Recent Deck IQ Answers
Browse the latest deck questions from Ottawa homeowners.
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 Consumer Protection...
Disposal 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 at all, and if so,...
Deck 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 permit application,...
Does 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 work on a private...
Tearing 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 sources to give a...
Treated 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 preservative-treated wood...
Taking down a deck in Kanata myself: safety steps?
Before you start pulling boards, request a locate through Ontario One Call at least five business days ahead. Any...
Do Ontario One Call locate requests cost anything?
No, there is no fee. The Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012 states that no fee is charged...
Composite deck maintenance for Ottawa winters?
For composite decking, follow the manufacturer's care guide: we found no neutral cleaning or upkeep interval that...
Budget for replacing a rotten deck in Gloucester?
For a replacement deck, published Ottawa and Ontario builder prices read in September 2026 run roughly $25 to $65 per...
What 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 follow from that height....
What do permit drawings for a deck cost in Nepean?
Published prices from Ottawa and Ontario drafting and design firms read in September 2026 put permit drawings at about...
Are railings and stairs usually extra on Ottawa deck quotes?
Some published Ottawa and Ontario builder packages exclude railings and steps, so read each quote carefully to see what...
Why do two Barrhaven deck quotes for the same size differ so much?
When two quotes for the same size differ a lot, start with what each builder actually included in the price. Published...
PVC or composite decking: which costs more for an Ottawa build?
PVC decking published prices run about $59 to $110 or more per square foot installed, while composite runs about $45 to...
Is $95 a square foot fair for a composite deck in Orleans?
$95 a square foot sits at the top of the published range for composite decks, which runs from about $45 to $95 per...
Is a composite deck worth the extra money in an Ottawa climate?
Whether composite is worth the extra cost depends on how you weigh upfront price against ongoing maintenance, and the...
How does Ottawa calculate the building permit fee for a deck?
The City of Ottawa uses a value-based formula for deck building permits. The fee is $12.75 per $1,000 or part thereof...
What will the permit fee be on a $15,000 Ottawa deck?
The City of Ottawa's permit fee for a $15,000 deck works out to $191.25, based on the "all other construction" rate of...
Staining an older CCA deck in Ottawa every year?
Health Canada recommends applying a sealant every year to older CCA-treated decks, using an oil-based or water-based...
What goes in a deck removal quote in Nepean?
A deck removal quote in Nepean should itemise the work clearly enough that you can compare it line by line against...
Handrail clearance from a rough brick wall on Ottawa deck stairs?
Leave 60 mm: the 2024 Ontario Building Code sets that clearance between the back of the handrail and a rough or...
Deck in a shallow front yard in Vanier: height rules?
Front-yard decks in Vanier sit under two overlapping sets of rules: the City of Ottawa's permit triggers and the zoning...
Guard height on a deck 10 m up in Ontario?
At 10 metres up, the 2024 Ontario Building Code requires a guard on any open side where the drop exceeds 600 mm within...
What should I budget for a cedar deck in Kanata?
For a cedar deck, budget from the published range: Ottawa and Ontario builder prices run about $45 to $80 per square...
How much does a pressure-treated deck cost per square foot in Ottawa?
Published Ottawa and Ontario builder prices for a pressure-treated deck run about $25 to $65 per square foot,...
Pool deck gate lock rules in Ottawa?
Under Ottawa's Pool Enclosure By-law 2013-39, every gate in a pool enclosure must have three things: a self-closing...
Why does my Barrhaven deck feel bouncy underfoot?
We can't tell you why from here: a bounce can come from the framing, the connections or the boards, and none of it can...
Does my septic system affect where an Ottawa deck can go?
Yes, your septic system affects both where a deck can go and what the permit drawings must show. The City of Ottawa's...
Stain or paint for a wood deck in Ottawa?
For a wood deck in Ottawa, penetrating finishes, meaning semi-transparent stains and water-repellent preservatives, are...
Cedar versus pressure-treated for a deck in Ottawa weather?
Pressure-treated starts lower on published Ottawa and Ontario builder prices: about about $25 to $65 per square foot...
When does an Ontario deck design need Part 4 engineering?
When Part 4 Engineering Applies to an Ontario Deck The 2024 Ontario Building Code covers decks serving a single...
Rebuilding an old deck bigger in Kanata: new zoning check?
A bigger new deck is measured against today's rules for its size, height and position, which in Ottawa now means both...
What rise and run should my Stittsville deck stairs use?
For exterior stairs serving a single dwelling unit, the 2024 Ontario Building Code sets the rise between 125 mm and 200...
What does the Ottawa framing inspection check on a deck?
Ottawa's framing inspection comes "at completion of structural framing and guards." That is what the City says about...
Two quotes use different foundations for my Barrhaven deck; which to trust?
Neither foundation type is automatically more trustworthy than the other. What matters is whether the foundation shown...
How much does a new deck landing cost in Riverside South?
A landing is priced like any new deck: published Ottawa and Ontario builder prices for pressure-treated run about $25...
Hot tub under 600 mm deep in Ottawa: pool rules?
A hot tub qualifies as a pool under Ottawa's Pool Enclosure By-law 2013-39 if it can hold a water depth of 600 mm or...
How close to my side lot line can an Ottawa deck sit?
The answer depends on your deck's height above grade, which yard it sits in, and which of Ottawa's two active zoning...
Deck access to an above-ground pool in Orleans: gate rules?
A deck that gives access to an above-ground pool in Orleans needs both a pool enclosure permit (the City fee is $257)...
Is horizontal cable railing allowed on an Ontario deck?
Horizontal cable infill on a required guard can facilitate climbing, which is what Ontario's no-climb rule targets. The...
Snow load on a deck in Ontario: what applies?
Snow Load on an Ontario Deck The 2024 Ontario Building Code sets the design load for a deck serving a single dwelling...
Zoning check needed for a same-size replacement deck in Ottawa?
For a same-size replacement deck in Ottawa, a zoning check is still worth doing even though you are not changing the...
Who is responsible for digging safely under Ontario law?
Under the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012, the responsibility falls on the excavator,...
Capped composite versus old composite boards in Ontario?
Capped composite (a wood-plastic core wrapped in a polymer shell) and older uncapped composite (wood fibre and plastic...
Does a small freestanding deck in Riverside South need a permit?
A freestanding deck in Riverside South needs a permit only when two conditions are both met: its walking surface is...
What happens to holdback when my Ontario deck is finished?
Under the Construction Act, an owner is generally required to hold back 10 per cent of each payment to a contractor on...
Does a deck on piles cost more than one on footings in Kanata?
Published Ottawa and Ontario builder prices cover new decks at about $25 to $65 per square foot for pressure-treated,...
Deck stairs with 3 risers in Ontario: handrail needed?
No handrail is required on exterior stairs serving a single dwelling unit that have not more than 3 risers. That is the...
Water repellent on a new Ottawa deck: how long does it last?
A water-repellent preservative on a new deck lasts about 1 to 2 years, according to US data from the USDA Forest...