Basements, Additions & Outdoor · Oshawa
Decks & Outdoor Living in Oshawa
New decks, deck replacements, railings and stairs in pressure-treated wood, cedar or composite.
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Oshawa, Durham Region
Decks & Outdoor Living in Oshawa
Ontario winters are hard on decks, and many in Oshawa 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 Downtown Oshawa and Lakeview.
We build Oshawa 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 Oshawa, and we handle the application and inspections.
Call (647) 424-1511 or send the form on this page for a free deck quote in Oshawa. 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.
Oshawa homes
What decks & outdoor living involves in Oshawa's houses
Century and heritage homes in Oshawa
Older Oshawa 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 Oshawa
Post-war Oshawa 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 Oshawa
Newer Oshawa 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 Oshawa
Permits and approvals for decks & outdoor living in Oshawa
Building permits
Building permits in Oshawa are issued by the City of Oshawa. 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 Oshawa falls within the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA) 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 Oshawa 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 Oshawa'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 Oshawa 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 Oshawa
Decks & Outdoor Living throughout Oshawa
Oshawa has older homes around downtown and the original auto-plant neighbourhoods, post-war bungalows across the south and east, and newer subdivisions in Windfields, Taunton and Northglen near Durham College and Ontario Tech University.
Questions
Decks & Outdoor Living in Oshawa: FAQs
How do I get a decks & outdoor living quote in Oshawa?+
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 Oshawa project.
What kinds of Oshawa homes do you work on?+
All of them. Housing in Oshawa 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 Oshawa?+
Only if your property is in a regulated area, such as near a shoreline, river, valley, floodplain or wetland. Much of Oshawa falls within the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA) 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 Oshawa?+
Yes. We work throughout Oshawa, including Downtown Oshawa, Lakeview, Eastdale, McLaughlin, Northglen, Taunton and Windfields, and in nearby Courtice, Ajax, Bowmanville, Pickering and Newcastle.
More renovation services in Oshawa
Alongside decks & outdoor living, we also handle home additions, whole-home renovations and basement finishing in Oshawa, so related work can be planned together.
Other basements, additions & outdoor services in Oshawa: basement finishing, legal basement apartments, garden suites & detached adus and home additions.
Further reading
Your Oshawa 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.