Home Improvement Costs in a Nutshell
Now that you have bought your dream home, it's time to make some improvements to it. Maybe it's the chimney that needs rebuilding, or you'll decide to install a deck - it will all cost you some money. How much? Less if you are good at DIY, and more if you leave it to professional contractors.
Photo by Eduardo
We have compiled a list of possible home improvements and their estimated costs for a typical three-bedroom house. Please note that our table only contains typical minimum and maximum costs and that the real cost of the work done on your home could be considerably higher.
| Roofing / Flashings / Chimneys | min cost $ | max cost $ | per | min $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Install conventional asphalt shingles over existing shingles | 2.00 | 4.00 | sq .ft. | |
| Strip and reshingle with conventional asphalt shingles | 2.75 | 5.50 | sq .ft. | |
| Strip and reshingle with premium quality asphalt shingles | 5.00 | 10.00 | sq .ft. | |
| Strip and re-roof with cedar shingles | 9.00 | 18.00 | sq .ft. | |
| Strip and replace built-up tar and gravel roof | 10.00 | 20.00 | sq .ft. | 1000 |
| Strip and replace single-ply membrane | 10.00 | 20.00 | sq .ft. | 1000 |
| Reflash typical skylight or chimney | 500.00 | 1000.00 | ||
| Rebuild typical chimney above roof line | 25.00 | 50.00 | row of bricks |
400 |
| Rebuild typical single flue chimney above roof line | 200.00 | 400.00 | lin. ft. | 1000 |
| Exterior | min cost $ | max cost $ | per | min $ |
| Install galvanized or aluminum gutters and downspouts | 5.00 | 10.00 | lin.ft. | 500 |
| Install aluminum soffits and fascia | 8.00 | 16.00 | lin.ft. | |
| Install aluminum or vinyl siding | 6.00 | 12.00 | sq .ft. | |
| Repoint exterior wall (soft mortar) | 3.00 | 6.00 | sq .ft. | 500 |
| Repoint exterior wall (hard mortar) | 5.00 | 10.00 | sq.ft. | 500 |
| Parge foundation walls | 3.00 | 6.00 | sq.ft. | |
| Dampproof foundation walls and install weeping tile | 150.00 | 300.00 | lin.ft. | 3000 |
| Install a deck | 25.00 | 50.00 | sq.ft. | 1000 |
| Resurface existing asphalt driveway | 2.00 | 4.00 | sq.ft. | |
| Install interlocking brick driveway | 8.00 | 16.00 | sq.ft. | |
| Rebuild exterior basement stairwell | 5000.00 | and up | ||
| Build detached garage | 70.00 | 140.00 | sq.ft. | |
| Build retaining wall (wood) | 20.00 | 40.00 | sq.ft. | 500 |
| Build retaining wall (concrete) | 30.00 | 60.00 | sq.ft. | 500 |
| Painting (trim only) | 2000.00 | 4000.00 | and up | |
| Painting (trim and wall surfaces) | 5000.00 | and up | ||
| Structure | min cost $ | max cost $ | per | min $ |
| Underpin one corner of house | 5000.00 | and up | ||
| Underpin or add foundations | 300.00 | and up | lin.ft. | 3000 |
| Lower basement floor by underpinning and/or bench footings | 150.00 | 300.00 | lin.ft. | 5000 |
| Replace deteriorating sill beam with concrete | 60.00 | and up | lin.ft. | 2000 |
| Install basement support post with proper foundation | 800.00 | 1600.00 | ||
| Perform chemical treatment for termites | 2000.00 | and up | ||
| Repair minor crack in poured concrete foundation | 400.00 | 800.00 | ||
| Electrical | min cost $ | max cost $ | per | min $ |
| Upgrade electrical service to 100 amps (including new panel) | 1200.00 | 3000.00 | ||
| Upgrade electrical service to 100 amps (if suitably sized panel already exists) | 800.00 | 1600.00 | ||
| Upgrade electrical service to 200 amps | 1700.00 | 3500.00 | ||
| Install new circuit breaker panel | 700.00 | 1400.00 | ||
| Replace circuit breaker (20 amp or less) | 100.00 | 200.00 | ||
| Add 120 volt circuit (microwave, freezer, etc.) | 150.00 | 300.00 | ||
| Add 240 volt circuit (dryer, stove, etc.) | 300.00 | 600.00 | ||
| Add conventional receptacle | 200.00 | 400.00 | ||
| Replace conventional receptacle with ground fault circuit receptacle | 70.00 | 140.00 | ||
| Replace conventional receptacle with aluminum compatible type (CO/ALR)(assuming several are required) | 60.00 | 120.00 | ea. | |
