Renovation costs in Montréal, QC

Montréal: the borough and the building both matter

A Montréal duplex, a triplex apartment and a newer condominium can share a geographic cost factor without sharing the same renovation process. The City directs owners to their borough’s permit counter because local rules can differ. Before comparing a kitchen or window range, identify the borough, the ownership of affected components and whether the home will remain occupied during construction.

The permit counter comes before the material order

Montréal’s interior-renovation service and exterior-renovation guidance point applicants to permit requirements that depend on the work and borough. A window replacement, balcony, roof or façade project can raise different questions from a like-for-like interior finish. The City advises contacting the borough before buying materials or starting. If several parts of a building are being altered, ask whether they should be submitted together and what drawings are needed. A schedule that begins with demolition while the application is still incomplete is not a workable construction plan.

Shared walls and occupied units

In a duplex or triplex, a kitchen renovation may affect shared plumbing, service shutoffs and occupants in another unit. Agree on access and protection before accepting a very short labour estimate. In a divided co-ownership or condo, read the declaration and building rules to determine who controls windows, balconies and mechanical systems. Contractors should state who handles notifications, debris removal, stair protection and any restoration outside the renovated unit. These tasks are particularly visible in dense neighbourhoods with limited loading space.

Cold-season envelope work

Montréal’s winter freeze-thaw and humid summers make roof drainage, masonry joints, balcony details and window air sealing meaningful parts of an exterior quote. For a flat roof, clarify whether drains, parapets and flashing are included. For brick or stone, distinguish a cosmetic surface repair from work on deteriorated masonry. If exterior access requires scaffolding over a sidewalk or lane, confirm who prices and arranges it. Do not compare an all-in envelope bid with one that quotes only the visible covering.

Set one basis for comparison

Use the calculator for a defined scope, then ask for the same finish schedule, trade work, drawings, waste plan and contingency from each bidder. Note whether taxes and permit fees are in the total. The City’s interior-renovation service and exterior-renovation guidance are the starting points; confirm requirements with the borough for the actual address. The site’s regional range is not a borough approval or a sampled local bid.

Follow a façade project from street to wall

Before selecting a cladding or window, ask which borough rule applies, whether the visible change needs a permit, and how a crew will access the elevation. A dense street may require a plan for scaffolding and pedestrian passage. Once the old finish comes off, damaged masonry or water-barrier work can be found. The quote should identify a repair allowance and who authorizes it. Without those steps, two seemingly similar façade prices can cover completely different completed buildings.

For interior work in a multi-unit property, label any shared service that will be interrupted. State whether residents remain in place, who moves belongings and whether common-area restoration is included. That is more useful than comparing only the nominal square metres of a kitchen or bathroom.