Built to plan
Framed from your architectural and engineered drawings, to the plan and the Ontario Building Code, not by rule of thumb.
Custom Framing
Second Suite and In-Law Suite Framing
Second suite and in-law suite framing across Toronto, the GTA and the Golden Horseshoe, built to your drawings and the Ontario Building Code. Timberr Framing is licensed, insured and WSIB-covered, rated 5.0 on Google, with a workmanship warranty behind every job.
- Licensed, Insured & WSIB-Covered
- Backed by our workmanship warranty
- 5.0 on Google
Get your framing quote
Send the drawings, or just the address and what you are building. We will tell you what is missing before we price it.
5.0 on Google
Workmanship warranty, we stand behind our work Licensed, Insured & WSIB-Covered Completed to code & Ontario requirements Custom-framed to your plans Serving the GTA & surrounding area
What You Get
What to expect from second suite and in-law suite framing
Built to last
Engineered lumber, LVL/PSL beams, and connectors chosen for the spans and loads on the plans.
Quote-ready
Send specs, drawings, or photos and get a free, no-obligation site visit and estimate with no guesswork.
Code-conscious
Installation and site work completed in accordance with Ontario requirements.
Our Process
How the work moves from drawings to handoff
Ready to price second suite and in-law suite framing?
Send the drawings, or just the address and what you are building. We will tell you what is missing and what happens next.
What GTA clients say
5.0 · Verified reviews on Google B Brookevia Google
★★★★★
Timberr Framing did an excellent job with our commercial units! We'll definitely be using them again for future projects!
T Trudyvia Google
★★★★★
We have worked with Timberr Framing on a few projects, and they continue to impress with their great workmanship and reliable service in our commercial unit. We highly recommend them for all your metal stud framing needs!
W Williamvia Google
★★★★★
Highly recommend to anyone with a stacked townhome project! Outstanding craftsmanship once again Timberr Framing.
S Sokratisvia Google
★★★★★
I was impressed by Timberr Framing’s skilled craftsmanship during our commercial framing project. They delivered high-quality work and maintained strong structural integrity in our commercial development that required metal framing.
E Ericavia Google
★★★★★
Timberr Framing’s team was not only punctual and dependable but also demonstrated exceptional skills in both addition and commercial framing projects. We'll definitely hire them again!
C Cesarvia Google
★★★★★
Timberr Framing has an efficient process and always completes work on time. Their team is highly organized, and our team of developers are always satisfied with the final results.
How It Gets Built
More about second suite and in-law suite framing
Understanding second suite and in-law suite framing
The systems and conditions that change the work
A basement suite is constrained by foundation walls, beams, ducts and below-grade openings, while an upper-floor suite depends more heavily on floor-ceiling separation and stair access. That means your engineer may need to settle the load path before material is ordered.
A secondary suite is an additional dwelling unit within a house and follows the OBC provisions specifically written for that condition. That means your quote carries the matching member layout, connector schedule and site handling.
Your municipality separately permits additional units in locations such as basements, garages, upper floors and additions, subject to its own zoning rules. That means you get the route supported by the drawings instead of a choice made from habit.
Walls and floor-ceiling framing separating units in a house with a secondary suite may use the continuous smoke-tight Type X gypsum alternative in 9.10.9.16(4). That means your following trades inherit that system's spacing, openings and limits.
What belongs in the scope
“In-law suite” is not enough to establish Code treatment; a self-contained dwelling arrangement must be reviewed against municipal zoning, permit and additional-unit rules. So the second-suite-in-law-suite boundary is fixed before award. Part 11 applies to the material alteration or repair of an existing building, while new structural systems generally must comply with the other applicable Parts. That means your quote can name exclusions and owner-supplied items instead of hiding them.
Existing ceiling height and duct location determine how much framing can be added without losing required clearance, so measured second-suite-in-law-suite quantities control the takeoff. Structural openings add beams, posts, bearing and engineering, which means you can compare the selected member schedule rather than a generic allowance. Unit-boundary length and stacked versus side-by-side layout change separation work, so second-suite-in-law-suite coordination is visible before approval.
The mistake we want found before the work begins
A basement may meet the general ceiling height and still fall short under one duct. If that projection drops below the permitted clear height, framing cannot recover the lost space after the mechanical route is fixed in place. We measure to the lowest beam, pipe and duct before the suite layout is released.
