Home additions · Etobicoke, Toronto

Home additionsin Etobicoke.

In Etobicoke’s early 20th-century lakeshore houses and postwar streets of detached homes, the lot and its zoning decide what an addition can be. From there we build out, build up or add a building in the yard, across Etobicoke from The Kingsway to Humber Valley Village.

Aerial view of the addition framed in timber against the side of the house, walls up and roof framing started
Looking down into the framed addition: new walls and floor joists in fresh lumber

RoomFraming the addition, Uxbridge

DetailWalls and joists from above

One-storey additions from
$300k
Per sq ft, on average
$200
Or less from our office
30min
Projects completed
300+

What’s included

What’s includedin a home addition.

An addition in Etobicoke is checked against the zoning before Toronto Building, Etobicoke York District reviews the building, so all four parts below start from the lot. One contract takes them from first drawing to occupancy permit.

Aerial view of a new addition’s walls framed off the side of the house

Add a room, or a few

Rear and side additions on the ground floor, laid out for easy movement, utilities and services between old rooms and new.

  • Rear and side additions
  • Room extensions
  • Foundations and framing
  • Utilities tied into the house
Aerial view of an addition sheathed to its upper storey above the original roofline

Add a storey

A second storey on the house you have, as strong and as lasting as the floors beneath it.

  • Second-storey additions
  • Structure for the new floor
  • Roof framing
  • Stairs to the new level
Roof trusses set on the framed walls of a new addition against a blue sky

A building in your yard

A separate building on your lot, designed and built by the same team that would extend the house itself.

  • Design and layout
  • Foundations and framing
  • Utilities and services
  • Finishing inside and out
Inside the finished addition: an oak stair with a frameless glass guard and an oak handrail

Design that matches, start to finish

New rooms match the old in style and materials, and one firm stays responsible until the occupancy permit.

  • Style and materials matched
  • Designers and architects
  • Permits to occupancy
  • Non-stop internal communication

How it runs

From the first ideato the last occupancy permit.

Six steps under one contract, with one project manager as your single point of contact.

First visit to handover, typically
29 to 34 weeks
  1. Step 1: Site measurement

    We meet at your home, hear what you need and take every measurement. 1 wk, from week 0.

  2. Step 2: Design development

    Buildable plans from your ideas, and materials picked to last. 4 to 6 wks, from week 1.

  3. Step 3: Detailed estimating

    A clear quote built around your budget, with no hidden costs. 1 to 2 wks, from week 5.

  4. Step 4: Permit coordination

    If the job needs a permit, we prepare the paperwork with the city. 8 to 12 wks, from week 6.

  5. Step 5: Construction

    Your project manager schedules the trades and keeps you informed. 14 to 20 wks, from week 14.

  6. Step 6: Final walkthrough

    We finish, touch up and clean, then walk through every detail with you. 1 wk, from week 28.

One project manager, start to finish

Timings are typical. Hatching marks where a step can run longer. Each job gets its own schedule.

Why add on

The advantagesof a home addition.

A well-built addition is an investment in how your family lives now, and in the home’s future value.

  1. Aerial view of a two-storey addition sheathed in house wrap beside the original bungalow

    Increased property value

    Homes are priced by the number of rooms they have, so a well-built addition adds value as well as space.

  2. A skylight set into the white ceiling of the new addition, beside a pot light

    Increased living space

    Build up, build out or build new: add a storey, a room or a few rooms, or a separate building in your yard.

  3. Looking up at new rafters and a steel post at the corner of the addition, a ladder against the framing

    Custom room designs

    Layouts planned for easy movement, utilities and services, in the style and materials of the house you already have.

  4. Foundation forms set in the excavation for the addition, a mini excavator behind the site fence

    Single contract, single source

    One local design-build firm takes the addition from first idea to occupancy permit, so messages don’t get lost between companies.

Client reviews

Clients, in theirown words.

Google reviews from the homeowners and business owners we have built for.

