Home Renovations in East York
renoWOW! has been renovating East York homes since 1993. Kitchens, bathrooms, basements and whole-home rebuilds in the semis and wartime bungalows this area is famous for, with a fixed price before we start and a two-year warranty after we leave.
A Home Renovation Contractor Built for East York's Small Lots and Solid Old Houses
East York went up between the 1920s and the early 1950s, and its houses share a personality: brick semis and strawberry-box bungalows on narrow lots, built solid but built small. Renovating here is a craft of its own, and we have been practising it since 1993.
renoWOW! is a licensed home renovation contractor serving East York, from the Danforth up to O'Connor and from Pape Village across to Woodbine Heights. Owner Sam Beninato walks every house himself, prices what he actually finds behind the plaster, and puts a fixed price in writing before work starts. Every project carries a two-year workmanship warranty.
Start with one room or take on the whole house: our East York kitchen, bathroom and basement pages cover each room in depth, and we are the same home renovation company in Toronto behind projects right across the city.
- Fixed price before work starts
- Licensed, $5M insured, WSIB covered
- RenoMark, BILD and NKBA member
- Two-year workmanship warranty
- Featured on HGTV and the Marc and Mandy Show
- HomeStars and Houzz award winner
East York's Semis and Wartime Bungalows Reward the Right Renovation
These houses have survived a century because they were built honestly: double brick, real lumber, small rooms. The renovation job is to keep that solidity while giving the house the space, light and systems a family expects today.
What we typically find
- Knob-and-tube wiring in pre-1950 houses, which most insurers want dealt with
- Low basements, often around six to six and a half feet, that need underpinning or benching to become real living space
- Plaster and lath walls that hide surprises and swallow renovation budgets when they are not priced honestly
- Galvanized supply lines and old clay drains nearing the end of their run
- Chopped-up main floors, with the kitchen closed off behind a load-bearing wall
What that means for your renovation
- We price the boring work up front. Wiring, plumbing and structural items go in the fixed quote, not in a mid-job change order
- Underpinning pays off here. A dug-down basement adds a full storey of living space, or a legal suite, on a lot with nowhere else to grow
- Main floors open up beautifully once the beam is engineered, and the brick shell means the character stays
- Additions go up or back. On a 25-foot lot the answer is usually a rear or second-storey addition, permitted and engineered
- Everything is inspected before walls close: ESA for electrical, City of Toronto for building and plumbing
Every Home Renovation Service We Offer in East York
One crew handles demolition, structure, plumbing, electrical, drywall, cabinetry and finishing. No subcontracting the job out to whoever is free.
Kitchen Renovations
Small East York kitchens rethought for real storage and workspace, or opened to the dining room entirely. 6 to 12 weeks, from $30,000. East York kitchens.
Main-Floor Rethinks
The load-bearing wall out, an engineered beam in, and the kitchen, dining and living space finally working as one room.
Bathroom Renovations
Walk-in showers, family bathrooms and new second bathrooms squeezed intelligently into older footprints. 3 to 5 weeks, from $15,000. East York bathrooms.
Basements, Underpinning and Suites
Dug-down basements, rec rooms and legal second suites, with the structural work engineered and permitted. East York basements.
Whole-Home Renovations
The full house rebuilt on one schedule and one fixed-price scope, typically 10 to 16 weeks on site.
Condo Renovations
Crescent Town and Thorncliffe Park towers too, with board approvals, insurance and elevator bookings handled. East York condos.
Watch Sam Walk Through a Full Renovation on TV
renoWOW! founder Sam Beninato was invited onto the Marc and Mandy Show to walk through one of our complete renovations, from the first layout call to the finished space.
It is a few minutes long and it shows exactly how we approach every East York job: structure and services first, finishes second. In a 90-year-old semi that order is not a preference, it is the whole game. Sam has also been featured on HGTV and quoted in the Toronto editions of Metro, The Globe and Mail and The Huffington Post.
Home Renovation Costs in East York, in Plain Numbers
The two questions every homeowner asks first, answered without the runaround. Most single-room renovations in East York land between $15,000 and $90,000 depending on the room, and a whole-home renovation runs 10 to 16 weeks on site with a fixed-price scope.
