Home Renovations & Additions in the GTA

What does Buildoreno renovate?

Buildoreno handles full-scope residential renovations across the GTA: kitchens, bathrooms, basements, rear and side additions, second-storey additions, dormer additions, open-concept conversions, and whole-home renovations. We design and build in-house — no subcontracted designers or separate kitchen and bathroom crews handing off mid-project. Most projects involve multiple trades (framing, electrical, plumbing, drywall, tile, cabinetry, finishing) coordinated under a single project manager.

We're not the right contractor for everything. We don't do commercial buildouts, single-room cosmetic refreshes under $15,000, handyman repairs, or kitchen-cabinet-only swaps with no other scope. We are the right contractor for medium-to-large residential projects ($25,000+) where coordination across trades, structural changes, and code-compliant build-outs matters more than pure low-bid pricing.

Typical Buildoreno projects in 2026 are: full kitchen renovations including any structural changes ($35,000–$120,000+), gut-renovation bathrooms ($25,000–$60,000), rear or side additions ($150,000–$400,000+), second-storey additions ($200,000–$500,000+), basement finishing including walkout integration when applicable ($40,000–$120,000+), and whole-home renovations of older Toronto, Mississauga, and inner-GTA properties.

• Kitchen renovations — design, structural, electrical, plumbing, cabinetry, finishing
• Bathroom renovations — gut renos, ensuite additions, accessibility conversions
• Home additions — rear, side, second-storey, dormer; structurally engineered
• Open-concept conversions — load-bearing wall removal + finishing
• Basement finishing — sometimes paired with underpinning or walkouts
• Whole-home renovations — full design-build for older GTA homes
• Custom new homes — design-build single-family on existing lots

How much does a renovation cost in Toronto and the GTA?

Mid-range renovation costs in the GTA in 2026 typically run: kitchen $35,000–$120,000+, bathroom $25,000–$60,000, basement finishing $40,000–$120,000+, rear or side addition $150,000–$400,000+, second-storey addition $200,000–$500,000+, custom whole-home renovation $250,000–$800,000+. Costs vary widely with material selection (mid-range vs. premium), scope (cosmetic vs. structural), and access to the work area (basement vs. main floor vs. second floor).

Three things drive most of the price variance: structural scope (does the project require load-bearing wall removal, an addition, or just cosmetic work?), material tier (mid-range hardware and finishes vs. premium imports and custom fabrication), and site complexity (occupied home with kids vs. empty house being prepped for sale). A kitchen that's purely a swap of cabinets and counters runs $35,000–$50,000; the same kitchen with a wall removed, new electrical service, and premium quartz and appliances easily passes $100,000.

Buildoreno provides itemized written estimates that break out every category — design and permits, demolition and disposal, structural framing, electrical and plumbing, mechanical, cabinetry and millwork, finishing trades, fixtures and appliances. You see where every dollar goes and can value-engineer specific line items without re-bidding the whole project.

How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Toronto?

Kitchen renovations in Toronto and the GTA in 2026 typically cost $35,000–$120,000+, with the most common range landing $55,000–$85,000 for a full mid-range kitchen. A small kitchen refresh (cabinets, counters, backsplash, fixtures) starts around $25,000–$40,000. A premium kitchen with structural changes, custom cabinetry, premium appliance package (Sub-Zero, Wolf), and high-end stone often exceeds $150,000. Buildoreno provides itemized estimates so you know exactly where the budget goes.

Toronto and Mississauga kitchens tend to run higher than suburban GTA equivalents because older urban homes more often require structural changes — a 1950s Etobicoke bungalow with a closed-off galley kitchen typically needs a load-bearing wall removed to open to the dining room, which adds engineering, permits, structural work, and refinishing of the now-open space. Newer suburban builds in Vaughan, Markham, Oakville often have open-concept main floors already, so the kitchen renovation can be cosmetic + cabinetry without structural work.

Custom cabinetry alone is typically the single largest line item in any kitchen renovation — $15,000 for stock cabinets, $25,000–$45,000 for semi-custom, $50,000+ for full custom. Stone counters add $5,000–$15,000 depending on size and material. Appliances scale dramatically: $7,000 for a competent mid-range package vs. $35,000+ for a premium one.

How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Toronto?

