Is a notice of project needed for a big Kanata floor job?

A notice of project is required under O. Reg. 213/91 s.6(1) when the total expected cost of labour and materials exceeds $50,000. The constructor files it with the Ministry, not the building owner.

For a large Kanata floor job, whether that threshold is crossed depends on the scope. Published 2025-2026 contractor ranges put commercial epoxy at about $8 to $15 per square foot installed, and polyaspartic and polyurea work at about $6 to $15 per square foot. Surface prep, if quoted separately, runs about $1 to $3 per square foot extra. Ask the contractor for the total labour and materials figure. Under OHSA, the constructor is the person who undertakes the project for the owner; ask the contractor directly whether they will be acting as constructor and whether they will file the notice.

Other paperwork and obligations worth confirming

Before any contract is signed, the building owner or tenant awarding the work should address a few points under Ontario law.

• OHSA s.30(1) requires the owner to determine whether designated substances (including asbestos, isocyanates and crystalline silica) are present and to give a list to every prospective contractor before a binding contract is made. Old vinyl tile or black mastic may contain asbestos; have it tested before any grinding takes place. Failing to provide the list makes the owner liable to the constructor and contractors for losses arising from a designated substance the owner ought reasonably to have known of (s.30(5)).
• WSIB policy 14-02-19 requires the principal to obtain a clearance certificate before work begins and to keep it in effect throughout. The householder exemption does not apply to a business. Without a clearance, the principal may be liable for the contractor's WSIB payment obligations up to the value of the labour portion of the contract.

On the product side, ask the contractor for the data sheets and safety data sheets for every product they plan to use. Under OHSA s.38(1.1), an employer whose workers may be exposed to the products must make the SDS readily available to those workers. Section 2 of the SDS covers hazards; Section 9 covers flash point, which matters if any product is solvent-based. Ontario Fire Code 4.1.5.2 prohibits open flames, sparks or heat near flammable or combustible liquids unless controlled in a manner that will not create a fire or explosion hazard.

When the job is done, keep the written contract, the product data sheets and SDSs, the WSIB clearance certificate, the written warranty from the contractor, and photographs of the slab before and after: those records document what was agreed, what was applied, and the condition of the floor at handover.