Serving Markham City of Markham Permits Late-1980s and 1990s Stock

Home Renovation in Markham

Renovator Toronto renovates across Markham, where the dominant housing era is earlier than Vaughan’s and much earlier than Brampton’s. Markham grew 34.2 percent in the five years to 1991, from 114,597 to 153,811, which places the weight of its stock in the late 1980s and 1990s. 2021 census figures give 338,503 people in 110,867 occupied dwellings, with growth of only 2.9 percent since 2016.

City of Markham issues the permit

Heritage streets at Main Street Markham and Main Street Unionville

Late-1980s and 1990s two-storey subdivision stock

Get a Markham renovation estimate

Send your Markham address and what you want renovated. We reply to book a free site visit.

What can we help with?

Service

So the right crew reviews your project.

Itemized written quote with HST at 13 percent shown.

Markham

A city whose housing is now hitting its first major renovation cycle

What decides a Markham renovation is when the house was built. The city added 39,000 residents in the five years to 1991, a 34.2 percent jump, and growth has since slowed to 2.9 percent in the five years to 2021. That means a very large share of Markham houses are now 30 to 35 years old, which is precisely the age at which kitchens, bathrooms, flooring and mechanicals all come due at once, and where basements finished in the 1990s are ready to be redone properly. Markham has two heritage areas, Markham Village and Unionville, with Main Street Markham and Main Street Unionville as heritage streets, and both Markham GO Station and Unionville Station date from 1871. Other local landmarks include the Frederick Horsman Varley Art Gallery, the Markham Museum with the relocated Locust Hill Railway Station, Heintzman House, once home to the piano maker Charles Heintzman, and the Cathedral of the Transfiguration.

Markham houses hitting their first renovation cycle

Stock at the 30-year mark

A 34.2 percent population jump in the five years to 1991 means much of Markham's housing is now 30 to 35 years old, the age where kitchens, bathrooms, flooring and mechanicals all come due together.

Two heritage areas

Markham Village and Unionville, with Main Street Markham and Main Street Unionville as heritage streets. If your property is in one, confirm the designation status before planning exterior changes.

City of Markham rules

Permits, zoning and second-unit provisions are Markham's own. Toronto's Multiplex By-law and flood subsidy do not apply.

338,503 Markham residents, 2021 census

110,867 Occupied private dwellings

34.2% Population growth in the five years to 1991

1871 Year both Markham and Unionville stations were built

What we renovate in Markham

The work we are called in for most across Markham's late-1980s and 1990s housing.

$8,000 to $20,000

Load-Bearing Wall Removal

Engineered beam, shoring and new footings, with the permit filed before demolition.

$2 to $15 per sq ft

Flooring Installation

Subfloor flattened and moisture-checked, then hardwood, vinyl, laminate or carpet.

$10 to $30 per sq ft

Tile Installation

Membrane and slope built before a single tile goes on, floor or wall.

$200 to $1,200 per linear ft

Custom Cabinets

Custom or semi-custom cabinetry built to the room, or refacing sound boxes.

$1.80 to $4.50 per sq ft

Interior Painting

Filling, sanding and priming before colour, with the prep stated in the quote.

$1.50 to $3.50 per sq ft

Drywall Repair and Installation

Board hung, taped and finished flat, with repairs priced at the cause.

Four Markham checks at the site visit

Four checks specific to a Markham address.

Which permit office and which second-unit route

The City of Markham issues the permit and applies its own zoning and second-unit provisions. Toronto's Multiplex By-law and secondary suite rules do not apply here, so the route to an additional unit is a Markham question answered by address.

Whether a heritage designation applies

Markham Village and Unionville are recognised heritage areas with heritage main streets. We confirm the current designation status with the City before planning any exterior alteration, rather than relying on a secondary source.

What 30-year-old mechanicals are doing

On stock from around 1990, the panel, the furnace, the water heater and sometimes the plumbing are all at or past their design life. If the renovation touches them, it is cheaper to address them in the same scope than in two separate projects.

Whether the 1990s basement finish is worth keeping

Many Markham basements were finished once already. We check moisture, framing, insulation and egress before recommending whether to work with the existing finish or strip it back, because reusing a bad assembly is a false economy.

Our Process

The Markham renovation timeline

1

Free site visit

We measure, check headroom, drains, framing and panel capacity, and confirm the permit office for your Markham address.

2

Itemized written quote

Scope, materials, permit and engineering allowances, payment schedule and dates, with HST at 13 percent shown.

3

Permits and build

Drawings and engineering where the scope needs them, permit filed, then structure, rough-ins and finishes with inspections booked.

4

Deficiency list and walkthrough

A written deficiency list worked to completion, then a walkthrough with you before final payment.

Feedback from Markham homeowners

Renovator Toronto transformed our outdated kitchen into a functional and modern space. The team kept us informed at every stage, and the finished work exceeded our expectations.

The crew completed our basement renovation with excellent attention to detail. They listened to our needs, offered practical suggestions, and created a comfortable space for our family.

We had a great experience with the team from the initial estimate to the final walkthrough. Communication was clear, the schedule was well managed, and the results look fantastic.

Markham renovation, answered

Who issues the building permit in Markham?

The City of Markham, which is a separate municipality from Toronto with its own building department and zoning bylaw. Toronto's Multiplex By-law, secondary suite provisions and Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy do not apply here.

What is the typical age of a Markham house?

Much of the stock is from the late 1980s and 1990s. Markham grew 34.2 percent in the five years to 1991 and has grown only 2.9 percent in the five years to 2021, so a large share of local houses are now 30 to 35 years old.

Is my Markham property in a heritage area?

Markham Village and Unionville are recognised heritage areas with heritage main streets. We confirm the formal designation status for your address with the City before quoting exterior work rather than assuming from the neighbourhood name.

Should I redo a basement that was already finished?

Often the answer is to strip it back rather than work over it. We check moisture, the framing and insulation assembly, whether an egress window exists and what the panel can carry. A 1990s basement finish frequently has no waterproofing behind it, and building over that repeats the problem.