What East York renovations cost in 2026
- Cosmetic refresh, paint, trim, floors$3,000 – $12,000
- Bathroom renovation$15,000 – $40,000+
- Kitchen renovation$30,000 – $90,000+
- Basement, finished or legal suite$35 – $75 / sq ft
- Main-floor renovation$40,000 – $120,000+
- Building permits$300 – $2,000+
Excludes HST; every quote itemizes it. Underpinning is priced per project after Sam sees the basement, because depth, access and soil decide the number. The full logic is in our home renovation cost guide.
How a whole-home renovation is scheduled
- Before day one: scope fixed, permits applied for, cabinets and long-lead materials ordered
- Weeks 1–2: demolition, then structural work and beams where walls come out
- Weeks 3–5: electrical, plumbing and HVAC rough-in, inspected before anything closes
- Weeks 5–8: insulation, drywall, flooring throughout
- Weeks 8–13: kitchen and bathroom installs, tile, counters, doors and trim
- Weeks 13–16: paint, finals, deficiency walkthrough, warranty in writing
Single rooms are shorter: bathrooms run 3 to 5 weeks, kitchens 6 to 12, and basements 4 to 8. Underpinning adds weeks up front, and we tell you exactly how many before you sign.
Permits, Party Walls and the New Suite Rules in East York
Permits run through Toronto Building. Structural changes, additions, underpinning and new suites all need one, and electrical work goes through the ESA. As your contractor we handle the drawings, the applications and the inspections.
Semis add one wrinkle: the party wall. Structural work and underpinning beside a shared wall needs careful engineering and a considerate schedule, because your renovation is happening a brick away from your neighbour's living room. We have done it for three decades without burning a neighbourly relationship.
The suite rules moved in your favour. Toronto now permits laneway and garden suites across the city and multiplexes of up to four units on residential lots, and East York's laneways and deep lots are where those rules genuinely work. The federal Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit adds up to $7,500 back, 15 percent of up to $50,000, when you build a secondary suite for a senior or an adult family member who qualifies for the disability tax credit.
Recent East York and GTA Renovation Projects
Real jobs, photographed in the clients' homes. No stock photos anywhere on this page.
Deloraine Ave Kitchen
A century-home kitchen rebuilt without losing the character of the house.
View project
Millard Street Bathroom
Warm stone, a freestanding tub and a glass shower in a rebuilt three-piece.
View project
Southport Bathroom
A moody, modern rebuild with a dark floating vanity and glass shower.
View projectWhat East York and GTA Homeowners Say About renoWOW!
Very happy with our kitchen renovation. Having an older home makes everything more difficult but Sam and his crew were up to the task! I was particularly concerned with the floor level transitions which each previous contractor indicated a problem with. The newly installed floor is perfect.
This is the second major renovation that Sam and his team have completed for us and we couldn't be happier. They use many measures to keep your home clean and protected throughout the job and our neighbours even commented on the care being taken.
Very happy with the job Sam and his team did in my bathrooms. I came in with an idea and Sam was able to pick out tile, vanity and other bathroom stuff that fit my vision perfectly, making the process super easy for me. Paul and JJ were great working in my house, super nice guys.
We had a bathroom totally renovated by renoWOW! and the results are awesome. We started with some ideas and a lot of anxiety. Sam helped us develop a plan that was perfect for us. He is very easy to talk to, listens, and made many helpful suggestions that we had never considered. The project was completed on time with minimum disruption.
Once again, the amazing crew from renoWOW has excelled! Following a beautiful kitchen reno, we invited them back to remodel a master bathroom and install beautiful new flooring on the second floor. We cannot say enough about the quality of the work and the thoughtfulness of their staff.
Great experience and high quality work end to end. During the estimating process they provided a high quality timely detailed estimate and consultation. The project was done on time and on budget with a very high degree of attention to detail.
How a renoWOW! Renovation Runs in East York
First, a free consultation
Sam walks the house with you, checks the structure, the wiring era, the basement height and the plumbing, and follows up with a written scope and a fixed price. No allowances that balloon later.
