FAQs - Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC

Most comprehensive GTA renovations require at least one and often all three. A plumbing permit is required for any new fixture rough-in, drain or supply modification, or fixture relocation. An ESA electrical permit is required for virtually all electrical work beyond replacing existing fixtures at existing locations, new circuits, panel work, new receptacles, new lighting. HVAC and mechanical permits are required for new equipment installation and significant system modifications. Gas work requires TSSA-registered gas contractor involvement. We assess permit requirements for every project and manage all applications in-house, homeowners should never have to navigate this process themselves.
Several indicators suggest a panel upgrade should be part of your renovation planning: the panel is rated at 100 amps or less and the household regularly trips breakers; the panel brand is Federal Pacific (Stab-Lok) or Zinsco; the panel uses fuses rather than circuit breakers (indicating it predates most modern wiring); there are no available spaces for additional circuits; or your insurer has flagged the panel as a concern. A 200-amp panel replacement also provides the capacity for EV charging circuits, additional kitchen appliance circuits, and a hot tub or sauna if those are future considerations.
It depends on what you're changing. If the kitchen layout is keeping the sink in the same position and the scope is limited to replacing the faucet, the dishwasher, and under-sink plumbing components, the existing supply and drain rough-in may be reusable. If the sink is moving, an island sink is being added, or any fixture is changing position, new rough-in is required. As part of our kitchen renovation assessment, we evaluate the condition and suitability of existing plumbing rough-in and give you an honest recommendation on what should be replaced versus what can remain.
The most common approach is extending the existing forced air system with new supply registers and return air grilles in the basement, effective if the existing furnace has sufficient capacity and the ductwork can be properly sized and routed. Where the existing system is fully loaded, where the basement is a separate legal suite requiring independent temperature control, or where ductwork extension isn't practical, a ductless mini-split heat pump is the preferred solution. It provides independent heating and cooling control, is efficient at Ontario temperatures, and doesn't require any ductwork. We assess the existing system capacity and provide an honest recommendation for each project.
A backwater valve is a one-way valve installed in the main building drain that prevents municipal sewer water from flowing back into the home during a sewer surcharge event, the condition that occurs during heavy rainfall when the municipal combined sewer system exceeds its capacity and sewer water flows backward into connected buildings. In the GTA, where combined sewer systems in many municipalities are susceptible to surcharging during major storm events, a backwater valve is one of the most valuable plumbing upgrades a homeowner can make. Some GTA municipalities now require backwater valve installation in any renovation that includes basement plumbing work. We install backwater valves as a standard recommendation for all below-grade renovation projects.