Willowdale · North York · Toronto Hydro
Willowdale electrician for bungalows, rebuilds and condos
Willowdale has three kinds of home on the same few blocks: the original postwar bungalow, the large custom house that replaced its neighbour, and the condo tower on Yonge. We wire all three, and each one needs a different plan.
The neighbourhood
A postwar suburb that keeps getting rebuilt
Willowdale sits on both sides of Yonge Street, north of Highway 401. After the Second World War its side streets filled with modest brick bungalows on generous lots. For decades that was the whole picture.
Then the lots became worth more than the houses. Over the past few decades many bungalows have come down, replaced by large two-storey custom homes built close to the lot lines. Walk almost any Willowdale street and you'll see both side by side.
Along Yonge itself, around the Sheppard, North York Centre and Finch subway stations, the change went upward. Condo and office towers now line the corridor. That gives Willowdale a mix you don't find in many parts of the city.
Why the electrical work differs house to house
An original bungalow here was wired for a 1950s kitchen and a few lights per room. Many still run on 60 or 100 amp service, with a panel that's been patched over the years. The house next door may have a 200 amp service or larger, two panels and dozens of lighting circuits. The condo up the street has a small suite panel fed by the building. One electrician who understands all three saves you from learning the hard way.
Three homes, three jobs
What Willowdale owners usually call us about
| Original bungalow | Custom rebuild | Yonge Street condo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical service | 60A or 100A, often original | 200A or larger, new underground feed | A suite panel fed by the building |
| Common job | Panel upgrade, new circuits, basement work | Full wiring from temporary power to final | Lighting, kitchen and bath renovations |
| Who else is involved | Toronto Hydro for the disconnect | Your builder, designer and Toronto Hydro | The condo corporation and building management |
| What to watch | Ungrounded outlets and overloaded circuits | Lighting plans, EV-ready garage, generator provision | Concrete ceilings and building rules for noisy work |
Custom homes
Wiring a Willowdale rebuild
Most of our Willowdale work is on new custom homes, for builders and for owners managing their own build. A house of that size asks a lot of its service. Heated floors, a large kitchen, a finished lower level, central air and two EV chargers can add up fast.
We start with a load calculation from the drawings, then size the service and plan where the panels go. We set up temporary power for the site, rough in each floor to the schedule, and pass ESA's rough-in inspection before drywall. At the end we connect fixtures and devices, book the final inspection and hand over a labelled panel. Builders can read more on our North York page for contractors.
Lighting that matches the house
Willowdale rebuilds tend to have tall ceilings, open main floors and feature stairs. That calls for a real lighting plan: layers of pot lights, pendants and stair lights on separate dimmers. We work from your designer's layout or help you draw one. See pot lights and lighting in North York.
Keeping the bungalow
When you're staying, not rebuilding
Plenty of Willowdale families are renovating the bungalow instead. A new kitchen, a basement for a parent or an adult child, or a rear addition all go through the panel. If yours is still the original, start there. Our North York panel upgrade page explains how we schedule the Toronto Hydro disconnect and the ESA inspection.
We work across Willowdale and the rest of North York. 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 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.
Shaldin was great to work with - friendly, responsive and communicative. Arrived on time and service was completed promptly after verifying the 240V lines from our appliances to the breaker panel.
[Shaldin] and his apprentice from Marrast Contractors installed a new expanded 220 electrical breaker box at our home. Their professional knowledge and pride they took in their work impressed me greatly and I would recommend them for any electrical and/or renovation projects.
Vanity lights, shower light, hallway light were flickering, bathroom exhaust fan stopped intermittently. Shaldin came to replace the breaker. Problem solved. Great communication. Job done as scheduled. Highly recommend.
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.
Questions
Willowdale electrical questions
We bought a Willowdale bungalow to live in for a few years before rebuilding. Is a panel upgrade worth it?
Sometimes it isn't. If the panel is safe and carries your load, we fix the real problems and save the big spend for the new build. If there are fuses, an insurer is asking questions or you need an EV circuit now, an upgrade makes sense. We'll tell you which way we'd go after looking.
Can you add pot lights to my Willowdale condo?
Usually not in the way you'd do it in a house. Most condo ceilings are concrete, so recessed lights need a dropped bulkhead or a slim surface-mount fixture. Work in a suite also needs the condo corporation's approval. We can help you with the paperwork building management asks for.
Our builder is tearing down a Willowdale bungalow. When do you get involved?
Before demolition, ideally. The old service has to be disconnected and the house made safe, then temporary power set up for the site. We can also review the drawings early, so the new service size, panel location and EV and generator provisions are settled before framing.
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
Willowdale is part of our North York service area. Every service we offer is available here, 24/7 for emergencies.