Don Mills · North York · Toronto Hydro
Electrical work for Don Mills' mid-century homes
Don Mills was planned from scratch in the 1950s, and its low, modernist houses are now around seventy years old. We update their panels and wiring while respecting the clean lines that drew you to the house.
The neighbourhood
Canada's first planned postwar community
Don Mills was built from the early 1950s on farmland around Don Mills Road and Lawrence Avenue East. It was conceived as a complete town, with homes, schools, parks, shops and workplaces planned together. It is widely described as Canada's first planned postwar suburban community, and its layout was copied across the country.
The houses were part of the plan. Low bungalows, split-levels and two-storeys went up on curving streets, many in a modernist style with low-pitched roofs and large windows. Townhouses and low-rise apartments were mixed in. Many of those houses are still standing, and plenty of owners chose Don Mills because of them.
What seventy years means for the wiring
These homes were wired well for their time, but that time was the 1950s. A typical house had a modest service, a handful of circuits and two-prong outlets with no ground wire. Since then, past owners have often added circuits, finished basements and swapped fixtures, not always with a permit.
The result can be a panel with no free spaces, a few overloaded circuits and some work nobody can explain. None of that is unusual. It just means the first step is finding out what you actually have.
Signs to look for
When a Don Mills house is telling you something
These are common in mid-century homes. None means danger on its own, but each is worth a look.
Two-prong outlets
Original receptacles with no ground. Common in 1950s houses and often swapped badly by past owners.
A full panel
No spare spaces means every new circuit becomes a workaround, such as a tandem breaker or a shared circuit.
Lights that dim
Lights that dip when the furnace, dryer or air conditioner starts can point to an overloaded circuit or a loose connection.
Warm switches or plates
A faceplate that feels warm is a reason to call. It usually means a poor connection behind it.
Mystery wiring
Splices in the basement ceiling or cable running along walls, left from past renovations.
Tight attic space
Low-pitched roofs can leave little room above the ceiling, which affects how new wire and pot lights go in.
Room by room
How we rewire a mid-century house you're living in
A full rewire doesn't have to mean moving out. In a Don Mills bungalow or split-level we usually work in stages.
Inspect and map
We test every circuit, find the panel's limits and map which rooms are on which breakers.
Plan the routes
We pick cable paths through the attic, basement and closets to keep wall openings few and small.
Panel first
If the service or panel needs upgrading, we do it first so new circuits have somewhere to land.
Rewire in sections
We work area by area, so most of the house stays powered each night.
Inspect and hand over
ESA inspects, you receive the Certificate of Acceptance and a panel directory you can trust.
Services that fit Don Mills
Keeping the character, adding the capacity
The most common Don Mills job for us is bringing older wiring up to date. Our page on wiring and rewiring in North York covers how we price and stage it. If you're buying, an electrical inspection is the place to start.
Lighting is the other big one. Mid-century rooms suit clean, low-profile fixtures, and many owners want warm, dimmable light rather than a grid of pot lights. We help you choose what suits the room.
Adding an electric car? A Level 2 charger needs its own 240-volt circuit, and an original service may not have room. We run a load calculation first and tell you whether the panel can take it. See EV chargers in North York for how that works.
Every job is led by Shaldin Marrast, a Master Electrician. You get a fixed, written price after a site visit, and the ESA permit is filed by us.
Services
Our North York services
Nearby
Other North York neighbourhoods
What customers say
Reviews from our customers
Over the years I have used a lot of contractors but these guys are simply the best. Full end to end service, I did not have to worry about a thing. Design, layout, permit, installation, patching, painting, etc. After completion, it was like they never had to run electrical conduits and cables throughout my house.
Shaldin installed new pot lights in my condo and I'm thrilled with his work. Netsayi was also delightful to deal with for scheduling. I would recommend Marrast Contracting - fair pricing, solid work, with both clear and effective communication throughout.
100% recommend! Marrast has been amazing to work with! Shaldin was super helpful in assessing and finding the right path forward for hardwiring sconces in my apartment without having to deal with concrete and Michael's attention to detail on the install was impeccable. I had them back this spring to install a ceiling medallion and pendant light and I love it! Will definitely be booking again when needed!
[Shaldin] came out to my place on short notice to have a look at an electrical issue I was having. He was the most reasonably priced from the couple quotes I got for a maintenance call, he was friendly and easy going, explained everything in a way I could understand and diagnosed and fixed the issue quickly with no extra surprises thrown my way. Highly recommend him and will be the only electrician I call in the future.
Marrast Contracting did an amazing job with all of our electrical and connectivity needs. He's knowledgeable, reliable, and very easy to work with.
[Shaldin] is very clear, responsive and did a great job adding a sub panel, explaining the process and even discovering potential issues that may arise in the future. I have hired Marrast before and I will do it again, would definitely recommend.
Questions
Don Mills electrical questions
Can you rewire a Don Mills bungalow without wrecking the original features?
In most cases, yes. We route new cable through attic space, closets and the basement wherever we can. Where we have to open a wall or ceiling, we keep the openings small and plan them with you. Tell us which details matter most, such as a wood ceiling or built-in shelving, and we work around them.
My split-level's panel is on the lowest floor. Can it stay there?
Often it can. A panel location is fine as long as it has the required clear space in front of it and stays accessible. If you're finishing that level or the service is being upgraded anyway, it can be worth moving. We'll look at both options on the site visit.
Are Don Mills houses old enough to need an electrical inspection before I buy?
An inspection is worth it for any house this age. Original panels, ungrounded outlets and decades of additions by past owners are all common. A full inspection tells you what's there and what needs attention, before you're committed.
Do I need a panel upgrade for an EV charger?
Not always. A Level 2 charger needs its own 240-volt circuit, usually 40 to 60 amps. We do a load calculation on your home first. If your panel has room, we install the charger on its own circuit. If it doesn't, the options are a panel or service upgrade, or in some homes a load management device that lets the charger share capacity. We'll tell you which applies.
North York
Across North York
Don Mills is part of our North York service area. Every service we offer is available here, 24/7 for emergencies.