A general contractor in Scarborough is the person who keeps a renovation on schedule and on budget when several trades, permits and decisions have to come together. Scarborough has a wide mix of homes: 1950s bungalows in Wexford and Dorset Park, 1960s and 1970s backsplits in Agincourt and Bendale, larger family houses in Guildwood and the Scarborough Bluffs area, townhouses and condos along the main corridors, and newer homes in Morningside Heights and Rouge. The right plan for each is different, but the way a well-run project works is the same. This guide explains it.
TGV Construction Group Inc. is a licensed and insured general contractor with more than 300 completed projects in the GTA and Ontario since 2017. The general contracting page shows our services; for Scarborough costs by room, see the kitchen, bathroom and basement guides.
What people in Scarborough hire a general contractor for
Basement apartments. Many bungalow and backsplit owners add a second unit for family or rental income. That means a separate entrance, fire separations, egress windows, ceiling height, ventilation and, often, waterproofing first. See our article on basement waterproofing in Scarborough.
Kitchens and open layouts. Removing a wall between the kitchen and dining room, with a beam where the wall carries load, is one of the most common requests in older Scarborough houses.
Additions and second storeys. Bungalows on wide lots are good candidates for a second storey or a rear addition. These need drawings, zoning review and building permits from Toronto Building.
Whole-house renovations. New electrical, plumbing, insulation, windows, kitchen, bathrooms and floors, done in one planned project instead of years of patches.
Repairs after damage. Water, fire and storm damage need a fast response and then a proper rebuild. See emergency restoration.
How the project runs
- Site visit and brief. We walk the house with you, measure, photograph and note the age and condition of the structure, plumbing and electrical.
- Scope and budget. You receive a written scope with allowances for the items not yet chosen, so the budget is visible from day one.
- Drawings and permits. Where the project needs them, drawings are prepared and permits applied for before any structural or plumbing work.
- Selections. Cabinets, tile, fixtures and finishes are chosen early, and long-lead items are ordered before demolition.
- Protection and demolition. Floors, stairs and other rooms are protected and dust is contained; the work area is opened up.
- Hidden conditions. Anything found behind walls is shown to you with photos and a price before it is repaired.
- Rough-in and inspections. Framing, plumbing, electrical and ventilation are installed and inspected before walls close.
- Close-up and finishes. Insulation, drywall, flooring, tile, cabinets, trim and paint follow in a planned order.
- Final inspection and deficiencies. We walk the finished work with you, list anything to correct and fix it.
- Handover. You receive the paperwork, warranty details and photos of what was built inside the walls.
Staying on budget
Most budget surprises come from three places: choices made late, hidden conditions, and scope that grows during the job. Choosing finishes before work starts, keeping a contingency for what is behind the walls, and putting every change in writing before it is built keep a project under control. In older Scarborough houses, plan for things like undersized electrical service, old galvanized pipes and patched floors; a good contractor flags them at the site visit, not halfway through. Our budget tips go further.
Red flags when choosing a general contractor in Scarborough
- A price given over the phone without seeing the house.
- No written contract, or a contract with one line of scope.
- A request for most of the money before work starts.
- "You do not need a permit" for structural work, plumbing changes or a basement apartment.
- No proof of insurance or WSIB clearance.
- No clear answer to who will be on site every day.
An example from Agincourt
A 1970s backsplit needs a new kitchen, a refreshed main bathroom and new flooring through the main level. The owners also want to remove the wall between the kitchen and dining room. At the site visit, the wall turns out to carry part of the floor above, so an engineered beam and a building permit are added to the plan. Cabinets and tile are ordered first; demolition starts when they are confirmed. The kitchen and floors are done in one sequence, the bathroom in parallel, and the owners keep a working washroom throughout.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a renovation take with a general contractor in Scarborough?
It depends on the scope and the permits. A kitchen or bathroom without structural work usually takes weeks on site; a basement apartment, a second storey or a full house renovation takes months, plus the time for drawings and permits before work starts.
What is a change order?
A written change to the scope and price, agreed before the extra work is done. It keeps everyone clear about what was added, what it costs and how it affects the schedule.
Who is responsible for the trades' work?
The general contractor. You have one contract and one point of contact, and the contractor answers for the plumbers, electricians and other trades it brings in.
Can you renovate while we live in the house?
Often, yes. We plan the order of work, contain dust and keep a kitchen or bathroom usable where the layout allows. For whole-house projects, moving out for part of the work can save time and money.
Do you also do restoration work in Scarborough?
Yes. After water, fire or storm damage, we handle the emergency response and the rebuild as one project. See our emergency restoration page.
Work with a general contractor in Scarborough
We work across Scarborough, from Birchcliff and Guildwood to Agincourt, Malvern and Rouge, on renovations, basement apartments, additions and repairs after damage. See also home renovation and hiring a general contractor in Etobicoke.
Phone (365) 363-6995, email estimating@tgvconstructiongroup.ca, or tell us about your Scarborough project on the Get a Quote page.
