The lot decides the house
Frontage, depth, coverage, the height envelope and the angular plane are checked against your specific address before a line is drawn.
Tear down and rebuild in Toronto
Custom home builders in Toronto
A new home on your lot, designed for the way you live.
One team coordinates the design, permits, teardown and construction. Work through the layout, materials and project scope before building begins.
A custom home, one stage at a time.
Design and project scope
Develop the layout, structure and key finishes together. Review the proposal, inclusions and exclusions before construction.
Permits and approvals
Full architectural and structural drawings, engineering coordination, and the City permit process managed end to end.
Foundation and frame
Excavation, footings and the structure going up, with documented quality checks at each milestone.
Envelope and services
Roof, windows, cladding, then mechanical, electrical and plumbing through the finished shell.
Interiors and handover
Review the finished work together, record outstanding items and agree how they will be addressed. Confirm the applicable handover documents.
Keep your street and get the house your family needs
Custom home construction, planned around your lot and your life.
Grand Design Build takes on custom homes in Toronto: we tear down your old house and build the new one. From Design to Warranty, one team handles the design package, permits, construction and handover planned around how you live before construction begins. You pay the permit fees, Committee of Adjustment fees and the survey.
One team carries your whole house
Planned first
Designed around how you live, and thoughtfully planned before construction begins.
Project documents
Review current licensing and insurance documents for your project before signing. Confirm the scope, responsibilities and applicable coverage in writing.
Your lot
Review the existing property, proposed scope and approvals before construction.
Your selections
Review materials and finishes at the design centre.
Design package
Architectural, structural, mechanical and interior design from our in house team.
One team
From Design to Warranty, one firm answers for the whole house.
Your old house comes down and your new one goes up under one contract
One coordinator manages your teardown and new build under one contract. Our in house team designs the house around your lot, street and how your family lives.
As custom home builders in Toronto, we draw each custom built home to get the most floor area, space and height your lot allows. We review the proposal against zoning requirements and prepare any required Committee of Adjustment application. Approval remains the authority’s decision.
The whole City of Toronto is a demolition control area, so an old house can only come down under a residential demolition permit, applied for after the permit for the new house. We prepare both applications. You pay the permit fees, Committee of Adjustment fees and the survey.
Four steps take you from the old house to the keys of the new one
Every custom home we build follows the same four steps, from your first visit to handover.
Talk through your project
- 1
Consultation and design package
You visit our design centre at 1558 Avenue Road or call us. We study your lot and zoning, then our in house team prepares your design package with architectural, structural, mechanical and interior design. Once you approve it, the house is thoughtfully planned before construction begins.
- 2
Teardown and build
We file your new house permit, any Committee of Adjustment application and the residential demolition permit. Then we take the old house down and build the new one, from foundation and frame to the envelope, services and interiors. One coordinator keeps you updated throughout.
- 3
Inspections
We book and manage every City of Toronto inspection as the house goes up. Your site supervisor checks the work at each stage before the next trade starts.
- 4
Final handover and warranty
We walk the finished house with you, fix any deficiencies on the spot, and hand over your keys with your permits, warranty documents and maintenance guides.
The work we plan
Six parts of your custom home, planned before the build
Every custom home we build covers the same six parts, planned around how you live before anything is demolished.
Teardown and rebuild
We take down your existing house and build a new one on the same lot. Demolition, site work and the new build sit in one contract, run by one team.
Design package
Our in house team prepares architectural, structural, mechanical and interior design together, so the layout, structure, systems and finishes are planned as one house from the start.
Permits and inspections
We prepare and manage your new house permit, the residential demolition permit, any Committee of Adjustment application and every City inspection. You pay the City fees and the survey.
Construction
Your site supervisor runs the trades from excavation and foundation through framing, the envelope, mechanical, electrical and plumbing, and the interior finishes.
Neighbourhood fit and custom design
Your house is designed to your taste and to sit well on its street, with the floor area, space and height your lot allows worked out before drawings go to the City.
Final handover and warranty
You walk the finished house with us, deficiencies are settled on the spot, and you receive your permits, warranty documents and maintenance guides with the keys.
We build custom homes in established Toronto neighbourhoods
You can find our custom homes across Toronto, from Forest Hill and Rosedale to Lawrence Park and the Avenue Road corridor. We know the zoning, the Committee of Adjustment and the heritage rules that come with building in established streets.
Central and west Toronto
Forest Hill, Rosedale, Yorkville, Lawrence Park, Bloor West Village and Etobicoke.
North York
North York, Willowdale, Bayview Village, Ledbury Park, the Bridle Path and Don Mills.
East Toronto
Leaside, East York, Leslieville, The Beaches and Cliffcrest.
Planned first, approvals handled and one team on your new home
Planned before the build
The house is designed around how you live, and thoughtfully planned before construction begins. You still pay permit fees, Committee of Adjustment fees and the survey.
Project documents
Committee of Adjustment approvals
We review the proposal against zoning requirements and prepare any required Committee of Adjustment application. Approval remains the authority’s decision. We draw each design package to get the most floor area, space and height your lot allows.
