Cost per square foot to build house in Ottawa

11/4/2019 at 10:03:52 AM

Hi Gerhard,

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11/4/2019 at 10:55:11 AM

For now I'm at the budgeting phase and not ready to submit for a bid yet. Just need my numbers for the bank loan approval. Once I have the approval I will start with submiting for a bid

11/4/2019 at 11:21:30 AM

Or is it ok to request and estimate even if I'm not ready to build?

11/4/2019 at 11:46:05 AM

Hello Gerhard,

I use the Canadian Cost Guide from Altus Group to determine Average Cost Per Square Foot of different kinds of builds all over the country. If you Google it you should be able to find the document for yourself.

According to the document, average construction costs only (not including land and soft costs) for the Ottawa/Gatineau region for Custom Built Single-Family Residential ranged from 420-870 Dollars a Square Foot.

For single-family residential with unfinished basement it ranged from 110 to 150 Dollars per Square Foot. If you're looking at buying a ready-made plan on the internet I'd guess you'd fit into the second range, though I haven't looked at the plan myself and can't speak to its level of detail or complication.

The construction guide is for development costs for developers/builders/contractors/etc. As an individual and building only a single home rather than a subdivision worth of homes, your price would naturally be somewhat higher. By how much, I can't guess as I am not familiar with your region.

I hope this helps you with your initial budget estimates though.

Ethan

Borle Bros. Contracting Corp.

11/4/2019 at 2:19:20 PM

I found the Altus Contruction Guide. Thank you Ethan

12/16/2020 at 9:50:51 AM

Good morning,

"Custom Built Single-Family Residential ranged from 420-870 Dollars a Square Foot.

For single-family residential with unfinished basement it ranged from 110 to 150 Dollars per Square Foot."

I'm not sure that I understand such a big discrepancy between $110 to 150 and $420-870, why is that?

Thank you,

Maria

12/16/2020 at 12:28:30 PM

I don't know why the big difference. I'm starting contruction on my new home close to Hawkesbury Ontario in March 2021. So far from estimates that I have recieved from sub-contractors my cost to build will be $239 per sq.

I'm the general contractor and finding each sub trade myself.

I'm sure if you go to a builder it will be quite a bit more.

1/17/2021 at 6:13:32 AM

Hi Gerhard,

My name is Alain and I am currently in the process of hiring a GC. I am building on my lot in Limoges and hope to start April 2021. I got a price per square foot yesterday of 324. I am finding COVID is really impacting costs on material and labour this year. Why have you decided not to go with a GC? If its money, how much do you think you would save?

9/27/2021 at 2:47:38 PM

Hi Alain,

I just saw your reply now. I must have missed it in my emails earlier this year.

I'm about to move into my new house. It will be ready in two weeks to move in.

I'm a project manager in my software company, so for me, I love the challenge of managing projects, and yes, I will be able to save at least 25% on the cost to build by being the GC myself.

For me, it had a bit of an impact on the cost of materials, but I booked in all my pricing at January prices, so I avoided the major price hike on materials that started in March.

My cost to build per square footage will be $365 to $375 before taxes. I get to collect back a portion of the taxes paid on material and labor.

I hope this helps