Insights · 4 min read
How much does it cost to renovate a kitchen in Scarborough? (2026)
A realistic 2026 budget for a Scarborough kitchen: $45,000–$85,000 for a full renovation with the layout intact, $70,000–$130,000 once walls come down. Scarborough’s bungalow stock makes the layout question — not the finishes — the decision that sets your budget.
Scarborough’s kitchens were built for a different era of cooking: closed-off galley and L-shaped layouts in 1950s–80s bungalows and split-levels across Bendale, Agincourt, Woburn and Birchcliffe. Almost every Scarborough kitchen renovation we plan starts with the same question — do we open it up? The answer determines whether you’re buying cabinets or buying structure, and the price difference is tens of thousands of dollars. Here’s how the numbers actually break down.
Typical kitchen renovation costs in Scarborough (2026)
By scope
- $15k–$35k — cosmetic refresh: painted/refaced cabinets, new counters, backsplash
- $45k–$85k — full renovation, layout unchanged
- $70k–$130k — open-concept with structural beam, new lighting plan
What moves you up the range
- Load-bearing wall removal + engineering
- Custom vs. stock cabinet construction
- Stone counters and full-height backsplash
- Appliance package tier
Typical ranges for professionally executed work in the GTA — not quotes. Structural work is the biggest variable.
The layout question
Keeping the sink, stove and refrigerator where the builder put them avoids the three most expensive inputs: plumbing relocation, gas line work, and structural engineering. A same-layout renovation puts nearly the entire budget into things you touch and see every day — cabinet construction, stone, hardware, lighting. It’s the best value per dollar in kitchen renovation.
Opening the kitchen to the living room is the classic Scarborough bungalow move, and it’s worth doing when the house calls for it — but price it honestly. The wall is usually load-bearing, which means a structural beam sized by an engineer, a City of Toronto building permit, and bringing any exposed electrical and plumbing up to current code. Budget $15,000–$30,000 for the structural portion alone, before finishes.
What Scarborough’s housing stock hides
- Electrical generations. Pre-1950s homes may still have knob-and-tube; 1970s homes often have aluminum branch wiring. A kitchen renovation is the moment both get remediated — and both need ESA-inspected electrical work regardless.
- Cast-iron drains. Original drain lines in 1950s–60s homes are reaching end of life. If the kitchen sink drain is being touched, replacing the run while walls are open is far cheaper than doing it later.
- Asbestos. Flooring, drywall compound and insulation in mid-century homes sometimes contain it. Testing before demolition is inexpensive; discovering it mid-demolition is not.
- Uneven everything. Seventy years of settling means floors, walls and ceilings that aren’t plumb. Levelling and shimming are real labour line items in bungalow kitchens.
Where the money goes in a full renovation
Cabinetry is typically the largest single line — roughly a third of the budget — and it’s where construction quality matters most. Stock cabinets with soft-close hardware serve well; custom cabinetry buys precise fit and storage in awkward bungalow dimensions. Stone counters, appliances and trade labour (plumbing, electrical, tile, drywall, paint) make up the rest. The finishes you agonize over — faucet, hardware, paint colour — are among the smallest lines. Decide the big three first: layout, cabinets, stone.
Planning a kitchen in Scarborough? Book a free walkthrough — we’ll tell you whether your wall is load-bearing before you fall in love with an open-concept rendering. Our kitchen renovation process covers design through final clean, and our Scarborough bungalow kitchen guide goes deeper on the structural side.
Quick answers
What does a kitchen renovation cost in Scarborough?
A full kitchen renovation in Scarborough typically runs $45,000–$85,000 in 2026 with the layout unchanged: new cabinetry, stone counters, backsplash, lighting and appliances. Opening the kitchen to the living room in a bungalow — which usually means structural work — pushes the range to $70,000–$130,000. A cosmetic refresh (painted cabinets, new counters and backsplash) runs $15,000–$35,000.
Why are Scarborough bungalow kitchens more expensive to open up?
The wall between the kitchen and living room in a 1950s–70s bungalow is very often load-bearing. Removing it means a structural beam, engineering drawings, and a City of Toronto building permit — plus older electrical and plumbing that must be brought up to current code once exposed. The “simple” open-concept kitchen is three trades and a permit, not a weekend.
Do I need a permit to renovate my kitchen in Scarborough?
Scarborough is part of Toronto, so permits go through the City of Toronto. You need one if you remove or alter walls, move plumbing or gas, add electrical circuits, or cut new openings. Cabinet and countertop replacement with everything staying put — no permit.
How long does a kitchen renovation take in Scarborough?
Four to six weeks for a same-layout renovation; eight to twelve weeks when walls come down and structure, permits and inspections enter the picture. Custom cabinetry adds its own lead time — measured after demolition, typically six to ten weeks — so order early.
Should I keep my kitchen layout to save money?
Usually, yes — keeping the sink, stove and fridge where they are avoids plumbing, gas and structural costs, which are the three most expensive things in a kitchen. Spend the savings on better cabinetry construction and stone. Only move the layout when the new plan genuinely earns the cost.