Century-home restorations that keep facades, plaster, millwork and original oak while rebuilding structure and systems to current code.
Serving Unionville, Markham Village, Cornell and more
Markham Home Renovations: Kitchen, Bath and Basement Upgrades Plus Unionville Heritage Work
Markham's newer neighbourhoods are prime for kitchen, bath and basement upgrades, while Unionville and Markham Village carry heritage rules we plan around.
- Permits filed in-house
- Quote requests reviewed within 1 business day
- $5M CGL + WSIB
22+
Years in the GTA
300+
GTA projects
92%
On schedule (2024)
Reviewed in 1 Business Day
Get Your Free Written Quote
Reviewed personally by Royce (Roy) S. and Senior PM Nolan K.
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We review every request within 1 business day and will call you to book a site visit.
- 22+ Years
- $5M CGL + WSIB
- Written Warranty Registered
- 300+ Projects
- COI in 1 Business Day
Know the Risks First
Markham Home Renovation Problems We Plan Around
The local problem
New windows or a porch rebuild on a Unionville or Markham Village home
What you seeThe old windows leak and the porch is failing, but replacing them the way a big-box quote suggests would not pass heritage review.
Why it happens hereFour Heritage Conservation Districts cover the city's historic cores, and Unionville's plan has been in force since January 1998, so exterior changes on Main Street homes need a heritage permit.
How we fix itOur heritage restoration team specifies windows, trim and porch details that meet the district plan, prepares the heritage permit and builds to the approved drawings.
Budget killer 1
Permit + Committee of Adjustment delays
6-16 weeks of approvals and $8K-$40K in consultant fees when design ignores zoning, heritage and conservation rules.
Budget killer 2
Hidden conditions behind old walls
Knob-and-tube wiring, asbestos, 60-amp service, lead solder and rot found after demolition with no agreed pricing.
Budget killer 3
Material scope creep
Unrealistic allowances for tile, fixtures and flooring that double mid-build.
The Whole House Renovation Fix
In-house permit coordination, a 5-8% discovery contingency on Tier 2+ contracts, and materials allowances locked in writing with a signed change-order protocol.
Before You Start
What to Plan For Before You Renovate
Markham has two renovation personalities. Cornell, Berczy Village, Wismer and Cathedraltown are full of 2000s and 2010s builder-grade homes where owners want premium kitchens, better bathrooms and a finished basement. Unionville and Markham Village hold some of the oldest houses in York Region, inside heritage conservation districts where exterior changes need approval. We handle both with the same approach: fixed pricing first, realistic timelines and permits filed in-house.
Heritage + older homes
Unionville and Markham Village heritage districts: exterior changes need approval.
Heritage restorationInfill, additions + upgrades
Builder-grade kitchens, baths and basements in Cornell, Berczy and Wismer.
Home additionsServices
Upgrades for Builder-Grade and Heritage Homes
Every service below is available here, delivered by the same design-build team and fixed-price contract behind our home renovations across Toronto and the GTA, with permits filed through City of Markham.
Tier 1 kitchen refreshes and Tier 2 full kitchen guts with custom cabinetry, islands, stone counters and pro appliances.
Finished basements, legal second-unit suites and underpinning or bench-footing to gain ceiling height, waterproofed first.
Multi-room and full-house gut renovations (Tier 3) with structural reconfiguration, new mechanicals and finishes under one design-build contract.
Second-storey, rear and side additions, garden and laneway suites and garage conversions, designed, permitted and built by one team.
Primary ensuites, family baths, powder rooms and condo baths with membrane waterproofing and premium fixtures.
High-end renovations with Calacatta and Taj Mahal quartzite, Wolf/Sub-Zero/Miele, rift white oak and Red Seal finish carpentry.
Office, restaurant, retail and medical fit-outs for landlords and tenants, with OBC Part 3 compliance and after-hours dispatch.
Office rebuilds and fit-outs with meeting pods, glass partitions, T-bar ceilings and data cabling, phased around your team.
Restaurant and cafe build-outs: commercial kitchens, NFPA 96 hoods, grease interceptors, make-up air and dining rooms.
Deadline-driven retail fit-outs: storefronts, display millwork, lighting and durable flooring, with landlord approvals handled.
How It Works
How a Kitchen, Bath or Basement Project Runs
One coordinator runs design, permits and construction. Approval time is planned up front, so the schedule you sign is the one we build to.
- 1
Free estimate + site visit
We review your request within 1 business day, then visit to measure, photograph conditions and talk through priorities.
- 2
Written scope + fixed price
A written scope, hard-cap price, tier timeline and draw schedule before any design agreement.
- 3
Design (ARIDO-affiliated)
Layout, structure, cabinetry and finishes settled in a few focused meetings with our design lead.
- 4
Permits + approvals in-house
Building permits filed with City of Markham, plus Committee of Adjustment, heritage, tree or conservation applications when the lot needs them.
- 5
Build with weekly calls
Demolition, structure, rough-ins, inspections and finishes, with a weekly call from your project manager.
- 6
Deficiency walkthrough + written warranty
We walk every room with you, close the deficiency list and hand over your written warranty.
Tier 2+ payments follow a 6-draw schedule: 10% design, 15% permit-ready, 20% demolition, 20% rough-in, 20% substantial completion, 15% deficiency walkthrough.
