Finished basement family room with pot lights

Oshawa, Ontario

Renovation contractor in Oshawa

Kitchens, bathrooms, basements, legal basement apartments, additions and decks for Oshawa homes, planned properly, permitted where required and managed from first visit to final walk-through.

(647) 424-1511

Free written quote

Tell Us About Your Project

Prefer to talk? (647) 424-1511

Free Written QuotesPermit GuidanceLicensed Electrical & Plumbing TradesOne Point of Contact

Ontario Renovation Company

Renovations made for the way Oshawa lives.

Oshawa has older homes around downtown and the original auto-plant neighbourhoods, post-war bungalows across the south and east, and newer subdivisions in Windfields, Taunton and Northglen near Durham College and Ontario Tech University.

We work across Oshawa from the lakeshore to Windfields and Taunton, in post-war bungalows, older downtown homes and newer north-end subdivisions. The projects we are asked about most here are legal basement apartments near the campuses, bungalow kitchen and bathroom updates and full renovations of older homes.

Written scope

Every quote lists the work, the materials, the permits and the schedule before anything starts.

Permits sorted

We tell you what needs a permit, apply for it and book the inspections.

Trades in order

Demolition, rough-ins, inspections and finishes scheduled in the right sequence.

One point of contact

One person to call from the first visit to the final walk-through.

Permits & inspections

Permits in Oshawa

Building permits in Oshawa are issued by the City of Oshawa. Structural changes, additions, basement apartments, new bathrooms and most decks attached to the house need one, and electrical work needs an ESA permit. We tell you what applies before you sign, coordinate drawings, apply for the permit and book the inspections.

Ask About Your Project

Usually needs a permit

Additions, structural and load-bearing wall changes, basement apartments, new bathrooms or moved drains, and decks attached to the house or more than about 600 mm off the ground.

Usually does not

Replacing cabinets, counters, flooring or fixtures in the same place, painting, and most cosmetic updates.

Electrical

Done by a licensed electrical contractor under an Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) permit.

Secondary suites

Must meet the Ontario Building Code and Fire Code, plus local zoning, parking and entrance rules.

Inspiration

Ideas for your renovation

Kitchens, showers, built-ins, laundry rooms and finished basements. Bring any photo you love to your consultation and we will talk through what it takes.

Open-concept main floorOpen-concept main floor
Tiled walk-in showerTiled walk-in shower
White kitchen with islandWhite kitchen with island
Main-floor laundry roomMain-floor laundry room
Custom built-insCustom built-ins
Finished basementFinished basement

Areas served

Where we work

Ontario Renovation Company works throughout Oshawa, including Downtown Oshawa, Lakeview, Eastdale, McLaughlin, Northglen, Taunton and Windfields. We also serve nearby Courtice, Ajax, Bowmanville, Pickering, Newcastle and Port Perry and the rest of Durham Region.

(647) 424-1511info@ontariorenovationcompany.com

Mon–Sat 8am–6pm

Investment

What shapes the price of a renovation in Oshawa

Every house is different, so every project is quoted in writing after a visit. These are the factors that move the number.

Scope & size

How many rooms, how much square footage, and whether it is a refresh or a full gut.

Layout changes

Moving walls, plumbing or gas lines costs more than keeping the existing layout.

Structure

Load-bearing walls, beams, foundations and additions need engineering and permits.

Materials & finishes

Cabinets, counters, tile, flooring and fixtures range widely in price.

Condition of the house

Old wiring, plumbing, water damage or uneven floors found along the way.

Permits & drawings

Projects that need drawings, permits and inspections take more time and planning.

The process

Four steps, start to finish

01

Consultation

Tell us what you want to change and send a few photos. We visit, measure and talk through options.

02

Written Quote

A clear scope, materials, permits and schedule, in writing. No vague allowances.

03

Permits & Planning

Drawings, permits and material orders lined up before demolition starts.

04

Build & Walk-Through

Work done in the right order, inspected where required, and walked through with you at the end.

Complimentary quote

Start your project.

Tell us about your renovation in four short steps. We will reply to book a visit, usually within one business day.

  1. Share the details

    Project, location, budget and timing.

  2. Site visit & quote

    Scope, materials, permits and schedule, in writing.

  3. Enjoy the space

    Built in the right order and walked through with you at the end.

Prefer to talk? (647) 424-1511

01 Service

02 Location

03 Details

04 Contact

What are you planning?

Kitchens, Baths & Interiors

Basements, Additions & Outdoor

Questions

Frequently asked

Are you a general contractor in Oshawa?+

Yes. We manage renovations across Oshawa from start to finish: kitchens, bathrooms, basements, basement apartments, additions, flooring and decks, with licensed electrical and plumbing trades scheduled as part of the project and one point of contact throughout.

Who issues building permits in Oshawa?+

Building permits for Oshawa are issued by the City of Oshawa. We tell you which parts of your project need a permit, coordinate drawings, apply on your behalf and book the inspections.

