Overview: General Contractors
A general contractor runs the whole job. You sign with one company, and it books the framers, plumbers, electricians and drywallers, then sets the order they turn up in. On a basement finish or an addition, that order is most of what you pay for. Nobody closes a wall until the inspector has seen what's inside.
Who's allowed to run that job depends on where you live. Quebec needs a general contractor to hold a licence from the Régie du bâtiment, and the number has to appear on quotes, contracts and invoices. Toronto licenses building renovators through the city. Alberta needs a prepaid contracting licence from any contractor who signs you up away from its office and takes money before the work is done.
The paperwork protects you more than the photo gallery does. Get a written scope that lists what's left out, and payments tied to finished stages. In Ontario, a renovation contract above a trivial amount must be in writing. A final bill there can't run more than a small margin past the estimate unless you agreed to new work.
Our listings show what each company states on its own website, plus what customers wrote in public reviews. Start with your province, then open your city to see who takes on renovations there.
General renovation costs in Canada
Define the rooms, construction scope and finish allowances first. Then compare the contract price and how changes will be billed.
| Service | Planning budget | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic interior renovation | C$30–C$100per square foot of renovated floor area | Paint, flooring and fixture refresh across defined rooms; existing layout and major services retained.Use only the rooms being renovated in the area calculation. A new kitchen, bathroom or changed layout needs a different scope.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Listed surface finishes; Specified labour Budget separately or confirm: Major plumbing or electrical upgrades; Structural work |
| Full interior gut renovation | C$250–C$450per square foot of renovated floor area | Interior stripped and rebuilt within the existing structure, with specified building services and finishes.This is a deeper reconstruction scope than a cosmetic refresh. Confirm structural work, kitchens and bathrooms in the written specification.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Listed demolition and trades; Agreed finish allowances Budget separately or confirm: Unidentified structural defects; Unlisted exterior work |
| Basic finish to a 1,000 sq ft basement | C$35,000–C$55,000per 1,000 sq ft basement | Dry unfinished basement converted to basic open living space, without a bathroom or kitchen.This sized example is not a linear rate for every basement. Small projects and divided layouts can cost more per square foot.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Insulated walls, drywall, lighting and ordinary flooring; Specified interior trade work Budget separately or confirm: Waterproofing and foundation work; Bathroom, kitchen and legal-suite upgrades |
| Ground-floor home addition | C$350–C$600per square foot of new floor area | Residential extension on a new foundation, with an agreed roof connection, services and interior finishes.This is a ground-floor extension on a new foundation. Confirm design, permit and utility-connection allowances; a second-storey addition is a different project.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Listed foundation and structure; Specified finishes Budget separately or confirm: Land purchase; Unlisted design and municipal charges |
| Cost-plus contractor fee | 15%–25%of eligible direct construction costs, before the fee | Management fee under an agreed cost-plus contract with the eligible cost base defined.Eligible direct project costs specified in the cost-plus contract, before this management fee; state treatment of taxes, allowances, subcontractor markups and change orders. This is the contractor fee, not the project total. Do not add it to a fixed-price quote that already includes overhead and profit.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Specified management and coordination Budget separately or confirm: Direct project costs; Unlisted fees |
How a cost-plus fee changes the total
Assumptions:
- The contract defines C$100,000 of eligible direct costs before the contractor fee.
- The agreed fee is 15%–25%; taxes and other exclusions remain separate.
C$100,000 × 15%–25% = C$15,000–C$25,000 in fees.
C$115,000–C$125,000 for the defined direct costs plus the fee.
Not included:
- Applicable taxes
- Costs outside the contract base
What changes the price
- Scope, access and occupied-home working constraints
- Finish allowances and extent of building-service changes
- Concealed conditions, design revisions and contract pricing model
Ask before accepting a quote
- Which costs are fixed, allowances or subject to later pricing?
- Does the total already include your overhead and profit?
- How must changes be approved, and what records support cost-plus charges?
Avoid counting the fee twice
- A fixed contract total may already include overhead and profit.
- For cost-plus, define the cost base, markups and approval limits in writing.
Canadian context
Canadian consumer guidance recommends a detailed written contract specifying scope, materials, permits, taxes and payment arrangements.
Planning amounts in Canadian dollars. Published tax treatment varies; confirm applicable taxes and the final total in your written quote. Rows can be different services, alternative packages or separately priced extras. Add only work that is needed and not already included in your quote.
Frequently asked questions
Can I cancel a renovation contract I signed at home?
Usually, if you move quickly. In Ontario, a contract signed in your home comes with a ten-day cooling-off period. You can cancel for any reason, with no cancellation fee, and the business has to refund you. Alberta gives ten days from the day you get your copy of a prepaid contract. Send the cancellation in writing and keep proof it arrived.
Contractor or project manager: what is the difference?
A general contractor signs one contract for the finished job and hires the trades as its own. A construction manager runs the site for a fee while each trade signs with you. That second route makes you the payer on every contract. In Ontario, the Construction Act then expects you to keep a holdback from each trade's payments, so you're tracking several instead of one.
Who is allowed to do the wiring in a renovation?
In Ontario, anyone you hire for it has to be a licensed electrical contractor. The Electrical Safety Authority says your general contractor has to bring one in. That contractor files a notice with ESA, and ESA can inspect the wiring before the walls close. Ask for the Certificate of Acceptance when it's done. In Quebec, electrical contractors get their licence through the CMEQ.
Who arranges permits, approvals and inspections?
Settle it in the contract, because Ontario's own renovation guide tells owners that getting permits is their responsibility. Most contractors apply for you anyway. In Toronto, work that changes the structure or installs or alters plumbing or heating needs a building permit. Each inspection is a free look at work you won't see again once the drywall goes up.
How should the payment schedule be set up?
Against finished stages, never against dates. In Ontario, the Construction Act has you keep back part of each payment until the time for liens runs out. That money helps protect you if your contractor stiffs a supplier or a trade and they register a lien on your home. Ontario's guide also tells you to keep the deposit small and never pay in full up front.
