As you would expect, designing a Home Addition in Toronto can be a time-consuming process. As it is a large task, it is critical not to rush the planning step to guarantee that everything is done correctly the first time.
Whether you want to add a sunroom, a formal dining room, a home office, or any other sort of home addition, proper planning is necessary. This will save you money and time in the long term. It can also help you become aware of any potential issues along the way and help you to prepare for them.
While there will be numerous decisions to be taken, the planning process may be divided into three major and crucial phases.
Phase 1: Define property lines
Before creating a floor plan, it is important to determine where the ownership boundaries are. It is important to make sure you know exactly where your property line starts and ends between your neighbours and the municipality. This will give you an idea of the amount of space you can use when creating your floor plan.
How do you know where the boundary of your land is? Usually, if the previous owner has an official survey from the property they would have passed the copy to your lawyer. However, if you don’t have access to it, it can be obtained by hiring a professional survey company to complete a survey from your property.
The process of preparing and stamping an official survey copy can take 3 to 5 weeks. It is important to hire an experienced survivor to complete this portion of jobs properly, as many of your following decision will lead from here.
Phase 2: Design a plan
Now that you know how much space there is, you can start arranging the floor plan of your home addition. Following are what you need to pay attention in the process of designing:
City By-Laws and Legality
Even though you have the ownership of your property in full, The city’s by-law has a section on how far you can use your back and front yard as a living space. This is a critical point, as you can not add as much as you like to your home.
Functionality and Return on Investment
While you do not need to create a design, as one of our designers at Maserat Developments can assist you, you should think about how you will use the space.
You’ll want to plan something that not only is inside the area but also works great with the design of your existing home. The layout of the new space is another important aspect that can be dictated by your goals and needs in future. Through our consultation meeting with our clients, we always emphasize both the client’s needs and future Returns. You have to understand the needs of the market, so you can plan your addition in a way that your future prospective buyer finds your property fuctional.
Phase 3: Building permit
Once the layout and structure of your project are defined by the designer and structure engineer, then it can be submitted to the city to apply for a building permit. At the city, a zoning officer will review the proposed plan to make sure it will comply with all city’s By-Laws, if it does then upon his approval you will be issued with the building permit.
Phase 4: Choose material
The final stage in designing a home addition is to develop a material selection list. It is a good idea to think about second and third options for materials because your initial pick may be too pricey or unavailable. Our Design and Senior project manager will assist you with this stage as well, to make sure you can benefit from our past experiences.
Decide your must-have design choices and the areas where you’d be prepared to sacrifice if necessary. The above steps can be complicated and time-consuming, that is why at Maserat Developments we will help our clients to apply and get a building permit before the home addition project starts. We are a Home Addition Contractors in the City of Toronto.
We will arrange and schedule a professional engineer to visit your property to produce all necessary components. Contact us today to arrange a hassle-free consultation.
Understanding the permit requirements is crucial when planning a renovation to avoid delays or legal issues. Depending on the scope and structural impact, a building permit may be necessary to ensure the project complies with local regulations. At Maserat, our experienced project managers guide you through this process and advise on when permits are needed.
Obtaining a Building Permit
To start, homeowners must apply at their local district office. The permit process includes reviewing plans to ensure compliance with the Ontario Building Code, zoning by-laws, and other relevant regulations. Fees will vary based on the project type and size.
Additional permits, such as HVAC, plumbing, or demolition permits, may be required for more extensive renovations. Knowing which permits are needed and how to apply can save time and prevent costly setbacks.
Monitoring Your Permit Application
Toronto’s online system allows homeowners to track building permit applications. Permits are generally valid for the duration of construction, but if work hasn’t started or has paused, extensions can be requested.
Common Renovations That Require Permits
In Ontario, permits are required for various projects, such as:
Structural changes, including additions, garages, and underpinning foundations
Installing or modifying HVAC, plumbing, or electrical systems
Constructing new entrances, windows, or fireplaces
Demolishing part or all of a structure
Renovations That Don’t Require Permits
Not all renovations require a permit. Routine updates like replacing doors without altering openings, patching, painting, or installing cabinets typically don’t need formal approval.
Need Assistance with Permits?
Navigating permit applications can be complex. Maserat works with professional engineers to help clients gather required documents, ensuring a smooth approval process. For more information, explore our guide on converting the basement into a legal suite, which discusses additional considerations for basement renovations.
This revised content flows smoothly, making it easy for readers to understand the requirements and navigate the permitting process.
When you start thinking about getting a home addition done, you’ll need to check with your city what kind of addition you’re allowed to have, what dimensions are permitted, whether siding options are imposed or not, and more.
In fact, there are urban planning rules that specifically regulate home additions. Many municipalities even require you to get your plans done and officially signed by an architect or technologist before even handing you over the permit.
Depending on where you live, the cost of a permit can vary depending on the kind of home addition you plan on getting done. On average, a permit is about $2000. As for plans, depending on how complex they are, their cost can vary between $4,000 and $10,500 if they’re done by a technologist. It’s fairly easy to find permit request information online for most cities: Toronto, Mississauga, Vaughan, Markham. Some of them offer online application forms while others require you to show up at the urban planning office with your plans and home’s deed in hand.
Live in Toronto? Check out our Home Addition Services to learn the entire process – including the cost of each party involved! We provide home addition to our Toronto Neighbourhoods including (But not limited) to following: Davisville Village, Leaside, Summerhill, Rosedale, York Mills, Lawrence Park, Lytton Park, St. Clair West Village and Forest Hill.
Adding a basement to your home is no simple feat. This option is rather pricey, as there are a lot of costly steps involved. House lifting costs roughly between $16,000 and $20,000, then the foundation can cost anywhere between $30,000 and $45,000, and finally, you’ll need to add the cost of finishing your basement which is roughly $55 per square foot – all depending on whether or not you’re to include a bathroom, kitchen, etc.
The overall cost of adding a basement can vary greatly. It can be as low as $30,000 but easily go above $150,000. Of course, if you already have a basement and are looking to expand it or have a crawlspace, costs will vary as underpinning processes will take place. Reviewing our basement renovation services can help you to understand the process.
It’s also important to note that not all houses are ideal for this kind of addition. Homes with wooden structures and lightweight exterior siding are much easier to work with compared to homes covered in masonry. Sometimes, homeowners decide to get a basement put in to create a rental apartment.
In such a case, an areaway (i.e. a separate entrance) needs to be included as well as plumbing, electrical, and more. For this kind of project, there are many rules and regulations to follow according to your region’s Building Code. It’s not as simple as finishing your basement. However, adding a rental space is sure to increase your building’s resale value.
Keep in mind that you’ll need to check with your city if such a project is feasible, that’s why we provide an engineer on-site consultation. The session will allow you to discuss your desire goals and alteration with professional engineers and know if it is feasible in your neighbourhood. Our Building Permit Services can save you a lot of time and money.
A turnkey storey addition can cost anywhere between $145 and $210 per square foot. This is one of the most popular home addition options for many reasons.
Firstly, you can expand your living space without taking up more space on your property. It also increases your home’s resale value significantly. Though, like any other home addition, you’ll need to check the rules and regulations by the City of Toronto. Usually, the work should take between 2-4 months. Read more about our home addition services.
In most cases, it is better to add an addition to your current home rather than purchasing a new property. Since the cost related to addiction can be much lower and also you can keep enjoying same neighbourhood.
