of your renovation business without giving up more evenings and weekends to support that growth?
Who Is TriCoast Renovations?
The TriCoast story begins with our parent company, CeraStone, and a Home Depot relationship that began nearly 30 years ago with professional tile installation in the Greater Toronto Area. In the early 2000s, that relationship expanded into full renovations: bathrooms, basements, kitchens and Whole Home Remodels.
In 2022, the model began expanding nationally. Today TriCoast operates in established Canadian markets and continues developing new ones. TriCoast is Home Depot's National Renovation Partner.
Local renovation expertise. National infrastructure. One proven system.
We're selective because the Home Depot name brings expectations: professionalism, communication, respect for the home, quality workmanship and accountability.
Where Does the Work Come From?
A homeowner may begin at a Home Depot store. TriCoast receives the renovation lead and qualifies whether it belongs in the remodel program. A local Sales Representative then takes the opportunity through an in-home consultation.
The Sales Representative measures the space, documents the current layout, discusses fixture locations, walls, doors, lighting, ventilation and finishes, and creates proposed-layout sketches when required. They build the line-item scope and customer quote and help guide selections or allowances.
Only after the renovation is sold, contracted and the customer's initial payment is processed does it enter the construction pipeline.
How many hours of your time does it actually take to acquire one sold renovation—and what is one hour of your time worth?
From Sold Project to Ready-to-Build
Operations moves the sold project toward a realistic start. The Project Coordinator works on scheduling; Purchasing reviews selections, special orders and lead times; the Renovation Partner receives the scope and associated labour compensation and confirms availability.
TriCoast purchases the major project materials. That reduces the working capital a partner needs to carry just to increase project volume. Rough-material requirements are reviewed and the goal is to have the project prepared before construction starts.
Day One shouldn't begin with a shopping list. It should begin with a renovation.
For each project, the Renovation Partner also receives Project Management compensation in addition to applicable labour compensation.
When the Project Becomes Yours
Day One is when the Renovation Partner becomes the most visible person in the process. Introduce yourself, review the scope and drawings, inspect major finish materials, confirm practical site expectations and discuss the anticipated schedule.
Under-promise. Over-deliver. Prepare for the worst. Show them your best. Communication is part of the work. Protect the home. Own the schedule. Manage your crew and trades. If a request is outside the approved scope, get it approved before you do it.
You own the project—but you are not alone. Your Project Coordinator, Senior Project Manager, Purchasing team and, when needed, National Escalations Manager support the project.
Escalations are based on facts: scope, workmanship and what the customer purchased. Legitimate deficiencies are corrected; properly completed work is defended. We stand behind our customers, and we stand behind our Renovation Partners.
How Does the Money Work?
The project scope consists of individual line items. Each applicable labour line item has an established labour value. Before construction begins, you can review what you're being asked to do, what applicable line items pay and the total labour compensation.
Project Management compensation is in addition to labour compensation. Managing an approved external trade pays 25% of the approved external-trade amount before taxes.
TriCoast purchases major project materials. Approved additions are documented before the work is performed. At completion, the homeowner signs the completion form and you submit your company invoice with the required documentation.
TriCoast pays Renovation Partners on an every-other-Friday payment cycle, with the normal invoice cutoff on Tuesday of a payment week.
Don't compare only your homeowner selling price to a TriCoast labour number. Ask: what does it cost you to create the difference?
What Could This Look Like for Your Business?
We want you to continue growing the independent renovation company you've worked hard to build. Keep your customers, referrals, relationships and reputation. TriCoast becomes another lane feeding work into the same construction company.
Traditional growth requires generating opportunities, sales visits, measurements, drawings, estimating, follow-up, procurement, material financing and collections. With TriCoast, much of that non-producing work moves to the larger system around you.
If the work were already there, what would be easier for you to add—the next customer or the next crew member?
Maybe the result is another employee. Another crew. More predictable work. Better use of your management time. Or simply fewer nights at the laptop.
What's currently stopping you from getting where you want to go?
Becoming a TriCoast Renovation Partner
We're looking for viable partnerships, not a franchise sale. There is no fee, franchise buy-in or territory purchase. We want to understand your crews, volume, service area, trade relationships, portfolio and how you actually run a jobsite.
Partners need appropriate business registration, tax registration, liability coverage, provincial workers' compensation, applicable licences/certifications and safety documentation. Anyone working on or attending projects as part of the construction team must meet applicable Home Depot badging/background requirements.
We'll review market labour rates and real project examples together, agree on territory and availability, complete the Renovation Partner Contract, onboard you in Buildertrend and introduce your Project Coordinator. Where possible, the first project is a manageable bathroom or similar renovation with extra review/support.
TriCoast provides a one-year warranty. Clear installation issues are expected to be corrected by the responsible partner at no additional cost.
Protecting the Partnership
Your independently generated customers remain yours. Opportunities created through a TriCoast/Home Depot project remain in the TriCoast/Home Depot program. Do not independently quote or contract a neighbour, friend or referral introduced because of a TriCoast project; route the opportunity back through the program.
We protect your business. You protect ours.
Circumventing that process is a serious breach and may immediately end the partnership.