| Upgrade entire house with aluminum compatible receptacles, connectors, etc. | 1000.00 | 2000.00 | ||
| Rewire electrical outlet with reversed polarity (assuming electrician already there) | 5.00 | 10.00 | ea. | |
| Replace knob & tube wiring with conventional wiring (per room) | 1000.00 | 2000.00 | ||
| Heating | min cost $ | max cost $ | per | min $ |
| Install mid-efficiency forced-air furnace | 2500.00 | 5000.00 | ||
| Install high-efficiency forced-air furnace | 3500.00 | 7000.00 | ||
| Install humidifier | 300.00 | 600.00 | ||
| Install electronic air filter | 800.00 | 1600.00 | ||
| Install mid-efficiency boiler | 3500.00 | 7000.00 | ||
| Install high-efficiency boiler | 6000.00 | 12000.00 | ||
| Install circulating pump | 400.00 | 600.00 | ||
| Install chimney liner for gas appliance | 500.00 | |||
| Install chimney liner for oil appliance | 700.00 | 1800.00 | ||
| Install programmable thermostat | 200.00 | 400.00 | ||
| Replace indoor oil tank | 1200.00 | 2500.00 | ||
| Remove oil tank from basement | 600.00 | and up | ||
| Remove abandoned underground oil tank | 10000.00 | and up | ||
| Replace radiator valve | 300.00 | 600.00 | ||
| Add electric baseboard heater | 250.00 | 500.00 | ||
| Convert from hot water heating to forced-air (bungalow) | 10000.00 | 20000.00 | ||
| Convert from hot water heating to forced-air (two storey) | 15000.00 | 30000.00 | ||
| Clean ductwork | 300.00 | 600.00 | ||
| Cooling / Heat Pumps | min cost $ | max cost $ | per | min $ |
| Add central air conditioning on existing forced-air system | 3000.00 | and up | ||
| Add heat pump to forced-air system | 4000.00 | 8000.00 | ||
| Replace heat pump or air conditioning condenser | 1200.00 | 2500.00 | ||
| Install independent air conditioning system | 10000.00 | 20000.00 | ||
| Install ductless air conditioning system | 3000.00 | 7000.00 | ||
| Insulation | min cost $ | max cost $ | per | min $ |
| Insulate open attic to modern standards | 0.80 | 1.60 | sq.ft. | |
| Blow insulation into flat roof, cathedral ceiling or wall cavity | 2.00 | 4.00 | sq.ft. | |
| Improve attic ventilation | 30.00 | 60.00 | vent | |
| Plumbing | min cost $ | max cost $ | per | min $ |
| Replace galvanized piping with copper (2 storey with one bathroom) | 2500.00 | 5000.00 | ||
| Replace water line to house | 2000.00 | and up | ||
| Replace toilet | 500.00 | and up | ||
| Replace basin, including faucets | 750.00 | and up | ||
| Replace bathtub, including ceramic tile and faucets | 2500.00 | and up | ||
| Install whirlpool bath, including faucets | 3500.00 | and up | ||
| Retile bathtub enclosure | 1000.00 | 2000.00 | ||
| Replace leaking shower stall pan | 1000.00 | 2000.00 | ||
| Rebuild tile shower stall | 2500.00 | 5000.00 | ||
| Replace laundry tubs | 400.00 | 800.00 | ||
| Remodel four-piece bathroom completely | 6000.00 | 50000.00 | ||
| Connect waste plumbing system to municipal sewers | 5000.00 | and up | ||
| Install submersible pump | 1000.00 | and up | ||
| Install suction or jet pump | 700.00 | and up | ||
| Install modest basement bathroom | 6000.00 | and up | ||
| Interior | min cost $ | max cost $ | per | min $ |
| Add drywall over plaster | 4.00 | 8.00 | sq.ft. | |
| Sand and refinish hardwood floors | 2.00 | 4.00 | sq.ft. | |
| Install replacement windows | 40.00 | 120.00 | sq.ft. | |
| Install storm window | 200.00 | 400.00 | ||
| Install masonry fireplace (if flue already roughed-in) | 3000.00 | and up | ||
| Install zero-clearance firelace (including chimney) | 3500.00 | and up | ||
| Install glass doors on fireplace | 300.00 | and up | ||
| Install skylight | 3000.00 | |||
| Remodel kitchen completely | 10,000.00 | 110000.00 | ||
| Install gas fireplace | 3500.00 | and up |
Jill Stewart, Broker at Royal LePage Real Estate Service Ltd., Brokerage
Direct line: (416) 231-3000 Email:
August 21st, 2008 at 3:55 pm
[…] more expensive. As the latest addition to our Buyer’s Guide, we have compiled a list of possible home improvements and their estimated cost for a typical three-bedroom […]