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A finished Harmony basement seen from the middle of the room: the recessed media wall, the grey sectional and the white wave-panel fireplace wall under a cove-lit ceiling

Harmony Basements · Design-build · Toronto & the GTA

Basement Renovation Toronto

Expect the absolute best

Custom basement finishing in Toronto & the GTA

Book a free in-home design session · no obligation · 905-669-9039

Vaughan design centre · 156 Chrislea Road, Unit 4, Woodbridge ON

A real, finished Harmony basement, captured room by room — drag to look around, click the floor to walk.

Toronto · since 2012

Basement renovations and finishing across Toronto

From the century-old semis of the east and west ends to the post-war bungalows of North York, Etobicoke and Scarborough, one design-build renovation company draws, prices and builds the basement — and one team stays accountable for it.

Harmony Basements is a design-build basement renovation company founded in 2012 by Diego Botia, Architectural Designer, B.Arch. Our design centre in Vaughan serves Toronto and the GTA. It is where our customers test-drive their basement in 3D and 360° VR before a single wall goes up, and where finishes are selected in the same visit. Behind every project there is an accountable team: interior designers, project coordinators, skilled trades and quality-control site supervisors.

Most Toronto basements were built as storage, not as rooms: low ductwork, a furnace in the way, small windows and a floor that may not be level. That is where experience matters more than a sales pitch — whether the job is basement finishing in an open, unfinished space, basement remodeling where an older finish has to come out first, or a legal second suite. Many homeowners who call a basement company in Toronto get a salesperson at the door with a price. We send the person who designs it. As your basement contractor, we draw it first, price what was drawn and build it under one contract.

Whatever the street, the order never changes: a detailed AutoCAD floor plan with the electrical and HVAC laid out, a 3D model and a 360° VR walkthrough before you sign; an itemized quote written against that drawing; the permit drawings prepared in-house; and four to six weeks on site.

Where we work in Toronto

Across the city, the same team works in North York, Etobicoke and Scarborough; around it, in Vaughan, Markham, Mississauga and Richmond Hill. Our Vaughan design centre is where the design session can happen, or we come to you.

The BeachesLeslievilleRiverdaleThe DanforthEast YorkLeasideDavisvilleForest HillThe AnnexHigh ParkBloor West VillageThe JunctionRoncesvallesLawrence Park

In writing, on every Toronto project

  • LifetimeWorkmanship warrantyIf something we built fails, we come back and fix it.
  • $250.00For every day we are lateWe’re serious about scheduling: 6 weeks, not 3 months.
  • $0.00Building permit drawingsPrepared and submitted in-house, for a smooth process.
  • $5MLiability insuredFull coverage on every site, for your peace of mind.
  • 2012EstablishedOne practice and one Vaughan design centre ever since.
  • 6×HomeStars Best of AwardWinner 2021–2026, and Best of the Best 2025.

Scroll to walk · Look around in 360°

Walk the design. Watch the price add up

A real Harmony basement in East Gwillimbury, from 3D-VR design to finished rooms. As you walk, the plan tracks where you are and the quote adds up, line by line.

The design walkthrough of this East Gwillimbury basement: a render of the design, walked room by room, from the stairs to the wet bar