Ready to Replace the Builder-Grade Finishes?
Get a written scope and a fixed price before you sign any design agreement. No large deposit: Tier 2+ work is paid in six draws tied to milestones, and change orders happen only when you add scope.
Local Track Record
Why Cornell, Berczy and Unionville Owners Choose Us
- Builder-grade kitchens, baths and basements upgraded on a fixed written price
- Unionville and Markham Village heritage permits prepared in-house
- City of Markham Building Standards permits and inspections managed for you
- ARIDO-affiliated design lead to settle finishes before construction
- Waterproofing-first basements with sump and backwater valve
- Weekly client calls and a deficiency walkthrough before final payment
Projects Near You
Recent Projects From Nearby Neighbourhoods
Real GTA projects, filtered for this area. Drag to compare before and after.
Before After Rosedale Heritage Whole-House Gut
2,400 sqft, full gut, 3 floors · 14 weeks · $287K
Restored a 1920s heritage semi with original red oak and a new structural span. Zero change orders; the kitchen island was settled in one design meeting.
Client Reviews
What Our Clients Say
Names are shown as initials and neighbourhood to protect client privacy.
"Our 1940s kitchen had a wall in exactly the wrong place. They brought in the engineer, put in a beam and moved the sink to a new island without opening the dining room ceiling twice. The written scope listed every allowance, so we knew where all $96K was going. Done in nine weeks."
"Small job for them, big deal for us. New tile, vanity and fixtures in our ensuite and powder room for $24K, finished in five weeks, and the crew cleaned up every single day."
"Registered second-unit suite with a written warranty. Rental income started month 5. Inspection passed first visit."
Local Knowledge
Renovation Experience Throughout Markham
How We Run Jobs Across the City
Projects are reached along Highway 404, Highway 407 and Highway 7, with Unionville jobs off Kennedy Road and Main Street Unionville, Cornell and Markham Village jobs off Highway 7 East and Ninth Line, and Berczy and Wismer jobs off McCowan Road and Major Mackenzie Drive.
Permits are filed with the City of Markham Building Standards department. We prepare drawings, file the application and book inspections. For heritage properties in Unionville and Markham Village, we also prepare the heritage permit application and plan its review time into the schedule.
Newer subdivisions in Cornell and Cathedraltown have rear lanes and tight side yards, so we plan deliveries and bin placement with the neighbours in mind and keep the site tidy every day.
The Homes We Work In
Cornell, Berczy Village, Wismer and Cathedraltown homes were mostly built between 2000 and 2015. They have solid structure and decent mechanicals but builder-grade finishes: thermofoil or basic shaker cabinets, laminate or entry-level quartz counters, builder tubs and unfinished basements. Kitchens with quartz or quartzite counters, ensuites with curbless showers and basements finished with proper waterproofing are the most common projects here.
Unionville's Main Street and Markham Village hold 19th century homes, many designated or within heritage districts. Exterior work like windows, porches and additions needs heritage approval, while interiors are usually more flexible. We restore what matters outside and upgrade the systems inside.
Neighbourhoods we work in
- Unionville
- Markham Village
- Cornell
- Berczy Village
- Cathedraltown
- Wismer
- Thornhill (Markham side)
Postal codes (FSAs) we cover: L6B, L6C, L6E, L3P, L3T
The area at a glance
- Municipality
- City of Markham
- Permit office
- City of Markham Building Standards
- Response
- Quote requests reviewed within 1 business day
- Landmarks
- Main Street Unionville and Toogood Pond · Markham Stouffville Hospital · CF Markville · Pacific Mall · Markham Civic Centre
- Main routes
- Highway 404, Highway 407, Highway 7
- Transit
- GO Stouffville line (Unionville, Centennial, Markham, Mount Joy); YRT Viva
Highways 404, 407 and 7 reach every neighbourhood we work in, and the Stouffville GO line stops at Unionville, Centennial, Markham and Mount Joy.
Got Questions?
Markham Renovation Questions Answered
Do Unionville homes need heritage approval?
Exterior changes in the Unionville Heritage Conservation District, in force since January 1998, typically need a heritage permit. Interiors are usually more flexible. We check the property's status before design and prepare the heritage permit if one is needed.
What does a kitchen renovation cost in Markham?
Tier 2 kitchens run $35K-$140K; cosmetic refreshes start around $18K. The range depends on cabinetry, counters, whether plumbing or gas moves, and the appliance package.
Can you upgrade a builder-grade home in Cornell?
Yes, kitchens, baths and basements with fixed pricing and realistic timelines. Many Cornell owners do the kitchen and ensuite together as one Tier 2 project to save on mobilization and design time.
Do you finish basements in Berczy Village?
Yes, finished basements and legal suites, $45K-$180K. We start with the envelope: membranes, interior weeping tile where needed, a sump with battery backup and a backwater valve.
Where are Markham permits filed?
With the City of Markham Building Standards department. We prepare drawings and file for you, then book and attend every inspection.
Still have a question?
Call the 24/7 line or send your project details. We reply within 1 business day.
Quote requests reviewed within 1 business day
Request Your Markham Renovation Quote
Send your project details and we will confirm scope, permit path and a written fixed price. Quote requests reviewed within 1 business day.
- Fixed price pre-design
- $5M CGL + WSIB
- Written warranty