Service area · Orleans, ON
Yard drainage and interlock in Orleans
Korvex builds drainage, interlock, fences and decks across Orleans. A study of 73 sites found thick Champlain Sea clay under much of the suburb, with firmer ground around its edges, in places a thin layer of soil over bedrock. That clay holds water and moves with frost, so the work here depends on a deeper base and a slope that sends water away.
Orleans grew from about 6,000 people in 1971 to 24,000 ten years later, as farmland east of the city turned into suburban streets. Growth kept going, and the population passed 106,000 by 2010.
What we plan around in Orleans
The ground, the lots and the local rules
Each point links to the public source it was checked against. At the site visit we check how it applies to your lot.
- Thick marine clay
Much of Orleans sits on thick, soft Champlain Sea clay, which loses strength when disturbed. Excavation stays tidy and the granular base is compacted in lifts.
What it changesinterlock, retaining walls, backyard renovations, exterior waterproofing
- Firmer ground near the edges
Around the edges of Orleans and in a few central spots the ground is firmer, in places a thin layer of soil over bedrock. Two yards a few streets apart can need different footing plans.
What it changesfences, decks, deck repair
- Yards from the 1970s boom
The first big wave of suburban streets went up in the 1970s, so the oldest yards are around fifty years old. Original patios, walls and fences there have been through many freeze and thaw cycles.
What it changesfences, drainage & grading, backyard renovations, fence repair, interlock repair
Excavation for yard projects in Orleans
Digging out for patios, walls, footings and drains
Korvex Construction does the excavation that comes with outdoor work in Orleans: digging out for interlock patios and walkways, retaining wall bases, deck footings, French drains and regrading, then building the finished work on that ground. The free on-site estimate covers what has to be dug, how equipment reaches the yard and how the ground will be rebuilt. A written price follows, and the visit can be booked at 613-880-7679 by call, text or WhatsApp.
Every dig starts with locates. Ontario One Call now operates as Ontario Dig Authority, and its homeowner page says the person performing the excavation submits the locate request, at least 5 business days ahead for a single-address project. Locates are free. Private lines are outside the public locate process, such as gas to a barbecue or pool heater, power to a shed or garden lights, sewer and septic lines, and cables to security cameras, so tell us about them at the site visit.
What each Orleans era leaves in the ground
From Queenswood Heights to Avalon and Notting Gate
Queenswood Heights was one of the first large residential developments in Orleans, from the late 1960s. Convent Glen and Queenswood Heights have ranch-style and split-level homes on comparatively large lots, with attached garages and generous setbacks. Fallingbrook and Chapel Hill, from the 1980s and 1990s, are mostly two-storey brick homes and freehold townhouses. Avalon, Notting Gate and Cardinal Creek, built since the early 2000s, have narrower lot frontages.
Those eras dig differently. A fifty-year-old yard can hold buried slabs, old wall timbers and footings from earlier decks, so the excavation is priced once we know what is likely under the surface. On a narrow newer lot the question is equipment access between houses, and how much of the work is done by hand.
Ravines, the escarpment and karst
Ground that needs care at the edges
Green’s Creek runs through steep ravines and clay flood plains left by the Champlain Sea. The Orleans Escarpment follows the south side of St. Joseph Boulevard from Forest Valley Drive to Trim Road, and parts of it are protected by the City as urban natural features. Along Cardinal Creek, the karst holds caves and sinkholes, and its southern part was named a provincial Earth Science Area of Natural and Scientific Interest in 2009.
Conservation authority rules cover ravines, valleys and steep slopes as well as flood plains and watercourses. Near any of these edges, we keep excavated soil, new fill and roof water away from the top of the slope and check the regulated areas for your lot before digging.
What we build in Orleans
Services in Orleans
Every job starts with the same site review: soil, slope and where the water goes.
