Cottage Renovations
in Muskoka.
We renovate Muskoka cottages without erasing what made them feel like a cottage. Additions, full guts, second storeys, and four-season conversions on legacy properties.
The work, in detail.
We renovate Muskoka cottages without erasing what made them feel like a cottage. Additions, full guts, second storeys, and four-season conversions on legacy properties.
- Full gut renovations and additions
- Three-season to four-season conversions
- Second-storey and dormer additions
- Foundation lifts and structural repairs
How we approach cottage renovations.
Renovate without losing the cottage
We open layouts, add light, and modernize systems while keeping the timber, stone, and sightlines that made you buy the place. The best compliment we get is 'it feels like it was always this way.'
Three to four-season conversions
Spray-foam re-envelope, slab insulation retrofits, properly sized HVAC, freeze-protected plumbing, and roof load reviews so the cottage you used four weekends a year becomes the home you use 52.
Structural without scars
Beam swaps, foundation lifts, second-storey adds, and load-bearing removals engineered and sealed, then sequenced so the cottage stays weather-tight through every phase.
Live-in or empty, your call
We sequence demo, dust containment, and trade days so weekend-use cottages can stay partially occupied. For full guts, we coordinate around your rental income or family bookings.
Every trade in a cottage renovations project.
We run the full scope or with vetted partners on a single contract. Here's what typically lands inside this kind of project.
Demolition
Selective demo with dust control and protection for finished areas.
Structural
Beam swaps, post relocations, and engineer-stamped openings.
Plumbing & electrical updates
Bringing legacy systems to current code while you're already opened up.
Insulation & air sealing
Upgrading R-values and air tightness during reno is the cheapest time to do it.
Cabinetry & built-ins
Mudrooms, libraries, window seats, and bunk rooms built on site.
Flooring
Hardwood, engineered, tile, and heated floor systems.
Paint & finish
Full repaint, stain matching, and trim refresh after work is complete.
Cottage Renovations we've built.
We come to you. Lake, city, or screen.
We love meeting people over a coffee so we can hear them out and understand their vision for the cottage. Boots on the ground in Muskoka, in-person meetings in Toronto, or a video call if your schedule is tight. Pick what works for you.
Coffee in the city
Most of our clients live in Toronto or the GTA. We meet downtown between site days so you can sketch ideas, swap photos, and walk through scope without driving north.
Boots on the ground in Muskoka
Our crew lives here. We'll meet you at the cottage, walk the lot, and pull tape on what you're thinking, no appointment shuffling required.
Virtual walkthroughs
Live video walkthroughs of the site, the build, and the selections. Hit join from anywhere in the world and see the project as if you were standing in it.
Year-round or weekenders
Whether the cottage is your full-time home or your getaway, we shape the build sequence around how you actually use the place, and how often you can be on site.
"Our 1970s cottage finally feels like a home we'll pass down. On budget, finished before opening weekend."
"Second-storey add with two new ensuites, finished without us missing a single rental week."
"They saved the original fieldstone fireplace and made it the heart of the new great room."
Every type of cottage renovations we do.
Cottage Renovations covers a lot of ground. Browse the specialty that matches your project, each one gets its own deep-dive page with scope, specs, and FAQs.
Full Gut Renovations
Down-to-studs Muskoka cottage renovations with new envelope, mechanicals, and finishes.
View Full Gut Renovations detailsCottage Additions
Side, rear, and lake-side additions that look original from day one.
View Cottage Additions detailsSecond Storey Additions
Adding a second floor to a Muskoka cottage with engineered lift or rebuild.
View Second Storey Additions detailsFour-Season Conversions
Converting three-season Muskoka cottages for year-round use.
View Four-Season Conversions detailsFoundation Lifts & Repairs
Lifting Muskoka cottages off failing foundations onto new full basements or piers.
View Foundation Lifts & Repairs detailsHow a cottage renovations project runs.
Assessment
Structural and envelope review before scope is locked.
Scope and quote
Fixed-price proposal with allowances called out clearly.
Demo and build
Protected access, dust containment, weekly photo logs.
Closeout
Walkthrough, warranty book, and a Muskoka-tuned maintenance schedule.
Cottage Renovations across every Muskoka community.
Common questions.
Can you renovate while we still use the cottage on weekends?+
Sometimes, depending on scope. We sequence work so kitchens or main living areas stay usable when possible.
Do you handle structural changes?+
Yes. Load-bearing removals, foundation lifts, and engineered beam swaps are routine for us.
How much does a Muskoka cottage renovation cost?+
Most full guts run $450 to $750 per square foot depending on finish level and shoreline access.
Can you convert a three-season cottage to four-season?+
Yes. Spray-foam envelope, slab or crawlspace insulation, HVAC sizing, and freeze-protected plumbing make it a properly winterized home.
Do you do additions and second storeys?+
Yes. Dormer adds, full second storeys, and side additions are some of our most common projects. Engineered and permitted before demo.
Will renovating trigger new zoning review?+
Interior-only work usually doesn't. Footprint or height changes do. We check setbacks and lot coverage before quoting.
How do you protect existing finishes during demo?+
Zip-wall containment, floor protection, negative-pressure HEPA filtration, and dedicated entry/exit so dust never reaches finished rooms.
Can you save and reuse original materials?+
Often. We salvage original beams, fireplaces, hardwood, and stone whenever the condition allows, and document what we save before demo.
What's the timeline for a typical reno?+
Kitchens and baths run 6 to 10 weeks. Full guts run 5 to 9 months. Additions add 3 to 5 months beyond that, depending on permits.
What if we don't live near Muskoka?+
Most of our reno clients live in Toronto or further. Weekly photo logs, video walkthroughs, and coffee meetings in the city between site days.
Start your cottage renovations project.
Walk the site with us. We follow up with a fixed-price proposal, usually within two weeks.