What should I ask a drywall contractor in Orleans before signing?

Hiring a drywall contractor in Orleans follows the same rules as anywhere in the City of Ottawa, so the questions below apply regardless of the neighbourhood. Before you sign, get the answers in writing.

What to ask before signing

• What board will you use, and what thickness? Ask whether it suits your framing.
• What finish level are you quoting, by number? Name the level you want in the quote so you can compare quotes fairly.
• How many coats of compound, and is sanding included?
• Is primer or paint included, or does the quote end at bare compound?
• If texture matching is needed, how will you match it, and is that in the price?
• Is removal of old board included, and where does the debris go?
• If the house was built before 1990, who arranges the asbestos test before cutting or sanding begins? Health Canada advises testing before any renovation that disturbs older materials, and a positive result means abatement work before drywall can proceed.
• Who asks the City about a permit if the scope changes to include wall removal or structural work?
• Do you have WSIB coverage, or are you exempt? WSIB says construction businesses must have coverage, with some exceptions, including independent operators doing only exempt home renovation work. Ask for the answer in writing.
• Is the quote a fixed price or an estimate? Under Ontario's Consumer Protection Act, 2002, a supplier may not charge more than 10 per cent over a written estimate.
• What does the written contract say about how changes to scope are priced and approved?

Ontario's Construction Act requires a payer to retain a holdback equal to 10 per cent of the price of the services or materials as they are actually supplied. We found no small-job exemption in the text; ask a lawyer about when that holdback can be released.

Before you sign, ask the contractor to put the warranty in writing, spelling out exactly what work is covered, how long the coverage lasts, and whether it transfers to a buyer.