Google reviews
They did a great job renovating my bathroom and creating one in my basement. Kevin was very easy to work with and was able to accommodate all our requests. Everything looks really good!
Gilbert Lam

Google reviewBathroom renovation

Nuance Construction did an amazing job on our custom bathroom addition on the 1st floor. The team was professional, punctual, and kept everything clean throughout the project. … They completed the work on time and within budget, which was a pleasant surprise. … The final result exceeded our expectations.
Alex Cheng

Google reviewBathroom addition

Kevin and his team helped me renovate my new home, which was done incredibly well. They're nice and easy to work with, and offered many suggestions to how my home could look like when I lack ideas. They pay good attention to details to …
Yuchen Li

Google reviewHome renovation

I recently had the pleasure of working with Nuance Design Build for our new office renovation project, and I must say that my experience with them was nothing short of outstanding. From the initial consultation to the final walk-through, their professionalism, craftsmanship, and attention to detail were truly impressive.
PeakForce

Google review

Kevin and his team were instrumental to bringing my condo redesign vision to life! They were professional, knowledgeable in their trades and maintained great communication. They were a pleasure to work with and I would work with them again!
Kerry Yuan

Google review

Kevin and his team completed a full renovation of our ensuite bathroom, shared bathroom, and laundry room and the results are amazing! Their craftsmanship and attention to detail really show in every part of the project. …
Andy Lam

Google reviewBathrooms and laundry

Just wrapped up our full home renovation with Kevin's team, what an amazing experience! Kevin and his crew made everything so easy from design to finish. The quality and craftsmanship completely exceeded our expectations. Couldn’t be happier with how our home turned out!
Alex Chen

Google reviewFull home renovation

Thank you for turning my bathroom into one of those magazine bathrooms. Also excellent work on remove popcorn ceiling and adding pot lights.
Miranda Guo

Google reviewBathroom renovation

I had an exceptional experience with the Nuance team. They were professional, transparent, and incredibly detail-oriented throughout the entire project. The workmanship was of the highest quality, communication was clear and consistent, and everything was completed on time as promised. I highly recommend Nuance Design Build for anyone looking for a reliable and trustworthy partner to bring their vision to reality.
jingjing wang

Google review

Highly recommend Kevin and his team! They recently helped us finish our sunroom, and the whole process was smooth from start to finish. He’s very knowledgeable, easy to communicate with, and has a great attitude. We’re really happy with the result.
Wenting LI

Google reviewSunroom

We just finished a full home renovation with Nuance! Kevin and his team made the whole process smooth—from design ideas to picking materials. The craftsmanship and quality blew us away. My wife and I couldn’t be happier with the results!
Fan Xu

Google reviewFull home renovation

Kevin and his team are true professionals. We had a wonderful experience working with them on our home renovation. highly recommend Kevin and his team !
LKD 2009

Google reviewHome renovation

Kevin and his team are very professional, dedicated and easy to approach to. They can always provide the best advice based on my needs. I would definitely recommend them to my friends.
Yuhe Wang

Google review

Kevin and team brought our visions to life. He understands our requests and relay the message to the team efficiently. Always ready to answer our questions/ concerns :)
Stephanie Lo

Google review

I am really so much happy for the work you and your team has done there is no complaints you have great friendly people to work with keep up and wish you great success in your future Thanks 🙏
jayanti patel

Google review

Reasonable price. All work finished on time. Efficient workers. Delivered what we expected.
Ella Lee

Google reviewBathroom remodeling

01

Selected projects

From the job siteto the finished room.

Seven recent renovations across the GTA. Each one is paired with a photo from the job, taken before or during the work.

Projects
07
Communities
07

The finished addition: red brick and grey siding over a charcoal glass-panel garage door
The addition from above during framing, crew on the upper level
On siteFraming, from above

The old garage came down, a new basement was excavated beneath it and two levels went up on top: a full three-storey addition, with the garage moved to the front of the lot.

Added
About 1,200 sq ft
Levels
Basement plus two
Oak stair with a frameless glass railing inside the addition
Oak stair, glass railing
Plan a project like this

Charcoal kitchen with a black marble island and backsplash veined in white and gold, open shelving and cream bar stools
The same kitchen mid-job: stripped to the subfloor beneath the window and upper-cabinet wall
On siteDown to the subfloor

Charcoal cabinetry runs floor to ceiling around a black marble island and a matching backsplash, the white-and-gold veining carried across every face. Open shelving and cream stools keep the dark room from feeling heavy.

Island
Wrapped in black marble
Cabinetry
Charcoal, floor to ceiling
The black marble backsplash behind a stainless range top, under charcoal fluted and slab cabinets
Marble backsplash, range wall
Plan a project like this

A long waterfall island in walnut and white quartz running toward the dining area, a crystal chandelier above
The pantry wall before the work: two freestanding cabinets on the dark floor that stayed
BeforeThe pantry wall, before

Warm white cabinets and walnut tones suit the home’s existing dark floors. The island has waterfall edges at both ends. Custom pantry cabinetry runs into the living area behind a large pocket door, with a robot-vacuum bay and open display shelving at its centre.

