Can a 100+ year old home actually be levelled?

Yes. Older homes settle unevenly over decades as the original framing and foundation shift. A structural engineer can assess exactly where and how much a floor has moved, and in most cases a corrective floor system can be engineered and built on top of the existing structure — no need to tear the home down to its foundation.

What causes a house to lean or sink on one side?

It's usually gradual settlement — soil movement or aging foundations. In this case, the soil beneath the street was once a riverbed, and ground like that settles unevenly over decades. It's a common story in older Beaches homes.

Do you need permits to relocate a plumbing stack or level a floor?

Yes, and we handle that as part of the project. Structural and plumbing work of this kind requires permits and inspection sign-off, which we coordinate in-house from start to finish.

Will a project like this disrupt the whole house?

It depends on scope. A main-floor renovation with structural correction is a significant project, and if it expands — as this one did to include the second floor — the timeline and disruption grow with it. We'll walk you through what to expect for your specific home before work begins.

Can I change the scope partway through the project?

Yes — as this project shows. If you see the impact of the work in progress and want to expand it, we can scope that in, though it will affect the timeline. We'll always be upfront about what a scope change means for your schedule.

Can you soundproof a shared wall between semi-detached or row houses?

Yes. If a wall is already open for other work, it's an efficient time to add a full acoustic assembly — insulation between the studs, a base layer of drywall, resilient metal channels, an acoustic panel, and a final drywall layer. Done properly, it can eliminate sound transfer between homes entirely.

PROJECT STORY - HIGH PARK, TORONTO

A Years-Old Leak, a Jacuzzi Worth Keeping, and a Full Bathroom Rebuild

When we opened the floor of this High Park bathroom, an old leak had rotted the subfloor and the wall studs behind the tub and sink. We repaired the damage at the source, rebuilt the room around it, and reglazed the owner's jacuzzi tub instead of replacing it — because a full gut doesn't have to mean starting from zero.

High Park, Toronto

2 weeks

9' × 6' (54 sq ft)

Full gut, tub kept & reglazed

A dated bathroom the owner didn't want fully replaced

The bathroom's skylight over the tub and its sloped, cottage-style ceiling gave the room character the owner wanted to keep — but the beige tile, older fixtures, and cramped toilet nook were overdue for an update. The one thing the owner was firm about: the jacuzzi tub stayed. It just needed to look and work like new.

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Before renovation tub side

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Bafore renovation toilet side

An old leak had been quietly rotting the floor and walls

Once we opened the floor, it was clear this bathroom had a leak years earlier that was never fully repaired. The subfloor was rotten, and the damage had spread into the wall framing at the sink and behind the tub. We replaced the affected studs and insulation on the tub wall before any new tile or fixtures went in — fixing the cause, not just covering it.

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In progress — subfloor and rough plumbing exposed

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In progress — Tile installation and wall repair

Full gut doesn't have to mean replacing everything

Not every full renovation starts from a blank room. Here, the owner's jacuzzi tub was in good structural shape and worth keeping — so instead of replacing it, we reglazed it and paired it with new shower controls and a new shower head, finished in brass to match the rest of the room.

REPLACED

Subfloor and wall studs behind the tub and sink
Vanity, sink, and toilet nook finishes
All tile, floor to ceiling
Shower controls and shower head
All bathroom accessories
All fixtures

KEPT & RESTORED

The existing jacuzzi tub — reglazed, not replaced
The skylight and sloped ceiling

WHY THIS MATTERS FOR YOUR PROJECT

Whether it's a tub, a vanity, or a toilet you'd rather keep, a full gut can still work around it. We'll tell you honestly what's worth keeping and what isn't — not just sell you a full replacement by default.

A full bathroom rebuild, finished in marble and brass

The finished bathroom pairs large-format marble-look tile with brass fixtures throughout, a floating vanity with an integrated sink, and the original skylight restored as the room's centrepiece. The toilet nook, once the tightest part of the room, now reads as part of one continuous, vaulted-ceiling space.

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After - Tub side

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After - Tub, tile and trim detail

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After - Sink and faucet

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After - Toilet side

WSIB coverage

You have no liability if one of our workers gets hurt on the job

Fully permitted

We take care of your permit and inspection process

One in-house team

Design, engineering, and construction

$5M insurance

Commercial liability for peace of mind

2-year warranty

Minimum on all completed work

Design included

At no additional cost

Bathroom renovation questions

Can I keep just one fixture, like a tub, and renovate the rest of my bathroom?
Yes. A full gut doesn't require replacing every fixture — if something like a tub or vanity is in good shape, we can build the renovation around it, as we did on this project.

How do I know if a past leak has caused hidden damage behind my bathroom walls or floor?
Soft flooring, discoloured grout, a musty smell, or tile that's come loose near a tub or shower are common signs. The only way to know the extent is to open the area up — which is exactly what we did here before any new finishes went in.

Can a jacuzzi or whirlpool tub be reglazed instead of replaced?
In most cases, yes, as long as the tub's structure and jets are still in good working condition. Reglazing restores the surface and finish without the cost or disruption of a full tub replacement.

Do I need a permit for a full bathroom renovation in Toronto?
Most bathroom renovations, including full gut jobs like this one, don't require a permit as long as no structural walls are moved and the plumbing stays within its existing footprint. If your project involves moving walls or major plumbing relocation, we'll confirm what's needed before work begins.

Have a bathroom you want to update — but not replace entirely?

Tell us what you'd like to keep and what needs to go. We'll give you an honest plan either way.