Railing cost on a composite deck in Findlay Creek?

We found too few published Ottawa prices for railings and guards to give a reliable per-foot or per-panel range, so no number would be meaningful here. What we can tell you is what quotes differ on and what the 2024 Ontario Building Code requires, so you can read a quote intelligently.

What shapes the price on a composite deck guard

Guard quotes can differ on the length of guard, its height, the infill style, and whether it is a wood-framed system or a manufactured aluminum or glass system. Manufactured systems sit outside the Code's prescriptive rules, so the permit application for those must include the manufacturer's information and attachment details. That adds a step to the permit.

The Code sets the minimum height at 900 mm for an exterior guard serving a single dwelling unit where the walking surface is not more than 1 800 mm above finished ground, and at 1 070 mm in all other cases. A guard is required on any open side where the drop is more than 600 mm within 1.2 m of the edge, measured from the walking surface to the adjacent surface. Openings through the guard must prevent the passage of a 100 mm sphere. In Ontario, every required guard must be built so that no member, attachment or opening between 140 mm and 900 mm above the walking surface will facilitate climbing. This is an Ontario-wide requirement on every required guard, not just those at greater heights. Horizontal rails and cable infill in that zone can facilitate climbing, which is what this rule targets, so confirm the proposed infill style with the builder and the City's Building Code Services before ordering materials.

Where the deck is attached to the house and the walking surface is more than 600 mm (24 in.) above adjacent grade, a building permit is required. The guard is inspected at the framing stage and again at the final inspection. The City asks for 48 hours' notice before each inspection.

When you are comparing quotes, look at whether each one includes:

• the guard posts, top rail, infill and bottom rail as a complete assembly
• the manufacturer's documentation if the system is not a standard lumber build
• permit drawings that show the guard height, infill detail and attachment method

Some published packages exclude railings and steps from the base price, so ask each builder to itemise the guard separately so the quotes are comparable.

On the permit side, confirm in writing which party, you or the builder, applies for the City of Ottawa building permit and books the three required inspections: excavation or foundations, framing, and final. That responsibility belongs in the contract before anyone signs.