What a Commercial Property Manager Should Expect from a Pressure Washing COI
What a pressure washing certificate of insurance should show: liability limits, WSIB clearance, additional insured wording and turnaround for GTA property managers.
If you manage a condo corporation, a plaza or a commercial building in the GTA, you have probably chased a vendor for insurance paperwork more than once. A pressure washing contractor works with water, chemicals, ladders and lifts around residents, tenants and vehicles. The certificate of insurance, or COI, is your first line of protection. Here is what it should show and what else belongs on your vendor checklist.
What Is a COI?
A certificate of insurance is a one-page summary issued by the contractor’s insurer or broker. It confirms that the contractor holds certain policies, the limits of those policies and the dates they are in force. It does not change the policy itself, but it is the document your board, landlord or management company relies on when approving a vendor.
What Should a Pressure Washing COI Show?
Check these items on every certificate:
| Item | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Named insured | The contractor’s correct legal business name |
| Commercial general liability | At least $2M per occurrence for most GTA sites |
| Policy dates | Current, and covering the full contract period |
| Additional insured | Your corporation, management company or landlord, exact legal names |
| Certificate holder | Who the certificate is issued to |
| Insurer and broker contact | So you can verify if needed |
Tip
Send the contractor the exact legal names you need on the certificate. “TSCC 1234” and “Toronto Standard Condominium Corporation No. 1234” are not always treated the same by your insurer.
WSIB Clearance vs a COI
A COI covers liability insurance. It says nothing about workplace injury coverage. In Ontario, that is the job of a WSIB clearance certificate, which confirms the contractor is registered and in good standing with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.
Ask for both. A contractor without WSIB coverage can leave the property owner exposed if a worker is injured on site. Clearance certificates have expiry dates, so request a current one before each contract period.
Why Turnaround Matters
For a strata or commercial property, vendor onboarding often blocks scheduling. If the COI takes a week, the spring wash slips, residents complain about salt in the entrance, and the board asks why. A contractor that delivers a COI with WSIB clearance within one business day removes that delay entirely.
We deliver ours within 24 hours of request, with your corporation named as additional insured. Details are on our commercial power washing page.
Questions to Add to Your Vendor Checklist
Insurance is the minimum. For pressure washing, a few more questions protect the property:
- Where does the wash water go? Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 681 restricts discharges to storm sewers. Ask whether the contractor covers drains and recovers wash water. We use an on-truck hydrovac tank for exactly this.
- Which rig will be used on each surface? Hot water for garages and pads, cold pressure for pavers, soft wash for facades and balconies.
- How will residents or tenants be notified? Good contractors supply notice wording and schedule around occupants.
- What documentation do we receive? Timestamped before-and-after photos are useful for board packages and disputes.
- Is pricing written per surface and fixed for the term?
Putting It Together
A strong pressure washing vendor file for a GTA property includes a current COI with at least $2M liability and your corporation named, a current WSIB clearance certificate, a written per-surface scope, a wastewater plan and a sample photo report. With those in hand, the board can approve quickly and the work can be scheduled before the season gets away.
If you manage condos, see our strata and condo pressure washing contracts. Restaurant landlords can review restaurant power washing plans. For a primer on methods, read power washing vs pressure washing vs soft washing, and for residential portfolios with pavers, our interlock guide.
Power Pressure Washing Toronto serves property managers across the GTA, including City Centre condos through our Mississauga crew.
Need a COI by tomorrow? Request a free written quote and mention the legal names you need on the certificate.
