What insurance should an Ottawa stucco contractor carry for residential projects?

Hiring a stucco contractor without proper insurance is one of the most expensive mistakes Ottawa homeowners make. If something goes wrong — scaffolding damage to your property, a worker injury on your driveway, or defective stucco that traps moisture in your walls — you need to know you're protected.

Essential Insurance Coverage for Stucco Contractors

At minimum, any stucco contractor working on your Ottawa home should carry these three types of coverage:

1. Commercial General Liability (CGL) Insurance

This protects you if the contractor damages your property during the project. Stucco work involves scaffolding, mixing equipment, and material that can splatter on windows, roofing, landscaping, and neighbouring properties. A reputable Ottawa stucco contractor should carry at least $2 million in CGL coverage. Many larger projects and some property insurers require $5 million. Ask for a certificate of insurance naming you as an additional insured — any professional contractor will provide this without hesitation.

2. WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) Coverage

In Ontario, construction is a compulsory WSIB industry. This means your stucco contractor is legally required to have active WSIB coverage for their workers. If an uninsured worker is injured on your property, you — the homeowner — can be held liable under Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Act. You can verify a contractor's WSIB status for free at wsib.ca using their clearance certificate. Always get a current clearance certificate dated within 60 days of your project start.

3. Professional Liability / Errors & Omissions (E&O)

This is less common but valuable for stucco work specifically. Improper installation — like missing a drainage plane, inadequate flashing, or wrong mix ratios — can cause thousands of dollars in hidden moisture damage that doesn't appear for 2–3 Ottawa winters. E&O coverage protects against defective workmanship claims. Not all small contractors carry this, but it's a sign of a more established operation.

Additional coverage to ask about:

• Completed operations coverage — Part of CGL, this covers claims arising after the job is finished. Critical for stucco, where failures often appear during Ottawa's freeze-thaw season months after installation.- Vehicle insurance — Commercial auto coverage for their trucks and equipment on your property.- Umbrella policy — Extra liability coverage beyond base CGL limits.

Red flags to watch for:

• Contractor says they're "covered under a buddy's policy" — each business needs its own.- Insurance certificate is expired or from a previous year.- Contractor refuses to provide documentation before work begins.- Suspiciously low quotes ($6–$8/sq ft) that suggest corners are being cut on insurance and WSIB premiums.

Fair-market stucco pricing in Ottawa — typically $10–$16 per square foot installed — accounts for overhead including proper insurance. Contractors quoting significantly below that range may be operating without coverage, which puts your home and finances at risk.

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