Can I build a legal basement apartment in Oshawa?+

In many cases, yes. Ontario allows additional residential units in many houses, and the City of Oshawa sets the local zoning, parking and entrance rules. Every suite needs a building permit and must meet the Building Code and Fire Code. We check what your property allows before you commit.

How much does a renovation cost in Oshawa?+

It depends on the scope, the size of the space, the materials and whether walls, plumbing or electrical are moving. Tell us about the project and send a few photos and we will visit and send a free written quote.

Which parts of Oshawa do you serve?+

All of Oshawa, including Downtown Oshawa, Lakeview, Eastdale, McLaughlin, Northglen, Taunton and Windfields, as well as nearby Courtice, Ajax, Bowmanville and Pickering.

What renovations are most common in Oshawa?+

With post-war bungalows, older downtown homes and newer north-end subdivisions, the projects we are asked about most in Oshawa are legal basement apartments near the campuses, bungalow kitchen and bathroom updates and full renovations of older homes.

How do I get a quote in Oshawa?+

Use the form on this page or call (647) 424-1511. Tell us the type of project, your timing and a rough budget; photos help. We will book a visit and send a written quote listing the scope, materials, permits and schedule.

Home Renovations in Oshawa: Kitchens, Bathrooms, Basements and More

Century and heritage homes in Oshawa

Oshawa's older homes, many built before the Second World War, have character worth keeping and systems that usually are not: knob-and-tube or early wiring, plaster and lath walls, stone or block foundations, and framing that is rarely square. We open these houses carefully, test for asbestos and lead paint before demolition, and plan for what is behind the walls instead of pretending it will not be there.

Post-war bungalows and back-splits in Oshawa

The post-war bungalows and back-splits in Oshawa are solid, simple houses that renovate well. Typical work includes taking out the wall between the kitchen and living room, replacing galvanized supply pipes and cast-iron drains, upgrading the electrical service, and making better use of the basement, which often already has a side door at grade.

Newer homes built since 2000 in Oshawa

Newer Oshawa homes have good bones and builder-grade finishes. The most common projects are finishing the basement, often with a bathroom roughed in by the builder, and upgrading kitchens and ensuites. Engineered floor joists cannot be cut or notched without an engineer's approval, and in the first years of ownership it is worth checking how a change affects your Tarion new-home warranty.

Kitchen Renovations in Oshawa

In Oshawa, homeowners from Downtown Oshawa and Lakeview call us when the kitchen no longer fits the way they live. Some want an island and an open sightline to the family room, others want the same footprint with better cabinets, lighting and counters. Both are worth doing well.

We handle the whole Oshawa kitchen remodel as one project: demolition, any wall removal or structural work, plumbing and electrical by licensed trades, cabinets, counters, backsplash, flooring and paint, in the right order and on a written schedule.

Bathroom Renovations in Oshawa

Whether it is a main bath in Downtown Oshawa or a new basement bathroom anywhere in Oshawa, we plan the layout, the plumbing and the waterproofing first, then the finishes you will see every day.

Every Oshawa bathroom we build gets a continuous waterproofing membrane, a properly sloped shower base and an exhaust fan sized for the room, with plumbing by licensed trades and tile set flat and true.

Basement Finishing in Oshawa

Oshawa basements vary a lot, from older foundations that need careful moisture work to newer poured basements ready to finish. We plan each one around the house it is in.

Every Oshawa basement we finish starts with a moisture check, then proper foundation insulation, framing, electrical and plumbing, drywall, below-grade flooring and lighting, with egress windows wherever a bedroom is planned.

Legal Basement Apartments in Oshawa

Demand for legal basement apartments in Oshawa is strong, whether for rental income, a parent moving closer or a young adult who wants their own space. Many post-war bungalows, older downtown homes and newer north-end subdivisions in Downtown Oshawa, Lakeview and Eastdale have basements well suited to a secondary suite.

Secondary suites in Oshawa are approved by the City of Oshawa, which sets its own zoning, parking and entrance rules on top of the Ontario Building Code and Fire Code. We check what your lot allows, coordinate drawings and the permit, then build the suite and book inspections through to final sign-off.

Home Additions in Oshawa

In Oshawa, an addition is often the answer for families who love their street in Downtown Oshawa and Lakeview but have outgrown the house. With post-war bungalows, older downtown homes and newer north-end subdivisions, rear additions, second storeys and main-floor suites are all common.

Accessible Renovations in Oshawa

Many Oshawa homeowners want to stay in the neighbourhood they know, in Downtown Oshawa, Lakeview and Eastdale and beyond, and the right changes to the bathroom, entrances and main floor make that safer and easier.

Renovating in Durham Region

Durham mixes post-war bungalows and older brick homes near the lake with large newer subdivisions to the north, so the work here ranges from first renovations on decades-old houses to finishing builder-grade basements in homes only a few years old.

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