Parkwoods · North York · Toronto Hydro
Parkwoods electrician for houses, townhouses and towers
Parkwoods was built largely in the 1960s, with detached family homes, townhouse complexes and apartment towers. Each one comes with its own electrical questions, and we answer all three.
The neighbourhood
A 1960s neighbourhood on the east side
Parkwoods is in the east part of North York, between the Don Valley Parkway and Victoria Park Avenue. Much of it was built in the 1960s, with parks and ravine land threaded through it.
The housing is deliberately mixed. Detached bungalows, back-splits and two-storeys line the crescents. Townhouse complexes sit between them, and apartment towers stand along the main roads.
Those three kinds of home are now around sixty years old, and the wiring shows it. Panels have aged, outlet counts are low, and the original lighting is often a single fixture per room.
Inside a 1960s Parkwoods house
Most detached homes here were built with 100 amp service, which was generous at the time. Today it is often the limit for a family with central air, a basement suite or an electric car. A North York panel upgrade to 200 amps is the common fix.
Some houses from the mid-1960s on were wired with aluminum branch circuits. It works when the connections are made with the right devices, but those connections need care. A full home inspection in North York tells you what is behind your walls.
Three kinds of home
How the work differs across Parkwoods
The same neighbourhood, three very different starting points.
| Detached house | Townhouse complex | Apartment tower | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panel | In the basement, often 100 amps | Inside the unit, fed from shared equipment | A suite panel, fed by the building |
| Service upgrade | Yes, booked with Toronto Hydro | Depends on the complex and the board | Not at suite level |
| Approvals | ESA permit | ESA permit, often board sign-off | ESA permit and management approval |
| Common jobs | Panel upgrades, EV chargers, pot lights | Repairs, lighting, kitchen circuits | Lighting, renovations, repairs |
Typical jobs
What Parkwoods households book
Repairs come first for many owners. Sixty years of use wears out receptacles, switches and connections. Outlets stop working, breakers trip without a clear cause, and lights flicker. We trace the fault, explain it and fix it at a price agreed before we start.
Lighting is the next most common request. Many 1960s rooms have no ceiling fixture at all, only a switched outlet. Bungalows with attic access are good candidates for pot lights. Basements gain from new lighting during a renovation.
EV chargers are growing too. Detached homes with a driveway or carport can usually get a Level 2 charger, sometimes with a panel upgrade. Townhouses with a private garage may qualify, subject to the complex's rules.
- Troubleshooting and repairsDead outlets, tripping breakers, worn switches
- Panel upgrades100 amps to 200 amps, with Toronto Hydro booked
- InspectionsWiring type, grounding and panel condition
- Pot lights and fixturesThrough the attic or during a basement renovation
- EV charger circuitsGarage, carport or driveway post
Worth checking
Signs a Parkwoods home needs an electrician
A warm outlet or switch plate
Heat at a device means a loose or failing connection. Stop using it and call us.
Breakers that trip in the evening
Often too many loads on one older circuit. New circuits share the load.
Original 1960s receptacles
Worn contacts lose their grip on plugs, which can lead to arcing.
No ground in older rooms
Ungrounded outlets limit what you can safely plug in and how well surge protection works.
Services
Our North York services
Nearby
Other North York neighbourhoods
What customers say
Reviews from our customers
We were very pleased with the electrical work performed by Marrast Contracting. It's the second time we use their service and we were pleased with the quick service again.
Clear and timely communication, courteous, professional and efficient work, no surprises on the invoices....would definitely recommend.
Very professional service! Did an amazing job hanging light fixtures for me on high ceilings.
He fixed the light switch in no time at all. Knew exactly what the problem was. He also put a cover plate on the switch at no extra cost.
Shaldin came out on short notice and repaired some loose wiring that came up during some minor work
Shaldin was prompt, skilled, friendly and professional. I would have no problem recommending his services.
Questions
Parkwoods electrical questions
I own a townhouse in a Parkwoods complex. Who is responsible for the wiring?
It depends on the complex. In many condominium townhouse complexes, wiring inside your unit is yours and the service equipment outside is common property. The declaration sets out who owns what. We can look at your setup and tell you what the board needs to approve.
Could my 1960s Parkwoods house have aluminum wiring?
Some homes from the mid-1960s on were wired with aluminum branch circuits. It is not dangerous by itself, but its connections need the right devices and care. An inspection shows what you have. If we find it, we repair the connections or rewire in copper.
My Parkwoods house has a carport, not a garage. Can I still get an EV charger?
Usually, yes. Outdoor-rated chargers can be mounted on an exterior wall or a post beside the driveway. We route the 240-volt circuit from the panel, check the load first, and file the ESA permit.
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
Parkwoods is part of our North York service area. Every service we offer is available here, 24/7 for emergencies.