Island
Waterfall edges, both ends
Pantry
Pocket door, robot-vacuum bay
Pantry cabinetry in warm white with lit open display shelving at its centre, beside the dining table
Pantry, open display shelving
Plan a project like this

Open-plan second floor: walnut lower cabinets and a bronze range hood run toward a bay window, wide-plank oak floor in afternoon light
The floor stripped mid-demolition, ceiling opened and the old stair exposed
On siteMid-demolition

The client’s parents live on the first floor, so we rebuilt the two above it. Load-bearing structure was modified for an open plan, the laundry moved out of the kitchen, and the third-floor terrace was extended to fit a new bathroom.

Structure
Load-bearing walls modified
Added
Third-floor bathroom
Bathroom with a floating oak vanity, a backlit mirror shelf and wall-mounted brass taps, glass shower behind
Oak vanity, lit mirror shelf
Plan a project like this

Basement lounge framed by a plaster arch: a navy shaker wet bar with a brass tap, open shelving, a cream bouclé armchair and display niches
The basement before the work: open joists overhead and insulation wrapped on the walls
BeforeOpen joists, bare walls

The owners gave the design free rein. Their basement became a lounge with a custom wet bar and a powder room, plus a nook built into the wall for the household’s cat.

Added
Wet bar, powder room
For the cat
A built-in nook
Powder room with a pill-shaped mirror between two disc sconces on a navy wall, over a cream vanity with brass pulls
Powder room, navy and brass
Plan a project like this

Oak shaker double vanity with scalloped brass pulls under two arched brass mirrors and globe light bars
The ensuite before: yellow walls, a long granite vanity and beige floor tile
BeforeThe original ensuite

The wall around the water closet came out and the tub became a walk-in shower behind frameless glass. The double vanity, makeup desk and full-height storage are Egger shaker panels under Taj Mahal-style quartz.

Removed
Tub, water-closet wall
Finish
Green tile, brushed gold
Close view of the oak shaker drawers and their scalloped brass pulls
Shaker drawers, scallop pulls
Plan a project like this

Bright ensuite: a walnut shaker vanity and makeup area under a scalloped mirror, a glass shower with a half wall, white wall mouldings
Looking down at the shower floor mid-install: herringbone mosaic, blue tape and levelling clips
On siteShower floor going in

The tub came out, and the bedroom entrance moved to the exterior wall behind a pocket door. A walnut slim-shaker vanity pairs one sink with a makeup area; the shower sets a marble floor against antique-brass fixtures.

Layout
Entrance moved, pocket door
Fixtures
Antique brass
Antique-brass hand shower on white tile beside two recessed niches
Antique-brass hand shower
Plan a project like this

Where we work

Based in Richmond Hill.Building across the GTA.

Kitchens, bathrooms, basements, additions and whole-home renovations in York Region, Toronto, Peel, Halton and Durham. The rings show roughly how long the drive is from our office, outside rush hour.

Our office
Town we serve
Completed project
Drive time, off‑peak

Questions & answers

Home additions FAQsfor Etobicoke.

Short answers on home additions in Etobicoke. The Etobicoke tab covers permits, local rules and the houses themselves, and the other tabs cover cost, timing and insurance.

Yes. Every addition in Etobicoke needs a building permit from Toronto Building, Etobicoke York District, and the design must meet the zoning on setbacks, height and lot coverage. If it can’t, a minor variance from the Committee of Adjustment comes first. We prepare the drawings and applications and see the Etobicoke addition through to the occupancy permit.

Yes. Etobicoke is within half an hour of our Richmond Hill office, outside rush hour, so for an addition we come out and measure the house in person, then come back with what the lot and the zoning allow. We price the Etobicoke design line by line, and one contract covers it to the occupancy permit.

It depends on the lot and the house. Much of Etobicoke is early 20th-century lakeshore houses and postwar streets of detached homes. A wide lot with yard to spare usually builds out. A narrow one, or a house whose foundation can carry more, may go up. We weigh setbacks, coverage, structure and how you use the Etobicoke house before recommending either.

