Deck IQ
Straight answers to Ottawa deck questions: what a deck should cost, when the City needs a permit, how high a guard must be, how deep footings go, and how to compare quotes.
Browse Deck IQ69 questions answered
What should an Ontario deck contract say about changes mid-job?
A deck contract in Ontario should spell out how changes are handled before work starts, because the...
Replacement & RemovalDisposal on a deck tear-out quote in Ottawa: what to look for?
When reviewing a tear-out quote in Ottawa, the first thing to check is whether disposal is included...
Framing & StructureDeck beam sizes on Ottawa permit drawings: who decides?
The beam size on a permit drawing is decided by the designer or engineer named on Schedule 1 of the...
Hiring & QuotesDoes 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...
Costs & PricingTearing out an old deck in Vanier: what does it cost?
We found no published Ottawa or Ontario builder prices for deck removal or demolition with enough...
Materials & BoardsTreated wood in ground contact on an Ottawa deck?
For posts and components that go into the ground, the 2024 Ontario Building Code says to use...
Replacement & RemovalTaking down a deck in Kanata myself: safety steps?
Before you start pulling boards, request a locate through Ontario One Call at least five business...
Footings & FoundationsDo Ontario One Call locate requests cost anything?
No, there is no fee. The Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012 states...
Materials & BoardsComposite deck maintenance for Ottawa winters?
For composite decking, follow the manufacturer's care guide: we found no neutral cleaning or upkeep...
Costs & PricingBudget for replacing a rotten deck in Gloucester?
For a replacement deck, published Ottawa and Ontario builder prices read in September 2026 run...
Costs & PricingWhat raises the price of a second-storey deck in Stittsville?
A second-storey deck in Stittsville sits well above the ground, and several parts of the quote...
Costs & PricingWhat do permit drawings for a deck cost in Nepean?
Published prices from Ottawa and Ontario drafting and design firms read in September 2026 put...
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View all recent questionsPopular Questions
What should an Ontario deck contract say about changes mid-job?
Replacement & RemovalDisposal on a deck tear-out quote in Ottawa: what to look for?
Framing & StructureDeck beam sizes on Ottawa permit drawings: who decides?
Hiring & QuotesDoes the WSIB home renovation exemption cover my deck builder's helpers?
Costs & PricingTearing out an old deck in Vanier: what does it cost?
Materials & BoardsTreated wood in ground contact on an Ottawa deck?
Replacement & RemovalTaking down a deck in Kanata myself: safety steps?
Footings & FoundationsDo Ontario One Call locate requests cost anything?
Materials & BoardsComposite deck maintenance for Ottawa winters?
Costs & PricingBudget for replacing a rotten deck in Gloucester?
All Answers by Topic
Hiring & Quotes 6
- Does the WSIB home renovation exemption cover my deck builder's helpers?
- Two quotes use different foundations for my Barrhaven deck; which to trust?
- What does the 10 per cent estimate limit mean for an Ontario deck?
- What happens to holdback when my Ontario deck is finished?
- What should an Ontario deck contract say about changes mid-job?
- Who applies for the Ottawa deck permit, me or my builder?
Costs & Pricing 17
- Are railings and stairs usually extra on Ottawa deck quotes?
- Budget for replacing a rotten deck in Gloucester?
- Composite deck quote at $45 a square foot in Nepean: too low?
- Does a deck on piles cost more than one on footings in Kanata?
- How does Ottawa calculate the building permit fee for a deck?
- How much does a new deck landing cost in Riverside South?
- How much does a pressure-treated deck cost per square foot in Ottawa?
- Is $95 a square foot fair for a composite deck in Orleans?
- Is a composite deck worth the extra money in an Ottawa climate?
- PVC or composite decking: which costs more for an Ottawa build?
- Railing cost on a composite deck in Findlay Creek?
- Tearing out an old deck in Vanier: what does it cost?
- What do permit drawings for a deck cost in Nepean?
- What raises the price of a second-storey deck in Stittsville?
- What should I budget for a cedar deck in Kanata?
- What will the permit fee be on a $15,000 Ottawa deck?
- Why do two Barrhaven deck quotes for the same size differ so much?
Materials & Boards 6
- Capped composite versus old composite boards in Ontario?
- Cedar versus pressure-treated for a deck in Ottawa weather?
- Composite deck maintenance for Ottawa winters?
- Do composite warranties cover fading on Ottawa decks?
- Treated wood in ground contact on an Ottawa deck?
- Was my pre-2004 Ottawa deck built with CCA lumber?
Replacement & Removal 6
- Disposal on a deck tear-out quote in Ottawa: what to look for?
- Does a replacement deck in Orleans need new drawings?
- Rebuilding an old deck bigger in Kanata: new zoning check?
- Taking down a deck in Kanata myself: safety steps?
- What goes in a deck removal quote in Nepean?
- Zoning check needed for a same-size replacement deck in Ottawa?
Browse by Topic
Costs & Pricing
What decks cost in Ottawa by material, the City permit fee, drawing prices, and which jobs have too few published prices to quote
17 questionsHiring & Quotes
Choosing a deck builder in Ottawa: who applies for the permit and books the inspections, what a written quote and contract should include, cancellation rights and holdback
6 questionsMaterials & Boards
Pressure-treated, cedar, composite and PVC decking: treated wood types, warranty terms versus lifespan, and the material report Ottawa asks for
6 questionsReplacement & Removal
When a deck is replaced instead of repaired, tearing out an old deck, treated-wood safety and where the old lumber goes in Ottawa
6 questionsFootings & Foundations
Footing depth in clay and frost, the floating-deck exemption, Leda clay and engineered design, helical piles, and Ontario One Call before digging
5 questionsFraming & Structure
Deck design loads, beams and posts, the connection to the house, and when a deck goes beyond the Code's prescriptive rules
5 questionsPermits & Inspections
When an Ottawa deck needs a building permit, what the application and drawings need, the homeowner design exemption, and the footing, framing and final inspections
4 questionsZoning & Setbacks
How Ottawa's Zoning By-laws 2008-250 and 2026-50 treat decks: projections into yards, setbacks, privacy screens, and minor variances
4 questionsGuards & Railings
When a deck needs a guard under the 2024 Ontario Building Code, guard heights, the 100 mm opening rule and Ontario's no-climb rule between 140 mm and 900 mm
4 questionsStairs & Handrails
Rise, run and tread limits for deck stairs in Ontario, when handrails are required, and guards on stair sides
4 questionsRepair, Finishes & Upkeep
Board replacement, stains and penetrating finishes, re-coat intervals, older CCA-treated decks, and bringing guards and stairs up to current rules
4 questionsPools & Hot Tubs
Decks that give access to an above-ground pool, gated enclosures and gates under Ottawa's Pool Enclosure By-law, and hot tubs on decks
4 questionsRecently Asked
View allWhat should an Ontario deck contract say about changes mid-job?
Disposal on a deck tear-out quote in Ottawa: what to look for?
Deck beam sizes on Ottawa permit drawings: who decides?
Does the WSIB home renovation exemption cover my deck builder's helpers?
Tearing out an old deck in Vanier: what does it cost?
Treated wood in ground contact on an Ottawa deck?
Taking down a deck in Kanata myself: safety steps?
Do Ontario One Call locate requests cost anything?
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