In short
- Wikipedia, citing the census, dates most Westboro houses to 1900–1960 and counts 71% of them as detached.
- HomeStars' Ottawa guide says older Westboro homes needing asbestos abatement or structural work can exceed its $80,000–$120,000 suite range.
- A condo owner generally has to ask the board to approve a renovation, and plumbing changes typically need a municipal permit (Condominium Authority of Ontario).
- Any basement alteration larger than 10 m² (about 108 sq ft) needs a City of Ottawa building permit.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom, cosmetic refresh | $7,000–$12,000 | Ottawa-wide HomeStars figure |
| Bathroom, mid-range rebuild | $15,000–$30,000 | New tile, vanity, toilet, fixtures; Ottawa-wide |
| Basement bathroom | $8,000–$30,000 | Ottawa-wide; rough-in drives the top end |
| Basement waterproofing and insulation, before finishing | $5,000–$15,000 | Ottawa-wide HomeStars range |
| Mid-range one-bedroom legal basement suite | $80,000–$120,000 | Older Westboro homes can exceed this, per the same guide |
Sources. Seen 29.10.2026: HomeStars, Bathroom Renovation Cost Guide for Ottawa (updated 21/08/2026); HomeStars, Basement Renovation Cost for Ottawa: 2026 Guide (updated 21/08/2026); City of Ottawa, Finishing a basement; City of Ottawa, Lead Pipe Replacement Program overview; Condominium Authority of Ontario, Condo renovations. Area facts: Wikipedia, Westboro, Ottawa, read 29.10.2026.
Westboro houses by era
Westboro dates from the nineteenth century, a streetcar suburb on the Ottawa River, along the old Macadam Road to Bells Corners, now Richmond Road. It was a police village before the City of Ottawa annexed it in 1949. Most houses date from 1900 to 1960; 71% are detached. Cottage-like homes survive near the river north of Scott Street, and condo projects are adding density.
That mix sets the first question for any request: is it a house from the early or mid century, or a condo unit? The two jobs run under different rules, so write which one in your request.
Inside an older Westboro house
HomeStars’ Ottawa guide prices a cosmetic bathroom refresh at $7,000 to $12,000 and a mid-range rebuild with new tile, vanity, toilet and fixtures at $15,000 to $30,000. Moving plumbing adds $1,500 to $5,000 by itself, and the guide calls keeping fixtures in place the single most effective way to control cost. Ask the company what it usually finds in a house of your age.
Ask how the company reports a surprise behind the finishes, such as old wiring or a sagging joist. A quote line for hidden conditions beats a change order written on the day.
Basements in a 1900–1960 house
A basement under a 1900–1960 house meets the same City rules as any other. Past 10 m² of alteration, roughly 108 sq ft, the City wants a building permit. HomeStars allows another $5,000 to $15,000 for waterproofing and insulation ahead of the finish work, and a basement bathroom runs $8,000 to $30,000. For a one-bedroom legal suite it gives $80,000 to $120,000 and adds that older homes in Centretown, the Glebe or Westboro that need asbestos abatement or structural upgrades can exceed that range.
Moisture and structure come first, then rough-in, then walls. See basement finishing for the stages and basement moisture and insulation for what to settle before drywall.
Lead pipe and the water entry
The City of Ottawa’s Lead Pipe Replacement Program supports eligible owners who replace a lead water service pipe, either the private part alone or the full pipe. A house from the first half of the century is the kind of place where the question comes up. Eligibility for the program is the City’s decision.
Condo units in Westboro
Condo renovation here runs on three layers: the building, the City and the contractor. The Condominium Authority of Ontario says unit owners generally must ask the board to approve a renovation, and some corporations ask for a formal application and inspections. Each corporation has its own declaration, by-laws and rules, and some limit work hours or require approved contractors. The same page says plumbing changes typically need a municipal permit, and that changes affecting building safety or structure are unlikely to be approved.
Put the building name and your unit’s floor in the request. Elevator booking and noise hours shape the schedule. A condo bathroom job gets its own page; for the cost bands see bathroom renovation cost.
Permit rules are on renovation permits in Ottawa, age-specific questions on renovating an older home, and the quote check on the contract checklist.
Where your request goes
The Desk is a routing service. A Westboro request reaches one independent renovation company, which calls you, comes to see the room and quotes under its own name. Scope, price and dates are questions for that company on the call.
Questions to ask the company
- I live in a house from [decade]. What do you check for in the walls and floor before you price the room?
- If the work uncovers old wiring, a lead service pipe or insulation you did not expect, how do you price and report it?
- In a condo, which board papers do you need from me, and will you fill in the building's contractor forms?
- Is the permit yours to file, and will a copy be posted on site?
Have this ready for the call
- Street and the nearest main road (Richmond Road, Churchill Avenue, Carling Avenue)
- The year or decade the house was built, or the condo building's name
- For a condo: the board's renovation rules and any elevator-booking or work-hour limits
- Photos of the room and, if the basement is in scope, of the ceiling and the electrical panel
Questions people ask
Do Westboro condos need board approval before a renovation?
Generally yes. The Condominium Authority of Ontario says unit owners generally must ask their board to approve a renovation. Some corporations ask for a formal application, contractor insurance details and inspections before and after. Read your declaration, by-laws and rules, and add the board’s requirements to the request.
Why do old Westboro houses cost more to renovate?
HomeStars lists panel upgrades, better subfloors and structural reinforcement as frequent needs in older districts such as Westboro, the Glebe and Old Ottawa South, and warns that Westboro homes needing asbestos abatement can exceed its suite budget. Such items can surface once walls open, so a written allowance for them matters.
Could my Westboro house still have a lead water pipe?
It can, in a house of that age. The City’s Lead Pipe Replacement Program splits the service at the shut-off valve: the house side belongs to you, the street side to the City. A basement job near the water entry is the moment to ask the company what that pipe is made of.
