Homeowner guides
Renovating in the GTA, explained with sources
What projects actually cost, which credentials the law actually requires, and how to check all of it yourself, every factual claim linked to the regulator or dataset behind it.
How to Check a Contractor’s Licence in Ontario
Ontario has no single contractor licence. Which registry to check depends on the work: ESA for electrical, TSSA for gas, Skilled Trades Ontario for compulsory trades, WSIB for coverage. Every lookup is free, and here is each one, step by step.
Updated August 13, 2026
GTA Renovation Cost Guide
What renovations actually cost in the Greater Toronto Area: quoted ranges by project type and scope tier, per-square-foot material rates, regional labour differences, and the assumptions behind every number. Source set last verified June 2026.
Updated August 13, 2026
Contractor Insurance and WSIB: What Ontario Homeowners Should Check
No public registry lists a contractor’s liability insurance. You verify it through a certificate of insurance, confirmed with the broker. WSIB clearance, by contrast, is a free online lookup. What each one covers, how to check both, and when an exemption is legitimate.
Updated August 13, 2026
Hiring a Renovation Contractor in Ontario: The Checklist
The sequence that protects you: verify credentials, get a written contract with a defined scope, keep the deposit proportionate, know your Consumer Protection Act rights, and confirm who pulls the permit, each step with its primary source.
Updated August 13, 2026
Cost & hiring facts by project type
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