Three kinds. Second-storey additions build up, rear and side additions build out on the ground floor, and a separate building can go in the yard. All three are designed to match the style and materials of the house.

Yes. Our designers and architects match your home’s style and materials so old and new blend, and the new space is built to last as long as the house it joins.

Yes. In Toronto the building permit comes from Toronto Building, and the drawings must show the addition meets the zoning. We prepare the drawings and applications, deal with the city on by-laws and zoning, and carry the job to the occupancy permit.

Size and complexity set the cost, and labour, quality materials and professional design fees are usually the biggest expenses. In Toronto, additions average around $200 per square foot and can rise past $350 for more intricate work.

In Toronto, a one-storey addition can start at about $300,000. Costs average around $200 per square foot and can pass $350 per square foot for more involved work. Labour, quality materials and professional design fees are the largest costs, and the addition’s size and complexity decide where it lands in that range. Nuance Design Build offers a free consultation and cost estimate, and builds the addition on a single contract, from the first idea to the occupancy permit.

Every Nuance Design Build project has a dedicated project manager who is your single point of contact. They coordinate the trades, run the schedule, oversee quality and keep you informed through demolition, rough-in, installation, finishing and the final walkthrough. You get a detailed construction schedule, updates before you have to ask, budget tracking and quality-control inspections, so you never have to chase different people for answers.

It depends on the scope and the municipality. Structural changes, additions and legal basement suites need a building permit, and the application itself can depend on where the home is. Nuance Design Build prepares the drawings and paperwork, works through the by-laws and zoning rules with the city and stays on it until the permit is approved. During construction we schedule and manage every required inspection.

A straightforward kitchen update with Nuance Design Build starts around $35,000. A fully customized kitchen, with premium cabinetry, quartz, quartzite or marble counters, upgraded lighting and a new layout, often runs $45,000 to $60,000 or more. Where yours lands depends on the cabinet material (Thermofoil, painted MDF, Egger or hardwood), the countertop, any plumbing changes, flooring that runs into the next rooms, built-in appliances and the lighting design. Settling the design early keeps the budget and the build in line, so the cost stays predictable.

At a standard finish, a 3-piece bathroom with a tub starts from $11,900, a 3-piece with a walk-in shower from $13,500, and a 4-piece master bathroom of 60 to 100 sq ft from $17,500. Bathrooms over 100 sq ft start from $20,000. Premium and luxury finishes raise each figure. Beyond size, the price follows layout changes, plumbing relocation, tile size and material, vanity customization, waterproofing and fixture quality. In older homes, problems hidden behind the existing finishes may need fixing first.

Design comes first. Nuance Design Build settles the design before construction starts and keeps design, budgeting and construction with one team, so the project can be priced accurately early on. We show you which elements add the most value (cabinetry, countertops, lighting, flooring transitions) and where extra spending won’t show. After the first consultation you get a detailed, transparent quote built around your priorities, with no hidden costs, and your project manager tracks the budget through construction.

Construction on a basement renovation in Richmond Hill, Markham, Vaughan or Toronto typically takes 6 to 10 weeks. The whole process, design and permits included, usually runs 2 to 4 months. Small cosmetic updates can finish sooner. Legal basements, secondary suites and jobs with plumbing or structural work can push construction closer to 10 to 12 weeks. Careful planning and a properly prepared permit application are what keep the schedule predictable once work begins.

Nuance Design Build visits your home. We talk about how you use the space today and what needs to change, and take the measurements needed to start the design accurately. We also look at layout options, structural limits and where the utilities run, so the project starts from a realistic direction rather than a wish list. From there we prepare a detailed, transparent quote for the full scope, worked out around your budget and priorities.

Not every basement qualifies as it stands. Before anything is designed, Nuance Design Build runs a feasibility assessment of the ceiling height, the foundation and structure, existing plumbing and electrical capacity, the HVAC system, zoning eligibility and where a separate entrance could go. Some basements need larger windows or mechanical upgrades to comply. You get an honest answer at this stage, before you commit to design or permit drawings.

Yes. Nuance Design Build is fully licensed and insured. We carry WSIB coverage and $5 million in commercial liability insurance, which protects your home and investment for the whole renovation. Every project is professionally managed, with clear scheduling, daily coordination and supervision from demolition to final detailing, so workmanship, safety and cleanliness stay consistent at every stage.

