How Much Do Landscaping and Renovation Projects Cost in Barrie?
If you’re planning a project in Barrie or anywhere in Simcoe County, the first question is always the same: what will it cost? This guide gives you honest, realistic price ranges for the projects we build every day — interlocking, fences, decks, sod, waterproofing, basement and kitchen renovations, and more.
Every property is different, so these are starting ranges, not quotes. The only way to know your number is a free on-site estimate — which is exactly what we do.
Interlocking: $18–$30 per Square Foot Installed
Interlocking (pavers) is our most-requested service, and for good reason — it handles Ontario freeze-thaw cycles far better than poured concrete.
- Standard concrete pavers: $18–$24/sq ft installed
- Premium or tumbled pavers: $24–$30/sq ft installed
- Natural stone (flagstone, armour stone accents): $30+/sq ft
A typical 400 sq ft backyard patio in Barrie runs $7,200–$12,000 installed. Driveways cost more per foot than patios because they need deeper excavation and a heavier base to carry vehicles.
What drives the price: access to the backyard (tight side yards mean hand-carrying everything), how much excavation the ground needs, paver brand and pattern complexity (herringbone and borders take longer), and whether old concrete has to come out first.
Fences: $45–$75 per Linear Foot
A standard 6-foot pressure-treated wood privacy fence in Simcoe County runs $45–$65 per linear foot installed, including posts set in concrete. Premium cedar or board-on-board styles push toward $65–$75+.
A typical 150-foot backyard fence: $6,750–$11,250.
What drives the price: rocky ground or clay (harder post holes), slopes (stepped panels), gates (each one adds cost), and whether an old fence needs tearing out.
Decks: $25–$45 per Square Foot
- Pressure-treated wood: $25–$35/sq ft installed
- Composite (Trex-style): $40–$60/sq ft installed
A 300 sq ft pressure-treated deck: $7,500–$10,500. The same deck in composite: $12,000–$18,000 — but you’ll never stain it again.
What drives the price: height off the ground (tall decks need more structure and railings), stairs, built-in benches or privacy screens, and permits.
Sod: $1.50–$3.00 per Square Foot Installed
Fresh sod, supplied and installed: $1.50–$3.00/sq ft depending on the size of the area and how much prep the ground needs. A 1,000 sq ft lawn: $1,500–$3,000.
What drives the price: grading (new builds often need serious levelling), topsoil depth, and access for delivery.
Exterior Waterproofing: $8,000–$15,000+ per Home
Foundation waterproofing from the outside — excavation, membrane, weeping tile, and backfill — typically runs $100–$150 per linear foot of foundation. A full house in Barrie usually lands between $8,000 and $15,000+.
This is the one project where cutting corners costs you twice. A wet basement ruins flooring, drywall, and everything stored down there.
Basement Renovation: $30,000–$60,000+
A finished basement in Simcoe County typically runs $35–$75 per square foot, depending on what’s going in. A basic rec room and bathroom: $30,000–$40,000. A full legal second suite with kitchen: $50,000–$80,000+.
What drives the price: bathrooms and kitchens (plumbing is the expensive part), ceiling height (underpinning or lowering floors adds a lot), egress windows for bedrooms, and permits.
Kitchen Renovation: $25,000–$60,000+
- Refresh (cabinets refaced, new counters, backsplash): $15,000–$25,000
- Mid-range full reno (new cabinets, stone counters, flooring, lighting): $25,000–$45,000
- High-end (custom cabinetry, layout changes): $50,000–$60,000+
Cabinets are roughly a third of the budget. Keeping the layout where it is saves thousands in plumbing and electrical.
Bathroom Renovation: $12,000–$30,000+
A standard full bathroom gut and rebuild: $12,000–$20,000. Larger bathrooms, curbless showers, heated floors, and double vanities push toward $25,000–$30,000+. A small powder room refresh can come in under $8,000.
Tile work and plumbing fixtures are the big variables — a $200 faucet and a $900 faucet do the same job, but your budget feels the difference.
Landscape Lighting: $2,500–$8,000
A proper low-voltage LED system — path lights, uplights on trees, step lights, a transformer and timer — typically runs $2,500–$5,000 for an average front and backyard. Larger properties with extensive beds and water features: $6,000–$8,000+.
Fire Pits: $1,500–$5,000
- Wood-burning stone fire pit: $1,500–$3,000
- Gas fire pit with line run: $3,000–$5,000+
Gas costs more up front (the gas line is the expensive part) but you get instant fire with no smoke or wood to store.
What Makes Any Project Cost More — or Less
Across every service, the same five things move the price:
- Access. If we can get machinery into the backyard, the job goes faster and costs less. Tight side yards mean hand work.
- What’s already there. Tearing out old concrete, decks, or fences adds demo and disposal costs.
- Ground conditions. Clay, rock, high water tables, and slopes all add labour.
- Materials. There’s always a good / better / best option. We’ll show you the difference honestly.
- Permits. Decks over a certain height, basement apartments, and structural changes need them — we handle the paperwork.
How GDS Quotes Your Project
No guesswork, no pressure. Here’s how it works:
- You reach out — fill in our Get a Free Quote form or call 647-767-1986.
- We visit — Gagandeep or a senior crew member walks the property, listens to what you want, and measures everything.
- You get a written quote — itemized, in plain language, with the price we actually charge. No “starting at” games.
With 12 years in the trade across Barrie and Simcoe County, we’ve seen every kind of lot and every kind of surprise — and we price for reality, not for the upsell. Every project is backed by our 4-year limited warranty on workmanship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you charge for estimates? No. Estimates are free across Barrie and Simcoe County. If your project ends up being something we can’t take on, we’ll tell you straight — and point you in the right direction if we can.
Why do quotes for the same project vary so much between companies? Usually it comes down to what’s included. One quote might skip excavation depth, base material, or disposal fees — then those show up as extras. Ask every contractor what’s in the base, how deep they dig, and what happens if they hit rock. Our quotes are itemized so you can compare apples to apples.
What’s the cheapest time of year to book? Late fall and early spring tend to have the most scheduling flexibility. Summer books up fastest — if you want a patio for July, talk to us in April.
Do I need a permit for my project? It depends. Most landscaping (patios, fences, sod) doesn’t. Decks above a certain height, basement apartments, and structural interior changes usually do. We handle permit applications as part of the project when they’re needed.
Can you work in phases if my budget is tight this year? Yes — this comes up a lot. We’ll often do the hardscape (patio, retaining wall) one season and the planting, lighting, or fence the next, planned from the start so phase two fits phase one perfectly.
Get Your Free Quote
Stop guessing and get a real number. Call 647-767-1986 or fill in our Get a Free Quote form — we’ll come out, walk the property, and give you an itemized written quote. Free, no pressure, no obligation.