Basements, Additions & Outdoor · Cambridge
Decks & Outdoor Living in Cambridge
New decks, deck replacements, railings and stairs in pressure-treated wood, cedar or composite.
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Cambridge, Cambridge & Oxford County
Decks & Outdoor Living in Cambridge
Ontario winters are hard on decks, and many in Cambridge are due for replacement after years of freeze-thaw, snow and sun. New decks are also a common finishing touch for the newer homes in Galt and Preston.
We build Cambridge decks on footings below the frost line, frame them to code, and finish them in composite, cedar or pressure-treated wood. Where a permit is required, it is issued by the City of Cambridge, and we handle the application and inspections.
Call (647) 424-1511 or send the form on this page for a free deck quote in Cambridge. Tell us what you want to change, add a few photos of the space, and we will book a visit and send a written quote that lists the scope, the materials, the permits involved and the schedule.
Cambridge homes
What decks & outdoor living involves in Cambridge's houses
Century and heritage homes in Cambridge
Older Cambridge homes often have soft or uneven siding and brick that a deck ledger cannot safely attach to. In those cases we build a freestanding deck on its own beam and footings so the house wall is not loaded at all.
Post-war bungalows and back-splits in Cambridge
Post-war Cambridge bungalows often have small concrete steps at the back door and a big yard. A low deck that steps down to the yard, with a wider set of stairs, makes the yard part of the house.
Newer homes built since 2000 in Cambridge
Newer Cambridge homes often have a high walkout from the kitchen and a rear yard that is still settling. Taller decks need properly sized posts, bracing and footings below the frost line, and a permit is almost always required.
Rules in Cambridge
Permits and approvals for decks & outdoor living in Cambridge
Building permits
Building permits in Cambridge are issued by the City of Cambridge. Electrical work anywhere in Ontario is done by a licensed electrical contractor under an Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) permit. We confirm what your project needs before you sign and book every inspection.
Conservation authority
Much of Cambridge falls within the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) watershed. Building near a shoreline, river, floodplain, valley or wetland can need a conservation authority permit before the municipality will issue a building permit. We check the regulation mapping for your property early so it does not hold up the schedule.
Heritage properties
If your Cambridge home is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act or sits in a heritage conservation district, exterior changes generally need heritage approval as well as a building permit. We check your property's status before design starts.
Testing before demolition
Homes built before the 1990s can contain asbestos in plaster, textured ceilings, floor tile, vermiculite insulation and pipe wrap, and homes from before the 1960s often have lead paint. In Cambridge's older houses we test suspect materials before demolition and handle them by the regulations if they are found.
The service
Decks Built on Solid Footings
A good deck extends your living space for half the year and should last for decades. The parts that make that happen are the ones you do not see: footings below the frost line, a properly attached ledger or freestanding frame, correctly sized joists and beams, and hardware rated for outdoor use.
We build new decks and replace old ones in pressure-treated wood, cedar and composite, with railings in wood, aluminum or glass, built-in stairs and landings, privacy screens and skirting. Many clients pair a new deck with a basement walkout or a new patio door.
More about decks & outdoor living →The process
How your Cambridge project comes together
01
Consultation
Tell us what you want to change and send a few photos. We visit, measure and talk through options.
02
Written Quote
A clear scope, materials, permits and schedule, in writing. No vague allowances.
03
Permits & Planning
Drawings, permits and material orders lined up before demolition starts.
04
Build & Walk-Through
Work done in the right order, inspected where required, and walked through with you at the end.
Across Cambridge
Decks & Outdoor Living throughout Cambridge
Cambridge brings together the historic cores of Galt, Preston and Hespeler, with stone and brick century homes along the Grand and Speed rivers and newer subdivisions in Hespeler and east Galt.
Nearby
Decks & Outdoor Living near Cambridge
Questions
Decks & Outdoor Living in Cambridge: FAQs
How do I get a decks & outdoor living quote in Cambridge?+
Call (647) 424-1511, use the form on this page or email info@ontariorenovationcompany.com. Tell us what you want to change and send a few photos, and we will book a visit and send a written quote for your Cambridge project.
What kinds of Cambridge homes do you work on?+
All of them. Housing in Cambridge includes century and heritage homes, post-war bungalows and back-splits and newer homes built since 2000, and each comes with its own considerations, from older wiring and foundations to builder warranties, septic systems and shoreline rules. We plan the work around the house you actually have.
Do I need a conservation authority permit in Cambridge?+
Only if your property is in a regulated area, such as near a shoreline, river, valley, floodplain or wetland. Much of Cambridge falls within the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) watershed. We check the mapping for your address before applying for the building permit.
Do I need a permit for a deck?+
In Ontario, decks generally need a building permit when they are attached to the house or more than about 600 mm (24 inches) above the ground. Local rules and setbacks also apply. We check with your municipality and handle the permit.
Composite or wood: which is better?+
Composite costs more up front but needs no staining and resists rot and splinters. Pressure-treated wood and cedar cost less and look natural but need regular maintenance. We explain the trade-offs for your deck.
Can you replace just the deck boards?+
Sometimes. If the frame and footings are sound, new decking and railings can go on the existing structure. We inspect the frame first, because rot in the joists or ledger means it needs to be rebuilt.
Do you offer decks & outdoor living across Cambridge?+
Yes. We work throughout Cambridge, including Galt, Preston, Hespeler, Blair, East Galt and West Galt, and in nearby Paris, Ancaster, Dundas, Waterdown and Hamilton.
More renovation services in Cambridge
Alongside decks & outdoor living, we also handle home additions, whole-home renovations and basement finishing in Cambridge, so related work can be planned together.
Other basements, additions & outdoor services in Cambridge: basement finishing, legal basement apartments, garden suites & detached adus and home additions.
Further reading
Your Cambridge renovation, done properly.
Tell us what you want to change and send a few photos. We will book a visit and send a clear written quote, with no obligation.