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A comprehensive guide for home renovation costs in Toronto

Easy Renovation provides a guide for how much it costs to renovate a house in the Toronto area, including insights on what you can expect to pay, factors that affect costs, and how to maximize your investment
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Recent renovation project completed by Easy Renovations, featuring a stylish and modern black matte bathroom with wooden accents, including a vanity and floor. Photo via Easy Renovations

Toronto home renovations

More and more people are turning to home renovation in Toronto, a bustling city growing in popularity. Whether to increase capacity within the home, enhance the home's aesthetic from the street, or boost the property’s value, understanding the costs involved in home renovation is essential.

Easy Renovation draws on years of expertise as one of Toronto’s leading home renovation experts. To help you get started, read their comprehensive guide to the costs involved in renovating a house in Toronto.

Why renovate your home in Toronto?

Toronto is home to one of Canada’s most dynamic housing markets, with several factors fuelling the rise in home renovations:

Aging housing stock: Many homes in Toronto are aging and need upgrades to meet modern living requirements.

Property value increases: Renovations are an excellent way to increase a property’s market value in one of Canada’s most competitive markets.

Modern amenities: As the speed of technological advances accelerates, homeowners are seeking modern features and new ways of maximizing the use of space.

Why you need to understand home renovation costs

Understanding the costs involved is one of the most critical factors in planning a renovation. These include:

Project planning: Understanding the costs involved helps prioritize the project based on competing needs and your financial capacity.

Effective budgeting: Accurate cost knowledge allows you to create a realistic and manageable budget within your financial means.

Return on investment: Understanding how much the renovations will add to the property’s value is vital for anyone upgrading the property to sell.

Home renovation costs in Toronto: The breakdown

Costs for renovating a property in Toronto can vary significantly due to various factors. These include materials, labour costs, and the project scope.

Average budget for a house renovation

The average budget required for a home renovation spans a wide spectrum:

Minor renovations: These can include redecorating, replacing fixtures and fittings such as lights, plug sockets, and doors, and replacing flooring. Costs can range from $2,000 to $10,000.

Significant renovations: These more extensive projects can include kitchen replacements, new bathrooms, or adding extensions to the property. These can range from $10,000 to $100,000-plus.

Per square foot cost: The average cost of renovations in Toronto ranges from $100 to $200 per square foot.

Factors influencing renovation costs

Among the factors that can affect the cost of a home renovation project are:

Quality of materials: Some materials are cheaper to manufacture and install than others.

Project size: The larger and more complicated the project, the higher the cost. Any structural changes to the property will be costly.

Permits and regulations: You must ensure your plans comply with local building regulations and apply for building permits. These can be a costly addition to the overall renovation price.

Labour costs: More complex projects require more specialist expertise, which is more expensive than general labourers undertaking basic work.

How to understand per-square-foot pricing

One of the most common metrics in housing renovations is the per-square-foot price. These rough estimates of the overall cost are based on the total square footage of the part of the house being renovated:

Minor renovations: The cost per square foot often ranges from $100 to $150 for basic upgrades- such as painting and laying new flooring.

Mid-range renovations: The cost per square foot is between $150 and $200 for more complex updates that include replacing kitchens and bathrooms.

Significant renovations: Depending on the complexity of the project and materials used, complete housing renovations can exceed $200 per square foot.

Detailed cost breakdown

Understanding the specific costs associated with different renovations can help you make well-informed decisions about the costs involved.

Kitchens

Some of the most popular home improvement projects are kitchen upgrades. Factors like size, materials, and appliances can affect the price.

Basic updates: New countertops and cupboards can range between $10,000 and $25,000.

Kitchen overhaul: A complete renovation, including appliances, bespoke cabinets and countertops, can cost between $25,000 and $50,000-plus.

Bathrooms

If you’re renovating your house to sell, a new modern bathroom can add appeal and value to your property.

Minor update: Replacing taps and retiling can cost between $5,000 and $15,000.

Bathroom replacement: Ripping out the existing bathroom and updating the room, including new plumbing, can start at $15,000 and cost upwards of $30,000 for high-end finishes

Basements

Repurposing basement space is an excellent way to add space to your home and increase the property’s market value.

Basic remodel: Making the basement waterproof and finished to a basic standard can cost from $10,000.

Extensive remodel: Repurposing the basement to a high spec to create more living space can cost between $30,000 and $60,000.

Whole house renovations

Whole house renovations can include the complete overhaul of the existing floor plan, including structural changes and electrical and plumbing work.

Moderate renovation: Moderate updates throughout the entire house can range from $100,000 to $200,000.

Extensive renovation: To gut and remodel the house completely will likely exceed $200,000.

Factors affecting renovation costs

Several factors can impact the cost of your home renovation. These include:

Material quality

Your choice of materials plays a crucial role in the overall project cost. Standard quality materials, such as prefabricated pieces or laminates, are cheaper than luxury materials, such as granite, hardwoods, or bespoke items.

Labour costs

A large proportion of your budget will be required for labour costs. General contractors can simplify the build at a cost, while specialist work such as electrical or plumbing requires knowledgeable professionals and comes at a price.

Permits

Building permit fees vary on the size and scope of the project, and you will also need to factor in inspection costs to ensure the project complies with building codes.

How to manage your renovation budget

It can be tempting to get carried away when managing your budget by spending a little more than planned. Here are some tips on how to manage your project budget.

Be realistic

When setting your budget, be realistic. Assess your needs and understand what you want to achieve. Shop around for multiple quotes from contractors and build in contingency of 10-20% into your budget to allow for unexpected costs.

DIY renovation tasks

One of the best ways to save money on a renovation is to take on as much of the work as possible. Shop around for materials to get the best deals, and don’t be afraid to reuse and repurpose existing materials.

Expect the unexpected

Being prepared for unexpected costs is critical. Be aware of electrical or structural problems in older properties and adapt to changing plans as required. You may also need emergency repairs to remove mould or fix a leak.

Maximizing the ROI on your renovations

Understanding which renovations add the most value to your property is a good way of knowing what to prioritize when planning your project.

High ROI renovations

The renovations that add the most value to your home are kitchen and bathroom updates, adding living space, and improving the property's energy efficiency.

Low ROI renovations

Adding highly personalized updates is fine if you’re renovating to remain in the house, but it can add little value if you want to sell. Overlooking essential repairs can jeopardize your ROI.

From planning to completion

How exactly do you plan a home renovation project? This step-by-step guide can help you negotiate each step.

1.    Planning and research

Thoroughly plan and research your project. Define what you want to achieve, research trends and ideas that meet these goals, and get professional quotes to help you prepare.

2.    Design

Once you’ve set your goals, create a detailed plan of all the changes you want to make. Work with an architect or designer to help with the vision and finalize your budget based on the design plan.

3.    Get permits and approval

Before you begin the work, get the required permits and approvals. Understand local building regulations, submit the correct permit applications, and inform your neighbours about your planned works.

4.    Choosing the contractor

The success of your project rests on selecting the right contractor. Get multiple bids from different people to compare costs and services, check references and online reviews, and ensure they have the correct licences and insurance.

5.    Managing the project

Effective project management is equally essential to successful project completion. Communicate regularly with the contractor to stay updated on progress and check the works to ensure they meet your requirements and specifications. Also, show adaptability if changes to the project scope are required.

The final word

Whether you want to renovate your home in Toronto to enhance your living space or add value before you sell, careful planning and budgeting are essential. Balance your desires with your needs, and always keep your financial means in mind when making decisions.