Basement finishing
Turning an unfinished Ottawa basement into living space, with the moisture work done first and the permit sorted before the framing.
Read morePLAN RESEARCH CONNECT
Plan your Ottawa
renovation with
more clarity.
Describe your rooms, compare renovation options and prepare a clear brief for your Ottawa renovation quote.
Get a renovation quoteTell us what you want to change.
A clear renovation brief
Rooms, priorities and decisions in one place.
Plan the next step
Prepare your project for a clear quote.
Project details matter
Permit and scope questions vary by project. Confirm requirements for your home.
All services
Kitchen renovation
A full kitchen rebuild in an Ottawa house, from the layout and the permit question through to the cabinet lead time that sets the schedule.
Read moreBathroom renovation
A gut bathroom done in the right order, with waterproofing that will hold and a ventilation fan that actually moves air outside.
Read moreHome additions and extensions
Adding a room, a second storey or a rear extension in Ottawa, where zoning, a new foundation and Leda clay all arrive at once.
Read moreSecondary suites and basement apartments
Making a legal second dwelling unit in an Ottawa house, where the Building Code requirements are specific and non-negotiable.
Read moreYour renovation, planned around your home
Plan your project with clear scope, practical questions and a written quote tailored to your home.
Ask who will prepare any permit drawings, who is responsible for electrical and plumbing work, and whether structural design needs a professional engineer. Review any written contractor warranty and the applicable permit requirements. Taxable renovation services supplied by an HST registrant in Ontario generally carry 13 per cent HST.
Soil and foundation conditions vary by lot. For an addition or floor lowering, ask a qualified designer whether an engineered foundation or geotechnical review is needed.
What changes the quotes
Ottawa renovation quote guide
- Scope variesFull basement renovation
- Area mattersBasement rec room
- Code reviewLegal secondary suite in an existing basement
Prices depend on the measured scope and the condition of the home. Request an itemized written quote and confirm whether HST, permits, design, disposal and contingency are included.
How the work runs
- Scope and zoning firstWhat you want, what the zoning by-law allows on your lot, and whether a minor variance is in play. Design after that, never before.
- Drawings by somebody qualified to sign themA designer with a BCIN, an architect, or a professional engineer where the structure calls for one. A supplier's layout is not a permit drawing.
- Permit, then demolitionApplying after the fact means opening finished work for inspection, and an unpermitted suite is a problem at insurance renewal and at sale.
- Contract, holdback and warrantyWritten scope, HST shown separately, the ten per cent statutory holdback as its own line, and a warranty with a term and a scope.
Area guides
Explore renovation planning in Ottawa: Kanata, Stittsville, Orléans, Alta Vista, Westboro and the Glebe.
Guides
Renovation permits in Ottawa, and who may sign the drawings
What needs a permit, what a BCIN is, when an architect or engineer is legally required, and what the inspections are actually for.
Holdback, HST and warranty on a renovation
The ten per cent statutory holdback and the 2026 annual-release rules, why ordinary renovations do not generally qualify for the GST/HST new housing rebate, and where Tarion stops.
Ready to discuss your project?
Describe your renovation and request a project-specific quote.
A renovation brief that makes quotes comparable
Describe what does not work today and how the space will be used.
Read the preparation guide →