Major home renovations in Toronto
Layouts, structure and finishes planned together.
Plan a whole house renovation around the space you need and the home you have. The work may include the basement and exterior where they form part of the agreed plan.
Whole house renovations that make your home work better for you.
Plan your layout, structure, services and finishes together, including the basement and the exterior when the plan calls for it. Our renovation design services cover full house renovations in Toronto, shaped around your existing home.
Whether you are planning a Toronto bungalow renovation or a larger house renovation, start with the space you need. If your plans need more room, explore home additions alongside the renovation.
The work we plan
Plan layout, structure, services and finishes together, including the basement and the exterior when the plan calls for it.
Rework the house around your daily life. The scope may include new layouts, structural changes, services and finishes, including the basement and the exterior when the plan calls for it. The amount retained or rebuilt depends on the assessed project.
Change how each floor is used or improve the connection between rooms. Proposed wall openings need to be assessed with the structure, services and finishes.
Explore whether changes to ceilings, floor levels or the roof could improve the space. The existing structure and applicable planning requirements determine which options can be developed.
Work through storage, privacy, circulation, lighting and services as part of the wider renovation. Room layouts and finishes need to fit the whole house plan.
Include the lower level where it forms part of the renovation. Proposed underpinning or other structural work needs its own assessment and coordinated design.
Coordinate masonry, brick, block, stucco or siding with the renovation where the plan calls for it. Windows, doors and insulation also need to work with the structure and interior layout.
Review these planning topics together when defining your renovation.
Room changes and structural work are considered together
The proposal defines the work and how changes are handled
Approval steps are included in project planning
A project coordinator keeps decisions organised
The construction sequence accounts for disruption and any temporary move
Current evidence is reviewed before construction
Handover includes a clear record of remaining work
Every full house renovation follows the same six steps, from the first visit to handover.
Talk through your project
Start with what works, what does not and the changes that matter most to your household.
Assess the layout, structure and relevant site conditions before developing the renovation approach.
Coordinate the rooms, structural approach, services and finishes. Review inclusions, exclusions and responsibilities before construction.
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.
Sequence the work and trades around the project plan. Keep decisions and changes documented, with updates through the project coordinator.
Walk through the finished work, record outstanding items and agree the follow-up. Confirm the applicable closeout and warranty documents.
Bathroom with twin vanities and a tub beneath tall windows.
White kitchen with a wide island and glass-front cabinets.
Living room with a carved fireplace and dark wood flooring.
A ground up custom home in Cliffcrest, where the 1950s bungalows on the Bluffs are steadily being replaced. Grey stone and limestone across the front, gabled dormers, and the garage set below the entrance so the main floor sits up off the street.
A three storey infill on a narrow lot, eleven metres from established grade to the top of the parapet. Buff veneer brick under a black clad set back top floor.
Fifteen feet of bathroom, planned as three zones: a glass shower just over five feet square, a 6'-7" freestanding tub set under the window, and the water closet behind its own door.
A rear addition on a Don Mills home. Painted brick, full height windows across the back, and an elevated deck sitting over a paved terrace.
A two storey garden suite clad in black vertical seam metal, with sliding doors opening onto a paved path and a cedar fence run alongside it.
Two custom homes built side by side on one street, one in pale brick and one in dark, with black window frames carried across both.
Red brick over a limestone base, steep gables, and a limestone surround to the entrance with a black bay window set beside it.
Grand Design Build did a rear addition, second storey, and all our bathrooms on a house in the Beaches. March to September 2025. We were told end of September and moved back in the second week, so a bit ahead of schedule. Fixed price contract, and the final cost was exactly the contract number. That mattered a lot to us. We decided to change few items for bathrooms and kitchen halfway and there were no issues with the change orders, and the pricing was really fair even though a fixed contract was signed. There were no pushback. The office project coordinators and the site supervisor were really helpful the entire way through. They also kept the site tidy for six months straight and our neighbours never once complained. Respectful crew. Recommend them.
Adam Tremblay
Rear addition and second storey, the Beaches
2 months ago
Allen and his team were a dream to work with. Truly an amazing experience and an incredible condo full renovation. The work was top notch and Allen was excellent to work with, respecting our ideas and desires and making our renovation dream a reality.
Robert Palmer
Condo renovation
2 years ago
I had a really good experience working with Grand Design Build on my home renovation and rear addition project. Their team was professional, knowledgeable, and easy to work with throughout the process. They took the time to understand our needs, offered helpful suggestions along the way, and also provided complimentary interior design support, which was a great added value. They were responsive and attentive to questions as they came up, and the project stayed on track from start to finish. I would recommend Grand Design Build to anyone looking for a reliable custom build and design company in Toronto.
Hasan Gumus
Home renovation and rear addition
4 months ago
Grand Design Build did a great job on our renovation. Their team was organized, kept us informed through each step, and also delivered quality work. They were reliable with timelines and very clear about costs and materials. Overall, we had a very smooth experience with them. Highly recommended!
Lima Rodwesko
Home renovation
10 months ago
Planning resources
Explore our existing neighbourhood pages for relevant service information. A Toronto bungalow renovation, semi-detached home renovation and larger house renovation each need a plan based on the building and its constraints.
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.
From first sketch to your building permit, we handle every step.
Explore the serviceSecond storey, rear and side home additions in Toronto, with design, permits and construction planned around your home and the space you need.
Explore the serviceTear down and rebuild in Toronto: design, permits and construction, thoughtfully planned around your life before work begins.
Explore the serviceGarden 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 led with precision and transparency: one point of contact from the first idea to the final inspection.
Explore the serviceBring your questions to the consultation. We will walk through the details with you.
A major renovation makes substantial changes to how the house works. It may involve layout, structural, service and finish changes, including the basement and the exterior when the plan calls for it. The scope is defined around the assessed house and your goals.
Cost depends on the size and condition of the house, structural changes, services, access and finishes. A feasibility study helps establish the scope and decisions needed before a detailed proposal. Contact Grand Design Build to discuss the study, its scope and the next steps.
The schedule depends on design, approvals and the construction scope. A whole house renovation needs a plan for access, services and living arrangements. Review the proposed schedule before signing, including any Committee of Adjustment process.
Wall openings need to be assessed against the structure and proposed layout. The design must account for how loads are supported and how the opening affects services and finishes. Feasibility and approvals are reviewed before construction.
Options depend on the existing structure and the work proposed. Roof changes, altered floor levels or basement work can have different structural and approval requirements. We review the house before recommending an approach.
It depends on the scope and whether safe living space and essential services can be maintained. A full house renovation may require temporary relocation for part or all of the construction. Discuss this during planning rather than assume occupation will be practical.
A building permit is required for structural or material alterations, including changes such as adding or removing walls. Some simpler work is exempt. The proposed renovation determines the permits and other approvals needed, which should be established before construction.
We coordinate the permit work included in the agreed scope. Your proposal identifies drawings, applications, inspection responsibilities and how City permit fees, Committee of Adjustment fees, consultant fees and survey costs are handled.
Start here
Tell us what you want to change and what you want to keep. We can discuss the next step towards assessing your house and planning the renovation.
Contact us (416) 920-6066
