Who checks the slab is sound before an overlay in Ottawa?

The contractor doing the overlay is the one who assesses the existing slab before any resurfacing work begins. We found no City of Ottawa inspection step for an overlay, and no provincial requirement for a third-party check.

An overlay will not stop a slab that is moving, because that movement comes from below. The things worth asking about specifically are:

• whether any cracks run through the slab or show movement
• whether any section has heaved or settled
• whether the surface is scaling or spalling, and why

If the slab has sections that have heaved, settled or cracked through their full depth, an overlay will not correct those problems. A contractor should tell you in writing which areas, if any, need repair or removal before the overlay goes down, and what the overlay specification is, including the product and the minimum thickness they are applying.

The City of Ottawa's Hardscaping Contractor Licence, in place since March 1, 2026, is required for businesses that install or alter hard landscaping features including concrete patios, walkways and steps on private property. The Licensing By-law also excludes "minor repairs or minor alterations", which it does not define, so ask the City whether your job counts. Ask any contractor to show you their City licence and check their name against the City's published list of licensed hardscaping contractors. The licence requires the contractor to carry commercial general liability insurance of not less than two million dollars per occurrence and automobile liability insurance of not less than two million dollars, and to give you a written contract and a copy of the City's Landscaping Education Guide.

We found no published price range for resurfacing and overlays with enough Ottawa sources to quote reliably, so get at least two written quotes that itemise the assessment, any preparatory repair, the overlay specification and disposal of any removed material.

If you want quotes from Ottawa concrete contractors, the request form on this site sends your details to contractors listed in the Ottawa Construction Network directory.

The most useful question to put to each contractor before signing: ask them to describe in writing exactly which sections of the slab they consider sound enough to overlay and which they are recommending be cut out and replaced, and why.