Answers to the questions clients ask most often about our commercial construction services — offices, retail and restaurants.
As 2026 planning ranges: most QSR refreshes run $70–120 per square foot turnkey, and full-service casual restaurants typically run $180–300 per square foot. Heavy-ventilation concepts like hotpot and BBQ start around $300 per square foot. Your real number comes from a line-item proposal for your specific space — send us the address and we'll walk it for free.
Timelines vary by size and complexity. As a general guide, QSR refresh projects take 4–8 weeks, while medium-sized restaurant renovations or new build-outs take 8–16 weeks. We provide a detailed project schedule during pre-construction and stick to it rigorously.
Yes — and it's the highest-value time to involve us. We run a complimentary pre-lease site walk across the GTA: we check mechanical capacity, the electrical panel, grease interceptor, hood routing, and the work letter, then give you a one-page summary of what the lease should cover versus what you'd pay for. That's negotiating leverage before you sign.
We focus on office, retail, and restaurant build-outs and renovations — office/commercial tenant improvements, retail stores, quick-service (QSR) and casual dining, and commercial kitchen upgrades across small-to-mid-scale commercial interiors. We are not a do-everything general contractor — we build commercial interiors, and we do what we excel at.
Our commercial projects — office, retail and restaurant — typically range from $50K to $600K. Smaller maintenance and repair work usually runs between $200 and $10K. Staying within this range allows us to maintain tight schedule control, cost management and consistent quality.
Yes. From day one you’ll be assigned a dedicated project manager who is your single source of truth — overseeing subcontractors, managing site safety and handling all communications. You don’t need to chase electricians or plumbers; one call connects you to everything.
Before work begins we provide a detailed cost breakdown. Throughout construction we track expenses in real time. If design changes or additional scope arise, we issue a formal change order for your approval before any work proceeds. No hidden fees; cost transparency is fundamental.
Absolutely. We work closely with architects and engineers to prepare and submit building permits, fire suppression and health permits, and any other required approvals. Drawing on real-world construction experience, we optimise permit drawings to reduce back-and-forth revisions and save time and money.
We include a 1-year comprehensive workmanship warranty on top of all manufacturer warranties. If an issue arises within the warranty period, we stand behind our work and will make it right.
Yes. We offer continuing maintenance and repair services — typically $200 to $10K — including lighting and fixture repairs, door and hardware maintenance, minor electrical and plumbing fixes, and general building upkeep. Many office, retail and restaurant clients, landlords, and property managers keep us on call after the build, forming long-term relationships that keep their spaces and units running smoothly.
Our team's previous commercial construction experience includes work associated with franchise and food-service brands such as Popeyes, Pizza Pizza, Pizza Hut, Real Fruit, Chatime, CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice, and Gong Cha. Brand names are referenced only to describe relevant project experience and do not imply endorsement or a current client relationship.
Yes. We deliver office and commercial tenant improvements, retail fit-outs, and restaurant build-outs across the GTA — all with the same team and delivery system. Restaurants are the most heavily inspected commercial interiors — health, fire, TSSA, and ventilation approvals on every build — so office and retail projects run with fewer moving parts. Same process, same single point of contact, same 1-year workmanship warranty.
A tenant improvement is the interior work that adapts a leased commercial unit to your business — anything from demising walls and lighting to a full shell-to-finish build-out. We work within landlord design criteria, coordinate base-building tie-ins, insurance and hoarding requirements, and sequence the work around plaza or mall operating rules. If your lease includes a TI allowance, we help you scope the work to use it effectively.
Yes. Franchise fit-outs are core work for us — brand-standard finish packages, franchisor coordination, long-lead equipment ordering, and opening-date-driven schedules. Our team's experience includes work associated with brands such as Popeyes, Pizza Pizza, Chatime, and Gong Cha.
The unit address, approximate square footage, and your concept or menu are enough to start. Drawings, the lease draft or work letter, an equipment list, and photos of the space all make the number more precise. We respond with a preliminary scope and estimate direction within one business day, and your documents are used only for estimating and project review.
Yes. Buildup Contracting carries WSIB coverage and commercial general liability insurance, and our subcontractors are required to carry their own coverage. Certificates of insurance are available on request with your proposal — the same documents we recommend you ask any contractor for.