Member and fastening decisions that affect the result
Secondary-suite ceiling height must be at least 1.95 m, which means your installed member must match the grade or product shown in the design. Clear height under beams and ducting in a secondary suite must be at least 1.85 m, which means you can verify the material condition before it is enclosed.
Loadbearing studs require Stud, Standard or No. 2 lumber; non-loadbearing studs may use Stud, Utility or No. 3, which means your bearing and connection detail must preserve that capacity. Installed framing lumber must contain no more than 19 percent moisture, which means you can trace the fastening requirement to the actual assembly.
Plans, sequencing, and site decisions
The hold point and the trades waiting after it
Ontario's Part 9 framing notice includes substantially complete structural framing and HVAC ductwork and piping, which means your sequence must reach that visible hold point before finishes. Your municipality generally requires plumbing, electrical and HVAC rough-ins to pass before its framing inspection, which means you can plan the following trade around the stated response.
Your municipality's inspector generally checks ceiling heights, rooms, windows, structural openings and fire blocking while the frame is uncovered. That means your mechanical and electrical work may have to be complete before the framing review. Municipalities generally schedule fire-separation inspection after framing, sound insulation, plumbing and heating but before cover, which means you avoid reopening work the municipality needed to see.
Planning the work across the GTA
Ontario sets the building rules while the municipality administers the permit and inspection for the address. That means your approved set must settle a basement suite before work is covered. Your site decides the delivery, storage and lifting route for that system. So you get a different sequence for a clear subdivision lot, a tight infill lane or an occupied commercial unit.
What to send for a useful quote
Request the address, zoning confirmation, intended unit arrangement, permit status and municipal registration requirements, which means you give the estimator the current design basis. Request approved floor plans, fire-separation details, exit information and mechanical layouts, which means your takeoff can include the scheduled members and openings. Add the address, permit status and target start window, so you can separate what is ready to price from what still needs a decision.
Comparing framing quotes?
Ours names what we frame, what another trade supplies, and what has to be settled before we mobilise. Compare the scope, not two totals built on different assumptions.
Finished On Site
Framed on site and built to last
Clean framing, tight sequencing, and a tidy site, coordinated with concrete, drainage, openings, and surrounding trades, and completed to code where site work is in scope.
- Coordinated with the surrounding build
- Code-minded framing for real-world use
- Quote-ready support from plans to inspection
FAQ
Second Suite and In-Law Suite Framing FAQ
Can my house or property take this second suite and in-law suite framing work?
The house can support the suite only where the existing structure and approved alterations provide the required load path. We verify that condition instead of assuming a new wall is harmless.
How disruptive will the second suite and in-law suite framing work be?
Disruption depends on demolition, service relocations and whether the suite area remains occupied. We identify those interfaces before setting the sequence.
What is most likely to go wrong?
A basement may meet the general ceiling height and still fall short under one duct. If that projection drops below the permitted clear height, framing cannot recover the lost space after the mechanical route is fixed in place.
Who is accountable if the site does not match the drawings?
Timberr owns stopping, documenting and explaining the framing conflict. The engineer or designer approves structural changes, and we build the written answer instead of improvising inside your house.
Not sure the drawings are ready?
Most are not, and that is fine. Send what you have and we will tell you what is missing before it costs you a week on site.
Our Work
View Our Projects See real projects across Toronto & Ontario
Custom homes, additions, renovations, and multiplexes, framed on site for builders, homeowners, contractors, and property teams.
Request a second suite and in-law suite framing quote
Send the current drawings, property address, permit status and target start. We will check the package around a basement suite, so you can resolve a missing structural, access or coordination decision before it becomes a site delay.
Backed by our workmanship warranty, we stand behind every job · Licensed, Insured & WSIB-Covered
Send your project details
Send the drawings, or just the address and what you are building. We will tell you what is missing before we price it.
Second Suite and In-Law Suite Framing Across the GTA
View all service areas →Timberr Framing provides second suite and in-law suite framing, built to plan with quote-ready support across Toronto and surrounding Ontario communities.
Companies We've Worked With
Trusted by Leading Organizations
Timberr Framing supports plan-based framing for commercial, institutional, property, and builder-led projects across Toronto and Ontario.
Tim Hortons 
Subway 
University of Toronto 
Madison Group 
RioCan 
Women's College Hospital 
Starbucks 
Mazda 
TD Bank 
City of Toronto 
Popeyes Tim Hortons Subway University of Toronto Madison Group RioCan Women's College Hospital Starbucks Mazda TD Bank City of Toronto Popeyes