Forest Hill's 1920s–1950s custom homes — spanning Forest Hill Village, South Forest Hill, and the North district — demand a builder who can navigate aged structure, premium finishes, and complex zoning in one coordinated scope. Kopman Build's design-build model puts design and construction under a single accountable team, removing the friction that stalls projects in this market.
Forest Hill is one of Toronto's most demanding renovation markets. The housing stock — largely custom-built between the 1920s and 1950s — presents structural complexity that generic contractors underestimate: irregular framing, aging mechanical systems, and site conditions that can only be fully understood by a team experienced in pre-war residential construction.
Second-storey additions and full gut renovations are the norm here, not the exception. These are projects where the gap between the architect's drawings and the builder's execution can cost months and hundreds of thousands of dollars. Our design-build model closes that gap — design, permitting, and construction managed by one team under one contract.
Dustin Kopman founded the company in 1999 after growing up working in construction through his family's firm, G&G Enterprise. That background means every Forest Hill project is led by someone who has spent decades understanding how these homes are built — and what it takes to make them perform for another generation.
Complete whole-home design-build engagements for Forest Hill's pre-war stock — structural, mechanical, and finish all coordinated under one scope.
Design and construction of second-storey additions where lot constraints make lateral expansion impractical — common across both Forest Hill districts.
Integrated design and construction for high-specification kitchens and principal suites, coordinated with the home's existing architecture.
New custom home construction on existing Forest Hill lots — site planning, design, permits, and build as one integrated engagement.
Rear extensions and side infills designed in keeping with Forest Hill's established aesthetic and delivered under a single construction contract.
Lower-level development — recreation rooms, nanny suites, home offices — designed and constructed with underpinning and waterproofing integrated from the start.
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.
Yes — and it is often the superior approach. Pre-war homes in Forest Hill frequently reveal surprises behind walls: knob-and-tube wiring, deteriorated plumbing, load-bearing walls in unexpected positions, and foundation conditions that affect structural planning. Because design-build integrates your architect and your builder from day one, these discoveries are resolved in real time with the right people at the table, rather than triggering costly change orders between separate parties.
Absolutely. Second-storey additions are one of the most common project types in Forest Hill, where lot sizes and setbacks often make lateral expansion difficult. Our design-build model means the structural engineer, architect, and site team coordinate under one roof — we manage City of Toronto permit applications, TLAB variances if required, and construction as a single scope. Clients avoid the back-and-forth typical of hiring these parties separately.
We provide a detailed pre-construction estimate — line by line, with defined allowances — before construction begins. Because our designers and estimators work together from the start, the budget reflects real construction costs, not an architect's optimistic assumption. For Forest Hill projects, which typically range from $500K to well over $2M, this early cost certainty is essential. There are no architect-to-contractor surprises at tender.
Yes. We work throughout Forest Hill — South Forest Hill near the Chaplin Crescent and St. Clair corridor, and Forest Hill Village and the streets north toward Upper Canada College. The two districts have slightly different character and zoning considerations, and our team is familiar with both. South Forest Hill's proximity to the subway also means some clients integrate accessibility and suite planning into their design-build scope.
Kopman Build's design-build model serves Forest Hill and all of Toronto, the GTA, and Muskoka. No-obligation consultation.
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