Why is no price published for water-damaged drywall in Ottawa?

We found no published price range for water-damaged drywall that two sources agree on. The sources we draw on for Toronto, GTA and Ontario contractor prices agree on ranges for small patches (about $150 to $600) and for hanging and finishing new board (about $1.50 to $4.50 per square foot), but for water damage those sources use different units, different scopes and different assumptions, so no consistent range meets the standard of appearing on at least two independent published pages in comparable terms.

A contractor decides what comes out once the board comes off: the contractor decides what else needs to come out: insulation, vapour barrier, framing. Each of those findings changes the materials and the labour. A quote given before opening the wall is an estimate of an unknown. Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2002, if an agreement includes an estimate, the supplier may not charge more than 10 per cent over it, so ask whether you are being given a fixed price, an estimate, or a price for the removal stage only.

A few things will shape what you are quoted in writing:

• how much board is removed and replaced (the square footage, not just the visible stain)
• whether insulation comes out and what goes back in
• the finish level you want on the repaired surface, named by number in the quote
• whether texture matching is needed
• whether primer and paint are included
• who arranges the asbestos test if the house was built before 1990

On the permit side, the City of Ottawa's Building Code Services flood-repair FAQ says a permit is not required for removing drywall to let insulation dry, but that FAQ does not address putting the board back. Ask the City's Building Code Services whether your specific repair needs a permit before work starts.

Ask the contractor first, because they need to see the damage before any number means anything. Then, if there is any question about the scope of the repair touching insulation or structure, ask the City whether a permit applies to what the contractor is proposing.