ReFramed Construction brings women into building

ReFramed Construction is providing Revelstoke with renovations that can make any house a home, while giving women a space in the local construction community. 

Founded by Elisa Gilbert after pivoting away from her personal tiny home project, she said a business wasn’t the first idea, but was an easy fit.

“I started a business because I saw the opportunity in this town,” she told Revelstoke Mountaineer.

Opportunity for growth also came quickly. In a year, Gilbert has grown the team to over five staff and frequently fields contacts from other women wanting to join the team.

“For a town that is craving for employees, it’s quite impressive,” she said. 

While she may not have initially intended for ReFramed to be a place where women could grow their contractor skills, Gilbert’s place in a male-dominated industry was on her mind right from the start.

“Our company name, I’m reframing who can work in these spaces, who is leading a project,” Gilbert said. “I hate to say it, but if a man and I are on the same worksite, wearing all the same gear and have the same level of expertise, people are going to expect him to be in charge.”

A childhood of being encouraged to help her father, who worked through countless projects, set a foundation for Gilbert giving her the confidence to know she belongs in those spaces. Her beloved tiny home became a place to hone skills and create a portfolio she could show to those questioning her skills.

“That was my first project, that’s where I found out that I really enjoyed building,” Gilbert said. 

Starting off with just a drill and a skillsaw, Gilbert used online tutorials and phone calls with her dad to learn the details of some projects she wasn’t sure of. While the tiny home project didn’t work out due to external factors such as zoning requirements, she’s still certain the project laid the groundwork for ReFramed.

Now, Gilbert is leading a team that’s able to make various houses in Revelstoke feel more like home for their owners, even if sometimes folks defer to her input.

“I’ll be talking with the customer in those early meetings, asking them what they want out of the project, and so many times someone will go, ‘what do you think will look good?’ But it’s not my home! I can give advice, put my own touch on the project. But this is your home. I want to make sure you love your home.”

ReFramed’s Instragam shows off bathroom tiling projects, basement upgrades, kitchen backsplash refurbishment and more. The carpentry that was a corner piece in her tiny home dream has been a staple in ReFrame’s projects and Gilbert’s own curiosity.

“You can do so many things with wood. You can transform it in so many ways. To be able to play with it is fantastic.”

Gilbert is considering her builders license in the near future, but she’s willing to let ReFrame grow organically and meet the challenges with growth. Largely using word of mouth and community inquiries into what projects ReFramed can manage, Gilbert is growing a portfolio of stylistic projects that showcase a growing repertoire of what the ReFramed team can bring to each and every project. She hasn’t had to say no to many projects, and Gilbert is excited to see what comes next for ReFramed.

“It’s just going to keep evolving on its own. This has all come somewhat very naturally so far.”