Frequently Asked
Questions

True North Construction Inc is an Oakville-based full-service contractor with over 13 years of experience building and renovating properties across Ontario. We operate two divisions — Interior and Exterior — handling everything from custom home builds and kitchen renovations to inground pools, hardscape, landscaping, and complete backyard transformations. We are fully licensed, insured, and WSIB-covered.

Yes. True North Construction Inc is fully licensed and insured across the Province of Ontario. We carry $5M liability insurance on every project, and all trades working on your property are WSIB-covered. We are also Contractor Verified through contractor-finder.ca. You can request proof of insurance at any time.

No. We do not subcontract our trades. Every carpenter, tiler, landscaper, pool installer, and finisher working on your project is part of our own team — hired, trained, and managed by True North. This gives us full quality control at every stage and means there is one team accountable to you from start to finish.

True North Construction Inc was founded in 2006 and has been operating for over 13 years. We've completed 300+ projects across Ontario in that time, serving homeowners from Oakville and the GTA to Barrie, Collingwood, and cottage country.

Yes — and this is one of our biggest advantages. Because we operate both an Interior Division and an Exterior Division under one company, we can design and build your entire property with one team, one project manager, and one contract. This saves time, reduces cost, and ensures everything is designed to work together cohesively.

The easiest way to get started is to fill out our contact form or call us at (647) 687-2201. We'll schedule a free consultation — either a site visit or a phone call depending on your project. There's no obligation and no pressure.

We visit your property (or connect by phone for early-stage conversations), walk through your vision, assess the site conditions, discuss your budget and timeline, and give you an honest picture of what's achievable. We don't do high-pressure sales. We ask questions, listen, and give you the information you need to make a confident decision.

Start dates depend on the project scope, permitting requirements, and our current schedule. We typically book consultations within one week of first contact and can have a detailed proposal ready shortly after the site visit. For projects requiring permits, the permitting timeline will affect the start date — which is why we recommend reaching out as early as possible in your planning process.

Yes. Every project is assigned a dedicated project manager who is your single point of contact from consultation through final walkthrough. You'll receive regular updates on progress, and you can reach your project manager directly at any time. No chasing, no confusion about who's responsible for what.

We never ask for full payment upfront. Payments are structured around project milestones — typically a deposit at contract signing, progress payments at key construction stages, and a final payment at project completion. The exact schedule is outlined clearly in your contract before any work begins.

Any changes to scope after contract signing are handled through a written change order process. We document the change, its cost impact, and any effect on the timeline — and get your approval in writing before proceeding. We don't surprise clients with bills for work they didn't authorize.

Yes. Initial consultations and project estimates are free with no obligation. We invest the time to properly assess your project and provide a detailed, accurate quote — because we believe you deserve to know exactly what you're getting before you commit to anything.

We're not the cheapest option — and we don't try to be. We employ our own trades, use premium Canadian materials, pull proper permits, and deliver work that holds up for decades. The contractors undercutting us are typically using cheaper materials, skipping permits, or subcontracting to unvetted trades. The savings feel good until something fails. We build things that last, and our pricing reflects that.

We work hard to find the right solution within your budget. During the consultation, we'll discuss your budget openly and honestly — and if the full scope isn't achievable right now, we can help you prioritize and phase the work so you get the most important elements done first. We'd rather give you an honest answer than overpromise and underdeliver.

We work with third-party financing providers for qualifying projects. Contact us to discuss financing options for your specific project. Many homeowners also use home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) to fund construction projects — your financial institution can advise on the best approach for your situation.

Yes — we handle all required permits and municipal approvals as part of our service. This includes building permits, pool permits, electrical permits, plumbing permits, and any structural engineering drawings required. You never have to deal with city hall or building departments. We manage it all and keep you informed throughout the process.

In Ontario, building permits are generally required for: new home construction, additions, structural changes (removing load-bearing walls), finished basements, inground pools, decks over a certain height, retaining walls over 1.2m, and any work affecting plumbing, electrical, or HVAC systems. The specific requirements vary by municipality. We assess permit requirements for every project during the consultation.

Permit timelines vary significantly by municipality and project type. Simple permits (decks, fences) can be approved in days to a few weeks. More complex permits (pools, additions, new builds) can take 4–12 weeks or longer depending on the municipality's current volume. In Oakville, Vaughan, Aurora, and most GTA municipalities, we have established relationships and know what's required to get approvals efficiently.

No. We do not build anything that requires a permit without pulling one first. Unpermitted work creates serious problems — it can void your home insurance, prevent you from selling your home, result in municipal fines, and require costly remediation work later. We understand it feels like a delay, but it protects you, your home, and your investment.

