How to choose a renovation contractor in the GTA

Start with the checks that protect you

A renovation contractor works inside your home for weeks and handles a large amount of your money. Before comparing designs or prices, confirm the basics. A good contractor expects these questions and answers them easily.

1. Liability insurance

Ask for a certificate of insurance showing commercial general liability coverage, the amount, and the expiry date. You can ask for it to be sent directly from the broker.

2. WSIB coverage

Ask for a current clearance certificate from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and verify it on the WSIB’s website. If an uninsured worker is hurt on your property, the problem can become yours.

3. Licensed trades

General renovation contractors are not licensed by the province, but several trades are regulated:

• Electrical. Only a Licensed Electrical Contractor may be hired to do electrical work, and the work is inspected by the Electrical Safety Authority. Licence numbers can be looked up on the ESA’s website.
• Gas. Gas lines and appliances are installed by certified gas technicians.
• Plumbing and HVAC. Ask who does the work and what qualifications they hold.
• Structural work. Beams and removed load-bearing walls need a design from a professional engineer.

Ask which trades are the contractor’s own employees and which are subcontracted. Either is fine; you should simply know.

4. Working at heights

Anyone working where they could fall, on a roof or an addition, needs Ontario’s working-at-heights training. It is a fair question for exterior and addition projects.

Then look at how they work

Is the design finished before work starts?

Many of the delays and extra charges in renovation come from decisions made after demolition. Ask each contractor:

• Will I see the complete design before I commit?
• Is a 3D rendering available?
• When does demolition happen relative to design approval and ordering?

A contractor who demolishes first and designs later is asking you to live in a building site while decisions are made.

Who handles permits?

If the work needs a building permit, find out who prepares the drawings and who applies. Be wary of anyone who suggests skipping a required permit or asks you to take it out yourself to save time. Our guide to renovation permits in Ontario explains what needs one.

How do they treat your budget?

Tell each contractor what you want to spend and watch the response. A useful answer explains what that budget can achieve. An unhelpful one ignores the number, or agrees to everything without detail.

Who will be on site, and who do I call?

Ask who runs the job day to day, how often you will get updates, and who to call when something comes up.

Compare quotes properly

A low price on a vague scope is not a low price. For each quote, check:

• Scope. Is every item listed? Demolition, disposal, electrical, plumbing, drywall, flooring, painting?
• Materials. Are cabinets, counters, tile, and fixtures specified, or covered by allowances? Are the allowances realistic for what you want?
• Exclusions. What is explicitly left out?
• Permits and inspections. Included or extra?
• Contingency. How are hidden conditions handled and priced?
• Timeline. Start date, duration, and what happens if it slips.

If two quotes differ widely, the scopes are almost certainly different. Ask each contractor to explain the gap.

Check their record

• Independent reviews. Read reviews on platforms the contractor does not control, such as HomeStars, Google, and Houzz. Look at how recent they are, how the contractor responds to criticism, and whether reviewers describe projects like yours.
• References. Ask to speak to a past client with a similar project.
• Time in business. A company that has been operating for years has a record you can check.
• Consistent details. The business name, phone number, and insurance documents should all match.

Get it in writing

For home renovation contracts in Ontario, consumer protection law gives homeowners rights around written agreements. Whatever the size of the job, insist on a written contract that sets out:

• the contractor’s legal business name, address, and phone number,
• a detailed description of the work and materials,
• the total price and the payment schedule,
• start and completion dates,
• who obtains permits,
• how changes to the work are priced and approved in writing,
• warranty terms, and
• proof of insurance and WSIB coverage.

Keep payments tied to completed stages, and never pay the full amount before the work is finished.

Warning signs

• Pressure to sign today.
• A large cash deposit, or a discount for paying cash with no paperwork.
• No written contract, or a one-line quote.
• Reluctance to show insurance or WSIB documents.
• Advice to skip a permit.
• No fixed business name, phone number, or online record.

How Calico Designs and Renovations answers these questions

We would expect you to ask us everything above. In brief:

• Experience. Calico Designs and Renovations has served the Greater Toronto Area for 8 years.
• Design first. You can request a full 3D rendering and approve the design before work begins, and we do not demolish at contract signing.
• Budget. We work within the client’s budget, as long as it is realistic.
• Trades. Plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and structural engineering are all done by our own team.
• Insurance, WSIB, and bond. We carry $5 million liability insurance, WSIB coverage, and an $11 million bond. Details are on our About page.
• Warranty. Up to 8 years, with the terms for your project written into your contract.
• Reviews. Our reviews are on HomeStars.
• Process. Every step is described on our process page.

Planning a whole-home renovation, an addition, a condo, or a commercial space? Book a free consultation and bring this list.