Newtonbrook · North York · Toronto Hydro
Newtonbrook electrical work, from bungalow panels to condo suites
Newtonbrook spans side streets of postwar houses and the towers along Yonge Street near Finch. We work on both, and we plan each job around how the building is actually supplied.
The neighbourhood
Two Newtonbrooks on either side of the side streets
Newtonbrook is in the north end of North York, around Yonge Street between Finch Avenue and Steeles Avenue. Steeles is the city's northern edge, so the neighbourhood sits right against York Region.
Away from Yonge, most streets were built up in the 1950s and 60s. You'll find brick bungalows, back-splits and side-splits on regular lots. Many have been renovated more than once, and some have been rebuilt as larger homes.
Along Yonge, the picture changes. Apartment and condo towers cluster near Finch station, the last stop on the Yonge subway. Taller buildings keep arriving on the main roads. So a Newtonbrook electrician has to be at home in both a basement panel room and a condo suite.
Split-levels and their wiring quirks
Back-splits and side-splits were popular in this era, and they wire differently from a bungalow. Circuits cross several short floor levels, and the panel often sits in a lower level far from the kitchen. Fishing new cable means finding the paths between half-floors.
We map the circuits first and plan routes through closets and the lowest ceilings. That keeps patching small when you add a kitchen circuit, move the panel or rewire part of a North York home.
House or suite
How the job changes with the building
The same request, such as more lighting or a new circuit, plays out differently in each.
| 1950s and 60s house | Condo suite near Yonge | |
|---|---|---|
| Who supplies power | Toronto Hydro, straight to your meter | The building's own system, then your suite panel |
| Service upgrade | Possible: we book Toronto Hydro | Not usually: suite capacity is set by the building |
| Approvals | ESA permit, filed by us | ESA permit plus the condo's sign-off |
| Typical jobs | Panel upgrades, rewiring, basement circuits | Lighting, kitchen and bath renovations, repairs |
| Access | Basement and attic | Concrete ceilings, booked elevators, set hours |
Typical jobs
What Newtonbrook owners call us for
In the houses, the first job is often the service. A 100 amp panel from a past renovation fills up fast once a family adds air conditioning and a finished basement. A 200 amp upgrade in North York is booked with Toronto Hydro, and the power is usually back the same day.
Lighting is the other big request. Original houses often have one ceiling fixture per room, and many living rooms have none. We add pot lights and dimmers through the attic on main floors, and between joists in basements.
In the condos, work is smaller in scale but needs care. Suite renovations, under-cabinet lighting and new outlets are common. Concrete ceilings mean surface options or careful routing through existing bulkheads.
Owners on both sides ask about EV charging. In a house, it comes down to panel space and a run to the driveway. In a tower, it is a conversation with the condo board first.
Worth knowing
Practical points for Newtonbrook owners
Price comes after a look
We give a fixed, written price after a site visit or clear photos, never a guess over the phone.
ESA covers condos too
Work inside a suite still needs a notification of work and an inspection where the rules call for one.
Keep your certificates
Buyers along Yonge often ask for ESA Certificates of Acceptance on renovation work.
Plan the panel first
If a renovation needs more circuits, sort out capacity before the drywall goes up.
Services
Our North York services
Nearby
Other North York neighbourhoods
What customers say
Reviews from our customers
My problem was a bit complicated so it took a couple of visits to diagnose the issue. Once that was determined, [Shaldin] and Mike got the parts and got to work. I was very pleased with the results and would not hesitate to contact them again for other issues.
We hired Marrast Contracting for an electrical panel 200A upgrade. The team led by Shaldin did an amazing job. Everything was described from start to finish. They contacted hydro for disconnection and reconnection at completion, obtained the permit and the job was finished on time. We gladly recommend Marrast Contracting.
Shaldin and his team did a fantastic job replacing my 150A breaker panel with a 200A, and installing my Tesla charger. He was responsive via phone and text during the quoting stage and negotiated fairly and in good faith. Excellent communicator! He contacted the power company and helped arrange for disconnect. He is licensed and insured and provided proof. The installation proceeded without too many hiccups, and he honoured the lump sum pricing, even though the time to complete the install exceeded the estimated time. When changes were required to the scope of work, he asked for my approval before commencing, and we agreed on a fair price for the extra work.
We are very pleased with the EV power installation at our home. The work was done in a timely and professional manner. [Shaldin] and his team provided excellent guidance regarding our best options. The friendly helpful service made it a very positive experience.
I can't say enough to recommend Shaldin and his team at Marrast Contracting. They handled my condo renovation with ease and the end result is gorgeous! A huge thank-you to Netsayi who helped with the design, provided tons of options, sourced fixtures and gave expert advice throughout. Every stage of this reno was done with extreme care and professionalism, and I would hire them again and again.
I hired Marrast to install a junction box in a porch enclosure. Shaldin was very professional and personable. He and his apprentice completed the job efficiently and cleanly. Additionally, Shaldin went above and beyond by covering up a half-exposed, unused old junction box. Their work was highly professional, and I would definitely recommend them.
Questions
Newtonbrook electrical questions
Do you work inside condo units near Yonge and Finch?
Yes. Work inside your suite, such as new lighting, outlets or a kitchen renovation, is done from your unit's panel. We follow the building's rules on booking elevators, working hours and contractor insurance. Anything touching common electrical equipment needs the property manager's approval first.
My Newtonbrook house has a 100 amp panel. Is that enough?
It depends on what runs in the house. A 100 amp service can be fine for a modest home with gas heat. Add central air, an electric range, a basement kitchen or an EV charger, and it gets tight. We do a load calculation and tell you plainly whether an upgrade is needed.
Can I get an EV charger in a Newtonbrook condo garage?
Often, but it is a building decision as well as an electrical one. The condo corporation decides how chargers connect to the building's supply and how the power is metered or billed. We can work with the board and property manager on a proposal that fits the garage.
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
Newtonbrook is part of our North York service area. Every service we offer is available here, 24/7 for emergencies.