Basement Renovations in Toronto
renoWOW! has been finishing Toronto basements since 1993. Rec rooms, legal basement suites, bathrooms and full underpinning projects, with a fixed price before we start and a two-year warranty after we leave.
A Basement Renovation Contractor Toronto Has Trusted Since 1993
The basement is the cheapest square footage you will ever add to a Toronto home. The lot is paid for, the walls exist, and the city's rules on basement suites have never been friendlier. The job is doing it properly, and that is what we do.
renoWOW! is a licensed basement renovation contractor in Toronto. Owner Sam Beninato checks the height, the moisture, the drains and the panel before quoting, then puts a fixed price in writing before work starts. Every basement carries a two-year workmanship warranty.
One crew handles the whole job, from framing and plumbing to drywall, flooring and trim. We are the same team behind kitchen renovations in Toronto and bathroom renovations across the GTA, so when your basement includes a kitchenette or a full bath, nothing gets subbed out to a stranger.
- Fixed price before work starts
- Licensed, $5M insured, WSIB covered
- RenoMark, BILD and NKBA member
- Two-year workmanship warranty
Watch Sam Walk Through a Full Renovation on TV
Don't just take our word for it. 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 Toronto project: structure and services first, finishes second. Sam has also been featured on HGTV and quoted in the Toronto editions of Metro, The Globe and Mail and The Huffington Post.
Basement Finishing in Toronto Starts With What Is Down There Now
A 1920s East York semi, a 1960s North York bungalow and a 1990s suburban two-storey have very different basements. The finishing is the easy part. The judgment is in what happens first.
Older Toronto basements sit around six to six and a half feet, which is storage height, not living height. Underpinning or benching drops the floor to gain a legal, comfortable storey, and on a narrow city lot it is often the only direction the house can grow. Newer basements usually have the height already and just need the right plan.
Before anything gets framed, we deal with the boring work: moisture and drainage, a backwater valve or sump where the drains need one, insulation done to code, and wiring brought up to what a finished space actually draws. Skip that step and the prettiest basement in Toronto grows mould behind the drywall. We price it up front, in writing, so there is no mid-job surprise.
Our Basement Renovation and Finishing Services in Toronto
One crew handles demolition, structure, plumbing, electrical, drywall, cabinetry and finishing. We do not sub the job out to whoever is free that week.
Basement Finishing and Rec Rooms
Family rooms, playrooms and open entertaining space, insulated and lit so the basement stops feeling like one. $35 to $75 per square foot.
Legal Basement Suites
Income apartments and in-law suites with proper egress, fire separation and permits, registered with the City. Basement cost guide.
Basement Bathrooms
Full baths and powder rooms, with the rough-in, venting and waterproofing done right the first time. From $15,000.
Home Theatres and Bars
Media rooms, wet bars and wine storage, wired, soundproofed and built for the way you actually entertain.
Home Offices, Gyms and Guest Rooms
Legal bedrooms with proper egress windows, quiet offices and gyms with flooring that takes the abuse.
Underpinning and Basement Lowering
Engineered, permitted structural work that turns a six-foot cellar into a full storey of living space.
Basement Renovation Cost in Toronto, in Plain Numbers
Basement finishing in Toronto runs $35 to $75 per square foot in 2026, so a typical 800 square foot basement lands between $30,000 and $60,000. Here is how the pieces price out.
- Basic basement finishing$35 – $50 / sq ft
- Mid-range finished basement$50 – $75 / sq ft
- Legal basement suite, kitchen and bath$60,000 – $120,000
- Basement bathroom$15,000 – $25,000
- Underpinning or benchingPriced per project
- Building permits$300 – $2,000+
Underpinning is priced only after Sam sees the basement, because depth, access and soil decide the number, and anyone quoting it sight unseen is guessing with your money. A suite costs more than a rec room for good reason: it adds a kitchen, a bathroom, fire separation and its own entrance, and it pays rent every month after.
Prices exclude HST and every quote itemizes it. For the full logic, see our basement renovation cost guide and our home renovation cost guide.
Permits, Legal Basement Suites and Underpinning in Toronto
Permits run through Toronto Building. Underpinning, new bathrooms, structural changes and basement suites all need one, and electrical work goes through the ESA. As your contractor we handle the drawings, the applications and every inspection, the same way we run every job as a home renovation company in Toronto.
A legal suite has real requirements. About six feet five inches of ceiling height in an existing house, an egress window or second exit, fire separation between units, interconnected smoke alarms, and registration as a two-unit house with the City. It sounds like a lot. It is a checklist, we build to it every month, and it is the difference between rental income and an order to vacate.
