Three Quotes, Three Prices — How to Actually Compare Renovation Estimates in St. Thomas & London

August 2026 · 7 min read · Elm Kitchen, St. Thomas, Ontario

You did the right thing. You got three quotes for your kitchen.

One came back at $18,400. One at $26,900. One at $31,200.

Same kitchen. Same house. Nearly a $13,000 spread. And now you're sitting at your dining table with three pieces of paper, trying to figure out whether the cheap one is a bargain or a trap.

Here's the thing nobody tells you: those three numbers are usually not describing the same project. They just look like they are.

Comparing renovation quotes is like comparing airline fares. One site says $200, another says $340. The $200 doesn't include a checked bag, a seat assignment, or — you find out later — the flight home. Same trip, wildly different amount of truth on the price tag.

This is how to read past the number.

Start with the Ontario rule most homeowners have never heard of

Before you look at a single line item, know this: Under Ontario's Consumer Protection Act, if your written estimate is included as part of your contract, the final price can't be more than 10% above that estimate — unless you've agreed to new work or a new price and signed a change to the contract.

Read that again, because it changes everything about how you should handle these three pieces of paper.

That protection only exists if the estimate is written into the contract. An estimate that lives in an email, or gets replaced by a vague one-page agreement at signing, gives you nothing.

So your first question to all three contractors is the same: "Will this estimate be attached to and form part of the contract?" The answer you get will tell you more about a contractor than their price does.

Gap 1: Allowances — where a "price" stops being a price

An allowance is a placeholder. It's the contractor saying "I've budgeted $4,000 for your tile, and we'll settle up later." Allowances aren't dishonest. Sometimes they're unavoidable — you genuinely haven't picked a countertop yet. But they're the single biggest reason a $22,000 quote becomes a $29,000 invoice.

Look for allowances on: Countertops, Tile and flooring, Plumbing fixtures (faucets, sinks, toilets), Lighting fixtures, Cabinet hardware, and Appliances.

Gap 2: Exclusions — what's quietly missing

This is where the $18,400 quote and the $26,900 quote stop being comparable. Cheaper quotes are often cheaper because they simply contain less. Check every quote for: Demolition and disposal, Permits and permit fees, Plumbing or electrical relocation, Drywall repair, priming and painting, Flooring transitions, Appliance installation, Final clean-up, and HST.

Gap 3: Cabinet spec — the biggest hidden difference of all

Three quotes can all say "supply and install new cabinets" and mean products that are a decade apart in lifespan. Cabinets are typically the largest single cost in a kitchen renovation, so a difference here moves the total more than anything else on the page.

• The box (the cabinet carcass): Ask what it's made of. Three-quarter-inch plywood is the durable answer. Thin particleboard or MDF boxes are cheaper and sag over time.
• The doors: Solid wood doors can be sanded, refinished, and repaired. Thermofoil and laminate-wrapped doors can't.
• The drawers: Ask about drawer box construction and whether the glides are full-extension and soft-close.

Gap 4 & 5: Price changes, deposits, and payment schedules

A fair change-order process stops and shows you the condition, provides a written price before work is done, and requires your signed approval. Regarding deposits, Ontario's consumer protection guidance recommends keeping the deposit to a maximum of 10%, and never paying the full contract amount before the work is complete.

Gap 6 & 7: Verify paperwork and contract terms

Always verify WSIB clearance certificates, commercial general liability insurance, ESA/ECRA licenses for electrical trades, and check the Ontario Consumer Beware List before signing.

The five-minute version checklist

At ELM, we quote in writing, with a fixed price and a defined scope. Book a free in-home consultation or discuss your estimates with us today.