Davisville Village's 1920s–1950s brick homes and bungalows sit on one of midtown Toronto's most active renovation streets, steps from the subway — and the basements in these houses are among the most in-demand projects we take on. Kopman Build has been finishing and converting these lower levels for 25 years, permitted and built to code every time.
Finishing a basement in a Davisville Village bungalow or semi-detached brick home is not the same as finishing a newer build. The housing stock here — largely constructed between the 1920s and 1950s — routinely presents knob-and-tube wiring, low ceiling heights, rubble or brick foundations, and moisture conditions that must be resolved before a single stud wall goes up. Contractors who skip those steps create problems that surface years later. Kopman Build doesn't. Every project starts with a thorough pre-construction assessment, and every basement we finish is permitted, inspected, and signed off by the City.
Davisville Village is a transit-accessible midtown neighbourhood where buyers pay a meaningful premium for properly finished living space. A legal secondary suite here generates real income and adds assessed value. A finished family room or home office adds square footage that buyers price in at resale. The ROI is there — but only if the work is done to code. That's what we build.
Dustin Kopman founded the company in 1999 after growing up working in construction through his family's firm, G&G Enterprise. Every Davisville project is managed by someone who understands the craft, the code, and the specific conditions these older midtown homes present.
Full secondary suite creation compliant with Toronto zoning, Ontario Building Code, and City of Toronto Second Suite requirements — including underpinning where ceiling height demands it.
Finished basement family rooms, home theatres, play areas, and entertainment spaces with proper insulation, vapour barriers, and sound isolation suited to Davisville's older construction.
Dedicated basement home offices with appropriate lighting, egress compliance, and electrical for modern work-from-home setups — common in this midtown neighbourhood.
New basement washrooms and ensuites, including rough-in plumbing, tiling, and fixture installation in existing or newly created lower-level spaces.
Basement underpinning and bench-pinning to increase ceiling height in Davisville's bungalow stock, where original heights are frequently below the 1.95m minimum required for a legal suite.
Interior and exterior waterproofing, sump pits, weeping tile, and drainage solutions — essential remediation in many of Davisville's century-old rubble and brick foundation walls.
We visit your Davisville property, assess existing conditions, listen to your goals, and document the project in writing — scope, budget, and timeline.
A detailed line-item estimate with allowances and contingencies, including any remediation work required in older homes — so you know the number before committing.
We manage all permit applications, engineering consultants, and City of Toronto approvals — nothing falls through the cracks.
Full-time site supervision, weekly updates, and open-book cost tracking throughout the project from underpinning through final finish.
Structured handover with all documentation, warranties, and a 12-month attendance window post-completion.
Basement finishing in Davisville Village typically costs $65,000–$135,000 for a standard finish in one of the neighbourhood's 1920s–1950s brick homes or bungalows. A legal secondary suite runs $85,000–$155,000+, including plumbing, fire separation, egress windows, separate mechanical, and permit fees. Many Davisville bungalows have lower-than-standard ceiling heights, so underpinning — which adds $30,000–$80,000+ — is sometimes required before finishing can begin. We provide detailed written estimates before any commitment.
Yes. Davisville Village's 1920s–1950s housing stock frequently presents conditions that need to be addressed before finishing: knob-and-tube wiring that must be removed or properly insulated around, limited ceiling height that may require underpinning, aging galvanized plumbing, and moisture issues in rubble or brick foundation walls. Kopman Build conducts a thorough pre-construction assessment and incorporates any remediation work into the project scope and budget before construction begins.
In most cases, yes. Toronto's Second Suite bylaw permits legal basement apartments in detached and semi-detached homes, including the bungalows that make up much of Davisville Village. Requirements include a minimum ceiling height of 1.95m (which often means underpinning), egress windows in sleeping areas, fire separation between units, a separate entrance, and dedicated heating. Kopman Build manages all permit applications and City of Toronto inspections from start to sign-off.
A standard basement finish in a Davisville Village home takes 8–14 weeks once permits are in hand. A legal secondary suite typically takes 12–18 weeks due to additional systems work and inspections. If underpinning is required to achieve adequate ceiling height — common in bungalows on this stretch of midtown Toronto — add 4–8 weeks before finishing can begin. We build a realistic schedule into every project proposal.
Kopman Build delivers permitted, code-compliant basement renovations in Davisville Village and across midtown Toronto. No-obligation consultation.
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