Cedar decks, porches, and outdoor structures
Built on real footings, with the frame square, so it still feels solid ten winters from now.
01 / The work
Almost every failed deck we get called to look at failed underneath. Footings too shallow for our frost depth, a ledger fastened wrong, or a frame that was never square, and no amount of good decking on top fixes any of it.
So that is where we spend the time. Footings dug below frost line and poured properly, a ledger flashed and fastened to the structure, joists that are level and square, and only then the deck boards.
The finish work is the fun part. Mitred borders, picture framing, hidden fasteners, and cedar that ages into something worth sitting on.
02 / What is included
Everything this job actually involves
Footings and structure
Excavation, sonotubes, and poured footings below frost line, plus a properly flashed ledger where the deck meets the house.
Cedar and composite decking
Cedar, pressure treated, and composite, installed with hidden fasteners where the product allows.
Railings and stairs
Wood, cable, and glass railings, and stairs built to code so the rise is consistent underfoot.
Pergolas and covered structures
Shade structures and covered sections, tied into the deck framing or standing on their own posts.
Screened porches
Enclosed outdoor rooms with screen systems, framing, and roofing so you get the evening back from the bugs.
Fences and gates
Privacy fencing and gates set on posts that will not lean by the second season.
03 / Project
A cedar deck in Mississauga
This one started with a shovel. We dug and poured the footings, set the beams, and framed the platform level with the walkout before a single deck board went down.
The cedar went on with mitred borders and a picture frame edge, which is slower to lay out but it is the detail that makes a deck look built rather than assembled.
04 / What it costs
What actually moves the number
We do not publish a price per square foot, because the honest answer depends on what is behind your walls. Here is what genuinely changes the quote, so you can see where your project is likely to land before we ever visit.
- Size and height off the ground
- A raised deck needs more structure, guards, and stairs than a platform sitting close to grade.
- Decking material
- Pressure treated, cedar, and composite differ significantly in material cost and in what maintenance they ask of you later.
- Railing choice
- Wood railings, cable, and glass span a wide range, and glass usually needs specific post spacing designed in from the start.
- Footings and site conditions
- Rock, clay, poor access, or a deck that has to span an awkward grade all add excavation time.
- Extras
- Pergolas, screening, built-in benches, privacy walls, and lighting each add to the build.
05 / How it goes
Four steps, and you always know which one you are in
- 01
We come and look
Cameron walks the space with you, listens to what you actually want, and tells you honestly what is and is not worth doing.
- 02
A quote you can read
Written scope, line by line, so you know what is included before anything is torn out. No vague allowances hiding surprises.
- 03
We build it
The same crew, start to finish. You get updates as things move, and you always know who is in your house on any given day.
- 04
Walk it together
We go through the finished work with you and fix anything on the list. Then we clean up properly and get out of your way.
Where we do this work
Decks & Outdoor across the west GTA and cottage country
We work from the west end of the GTA up through the headwaters and into cottage country. If your town is close to this list and not on it, call and ask.
06 / Questions we get
Straight answers, before you ask
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Ontario?
Generally yes if the deck is more than about 60 cm above grade or attached to the house, though the threshold varies by municipality. We confirm the requirement for your address and handle the permit.
Cedar or composite?
Cedar looks and feels better and costs less upfront, but wants cleaning and re-oiling every couple of years. Composite costs more and gives you most of that time back. We build both and will give you a straight answer for your situation.
How deep do the footings need to be?
Below the local frost line, which in our service area generally means around four feet. Footings that stop short of it are the most common reason older decks heave.
How long does a deck take to build?
Most decks take one to three weeks depending on size and railing type, plus the time for footing inspection where the municipality requires it.
Can you build a screened porch or add a roof over an existing deck?
Yes, though an existing deck has to be assessed first. Adding a roof adds load, and the original framing and footings were not necessarily built for it.
Also worth a look
Buildings & Additions
We have poured the slab, framed the walls, and finished the inside on buildings that did not exist before.
Living Space Renovations
Rooms rebuilt properly, with the floors, light, and millwork they should have had.
Basement Finishing
The largest room in most houses is the one nobody uses. We fix that.
Start the conversation
Tell us what your home should become.
Send photos of the space with your message. A few pictures tell us more than a paragraph ever will, and they make the first estimate far more accurate.
647-560-6115Answered day and night