Decks · Orleans, ON
Deck builder in Orleans
New decks, rebuilds and deck restoration in Orleans. One of our Orleans jobs is on this page: a weathered deck cleaned and sealed, reviewed by the homeowner on HomeStars.
- Cedar decking
- Joists and beams
- Footings
- Outdoor-rated hardware
The local picture
Decks in Orleans
A study of 73 sites found thick Champlain Sea clay under much of Orleans, with firmer ground around its edges and, in places, a thin layer of soil over bedrock. Two yards a few streets apart can need different footing plans, so each footing location is checked before the frame is designed.
The first big wave of Orleans streets went up in the 1970s, so the oldest yards are around fifty years old. A deck with a sound frame can be cleaned and sealed or given new boards over the existing frame. One whose footings have moved is rebuilt from the footings up.
Deck builder for Orleans, from Queenswood Heights to Avalon
Korvex Construction is a deck builder working across Orleans: new cedar decks, rebuilds, stairs and railings, and restoration for decks that are sound but weathered. For a free on-site estimate, call, text or WhatsApp 613-880-7679 or use the request form. The scope and price arrive in writing after the visit.
Orleans was built in waves. Queenswood Heights was one of the first large developments, beginning in the late 1960s. Convent Glen and Orléans Woods followed in the 1970s, Chapel Hill and Fallingbrook in the 1980s and 1990s, and Avalon, Notting Gate and Cardinal Creek have been built since the early 2000s. The age of the street hints at the deck before we see it: original wood framing in the older areas, and often a first deck in the newest.
What a deck restoration covers
On our Orleans restoration, the boards, railings and stairs had weathered to a patchy grey, with dark stains set into the surface along the privacy screen and across the middle of the deck. Everything was cleaned down before any sealer went on.
The lattice privacy screen had green-grey marks low down. It was cleaned in the same pass, so the deck, the stairs and the screen finished in one even tone before the sealer. A restoration like this fits a deck whose frame is sound; where boards are soft, the job becomes new boards or a rebuild.
Decks on sloping lots near the escarpment
The Orléans Escarpment runs along the south side of St. Joseph Boulevard from Forest Valley Drive to Trim Road, and parts of it are protected as urban natural features. Yards near a slope like that fall away from the house. A deck there is planned around the slope: where each footing can sit, and how high the walking surface rises above the low side. An attached deck needs a permit once it stands higher than 600 mm (24 in.) over the ground beside it.
At the site visit
What we check on a lot in Orleans
- 01
Age of the street and the original framing under the deck
- 02
Boards, railings, stairs and any privacy screen
- 03
Fall of the yard and the deck height at its lowest corner
- 04
Footing ground: thick clay or firmer soil over rock
- 05
Level ground where the stairs land
What we plan around
Local conditions in Orleans
Each point links to the public source it was checked against. At the site visit we check how it applies to your lot.
- 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.
How we build it
How we build a deck that stays level
The footings and the frame under the boards decide how long a deck lasts, so they get the most attention.
- Footings first
Every post lands on a footing. One that moves shows across the whole deck.
- House connection
Flashing at the joint keeps water out of the house wall.
- Stairs
Stringers get solid support at the bottom, so steps stay level with the deck.
- Airflow
Space under and around the frame lets the wood dry after rain and snowmelt.
- Deck boardsLaid with gaps so rain drains through and the frame can dry out.Fastened to the framing
- Joists and beamsSpaced for the board type and fastened with hardware rated for outdoor use.Checked level
- FootingsSet to resist frost movement, so the frame stays put from one year to the next.Bearing on firm ground
- Ground under the deckCleared and graded so water drains out from under the frame.Levelled across the area
- Native soilChecked at each footing location before anything is built on it.To firm ground
Projects
Decks in Orleans and across Ottawa
“Work completed within 24hours of request. Very quick. Friendly. Deck looks great.”
Carl Lanthier · Deck clean & seal · Orleans
The job in this review: Weathered deck cleaned and sealed
FAQ
Decks in Orleans: common questions
Do you build cedar decks in Orleans?
Yes. New decks and rebuilds go down in cedar, with stairs and railings to match, and composite boards are an option to ask about at the estimate. On an older Orleans deck we check the frame first, since fresh cedar on a soft frame fails early.
Can you clean the privacy screen along with the deck?
Yes. On our Orleans restoration, the lattice privacy screen was cleaned in the same pass as the boards, railings and stairs, so everything finished in one even tone before sealing.
Our yard slopes away from the house. Will the deck need a permit?
The low side usually decides. The City asks for a building permit when an attached deck’s surface stands higher than 600 mm (24 in.) over the grade next to it, so on a sloping lot we measure at the lowest corner. We check what applies at the site visit.
Our deck is weathered but solid. Do we need a new one?
It depends on the frame. A deck with sound framing and footings can be cleaned and sealed, as on the Orleans job on this page, or given new boards over the existing frame. We check the joists, beams and footings first and tell you which job your deck needs.
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.
Cedar or composite: which should I choose?
Cedar is natural wood and needs staining or sealing every few years to hold its colour. Composite boards need less upkeep and usually cost more up front. Both sit on a wood frame and footings, with joist spacing set for the board you choose. We walk you through the options we offer at the estimate.
Book a free deck estimate in Orleans
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.