The verdict in three sentences
For an engineering and construction firm in Montreal, a 2026 redesign typically costs CAD 20,000 to 55,000 with a local agency, against $2,900 (Starter), $4,900 (Growth) or $8,900 (Premium) on Kolonell's fixed grid. The sensitive parts are the project portfolio, the prequalification documents owners download, the careers section and compliance with Quebec's Law 25 and the Charter of the French language. Once your engineers have signed off on content, launch takes 3 to 4 weeks.
How do you know a redesign is due?
In firms based in Griffintown, Saint-Laurent, Laval or on the South Shore, the signals are familiar:
- project sheets are years old and show neither the discipline (building, infrastructure, mechanical and electrical) nor the firm's exact role;
- public and private project managers email for the prequalification package because there is no dedicated page;
- the careers page points to a generic address and draws few applications from engineers and technicians;
- the English version is incomplete, or the French version lags behind the English one;
- nobody knows which pages still receive Google traffic.
That last point is the costliest one to ignore: it is what turns a redesign into a visibility loss.
What budget should you plan in Montreal in 2026?
The ranges below reflect typical local agency quotes and public agency rate pages, as a 2026 ballpark. Indicative conversion: CAD 1 ≈ USD 0.72.
| Option | Scope | Budget in CAD | Approx. USD equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | Adapted template, 10 pages, one language | CAD 7,000 to 18,000 | $5,000 to $13,000 |
| Local agency, brochure redesign | 20 to 30 pages, portfolio, careers | CAD 20,000 to 38,000 | $14,400 to $27,400 |
| Local agency, bilingual redesign with integrations | Filterable portfolio, ATS, intranet | CAD 38,000 to 55,000+ | $27,400 to $39,600+ |
| Kolonell Starter | Compact site, one language | $2,900 | |
| Kolonell Growth | Services, portfolio, careers, blog | $4,900 | |
| Kolonell Premium | The multilingual tier, languages set in the quote | $8,900 |
Every tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native French or English copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support. On quote: connection to an applicant tracking system, a secure client or partner area, a supplier portal, CRM sync and ongoing SEO work. Details are on the international websites offer.
What timeline can you hold, phase by phase?
| Phase | Deliverables | Duration | Watch point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audit and scoping | URL inventory, sitemap, integration list | 3 to 4 days | 12-month Search Console export |
| Project sheets | Shared template: discipline, role, year, cleared photos | 5 to 7 days | Client permission to cite each project |
| Design and build | Mockups, templates, forms | 7 to 10 days | One grouped round of feedback |
| Prequalification and careers | Documents page, job listings | 2 to 3 days | Current PDF versions |
| QA and switch | 301 redirects, tests, compliance review | 2 to 3 days | Sign-off by a partner |
The bottleneck is almost always project sheet approval: every mention of a client or a structure needs permission. Allow one to two extra weeks if those approvals are not in hand.
Which risks, and which safeguards?
| Risk | Consequence | Safeguard |
|---|---|---|
| Ranking loss | Service and project pages drop out of results | URL inventory, 301 map, 30 days of Search Console monitoring |
| Use of the engineer title | A non-member described as an engineer | Review staff bios before launch |
| Prequalification files | Outdated versions downloaded by an owner | Single page, visible update date |
| Applicant data | CVs collected with no clear policy | Minimum fields, retention period, Law 25 notice |
| Language | English content with no French equivalent | French as the main version, English alongside |
| Downtime | Site offline during the DNS change | Friday evening switch, TTL lowered 48 hours before |
Compliance markers to confirm with your advisers: the engineer title is reserved for members of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec; Law 25 governs personal information (forms, cookies, a designated person in charge); the Charter of the French language requires French to be available; CASL governs promotional email. This is not legal advice.
When is a Montreal agency still the better choice?
If your redesign is part of a wider programme (new brand identity, intranet, supplier portal, several subsidiaries) or you must answer an RFP that requires in-person meetings, an established local agency is often the better fit. Kolonell suits a services, projects and recruiting site with a clear scope and integrations priced separately.
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Questions to ask: who writes the redirect map? Can your team edit project sheets without a developer? Does the domain stay in your name? What does maintenance cost after the included period?
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Structura Rive-Sud, an 18-person firm in Longueuil working in building and mechanical and electrical engineering. The current site has 65 URLs, including 30 project sheets and 6 service pages that bring most of the traffic.
- Local agency quote: CAD 42,000, roughly $30,200.
- Kolonell Premium (the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote, here French and English): $8,900.
- Site photography by a local photographer (third-party cost): CAD 1,500, roughly $1,080.
- Total excluding integrations: about $9,980.
Gap: about $20,220. The ATS connection stays on quote, and Kolonell maintenance after the 3 included months is on quote.
FAQ
How many pages does an engineering firm usually migrate?
Typically 40 to 80 URLs, mostly project sheets. Every one that receives traffic or links needs a 301 redirect.
Does the site have to be in French?
In Quebec, the Charter of the French language requires French to be available. The $8,900 Premium tier covers several languages, set in the quote.
Can we publish client and project names?
Only with their permission. Allow 1 to 2 weeks to collect approvals for 20 to 30 projects.
Is the supplier portal included in the $4,900 Growth tier?
No. Growth covers services, portfolio, careers and blog; any portal or secure area is quoted separately.
How long until traffic recovers?
A temporary dip of 2 to 6 weeks is common. A complete 301 map and Search Console monitoring limit the risk of a lasting loss.
Torn between a redesign and a new build? Request a free quote with a list of your current pages.
Let's scope your project. One call is enough to scope the redesign: project sheets, prequalification, careers, languages, a $2,900 to $8,900 budget and launch in 3 to 4 weeks. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
