What documentation should I get from my Ottawa construction cleaner for insurance purposes?

Getting the right documentation from your construction cleaner before work begins is one of the most useful steps a homeowner can take, and it is easy to overlook until a problem arises. Post-construction cleaning involves ladders, equipment, chemical products and people working in partly finished spaces, all of which carry a real risk of injury or property damage. Having the paperwork on file helps if something goes wrong.

The Essential Documents to Request

Ask whether the company has WSIB coverage or a clearance certificate. WSIB is Ontario's workplace injury insurance system. A clearance certificate is a document from WSIB about a business's account, and you can ask the company for a current one before work starts and again before final payment. If you are unsure what applies to your own situation as the person hiring, contact WSIB directly.

Next, ask for a certificate of insurance for the company's liability coverage, and check the coverage amount and the policy dates. Read what the policy covers rather than relying on a verbal assurance, and confirm it will be active for the whole job. This matters if the crew damages new floors, scratches windows or causes water damage while cleaning.

Get a written, itemized quote or contract before any work begins. It should spell out which surfaces and areas will be cleaned, the methods and products to be used, how debris will be handled and where it will go, the price for each part of the job, and the timeline. Ask whether disposal is included in the price. A written scope also helps if there is a disagreement later about what was included.

Ask for a service record at the end of the job showing what was cleaned and when. It is not a regulatory document, but it gives you a paper trail if something is questioned later.

If the crew will use chemical products such as degreasers, grout haze removers or solvents, ask for the Safety Data Sheets. They are useful if anyone in your household has sensitivities, or if you are moving in soon after cleaning and want to know about ventilation.

Finally, get any re-clean or satisfaction promise in writing, including how quickly you have to report missed areas.

Collecting this before work starts takes little time. If a company is reluctant to show proof of insurance or WSIB status, treat that as a warning sign. You can find cleaning companies through the Ottawa Construction Network directory at justynrookcontracting.com and ask for these documents in your first conversation.