We renovated our Yonge-Eglinton condo in Toronto — kitchen, bathroom, and flooring throughout. The condo board process was more involved than we expected. Sharing the full experience.
Our condo’s rules (from the declaration and rules document):
- Hard flooring (LVP, tile, hardwood): permitted with minimum IIC 50 acoustic underlay — must provide spec sheets to board
- Plumbing modifications: require board approval + must use a licensed plumber — approved
- Balcony modifications: not permitted without board approval — we were not touching the balcony
- Working hours: Monday to Friday 8 AM to 5 PM only. No weekend noise. Strictly enforced.
What we submitted to the board:
- Description of work (written, detailed)
- List of contractors (names, contact info, proof of insurance — $2M liability)
- Acoustic underlay spec sheet (Acoustibuilt 1/8 inch — IIC 58 rating — met their IIC 50 minimum)
- Timeline
Board response: 14 days to written approval (our declaration requires 30-day maximum response). Approval granted with one condition: we had to notify adjacent units (both sides + below) in writing 7 days before start.
Kitchen renovation (our trades):
The plumber had to provide his certificate of authorization (Ontario plumbing license) to the board — standard requirement. He’d renovated condos in this building before.
Flooring issue:
We upgraded from a 6-mil acoustic underlay to the 8-mil version after the installer said the 6-mil would feel “spongy” under the LVP — a legitimate concern. The board didn’t notice the substitution, but if they had, the spec sheet would have shown the upgrade (IIC 63) was better than required.
Total reno cost:
Kitchen: $28,400 (mid-range cabinets, quartz, appliances)
Bathroom: $14,800 (full tile, new vanity, walk-in shower conversion)
Flooring (950 sq ft LVP with acoustic underlay): $7,200
Total: $50,400
The condo process added about 3 weeks of administrative time. Not onerous — just need to plan for it.