The city helps with the wet part. Toronto's Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy covers up to $3,400 toward a backwater valve and sump pump, which is exactly the protection a freshly finished basement deserves. We fold the application into the project so the paperwork does not land on you.
Recent Toronto and GTA Renovation Projects
Real jobs, photographed in the clients' homes. No stock photos anywhere on this page.
Charlottetown Whole-Home Reno
A complete renovation for a growing family, basement to bedrooms, on one schedule.
View project
Duffins Creek Project
A dated lower level rebuilt into bright, usable family space.
View project
Wessex Dr Full Home Refurbishment
A full house refinished top to bottom into one cohesive modern design.
View projectWhat Toronto Homeowners Say About renoWOW!
I hired Sam from RenoWOW for a full renovation of my 20 year-old builder kitchen and bathrooms and I absolutely LOVE the results! Sam was conscientious of my original budget and every time I asked for a change he detailed how much it would cost. There were no surprises along the way.
We recently completed an extensive renovation with Reno Wow, including our kitchen and master bathroom now turned into our master spa. They are knowledgeable, responsive, and trustworthy. The work is high quality and most importantly the whole project was delivered on time and on budget.
This was the second time I have used RenoWow, and once again they were excellent. They completed our basement, including bathroom, kitchen, a bar and ceiling work. I really appreciate the open and transparent visibility of all costs and potential extras. The quality is always exemplary and the workers polite, clean and timely.
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.
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.
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.
How a renoWOW! Basement Renovation Runs
First, a free consultation
Sam walks the basement with you, measures the height, checks the moisture, the drains and the panel, then follows up with a written scope and one fixed price. If you are still planning, our guide on starting a home renovation the right way is a good first read.
Then permits and orders
Drawings and permit applications go to Toronto Building, and materials go on order, so the basement is never sitting half-demolished waiting on paperwork.
The build
Waterproofing and any structural work first, then framing, rough-ins and inspections before a single sheet of drywall closes a wall. The same crew runs the job start to finish, and the site gets cleaned up every day.
Walkthrough and warranty
We check every detail with you, fix anything that is not right, and hand you two years of workmanship warranty in writing.
Basement Renovation Contractors Across Toronto and the GTA
From East York semis to North York bungalows and the newer basements of the 905, we finish basements across the city and the towns around it.
Ready to Finish Your Toronto Basement?
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.
Toronto Basement Renovation FAQ
How much does a basement renovation cost in Toronto?
Between $35 and $75 per square foot for finishing, so a typical 800 square foot basement lands between $30,000 and $60,000. A legal basement suite with a kitchen and bathroom runs $60,000 to $120,000. Sam measures and inspects first, then you get one itemized fixed price, and our guide on comparing renovation quotes shows exactly what that should look like.
Do I need a permit to finish my basement in Toronto?
Yes, for almost any real basement work: new rooms, a bathroom, a suite or structural changes, from Toronto Building, with electrical through the ESA. Pure cosmetics like paint and flooring do not need one. We handle the drawings, applications and inspections either way.
What makes a basement apartment legal in Toronto?
Roughly six feet five inches of ceiling height in an existing house, an egress window or second way out, fire separation between the units, interconnected smoke alarms, and registration with the City as a two-unit house. We build to that checklist and hand you the paperwork at the end.
Is underpinning my basement worth it?
Often, yes. Many older Toronto basements sit near six feet, and underpinning drops the floor to give you a full legal storey on a lot with nowhere else to grow. It is engineered, permitted work priced after we see the basement, and we tell you honestly when it is not worth doing.
Should I waterproof before finishing the basement?
Always. Moisture, drainage and a backwater valve come before framing, every time, because water always wins against drywall. Toronto's Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy covers up to $3,400 of that protection, and we fold the application into the project.
How long does a basement renovation take?
Four to eight weeks for most finishing projects, and longer when underpinning or a full suite is involved. We tell you exactly how many weeks before you sign, and permits and material orders run ahead of demolition so the job never stalls.
Does a finished basement add value to a Toronto home?
Yes, twice over. Finished space appraises and shows far better than a concrete cellar, and a legal suite adds rental income that can carry a chunk of the mortgage. The federal Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit can also return up to $7,500 when the suite is for a senior or qualifying family member. Our basement renovation cost guide walks through the payback math.
Can we live upstairs while the basement is renovated?
Almost always. The work zone is sealed with dust barriers, the crew comes and goes without running through your kitchen, and the noisy stretch is short. We give you the exact dates up front, and our post on preparing for a major home renovation covers what to sort out before day one.