Renovation work built for Toronto's mix of century homes and high-density infill
From century-old semis in the east end to modern infill builds, Reno Scale handles kitchens, basements, bathrooms and additions across the City of Toronto.
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Renovation across the City of Toronto
Toronto's housing stock runs the gamut — Victorian semis, post-war bungalows, and newer condos-turned-freehold in the outer boroughs. Each comes with its own renovation challenges, and we've worked through most of them.
Century homes with original brick
Many Toronto homes still have original masonry foundations and knob-and-tube remnants. We work carefully around both when opening up walls or upgrading electrical.
Tight urban lot access
Laneway access, narrow side yards and street parking restrictions all shape how we plan material delivery and dumpster placement on a Toronto job.
Basement apartment conversions
Toronto's push for basement rental units means egress windows, ceiling height and fire separation all need to meet current code, which we plan for from the start.
Older sewer and water lines
Aging clay or cast-iron service lines are common in older Toronto neighbourhoods. Any renovation touching plumbing gets a check of these lines first.
Toronto's older housing stock hides more surprises than newer suburbs
A century home in Toronto has usually been renovated in pieces over decades — a bit of updated wiring here, an old plumbing run left in place there. When we open up walls, we regularly find layers of past work that were never brought up to current code.
We plan for the layers before we start demo
On Toronto projects, we build in extra time and a contingency line for what's likely hiding behind original plaster and lath. If we find old wiring or plumbing that needs addressing, you hear about it with photos and a clear explanation before we touch it — not as a surprise on the invoice.
Why Toronto homeowners contact us
Working in the city means planning for constraints the suburbs don't have.
Licensed & Insured
Full coverage across every trade scope we perform in the city.
Realistic City Timelines
We account for Toronto's permit review times, which often run longer than surrounding municipalities.
Straight Talk on Old Systems
If your knob-and-tube or clay drain line needs replacing mid-project, we'll say so plainly.
Built for Century Homes
We know how to work around original masonry, plaster and lath without damaging what's worth keeping.
Tight-Site Logistics
Laneway deliveries and narrow-lot dumpster placement planned before the truck ever shows up.
Code-Current Conversions
Basement apartment work done to current egress and fire separation standards.
How we run a Toronto project
Four steps adjusted for the city's permit and access realities.
- 1
Site visit & access planning
We assess the space and plan for laneway or street access, parking permits and dumpster placement.
- 2
Permit submission
Applications go in early, accounting for Toronto's typical review timelines.
- 3
Renovation work
Our crew works the sequence, with contingency built in for what older homes often reveal.
- 4
Inspection & walkthrough
We coordinate final city inspection and walk the finished space with you.
What tends to drive up scope on Toronto renovations
Common findings once we're inside the walls of an older Toronto home.
Knob-and-tube wiring
Still present in many pre-1950s homes and often needs full replacement once walls are opened.
Cast-iron or clay drain lines
Aging drain lines can be partially collapsed or root-infiltrated, discovered once new fixtures are being connected.
Uneven original framing
Century homes settle over decades, leaving floors and walls slightly out of level, which affects cabinetry and flooring install.
Lath and plaster removal
More labour-intensive than drywall demo, and dustier, requiring extra containment planning.
Undersized electrical panels
Many older Toronto homes still run 60-amp service, which won't support a modern kitchen or basement reno without an upgrade.
Asbestos-era materials
Some older insulation, tile adhesive or flooring may require testing and proper abatement before renovation proceeds.
Toronto renovation questions
Do you work in older Toronto neighbourhoods with narrow lots?
Regularly. We plan material delivery and waste removal around laneway access and street parking restrictions common across the city.
How long do Toronto permits typically take?
Review times vary by ward and project type, but tend to run longer than in surrounding regions. We build that into your project timeline upfront.
Do you handle basement apartment conversions in Toronto?
Yes, including egress window installation and fire separation work to meet current code for legal basement units.
What if my home has knob-and-tube wiring?
We flag it during the site visit and can coordinate replacement as part of your renovation scope, especially before insulation or drywall work covers it up.
Can you work around a century home's original details?
Yes — we take extra care with original trim, masonry and plaster we're asked to preserve, and can advise on what's realistic to keep versus replace.
Service coverage
Communities We Serve in City of Toronto
City of Toronto is highlighted below — every community has its own local page, and we cover the rest of the GTA too.
| Region | Communities served |
|---|---|
| City of Toronto | Downtown Toronto · East York · Etobicoke · North York · Scarborough |
| York RegionView region → | Aurora · East Gwillimbury · Georgina · King · Markham · Newmarket · Richmond Hill · Vaughan · Whitchurch-Stouffville |
| Peel RegionView region → | Brampton · Caledon · Mississauga |
| Halton RegionView region → | Burlington · Halton Hills · Milton |
| Durham RegionView region → | Ajax · Brock · Clarington · Oshawa · Pickering · Scugog · Uxbridge · Whitby |
Planning a renovation in Toronto?
Email us your neighbourhood and project scope. We'll follow up with next steps.
Email Us for a Free EstimateProudly Serving City of Toronto, ON
Local, on-time service throughout City of Toronto and the surrounding area.