What makes one Ottawa drywall repair quote higher than another?

Two repair quotes can differ because they price different work. Published Toronto and Ontario contractor prices, read October 1, 2026, put a small patch at about $150 to $600 per patch and crack repair at about $150 to $900 per crack or area; these are not Ottawa prices.

What changes the price

• the size and number of patches or cracks
• the ceiling height
• the finish level the quote is priced to
• texture matching, where the patch has to blend with an existing surface
• whether sanding, primer and paint are included
• removal of damaged board and disposal

The Gypsum Association's GA-214 guide describes finish levels 0 to 5 as an industry recommendation, not a Building Code rule. In its table, Level 2 is tape embedded and wiped with one coat on fasteners, Level 4 adds two coats on flat joints and three on fasteners, and Level 5 adds a thin skim coat over the entire surface. Ask each quote to name the level it is priced to.

If the house was built before 1990, Health Canada advises a professional asbestos test before renovating. A quote written after a clear test result and a quote written before any test are pricing different situations, and a positive result is abatement work (ottawaabatement.com), not drywall work.

Ask each contractor to state in writing:

• the finish level by number
• whether sanding, primer and paint are included or excluded
• how texture matching is handled and priced
• what is removed and how debris is disposed of
• the warranty terms: what is covered, for how long, and whether it transfers to a buyer

A lower total that leaves out finishing or texture work is not the same job. Ask the contractor who is lowest which of those lines are missing before you choose.