Frequently Asked Questions

Published Toronto and Ontario contractor pages, 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 and not a quote: larger holes, texture matching and paint add to it, so compare written quotes for the same scope.

Published Ontario and Canadian price pages, read October 1, 2026, put hanging, taping and finishing at about $1.50 to $4.50 per square foot of board, which means the wall and ceiling area being covered, not the floor area. Ask the quote to name the board, the finish level and whether primer is included.

Yes, within 10 days of receiving your written copy, for any reason. A contract signed at home is a direct agreement under the Consumer Protection Act, 2002, and one over $50 must be in writing and delivered to you. If the contract includes an estimate, the final charge may not exceed it by more than 10 per cent. Under the Construction Act, the payer keeps a holdback of 10 per cent of the price as the work is supplied.

No. The City of Ottawa's 2026 Building Code Services FAQ on flood repairs says a building permit is not required for "Removal of drywall or other interior finish to permit drying of insulation." It does need a permit to replace damaged insulation with a different material, such as batt insulation to spray foam, or to remove or replace structural framing.

When it is part of permit work. The City's permit list includes adding or removing walls, structural repairs, finishing a basement and adding an apartment. Whether putting back the same board after a repair needs a permit is not stated on the City's lists, so ask the City's Building Code Services. On the 2026 fee schedule, alterations are $12.75 per $1,000 of the value of the work, with a minimum fee of $117.

No. The City says designated heritage buildings, and buildings in a Heritage District Overlay, are not subject to the exemptions, so check with the City before work that would otherwise be exempt.

For single-layer board on wood framing: nails no more than 180 mm apart on ceilings and 200 mm on walls, screws no more than 300 mm apart on ceilings, fasteners at least 10 mm from the board edges, and heads that do not puncture the paper (O. Reg. 163/24, 9.29.5.8 and 9.29.5.9). These are Building Code minimums for new work; ask the City how they apply to your renovation.

A gas barrier, not a fire rating, where the garage serves only that home: the fire separation "need not be provided" (O. Reg. 163/24, 9.10.9.18.(3)), but an air barrier system must stop gas and exhaust fumes (9.10.9.18.(4)), and the door must be tight-fitting, weather-stripped and self-closing, and may not open into a bedroom (9.10.13.15). Many builders form that barrier with taped, sealed drywall; the Code's requirement is that it is continuous and sealed. These are Building Code minimums for new work; ask the City how they apply to your renovation.

For new work, either a 45 minute fire separation between the units, or a continuous smoke-tight barrier of not less than 5/8-inch (15.9 mm) Type X drywall on both sides of the separating walls and on the underside of the floor-ceiling framing (O. Reg. 163/24, 9.10.9.16). Existing houses may use a compliance alternative: a 15 minute horizontal fire separation with interconnected smoke alarms. The City decides which route fits through the permit.

Health Canada says asbestos was used in some building materials before 1990, including drywall and spackling, and advises hiring a professional to test before renovating or remodelling. If the test is positive, removal is work for a qualified asbestos removal specialist (ottawaabatement.com).

O. Reg. 278/05 says it does not apply to an owner of a private residence occupied by the owner or the owner's family. Its categories, such as removing less than, or one square metre or more of, drywall with asbestos joint compound, classify the work a contractor's workers do. Health Canada's advice to test before renovating still applies to everyone.

Health Canada says there are no significant health risks if materials containing asbestos are left undisturbed, sealed behind walls, or tightly bound in products in good condition. Fibres are released by drilling, sawing, sanding, scraping or removing, so test before anyone does that to a ceiling or wall in a house built before 1990.

No. Drywall, acoustic and lathing applicator, and drywall finisher and plasterer, are voluntary trades in Ontario: a certificate is not required, and Skilled Trades Ontario says holders do not appear on its public register. That does not make every job unregulated: fire separations and permit work are still inspected by the City.

An industry scale from 0 to 5 in the Gypsum Association's GA-214 guide. Level 4 is for flat paint and light textures; Level 5 adds a thin skim coat over the whole surface for gloss or dark paint and critical lighting. It is an industry recommendation, not a Building Code rule, so name the level you want in the quote.

Ask whether they have WSIB coverage or are exempt. WSIB says construction businesses, with or without employees, must have coverage, with some exceptions, including independent operators doing only exempt home renovation work on an existing home lived in by the person who hires them. Its clearance policy does not apply to a householder who directly hires a contractor for that work only.

In cold weather, heat must keep the space at not less than 10 °C for 48 hours before taping and finishing and for not less than 48 hours after (O. Reg. 163/24, 9.29.5.10.(1)). These are Building Code minimums for new work; ask the City how they apply to your renovation.

An insulation contractor (ottawainsulationcontractors.ca). Drywall removal to let things dry needs no permit, by the City's 2026 flood FAQ, but replacing the insulation with a different material, such as batt insulation to spray foam, does.

The Building Code says gypsum board that supports insulation must be not less than 12.7 mm thick (O. Reg. 163/24, 9.29.5.4.(1)), and ceiling fasteners have their own spacing: nails no more than 180 mm apart, screws no more than 300 mm. These are Building Code minimums for new work; ask the City how they apply to your renovation.