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 be confirmed without someone looking at the structure. The list below is what to have checked, not a diagnosis.

The 2024 Ontario Building Code sets a deflection limit for deck beams, joists and decking serving a single dwelling unit of 1/240 of the span. That fraction is the maximum sag allowed under load. The Code also requires that a deck serving a single dwelling unit be designed for the specified roof snow load or 1.9 kPa, whichever is greater.

A few things worth having a builder look at specifically:

• the joist size, spacing and span, and whether any joists are notched, cracked or showing signs of decay at the ledger or beam connection
• the beam size and how it is supported at the posts
• the ledger connection to the house, including whether fasteners have pulled or corroded
• the decking board thickness and whether boards have cupped or softened

Today, an Ottawa deck attached to the house with a walking surface more than 600 mm (24 in.) above adjacent grade needs a permit, and any structural repair that goes beyond replacing like-for-like boards may itself trigger a permit, and the City of Ottawa's Building Code Services can tell you whether your planned repair does.

Before anyone digs for new footings or posts as part of a repair, a locate request must be submitted through Ontario One Call at least five business days in advance. That applies to the homeowner and to any contractor doing the work.

On the structural worry side: if the bounce is accompanied by visible sagging, a guard that moves when you push it, or any sign that the deck is pulling away from the house, stay off it and keep others off until a builder has looked at it in person.

When you get quotes for the repair, the contract should name who applies for any required City permit and who books the three inspections the City requires: the footing or foundation inspection before backfill, the framing inspection at completion of structural framing and guards, and the final inspection. Having that spelled out in writing before work starts removes any doubt about whose job it is.