# Construction cost estimates (for Ontario, Canada)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 6, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/construction-cost-estimates-for-ontario-canada/166950 "2003-04-06T23:52:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/construction-cost-estimates-for-ontario-canada/166950/1 "2003-04-06T23:52:32Z")
Hey all, once again turning to this board for help. Trying to find out a rough estimate for what it costs to build a new house in Ontario, Canada. There used to be services available from builder supply stores that would allow you to get an estimate. --\>“So many dollars per square foot,” that sort of thing. Am having the hardest time trying to get anything remotely like that now. Can anyone help? ie, offer a site with building cost calculators, or heck, even an idea of what it might cost? ---
**Author:** ![desdinova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@desdinova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desdinova)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/construction-cost-estimates-for-ontario-canada/166950/2 "2003-04-07T00:56:30Z")
I’m a commercial real estate appraiser. Gimme an idea of what you’re talking about building, and I can flip through my copy of Marshall & Swift and give you a rough idea (I won’t be able to do it until Tuesday though). Just right off the top of my head, in Oklahoma I think a rough average is maybe $70/SF (in U.S. dollars, of course). This is for an average home with average finish, and of course does not include lot price or builder’s profit or anything else of that sort. I’d guess-timate that construction costs are a bit higher in Ontario. ---
**Author:** ![desdinova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@desdinova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desdinova)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/construction-cost-estimates-for-ontario-canada/166950/3 "2003-04-07T01:15:48Z")
Oh yeah, Marshall & Swift has an online version, at [http://www.swiftestimator.com](http://www.swiftestimator.com) . You can do it yourself there, but it looks like they charge $6 (U.S.) just to look up one residential cost estimate… I’m not aware of any free online cost estimators, but that’s probably because I work in the business, and M&S is pretty much the only universally recognized source for construction cost estimates. ---
**Author:** ![rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/construction-cost-estimates-for-ontario-canada/166950/4 "2003-04-07T03:44:16Z")
Oh, its not for a commercial concern. Was offered some property that might be good for a residential house (mine actually. 🙂 ) But I have NO idea what building a house might cost. Trying to get an idea before I go any further. ---
**Author:** ![desdinova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@desdinova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desdinova)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/construction-cost-estimates-for-ontario-canada/166950/5 "2003-04-07T05:29:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rabbit \* > \*\*Oh, its not for a commercial concern. > Was offered some property that might be good for a residential house (mine actually. 🙂 ) But I have NO idea what building a house might cost. Trying to get an idea before I go any further. \*\* Oh, I understand, I’m just giving you my background. Us commercial guys like to think that we can handle any real estate appraisal 😉 Like I said, here in OK, $70/SF is roughly average for homes in urban areas. Without knowing any specifics as to exactly what you’re thinking about constructing, that’s about the best estimate I can give you until I flip through my Marshall & Swift book, which won’t be until Tuesday (I’ll be on the road tomorrow). ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/construction-cost-estimates-for-ontario-canada/166950/6 "2003-04-07T13:32:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rabbit \* > \*\*Hey all, once again turning to this board for help. > Trying to find out a rough estimate for what it costs to build a new house in Ontario, Canada \*\* Are you trying to include property costs in the price? ---
**Author:** ![rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/construction-cost-estimates-for-ontario-canada/166950/7 "2003-04-07T14:41:43Z")
nope, just construction costs. Basically what can I build (in terms of square footage) for a given dollar amount. ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/construction-cost-estimates-for-ontario-canada/166950/8 "2003-04-07T15:38:53Z")
Well, in CDN$, a very, very, **VERY** rough idea would be $90-$110 FT[sup]2[/sup]. $100 is a figure I’ve heard used commonly in Alberta, and pretty closely worked out to what we paid for our house a year ago although the market is still very strong. So, you may be wise to go with the high side for ballpark budgeting. I don’t think materials and labor costs would be _massively_ different in Ontario. By the way, did I say that would be a rough idea? It’s a rough idea. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![desdinova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8baadc/32.png) [@desdinova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desdinova)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/construction-cost-estimates-for-ontario-canada/166950/9 "2003-04-08T00:37:06Z")
Interestingly enough, the most recent exchange rate on Yahoo Finance suggests $70/SF U.S. would translate to $103.6 Canadian. To be on the safe side, and considering **bernse** ’s comments, maybe $105-110/SF would be a conservative estimate with a little wiggle room for the odd extra amenity. So that we’re on the same wavelength, here’s some of the features I consider “average” for a new home: [ul] [li]wood frame with attractive brick veneer[/li][li]full electrical heat/air[/li][li]average carpeting with ceramic tiling in kitchen/bathrooms[/li][li]two car garage[/li][li]composition gable roof[/li][li]one story[/li][li]no in-ground sprinkler system or pool[/li][li]hollow interior doors[/li][li]single-pane windows[/li][li]middle of the road bathroom fixtures, no whirlpool bathtubs[/li][/ul] Any extra doo-dads or top-of-the-line finishing like imported marble floors will bump up the price, but even the fanciest finishing shouldn’t be more than twice the estimate of $105. The marginal cost of second story floor space will be lower than the $105 figure, maybe $75 or so depending on what you plan on putting up there. Always bear in mind that in most markets, fancy amenities and finishing will only add to the market value up to a point, after which you’re basically throwing money away unless the amenities are important to you. I don’t know how many times I’ve had to explain to people why I don’t just add the cost of their new fancy Italian marble entryway to the market value… Just a reminder, I’m a commercial appraiser and anyone here that does residential work might have better insight than I do. Of course, your best bet would be to ask your friendly local home builders’ association. They can at least point you in the direction of local custom home builders that would be _more_ than happy to send you information on what it costs to build a home in your neck of the woods. ---
**Author:** ![rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/construction-cost-estimates-for-ontario-canada/166950/10 "2003-04-08T01:30:34Z")
Thanks lots desdinova. Thats just the stuff I was looking for.