Privacy Policy

How we handle your information and keep things secure

Last updated: January 2024

Look, we get it - privacy matters

At Windor Forge Quinth, we're not in the business of selling your data or doing anything shady with your information. This policy lays out exactly what we collect, why we need it, and how we keep it safe.

We're an architectural firm based in Toronto, and honestly, we only collect what we absolutely need to do our job well - helping you create amazing spaces. No hidden agendas, no data mining schemes, just straight-up transparency about how we handle your info.

What Information We Actually Collect

Stuff You Tell Us Directly

When you reach out or work with us, we'll collect things like:

  • Your name and how to reach you (email, phone number)
  • Project details and what you're hoping to build or renovate
  • Property addresses if you've got a specific site in mind
  • Budget info and timeline expectations
  • Any preferences or requirements you share with us
Technical Bits We Automatically Gather

Like most websites, we collect some basic technical stuff:

  • IP addresses and browser types (pretty standard stuff)
  • Which pages you visit and how long you hang around
  • Device info - whether you're on mobile or desktop
  • General location data (just city-level, nothing creepy)

We don't collect sensitive personal information unless it's specifically needed for a project - and if we do, we'll be upfront about it and get your explicit permission first.

How We Use Your Information

Here's the deal - we're not gonna use your info for anything sketchy. Everything we collect serves a purpose:

Project Work

Obviously, we need your contact info and project details to actually do the work you're hiring us for. Design consultations, site visits, sending you proposals - that's the main event.

Communication

We'll use your email or phone to keep you updated on your project, answer questions, and occasionally share relevant updates about our services.

Website Improvements

The technical data helps us figure out what's working on our site and what needs fixing. Makes for a better experience all around.

Legal Stuff

Sometimes we need to keep records for legal or regulatory reasons - contracts, permits, that kind of thing. It's just part of running a legit business.

We won't use your information for anything beyond what's outlined here without getting your permission first. That's a promise.

Who We Share Data With (Spoiler: Not Many People)

We're pretty protective of your information, but there are a few situations where we might need to share it:

When we're working on your project, we sometimes need to loop in engineers, contractors, or other specialists. We'll only share what's necessary for them to do their part, and they're bound by their own professional confidentiality agreements.

We use some third-party services to help run our business - email platforms, cloud storage, accounting software. These companies only get access to what they need to provide their service, and they can't use your data for their own purposes.

If we're legally required to hand over information - like if there's a court order or regulatory investigation - we'll comply with the law. But we'll always try to notify you first unless we're legally prevented from doing so.

We love showcasing our work, but we'll never share project photos or details publicly without your explicit consent. If you're cool with us featuring your project in our portfolio, we'll get that in writing first.
Bottom line: We don't sell your data to marketers, we don't rent out our mailing list, and we're not in the business of monetizing your personal information. That's not how we roll.

Cookies & Tracking Stuff

Yeah, we use cookies - but not the delicious kind. These are small files that help our website work better and remember your preferences.

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Essential Cookies

These keep the site running smoothly - things like remembering you're logged in or keeping items in your quote request.

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Analytics Cookies

Help us understand which pages are popular and where people are getting stuck. All anonymized, nothing personal.

Preference Cookies

Remember your choices like language preferences or which portfolio filters you selected.

You can disable cookies in your browser settings if you want, but heads up - some parts of the site might not work as smoothly. Most browsers let you control cookies pretty easily these days.

Keeping Your Data Safe

We take security seriously, but let's be real - no system is 100% bulletproof. That said, here's what we're doing to protect your information:

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Encrypted Connections

All data transmitted between your browser and our servers is encrypted with SSL/TLS technology.

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Regular Updates

We keep our systems patched and updated to protect against known vulnerabilities.

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Access Controls

Only authorized team members can access client data, and only when they need it for their work.

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Secure Backups

Your data is backed up regularly to secure, encrypted storage locations.

If there's ever a data breach that affects your information, we'll let you know ASAP and tell you exactly what happened and what we're doing about it. That's not just good practice - it's the law here in Canada under PIPEDA.

Your Rights Over Your Data

It's your information, so you've got rights. Here's what you can do:

Access Your Data
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Want to see what information we've got on file about you? Just ask. We'll send you a copy within a reasonable timeframe.

Correct Mistakes

If something's wrong or outdated, let us know and we'll fix it. Simple as that.

Delete Your Information
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Want us to delete your data? We can do that, unless we're legally required to keep it (like for tax or contract purposes). We'll let you know either way.

Withdraw Consent

Changed your mind about something you agreed to? You can withdraw consent at any time. Just shoot us an email.

Opt Out of Marketing
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Don't want to receive our newsletters or updates? There's an unsubscribe link in every email, or you can tell us directly.

How to exercise these rights: Just email us at info@windorforgequinth.info with your request. We'll respond within 30 days, usually sooner. Make sure to verify your identity so we're not handing your data to some random person.

How Long We Keep Your Data

We don't keep your information forever - that'd be weird and unnecessary. Here's our general approach:

  • Active project data: We keep this for as long as we're working together, plus a reasonable period afterward in case you need to reference anything.
  • Completed project records: Generally kept for 7 years to comply with professional standards and legal requirements. After that, it gets securely deleted.
  • Marketing communications: If you're on our mailing list, we'll keep your contact info until you unsubscribe or we notice you haven't engaged in a few years.
  • Website analytics: Usually anonymized after a few months and aggregated into general statistics.

If you want your data deleted sooner, just ask - though we might need to keep certain records for legal or regulatory reasons.

Kids' Privacy

Our services aren't directed at children under 13, and we don't knowingly collect information from kids. If you're a parent and think we might have inadvertently collected info about your child, let us know right away and we'll delete it.

International Data Transfers

We're based in Toronto, Canada, and most of our data stays right here. However, some of the services we use (like cloud storage or email platforms) might store data on servers in other countries, including the United States.

When that happens, we make sure those services have adequate protections in place. Canada has pretty solid privacy laws under PIPEDA, and we only work with service providers who meet or exceed those standards.

Changes to This Policy

We might update this privacy policy from time to time - technology changes, laws evolve, and sometimes we just need to clarify things better.

If we make any significant changes that affect how we handle your data, we'll let you know by email or with a prominent notice on our website. The "Last Updated" date at the top will always reflect when we last revised this policy.

Questions? We're Here

Look, privacy policies can be confusing. If you've got questions about how we handle your data, or if you want to exercise any of your rights, don't hesitate to reach out. We'd rather explain things clearly than have you wondering what's going on.

Get In Touch About Privacy