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 reliable range, so we cannot quote a figure here.

What a removal quote depends on includes the size of the deck, how it is framed and fastened, whether the footings need to be pulled or cut below grade, how high the deck sits above the ground, how much material needs to be hauled away, and how easy it is to get equipment into the yard. A deck that is bolted to the house with a ledger and set on concrete piers takes more work to take apart than a small freestanding platform. The volume of wood and hardware going to disposal adds to the cost because the City of Ottawa says construction and renovation waste, including pressure-treated lumber, is not collected with regular garbage and must be brought to a landfill such as Trail Road.

Before anyone digs to pull footings, whoever is doing the work must submit a locate request through Ontario One Call at least five business days before starting. That applies to a homeowner doing their own work as well as a hired crew. Private lines, including electrical runs to sheds or outdoor lighting and sewer and septic piping, are the homeowner's responsibility to have marked separately.

On the permit question: the City of Ottawa's Decks page addresses construction permits, and we found no City statement on whether demolishing a deck on its own requires one. The Building Code Act, 1992 section 8(1) covers demolition as well as construction, so it is worth confirming with the City's Building Code Services before the work starts rather than after.

A few things worth settling with any crew before signing:

• who submits the locate request and when
• how the footings are handled, whether cut, pulled or left in place
• where the debris goes and whether hauling is included in the price
• whether any part of the house connection, such as the ledger or flashing, needs patching after the deck comes off

If you are replacing the deck rather than just removing it, the permit rules for the new structure apply in full: the height above grade, whether it is attached to the house, and whether it provides principal access all determine whether a building permit is required. The person who applies for the permit and books the three City inspections, being excavation or foundations, framing and final, should be named in the contract before work begins, because that responsibility does not sort itself out on its own once the job is underway.

Ask any crew you are considering: exactly what happens to the old footings, and is that included in the price?