In short
- TV, shelf or artwork mounting runs $80–250 on the HomeStars Gloucester (Ottawa) page; a curtain rail or blind runs $50–120.
- HomeStars prices simple installs of shelving, blinds and fixtures at $75–200 in its Ottawa guide.
- The wall decides the hardware: drywall, old plaster, brick and condo concrete each take a different fastener.
- Some handymen bring brackets and fasteners, others expect you to buy them. Ask before the visit.
- A home renovation contract above $50 must be in writing in Ontario.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TV, shelf or artwork mounting | $80–250 | HomeStars Gloucester (Ottawa) page, undated |
| Curtain rail or blind installation | $50–120 | Same page |
| Simple installs: shelving, blinds, fixtures | $75–200 | HomeStars Ottawa guide, updated 21.08.2026 |
| Handyman hourly rate, general repairs | $85–120/h | HomeStars Ottawa guide |
| Mounting booked through TaskRabbit, Ottawa | from $45/h | Platform figure; one Tasker on that page sets a 2-hour minimum |
Sources. Seen 29.10.2026: HomeStars, Handyman in Gloucester, Ottawa (undated); HomeStars, How much does a handyman cost in Ottawa? (updated 21.08.2026); TaskRabbit, General mounting in Ottawa. Rules: Ontario, Your rights when starting home renovations or repairs.
What goes on the list
Shelves are the most common item. Curtain rods, blinds, mirrors, framed art, coat hooks, towel bars and a wall-mounted TV follow. HomeStars lists mounting TVs, shelves and artwork, and installing curtain rails or blinds, among the standard services of a handyman in Gloucester, Ottawa. Write each one on its own line: what it is, how wide, how heavy and which room.
One long wall of picture frames and a single heavy bookcase shelf look alike on paper. They are different jobs. The first is a measuring and levelling job. The second is a load question.
The wall decides the hardware
An Ottawa house or condo has more than one kind of wall. A 1990s townhouse has drywall over studs. A house from earlier decades can have plaster on lath. A basement can have brick or poured concrete, and many condos have concrete behind a thin finish. Each takes a different fastener, and the company chooses it on site.
You do not need to know the answer. Send a photo of each wall and the build year if you know it. Walls built before 1990 are a reason to mention the age of the finish: Health Canada counts old paint, putty, plaster, drywall and spackling as possible asbestos sources and wants them tested before renovation. A shelf drilled into a sound wall is a small job. Drilling many holes through old surface material is a question to put to the company before the visit.
What drives the price
Four things move the number. The count of items. The wall type, since masonry takes longer than drywall. The weight, which decides the fastener and the care. Who supplies the hardware. A minimum visit charge also applies at some companies: the HomeStars Ottawa guide notes that a minimum fee may buy a fixed number of hours, and that distance raises travel fees.
One Tasker on TaskRabbit’s mounting page states a 2-hour minimum on all bookings. That is one provider’s rule. Ask the company that calls what its minimum is, and ask it in dollars.
Curtain rods and blinds
A rod carries fabric and a pull, so the bracket spacing and the anchor type matter as much as the level. Photograph the window with the trim visible. Say whether the curtains are light sheers or lined drapes, and whether the rod comes from a kit. Blinds mount inside or outside the opening, and the company needs your choice before it measures. HomeStars puts a curtain rail or blind at $50–120 on its Gloucester page.
Before you sign anything
Any home renovation contract above $50 goes in writing in Ontario, with the work described. An estimate placed in that contract holds the bill to within 10% of it unless you agree to new work. A short job may be settled by a written message that lists each item and the price. Keep it.
Related pages
A TV on its own has a page: TV mounting, including brick and concrete walls. Shelves that arrive flat-packed are on the furniture assembly page. A door that rubs next to the shelf is covered by door and trim repair. For the full set of jobs, see the small repairs list and the handyman cost guide.
Who hangs it
The desk passes your list to one independent local company. It calls, asks about the walls and quotes from your photos, then sends someone to hang the pieces. Ask on the call what that quote covers.
Questions to ask the company
- Does your price cover the brackets, anchors and rods, or do I buy them?
- Which fastener do you plan for my wall, and what weight does it carry?
- Do you mark and check the level and spacing with me before drilling?
- Is the price per item, a block of hours, or one number for the whole list?
- What happens to the dust and the old holes when a bracket moves?
Have this ready for the call
- A list of every item, with its width and its weight from the label or a bathroom scale
- The wall behind each spot: drywall, old plaster, brick, concrete, tile
- A photo of each wall, with the spot marked by painter's tape
- The brackets, rods or hardware that came in the box, kept together
- Condo or rental: the building's rules on drilling, and any notice you owe
- Cables, pipes or switches you know run behind a wall
Questions people ask
Is a shelf priced per shelf or by the hour?
Ottawa sources print both. On the HomeStars Gloucester page, TV, shelf or artwork mounting is $80–250 a job; the Ottawa guide prices general repair time at $85–120 an hour. A list of ten small items often fits an hourly or whole-list price. One shelf is usually a per-job number. Ask for both.
Who buys the brackets, anchors and curtain rods?
It varies. HomeStars notes that some Ottawa-area handymen include items such as brackets, caulking or fasteners, while larger items such as fixtures need to come from you. Put it on the call: who buys what, and what happens if the hardware in the box does not suit your wall.
Can a heavy mirror or a gallery wall go on any wall?
The wall type and the weight decide. Drywall, old plaster, brick and condo concrete take different fasteners, and the company picks them once it knows what is behind the surface. Send the weight of each piece and a photo of the wall. A figure from the label beats a guess.
Where do curtain rods mount, into the wall or the window frame?
That depends on the trim, the wall and the weight of the curtains. The company decides on site after seeing the window. A photo of the window with the width of the opening, and a note on blinds or drapes, lets it quote the visit before it arrives.
I rent. Can the shelves come down when I move out?
Check your lease and ask your landlord first, since drilling can be restricted. If shelves do come off, the holes can be patched. Ottawa patches fall under drywall repair, and rental turnover repairs covers the move-out list.
Can the same visit include a TV and furniture?
Yes, if you list them. Shelves, a TV and an assembled bookcase are different tasks, so say so in the request. The company then books enough time for all of them and prices the visit as one list.