Design render · walkthroughThe stairs

Basement stairs Toronto: treads matching the vinyl plank floor — built in East Gwillimbury
As built · photographed May 2025As built · May 2025Treads matching the vinyl plank floor
Finished basement Toronto: the hallway, showcasing the vinyl floor — built in East Gwillimbury
As built · photographed May 2025As built · May 2025The hallway, showcasing the vinyl floor
Basement bathroom Toronto: the floating vanity and its lit mirror — built in East Gwillimbury
As built · photographed May 2025As built · May 2025The floating vanity and its lit mirror
Basement bathroom Toronto: the tiled shower with matte black fixtures — built in East Gwillimbury
As built · photographed May 2025As built · May 2025The tiled shower with matte black fixtures
Finished basement Toronto: the TV and electric fireplace wall between two slat panels — built in East Gwillimbury
As built · photographed May 2025As built · May 2025The TV and electric fireplace wall between two slat panels
Finished basement Toronto: the wet bar and its lit wine cabinet — built in East Gwillimbury
As built · photographed May 2025As built · May 2025The wet bar and its lit wine cabinet
Basement renovation Toronto: the bar's lit wine rack and floating shelves — built in East Gwillimbury
As built · photographed May 2025As built · May 2025The bar's lit wine rack and floating shelves
Finished basement Toronto: the walkout French doors beside the bar — built in East Gwillimbury
As built · photographed May 2025As built · May 2025The walkout French doors beside the bar
Basement home gym Toronto, open to the family room — built in East Gwillimbury
As built · photographed May 2025As built · May 2025The home gym, open to the family room

East Gwillimbury · 801 sq ft, fully finished.Scroll to walk through the design. Each line of the quote lands as you reach what it paid for; the first one, at the foot of the stairs.

Sub-floor, floor & stairsWaterproof, mould-free subfloor and moisture barrier, waterproof engineered plank, flush stair nosings matching the floor, with risers, stringers and stairwell painted.

Insulation, walls, ceilings & paintingR20 insulation to code, framed and drywalled walls, smooth taped ceilings — no popcorn — bulkheads, and new heating, venting and exhaust ducting. Free foundation inspection before the walls close in.

Electrical & lightingESA permit and inspection, LED pot lights throughout, dimmers and multi-point switching, arc-fault protection, and dedicated lines for the fireplace, fridges and countertops.

Carpentry, trim & doorsDoors matching the main floor with black hardware, baseboards and shoe moulding, and finished tops for the half walls — caulked, filled, primed and painted.

Bathroom & plumbingNew rough-in with trenching, custom tile shower with frameless glass and black rain and handheld heads, vanity with black faucet, toilet and accessories installed.

Fireplace + accent wallNapoleon electric fireplace supplied and installed, with the feature wall built around it.

Wet bar & plumbingCabinetry with black hardware, quartz countertop — matching quartz on the half walls — full backsplash, undermount bar sink and faucet, and all bar plumbing.

3D & 360° VR design, custom hand-crafted, not AIThe design you are walking through: the 3D model and the 360° views, drawn by hand for this basement. Included at no charge.

Permit drawings + apply + inspect + manageThe permit drawings, the application, the inspections and their management: a $2,825.00+ professional value, included. The municipality’s own permit fee is paid by the homeowner.

$95,798.27, to the cent.Every Harmony basement remodeling in Toronto is priced like this: line by line, against the drawing. Three more real projects, priced line by line, are in our basement finishing cost guide

Get your custom design & detailed quoteGet your design & quoteSkip the walk

Budget guide

Your basement, roughly priced

How much does it cost to finish a basement in Toronto? A 1,000 sq ft basement, before HST, priced line by line at our 2026 rates:

  • $53,500Finished living spaceAn open family room, pot lights and luxury vinyl plank over a subfloor system. No bathroom.
  • $89,200Full renovationA bedroom, a three-piece bathroom, a wet bar and laundry hook-ups.
  • $123,500Legal basement apartmentA bedroom, a three-piece bathroom, a full kitchen and laundry hook-ups, plus fire separation, alarms, an egress window and the existing entrance.
1,000
Don't know your square footage? Measure two walls →

Basement without a garage

Wall A ft
Wall B ft
≈ — sq ft

Basement with a garage

Wall A ftWall B ft
Garage C ftGarage D ft
≈ — sq ft
What are you building?

An honest note about per-square-foot pricing: We’re not fans of it. No two basements — or families — are alike, so treat this as a bracket, not a quote. Your itemized quote comes from a free 90-minute design visit at your home: we draw every layout your basement can have, you pick one, and you have its price before we leave.