Reviews
Ottawa homeowners, in their own words
Quoted exactly as posted on Google, HomeStars and Facebook, with the job each one describes. Stars show where the platform gives them. All 26 reviews
- Google
5.0
14 reviews on the Google profile · Open on Google
- HomeStars
Each shows five stars
- Facebook
Recommended
Facebook shows no stars · Open on Facebook
Patio installed
“Vlad and his crew installed my patio in 2 days. Did excellent work and vlad answered any and all questions I asked. I highly recommend Korvex Development for any job you may require.”
Joe Ayoub
Google · Aug 2026Wood fence repair · Ottawa
“Vlad and his partner did a terrific job repairing our sagging wood fence, giving it a new life, for a very reasonable price. They communicated clearly and professionally at every stage of the process, they completed the job in a timely manner, and their work was top notch. Highly recommended!”
Geoffrey Robinson
HomeStars · Jun 2026French drain after a basement leak
“Vlad and his coworkers are very hard working and professional with a realistic and fair pricing that cant beat any other company out there ! We just had a major leak in our basement and they efficiently waterproofed the foundation and created a french drain with outstanding finish of layering gravel and pavement reconstruction. They are the people to call for almost any kind of work on your house !! Thank you guys God Bless & Respekt!”
Gio Ivana Herrera
Facebook · Aug 2026
Who requests the locates before digging in my Orleans yard?
Ontario Dig Authority, formerly Ontario One Call, says the person performing the excavation submits the request, at least 5 business days before a single-address project, and the service is free. Lines you own, such as gas to a barbecue or power to a shed, are outside the public locate, so we ask about them at the site visit.
Do you dig and build, or only dig?
Our excavation is part of the outdoor work we build: the patio, walkway, wall, deck footings, drain or regrading that the digging is for. One written quote covers the excavation and the finished work.
Our yard backs onto a ravine or the escarpment. Can you still build there?
Often, with limits. Ravines, valleys and steep slopes can be regulated by the conservation authority, and parts of the Orleans Escarpment are City-protected natural features. We check what applies to your property, then keep the work, the fill and the runoff back from the slope.
Where is the nearest City permit counter to Orleans?
The Orleans Client Service Centre at 255 Centrum Boulevard has a Building Code Services counter, open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm by appointment or walk-in. Applications can also go in online through My ServiceOttawa. We check whether your project needs a permit at the site visit.
Do you work in Orleans?
Yes. Korvex Construction builds drainage, interlock, fences and decks across Orleans, in the 1970s neighbourhoods and the newer ones. One of our Orleans jobs is on this page: a weathered deck cleaned and sealed, which the homeowner reviewed on HomeStars. Request a free estimate or call 613-880-7679.
Why do patios and walls move on Orleans clay?
Much of Orleans sits on Champlain Sea clay, which holds water, and water in the ground expands when it freezes. A thin or poorly compacted base, or a surface that slopes toward the house, lets that movement show. A compacted granular base, fabric where the soil needs it and a set slope away from the house keep it in check.
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall?
It depends on the height. Under City of Ottawa rules, walls and steps that give access to the house can need a permit where surfaces differ by more than 600 mm, and landscape structures over 1 m high need an engineered design. We check what applies to your property before building.
Are your estimates free?
Yes. Korvex Construction gives free estimates on site across Ottawa and the surrounding areas. Send the request form, or call, text or WhatsApp 613-880-7679, and we book a time to look at the property. The scope and the price follow in writing after the visit.
What should I send with my request?
A few photos of the area, close up and from a few steps back, where the property is, and a sentence on what you want done. That is enough for Korvex to set up the site visit. Measurements, material choices and budget can wait for the visit.
Can the final price go over the estimate?
Ontario’s consumer rules for home renovations set a limit. When a contractor gives an estimate, the final price cannot be more than 10% over it unless you agree to new work or a new price. The rule covers every home renovation contract in Ontario.
Planning a project in Orleans? The estimate is free, on site.
Tell us what you want built and send a few photos. We come out, look at what sits under the job, and give you the scope and the price in writing.