It depends on the scope of work. For kitchen and bathroom renovations, many clients choose to stay in the home — it's inconvenient but manageable, especially if we sequence the work to minimize disruption. For full whole-home renovations or structural work, we generally recommend temporary accommodation. We'll give you an honest assessment during the consultation based on your specific project.

A typical kitchen renovation with custom cabinetry takes 4–8 weeks from demolition to final installation, depending on the complexity of the layout, whether plumbing or electrical changes are required, and cabinet lead times. We'll give you a detailed schedule before work begins so you know exactly how long your kitchen will be out of service.

For most residential additions in Ontario, you need stamped drawings from a designer or architect as part of the building permit application. We work with registered designers and architects to produce the required permit drawings. For larger or more complex additions, a licensed architect may be required. We'll advise on the right path for your specific project and coordinate the design professional on your behalf.

We use custom cabinetry for all kitchen and bathroom projects. We don't install stock cabinets. Custom means built to your exact dimensions, door profile, finish, and hardware — no fillers, no gaps, no compromises. Our cabinetry is sourced from trusted Canadian manufacturers and is built to last through decades of daily use.

The ideal window for pool excavation and construction in Ontario is typically April through September. We recommend consulting with us in late fall or winter for the following season — this gives time for design, permitting, and scheduling so your pool is ready for opening day. If you want to swim in July, start the conversation in November or December at the latest.

Unilock and Permacon both offer lifetime guarantees on their products against freeze-thaw damage — but only when installed by certified contractors following manufacturer specifications. Our installations comply with all manufacturer requirements, which means your product warranty is valid. If you had interlock installed by a non-certified contractor and it fails, the product warranty typically will not apply.

We walk every pool client through the winterization process at project completion, and we can provide winterization service each season if needed. Proper Ontario pool winterization includes balancing water chemistry, blowing out all lines, draining equipment, installing winter plugs, and covering the pool. We recommend doing this in October before the first hard freeze.

Yes — our Full Exterior Package is designed exactly for this. Pool, hardscape, landscaping, outdoor kitchen, lighting, water features, fencing — all designed and built as one cohesive project under a single contract. This eliminates the coordination headache of managing multiple contractors and ensures everything is designed to work together visually and functionally. Learn more about the Full Exterior Package.

We work primarily with Unilock and Permacon — Canada's leading interlocking concrete paver manufacturers, both engineered specifically for Ontario's freeze-thaw cycles. We are certified installers for both brands, which means their product warranties are valid on our installations. We'll walk you through the full product range during the design process to find the right fit for your home's style.

We work with premium pool suppliers including Latham Pools for pool shells and products, and Hayward and Pentair for pool equipment — pumps, heaters, filtration systems, and LED lighting. These are industry-leading brands known for reliability, energy efficiency, and strong Canadian dealer and warranty support.

We build both. For composite, we primarily install Trex and TimberTech — top-tier products with excellent fade resistance and 25-year warranties. For natural wood, we use kiln-dried cedar and properly treated pressure-treated pine. The right choice depends on your aesthetic preference, maintenance tolerance, and budget — we'll give you an honest comparison during your consultation.

Absolutely. All materials and finishes are selected together with you during the design process. We bring samples, present options within your budget, and give you our professional recommendation — but the final selection is always yours. We never choose materials on your behalf without your approval.

We're headquartered in Oakville and serve the greater GTA and beyond, including: Oakville, Burlington, Mississauga, Brampton, Toronto, Vaughan, Woodbridge, King City, Nobleton, Richmond Hill, Markham, Stouffville, Aurora, Newmarket, Caledon, Bolton, Hamilton, Barrie, Innisfil, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Orangeville, Uxbridge, Port Perry, Gravenhurst, Huntsville, and communities across Ontario.

For projects within the GTA and immediate surrounding areas, there is no travel fee. For projects in cottage country (Barrie, Collingwood, Muskoka), travel and accommodation costs for our crew may be factored into the project price depending on the scope and duration. We'll be upfront about any travel costs during the quoting process.

Yes. We regularly work in Barrie, Innisfil, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, and throughout the Simcoe County area, as well as Muskoka. We've built pools, completed full exterior transformations, and delivered interior renovations for homeowners with primary and secondary residences in these communities. Contact us to discuss your project.

The easiest way is to reach out to us directly with your location and project type. We'll let you know right away whether we serve your area. If your project is in a location we don't typically cover, we'll tell you honestly rather than take on work we can't deliver properly.