In short
- Nepean is the name still used for the former city west of the inner core; the 2021 Census counted about 186,593 people there.
- Bells Corners grew from 1950 and Lynwood Village (1958 to 1966) has more than 1,700 homes. Craig Henry started in 1971.
- General repairs: $85–120/h in HomeStars' Ottawa guide, which also names minimum charges and travel as things that move a bill.
- Older plaster, drywall, paint and spackling can hold asbestos, Health Canada warns; the build year tells the company what to expect.
- The City's Building Code counter for the west is Ben Franklin Place, 101 Centrepointe Drive, in Nepean's old city-hall building.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Handyman time, general repairs | $85–120/h | HomeStars Ottawa guide, updated 21.08.2026 |
| Simple installs such as fans and fixtures | $75–200 | Per job, same Ottawa guide |
| Door installation or window fixes | $250–900 | Per job, same Ottawa guide |
| TV, shelf or artwork mounting | $80–250 | Per job, HomeStars page for Gloucester, Ottawa |
| Travel or call-out fee | Set by the company | HomeStars lists distance as a reason for extra charges; ask on the call |
Sources. Seen 29.10.2026: HomeStars, How much does a handyman cost in Ottawa? (updated 21.08.2026); HomeStars, Handyman in Gloucester, Ottawa (undated). Area facts: Wikipedia, Nepean, Ontario; Wikipedia, Bells Corners; Wikipedia, Craig Henry. Rules: Health Canada, health risks of asbestos; City of Ottawa, projects not requiring building permits; City of Ottawa, submitting building permit applications; Ontario, your rights when starting home renovations or repairs.
What “Nepean” means on the map
Nepean was an independent city until the amalgamation of 2001. The name stayed in everyday use for the stretch of west Ottawa that starts at the Greenbelt edge near Bells Corners and Centrepointe and runs south to Barrhaven. The 2021 Census counted about 186,593 people in the area, so requests range from Bells Corners bungalows to Craig Henry houses.
For the company that calls you, the useful facts are the postal code and the nearest main road. Merivale Road is the retail spine and Colonnade Road has the business park. Barrhaven, the southern part of old Nepean, has a page of its own.
Houses by decade, and what lists they produce
Residential growth came in waves, and each wave leaves a pattern in the job list.
- Bells Corners, 1950s and 1960s. Stinson Avenue was the first area built, in 1950. Arbeatha Park followed in 1955 to 1958 and Lynwood Village in 1958 to 1966. Lynwood Village is described as one of the first tract-housing projects in Ottawa, with more than 1,700 homes. Westcliffe Estates added over 2,000 homes from 1969. Put the build year in the request, since it decides how the company treats a wall.
- Craig Henry, from 1971. A subdivision between Woodroffe Avenue and Greenbank Road, south of the CN rail line. Lists here start with what a fifty-year-old house wears out: door hardware, baseboards, caulking at the tub.
- Newer pockets. Infill and condos near Merivale and Centrepointe produce TV and shelf lists: see TV mounting and assembly and shelves, curtain rods and art.
What goes on a post-war list
The jobs that repeat here are small and many: a sticking door, a gap behind the baseboard, shelves for the garage, a curtain rod in the front room. The small repairs list shows how to write them so a company can estimate the day. The HomeStars Ottawa guide puts door installation and window fixes at $250 to $900 per job and general hourly time at $85 to $120.
Fixings for a heavy shelf depend on what is behind the finish, and drilling into old surface material is the moment Health Canada warns about. Tell the company the build year and let it decide if a line needs a test first.
Storm repairs and the line to a contractor
The September 2018 tornado outbreak, six twisters across the Ottawa area, hit Arlington Woods, Craig Henry and the Colonnade Road Business Park. Loose trim, an interior patch or a fence board are handyman lines. Roofing, structural damage and anything an insurer is paying for go to a contractor, and the handyman or trade page sorts the lines that go to a trade.
Permits and the Centrepointe counter
Door and window swaps in openings of the same size, new floors, paint, a deck lower than 24 inches away from the main entrance, and fences that do not enclose a pool all go ahead without a building permit, the City says. For anything else, Ben Franklin Place, with hours in the FAQ, is the Nepean counter.
Reading the quote
Ontario’s consumer rules put any renovation contract above $50 in writing, and an estimate inside that contract can be exceeded by 10 per cent at most unless you sign off on a change. Ask for the price per job or the hours expected, the call-out fee, and who buys the hardware.
The desk and the company
Ottawa Handyman Desk forwards your Nepean list and does no repairs itself. One independent company takes it from there: it phones you, sets the price and sends its own worker.
Questions to ask the company
- Is my street in Nepean inside your usual area, and how is the drive billed?
- My house is a 1950s or 1960s build. Will you test before drilling into the walls?
- Can you finish the whole list in one visit, or does some of it need a second trip?
- Does your price include anchors, hinges and trim pieces, or do I buy them?
- If a line turns out to be electrical or plumbing work, will you tell me before you start?
Have this ready for the call
- Your postal code and the nearest main road: Merivale, Greenbank, Woodroffe, Baseline or Robertson
- The year the house was built, from the listing or the deed
- One photo per job, plus sizes for any shelf, rod or door
- Door and window sizes, measured inside the frame, for replacement lines
- Where the van can park: driveway, street or visitor spot
Questions people ask
What does Nepean cover on a map?
Nepean was a separate city until the 2001 amalgamation, and the name still describes the area west of the inner core, from Bells Corners and Centrepointe down to Barrhaven.
Our Craig Henry home dates from the 1970s. Is anything worth flagging?
Yes, the build year. Development there began in 1971, and Health Canada notes that drywall, paint, putty and spackling from those decades can contain asbestos that drilling or sanding releases.
Can a handyman repair what the 2018 tornado storm left behind?
Small items, yes: loose trim, a fence board, a damaged interior patch. Storm damage was reported in Arlington Woods, Craig Henry and the Colonnade Road area in September 2018. Roof, structural and insurance-scope work belongs to a contractor, and your insurer may want photos before anything is touched.
Is the old Nepean city hall still a place to ask about permits?
Yes. Ben Franklin Place at 101 Centrepointe Drive, the old Nepean civic centre, holds a Building Code counter open weekdays 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Phone 3-1-1 if the project falls outside the City’s no-permit list.
