Question 1

What should an Ontario deck contract say about changes mid-job?

Accepted Answer

A deck contract in Ontario should spell out how changes are handled before work starts, because the Consumer Protection Act, 2002 gives you a specific protection once a price is on paper. If the contract includes an estimate, the supplier cannot charge more than 10 per cent above it. That rule applies to the estimate as written, so what the estimate includes and excludes matters as much as the number itself.

Question 2

Does the WSIB home renovation exemption cover my deck builder's helpers?

Accepted Answer

The WSIB home renovation exemption applies to a business hired and paid directly by a homeowner for work on a private residence, but it does not extend to subcontractors that business retains. Those subcontractors need their own WSIB coverage. So if your deck builder brings helpers who are their own employees, the builder's WSIB account covers them.

Question 3

Two quotes use different foundations for my Barrhaven deck; which to trust?

Accepted Answer

Neither foundation type is automatically more trustworthy than the other. What matters is whether the foundation shown on the permit drawings is sized and specified for your deck's height, load, soil conditions and attachment to the house, and whether the builder can explain why they chose it. The 2024 Ontario Building Code sets the starting point.

Question 4

What happens to holdback when my Ontario deck is finished?

Accepted Answer

Under the Construction Act, an owner is generally required to hold back 10 per cent of each payment to a contractor on an improvement, and a deck is an improvement under that Act. Get advice for your specific situation, because how and when that holdback is released depends on the details of your contract and the Act's timelines. The general structure under the Act works like this.

Question 5

Who applies for the Ottawa deck permit, me or my builder?

Accepted Answer

We found nothing on ottawa.ca that says who must submit a deck permit application, so it is something you and your builder settle, and put in the contract. The application goes through the My ServiceOttawa portal, and payment must accompany it. What the City requires in the package: a completed and signed digital permit application, a complete set of scaled and fully dimensioned drawings, and a Schedule 1 naming whoever is taking design responsibility.

Question 6

What does the 10 per cent estimate limit mean for an Ontario deck?

Accepted Answer

Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2002, if your agreement includes an estimate, the supplier shall not charge you more than 10 per cent above that estimate, and you may require the work at the estimated price. The rule applies when the contract is a "direct agreement," meaning it was negotiated or concluded somewhere other than the supplier's place of business, such as at your home.

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