Scarborough, Ontario — basement renovations by Desire Basements
BASEMENT RENOVATIONS · SCARBOROUGH, ONTARIO

Basement Renovations in Scarborough

Luxury basement finishing for Scarborough homes — free 3D design, itemized fixed pricing, lifetime warranty, and a written timeline backed by our $200-per-day on-time guarantee.

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SCARBOROUGH'S TRUSTED BASEMENT RENOVATION COMPANY

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 your starting point, we turn that lower level into finished, livable square footage and real value added to your Scarborough home.

AGINCOURTWEXFORDBIRCH CLIFFGUILDWOODWEST HILLMALVERN
10+YEARS
400+GTA BASEMENTS
1POINT OF CONTACT
Open finished basement with cream sectional and pot lights — basement renovation in Scarborough by Desire Basements
PERMITS & APPROVALS · SCARBOROUGH

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
Prepared 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

INCLUDED WITH EVERY SCARBOROUGH ESTIMATE

A free 3D design of your finished basement

Walk through your basement room by room — move walls, try finishes, see your exact space — and approve every detail before construction begins.

★★★★★

"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 FAIRBARN · GTA HOMEOWNER · ✓ GOOGLE REVIEW
THE DESIRE GUARANTEES

Built on trust, backed in writing

10+YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

A decade of basement renovations across the GTA — owner-led on every single project.

LifetimeWARRANTY COVERAGE

Every project, every material, every detail — warrantied for the life of the house.

$200/dayON-TIME GUARANTEE

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

WHAT GTA HOMEOWNERS INVEST · REAL PROJECT DATA
$103,000MEDIAN PROJECT ACROSS THE GTA (2024–26)
$55/sq ftPROJECTS START FROM
$60–150KMOST GTA PROJECTS FALL WITHIN

From our 2026 GTA Basement Cost Report — built from the signed contract values of our completed projects.

See the full report → Estimate my basement
RECENT PROJECT · SCARBOROUGH

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 MORE PROJECTS →

What a basement in Scarborough costs, by scope

The same published rates and itemized add-ons we quote everywhere in the GTA. Permits, inspections, free 3D design and a lifetime warranty are included in every line.

ScopeTypical cost
1,000 sq ft finished at Essential ($55 per sq ft)$55,000
1,000 sq ft finished at Signature ($70 per sq ft)$70,000
1,000 sq ft finished at Luxury ($90 per sq ft)$90,000
The family basement: media wall, full bathroom, laundry, around 1,000 sq ft$60,000–$85,000
The entertainment build: theatre or media room, bar, gym, spa bathroom, 1,000–1,300 sq ft$95,000–$130,000
Three-piece bathroom with tiled shower$18,000–$28,000
Custom wet bar+$15,000
Home theatre setup+$20,000
Walkout entrance, permits included$15,000–$25,000
Full-perimeter underpinning for low ceilings$60,000–$120,000
Legal basement apartment, purpose-built$75,000–$110,000+

We do not yet publish a separate Scarborough median; Scarborough projects are quoted against the GTA median of $103,000. Sources: Toronto basement cost guide · cost calculator · bathroom, walkout and underpinning cost guides.

SCARBOROUGH BASEMENT QUESTIONS

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 prepares the drawings, 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?

Most professional basement renovations in Scarborough start around $55 per square foot and up — a 1,000 sq ft project starts in the $55,000 range with standard finishes. Across the GTA, the median project in our 2026 Cost Report is about $103,000. 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 WARRANTY · $200/DAY ON-TIME GUARANTEE