Credentials, in plain English.

Ontario's asbestos regulation, O. Reg. 278/05, sorts asbestos work into three types by risk. Type 3 is the highest-risk class — the full-containment, negative-pressure work. Workers doing it must complete the asbestos abatement training program approved by the Ministry, and carry proof of it.

Why it matters: Type 3 work done by untrained workers isn't a discount — it's illegal, and it puts fibres into the air your family or tenants breathe. Training is the difference between removal and contamination.

How to verify it: Ask to see worker training certificates before any abatement starts. Ours come to the job with the crew.

The IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) is the body behind the standards restoration work is done to — like the S500 for water damage and the S520 for mould. Certification is earned by individual technicians through examination, not bought by companies.

Why it matters: Insurers and adjusters know these standards, and work performed to them holds up in a claim. A technician who has passed the exam is following a published standard, not habit.

How to verify it: The IICRC keeps a public registry of certified technicians and firms at iicrc.org — anyone can look a certification up.

Commercial general liability insurance covers damage to your property arising from our work, up to the policy limit.

Why it matters: If an uninsured contractor floods your kitchen or cracks your foundation, your recourse is suing them personally — usually worth exactly nothing. Insurance is what makes a contractor's mistake the insurer's bill instead of yours.

How to verify it: Ask for a certificate of insurance before work starts — a real contractor's broker can issue one naming you as certificate holder within a day. We'll send ours on request.

WSIB is Ontario's workplace injury insurance. A clearance certificate confirms an account is registered and in good standing, and we require the subcontractors working our jobs to carry their own coverage.

Why it matters: If a worker is hurt on your property and their employer has no WSIB coverage, the claim can land on you as the property owner. Clearance is what keeps someone else's payroll problem from becoming your liability.

How to verify it: WSIB clearance certificates are verifiable online through WSIB Ontario's clearance service — ask any contractor for their clearance number and check it.