What Asbestos Floor Tile and Mastic Removal Costs in Ottawa, and Which Type It Is
$5 to $15 per square foot
Vinyl floor tile and mastic removal where they contain asbestos, published Ontario contractor prices read in September 2026. General asbestos removal: about $8 to $15 per square foot.
Published Ontario contractor prices read September 2026 · reviewed 2026-09-28 · how we set these ranges
For non-friable material such as intact floor tile, the regulation turns on HOW it comes out: removed intact, broken with wetted hand tools, broken dry, or with power tools. If the contractor finds friable material, the friable thresholds apply instead.
Which Type is my job?
Pick what the contractor tells you after assessing the material on site. The regulation's own line for that case is marked below. Nothing here replaces the contractor's assessment: ask for the Type in writing.
All the lines that can apply to this job are listed below.
- Type 1 Tile and mastic non-friable, removed intact
“Installing or removing non-friable asbestos-containing material, other than ceiling tiles, if the material is installed or removed without being broken, cut, drilled, abraded, ground, sanded or vibrated.”
O. Reg. 278/05, section 12(2), paragraph 2
- Type 1 Tile and mastic non-friable, wetted, hand tools
“Breaking, cutting, drilling, abrading, grinding, sanding or vibrating non-friable asbestos-containing material if, i. the material is wetted to control the spread of dust or fibres, and ii. the work is done only by means of non-powered hand-held tools.”
O. Reg. 278/05, section 12(2), paragraph 3
- Type 2 Tile and mastic non-friable, not wetted, hand tools
“Breaking, cutting, drilling, abrading, grinding, sanding or vibrating non-friable asbestos-containing material if, i. the material is not wetted to control the spread of dust or fibres, and ii. the work is done only by means of non-powered hand-held tools.”
O. Reg. 278/05, section 12(3), paragraph 6
- Type 2 Tile and mastic non-friable, power tools with HEPA
“Breaking, cutting, drilling, abrading, grinding, sanding or vibrating non-friable asbestos-containing material if the work is done by means of power tools that are attached to dust-collecting devices equipped with HEPA filters.”
O. Reg. 278/05, section 12(3), paragraph 8
- Type 3 Tile and mastic non-friable, power tools without HEPA
“Breaking, cutting, drilling, abrading, grinding, sanding or vibrating non-friable asbestos-containing material, if the work is done by means of power tools that are not attached to dust-collecting devices equipped with HEPA filters.”
O. Reg. 278/05, section 12(4), paragraph 5
- Type 2 Tile and mastic friable, one square metre or less
“The removal or disturbance of one square metre or less of friable asbestos-containing material during the repair, alteration, maintenance or demolition of all or part of machinery or equipment or a building, aircraft, locomotive, railway car, vehicle or ship.”
O. Reg. 278/05, section 12(3), paragraph 2
- Type 3 Tile and mastic friable, more than one square metre
“The removal or disturbance of more than one square metre of friable asbestos-containing material during the repair, alteration, maintenance or demolition of all or part of a building, aircraft, ship, locomotive, railway car or vehicle or any machinery or equipment.”
O. Reg. 278/05, section 12(4), paragraph 1
Section 12(5): "Work on ceiling tiles, drywall or friable asbestos-containing material is classified according to the total area on which work is done consecutively in a room or enclosed area, even if the work is divided into smaller jobs."
Disagree with the contractor about the Type? Section 12(6) says who settles it.
What the Type changes
Training, an inspector notice and a clearance air test depend on the Type. See what Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 each require.
Ask before you sign
- Will the tiles come up intact, or be broken or ground?
- If broken, wetted with hand tools, or power tools, and with HEPA dust collection?
- Which Type does that method make it?
- Is the mastic underneath part of the price?
More on this work: Asbestos Abatement & Removal
Quick answers
Can floor tile removal be Type 1?
Yes, if the tiles are non-friable and come out without being broken, cut, drilled, abraded, ground, sanded or vibrated, or are broken with wetted, non-powered hand tools only.
Why does grinding change the Type?
Power tools on non-friable material are Type 2 with HEPA dust collectors and Type 3 without them, under section 12(3)8 and 12(4)5.
Want this done at your place?
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