Then permits and orders
Drawings and permit applications go in, and cabinets and long-lead materials go on order, so the house is never sitting gutted waiting on paperwork or a delivery.
The build
Dust barriers, protected floors and the same crew throughout, with the neighbours kept in mind because East York lots put them close. Every rough-in is inspected before walls close.
Walkthrough and warranty
Every detail checked with you, then two years of workmanship warranty in writing.
Renovating Homes Across Every East York Neighbourhood
From the Danforth up to O'Connor, we work across all of East York and the communities next door.
Ready to Renovate Your East York Home?
Book a free in-home consultation. Sam will walk the house with you, talk through what is possible, and follow up with a written, fixed-price scope.
East York Home Renovation FAQ
How much does a home renovation cost in East York?
Room by room: bathrooms run $15,000 to $40,000 and up, kitchens $30,000 to $90,000 and up, basements $35 to $75 per square foot, and a main-floor renovation $40,000 to $120,000 or more. In a pre-1950 East York house the wiring, plumbing and structural conditions move the number more than the finishes do, which is why we inspect before we price. Every quote is itemized, and prices exclude HST.
My house has knob-and-tube wiring. What does that mean for a renovation?
It is common in East York houses built before 1950, and most insurers want it removed or professionally assessed. A renovation is the cheapest time to deal with it, because the walls we open for the kitchen or bathroom are the same walls the electrician needs. Everything runs through the ESA, and we price the electrical scope into the fixed quote after Sam sees the panel and a few junction points.
Is underpinning an East York basement worth it?
Often, yes. Many East York basements sit around six to six and a half feet, which is storage height, not living height. Underpinning or benching drops the floor to give you a legal, comfortable storey, and on a 25-foot lot it is frequently the only place the house can grow. It is engineered, permitted, structural work, so it is priced per project after we see the basement, and we tell you honestly when it is not worth doing.
Do I need a permit to renovate my house in East York?
For structural changes, additions, underpinning and new suites, yes, from Toronto Building. Like-for-like updates such as new cabinets, flooring or a bathroom in the same layout usually do not need one, though electrical work still goes through the ESA. We handle the drawings, applications and inspections as part of the job.
We own a semi. Does the shared wall limit what we can do?
Less than people fear. Kitchens, bathrooms, basements and most layout changes proceed normally. Where the party wall matters is structural work and underpinning beside it, which needs proper engineering, and simple courtesy, since the work happens a brick away from your neighbour. We plan both into the schedule and have renovated semis for three decades without souring a street.
Can I open up the main floor of an East York house?
Almost always. The wall between the kitchen and dining room in these houses is usually load-bearing, so opening it means an engineered beam and a permit rather than just demolition. The double-brick shell carries on doing its job, and the house keeps its character while the main floor finally gets light and sight lines. We confirm what is structural before the design is final.
Can I add a laneway or garden suite in East York?
Toronto now permits laneway suites and garden suites across the city, and multiplexes of up to four units on residential lots. East York's laneways off the Danforth and its deep lots make it one of the better places in Toronto to actually use those rules. Each property still has setback, access and servicing requirements, so we check yours at the consultation before anyone draws a suite.
Is there a government credit for adding a suite for a family member?
Yes. The federal Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit refunds 15 percent of up to $50,000 in eligible costs, a maximum of $7,500, when you create a self-contained secondary suite for a relative who is 65 or older or who qualifies for the disability tax credit. Basement suites and garden suites both commonly qualify. Confirm eligibility with your accountant; we make sure the suite itself is legal and inspected.
How long does a whole-home renovation take?
Ten to sixteen weeks on site for a typical East York house, plus permit and material lead time before that, which we run in parallel. Underpinning adds weeks at the front and we tell you exactly how many before you sign. Single rooms are shorter: bathrooms take three to five weeks, kitchens six to twelve, and basements four to eight.
Can we live in the house during the renovation?
For single-room projects, almost always, and we seal the work area with dust barriers so the rest of the house stays livable. For whole-home renovations and underpinning, most families move out for the noisiest phases, and in a compact East York house that is usually the honest recommendation. We give you the exact dates either way so you can plan around them.