Building a laneway home, also known as a garden suite on your property has many benefits. This is especially true when considering Toronto’s real estate market. High real estate costs have made it harder for people to afford homes in the city. Moreover, due to soaring interest rates, it has also become harder for Toronto homeowners to age in place. As a result, many are looking for ways to make Toronto living more viable. Building a laneway home can be the perfect solution.
What is a laneway home?
Laneway homes also go by the name of garden suite and laneway suite. This is a small dwelling most commonly built at the rear of a city property lot. In 2018, the City of Toronto passed a slew of Official Plans and By-law amendments so that property owners could build laneway homes within certain zones. In 2019, the geographic area that the by-law covers was extended. It now includes the entire city of Toronto.
Benefits of building a laneway home
There is a wide variety of advantages that come with building a laneway home on your property. Also, they don’t just include income benefits. Below is a short list of some of the many advantages of having a garden suite on your property.
Generational living
If you have aging in-laws or even college-age kids that you’d like to live with you, a laneway home is a great option. They allow you and your family members the space and the privacy of a separate living arrangement. At the same time, you are all living on your property. So then you can still be there for each other when you need to be.
Increased property value
Building a laneway home on your property increases your property value by quite a lot. Depending on the design, materials used and accessibility of your laneway, data indicates that it could increase the value of your property by up to $100,000. As a result, when you’re ready to sell, you won’t just have more to market. You’ll also have increased property value to help you with the sale.
New revenue stream
Laneway home builders in Toronto are well-versed in all the ways you can increase your income through the addition of a laneway house. For one, your garden suite can become a rental unit. So many Toronto residents are looking for affordable rental spaces in the city. Another option is to move into your laneway home and rent out the main house on your property. This is a great choice for property owners who want to age in place. In addition, this is an excellent option when you’d like to increase your income beyond that of laneway rental home prices.
Research laneway home builders in Toronto
Since new laneway bylaws and zoning have passed, there continues to be a steep increase in laneway home building in the city. Consequently, there is a growing number of contractors offering this service as well. Be sure to do your research. Choose a contractor with experience and with knowledge of the laneway home legislation for your area. Remember, when you choose a RenovationFind Certified company, much of your research will already have been done for you.
At RenovationFind, we conduct in-depth legal and financial background checks on all our companies. On top of this, we ensure our companies have up-to-date business licenses, insurance and WCB coverage. Additionally, we employ a third-party monitor that stays abreast of customer reviews and complaints so that our companies always rank well. This way, you know the companies we back are always in good standing.
The Best Laneway Home Builders in Toronto
Here are our top picks for the best laneway home builders in Toronto.
1. The Renovators of Canada
| Website | https://www.trocanada.com/building-laneway-suites-and-garden-suites |
| Phone | (647) 692-4376 |
| info@trocanada.com | |
| RenovationFind Profile | https://www.renovationfind.com/companies/garden-suites-7830 |
TroCanada comes to the home building industry with over 20 years of experience. They offer a 10-year warranty on all craftsmanship. They can provide renovation and home-building services throughout the GTA, as well as many other areas in Ontario. In addition, TroCanada works with a selection of trusted partners and can deliver the best in laneway home building in Toronto.
TroCanada has a plethora of local knowledge and expertise when it comes to building laneway homes in Toronto. Their team has an excellent understanding of local building codes and regulations specific to the city. Thanks to great relationships with local contractors, they can ensure projects are always finished on time and within budget. They also bring a wealth of design knowledge and skill to the laneway and garden home industry.
Key services & features
– Complete laneway home/garden suite custom builds
– Home additions
– Kitchen and bathroom renovations
– Basement development
– Custom rental unit
– 10-year craftsmanship warranties
– Free consultations
– Financing
Customer Feedback
We had a really wonderful experience working with Perry, Cam and Rodney. They were very honest and found another way to do the job which resulted in being under budget. The quality of their work was clean and professional. Communication was clear, consistent and accessible. Everything was done professionally, with clear agreements, invoicing and reporting (using a great app). We experienced a slight delay at one point, but even that was due to an extenuating circumstance, and there was always communication. The team cleaned the house quite well on the way out and were respectful of our home and daily routine. Strongly recommend this team for any home project.
– Shadi Shenouda, Google
-John, Google
2. Home Guru
| Website | https://asktheguru.ca/ |
| Phone | 647-692-4566 |
| info@asktheguru.ca | |
| RenovationFind Profile | https://www.renovationfind.com/companies/home-guru-inc-7838 |
Who are the gurus? Aaron Zon and Justin Brooks are the owners of Home Guru in Toronto. They each possess 25 years of industry experience. Advantageously, Justin’s background in technology helps Home Guru to be a leading custom smart home builder. Home Guru designs beautiful custom homes in Toronto and can add a smart twist for convenience around the house. A smart home built custom to your liking can include integrating home theatre and music, automating your lighting, or integrating home security. They have been in the business of smart home renovations and following the latest trends for 30 years (which is how long the technology has been around).
In addition, Home Guru are general contractors that offer full-scale home renovation services. So whether you’re designing a new custom home or want to redesign and remodel your existing home, they’re a skilled and experienced company you can trust!
Key Services & Features
– General contracting
– Custom home building
– Whole home renovations
– Custom kitchen renovations, including smart kitchens, or custom cabinetry
– Custom bathroom, basement, and home theatre renovations
– Have specialized in smart home technology for 30 years
Customer Feedback
Excellent general contractor to work with! Very approachable and respectful of trades, well organized and always pays on time. It is pleasure working with Home Guru on their projects.-Peter, Google
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3. Laneway Custom Build
| Website | https://www.lanewaycustombuild.ca/ |
| Phone | 647-528-5635 |
| hello@lanewaycustombuild.ca |
Laneway Custom Build wants to share its enthusiasm for laneway home building in Toronto with you. They understand the importance of quality craftsmanship as well as budget. As a result, Laneway Custom Build can provide top-of-the-line custom laneway home builds to its clients. This company is a registered member of the Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA) and is part of the Tarion Warranty Program.
