Question 1

Should a carpenter visit my Kanata house before quoting a wall removal?

Accepted Answer

A site visit before quoting a wall removal is worth arranging. A carpenter looking at the wall in person can check what is above it, trace where loads travel, and see what is hidden inside the wall before any numbers go on paper. Here is what a visit lets the carpenter assess that a photo or a description cannot: - What is directly above the wall on each floor, and whether the ceiling joists run parallel or perpendicular to it.

Question 2

Extra carpentry work came up in Stittsville, sign a change order first?

Accepted Answer

Yes, get the change order signed before the extra work starts. The Consumer Protection Act, 2002 requires a direct agreement over $50 to be in writing, signed and delivered to you. Put each change order in writing and get it signed the same way. If the contractor starts without one and a dispute follows, you have no written record of what was agreed, at what price, or when.

Question 3

Lead paint in my 1940s Ottawa home, what should I tell the carpenter?

Accepted Answer

Health Canada says a home built before 1960 probably contains lead-based paint, and that interior paint may contain lead in smaller amounts. The most important thing to tell the carpenter before any work starts is that the paint has not been tested, so no sanding, heat-gunning or blowtorching should happen until you know what you are dealing with. Ask the carpenter to test before disturbing any painted surface.

Question 4

What do I send a carpenter so they can price my Manotick stair rebuild?

Accepted Answer

Getting a carpenter to a useful number quickly comes down to how much information you send before anyone visits the site. The more complete your package, the fewer back-and-forth calls before a price lands in your inbox. Start with a short written description of what you want done: a full rebuild of the existing stair, or a partial repair of specific treads, stringers or risers.

Question 5

Can I hire a carpenter to finish what a previous one left in Orléans?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can hire a different carpenter to pick up where the first one left off. We found no Ontario rule that ties a job to the original contractor, and a new carpenter can assess what has been done, decide what stays, and carry the work forward. A few things shape how smoothly that handoff goes. The incoming carpenter will want to look at the work before quoting.

Hiring & Quotes

Should a carpenter visit my Kanata house before quoting a wall removal?

Extra carpentry work came up in Stittsville, sign a change order first?

Lead paint in my 1940s Ottawa home, what should I tell the carpenter?

What do I send a carpenter so they can price my Manotick stair rebuild?

Can I hire a carpenter to finish what a previous one left in Orléans?