Does the WSIB home renovation exemption cover my deck builder's helpers?

The WSIB home renovation exemption applies to a business hired and paid directly by a homeowner for work on a private residence, but it does not extend to subcontractors that business retains. Those subcontractors need their own WSIB coverage.

So if your deck builder brings helpers who are their own employees, the builder's WSIB account covers them. If the builder subcontracts any part of the work to another company or individual, that subcontractor needs WSIB coverage regardless of the exemption. The exemption only protects the direct contractor relationship between you and the builder.

WSIB also notes that decks are not named in its list of home renovation examples, which includes garages, sheds, fences and swimming pools. We found no WSIB statement that confirms decks fall within the exemption. That gap is worth raising with your builder before work starts.

As a homeowner who directly retains a contractor for exempt home renovation work, you are not required to obtain a WSIB clearance certificate. You can still ask for one. A clearance certificate is valid for up to 90 calendar days and confirms the contractor's account is in good standing at the time it is issued.

A few things worth asking your builder directly:

• Are any parts of the job being subcontracted, and if so, do those subcontractors carry WSIB coverage?
• Can you provide a clearance certificate before work begins?
• Are your own employees covered under your WSIB account?

None of those questions have a legal requirement attached on your side as a homeowner, but the answers tell you a lot about how the business is set up.

Before the first board goes down, make sure you have the permit drawings in hand, the building permit issued by the City of Ottawa, and a written contract that sets out the full scope of work and the price. Those three documents together give you a clear record of what was agreed and what the City approved.