Etobicoke is dominated by postwar bungalows, split-levels and 1.5-storey homes built from the 1940s to the 1960s, most on generous lots with separate side entrances or room to add one. That stock is well suited to basement apartment conversions and main-floor opening-up. Along the lakeshore and at Islington City Centre, newer condo towers add a second, very different renovation market.
Renovation from an Etobicoke base
YAREX Renovation & Restoration operates from 6 Hagersville Ct, near Renforth and Rathburn. This is our home territory. We renovate kitchens, bathrooms and basements, build legal basement apartments, run full-home projects and handle carpentry and condo work across every corner of the borough, from Long Branch to The Kingsway. Estimates are free and the company is licensed and insured.
Built for Etobicoke’s housing stock
Etobicoke grew fastest between the 1940s and 1960s. The result is street after street of brick bungalows, split-levels and 1.5-storey homes in Alderwood, Markland Wood, Eringate and Sunnylea. These houses share traits that shape renovation work: solid structure, dated mechanicals, small closed kitchens and basements a few inches short of legal suite height. Typical projects here are load-bearing wall removals to open the main floor, kitchen rebuilds, and basement conversions that add a side entrance, egress windows and fire separation to create a legal second suite. Because Etobicoke falls under the City of Toronto, permits go through Toronto Building, and second suites are permitted as-of-right in most house forms. Along the lake in Mimico and Humber Bay Shores, and at Islington City Centre, we also renovate condos, where the work is less about structure and more about board approvals, elevator bookings and clean, quiet execution.
Emergency restoration, minutes away
Water does the most damage in the first hours. Our 24/7 emergency crews respond to burst pipes, sewer backups, storm flooding, mold and fire damage. From our base near the 427, most Etobicoke addresses are a 10 to 15 minute drive. We extract water, dry the structure, remove damaged material and then rebuild, so one company carries the job from emergency call to finished space. Call (416) 358-2059.
- 01Kitchen Renovation$25,000 – $150,000+ · 4–8 weeks
- 02Bathroom Renovation$15,000 – $45,000 · 3–5 weeks
- 03Basement Finishing$35 – $90 per sq ft · 6–10 weeks
- 04Legal Basement Apartment$80,000 – $150,000 · 10–16 weeks
- 05Full Home Renovation$150 – $250+ per sq ft · 3–6 months
- 06Condo Renovation$60 – $150 per sq ft · 4–8 weeks
- 07Carpentry & Finishes$2,000 – $30,000+ · 1–3 weeks
- 08Water Damage Restoration24/7 · 3–7 days drying, then rebuild
- 09Mold Remediation24/7 · 2–5 days remediation, then rebuild
- 10Fire & Smoke Restoration24/7 · 1–2 weeks cleanup, rebuild varies
Etobicoke — questions
01Do I need a permit for a basement apartment in Etobicoke?
Yes. Etobicoke is part of the City of Toronto, so a second suite needs a building permit through Toronto Building, and the suite must meet Ontario Building Code requirements for ceiling height, egress, fire separation and smoke alarms. Toronto permits second suites as-of-right in most house forms. YAREX handles drawings and the permit application as part of the project.
02How fast can YAREX get to an emergency in Etobicoke?
Our shop is at 6 Hagersville Ct, near Renforth and Rathburn, and most of Etobicoke is a 10 to 15 minute drive from it. Crews dispatch 24/7 for burst pipes, sewer backups and flooding, day or night.
03What does a bungalow basement conversion typically involve in Etobicoke?
Most Etobicoke bungalows have 6.5 to 7 foot basements, so projects often include underpinning or bench footings to reach legal ceiling height, a separate side entrance, egress windows, fire-rated separation between units and updated electrical. We scope all of that in the free estimate so there are no surprises mid-build.
04Does YAREX renovate condos in Humber Bay Shores and Islington City Centre?
Yes. Condo work runs through the building's property management: proof of insurance, elevator booking, working-hours limits and board approval for anything touching plumbing or walls. We handle that paperwork routinely because these buildings are minutes from our base.
Fixed estimate. Permits handled. Etobicoke to Etobicoke.
We hold one contract from demolition to handover, and answer the emergency line around the clock across the GTA.