Privacy Policy

Introduction

Look, we get it - privacy policies can be a real slog to read through. But here at Frostarion Quinthor Architecture, we're committed to being upfront about how we handle your personal info. We've tried to keep things as straightforward as possible.

This policy covers our website, client consultations, project collaborations, and any other interactions you might have with us. Whether you're just browsing our portfolio or you're knee-deep in a building project with us, this applies to you.

By using our services or website, you're agreeing to what's outlined here. If something doesn't sit right with you, let's chat about it before moving forward.

Information We Collect

We're not in the business of collecting data for the sake of it. Here's what we actually gather and why:

Personal Details You Give Us

When you reach out for a consultation or sign up for our newsletter, we'll ask for basics like your name, email, phone number, and address. For project clients, we'll need more detailed info - property details, budget ranges, timeline expectations, that sort of thing. It helps us do our job properly.

Technical Stuff

Like most websites, ours automatically picks up certain technical data - your IP address, browser type, device info, and how you navigate through our pages. We use this to keep the site running smoothly and figure out what's working and what isn't.

Project-Related Information

Throughout a project, we'll collect architectural plans, site photos, design preferences, meeting notes, and all the documentation needed to bring your vision to life. This stuff stays confidential and is handled with care.

How We Use Your Data

We're not selling your email to spam lists or anything shady like that. Here's what we actually do with your information:

• Project Delivery: Obviously, we need your info to design and deliver architectural services. Can't build you a sustainable home without knowing where it's going or what you want.
• Communication: We'll use your contact details to update you on projects, answer questions, send invoices, and handle all the usual business stuff.
• Marketing: If you've opted in, we might send occasional updates about our latest projects or sustainability insights. You can unsubscribe anytime - no hard feelings.
• Website Improvement: Analytics help us understand which pages people actually look at and where things might be confusing.
• Legal Compliance: Sometimes we've gotta keep records for regulatory or legal reasons, especially with building permits and contracts.

Information Sharing

Your project details aren't going on social media without permission. Here's who might see your information:

Project Partners

For larger projects, we work with structural engineers, contractors, landscape architects, and other specialists. We'll share relevant info with them, but only what's needed to get the job done. They're bound by their own confidentiality obligations too.

Service Providers

We use third-party services for things like cloud storage, email hosting, and payment processing. These companies have access to certain data but are contractually required to keep it secure.

Legal Requirements

If we're legally required to disclose information - like for building permits, court orders, or regulatory compliance - we'll do that. It's rare, but it happens.

Portfolio & Marketing

We love showcasing our work, but we'll always ask permission before featuring your project in our portfolio or marketing materials. Your home is your private space, and we respect that.

Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Yeah, we use cookies - not the chocolate chip kind, unfortunately. These small files help our website remember you and work better.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: These keep the site functioning. Without them, things break.
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand visitor behavior so we can improve the experience.
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and choices.

You can disable cookies through your browser settings, though some parts of the site might not work as smoothly. Most browsers also offer "Do Not Track" options, which we respect.

Data Security

We take security seriously. All client data is stored on encrypted servers, and we use secure connections for data transfer. Our team is trained on data protection, and access to sensitive information is limited to those who actually need it.

That said, no system is 100% bulletproof. While we do everything reasonable to protect your data, we can't guarantee absolute security. If we ever experience a data breach that affects you, we'll let you know promptly and take steps to fix it.

Physical documents are kept in locked filing cabinets at our Toronto office, and we shred documents when they're no longer needed.

Your Rights

Under Canadian privacy laws (PIPEDA and provincial regulations), you've got several rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: You can ask to see what personal data we have about you. We'll provide it within 30 days.
• Correction: If something's wrong or outdated, let us know and we'll fix it.
• Deletion: You can request we delete your data, though we might need to keep some stuff for legal or contractual reasons.
• Objection: You can object to certain uses of your data, particularly for marketing purposes.
• Portability: For certain types of data, you can request a copy in a commonly used format.
• Withdraw Consent: If we're processing your data based on consent, you can withdraw that consent anytime.

To exercise any of these rights, shoot us an email at info@frostarionquinthor.info or call us at (416) 555-0187. We'll get back to you within a reasonable timeframe.

Data Retention

We don't keep your information forever. Here's our general approach:

Active Projects: During a project, we keep everything we need to deliver quality work. That's a given.

Completed Projects: After completion, we retain project files for seven years. This covers warranty periods, potential disputes, and legal requirements. Architectural drawings and key documents might be kept longer for historical reference.

Marketing Data: If you're on our mailing list, we keep your contact info until you unsubscribe or we notice you haven't engaged in over two years.

Website Data: Analytics data is typically aggregated and anonymized after a few months. We don't need to know that you specifically looked at our portfolio page 18 months ago.

Changes to This Policy

Things change - laws get updated, we might start using new tools, or we might realize we need to clarify something. When we update this policy, we'll change the "Last updated" date at the top.

For minor tweaks, we'll just update the page. For significant changes that affect how we handle your data, we'll send an email to active clients and post a notice on our website.

It's worth checking back occasionally if you're curious about updates. We're not gonna sneak anything past you - transparency matters to us.