Home Renovations in Scarborough
Renovating in Scarborough? renoWOW! has 32-plus years of hands-on experience with the homes that fill this part of Toronto, from postwar bungalows and split-levels in Agincourt and Wexford to the larger houses along the Bluffs. We know the housing stock, and the Toronto permit process behind it. Clear timelines, honest budgets, lasting work.
Scarborough's Split-Levels Were Built for a Different Era
Scarborough is one of the best places in the GTA to find a solid postwar home, and one of the trickiest to open up. Agincourt, Wexford and Bendale are full of bungalows, back-splits and side-splits, homes built with small kitchens, low ceilings and walls between every room. Closer to the lake, Cliffside and the Bluffs have larger houses on deeper lots.
We work with what these homes already have. A Scarborough kitchen renovation turns a boxed-in split-level into an open main floor. A Bluffs-area home gets its systems and finishes brought up to date. For the full picture of what we do across the city, have a look at our home renovation services in Toronto.
We Know Scarborough, from Agincourt to the Bluffs
Scarborough is big, and a job in Malvern is a different world from a job on the Bluffs. We plan trades and deliveries around the 401, the DVP and Kingston Road, work with the deep lots and mature trees the older neighbourhoods are known for, and factor in slope and conservation rules for anything near the Bluffs, Highland Creek or the Rouge.
Postwar bungalows & splits
Agincourt, Wexford and Bendale are full of solid mid-century homes with closed-off layouts. Opening up the main floor is the single biggest change most owners here make.
Bluffs & Cliffside homes
Larger houses on deep lots near the lake, often with dated interiors behind good bones. We modernize kitchens, primary suites and mechanicals while keeping the space and views that make them special.
Basements & second suites
Scarborough basements are ideal for a legal apartment or in-law suite. We handle egress, fire separation, permits and finishes to build income space that meets code.
Guildwood & Highland Creek
Mid-century and ravine-adjacent homes that reward a careful renovation. We update the interior and manage any conservation review that comes with building near a slope.
A Full Range of Renovation Services
One team handles the whole job, whether it is a single Scarborough bathroom renovation or turning over a whole house.
Kitchen Renovations
Custom cabinetry, new layouts and finishes that make the room work the way you actually cook.
Bathroom Renovations
Full gut renovations or focused updates for ensuites and family baths, built to last.
Basement Renovations
Rec rooms, home offices, guest suites, or a legal apartment that adds real value.
Whole House Renovations
Full modernizations for Bluffs and Agincourt homes, every system brought up to date.
Condo Renovations
Unit renovations across Scarborough, board approvals and logistics handled.
Additions & Top-Ups
Second-storey additions and rear extensions, engineering and permits included.
Meet Sam Beninato, founder of renoWOW!
Sam has spent more than 32 years in the contracting and remodeling trade and still works closely with every client. He has been featured on HGTV and quoted in the Toronto editions of Metro, The Globe & Mail and The Huffington Post. Read more on our About Us page.
"A renovation is more than fixtures and cabinets. It is a new feeling for your home. It is the WOW! factor."
renoWOW! takes one job at a time, is licensed in Toronto, carries $5 million liability insurance with WSIB coverage, and backs every project with a two-year workmanship warranty.
Recent Scarborough and GTA projects
See the finish and detail we hold every job to.
Charlottetown Project
A full home reworked top to bottom for a growing family.
View project →Millard Dr Contemporary Spa
A contemporary kitchen and spa retreat with clean lines and warm finishes.
View project →Wessex Dr Full Home Refurbishment
Every room updated with one cohesive, modern design.
View project →Scarborough Renovation Costs, Room by Room
Cost comes down to the size of your home, the finishes you pick, the age of the property and how much structural work is involved. The ranges below are general planning figures for the Scarborough market, meant to help you budget before a fixed quote.
| Project type | Typical Scarborough range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh (paint, trim, lighting) | $3,000 – $12,000 | No structural or permit work |
| Bathroom renovation | $15,000 – $40,000+ | Higher for ensuites and layout changes |
| Kitchen renovation | $30,000 – $90,000+ | Cabinetry and appliances drive the range |
| Basement finishing | $35 – $75 / sq ft | Legal apartments cost more |
| Full main-floor / open-plan reno | $40,000 – $120,000+ | Load-bearing wall removal adds cost |
| Second-storey addition / top-up | Quoted per project | Structural, roofing and permits included |
| Building permit fees | $300 – $2,000+ | Set by the City of Toronto by scope |
These are planning ranges, not a quote. Older Scarborough splits and bungalows often hide surprises behind the walls, from knob-and-tube wiring to undersized framing, so we suggest budgeting 10 to 15 percent extra for the unexpected. For a closer look at pricing across the GTA, check our home renovation cost guide, or book a consultation for a number built around your home.
32 years, one project at a time
Licensed and insured, with a single dedicated team from the first meeting to the final walkthrough, and every job backed by a two-year workmanship warranty.
Book a Free ConsultationWhat You Need to Know About Scarborough Permits
Scarborough is part of the City of Toronto, so permits go through Toronto Building's Scarborough district office and follow the Ontario Building Code and Toronto zoning. If your property is near the Scarborough Bluffs, Highland Creek or the Rouge, a Toronto and Region Conservation Authority review may also apply, since slope stability and drainage matter close to the ravines and the lake. We handle both processes for you, from drawings and applications to booking the required inspections.
- Load-bearing wall removal and second-storey additions
- Basement underpinning or a legal second suite
- Any work near the Bluffs, a creek or a ravine (TRCA review)
Our 4-Step Renovation Process
Free Consultation
We visit your Scarborough home, or meet virtually, to talk through your goals and look at the space. You get a written scope with a fixed price before anything is signed.
Design, Permits & Planning
We draft the drawings and handle every permit application your project needs. Trades are booked and materials chosen before the first day of work, so nothing stalls once we start.
Construction & QA
Your project manager is on site through the whole build, backed by a steady crew of licensed trades. You get regular updates and a direct line whenever something comes up.
Walkthrough & Warranty
We go through every detail together before we call the job done, and back it with a two-year workmanship warranty.
After other companies barely followed up, Sam was responsive and clear from start to finish. They kept their word on cost and timeline and adjusted quickly to our requests. We got the modern kitchen we pictured.
Fred & Bertha Toronto, ONMy bathroom needed a near full gut, and I wanted it to let me age in place at home. Sam and Paul answered every question, and Paul's tile work was second to none. The result is both beautiful and practical.
Ruth Toronto · via HomeStarsSam was one of the few contractors happy to meet over Zoom and tour the house remotely. He guided our material choices, timed each delivery, and his team finished two beautiful bathrooms in five weeks.
Warren R. Toronto, ONOur second big project with Sam's team, and again the care and detail went beyond what we expected. They kept the house clean and protected, worked quickly with little disruption, and six years on our kitchen still looks brand new.
Charlotte & James Toronto · via HomeStarsWe have trusted Sam with the bathrooms in our homes across Toronto and Aurora for more than 20 years. He is a true craftsman and completely trustworthy, and Adam handled our latest ensuite beautifully.
Longtime client Toronto & AuroraRenovation Services Across the GTA
Not in Scarborough? We work right across Toronto and the surrounding areas.
Transform Your Scarborough Home With renoWOW!
Start with a free in-home consultation. We will walk you through every step, on a clear timeline and an honest budget.