Construction cost guides

The number first, then the math. Written from real Ontario permit sets and takeoffs — no fluff.

New builds

What it costs to build a custom house in Toronto (2026)

$350–$550/sq ft construction-only — where it goes and what pushes it up.

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Infill builds

Underpinning & shoring: the $50k–$100k surprise

When it's required, how it's priced, and how to keep it under control.

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Excavation

How much soil comes out of a basement dig?

Bank vs loose volume, swell factors, and the truckload math.

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Prices · quarterly

Ontario material price check — July 2026

Concrete, rebar, lumber, drywall: what supply actually costs right now.

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How takeoffs work — the method guides

What a quantity takeoff is and how each trade is measured — the method behind the numbers, division by division.

Start here

What is a quantity takeoff?

The measured list of every material a project needs — and how it's built, division by division.

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Division 03

Concrete quantity takeoff

Measuring volume in m³ — slabs, walls, footings, columns — by strength.

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Division 03

Rebar takeoff

Reinforcing steel by weight — bar size, spacing, layers and laps.

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Division 03

Formwork takeoff

Contact area in m² — both wall faces, soffits, and the single-faced premium.

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Division 05

Structural steel takeoff

Tonnage from the section mark — and why plan-based steel gets under-read.

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Division 31

Excavation takeoff

Bank vs loose volume, swell factor, dig depth, and disposal.

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Divisions 21–23

Mechanical / HVAC takeoff

Counting equipment from the schedules — and the stated-total rule.

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Division 26

Electrical takeoff

Reading the single-line for distribution — then counting devices off the plans.

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Want your project's real numbers, not ranges?
Upload your drawings and get an actual material takeoff with an Ontario Building Code check — or start with the free calculators.
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