Vermiculite attic removal in Ottawa, what's the usual price range?

Vermiculite attic removal runs $5,000 to $25,000 per attic in published Ontario contractor prices read in September 2026. We don't quote a per-square-foot figure for this work, so treat that range as the starting point when comparing quotes.

The Type classification under O. Reg. 278/05 depends on whether the material is friable and how much is disturbed, and the contractor decides that on site, not from a description or a photo. The Type determines what the law requires: Type 3 work, for instance, requires the employer to notify a Ministry of Labour inspector before starting and requires every worker to have completed the Asbestos Abatement Worker Training Program and every supervisor the Asbestos Abatement Supervisor Training Program. Those requirements are part of what the price covers.

On the material itself: the federal vermiculite page on canada.ca says some brands of vermiculite insulation may contain tremolite asbestos, and that there is currently no evidence of risk to your health if the insulation is sealed in the attic and kept from exposure to the interior environment. Health Canada advises not to disturb it or attempt to remove it yourself, and to hire professionals trained to handle asbestos if you plan to renovate. A lab test on a sample will tell you what yours contains; the threshold under O. Reg. 278/05 is 0.5 per cent asbestos by dry weight.

A fair quote for this job should set out the Type the contractor has assessed, the training the workers and supervisor have completed, how the waste will be packaged and transported, and which disposal site has agreed to accept it. Ontario Regulation 347 requires that asbestos waste leave the site only for a disposal facility whose operator has agreed to accept it and has been told when to expect it. If the work is Type 3, the quote should also address the clearance air test required under section 18 of O. Reg. 278/05, which runs roughly $300 to $800 based on published Ontario contractor prices read in September 2026. Ask the contractor to confirm their WSIB clearance before work starts; you can search a contractor's current clearance online.

Before you commit to a contract, ask the contractor to name the disposal site that has agreed to accept your vermiculite and confirm it in writing.