Bloor West Village's 1930s–1950s brick homes and bungalows are among Toronto's most desirable — and their unfinished basements represent some of the highest-ROI renovation opportunities in the city. Kopman Build has been delivering permitted, code-compliant basement renovations in this neighbourhood for over 25 years, from legal secondary suites to family rooms and home offices built to last.
The brick homes and bungalows lining the streets of Bloor West Village were built for a different era — many with unfinished basements that sit under 6 feet of clearance and single-pane window wells. Finishing these spaces correctly means understanding the specific constraints of the era's construction: low ceilings that often require underpinning, rubble or poured concrete foundations that need proper moisture management, and aging mechanicals that must be upgraded as part of any serious renovation.
Bloor West Village is a family-oriented neighbourhood, and the most common renovation asks we hear here reflect that: basement family rooms that give growing kids their own space, legal secondary suites that offset carrying costs on homes that have appreciated significantly, and home offices that make good use of square footage that's otherwise going unused below grade.
Dustin Kopman founded the company in 1999 after growing up working in construction through his family's firm, G& G Enterprise. Every project in Bloor West Village is managed by someone who understands both the craft and the specific character of the neighbourhood's housing stock — not just the sales pitch.
Full secondary suite creation compliant with Toronto zoning, Ontario Building Code, and City of Toronto Second Suite requirements — including fire separation and egress.
Finished basement family rooms, home theatres, play areas, and entertainment spaces with proper insulation, sound isolation, and code-compliant egress.
Dedicated basement home offices with appropriate lighting, egress compliance, and electrical capacity for modern work-from-home setups.
New basement washrooms and ensuites, including rough-in plumbing, tiling, and fixture installation suited to the plumbing configuration of older Bloor West Village homes.
Basement underpinning and bench-pinning to increase ceiling height in the low-clearance basements common across Bloor West Village's pre-war housing stock.
Interior and exterior waterproofing, sump pits, weeping tile, and drainage solutions — essential first steps in finishing older brick-foundation basements.
We visit your property, listen to your goals, and document the project in writing — scope, budget, and timeline.
A detailed line-item estimate with allowances and contingencies, so you know the number before committing.
We manage all permit applications, engineering consultants, and approvals — nothing falls through the cracks.
Full-time site supervision, weekly updates, and open-book cost tracking throughout the project.
Structured handover with all documentation, warranties, and a 12-month attendance window post-completion.
Basement renovation in Bloor West Village typically costs $65,000–$135,000 for a standard finish in the area's 1930s–1950s brick homes. A legal secondary suite runs $85,000–$155,000+ due to plumbing, fire separation, egress windows, and permit costs. Many Bloor West Village homes also require underpinning to reach code-compliant ceiling heights, which adds $30,000–$80,000+ to the project. We provide detailed estimates before any commitment.
Many 1930s and 1940s-era homes in Bloor West Village have low basement ceilings — often under 6'. Ontario Building Code requires a minimum of 1.95m (6'4") for habitable space. Kopman Build performs basement underpinning and bench-pinning to reach the required height before finishing, ensuring your finished space is code-compliant and comfortable year-round.
Yes. Most detached and semi-detached homes in Bloor West Village are eligible for a legal basement secondary suite under Toronto's Second Suite bylaw. Requirements include a separate entrance, minimum ceiling height, egress windows in sleeping areas, fire separation between units, dedicated heating, and smoke and CO detectors. Kopman Build handles all permitting and inspections for secondary suite projects.
A standard basement finish in a Bloor West Village home takes 8–14 weeks. If underpinning is required first, add 4–8 weeks before finishing begins. A full legal secondary suite typically takes 12–18 weeks due to the additional inspections, plumbing, and systems work involved. We provide a detailed project schedule at the pre-construction stage.
Kopman Build delivers permitted, code-compliant basement renovations across Bloor West Village and Toronto. No-obligation consultation.
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