Re-taping or filling a cracked joint: what should an Ottawa quote say?

Crack repair runs about $150 to $900 per crack or area, based on published Toronto and Ontario contractor prices read October 1, 2026. These are not Ottawa prices and not a quote.

What moves a quote up or down within that range: the length and number of cracks, how many coats of compound the finish requires, whether texture matching is needed, and whether primer and paint are included or left to you.

What a fair quote should spell out

Ask the contractor to put these things in writing before you agree to anything:

• Whether the old tape is being cut out and replaced or filled over, and how far back the repair extends
• The finish level, using the Gypsum Association's GA-214 industry scale from Level 1 through Level 5, so you know how many coats of compound go on and how smooth the surface will be before paint
• Whether sanding, priming and painting are included or separate line items
• Whether texture matching is included and how the contractor proposes to blend it

On finish level: the GA-214 guide recommends Level 4 for walls that will take flat paint, and Level 5 for walls that will take a sheen or gloss paint or critical lighting. Name the finish level you want in the quote so you can compare bids on the same scope.

One Ontario rule that touches this work: if taping or finishing will happen in cold weather, Ontario's Building Code (clause 9.29.5.10.(1)) requires that heat be provided to keep the space at not below 10 °C for 48 hours before taping and finishing begins, and maintained for not less than 48 hours after. These are minimums for new work; ask the City how they apply to your renovation, and ask the contractor how the space will be heated if the work falls in cold weather.

The Consumer Protection Act, 2002 adds two points worth knowing: if a contractor gives you an estimate as part of the agreement, they may not charge more than 10 per cent above it; and any agreement signed at your home, over $50, must be given to you in writing, after which you have 10 days to cancel without any reason.

When you compare two quotes, put the coats, the finish level and the paint line side by side; a lower price that stops at bare compound is a different job.