Diego Botia with Nancy Peterson, founder of HomeStars, holding a HomeStars Best of Award at the Harmony Basements design centre in Vaughan At Our Showroom
With Nancy Peterson, founder of HomeStars · Best of Award six years running, Best of the Best 2025.

Let’s meet

Not a sales pitch A real design session

I’m Diego Botia, Architectural Designer, B.Arch.

In about ninety minutes at your home, I read the space: what should move, what can be concealed, and how every square foot can work better. Then, live on screen, I draw every possible layout in 3D-VR and walk you through it; you pick one, and you have its line-by-line price before I leave. Within 24 hours of your go-ahead, that same drawing becomes part of the permit package we prepare and submit, at $0.00. Next, in two to three hours at our Vaughan design centre, you choose your finishes with our interior designer, and one accountable team builds your basement in 6 weeks, not 3 months.

Book a free in-home design session

Your turn

I designed it. You test-drive it

This is the Harmony architectural model of the basement priced above. Spin it, zoom in and explore every corner. Your basement gets the same treatment — designed with you first, then built from the design.

The 3D design model of a Harmony basement in East Gwillimbury, seen from above: the lounge and its fireplace wall, the wet bar, the bathroom, the hallway and the stair

Explore the dollhouse 👆

A real Harmony project · Toronto

A finished basement in Toronto you can walk through

1,375 sq ft, fully upgraded and built in eight weeks: a living area with a plastered fireplace wall, a wet bar, a glass-walled gym, a three-piece bathroom and a curved oak stair. Walk inside, or watch the YouTube video — 24K+ views.

Built
Living area, wet bar, glass-walled gym, three-piece bathroom and a new curved oak stair
Finishes
Plastered fireplace wall with an electric fireplace, stained-oak floating shelves, shaker pocket doors, lit display niches
Size
1,375 sq ft
Investment
$175,000, fully upgraded
Completed
2018
On site
8 weeks

Very happy with the final results of the basement. […] The 3d design before the actual construction began was the best part I must say. This helps you visualize. […] Overall, we are happy and will get work done from Harmony in future as well.

Jatinder, the homeowner · HomeStars review, 2 Aug 2018 · See it on HomeStars ↗

Photographed on site after handover, unstaged — no stock imagery. See the whole project, room by room

In their own words

What our basement renovation clients say

A Harmony client's video testimonial, filmed in their finished basement

Testimonial from a completed basement renovation.

  • Best of the BestHomeStars 2025
  • Best of AwardsWinner, six times
  • Verifiedby HomeStars

See the award-winning basement, room by room

Google review

We moved into a new house during the pandemic that had an unfinished basement. It was a difficult time but Harmony Basements managed to turn it into a wonderful legal basement apartment as quickly as possible. Every part of it is done perfectly. From the lovely flooring, the gorgeous stone wall and fireplace, to the beautiful kitchen and bathroom with glass shower and tiling. All was done with safety in mind even down to the foundation check and we passed inspection with flying colours. I am now enjoying living in my very own private apartment!

Sheila W., Vaughan

5/5

Google review

From the very first meeting with Diego, we felt confident. He came to our unfinished basement, listened to our ideas, and surprised us by quickly preparing a detailed architectural 3D rendering walkthrough of what the finished space could look like, along with a clear price and timeline. Once we moved forward, everything fell into place seamlessly. The process was very organized and the communication was always clear. […] Diego had promised the work would be done in six weeks, and they actually finished two days ahead of schedule.

Rajni R., Toronto

5/5

Google review

In 2024, they renovated our 2,000 sq. ft. space into a beautiful suite with a bedroom, walk-in closet, full bath, studio/gym, large storage, living-dining area, laundry, and direct garage access — all within six weeks, as promised. […] He spent hours designing our layout, offered smart advice on function and budget, and delivered a 3D design that fit our lifestyle. […] The entire crew was respectful, timely, tidy, and efficient. They cleaned up daily, and even hired professional cleaners for the final day — something other companies don’t provide.

