Birchcliff Heights is one of Scarborough's most established neighbourhoods — solid 1940s–1960s brick homes lining the streets between Kingston Road and the Scarborough Bluffs, with the Birch Cliff Ave corridor at its heart. Kopman Build has been renovating bathrooms in homes like these for over 25 years, with a clear-eyed understanding of what older construction requires before any tile goes on the wall.
Renovating a bathroom in a Birchcliff Heights brick home is not the same as renovating in a new build. The solid construction that makes these homes desirable also means original galvanised plumbing, cast-iron drain stacks, and subfloors that may have settled or degraded over eight decades. A contractor who skips proper assessment risks tiling over problems that will surface — often badly — within a few years. We open the walls, document what we find, and give you a clear picture before any work proceeds.
Proximity to the Scarborough Bluffs means groundwater movement and seasonal soil shifts are real considerations for basement bathrooms and ground-floor additions in this neighbourhood. We design our waterproofing systems accordingly — Schluter membrane or RedGard applied to correct substrate, not as an afterthought.
Dustin Kopman founded the company in 1999 after growing up in construction through his family's firm, G& G Enterprise. Projects in Scarborough are not unfamiliar territory — we know the housing stock, the permit requirements, and the tradespeople who do this work correctly.
Full primary bathroom transformations — walk-in showers, freestanding tubs, double vanities, radiant floors, and custom tile work suited to the scale of Birchcliff Heights homes.
Family bathroom gut-and-rebuilds with durable materials, smart layouts, and quality fixtures designed for daily use in established homes.
Statement powder rooms with elevated tile, designer fixtures, and custom vanity millwork — often a high-return upgrade in homes along the Birch Cliff Ave corridor.
Converting tub/shower combos to walk-in showers, or vice versa — with proper waterproofing, updated drain installation, and plumbing work to current code.
In-floor radiant electric heating installed under tile in bathrooms and ensuites — a meaningful comfort upgrade in Scarborough homes with original forced-air systems.
New bathroom rough-ins and full bathroom builds in basement renovations, including all plumbing and waste tie-ins to the existing stack.
We visit your Birchcliff Heights 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. Older homes get explicit line items for plumbing and substrate unknowns.
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. Any hidden conditions are documented and priced transparently before work continues.
Structured handover with all documentation, warranties, and a 12-month attendance window post-completion.
Bathroom renovation costs in Birchcliff Heights are comparable to broader Scarborough pricing: powder rooms $18,000–$40,000; main bathrooms $30,000–$70,000; primary ensuites $50,000–$150,000+. The 1940s–1960s homes along the Birch Cliff Ave corridor often require additional work to address outdated plumbing, knob-and-tube wiring in walls, and original subfloor conditions before finish work can begin. We provide a fully itemised estimate before any commitment.
Older Scarborough brick homes commonly present galvanised supply pipes that are corroded and undersized, original cast-iron drain stacks that need inspection or replacement, knob-and-tube or early aluminium wiring in wall cavities, and subfloors that have shifted or deteriorated over decades. We open walls carefully, document what we find, and provide transparent change-order pricing if conditions differ from expectations — there are no surprise invoices at the end.
Plumbing relocation and structural changes to bathroom walls require a City of Toronto building permit. In the older stock along the Birch Cliff Ave corridor, moving a toilet or shower drain often involves the main stack, which will require a plumbing permit and inspection. A cosmetic like-for-like renovation — same fixtures, same locations — may not require a permit, but we assess this on every project and advise you clearly before work begins.
A standard main bathroom renovation in a Birchcliff Heights home takes 5–8 weeks from demolition to handover, assuming materials are selected and on-site. Older homes frequently add time: galvanised pipe replacement, subfloor repairs, and waterproofing corrections are common. A primary ensuite with custom tile and radiant floors typically runs 8–12 weeks. We build a realistic schedule at the outset and communicate any changes immediately.
Kopman Build serves Birchcliff Heights, Scarborough, and the GTA. No-obligation bathroom renovation consultation — we come to you.
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