Laneway Custom Build is a family-owned and operated company that is dedicated to helping its community. Their team of skilled craftspeople can provide a variety of services. However, they are also leaders in the laneway home-building industry in Toronto. This company is also open to working on new opportunities and collaborative projects, big and small.
Key services & features
– Complete laneway home/garden suite custom builds
– Custom Studios
– Garage renovations
– Free consultations
– Community projects
– Tarion warranties
Customer Feedback
I have three engineers in my family and all of them were impressed with the quality of workmanship and materials used.
– Connie
4. Lanescape
| Website | https://lanescape.ca/ |
| Phone | 416-414-9944 |
| info@lanescape.ca |
Lanescape uses a team of highly skilled professionals to build laneway homes and garden suites in Toronto. Moreover, they are dedicated to innovation and affordability in all their work. This company uses critical analysis as well as technical comprehension to provide exactly the type of innovation in design and construction that they stand behind. From initial design to finished product, Lanescape will be there for its clients through each step.
Lanescape has been involved in much of the advocacy work to make laneway and garden suites a reality for homeowners in Toronto. Furthermore, their specialty is crafting urban homes to suit the needs of each family. Using sustainable practices, their team will bring your laneway home dreams to fruition.
Key services & features
– Complete laneway home/garden suite custom builds
– Design services
– Community information sessions
– Free consultations
Customer Feedback
I recently had the pleasure of working with Lanescape and their team on the design of my laneway house. From start to finish, I was very impressed with the level of professionalism demonstrated by the entire team. Big shout out to Craig, Tony, Matt and Paolo who helped from early conceptions all the way through to securing permits. The final product exceeded my expectations and I couldn’t be happier with the results. I highly recommend Lanescape to anyone looking for a great architect for their next project.
– Todd Joy, Google
5. Novacon Custom Builders & Renovators
| Website | https://novacon.ca/laneway-homes |
| Phone | 416-750-7555 |
| info@novacon.ca |
Novacon Custom Builders & Renovators is a boutique contractor with a focus on custom builds and renovations. As a boutique, they work with a business model of low-volume but high-quality projects. This includes laneway home building in Toronto. In addition, this company specializes in home additions and large-scale renovations for older homes. They commit to personalized service, excellent communication and superior building standards.
When it comes to working with Novacon Custom Builders & Renovators, they want to provide a stress-free building experience. Moreover, they will help each client navigate through every stage of their project. From design to build, Novacon Custom Builders & Renovators will be there. They guarantee pricing and timelines. Additionally, they provide no-nonsense warranties on all their work.
Key services & features
– Complete laneway home/garden suite custom builds
– Home additions
– Kitchen and bathroom renovations
– Condo renovations
– Full warranties
– Free consultations
Customer Feedback
Working with Novacon has been a wonderful experience there professionalism and experience with great team work is just what we were looking for our new Family Home, guiding us through each step of the way from start to finish and great ideas for those Custom finishes. We will definitely work with Pavel again & recommend Novacon to family & friends.
– Ross Difalco, Google
6. 2×2 Construction
| Website | https://2x2construction.ca/services/laneway-house |
| Phone | 416-628-3292 |
| hello@2x2construction.ca |
2×2 Construction is an award-winning home improvement company based in Toronto. They serve the city as well as the GTA. Moreover, they specialize in laneway and garden suites as well as home additions and a variety of home renovation services. This company has over 50 years of experience and works with a team of qualified experts. In addition, they use project management software to manage all client projects. This way, their customers can watch the building process as it happens.
2X2 Construction also commits to competitive rates without sacrificing its quality craftsmanship. This company partners with many professional trade workers and with a team of in-house tradesmen. When it comes to laneway houses, 2×2 Construction has got you covered. They have experience and can offer cost-effective solutions to make your garden suite vision a reality.
Key services & features
– Complete laneway home/garden suite custom builds
– Home additions
– Kitchen and bathroom renovations
– Garage and basement developments
– 1-year warranties
– Free consultations
Customer Feedback
I hired 2×2 last year to build my laneway home in Toronto. I am beyond happy with the results! The home is immaculate and turned out better than I imagined. Built in the rear of my property facing the laneway, there are unique challenges to managing this type of build but they navigated it wonderfully. 2×2 and Kyle (the main contractor I communicated with) were professional and honest. In an industry where empty promises and cost overruns seem to be the norm, they were reliable and the price I paid was the price they quoted me at the start. I highly recommend them!
– Dave Bryant
Post a Project on RenovationFind!
Once you’re ready to start gathering quotes for your laneway home build, use RenovationFind’s Post a Project form. RenovationFind has done most of the research for you to curate reputable, reliable contractors. So, your next step can be gathering quotes!
With Post a Project, you fill in your project details on our form. Next, we will send your details to three of our RenovationFind Certified companies related to your project. These companies will review your details and get in touch with you for more information. You can schedule a time to offer more details on your project and receive quotes. Then, you can compare quotes and also ask these companies for in-person references.
The power of in-person references
Online reviews are great. However, they can’t give you the detailed knowledge in-person references can offer. For example, some online reviews aren’t real. Others are sometimes posted in anger and haste and don’t truly reflect a contractor’s customer service or workmanship. Gather three-in person references from companies you are seriously considering. Next, approach these references with a list of questions that will help you determine who is the best company for your job.
Once you’ve had time to speak with your references, you will have a clearer picture of who is the right company for you. Researching and selecting contractors has never been easier when you take advantage of RenovationFind’s growing list of certified companies.