Bathroom renovations in Toronto and the GTA in 2026 typically cost $25,000–$60,000 for a full gut-and-finish on a standard 5'×8' to 6'×10' bathroom. A primary ensuite renovation with custom shower, double vanity, and premium fixtures runs $45,000–$85,000+. Powder room refreshes (vanity, toilet, paint, flooring) start around $8,000–$15,000. Costs depend on size, tile selection (mid-range vs. premium), shower complexity (standard alcove vs. curbless walk-in), and any plumbing relocations.

Bathrooms have the highest per-square-foot renovation cost in the home because the density of fixtures, tile, plumbing, electrical, and waterproofing details is so high — a 40 sq ft bathroom can easily cost more than a 200 sq ft bedroom renovation. The most cost-driving decisions are tile selection (porcelain sheet tile vs. small mosaic vs. natural stone vs. large-format slab), shower complexity, vanity type, and whether the layout stays the same or fixtures move (moving the toilet by 3 feet can add $3,000–$8,000 in plumbing work).

How much does a home addition cost in Toronto?

Home additions in Toronto and the GTA in 2026 typically cost: rear or side addition $150,000–$400,000+, second-storey addition $200,000–$500,000+, dormer addition $40,000–$100,000+. Per-square-foot in 2026, fully-finished additions usually run $400–$700+. The variables are foundation type (slab vs. crawl vs. full basement), structural complexity (matching the existing roof, integrating mechanical systems), and finish level. Buildoreno provides preliminary feasibility + ROM pricing in a free consultation before any design work begins.

Additions are one of the most strongly-permitted project types in the GTA — every addition requires stamped structural drawings, mechanical drawings, full building permit with multiple inspection stages, and often committee-of-adjustment approvals for setback variances or lot-coverage exceptions. Buildoreno handles the entire permit and engineering package as part of the contract, including any committee submissions when needed.

Most addition projects are 6–12 months from initial design through final inspection. Design and permits typically run 3–5 months; construction 4–7 months. The project breaks into clearly-staged milestones with corresponding payments — you only pay for completed work.

What's involved in a second-storey addition?

A second-storey addition adds a full upper floor to a one-storey home — typically converting a 1,200 sq ft bungalow into a 2,400 sq ft two-storey home. The project involves structural engineering to verify the existing foundation can carry the upper-floor load (often requires foundation reinforcement), full second-floor framing, new roof system, new HVAC zoning, electrical and plumbing extensions, exterior cladding match to the existing home, and interior finishing of the new floor. Typical GTA cost: $200,000–$500,000+ depending on size and finish level.

Second-storey additions are typically the highest-ROI single project in older GTA neighbourhoods where land is scarce and detached two-storey homes command significant premiums over bungalows. They're also the most disruptive — the existing home is open to the elements during the framing phase (typically 4–8 weeks) and most clients move out temporarily during that period. Buildoreno coordinates this carefully: tarping systems for partial weather protection, exterior staging to minimize interior disruption, and a clear day-by-day schedule so you know exactly when the home is occupiable again.

Do I need a permit for a renovation in Toronto?

Cosmetic renovations (painting, flooring, fixture swaps, cabinet replacement) typically don't require a permit in GTA municipalities. Structural renovations (load-bearing wall removal, additions, second-storey additions, plumbing relocations, electrical service upgrades, basement underpinning) ALWAYS require permits and inspections. Buildoreno determines the permit requirement during the estimate phase based on the specific scope and handles the full permit and engineering package as part of every contract.

Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham, Oakville, and the other GTA municipalities apply permit requirements slightly differently, but the structural-vs-cosmetic line is consistent. Working without required permits creates resale problems, insurance complications, and safety risk. We don't quote unpermitted work — if a permit is required for the scope, it's in the estimate.

Typical permit fees in the GTA in 2026 run $400–$3,000+ depending on scope and city. We itemize the actual fee in your written estimate.

Is Buildoreno a design-build firm or do you bid on existing drawings?

Both. Buildoreno is primarily a design-build firm — we do the design and construction together under one contract, which gives the client a single point of accountability and typically lowers total project cost by 10–20% vs. hiring a separate architect and contractor. We also bid on existing drawings when clients already have a designer they want to work with or have completed drawings from a previous engagement. The contract type matters mainly for design-phase ownership; once construction starts, the workflow is similar either way.

Design-build works best for kitchen, bathroom, and most addition projects where the design and construction are tightly coupled and the cost-engineering decisions happen iteratively as the design firms up. Design-bid-build (designer + separate contractor) is more common for very large custom homes or projects with architectural complexity that benefits from a dedicated architect's involvement.