Apartments in buildings below five storeys
2,725 of 6,785 occupied private dwellings in the structural-type group.
Roncesvalles / Toronto
Custom Home Builders in Roncesvalles
Architectural design, permits and construction.
Renovations, additions and custom homes planned around the building you have.
Bring the layout, the changes you need and any available property records. We can help define the work before construction.
From design to warranty
One team from your first plans to warranty support.
Fixed price, agreed upfront
Your agreed scope, allowances and exclusions clearly set out.
Custom design around your life
Designed for your family, your property and your lifestyle.
Follow your project from anywhere
See progress, schedules and updates in your client portal.
HCRA licensed and insured
Review our HCRA record and ask for insurance details relevant to your project. View our HCRA record.
250+ completed projects
Renovations, additions and custom homes across Toronto.
Renovations, additions and custom homes
Give an established Roncesvalles home a more useful plan.
A Roncesvalles renovation may involve more than changing finishes. The relationship between the entrance, stairs and rear living space can determine how well the home works. Before opening rooms or extending the building, identify which parts of the layout serve one household and which may be shared.
Grand Design Build can help coordinate a major renovation, home addition or custom build around that review. Preserve the features you value, understand the existing arrangement and develop a scope that connects the retained house with the new work.
Our Toronto portfolio
Spaces to help shape your plans.
Browse exterior and interior details from our wider project collection. These images illustrate the work; they are not presented as completed projects in this neighbourhood.
Contemporary home with stone cladding and a broad paved entrance
Double-height living room with tall windows and a fireplace
Rear exterior with a glazed balcony, dark cladding and brick walls
Small white kitchen with a timber range hood
Stone front elevation with tall black-framed windows
Brick house with tall black-framed windows and a raised front terrace
Long kitchen island under a coffered ceiling
Living room with a carved fireplace and dark wood flooring
Local housing context / 2021
Older buildings and more than one form of home.
The City’s 2021 Roncesvalles profile records 66.6% of dwellings as originally completed in 1960 or earlier. Apartments in buildings below five storeys account for 40.2% of dwellings. These area figures are a reason to ask about the building’s history and current arrangement, not to assume its legal use.
Originally built in 1960 or earlier
4,520 of 6,785 occupied private dwellings in the construction-period group.
Bring records of previous alterations and describe the existing entrances, kitchens and shared areas. The City’s historical work on Roncesvalles and Dundas also describes a mix of main-street buildings and adapted houses. Check the actual address and current records when defining a residential project.
Source: City of Toronto Neighbourhood Profiles, 2021, Roncesvalles (086). Each measure uses its own published total; rounded counts may differ. These area figures do not establish what can be built at an individual address. View the source workbook.
Official neighbourhood reference: Roncesvalles (086). Use the City’s address lookup to select the correct profile.
Before the scope is fixed
Understand the building before changing the layout.
Record the current dwelling arrangement
Show entrances, kitchens, bathrooms and routes between floors. If more than one dwelling is present, identify which areas the project would affect. Confirm the existing use and relevant requirements rather than treating every older building as an unchanged single-family house.
Plan the new rooms with the existing stairs
Test how the kitchen, living space and bedrooms connect before deciding which walls to remove. Review structural changes and building services alongside the floor plan. A wider room is only useful if the routes through the rest of the home still work.
Include the rear of the lot in the brief
Show the yard, garage and any lane or access route. Compare a rear addition with the outdoor space you want to retain. If a separate suite is being considered, review its access and relationship to the main house as a distinct proposal.
Check the address before exterior changes
Identify the masonry, porch, windows or other features you want to retain. Search the current Heritage Register before planning demolition or exterior work. The historical character of Roncesvalles does not mean every house has the same heritage status.
For the property and proposal, the City’s preliminary zoning review information explains the available review routes.
Sources: Find your official Toronto neighbourhood · Roncesvalles and Dundas heritage context · Check the Heritage Register · Toronto laneway suite applications · Zoning reviews and building records
What we do
A whole-home approach to your Roncesvalles project.
1
Architectural Design & Permits
Review the current building arrangement and develop drawings for the agreed proposal. Bring available plans and permit records into the design discussion.
Explore architectural design & permits
2
Renovations
Plan a major home renovation around connected rooms, retained character and building systems. Address the whole layout rather than isolated finishes.
Explore renovations
3
Additions
Compare new floor space with the existing stairs, rooms and yard. Resolve how an extension joins the retained building.
Explore additions
4
Custom Homes
Explore a new custom home where replacement is the chosen direction. Define the site, room brief and construction responsibilities together.
Explore custom homes
5
Laneway / Garden Suites
Assess a separate dwelling with its access and property requirements. A rear lane starts the discussion but does not confirm what can be built.
Explore laneway / garden suites
6
Project Management
Coordinate the agreed work and decisions across the existing building and new construction. Record responsibilities, scope changes and the work sequence.
Explore project managementHow the work moves forward
From the first conversation to handover.
Work through the property, scope and decisions before construction. Keep responsibilities and changes recorded as the project progresses.
Discuss your project
Discuss how you want to live
Start with what works, what does not and the changes that matter most to your household.
Review the existing house
Assess the layout, structure and relevant site conditions before developing the renovation approach.
Develop the design and scope
Coordinate the rooms, structural approach, services and finishes. Review inclusions, exclusions and responsibilities before construction.
Prepare the approval work
Coordinate the drawings and applications required within the agreed scope, including a Committee of Adjustment application where needed. Allow for review comments and further information. The proposal identifies how City fees, Committee fees and survey costs are handled.
Manage the construction
Sequence the work and trades around the project plan. Keep decisions and changes documented, with updates through the project coordinator.
Review and hand over
Walk through the finished work, record outstanding items and agree the follow-up. Confirm the applicable closeout and warranty documents.
Planning questions
Roncesvalles project questions
Can you renovate an older Roncesvalles house without replacing its character?
That can be a design priority. Identify the rooms and details you value, then review how the structure and layout could support the changes you need. The scope should clearly distinguish what will be retained, repaired, replaced or newly built.
What if the house currently contains several dwellings?
Describe the current use and each area affected by the proposal. Bring available plans and permit records. Shared entrances, stairs and building systems need to be understood before the design is treated as a single-house renovation. Additional requirements may apply to the actual occupancy and work.
Does a rear lane mean I can build a laneway suite?
No. A laneway suite needs a property-specific review, including access and the relationship to the existing house and trees. The City’s application guidance explains the principal and fire-access considerations. Start with the survey and a description of the separate dwelling you want.
How do I check whether exterior work needs heritage review?
Search the exact address in the City’s Heritage Register, then discuss the proposed changes against its current status. A historical report or an older neighbouring house is not enough to establish the requirements for your property.
How should I prepare for a major renovation discussion?
Send the address, photographs, existing drawings if available and a list of the changes that matter most. Explain the current dwelling arrangement and whether you are considering an addition. That helps us discuss a coherent scope for the building rather than isolated room upgrades.
Toronto
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Start with your home
Tell us how the house needs to change.
Share your Roncesvalles address, current layout and priorities for a major renovation, addition or custom home. We can discuss the project fit and the information needed for the next step.