Home renovation FAQ.

It depends on the scope. Cosmetic work — cabinets, tile, flooring, paint — generally doesn't need a building permit. Structural changes, additions, basement apartments, new plumbing drains and new window or door openings usually do, and electrical work requires ESA notification and inspection regardless. We confirm exactly what your project needs before work starts.

We do. We prepare and submit the permit application, schedule the required municipal inspections, and coordinate ESA electrical inspection. The inspection sign-offs are part of the project file you receive at the end of the job.

Additions and larger rebuilds sometimes need a minor variance. If yours does, we prepare the drawings and application and represent the project at the Committee of Adjustment hearing. We flag this during the walkthrough — before you spend money on design.

A walkthrough of your home, then a written scope and quote. Once you approve, we confirm permits and schedule, and the work runs with one point of contact through to a final walkthrough. You'll know who is coming and when at every stage.

It depends on scope — a bathroom runs weeks, an addition runs months, and permits add lead time before any work starts. Every quote includes a realistic schedule, and we tell you upfront which parts of the job (permits, inspections, material lead times) can move it.

Usually, yes — most of our clients do. A kitchen renovation means planning around a temporary cooking setup, and an addition involves a period where the house is opened to the new structure. We plan dust control, access and working hours with you before the first day.

Payments follow a written draw schedule tied to completed milestones — you pay as work is finished, not ahead of it. The full schedule is in your contract before work starts, so there are no surprises on either side.

We're not a lender or mortgage broker and we don't quote rates. Most homeowners fund renovations through a HELOC, refinancing, or a purchase-plus-improvements mortgage — our financing page walks through the options and the questions to bring to your lender.

We renovate homes across Toronto, Mississauga, Vaughan, Oakville, Burlington and the wider Greater Toronto Area. Each city has its own permit office, zoning bylaws and housing stock — we scope a century home differently from a newer subdivision build.

Sometimes — it depends on the size and type of project. Tell us where the home is and what you're planning, and we'll give you a straight answer.