Upper-storey repointing quotes in Ottawa run higher, why?

Published Ontario contractor pricing for 2025–26 puts repointing at about $10 to $30 per sq ft of wall, more for upper storeys, and scaffolding can add about $500 to $3,000; your quote will differ.

A few things move the number on an upper-storey job:

• Scaffolding or a lift: the height of the wall, how many faces need access, and whether the ground allows a lift to be positioned all affect the rental and setup cost.
• Fall protection: O. Reg. 213/91 requires fall protection where a worker may fall more than 3 m, and O. Reg. 297/13 requires working-at-heights training for those workers.
• Dust control at height: cutting out old mortar generates silica dust, a designated substance under O. Reg. 490/09. Ask how the crew will control dust at that elevation, whether through wet cutting, dust extraction or respirators, and how the site below will be protected.

When you compare quotes, ask each contractor to break out the wall area, the height and access method, the mortar type and colour match, how joints are cut out, and what disposal is included.