One contractor for the whole house
YAREX takes on full home renovations across Toronto and the GTA from our Etobicoke base — gutting century semis to the brick, reworking chopped-up 1950s bungalows into open plans, and modernizing tired post-war houses end to end. One contract covers structure, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, insulation, kitchens, bathrooms and finishes. The Whitmore Residence and the Elm Street Addition are examples of the category: full-scope rebuilds where the design, permits and every trade ran through one office.
How the work runs
The project starts with a free walkthrough and a scoped estimate. Then design and drawings, filed as a single building permit set with the City of Toronto and reviewed against the Ontario Building Code. Permit review runs four to ten weeks. We use that window to order long-lead items like windows, cabinetry and stairs, so construction never waits on materials.
Construction follows a fixed sequence: demolition, structural work (beams, wall removals, additions), full mechanical rough-in, inspections, insulation and air sealing, drywall, then finishes floor by floor. Old Toronto housing stock dictates part of the scope: knob-and-tube and 60-amp services must go, galvanized supply lines come out, and rubble foundations get assessed before anything sits on them. We price these realities up front, with stated allowances instead of open-ended change orders.
What it costs
Whole-home renovation runs $150 to $250+ per square foot in 2026. The low end is a cosmetic-plus renovation keeping the existing layout and mechanicals where possible. The top end is full reconfiguration: moved stairs, steel beams, new mechanical systems, custom kitchens and multiple bathrooms. Additions price above interior work because of foundations and envelope. On a 1,500 sq ft semi, realistic budgets start around $225,000 plus HST.
Why YAREX
We are licensed and insured, and we run renovation and restoration in one company — the same crews that rebuild flooded and fire-damaged homes build yours, to the standard that experience teaches. The Clean Worksite Promise governs a months-long project: sealed zones, protected finishes, a site you can walk through any evening. Estimates are free. Call (416) 358-2059 or visit 6 Hagersville Ct, Etobicoke.
Full Home Renovation — questions
01How much does a full home renovation cost in Toronto?
Whole-home gut renovations run $150 to $250+ per square foot in 2026. A 1,500 sq ft semi therefore lands between roughly $225,000 and $400,000. Structural reconfiguration, additions, high-end kitchens, and full mechanical replacement drive the top of the range. Additions themselves price higher per foot than interior renovation. All figures plus 13% HST.
02Do I need permits for a whole-home renovation?
Yes. Structural changes, additions, new plumbing layouts, and changes of use all require a City of Toronto building permit, with drawings reviewed against the Ontario Building Code. Electrical work is filed with the ESA. Permit review typically takes four to ten weeks depending on scope, so we file early while materials are being ordered.
03How long does a full home renovation take?
Three to six months of construction for most gut renovations, after a four-to-ten-week design and permit phase. Additions, underpinning, or heritage properties extend that. We publish a schedule at contract signing and update it at every stage — demolition, structure, rough-in, insulation, drywall, finishes.
04Should I renovate or sell and buy in the GTA?
Run the math on both. Renovating avoids land transfer tax, roughly 4% combined in Toronto on a move-up purchase, plus realtor fees and moving costs, which together often exceed $100,000 on a typical detached. If you like your lot and street, a renovation usually wins financially. We give free estimates precisely so you can make that comparison with real numbers.
05Can we live in the house during the renovation?
For a true gut renovation, no — water, power and heat are interrupted for weeks at a time. For phased renovations we can sometimes keep one floor livable, sealed off under our dust-control protocol. It slows the schedule and adds cost, so we price both options and let you choose.
