What does $100,000 get you in a Winnipeg renovation?
In our instant estimator, $100,000 falls inside the medium kitchen range (100–200 sq ft, $80,000–$139,999) and at the top of the medium basement range (501–1,000 sq ft, $45,000–$100,000). It is well above the bathroom size ranges, which top out at $36,000 before a new tub, shower or other options.
Where a budget like this lands depends on how much of the house is being opened up. A medium kitchen with semi-custom cabinets and quartz counters is a different job from a basement with a new bathroom and an egress window, even at a similar price. Our guide to choosing between a full renovation and partial upgrades can help you decide how far to take it.
Is there a renovation cost per square foot in Winnipeg?
We don’t price renovations by the square foot, because cost isn’t spread evenly across a room. A small bathroom packs plumbing, tile and fixtures into very little floor, while a basement spreads framing and drywall over a large open area. That’s why our estimator starts from size ranges, then factors in your choices.
Compare the two smallest tiers: a bathroom up to 50 sq ft starts at $16,000–$20,000, and a basement up to 500 sq ft starts at $25,000–$80,000. Ten times the floor area doesn’t mean ten times the price.
What is usually the most expensive part of a renovation?
The size and scope of the job, more than any single finish. In our estimator, a new tub-and-shower combo ($12,000–$18,000) or a new shower ($10,000–$15,000) is the largest bathroom option, and in kitchens the size range moves the price far more than any cabinet or countertop choice. Moving plumbing or walls adds more.
Work hidden in walls and floors is the other big variable, especially in older homes: wiring, drains and structure that need updating once they are exposed. The estimator can’t see those, so they are priced after the on-site visit. If you own an older house, our guide to renovating a character home in Winnipeg covers what to expect.
How much contingency should you keep for a renovation?
Many homeowners keep a contingency on top of the quoted price, and it makes the most sense in older homes or on jobs that open up walls and floors. We don’t publish a set percentage, because the right cushion depends on the house. Ask us at the on-site visit what we would plan for in yours.
If something unexpected turns up once work starts, ask for the fix to be priced in writing before that work goes ahead, so you decide with the number in front of you. Changes you choose part-way through also change the cost, as the federal Office of Consumer Affairs renovation guide points out, so settling finishes before you sign helps keep the budget steady.
For a step-by-step way to set your budget, see our home renovation planning guide.
What about whole-home, additions and commercial work?
Whole-home renovations, home additions and commercial projects aren’t in our instant estimator, because their scope varies too much to price from a few questions. They are priced after a free on-site visit, with a written quote that sets out what is included before any work begins.
- Whole-home renovations: most run 8–16 weeks, depending on the size of the house and how much of it is being renovated.
- Home additions: many straightforward additions take roughly 8–16 weeks once permits and materials are ready.
- Commercial renovations: offices, retail stores, restaurants, cafés and bars, hotels, and medical, dental and physio clinics, with after-hours or weekend scheduling and weekly progress updates.
To get a number for any of these, book a free on-site visit. For business budgets, our guide to the biggest cost factors in commercial renovation explains what moves the price.
How do homeowners pay for a renovation?