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.

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PROJECT STORY - MARKHAM STREET, TORONTO

A two-storey addition built around a bigger kitchen and a new primary suite

We gutted the first and second floors, built a two-storey addition at the back, and supplied and installed a new kitchen — Markham Street, Toronto.

2-storey addition

Full floor gut

New kitchen addtion

New primary suite

The homeowner wanted a bigger kitchen downstairs and a new primary suite upstairs. We gutted both floors to make it happen.

Work started in late spring, when we removed the old rear deck to open up the build site.

Demolition and structural phase

Getting the permit approved added a few weeks at the start. After that, the build moved smoothly through framing and outside finishing.

Old deck removal

Rear wall removal

Foundation work

Once the old rear wall was open, our crew poured and waterproofed the new foundation, then built the block walls to support the two-storey structure above.

Foundation work

New concrete slab

On the main floor, the new addition made room for a custom kitchen and an open dining area with sliding doors to the yard. We moved the plumbing and electrical to fit the new layout, and we supplied and installed the kitchen.

Upstairs, the addition made room for a new primary suite.

Newly added addition interior

Exterior addition

2nd floor bedroom

New kitchen

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

Home addition common questions

How long does a two-storey addition take?
Construction usually takes 3 to 6 months once permits are approved. A second-storey addition on its own takes about 5 months. Add a rear extension, and it's closer to 6 or 7 months. The Markham Street project matched this timeline, running from late spring to late summer, including the wait for permits.

Do I need a permit for a two-storey addition?
Yes. Every home addition in Toronto needs a building permit. You'll also need architectural drawings and structural engineering calculations, plus separate electrical and plumbing permits. Permit review usually takes 4 to 12 weeks.

Can you renovate both floors while building the addition?
Yes, we do this often. We renovate your existing floors at the same time as we build the addition, instead of doing it as a separate project.

Do you supply the kitchen as part of an addition?
Yes, when it's part of the project. We supply and install the kitchen ourselves instead of using an outside vendor.

Will you relocate my plumbing and electrical?
Yes. Moving water and electrical lines to fit a new layout is a normal part of this kind of addition, and our own team handles it.

Planning your own two-storey addition?

Tell us about your project and we'll call you back today.