Scarborough, Ontario, basement renovations by Desire Basements

Basement Renovations in Scarborough

Luxury basement finishing for Scarborough homes. Free 3D design, an itemized price that locks before you sign, a lifetime workmanship warranty and a written finish date that pays you $200 for every late day.

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Basement renovation in Scarborough, street by street

Scarborough's classic bungalows (Agincourt, Wexford, West Hill) were practically built for basement suites: side entrances, solid foundations and full-size footprints. It's some of the most natural second-suite housing stock in the GTA, and families here use basements hard: suites, theatres, gyms and in-law space.

Mature streets reward moisture-first construction and egress upgrades, which our crews handle as part of the build, not as surprises. Whatever you start with, you end with finished square footage your family uses every week, and a number your Scarborough house carries at resale.

AGINCOURTWEXFORDBIRCH CLIFFGUILDWOODWEST HILLMALVERN
SINCE2017
400+GTA BASEMENTS
1POINT OF CONTACT
Open finished basement with cream sectional and pot lights, basement renovation in Scarborough by Desire Basements

Basement renovation permits in Scarborough, handled for you

Scarborough basements fall under Toronto Building. A building permit is required for finishing, with applications filed online and staged inspections through the build. Under Ontario's updated housing rules, secondary suites are permitted as-of-right in most detached, semi-detached and townhouse zones, with no parking requirement for the unit. The rules that decide older homes are Building Code details: 1.95 m ceiling height over most of the living space (underpinning solves it), compliant egress, fire separation and interconnected alarms. We design to code from day one, file with Toronto Building, and manage every inspection to final sign-off.

1

Drawings & permit
Engineer-stamped and filed for your Scarborough address

2

Code-first build
Egress, fire separation and alarms built in

3

Staged inspections
Framing, insulation, ESA electrical, plumbing

4

Final sign-off
Closed permit, documented for resale

A free 3D design of your finished basement

Walk your basement room by room in 3D. Move a wall, swap a finish, then approve every detail before a stud goes up.

★★★★★

"Kam delivered the project on time and on budget. It's now been three years since our basement was completed, and it still looks incredible. We continue to receive so many compliments on the space."

MS FAIRBAIRN · GTA HOMEOWNER · ✓ GOOGLE REVIEW

Built on trust, backed in writing

Since 2017BUILDING IN THE GTA

Basement renovations across the GTA since 2017, the owner on every site.

LifetimeWARRANTY COVERAGE

Lifetime workmanship warranty on every wall, floor and fixture we install, in writing.

$200/dayON-TIME GUARANTEE

Your quote includes a written timeline. If we miss it, we pay you $200 for every late day.

WHAT A BASEMENT COSTS · ONE STANDARD, ONE QUOTE SHEET
$67,800A 1,000 SQ FT BASEMENT WITH A BATHROOM, BEFORE HST
One standardLIFETIME WORKMANSHIP WARRANTY
400+BASEMENTS SINCE 2017

Every basement is priced from the same quote sheet, line by line. Permit drawings, 3D design and the lifetime workmanship warranty are included.

Price my basement Get a Free Estimate

A 432 sq ft basement on Grandhall Court

  • Completed 2022
  • 432 sq ft
  • $50,000 to $60,000

A three-piece bathroom with a custom tiled shower, an egress window with the enlargement permit handled by us, laundry plumbing and sink, bar cabinetry, 17 pot lights and refinished staircase steps. A compact scope that shows what the lower end of our range buys.

basement bar black stools led display
finished basement open space cream sectional
basement bathroom vanity dark wood round mirror
Photography from Desire Basements projects across the GTA. Contract range shown before HST.See our projects

What a basement in Scarborough costs, by scope

The same quote sheet we use everywhere in the GTA, line by line. Permit drawings, 3D design and the lifetime workmanship warranty are included.

ScopePrice before HST
600 sq ft with a three-piece bathroom$56,000
800 sq ft with a three-piece bathroom$62,000
1,000 sq ft with a three-piece bathroom$67,800
1,200 sq ft with a three-piece bathroom and two bedrooms$75,200
1,500 sq ft with a three-piece bathroom and two bedrooms$83,700
The family basement: media wall, full bathroom, laundry, around 1,000 sq ft$60,000 to $85,000
The entertainment build: theatre or media room, bar, gym, spa bathroom, 1,000 to 1,300 sq ft$95,000 to $130,000
Three-piece bathroom, added to a basement without one$11,700
Custom wet bar+$15,000
Home theatre setup+$20,000
Walkout entrance, permits included$15,000 to $25,000
Full-perimeter underpinning for low ceilings$60,000 to $120,000
Legal basement apartment, purpose-built$75,000 to $110,000 or more

Every basement is priced from the same quote sheet, line by line: a 1,000 sq ft basement with a three-piece bathroom comes to about $67,800 before HST, and the price per square foot falls as the basement grows because the permit, bin, breakers, stairs and bathroom cost the same at any size. Use the calculator to price yours. Cost guides: bathroom, walkout and underpinning.

Answers for Scarborough homeowners

Do I need a building permit to finish my basement in Scarborough?

Yes. Finishing a basement in Scarborough requires a building permit from Toronto Building, with staged inspections for structural, framing, insulation, electrical and plumbing work. Desire Basements has the drawings prepared and stamped by a licensed structural engineer, files the application online, and manages every inspection through final sign-off.

Can I add a legal basement apartment in Scarborough?

Yes. Secondary suites are permitted as-of-right in most detached, semi-detached and townhouse zones in Scarborough, with no minor variance and no parking requirement for the unit. The suite must meet Building Code requirements: 1.95 m ceiling height over most of the living space, compliant egress, fire separation and interconnected alarms. Where ceilings fall short, underpinning or benching solves it. We design, permit and build the full package.

How much does a basement renovation cost in Scarborough?

Every basement is priced from the same quote sheet, line by line: a 1,000 sq ft basement with a three-piece bathroom comes to about $67,800 before HST, and the price per square foot falls as the basement grows because the permit, bin, breakers, stairs and bathroom cost the same at any size. Use the calculator to price yours. Every Desire quote is itemized line by line and locked before you sign, and includes a free 3D design of your finished basement.

Ready for your Scarborough basement renovation?

Book a free in-home consultation. We'll measure your space, talk through your vision, and bring a 3D design with your itemized basement renovation quote.

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FREE 3D DESIGN · LIFETIME WORKMANSHIP WARRANTY · $200 A DAY ON-TIME GUARANTEE