Bathurst Manor · North York · Toronto Hydro
Electrical services for Bathurst Manor bungalows and backsplits
Bathurst Manor was built up after the war with brick bungalows and backsplits, and many still have much of their original wiring. We upgrade panels, add basement suites and track down the faults that come with age.
The neighbourhood
Postwar houses built to last
Bathurst Manor is in the north-west of North York, around Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue West. Most of it was built in the 1950s, when the area went from farmland to a suburb in a few years.
The houses are solid brick bungalows, backsplits and side-splits on quiet residential streets. Many families have owned theirs for decades, and many have been renovated in stages. Some lots have been rebuilt as larger homes, but most streets still look much as they did.
The electrical picture in a backsplit
A backsplit steps down in half-levels from the front to the back. The main floor faces the street, the bedrooms sit half a flight up, and the family room and basement step down behind. The panel is usually on the lowest level.
That layout is good for living but awkward for wiring. One circuit can feed rooms on several levels. Additions over the years, such as a family room, a basement kitchen or air conditioning, often landed on whatever circuit was handy. The original service, usually 60 or 100 amps, was never sized for all of it.
Common in Bathurst Manor
Problems we see in houses of this age
Ungrounded outlets
Two-prong receptacles from the original build, or three-prong ones installed later with no ground behind them.
Breakers that trip
Circuits shared between levels, carrying loads they were never designed for.
Undersized service
A 60 or 100 amp service trying to run central air, a modern kitchen and a basement.
Do-it-yourself additions
Basement wiring added by a past owner, often without a permit or inspection.
Worn devices
Outlets that no longer grip a plug, and switches that crackle or feel warm.
Old fixtures
Original ceiling fixtures and boxes not rated for the heat of newer bulbs or fans.
Basement suites
Wiring a legal second suite in a backsplit
The lower levels of a backsplit often suit a suite well. Here's how the electrical side usually goes.
Load calculation
We check whether the existing service can carry two households. Often it can't, and the panel comes first.
Suite layout
We plan circuits, lighting, kitchen outlets and a sub-panel for the suite where it makes sense.
Safety devices
Interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and the protection each room requires.
Permit and rough-in
We file the ESA notification and pass the rough-in inspection before walls close.
Final inspection
ESA signs off and you receive the Certificate of Acceptance for your records.
Services that fit Bathurst Manor
Where most Bathurst Manor jobs start
For many owners here the first call is about a fault: a tripping breaker, a dead outlet or lights that flicker. We find the cause before we quote a fix. Our North York troubleshooting and repairs page explains how a diagnostic visit works.
Next is capacity. If you're adding air conditioning, a new kitchen or a suite, the panel usually comes first. We upgrade to 200 amps and book the Toronto Hydro disconnect and reconnect.
Then the lower level. A legal suite can help pay the mortgage or house a family member. Our page on basements and legal suites in North York covers the electrical requirements in more detail.
We're a family-owned North York contractor, licensed since 2010. Shaldin Marrast, our Master Electrician, leads every job, and you get a fixed, written price after a site visit.
Services
Our North York services
Nearby
Other North York neighbourhoods
What customers say
Reviews from our customers
I had an EV charger install which took around 3 hours; included running cables from the basement to front of garage. Very easy process, took a few pictures, received quote via email. Top notch quality, clean install. Shaldin is a great guy, super friendly and transparent.
I was very happy with the quality and service from Marrast Contracting and the team. Shaldin was very thorough and made sure our electrical issues were properly addressed. Highly recommend.
Good communication, arrived on time. I had them do a lot of work. Installed three appliances, remove and replace seven lights and change one receptacle. Solved a problem with the under counter lights I had chosen and went to get a better solution. Willing to take extra time to check positioning of new light fixtures to ensure proper look and lighting. I will use them again.
Shaldin Marrast is a Master Electrician who I would give 10*. I needed to hang and swag a chandelier. It needed to be done impeccably. Then there was the old wiring and the old light dimmer that needed to be revived. Shaldin was so expert, generous and creative with his work. Making sure I was happy every step of the way. I highly recommend Marrast Contracting; they stand by their work.
Marrast Contracting did excellent work on our home and all the electrical work was done to ESA standard and he provided us with a certificate after the work was done. And was done quickly. Would recommend 100% to all my friends and family.
Shaldin and his team installed new light fixtures in our home. We appreciate the promptness, transparency, friendliness, expertise and cleanliness. Thanks! We'll be in touch again for other electrical jobs.
Questions
Bathurst Manor electrical questions
Can a Bathurst Manor backsplit have a legal basement apartment?
Many can. A backsplit's lower levels often have good ceiling height and windows, which helps. The electrical side usually means more capacity, separate circuits for the suite, smoke and CO alarms, and an ESA permit. Zoning and building permits come from the City. We handle the electrical part and work with your designer or contractor on the rest.
Some of my outlets only take two-prong plugs. Is that a problem?
It's common in a house this age. Those outlets have no ground wire, so a three-prong adapter doesn't actually protect anything. The fix may be a new grounded circuit, or a GFCI-protected outlet where that's allowed. We'll tell you which suits each room.
A breaker in my backsplit keeps tripping. Where do you start?
With what's on that circuit. In a split-level house one breaker can feed rooms on two or three levels, which makes the cause harder to guess. We trace the circuit, measure the load and look for a loose connection or failing device before we recommend anything.
How does a service call work?
A service or diagnostic call is a first visit to find the cause of a problem. We give you the rate when you book, test the circuit, tell you what we found, and give you the price to fix it before we do any work. Many simple jobs can also be priced from photos.
North York
Across North York
Bathurst Manor is part of our North York service area. Every service we offer is available here, 24/7 for emergencies.