One team, start to finish
You deal with one firm for the design package, the teardown, the build and the handover, and one coordinator is your contact the whole way through.
Narrow contemporary home with tall windows and a dark upper storey.
Open living space with timber flooring and a coffered ceiling.
Custom home with a stone front, gabled roof and integral garage.
Stone home with gabled rooflines and a raised front entrance.
Stone front elevation with tall black-framed windows.
Custom homes we have built
Finished houses, photographed after handover.
Our projects
Custom home design brings the exterior, interior layout and structure into one coordinated plan.
Narrow lots need careful planning for entrances, windows, room proportions and movement through the home.
Kitchen and living areas are planned around storage, natural light and the way rooms connect.
Materials and exterior details are reviewed alongside the proposed design, before selections are finalised.
Stairs, landings and circulation need to work with the layout of every floor.
Window placement and interior finishes are considered together so the inside and outside feel connected.
The agreed scope identifies the work, selections and responsibilities before construction begins.
From design to warrantyOne team from your first plans to warranty support.
Fixed price, agreed upfrontYour agreed scope, allowances and exclusions clearly set out.
Custom design around your lifeDesigned for your family, your property and your lifestyle.
Follow your project from anywhereSee progress, schedules and updates in your client portal.
HCRA licensed and insuredView our HCRA record. Insurance details on request.
250+ completed projectsRenovations, additions and custom homes across Toronto.
Grand Design Build exceeded every expectation we had. From the very first consultation, they were professional, transparent, and truly passionate about their work. If you’re considering custom home building in Toronto, you won’t find a more reliable and talented team. Our new home is stunning, and the attention to detail is second to none. We are so grateful for their dedication and highly recommend them.
Will
Custom home build
a year ago
Grand design build are a master in custom home building in Toronto for sure. They designed and built our place just exactly how we wanted it. They are very reliable when it comes to communication and planning.
Kumar Vaibhav Tanwar
Custom home build
a year ago
Planning resources
Read before
you begin.
We build custom homes in neighbourhoods across Toronto
You will find our custom homes across Toronto in these neighbourhoods, each with its own page and projects.
Bayview VillageBloor West VillageCliffcrestDanforthForest HillLeasideLedbury ParkNorth YorkRosedaleThe BeachesWillowdale
View all service areas
Can't find your neighbourhood?
We build across Toronto and the GTA. These are the ones we work in most, not the only ones we work in.
Other services.
Architectural Design & Permits
From first sketch to your building permit, we handle every step.
Explore the serviceRenovations
Whole house and full house renovations in Toronto, with layout, structure and finishes planned together, including the basement and the exterior when the plan calls for it.
Explore the serviceAdditions
Second storey, rear and side home additions in Toronto, with design, permits and construction planned around your home and the space you need.
Explore the serviceCustom Homes
Explore the serviceLaneway / Garden Suites
Garden suites and laneway houses behind your home in Toronto, a secondary dwelling designed around your life and thoughtfully planned before construction begins.
Explore the serviceProject Management
Project management led with precision and transparency: one point of contact from the first idea to the final inspection.
Explore the serviceQuestions homeowners ask before they call
Bring your questions to the consultation. We will walk through the details with you.
How much does a custom home cost in Toronto?
Every custom home is priced on its own lot, size, design and finishes. Once your design package is approved, the house is thoughtfully planned around how you live before construction begins. You also pay the permit fees, Committee of Adjustment fees and the survey. Our guide to what it costs to build a house in Toronto covers the market in more detail.
How long does it take to tear down and build a custom home?
Every house is different. Design, City approvals, demolition and construction are planned together, and your schedule is set out in the contract before you sign. If your design needs a Committee of Adjustment hearing, that step is part of the schedule you review before signing.
Should we renovate our house or tear it down and rebuild?
It depends on the condition of the house, your lot and how much you want to change. When the foundation, layout and height all hold you back, a new house often makes more sense than a deep renovation. We review your house and zoning at the consultation and recommend the route that fits.
Do I need to hire a separate architect, engineer or interior designer?
No. Our in house team prepares your full design package, with architectural, structural, mechanical and interior design drawn together. Your layout, cabinetry, lighting and systems are planned into the drawings from the start, which avoids changes once construction begins.
What permits do I need to tear down and rebuild a house in Toronto?
You need a City of Toronto building permit for the new house and a residential demolition permit for the old one, applied for after the new house permit. If your design goes past the zoning limits, you also need a minor variance from the Committee of Adjustment. We prepare and manage every application. We review the proposal against zoning requirements and prepare any required Committee of Adjustment application. Approval remains the authority’s decision.
Why choose a fixed price contract over cost plus?
A cost plus contract charges actual project costs plus an agreed fee. Our fixed price contract sets an itemised price for the defined scope of work. Changes you choose to make later are priced with you before they go ahead.
Start here
Start with what your home needs
Tell us what you want to change and what you want to keep. We can discuss your property, the proposed work and the next step towards a feasibility study.
Contact us (416) 920-6066
- Discuss your goals and the existing property.
- Review the proposed scope and next steps.
- Confirm the study scope and any fees before proceeding.