In short
- Ontario advises at least 3 written estimates and 3 references, checked even when a friend recommends the firm.
- Electrical work needs an electrical contracting business with a 7-digit ECRA/ESA licence number (Electrical Safety Authority).
- Plumbers and electricians are compulsory trades in Ontario; the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register shows who is authorized.
- Keep the deposit to a minimum, no more than 10% on Ontario's advice, and never pay the full amount before the work is done.
- Workers and independent operators in construction need WSIB coverage, with some exceptions.
Start with what is written down
Ontario’s page opens with preparation: list what you want done, set a clear budget, and know that changing plans mid-project costs extra. A clear scope also limits a quote that grows later.
The province asks for at least 3 written estimates, each describing the work and listing products, services and prices. A phone estimate, or one given without the contractor inspecting the area, is a warning.
Check the people, trade by trade
Ontario splits trades into compulsory and non-compulsory ones. Under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, plumber and electrician are compulsory: whoever does the work needs a Certificate of Qualification, a provisional certificate or an apprenticeship agreement. Homeowners can check individuals in the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register. General carpentry and cabinet making appear on the province’s non-compulsory list, so a carpenter’s skill is shown by references and past work, since no certificate exists.
Electrical work has its own rule. The province allows only an electrical contracting business with an ECRA/ESA licence to be hired for it. It carries a 7-digit ECRA/ESA licence number on estimates, vehicles and business cards. ESA says a general contractor holds no electrical licence and has to bring in an electrical contracting business. The contractor files the notification of work with ESA before starting. A contractor who asks you to file it is, in ESA’s words, a red flag. See the permits page for the other City steps.
References and records
Ontario says to collect at least 3 references and check them, even for a firm a friend recommends. Each should come from someone who dealt with the contractor personally, on similar work. Ask for one from the recent past and one from further back, because some problems take a year or more to show.
Then search the business name and the operator’s name in the Consumer Beware List, and ask the Better Business Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce and the City what they have on file. A single operator may run several businesses or change a name, so searching both names matters.
Workers and independent operators in the construction industry need workplace safety and insurance coverage, with some exceptions, and Ontario points owners to the WSIB to check. Ask to see its WSIB clearance.
Money and paper
Before signing, Ontario asks for a small deposit, and recommends no more than 10%. It also says never to pay the full amount before the work is done, which protects you if a company goes out of business before finishing. Avoid cash deals, get a signed receipt if you pay cash, and consider arranging your own financing. Settle in the contract how disputes will be handled.
Next: the renovation contract checklist, clause by clause, and renovation cost in Ottawa for the budget. Older houses add checks of their own; see older home renovation.
Warning signs Ontario names
- Door-to-door deals. A salesperson says the crew is “in the neighbourhood” and the price holds only if you sign now, or offers a free furnace, chimney or roof inspection followed by an urgent repair.
- The disappearing contractor. A large deposit “for materials”. Legitimate companies have credit to buy the materials they need.
- No paper. Missing estimates, contract, licences or permits mark a contractor to avoid, according to the province.
- Unregistered designers. For permit drawings, Ontario says to check the designer is on the QuARTS public registry.
What stays your job
The Desk routes each request to one independent company and leaves the vetting to you. Licences, references and insurance are yours to check, with the registers above, exactly as you would for any contractor you found yourself.
Questions to ask the company
- What is your ECRA/ESA licence number for the electrical work, and who does it?
- Which trades are your own crew and which are subcontracted?
- Can I have three references from similar jobs, one over a year old?
- Do you carry WSIB coverage, and can you show a clearance?
- Will you put the estimate, the schedule and the permit plan into the contract?
Have this ready for the call
- A written scope: rooms, what moves, finishes you already chose
- A budget ceiling that includes tax and a contingency
- Your dates: when to start, when you need the room back
- Photos of each room
Questions people ask
How many quotes should I collect?
Ontario’s consumer page says to get written estimates from at least 3 contractors, and never to accept an estimate over the phone or without the contractor inspecting the area. A request through Ottawa Reno Desk reaches one company, so the other estimates come from companies you find yourself. Compare scope line by line.
Can I hire an electrician directly?
Ontario’s Electrical Safety Authority says only an electrical contracting business holding an ECRA/ESA licence can be hired for electrical work in a home. Certified electricians and master electricians are employed by those businesses and cannot be hired directly. Look for the 7-digit licence number on the estimate and the vehicle.
How do I check a plumber's certificate?
Plumber is one of Ontario’s compulsory trades, so the person doing the work needs a Certificate of Qualification, a provisional certificate or an apprenticeship agreement. Homeowners can verify individuals in the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register. Some authorized workers, such as youth apprenticeship participants, do not appear there.
Is a discount for paying cash a good sign?
Ontario’s guidance says to avoid cash deals, because reputable companies meet their legal requirements, including charging and paying tax. If you do pay in cash, get a detailed, signed receipt. The province also names the paper-free deal as a warning sign: no estimate, no contract, no permit.
What is the Consumer Beware List?
It is the Ontario government’s list of recent charges and convictions under the Consumer Protection Act. Ontario advises searching it for the business and for the operator’s own name, because one person may run several businesses or change a business name. Also ask the Better Business Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce and the City.
Should a lawyer read the contract?
For major renovation work, Ontario’s page says a lawyer should go over the contract, explain it and advise you on your rights before you sign. A small refresh and a full basement conversion sit far apart on that scale, so judge by the size of the job. The contract checklist page lists the clauses to look for.