Katherine G., Richmond Hill

5/5

Google review

This is the second basement project completed with Harmony Basements and we are thrilled with the results. Diego and his team were professional, courteous, friendly and consulted us through the project. Workmanship and details were excellent. Diego helped us navigate through some material supply shortages, common these days, to deliver a top notch design that was on time and budget! Looking forward to enjoying our basement for many years to come. Thanks again!

Dan M., Aurora

5/5

Google review

From the moment I sat down with Diego, I knew that he was passionate about what he does and that my basement reno was in good hands. […] Where other companies were requiring that I take care of the permits, Diego put my fears at ease and handled it all, so that I wouldn’t have to. From moving ducts around so that I may have a cleaner ceiling look to extending my accent wall so that the tv does not cover it all, Diego really makes sure that you will be completely satisfied with the finished product.

Demetrios B., Markham

5/5

Google review

Our requirements were strict: we needed a family room, a kitchen, a 3-piece bathroom, and three bedrooms. […] Almost all of them said that fitting a 3-piece bath and a family room was possible, but having three bedrooms as well was “virtually impossible.” That was until we met Diego from Harmony Basements. […] That very same night, he sat down and designed a scaled layout complete with a virtual 3D walkthrough that showed us exactly what we had envisioned and more. […] Diego, Roy, and the talented crew completed everything exactly on schedule, no delays and no excuses.

James J., Newmarket

5/5

HomeStars review

This was our first renovation experience and did not have anything to compare to. However our designer Diego has shown all the experience needed to create and accomplish what we had in mind. In terms of selections it was simple as all the options were available and shown in the decor studio. […] The project itself turned out amazing. Our family enjoy it very much. We have recommended Harmony to others for their quality work done to our basement and customer service provided when needed.

Jamie, Milton

5/5

Google review

Diego spent approximately 3 hours working on the quote at our home, which resulted in a 3D walkthrough and 3 different layout options of what the finished product would look like. […] Add to that, that we had a very tight timeline of exactly 6 weeks, his team of specialized contractors put in the extra hours and weekends to ensure that the project was completed with time to SPARE […] There were issues with getting the permit and later some electrical issues, which Diego and his team addressed promptly without having to chase them which was very refreshing to see.

Ryan D., Hamilton

5/5

Every review on our Google Business Profile · and on HomeStars

1 of 8 · swipe

Every review on our Google Business Profile · and on HomeStars

Our work

More finished basements you can walk through

Photographs, walkthrough films and tours of real Harmony projects across Toronto and the GTA.

See all our work

Move the lamp across the prints · click one to step insideTap a print to step inside

See all our work

Permits in Toronto

Your City of Toronto building permit, handled

Most basement projects in Toronto need a building permit — new rooms, a bathroom, heating changes, windows, an entrance or a second unit — and electrical work has its own ESA permit. We draw it, file it and see every inspection through. You pay only the municipality’s own fee.

Permit drawings and every application: $0.00 — a $2,825.00+ professional value, included in the project. Toronto exempts a basement finish only when it adds no plumbing and no second unit; with a bathroom or a suite it is a permit, and eligible house applications go through Express Services with a three-business-day review goal. The City of Toronto’s own permit fee is separate and paid by the homeowner. Its permit-fee schedule for finishing a basement in a house: $6.20 per square metre (Municipal Code Chapter 363, 2026), with a $214.79 minimum. We tell you the exact figure before you sign anything.

Second suites

Legal basement apartments in Toronto

Toronto permits a secondary suite in a detached, semi-detached or townhouse home in every Residential zone (Zoning By-law 569-2013, Section 150.10), and since 2023 multiplexes city-wide; the suite is its own permit, with a $56.33 residential-unit fee on top of the alteration fee. A legal suite is designed to the Building Code and the City’s zoning from the first drawing.

A second unit must be fully self-contained: its own kitchen and bathroom, space to live and sleep (a studio layout works), and access to laundry, which can be shared. Start with our legal basement requirements guide and the basement suite page.

