Nobody taught us this. We built it — one project at a time, for nearly 30 years. Here's the honest version of how it happened.
Lateral Support started the way most real businesses do — out of necessity. Jeff Magdy needed to support a growing family, had always been hands-on, and said yes when someone at church asked him to build a fence. That was almost 30 years ago.
The first decade was fencing and decking. Then custom work. Then bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. Jeff taught himself AutoCAD so clients could see a layout before a dollar was spent. That practice — design first, price second — still defines how we work today.
Getting into commercial wasn't a plan. It was a door that opened. An architect took a chance on Jeff, and the industry quickly realized there was a gap: a contractor who could do food and medical and corporate office work, who showed up, who knew the codes, and who wouldn't vanish when things got complicated.
We've built restaurants, doctors' offices, dental clinics, optometry practices, and corporate fit-outs for global manufacturers. We've navigated contaminated soil mid-project, renegotiated contracts to save clients from collapse, and gone to bat with landlords on behalf of people who needed someone in their corner.
We're a small team. That's intentional. We stay small enough that every project gets Jeff, and every client gets a direct line to the person who'll answer for the work.
We've turned clients away who wanted us to cut corners on price. We've walked away from jobs that would've required compromising the work. That's not an exaggeration — it's how we sleep at night.
We ask about your budget before we quote. Not to take all of it — to tell you honestly whether the project is viable. If you're at $100k and you need $400k, you'll know in the first meeting.
There's no other contractor to blame. We do the drawings, pull the permits, manage the trades, handle inspections. If something goes wrong, you call us — not a chain of subcontractors pointing at each other.
Our subtrades have been with us for nearly 10 years. We pay them on time, go to bat for them, and don't quibble. That loyalty is what drives us forward, what binds us together, and why the work is consistent.
A first-time restaurant owner and a corporate procurement director need completely different conversations. We meet people where they are, not where it's convenient for us.
It started as a way to provide for a family. That culture never left. We treat clients, trades, and each other the way we'd want to be treated — because that's not just a value, it's the business model.
"We had a fantastic experience working with Lateral Support on our Ace Shawarma & Burgers Cambridge location. The project was completed on schedule with excellent workmanship, and they navigated the city's permitting process professionally, keeping the build running smoothly. We're extremely happy with the finished restaurant and would confidently recommend them to anyone looking for a reliable, high-quality commercial contractor."
"I got quotes $50,000 lower than Jeff's. He sat down and showed me the other quotes were missing $20,000 in equipment. His price was actually cheaper once everything was included. That kind of honesty is rare."
"Jeff came back to visit months after we opened — on his own, just to see the finished space. Opened the door on his day off and said no problem. That says everything you need to know about how they run the business."
We'd rather answer these upfront than have you guessing. If something isn't covered here, just reach out.
It means one team that handles everything- Project Management, Design, Layout, Architectural and Engineering, Permit Drawings and Submissions, City Inspections and all trade coordination including: HVAC, Plumbing, Millwork and Electrical.
Simply put, our estimates include everything. When comparing apples to apples for the same project, no one can provide the same quality and service for your build that we offer at our price. If it’s cheaper, there is always a reason.
If it’s a new site than before – ideally, if you’ve already signed then we get things sped up. We meet a lot of clients before they sign a lease to give them a realistic estimate that factors in a ROI into their lease negotiations. We work directly with Brokers and have found that the earlier we get involved, the fewer surprises there are once you are committed to the space.
We structure payments in stages to build a relationship and don’t use the standard 50/50 split. We use a 10% deposit when signing the contract, then 10% when the permit is in hand allowing our clients time to gather their financing and resources before construction begins. After that it payments at regular intervals, bills get paid as the work progressess alleviating the stress of your project.
It depends heavily on project scope and permit timelines, which vary by municipality. A straightforward restaurant build might be 2–4 months from permit to opening. Medical and dental spaces often take longer due to specialized requirements. Permit timelines alone can range from a few weeks to several months — which is why we manage that process directly and don't let it sit. We'll give you a realistic timeline in our first meeting.
No. We've done projects from small tenant improvements under $50,000 to multi-plant corporate rollouts in the millions. We evaluate fit based on project type and whether we can genuinely serve the client well — not by dollar size alone. If you're not sure whether your project is in our range, just tell us what you're building.
We carry full WSIB, certifications and insurance for all trades. We submit permits under our own credentials and have been pulling permits and passing inspections for nearly 30 years in Ontario.
We deal with it. That's the job. We've navigated soil contamination that delayed permits by months, city orders to add $44,000 in fire-rated construction, and clients running out of budget mid-project. In every case, we sat down, worked the problem, renegotiated where we could, and kept the project moving. We don't disappear when things get complicated. We don’t disappear when things get complicated, that’s where we excel past others, that’s where our Project management really shines, that’s where our experience drives the project to completion, that's where you get to start making money.
Tell us about your project. We'll give you a straight answer.
Specializing in Commercial Construction Applications · Complete Design, Build, Project Management Team • Ontario
lateralsupportinc@gmail.com