Nuance Design Build’s warranties run from 3 to 10 years, depending on the scope and category of work, so the coverage lasts well past the end of the project. Every renovation finishes with detailing, a post-construction quality inspection and a final walkthrough before handover. Legal basement conversions also come with clear documentation of the approved work and ongoing support once the unit is complete.

Nuance Design Build works in 18 cities across the GTA: Richmond Hill, where we are based, plus Vaughan, Markham, Thornhill, King City, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Brampton, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Aurora, Newmarket and Stouffville. We take on kitchens, bathrooms, basements (legal basement conversions included), home additions and full home renovations. Condo and commercial renovations are not offered yet.

Still have a question?

Ask us directly

People also ask

What homeowners searchbefore they call.

Questions people across the GTA type into a search bar before they renovate, with short answers. Search them, or open one and follow where it leads.

If the lot and the house can take it, yes: an addition gets you more room without moving. You can build up with a storey, build out with a room or a few, or build new in the yard, and the design matches the house you already have.

People also ask

A well-built one is. Homes are categorized for pricing by their number of rooms, so an addition adds to what the house is worth as well as to its space. Matching the original house, and building the new rooms to last as long as the old, protects that value.

People also ask

Designers and architects. At Nuance Design Build they draw the addition to match the existing house, and the same firm then prices and builds it, so the drawings, the quote and the construction all come from one place.

People also ask

For most GTA homes, yes. Finishing the basement is the most cost-effective way to add usable square footage without making the house any bigger. A legal secondary suite can also bring in monthly rent that goes toward the mortgage, and a permitted unit appeals at resale to investors, multi-generational families and buyers looking to offset carrying costs.

People also ask

Size sets the starting price. After that, the cost depends on layout changes, plumbing relocation, tile size and material, vanity customization, waterproofing requirements and fixture quality. In older Toronto homes, problems behind the existing finishes often have to be corrected first (a floor levelled, plumbing adjusted), and that adds preparation time and cost.

People also ask

Home additions in Toronto average about $200 per square foot, and more involved work can go past $350 per square foot. A one-storey addition can start at around $300,000. Most of the money goes to labour, quality materials and professional design fees, and the size and complexity of the addition decide where it falls in that range.

People also ask

Good to know

Additions in Etobicoke:good to know.

What is different about additions in Etobicoke: who reviews the work, which rules apply and the houses we tend to find. Every by-law links its source.

Addition permits in Etobicoke

Applications for an addition in Etobicoke go to Toronto Building, Etobicoke York District. They include structural drawings and a site plan showing the new walls against each lot line, so zoning and building reviews work from one set.

If an Etobicoke design needs a little more than the zoning allows, it goes to the Committee of Adjustment for a minor variance. That adds weeks, so we plan for it from the start.

Source: City of Toronto (opens in a new tab)

Additions in The Kingsway and Humber Valley Village

In Etobicoke we find early 20th-century lakeshore houses and postwar streets of detached homes. On a narrow century lot the side yards are only a few feet wide, so an addition usually goes up or back. A postwar bungalow on a wide lot is the classic candidate for a second storey, once an engineer confirms the foundation can carry it.

Zoning for additions in Etobicoke

Most of Etobicoke is zoned under Toronto’s By-law 569-2013, and in Long Branch the Neighbourhood Character Guidelines also shape new homes and additions. Before drawing the footprint, we measure the Etobicoke lot against Zoning By-law 569-2013, and ask for a variance only where the plan needs one.

Source: City of Toronto (opens in a new tab)

Trees near an addition in Etobicoke

In Etobicoke, Toronto’s Private Tree By-law requires a permit for private trees 30 cm or more in diameter, and the ravine by-law applies on ravine lots. If a tree is protected, digging a foundation near its roots can count as injury, so on an Etobicoke lot we survey the trees and draw the footprint around them before applying for the permit.

Source: City of Toronto (opens in a new tab)

Additions near a valley in Etobicoke

Some Etobicoke lots fall inside areas the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority regulates, near valleys, creeks, wetlands or shorelines. An addition on one needs the authority’s permit before the building permit, and the regulated line can move the footprint.

Source: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (opens in a new tab)

Book a consultation

Build up, build out, or build new.It starts with a visit.

We visit, take the measurements and talk through what you have in mind.

Get A Free Estimate

Track record

Years of experience
12+
Projects completed
300+

While we build

Workplace safety insurance
WSIB
Commercial liability insurance
$5M

After handover

Warranty, by scope and category of work
3 to 10yrs