Frequently Asked Questions

Consultations and estimates are free with no obligation. Book through our contact page or call us, and we will arrange a site visit to measure the space and talk through what you want to achieve.

Typically 2 to 3 business days after the site visit. You receive an itemised written estimate broken down line by line, not a single lump-sum figure, so you can see exactly what drives the number.

We look at the space, discuss your goals and budget honestly, and flag anything that could affect scope or timeline — structural constraints, likely approvals, or conditions common in homes of that age. It is a conversation, not a sales pitch.

The Greater Toronto Area and surrounding regions, from our Woodbridge head office plus locations in North York, Richmond Hill, Oakville and Barrie. See our service areas for the cities we cover most consistently. Pricing does not change by city.

Yes. Condo work has its own requirements — board approval, permitted working hours, elevator booking and material restrictions — which we handle alongside the build. See condo renovations.

The complete project scope: materials, construction and labour, plus design services, building approvals where needed, procurement, shipping and ongoing project support. Because we buy materials in volume at contractor pricing, that saving is reflected in your total.

Bathroom renovations start at $15,999. The final figure depends on size, whether plumbing moves, and finish selections. Our bathroom cost guide breaks down what sits behind the number.

Kitchens vary more than any other room because cabinetry dominates the budget. Our kitchen cost guide sets out realistic GTA ranges and what moves a project between them.

Yes. We will match any legitimate quote from a licensed construction company for comparable scope and specification. We will also walk through both quotes with you line by line, which often matters more than the match itself. See our guarantees.

Usually because they are not quoting the same work. Differences in allowances for materials, whether permits and design are included, and how much contingency is built in can produce very different totals for what looks like the same project. Compare line items, not just the final number.

Changes are priced and scheduled before they are approved, so you see both the cost and the schedule impact in advance. Nothing proceeds on a verbal assumption that it will be settled later.

We do not arrange lending or give financial advice, but we provide an itemised estimate suitable for a lender or rebate application. Our guide to financing a renovation in Ontario covers HELOCs, refinancing and the credits worth checking.

Typically 3 to 6 days on site for a standard bathroom, and roughly 1 to 2 months from first meeting to finished room once design, selections and any permits are counted. Moving plumbing or adding custom glass extends it.

Usually 4 to 8 weeks on site, with 2 to 4 months as a realistic total. Custom cabinetry is almost always the longest lead item, which is why that decision is made early.

Generally 3 to 6 months on site, and 5 to 9 months in total including design and approvals. Our renovation timelines guide breaks every project type into design, approvals and build.

Longer than interior work, because the approvals are heavier — commonly 7 to 12 months in total. An addition changes the building footprint, which brings zoning into play and often requires a minor variance heard on a fixed committee calendar.

Four things account for most of it: selections made late, approvals nobody checked for at design stage, material lead times, and what turns up behind the walls in an older home. Three of those four are predictable, which is why we plan for them.

For a single-room project, usually yes. For whole-home renovations and larger additions most clients move out for at least part of the build, both for comfort and because an empty house is faster to work in. We are straightforward about which applies at quoting stage.

It depends on the work. Structural changes, additions, finishing a basement into habitable space, and moving or adding plumbing normally need one. Painting, flooring and like-for-like fixture swaps normally do not. Our permits guide sets out both lists.

We do — drawings, submission, fees, examiner revisions and inspections, including any variance, conservation authority or heritage application your property needs. You sign as owner and we manage the rest.

If a design exceeds what the local zoning by-law allows for height, setbacks or lot coverage, it needs a minor variance approved by the municipality’s Committee of Adjustment. Those meet on fixed schedules, so it is the most common reason an addition takes longer in one city than another. We check for it during design.

A secondary suite needs both a building permit and municipal registration, with requirements covering ceiling height, egress windows, fire separation and sometimes parking. Those rules differ noticeably between GTA municipalities, so a layout that works in one city may need rethinking in the next.

If it sits near a ravine, valley, watercourse, wetland or floodplain, usually yes — in addition to the building permit. Much of the GTA falls under Toronto and Region Conservation. That review runs on its own timeline, which we build into your schedule.

The municipality can require the work to be opened up for inspection, brought into compliance, or in some cases removed. It also complicates insurance and frequently surfaces during a sale. Retroactive permits are sometimes possible but cost more than doing it properly first time.

Our contractors provide samples of all materials and colour schemes so you can make informed choices. If you have preferences outside our standard offerings, bring them in and we will price them.

Yes, in house and on request. When you want professional interior design input we arrange a meeting to work through your vision and budget together before anything is finalised.

In most cases yes, and plenty of clients do for feature items such as vanities, lighting or tile. We will confirm suitability and fit before installation, and note anything that affects warranty or timeline.

During design, before the start date is confirmed. Late selections are the single most common cause of delay — a decision made three weeks late costs three weeks plus that item’s lead time, plus the knock-on to every trade behind it.

Custom cabinetry, stone countertops, specialty tile and made-to-order windows are measured in weeks or months rather than days. We sequence ordering against the build so materials arrive when the trade needs them.

Yes, and so is every trade working on your home. That protects you if something goes wrong on site, and it is the difference between an insurance claim being paid and being argued about.

A dedicated project manager who visits regularly through the build, not only at milestones. You have one point of contact accountable for the whole job rather than chasing individual trades.

With a written change order priced and scheduled before approval, so you always see the cost and timeline impact before deciding. This is where most homeowner-contractor disputes begin, so we keep it explicit.

Yes. Sites are kept tidy and protected throughout, with a full clean at completion. Dust protection is put in place before demolition, not after.

A walkthrough where you list anything that needs correcting, then we complete that list. We also close the permit, which matters later — an open permit can hold up a future sale.

Yes to both. Our project gallery shows completed work, and where clients have agreed we will put you in touch with homeowners who have been through a similar scope.

Kitchens and bathrooms consistently recover the largest share of their cost at resale. For total financial return a legal secondary suite usually outperforms everything, because it produces ongoing rental income rather than a one-time lift. See which renovations add the most value.

It depends on the gap between what your home can become and what you need. Once land transfer tax, commission, legal and moving costs are counted, the cost of trading up in the GTA is high enough that renovating often competes well, particularly if you want to stay in the same neighbourhood.

Yes, typically recovering somewhere in the 50 to 75 per cent range of its cost, and it adds usable square footage more cheaply than building above grade. Finished as a legal suite the calculation changes again, because rental income enters the picture.