Before you decide

Before you hire a basement renovation contractor

If you invite us into your home we’ll start with the space — how you want to use it, what the house will allow, and what we think is actually worth doing. Once we agree on the design, we’ll keep it intact through pricing, permits, construction and the final walkthrough. That session takes about ninety minutes, and what comes out of it is a design drawn to permit standard — not a sketch for someone else to resolve on site. The drawings, the 3D model and the 360° VR walkthrough are how we show you that before anything is signed, and twenty years of basements are behind every line of it.

— Diego Botia, Architectural Designer, B.Arch.

Six things to ask before you hire anyone

  • Who designs it?Drawn in-house by Diego Botia, Architectural Designer, B.Arch, and built from that drawing by our team. No commissioned sales rep.
  • Can I see it first?A custom AutoCAD set, a 3D model and a 360° VR walkthrough — before you sign.
  • What exactly is priced?Every line itemized against the drawing. Fixed and transparent, no surprise add-ons.
  • Who handles the permit?Drawings and applications prepared in-house at $0.00. You pay only your municipality’s fee.
  • When do I choose finishes?At our Vaughan design centre, from curated selections, before construction starts.
  • Who stays accountable?One team from start to finish, and a lifetime workmanship warranty in writing.

The eight things people ask before they call

How much does a basement renovation cost in Toronto?

On our 2026 rates, a full basement renovation in Toronto and the GTA runs from about $89,500 for a 600 sq ft basement to $142,000 for 2,000 sq ft, before HST. The variables that move the number are square footage, whether a bathroom is added and how far it sits from the existing drain, ceiling and mechanical rework, millwork level, and whether you are building a family space or a full legal second suite. We price against a completed design, so the figure you are given is written against a drawn scope rather than an estimate. Our basement finishing cost guide shows the breakdown, and the basement cost calculator prices your own.

What does it cost to finish a basement in Toronto per square foot?

We price from the drawing, not by the square foot, but for comparison: on our 2026 rates, a 1,000 sq ft basement works out at about $53.50 a square foot for basement finishing in Toronto, $89.20 for a full renovation and $123.50 for a legal basement apartment, before HST. Smaller basements cost more per square foot, and larger ones less.

Do you offer financing for a basement renovation?

Yes. Financing is available for Harmony basement renovations in Toronto and the GTA — ask about it at your design session, before you sign anything. How financing works.

What should you expect from a basement contractor in Toronto?

A design before a price. Every Harmony basement is drawn, modelled in 3D and walked through in 360° VR before a quote is written, and the quote is itemized line by line against that drawing. The completion date is fixed in the contract, and the lifetime workmanship warranty is in writing. The six questions above are worth asking any basement contractor in Toronto — us included.

How long does a basement take to finish?

Most Harmony basements are finished in four to six weeks on site. Design and permitting happen before that and run in parallel with your own decision-making, so the construction window itself stays short. A legal second suite or a project involving structural work can run longer, and we tell you which one you have before you sign. The completion date is fixed in the contract, and if we run past it we pay you $250.00 for every day we are late.

Do I need a permit to finish my basement in Ontario?

Usually, yes. A building permit is needed when the work changes the structure or layout of the space (new rooms, a bathroom or new plumbing, heating changes, new or larger windows, an entrance, underpinning or a second unit), and electrical work needs its own permit and inspection from the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). Harmony prepares the drawings in-house, has structural elements stamped by an external licensed professional engineer, files the application with your municipality and manages every inspection through to sign-off — a professional value of $2,825.00 and up, included in your project. The municipality’s own permit fee is paid by the homeowner, and we tell you what your city charges up front. See our permit service.

Can I turn my basement into a legal apartment?

In most GTA homes, yes — provided the basement can meet Ontario’s second-suite requirements for ceiling height, egress windows, fire separation, interconnected smoke alarms and a safe way out (a separate entrance is not required when a shared exit is properly fire-separated). That assessment is the first thing we do at the design session, because it determines everything that follows. Start with legal basement requirements in Ontario and our basement suite page.

