An interior door replacement quote in Nepean, what belongs on it?

Replacing an interior door in the same opening is on the City of Ottawa's exempt list, so a like-for-like swap needs no permit, unless the house is a designated heritage building or in a Heritage District Overlay, where the exemptions do not apply. A fair quote should still be detailed enough that you can compare it line by line against another.

What a quote for an interior door replacement should itemise

• Supply of the door slab or pre-hung unit, specifying species, core type, and finish (primed, raw, or factory-painted)
• Hardware: hinges, latch set or lockset, strike plate, and any door stop or silencer, listed separately from the door itself
• Frame work: whether the existing frame and jambs are being reused, shimmed, or replaced, and whether new casing is included on both sides
• Labour to hang, fit, and adjust the door so it swings, latches, and seals correctly
• Removal and disposal of the old door and any packaging
• Any patching to the wall surface around the frame if the opening needs adjustment

A few things affect the price that published sources do not give enough Ottawa data to quantify. The door size matters: the Ontario Building Code (Table 9.5.5.1.) sets minimum doorway widths that vary by room type, so if the existing opening is being changed to meet those minimums, framing work enters the quote. The door style matters too: a solid-core door, a fire-rated door, or a door with glass lites changes what the door costs to supply. Whether the existing frame is square and plumb changes the labour involved, and whether the casing on both sides is being replaced or matched to existing trim affects both materials and time.

Ask the carpenter to spell out exactly what happens if the frame turns out to be out of square, or if the rough opening needs adjustment once the old door comes out. That work can add scope, and you want to know in advance whether the quote covers it or whether it becomes an extra.

Get the quote in writing. Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2002, a direct agreement over $50 must be in writing and signed, and the supplier cannot charge more than 10 per cent above the estimate.

Before you commit, ask the carpenter whether they hold a Certificate of Qualification in carpentry: the trade is non-compulsory in Ontario, so no one is required to hold one, but it tells you something about how they have invested in their skills.