Should my Orleans patio quote mention control joints?

Control joints are not mentioned in the 2024 Ontario Building Code sections we researched for exterior patios, and we found no City of Ottawa rule requiring them in a residential patio specification. That said, asking your contractor to describe their joint plan in writing is reasonable, and here is why it matters for your Orleans job.

The 2024 Ontario Building Code sets 32 MPa as the compressive strength standard for exterior flatwork, and references CSA A23.1 for mix and placement requirements. We found no Code thickness, reinforcement or joint-spacing requirement for a freestanding patio. Those details come from the contractor's written specification, and that is exactly where a joint plan should appear.

A quote worth signing should spell out at minimum: the concrete strength (32 MPa for exterior flatwork is the Code standard), the base preparation and depth, how removal and disposal of any existing concrete is handled, cold-weather protection if the pour falls when the air temperature is below 5 °C, and who will submit the locate request to Ontario Dig Authority before any digging starts. Locates are free and required under the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012 for any work that breaks ground.

On the City side, the contractor doing work on your patio in Orleans needs a City of Ottawa Hardscaping Contractor Licence, which has been required since March 1, 2026 for businesses installing concrete pads, patios, walkways and steps on private property. The licence requires the contractor to carry commercial general liability insurance of not less than $2,000,000 and to give you a copy of the City's Landscaping Education Guide. Ask to see the licence and check the contractor's name against the City's published list yourself; Ottawa Concrete Pros does not verify anyone's licence or insurance.

For pricing context, plain broom-finish concrete runs about $9 to $15 per square foot installed, and small jobs often hit a minimum charge of about $5,500, according to Ottawa price pages.

Before you sign, ask the contractor to show you in writing exactly where they plan to place joints, what spacing and depth they are using, and what the specification says about base preparation and concrete strength.