Condo Renovation Planning

While renovating a condo may not seem challenging, it can be, mainly because of poor planning. To avoid unexpected expenses, it’s important to have a clear understanding of the Renovation House Cost in Toronto to guide your planning process effectively. All it takes to determine how well your condo renovation project turns out or if it even goes through depends entirely on how you planned your activities. Proper planning is essential, and it involves a lot of considerations and steps. Are you planning a condo renovation in Toronto? Here are the things you need to pay attention to.

Define Goals and Set Priorities

The first step in planning a condo renovation is to understand why you are starting the project and what you want to achieve. The answers to these questions will help you build a realistic plan and avoid unnecessary costs.

Make a list of changes:

• Write down what needs to be renovated first (e.g., outdated plumbing or faulty windows).
• Add items that you would like to update if your budget allows (e.g., a new kitchen or built-in wardrobes).

Note what you like about the apartment and what you want to keep:

• Involve all family members: Everyone may have their own wishes and needs: additional storage space, a comfortable work area, a more spacious bathroom. Discussing this together will help you take everyone’s interests into account and avoid conflicts in the future.
• Assess the impact of the season: Think about how the apartment behaves in winter and summer. Is there enough storage space for winter items? Are there any drafts? In summer, is there enough coolness and natural light? These details are worth considering in advance.

Set priorities:

• Functionality: how you will use the space and how comfortable it will be to move around the apartment.
• Lighting: how much natural and artificial light is needed in each area.
• Comfort and style: what materials, colors, and layout suit your lifestyle.

This approach turns general ideas into a concrete plan: you can see what needs to be done first and what can be postponed or replaced with a more affordable option.

Logistics and Practical Considerations

Plan time for each stage of the renovation, including obtaining permits if necessary.

1. Bathroom — 2–4 weeks, depending on the complexity of the redesign and delivery of materials.
2. Kitchen — 3–6 weeks, often longer due to custom-made furniture, appliance and plumbing connections.
3. Complete condo renovation — 2 to 4 months if all rooms are affected.

The timing depends on agreements with the management company, the scope of work, and the availability of contractors.

Main Stages of Work

1. Project preparation (1–2 weeks): Approval of design, budget, and technical solutions.
2. Obtaining permits and approval from the management company (1–3 weeks, may take longer depending on condo rules).
3. Preparation of the apartment (2–5 days): Removal of furniture, protection of floors and walls.
4. Demolition and rough work (1–2 weeks): Removal of old coverings, replacement of utilities, and redevelopment.
5. Finishing work (2–6 weeks): Finishing, furniture installation, connection of plumbing and appliances.
6. Final acceptance and elimination of minor defects (3–7 days).

Practical Details

• Construction waste removal: check whether your building has containers for waste disposal and who is responsible for ordering them. Management companies often require special bags or containers.
• Furniture storage: think in advance about where to store your belongings during the renovation. You can rent a storage room or arrange with the company to temporarily remove your furniture.
• Access to the apartment: check the rules for workers entering the building, the elevator schedule, and the times when noisy work is permitted.

Budget Planning

Prices are for the mid-range segment in Toronto. The total price for each item may be lower or higher depending on the scope of work, complexity, and materials.

• Kitchen: $20,000–$35,000
• Bathroom: $18,000–$25,000
• Flooring: $9–$15/sq. ft.
• Painting: $4,000–$7,000
• Complete condo renovation: $100–$250/sq. ft. For a 500 sq. ft. apartment: $18,000 to $125,000+

Hidden Costs when Renovating a Condo

• Permits and approvals: $500–$2,000 depending on the scope of work.
• Management company deposit (for repairs and elevator use): $500–$1,500.
• Construction waste removal: $300–$800.
• Temporary storage of furniture/belongings: $100–$300 per month.
• Unaccounted for finishing touches (replacement of hidden utilities, correction of defects): up to 10–15% of the budget.

Leave a financial buffer of 10–20% for these expenses.

Condo Renovation Planning Tips

When renovating, preparation for anything is crucial. Proper planning will help, but you can always do more for better results. Below are some essential tips for condo renovation in Toronto:

• Be flexible. When renovating bathrooms and kitchens, you must consider plumbing, electrical, and ventilation factors. To determine if renovating is possible. You should approach your renovation project as flexibly as possible because you will inevitably have to deal with restrictions and bylaws unrelated to structure, but you still have to follow them.
• Create a work list. Some renovations will require more detailed information than others. Split your renovation into projects such as the new kitchen. Then below ow it, list all the activities necessary. Breaking down the tasks provides a better overview of planned renovations. 
• Stick to your list. Once you have a work list, follow everything as it speculates. By checking your working list, your builder can provide needed records and timelines for every job, including insurance, based on the type of work and access points to the street and your building. 
• Make and double-check your budget. Avoid underestimating how much the condo renovation process will cost. Keep 10% of your budget aside for unplanned expenses, whether you are doing it by yourself or working with a renovation team.
• Get a second option. Conductors often have varying prices. Get quotes from several companies to determine which fits your acceptable range. Find out how much experience the conductor has through online reviews, if there is any, and check their licensing and insurance.

CSG Renovation for Your Condo Upgrade

We specialize in comprehensive condo renovations in Toronto. We have our own team of proven specialists with over 10 years of experience and hundreds of projects under our belt. A project manager will accompany you from the initial consultation to the final acceptance.

Our main services:

• Kitchen renovations in Toronto: design, furniture replacement, appliance installation, layout optimization even for small kitchens.
• Bathroom renovations in Toronto: updating plumbing, tiles, lighting, and creating modern, ergonomic solutions.
• Complete condo renovations and remodeling: from cosmetic updates to major renovations, taking into account all rules and approvals.

Call us at (647) 428-0007 or submit a request on our website. We will provide a free consultation, calculate an estimate, and offer the best solutions for your condo in Toronto.