Basement finishing across Toronto and the GTA
YAREX finishes basements from Etobicoke across the GTA — low-slung 1950s bungalow basements, rubble-foundation cellars under century semis, and newer suburban basements that were never completed. We build rec rooms, home offices, gyms, basement bathrooms, and wet bars under one fixed-price contract that includes drawings, permits and inspections.
How the work runs
The estimate comes first, and it starts below grade: we check ceiling height, foundation condition, grading, and any history of water before we price a single stud. Toronto basements that leak get fixed before they get finished — crack injection, interior membrane, or sump work as required.
Most finishing projects need a City of Toronto building permit, and all of them must meet the Ontario Building Code: proper insulation values, fire protection around furnaces, smoke and CO alarms, and minimum ceiling heights (roughly 6’5” / 1.95 m is workable in existing houses). We produce the drawings, file the permit, and book the inspections. On site the sequence is framing, plumbing and electrical rough-in, inspection, insulation and vapour barrier, drywall, flooring and trim. Six to ten weeks is typical.
What it costs
Basement finishing runs $35 to $90 per square foot in 2026. The low end covers an open-plan space with laminate or vinyl plank and existing mechanicals left in place. Costs climb with a bathroom (roughly $12,000 to $20,000 below grade), a wet bar or kitchenette, egress window cuts, dropped-beam boxing, and sound insulation. Underpinning for height is its own project at $50,000-plus. A typical 800 sq ft basement lands between $30,000 and $80,000, plus HST, and we itemize every allowance in the quote.
Why YAREX
We are licensed and insured, and we handle both renovation and restoration — which means we have torn out more failed basements than most contractors have built, and we finish yours so it stays dry. The Clean Worksite Promise holds even on demolition-heavy basement jobs: sealed stairwells, protected floors above, daily cleanup. Estimates are free. Call (416) 358-2059 or visit 6 Hagersville Ct, Etobicoke.
Basement Finishing — questions
01How much does it cost to finish a basement in Toronto?
Expect $35 to $90 per square foot in 2026. A straightforward open rec room with a small bathroom lands near the middle. Underpinning, egress windows, wet bars and high-end finishes push to the top. A typical 700–900 sq ft Toronto basement runs $30,000 to $80,000 all-in, plus 13% HST.
02Do I need a permit to finish my basement in Toronto?
Yes, in most cases. The City of Toronto requires a building permit when you create rooms, add a bathroom, alter structure, or change the use of the space. Insulation, fire protection, and ceiling heights must meet the Ontario Building Code. Unpermitted basements surface during resale and insurance claims. YAREX prepares drawings and carries the permit through inspection.
03My basement ceiling is low. Can it still be finished?
Often, yes. The Ontario Building Code allows finished basement spaces with ceilings around 6'5" (1.95 m) in existing houses, so many 1950s bungalows qualify as-is. If yours is lower, underpinning or benching can add depth, typically $50,000 to $100,000 extra, which is why we confirm heights at the estimate stage.
04What about moisture? Toronto basements leak.
They do, and finishing over an active leak is wasted money. We check grading, foundation cracks, and past water staining before quoting. Where needed we add interior membranes, sump upgrades, or crack injection first. As a restoration contractor we remove and rebuild flooded basements for a living — we finish basements so that call never comes.
05How long does basement finishing take?
Six to ten weeks on site for a typical basement: permit review two to four weeks before that, then framing, rough-ins, inspections, insulation, drywall, flooring and trim. A basement bathroom adds about two weeks. Underpinning projects run several months and are scheduled separately.
