FAQ
Questions homeowners ask.
Plain answers about site visits, planning, permits and quotes in the GTA, and about GDE Total Construction. Where an answer comes from the City of Toronto or the Government of Ontario, the source is linked under it.
Last reviewed: October 28, 2026. Rules checked against the City of Toronto and Government of Ontario pages linked in each answer.
Working with GDE
What happens at a site visit?
Young comes to your home, walks the space and listens to what you want. He looks at the job before he prices it. The visit is free.
Do you charge for the first visit?
No. Detailed design and planning is a separate, paid step, credited to your project if you go ahead.
Who will I deal with?
Young, the owner. He is on site himself and deals with you from start to finish, so the person who looks at your job is the person who does the work. To reach him, use the contact page or call 416-791-8811.
What kind of projects do you take on?
Whole-floor interior renovations, bathrooms, kitchens, curved staircases and finishing, all year, and porches, decks and exterior stairs in the warmer months.
Do you give fixed prices?
Yes. A quote is a fixed price, written, with the schedule.
Which cities do you work in?
GDE works across the Greater Toronto Area, with a focus on Toronto, North York, Scarborough, Markham, Richmond Hill, Aurora and Whitchurch-Stouffville, and is willing to travel. Tell us where the project is when you get in touch, and GDE can say whether it can take the job on.
Are you insured?
Yes. GDE Total Construction carries liability insurance and has WSIB coverage. If you need those details for your own records, ask when you get in touch, through the contact page or by calling 416-791-8811.
How long has GDE been building?
GDE has been building for 30 years. The owner, Young, does the work himself. Work comes by word of mouth, and the Projects page shows examples.
Is there any job you will not do?
One: removing hazardous material, such as old insulation-type material that is bad for your health. It is the only job Young turns down. For anything else, tell us about your project and where it is, and GDE can say whether it can take the job on.
Cost and timing
How much will my project cost?
It depends on the materials, the design and, for work on something that already exists, the damage Young finds when he looks. He looks at the job before he prices it, because a rough guess is not fair to you or to him. The quote is free, and it is a fixed price.
How soon can you start?
It depends on Young's schedule. As of October 2026, Young can start right away. That changes with the season, so tell us about your project and ask when you get in touch, through the contact page or by calling 416-791-8811.
How long does a bathroom or a kitchen take?
Typical times, not guarantees. Bathroom: 2 to 3 weeks, plus about 2 days if mold needs treating first. Kitchen: about 1.5 to 2 months with custom cabinets, because they are ordered; about 2 weeks with ready-made cabinets.
What you see behind the walls
Will I see the work behind the walls?
Yes. Before walls and floors are closed, Young walks you through them. The work is photographed and you keep the record.
What do you do if you find mold?
Young cleans it before the new work goes in: he sprays, leaves it to dry for a day and sprays again, which costs about two days.
Permits and hiring in Ontario
Do you get the permit, or do I?
You do. The customer gets the city permits, and the plans come from your own architect or designer. GDE builds the job from those plans. Which permits a job needs depends on the work and the address, so check with the City of Toronto, or your own city, before the work starts.
Do I need a permit for a kitchen or bathroom renovation in Toronto?
Not for everything. Toronto lists installing cabinetry and millwork, and repairing or replacing plumbing fixtures, as work that does not need a building permit. Removing or adding walls, or installing or changing plumbing or heating, does. Other GTA cities keep their own lists, so check with yours.
How many quotes should I get?
Ontario's consumer guidance says to get estimates from at least three businesses and compare them. It also advises asking to see the contract and the business's credentials, and checking the Consumer Beware List.
Sources: Government of Ontario: Your rights when starting home renovations or repairs; Government of Ontario: What you need to know before starting your home renovation
What should a renovation contract say?
Ontario advises that the contract state the work to be done, the materials, the total cost, the payment schedule, and the start and end dates. Ontario also says a home renovation contract worth more than $50 must be in writing.
Sources: Government of Ontario: Your rights when starting home renovations or repairs
Do I need a permit to build or rebuild a front porch in Toronto?
Toronto requires a permit to build or add a porch to a house, to enclose an existing porch of any size, and for any porch more than 60 cm (24 in) above the ground. Zoning rules apply even when no permit is needed. Check your own address with the City of Toronto first.
Sources: City of Toronto: When do I need a building permit?; City of Toronto: Decks and porches guide
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Toronto?
Often yes. In Toronto, a deck more than 60 cm (24 in) above the ground needs a building permit. A low, uncovered platform at or below that height may not, but the zoning by-law still applies. Check your own address with the City of Toronto before the work starts.
Sources: City of Toronto: When do I need a building permit?; City of Toronto: Decks and porches guide
Do I need a permit to replace a front door?
Not if the new door goes into the same opening. In Toronto, replacing a door in an existing opening of a house, with no change in size or location, no structural change and no new exit, does not need a building permit. A new, larger or moved opening does.
Start with a site visit.
Your question not here? Describe the job on the contact page, or call Young.
By appointment