Renovation Industry in Quebec - Trends and Outlook for 2025

Reno Quotes, the leading, Quebec-based contractor-customer linking platform for renovation projects, published its annual report on market trends for the third consecutive year. With 734,000 projects completed under its banner, 134,000 of those completed in 2024 and a network of 15,000 qualified contractors, the company delivers a detailed analysis of this year’s key developments, including the forecasted trends for 2025.

Drawing from information obtained exclusively from its database and a survey completed by users and contractors, Reno Quotes sheds light on the dynamics reshaping the industry. Said report reveals the key economy-related trends and the financial reality of Quebec households, highlighting the close ties binding the renovation industry and the real estate market.

With a strong economic upturn and positive indicators for 2025, Quebec’s renovation industry is ramping up. Amongst the trends observed, an increasing number of long-term projects (those scheduled over a period of 12 months or more) and a significant spike in the demand for specialists, such as architects and interior designers, suggests a surge in large-scale construction projects like home extensions, kitchen remodels, and bathroom renovations.

“The end of 2024 bears witness to a landmark transition in the renovation industry. Quebec-based homeowners are showing signs of newfound confidence in their project planning, whereas real estate activity sparks new opportunities.” - Michel Jodoin, CEO of Reno Quotes

Back to Basics: Homeowners Enjoy Greater Financial Health

After several years of uncertainty as a result of inflation and rising interest rates, the end of 2024 marks a return to project planning for a lot of Quebec-based homeowners, even after a slow start to the year. According to the data collected, medium-scale projects (ranging from $10,001 to $50,000) have skyrocketed by 73.11% since the beginning of fall, compared to 2023.

Growth in Project Value Submitted on the Platform

* Year-over-year comparison between August–October 2024 vs. 2023.

Results from the survey also revealed that Quebecers mainly finance their projects through direct payment, far more than bank loans. This trend indicates that numerous homeowners are experiencing renewed financial stability and data supports the fact that they're able to better plan significant projects. 

Payment Method Used

“After the shock, there’s always adaptation! The soaring cost of living temporarily halted our customers’ renovation projects. However, life is returning to normal, and the slight drop in interest rates has restored confidence. Our customers are now planning their projects with more structure and patience, favouring fairly priced, quality products. Above all, they’re looking for sustainable and timeless designs,” explains Valérie Bourget, interior designer and owner of Vivre autrement.

Restored Activity During the Last Quarter: A Promising Outlook for 2025

The last quarter of 2024 has seen a sharp upswing in the renovation industry, supported by a direct correlation with real estate activity. Between August and October 2024, a period coinciding with the first drop in interest rates, Reno Quotes observed a spike in projects linked to real estate transactions, especially those motivated by the purchase or sale of a house. More specifically, purchase-related projects have soared by 69.02%, whereas sales-related ones have increased by 53.64% compared with the same period in 2023. 

This dynamic reflects a trend that Dominik E. Bellehumeur, CEO and co-founder of XpertSource.com, a referral platform for customers and qualified professionals from diverse trades, such as renovation, real estate, and other related services, also noticed.

“This year, we noticed a sharp increase in the number of customers involved in real estate dealings, whether buying or selling a property. Between October 2023 and October 2024, we registered roughly 35% more requests. The last time we saw such a spike was in 2021 when the real estate market skyrocketed during the pandemic.”

Polarized Needs: Urgent or Long-Term

The behaviour exhibited by homeowners highlights two drastic opposites. On one side, urgent projects—those that need to be done within a month’s time—have soared by 41.15% compared to 2023. This trend underlines a greater response when faced with problems requiring immediate repairs, such as damaged roofs or faulty plumbing. “This year, we saw a growing number of requests for temporary repairs while customers are still reluctant to commit to complete overhauls,” explains Sébastien Boulanger Sauvé, general contractor with Groupe Bouda.

At the same time, long-term projects now represent a growing part of projects submitted through the platform, up from 4.81% in 2023 to 12.59% in 2024. The latter reflects a more strategic vision from homeowners who are already anticipating large-scale renovations for 2025, and it’s reinforced by a sharp 64% surge over the last three months in the number of requests for specialists, such as architects and interior designers. These professionals play a key part in the designing and planning stages of large-scale projects.

Survey data confirms this trend: 27.1% of the survey takers expressed their intention to undertake large-scale renovations, focusing on kitchens, bathrooms, and home extensions.

About Reno Quotes

Founded in January 2014, Reno Quotes is a Canadian referral platform designed to find qualified contractors for residential renovation projects. In a matter of a few clicks, users receive three free quotes from qualified contractors, streamlining the selection process. This fast and efficient service connects customers with trusted and carefully vetted partners, guaranteeing projects well done. Reno Quotes plays a key part in well-executed residential renovations, offering a $20,000 work guarantee on all projects carried out on Quebec soil, securing safety and peace of mind for their customers.

* All quotes were translated into English by Reno Quotes.