Is my Ottawa floor quote too vague to sign?

A quote worth signing names the specific product system (primer, body coat, topcoat), the surface preparation method and the ICRI concrete surface profile the contractor is targeting, the number of coats and their thickness, the moisture test method and what happens if the slab fails it, and the closure window tied to the data sheet, not a verbal promise. If any of those are missing, the quote is too vague to sign.

Here is what a complete commercial floor coating quote should include, so you can check yours line by line:

• The product system by full name, with a product data sheet and a safety data sheet for each component
• The surface preparation method and the ICRI concrete surface profile (CSP number) the contractor is targeting
• Number of coats, wet or dry film thickness per coat, and total system thickness
• Moisture testing: which standard (ASTM F2170 or ASTM F1869), who pays for it, and what the contractor will do if the slab reads above the product's limit
• Crack and joint treatment, if any cracks or control joints are visible
• Anti-slip broadcast material and aggregate type, if the floor is in a wet or trafficked area
• Cove base, if quoted, with height and linear footage
• The closure window referenced to the data sheet's return-to-service times, and whether work is after-hours or phased
• A WSIB clearance certificate before work begins, and proof of current liability insurance

Under WSIB policy 14-02-19, you as the principal must obtain a clearance certificate before the contractor starts, and it must remain in effect throughout the work. Without it, you may be liable for the contractor's WSIB payment obligations up to the value of the labour portion of the contract. Under the Construction Act, each payer must retain a holdback of 10 per cent of the price of services or materials as supplied, and a contractor's lien expires 60 days after the earlier of substantial performance or the contract being completed, abandoned or terminated, unless preserved. Get legal advice if a payment dispute arises.

If the quote covers a food preparation or service area, ask Ottawa Public Health before booking whether the work counts as a significant renovation requiring their notification. O. Reg. 493/17 requires that floors in food premises be tight, smooth and non-absorbent; the quote should describe how the finished system meets that, but ask OPH what they will want to see.

Before a contractor visits, pull together what you know about the floor: its age, what was on it before, what spills or traffic it handles day to day, whether there is any old tile or adhesive that may need testing for asbestos before any grinding begins, and how many hours or days you can realistically close the space. That information will let a contractor price the job accurately and give you a quote specific enough to hold them to.