Can I see the basement design before I commit?

That is the entire point of how we work. You get architectural drawings, a three-dimensional model you can orbit, and a 360° VR walkthrough of the design — viewable in VR at our design centre — before construction begins. There is no obligation at the design session. Book one through our contact page or call 905-669-9039.

Tell us about your basement

No obligation. We reply with design-session times that suit your area.

Book a design session

Ninety minutes with the person who will draw your Toronto basement

Free, in your Toronto home — or at our Vaughan design centre if you prefer. No obligation, and no commissioned sales rep. The person who designs your basement also prices it and prepares the permit drawings, so nothing gets lost between people.

Book a design session Call 905-669-9039
  1. 01

    We call you

    At a time that suits you, to set the session and hear what you have in mind.

  2. 02

    We measure and listen

    We measure the basement and see what the house will allow; you tell us how you want to use it. Then we draw every layout it can have, and you pick one.

  3. 03

    You have the price before we leave

    Before the visit ends, you have a line-by-line price for the layout you picked, written against a detailed drawing, electrical and HVAC included. The 3D model and the 360° VR walkthrough let you see it before you sign. Within 24 hours of your go-ahead, that same drawing becomes part of the permit package we prepare and submit.

Vaughan design centre

156 Chrislea Road, Unit 4
Woodbridge, Ontario
(City of Vaughan)

Telephone & WhatsApp

905-669-9039
WhatsApp, 24/7

Toronto and York Region

Design sessions at your home or at our design centre, whichever suits you.

Not ready to talk yet?

Price your basement renovation first — line by line

The most comprehensive basement cost calculator in Canada, built on the same rates as our quotes — and the best design–price–build process behind it: drawn, then priced, then built.

Open the cost calculator

Where we work

Basement renovations across Toronto and the GTA

A Toronto basement renovation contractor with a design centre in Vaughan — projects throughout the Greater Toronto Area.

Toronto Ajax Aurora Barrie Bolton Bradford Brampton Burlington Caledon East Gwillimbury Etobicoke Georgetown Georgina Hamilton Innisfil King City Kleinburg Maple Markham Milton Mississauga New Tecumseth Newmarket Nobleton North York Oakville Orangeville Oshawa Pickering Richmond Hill Scarborough St. Catharines Stouffville Thornhill Vaughan Whitby Woodbridge All service areas
Basement renovation in Vaughan with open-concept living area and recessed lighting
Vaughan
Complete basement renovation in Mississauga, Ontario
Mississauga
Second suite basement family room with wood flooring and wall-mounted television in Richmond Hill
Richmond Hill
Finished basement interior with living area, completed by Harmony Basements
Burlington

More of our work across Toronto and the GTA

Finished Basement & Living Room Amazing Basement Transformation Finished Basement – King City Finished Basement – Oakville Finished Basement – Woodbridge Finished Basement – Scarborough Finished Basement – Maple Finished Basement – Richmond Hill Finished Basement – Thornhill Renovated Basement – Maple Finished Basement – Kleinburg Gorgeous Basement in Aurora Basement in Richmond Hill Basement in King City Basement in Maple Basement in Vaughan Basement in Bradford Basement in Aurora Basement in Woodbridge Modern Family Room in Basement Renovation Project Newmarket Basement Dining Room with Build in Fireplace - Basement Finishing Vaughan Modern Family Room in Basement Renovation Project Woodbridge basement-renovations-that-add-value Design and build residential architecture kitchen-in-basement-reno The Harmony Basements showroom and design centre in Vaughan The Harmony Basements showroom and design centre in Vaughan The Harmony Basements showroom and design centre in Vaughan The Harmony Basements showroom and design centre in Vaughan The Harmony Basements showroom and design centre in Vaughan The Harmony Basements showroom and design centre in Vaughan Kitchen renovation in luxury basement basement renovation by harmony basements king city The Harmony Basements showroom and design centre in Vaughan
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