Blog · Southern Ontario Renovation Journal

Ideas worth building on.

01
Soundproof Drywall for Basements and Shared Walls: What Actually Works and What It Costs
Drywall Installation/September 9 · 8 min read

Soundproof Drywall for Basements and Shared Walls: What Actually Works and What It Costs

Soundproofing with drywall: mass, decoupling, insulation and damping — what works on basement ceilings and shared walls and…

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02
Plaster vs Drywall in Older Ontario Homes: Repair, Skim-Coat or Replace?
Drywall Repair/September 9 · 9 min read

Plaster vs Drywall in Older Ontario Homes: Repair, Skim-Coat or Replace?

Plaster vs drywall in older Ontario homes: when to patch, skim-coat, overlay or replace lath-and-plaster walls, what each…

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03
Interior Painting/September 9 · 8 min read

Painters in Toronto: A Hiring Guide for Houses and Condos, With Real Job Costs (2026)

Painters in Toronto: house and condo job costs by room, how to compare quotes, board rules to expect,…

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04
Legal Basement Apartment ROI in the GTA: Build Cost vs Rental Income (2026)
Legal Basement Apartments/September 9 · 8 min read

Legal Basement Apartment ROI in the GTA: Build Cost vs Rental Income (2026)

Is a legal basement apartment worth it? Build cost $90–190 per sq ft vs typical GTA rent of…

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05
How Much Does a Legal Basement Apartment Cost in the GTA? (2026) By Package
Legal Basement Apartments/September 5 · 8 min read

How Much Does a Legal Basement Apartment Cost in the GTA? (2026) By Package

Legal basement apartment cost in the GTA: $90–190 per sq ft, $60,000 minimum. Retrofit vs full suite vs…

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06
Drywall Finish Levels 3, 4 and 5 Explained: Which One Your Walls Actually Need
Drywall Installation/September 5 · 8 min read

Drywall Finish Levels 3, 4 and 5 Explained: Which One Your Walls Actually Need

Drywall finish levels explained: Level 3 ($2.25–2.85/sq ft), Level 4 ($3.00–4.25), Level 5 ($4.25–5.75) — what each includes…

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07
Basement Egress Windows in Ontario: Sizes, Window Wells and What Enlarging One Involves
Legal Basement Apartments/September 5 · 9 min read

Basement Egress Windows in Ontario: Sizes, Window Wells and What Enlarging One Involves

Basement egress window requirements in Ontario: 0.35 m² opening, 380 mm minimum dimension, 550 mm well clearance and…

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08
How to Choose a Drywall Contractor in the GTA: 10 Questions to Ask Before You Sign
Drywall Installation/September 5 · 8 min read

How to Choose a Drywall Contractor in the GTA: 10 Questions to Ask Before You Sign

Choosing a drywall contractor in the GTA: 10 questions on board area, finish level, board types, insurance and…

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09
Interior Painting/September 5 · 7 min read

Painters in Mississauga: A Hiring Guide and What Jobs Actually Cost (2026)

Painters in Mississauga: what jobs cost by room and tier, how to compare quotes, and what to check…

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