Adding a Bathroom to a House: Plumbing, Venting and Permits
Where a new bathroom can go, how drains and venting work, when you need a plumbing permit, and why a basement bathroom needs a pump. An Ontario guide.
Home renovation in Ontario, explained
Renovate with your eyes open
An independent guide for Ontario homeowners: how kitchens, bathrooms, basements and additions actually get done, which work needs a permit and a licensed trade, how to choose a contractor and read a contract, and what goes wrong.
Start with the room you are changing
Five sections. Each opens with the guide to the whole process, then goes decision by decision.
Kitchens
The kitchen renovation process step by step: layouts and clearances, cabinets and millwork, countertop materials, opening a wall, and the mistakes to avoid.
6 guides
Bathrooms
Bathroom renovation from demolition to final inspection: adding a bathroom, shower waterproofing and tile, tub-to-shower conversions and ventilation.
5 guides
Basements
Finishing a basement in Ontario: moisture first, permits, egress windows, legal basement apartments, waterproofing and lowering the floor.
6 guides
Additions & whole home
Planning a home addition or second storey, zoning and minor variances, whole-home and gut renovations, custom home builds, and decks and landscaping.
6 guides
Planning & contractors
How to plan a renovation in Ontario: building permits, drawings, choosing a contractor, comparing quotes, the contract, holdbacks and timelines.
9 guidesNew guides
Basement Waterproofing in Ontario: Fix Moisture First
A practical guide to basement waterproofing in Ontario: find the source of moisture, choose exterior or interior solutions, and know the permits you need.
Legal Basement Apartments in Ontario: A Homeowner's Guide
What makes a basement apartment legal in Ontario: zoning, building permits, fire separation, egress, alarms, services and the risks of an unregistered unit.
Basement Finishing Permits in Ontario: What Needs One
What needs a building permit when finishing a basement in Ontario, what drawings show, which inspections apply, and why an unpermitted basement causes trouble.
Bathroom Renovation Steps: Demolition to Final Inspection
A practical guide to bathroom renovation steps in Ontario, from demolition and rough-in to waterproofing, tile and final inspection. Permits, trades and mistakes.
Bathroom Exhaust Fans: Code, Ducting and Quiet Choices
What Ontario's Building Code requires for bathroom exhaust, how to duct a fan to the outdoors, choosing a quiet unit, controls, and the mistakes that cause mould.
Do You Need a Building Permit for a Renovation in Ontario?
Which renovations need a building permit in Ontario, which usually don't, how applications and inspections work, and the separate electrical and plumbing permits.
Kitchen renovation
The kitchen renovation process step by step: layouts and clearances, cabinets and millwork, countertop materials, opening a wall, and the mistakes to avoid.
Kitchen Cabinets and Custom Millwork: A Buyer's Guide
How stock, semi-custom and custom cabinets are built, what plywood, particleboard and MDF mean for quality, and how to judge millwork before you order.
Kitchen Layouts: Galley, L-Shaped, U-Shaped and Islands
Practical guide to kitchen layouts for Ontario homeowners: galley, L-shaped, U-shaped and island plans, work triangle rules, aisle clearances and permit triggers.
Kitchen Countertop Materials Compared
Compare quartz, granite, laminate, solid surface and butcher block for Ontario kitchens: durability, heat, stains, seams, care, and templating and installation.
Bathroom renovation
Bathroom renovation from demolition to final inspection: adding a bathroom, shower waterproofing and tile, tub-to-shower conversions and ventilation.
Adding a Bathroom to a House: Plumbing, Venting and Permits
Where a new bathroom can go, how drains and venting work, when you need a plumbing permit, and why a basement bathroom needs a pump. An Ontario guide.
Bathroom Renovation Steps: Demolition to Final Inspection
A practical guide to bathroom renovation steps in Ontario, from demolition and rough-in to waterproofing, tile and final inspection. Permits, trades and mistakes.
Bathroom Exhaust Fans: Code, Ducting and Quiet Choices
What Ontario's Building Code requires for bathroom exhaust, how to duct a fan to the outdoors, choosing a quiet unit, controls, and the mistakes that cause mould.
Basements
Finishing a basement in Ontario: moisture first, permits, egress windows, legal basement apartments, waterproofing and lowering the floor.
Basement Waterproofing in Ontario: Fix Moisture First
A practical guide to basement waterproofing in Ontario: find the source of moisture, choose exterior or interior solutions, and know the permits you need.
Legal Basement Apartments in Ontario: A Homeowner's Guide
What makes a basement apartment legal in Ontario: zoning, building permits, fire separation, egress, alarms, services and the risks of an unregistered unit.
Basement Finishing Permits in Ontario: What Needs One
What needs a building permit when finishing a basement in Ontario, what drawings show, which inspections apply, and why an unpermitted basement causes trouble.
Additions, whole-home renovations and decks
Planning a home addition or second storey, zoning and minor variances, whole-home and gut renovations, custom home builds, and decks and landscaping.
Building a Deck in Ontario: Permits, Guards and Footings
A practical guide to building a deck in Ontario: when a permit is needed, guard height rules, footings below the frost line, utility locates and common mistakes.
Custom Home or Knock-Down Rebuild in Ontario
Planning a custom home or knock-down rebuild in Ontario? Learn the steps, permits, zoning rules, Tarion warranty, and how to choose a builder.
Planning a Home Addition in Ontario
How home additions work in Ontario: zoning and setbacks, survey and drawings, engineering, the building permit, foundations, tying into the house, and pitfalls.
Planning, permits and contractors
How to plan a renovation in Ontario: building permits, drawings, choosing a contractor, comparing quotes, the contract, holdbacks and timelines.
Do You Need a Building Permit for a Renovation in Ontario?
Which renovations need a building permit in Ontario, which usually don't, how applications and inspections work, and the separate electrical and plumbing permits.
How to Choose a Renovation Contractor in Ontario
Practical guide to finding, checking and hiring a renovation contractor in Ontario: references, insurance, WSIB, trade licences, questions to ask and red flags.
How to Compare Renovation Quotes in Ontario
Learn how to compare renovation quotes in Ontario: same scope, fixed price vs estimate, allowances, exclusions, HST, and the 10% rule. Practical guide.