What should an Ottawa quote say about protecting the rest of the house?

What a fair asbestos quote says about protecting the rest of the house

A quote for asbestos work in an Ottawa home should spell out, in writing, exactly how the work area will be isolated from the rest of the building and what happens to the air, the surfaces and the waste before the contractor leaves. If those details are missing, ask for them before you sign.

The level of containment the contractor must set up depends on the Type of operation, which the contractor determines on site based on whether the material is friable and how much of it is being disturbed. For Type 3 work, O. Reg. 278/05 requires a clearance air test once the enclosure is dry. The clearance standard under section 18 is that every air sample inside must not exceed 0.01 fibres per cubic centimetre, measured by PCM, or that the inside average is statistically less than the outside average by TEM. The quote should name which method will be used and confirm that results will be posted within 24 hours, as the regulation requires.

Here is what to look for in the written scope:

• A description of the enclosure: what barriers are going up, where, and how the work area connects to the rest of the house during the job.
• How the heating and ventilation system will be handled during the work.
• A statement of the Type the contractor has assigned, based on friability and area, so you know what the regulation requires of them for that job.
• For Type 3 work, confirmation that every worker has completed the Asbestos Abatement Worker Training Program and every supervisor the Asbestos Abatement Supervisor Training Program, and that the Ministry of Labour inspector notice has been given before work starts.
• Where the waste is going. Ontario Regulation 347 requires that asbestos waste leave the site only to a disposal facility whose operator has agreed to accept it and has been told when to expect it. The quote should name the facility or confirm it has been arranged.
• Whether a clearance air test is included in the price. Published Ontario contractor prices read in September 2026 put air clearance testing at roughly $300 to $800. If the quote does not include it, you can ask for it to be added.

You can also check the contractor's WSIB clearance through the WSIB online search before signing. The clearance is valid for up to 90 days. Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2002, if the agreement was signed at your home and the total exceeds $50, you have 10 days to cancel after receiving the written copy; check the current rules, as that Act is being replaced.

Where something was already disturbed before the quote was sorted out, stop the work, don't disturb it further, and have it tested by a professional.