What surface should an Ottawa entrance ramp have?

A ramp at a house and its landings must have a finish that is wear-resistant, slip-resistant, and smooth, even and free from open defects under Article 9.8.9.6 of the Ontario Building Code. That is the rule for a house ramp in Ottawa; it describes the performance the surface must meet, not a specific material.

Whether a particular material meets those requirements is a question to put to the contractor in writing.

A few things that show up in a ramp quote and affect both cost and surface choice: the total rise and the length that rise requires, whether landings are needed at the top, the bottom or where a door swings toward the ramp, whether handrails are required (the Code requires them where the ramp rises more than 400 mm, Article 9.8.7.1), and whether a guard is needed where the drop beside the ramp or landing exceeds 600 mm (Article 9.8.8.1). Published 2025-26 prices for a short modular entrance ramp run roughly $2,000 to $4,000; longer or custom ramps cost more. Patching and finishing the area around the base of the ramp can add to that figure and should appear as a line in any written quote.

The single most useful thing to get in writing from each contractor is the surface material and how it meets the slip-resistance requirement, along with and how it meets the slip-resistance requirement, what landings and handrails are included, whether the permit application and fee are covered or extra, what patching and finishing is included at the base and around the door, and the start and completion dates for the work.