Should moisture testing be a line item on my Ottawa floor quote?

Yes, moisture testing should appear as a named line item, and if it is buried in a general "prep" charge or missing entirely, ask the contractor to break it out before you sign.

Here is why it matters for your quote. ASTM F2170 (in-situ relative humidity probes) and ASTM F1869 (calcium chloride, measuring moisture vapour emission rate in pounds per 1,000 sq ft per 24 hours) are two different test methods, and one manufacturer's data sheet may call for one, the other, or both. The test results set the starting point for every product decision that follows. One epoxy primer data sheet we reviewed asks for a slab at or below 80% RH; a resinous epoxy and urethane system asks for no more than 75% RH and no more than 3 lbs per 1,000 sq ft per 24 hours; a self-levelling urethane cement data sheet tolerates up to 99% RH and 20 lbs. If the contractor does not test before pricing, neither of you knows which system the slab will accept.

ASTM F2170 notes that results show the slab's condition only at the time of the test and in the specific locations tested, so the number of probes and their placement matter. Ask the contractor how many test points they plan, where, and how long the probes will sit before they read them. Also ask what happens if the slab fails the limit on the data sheet for the system they have quoted: will they switch to a moisture-tolerant primer, a different base system, or both, and what does that cost? That answer should be in writing before you commit.

On the quote itself, look for these items as separate lines:

• Moisture testing (method, number of points, timing)
• Moisture-mitigation primer or barrier coat, if the slab result warrants one
• Surface prep and profile (the target ICRI concrete surface profile the system requires)
• Crack and joint repair
• Cove base, if applicable
• Anti-slip broadcast, if applicable
• After-hours or phased work premium

A quote that rolls all of these into a single "prep and materials" number makes it hard to compare bids or to know what you are actually getting. Published 2025-2026 contractor ranges put standard surface prep at about $1 to $3 per square foot when it is not already included; your quote will differ, and you should confirm whether prep is included or extra.

You can request quotes from floor coating contractors listed in the Ottawa Construction Network directory through the form on this site.

One line in a floor coating quote where extra cost can hide: the moisture-mitigation primer, which may not appear at all if the contractor has not tested the slab yet.