Downsview · North York · Toronto Hydro
Downsview electrician for older bungalows and newer builds
Downsview mixes modest postwar houses with newer townhouses around the park and the former airport lands. We wire both, and answer emergency calls here 24/7.
The neighbourhood
Downsview's houses and what powers them
Downsview sits in the west half of North York, around Keele Street, Wilson Avenue and Sheppard Avenue West. For most of the last century its centre was an airfield and aircraft plant. The houses grew up around it after the Second World War.
Most of the detached homes date from the 1950s and 60s. They are brick bungalows, storey-and-a-half houses and semis on regular lots. Many were built with 60 amp fuse panels, and some still have them. Others got a 100 amp breaker panel in a later renovation, which is now the next thing to outgrow.
The newer side of Downsview looks different. Townhouses and condos have gone up near Downsview Park, and the old airport lands are planned for redevelopment over many years. Those homes arrive with modern panels and wiring, so the work there is usually additions, not fixes.
What a 1950s electrical system meets today
A house wired seventy years ago expected a few lamps, a fridge and a stove. Your house now runs a dishwasher, central air, a home office, maybe a heat pump. Older panels in Downsview often have every space filled, with tandem breakers squeezed in to make room.
That is when owners call us. The usual answer is a 200 amp service upgrade in North York, booked with Toronto Hydro. It replaces the panel, meter base and service entrance in one visit, and leaves room for what you add next.
What we see
Signs a Downsview house is due for work
These turn up again and again in postwar North York homes.
A fuse panel in the basement
Common in houses that were never fully renovated. Insurers often ask about it, and it leaves no room for new circuits.
Two-prong outlets upstairs
Ungrounded circuits are typical of the original wiring. They limit surge protection and modern appliances.
Lights dim when the dryer starts
Usually a service or panel that is near its limit, or a loose connection worth checking soon.
Extension cords as permanent wiring
A sign the house has too few outlets for how you live. New circuits fix the cause.
A basement finished decades ago
Older basement work was not always permitted. We check it before you build on top of it.
Warm or discoloured breakers
Heat at the panel means a connection or breaker is failing. Call us promptly.
Typical jobs
The work Downsview homeowners book
Many Downsview owners are keeping their bungalow and making it work for a bigger household. That often means a basement apartment for family or a tenant. A second unit needs its own circuits, interconnected alarms and a service that can carry two kitchens. We plan the electrical for basements and second suites in North York from the load calculation up.
Where the original wiring is still in the walls, a partial or full rewire is often the honest answer. We run new cable through basement ceilings, closets and attic space to keep wall repairs small. Rooms are done in a planned order, so you can stay in the house.
On the newer streets, the requests are different. Owners ask for EV charger circuits in the garage, extra pot lights in open living areas, and outdoor outlets for the yard. Those are usually one-day jobs with an ESA permit.
- Panel and service upgradesFuses or 100 amps to 200 amps
- RewiringWhole house or room by room
- Second-suite electricalCircuits, alarms and capacity for two units
- EV charger circuitsLevel 2, with a load calculation first
- Repairs and troubleshootingDead outlets, tripping breakers, flickering lights
How a Downsview job runs
From first call to the ESA certificate
Photos or a visit
Send photos of the panel and meter. For larger jobs we visit and check the whole system.
A fixed, written price
Labour, materials, the ESA permit and any Toronto Hydro coordination, in one number.
Permit and booking
We file the notification of work with ESA and book any disconnect with Toronto Hydro.
The work
Shaldin Marrast, our Master Electrician, leads the crew. We clean up each day.
Inspection and sign-off
ESA inspects, and you receive the Certificate of Acceptance for your records.
Services
Our North York services
Nearby
Other North York neighbourhoods
What customers say
Reviews from our customers
Effective Communication and Inspection throughout every step of the project. Work was done in a professional manner with all messes cleanup at end of day. Cost reasonable when compared. Project took a bit longer to complete, but I am very happy with the finished design and upgrades. Thank you! Blessings
[Shaldin] responded very quickly to my request for a diagnostic service call. He was very accommodating to our questions, and provided good counsel which resulted [in] us not having to do additional work. Very honest. Thanks [Shaldin]!!!!
I would highly recommend Marrast Contracting. Not only the service was timely and quick, Shaldin was informative, professional, helpful and super friendly. Despite it being a small job, he went above and beyond to accommodate. Overall a great experience.
I had an issue with the basement breaker that was tripping constantly. They came in even though it was bad weather and fixed the issue. Very professional and responsive.
Excellent service! On time. Good communications before, during and after the work. Fast, efficient, and top quality work. Kept us informed about the progress and clean up after the work. Highly recommend.
Great quality job + decent price + transparency + punctuality + great customer relations = Marrast Contracting. A different and refreshing approach in an industry that needs more companies like this. Thank you!
Questions
Downsview electrical questions
My Downsview bungalow has never had its electrical updated. Where do I start?
Start with an inspection rather than a single repair. We open the panel, test a sample of circuits, check grounding and look at the service size. You get a written list of what matters now and what can wait, so you can plan the spending.
Can you add a separate panel for a basement apartment in Downsview?
Often, yes. A second unit usually needs its own circuits, smoke and CO alarms that are interconnected, and enough service capacity for two households. We do the load calculation first, then tell you whether the existing service can carry it or needs to go up.
I bought a newer townhouse near Downsview Park. Will I need a panel upgrade for an EV charger?
Usually not. Newer homes tend to have a modern breaker panel with some spare capacity. We still run a load calculation before adding a 240-volt charger circuit, and we check whether your garage or parking spot belongs to you or to a condominium corporation.
Do you take out the ESA permit?
Yes. In Ontario, the licensed contractor files the notification of work with the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) and books the inspection. We handle it on every job that needs one, and you get the ESA Certificate of Acceptance when the work passes. Keep it: insurers and home buyers often ask for it.
North York
Across North York
Downsview is part of our North York service area. Every service we offer is available here, 24/7 for emergencies.