Fences · Orleans, ON
Fence installation in Orleans
Wood privacy fences, gates and replacements across Orleans, in the 1970s neighbourhoods and the newer ones. Post depth is planned for thick clay in some yards and firmer ground in others.
- Wood posts
- Wood boards
- Board-on-board panels
- Lattice top
The local picture
Fences in Orleans
The first big wave of Orleans streets went up in the 1970s, so the oldest yards are around fifty years old, and their original fences have been through many freeze and thaw cycles. Leaning posts can be straightened or reset where the rest of the fence is still sound. A fence past that point comes out, posts included, and is replaced.
Much of Orleans sits on thick Champlain Sea clay, while its edges and a few central spots have firmer ground, in places a thin layer of soil over bedrock. Two yards a few streets apart can need different post plans, so each hole is checked as we dig.
Fence installation, repair and replacement in Orleans
Queenswood Heights and Convent Glen to Chapel Hill, Fallingbrook and Avalon
Korvex Construction installs wood privacy fences and gates in Orleans and repairs or replaces old ones, from Queenswood Heights and Convent Glen to Fallingbrook, Chapel Hill, Avalon and the newer streets beyond them. The site visit and estimate are free, and the written quote follows. Call or text 613-880-7679 to book.
Single detached houses make up the largest share of Orleans housing, and townhouses come second. We build on both: longer runs around detached backyards, and shorter shared runs between townhouse yards.
Fences from before 2004
Cumberland and Gloucester rules, and what changes with a rebuild
Before 2001, Orleans was divided between the City of Cumberland and the City of Gloucester, and each had its own fence by-law. Ottawa’s Fence By-law 2003-462 repealed both and took effect on January 1, 2004.
A fence lawfully built under the old Cumberland or Gloucester rules can stay in use and be maintained. A rebuild is planned to the current by-law, which defines erecting a fence to include altering, constructing, placing or relocating one. So a new fence on the line of a 1980s fence follows today’s height limits, with its finished side facing the street and the neighbours.
When an old fence falls short of the by-law
The upkeep standard every Ottawa fence has to meet
The by-law requires every fence to be stable and vertical, and to be kept in good repair, structurally sound and free from accident hazards. Wood other than cedar, redwood or treated wood has to be protected by paint, preservative or another weather-resistant finish. The City’s Municipal Law Enforcement Officers enforce it.
A fence from the first Orleans subdivisions that leans, sheds boards or has a gate hanging off one hinge can fall below that standard. The estimate tells you which posts can be reset and which sections need to come out.
At the site visit
What we check on a lot in Orleans
- 01
Roughly when the current fence was built
- 02
Posts that lean, wobble or have rotted at grade
- 03
Thick clay or firm ground at each post hole
- 04
Boards and finish: painted, stained or bare
- 05
Shared lines with the neighbours on each side
- 06
Downspouts that empty toward the fence line
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.
- 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.
How we build it
How we build a fence that stays straight
A fence is only as straight as the posts holding it, so most of the work happens below the ground.
- Layout
We mark the line with you before digging. A survey plan settles it where the boundary is unclear.
- Locates
Buried utility lines are located before any post hole is dug.
- Post holes
Augered, so each post sits in firm, undisturbed ground.
- Line and level
Every post checked for plumb and height, so the top reads as one line.
- Boards and lattice topFastened to the rails once every post is plumb and in line.Fastened to the framing
- Rails and postsRails tie the posts together and carry the weight of the boards.Checked level
- Post footingType and depth chosen for your soil and frost conditions.Bearing on firm ground
- Native soilOttawa clay holds water, which makes frost lift worse. We check it as we dig.To firm ground
Projects
Fences we have built
Recent jobs from across Ottawa.
Also in Orleans: Weathered deck cleaned and sealed
Reviews
What homeowners say about our fence work
Quoted as written on Facebook and HomeStars. All reviews
“Did awesome work! had them repair a leany fence and they were on time, cheap and super professional”
Josh Cohen-Collier · Leaning fence repaired
“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 · Wood fence repair · Ottawa
“They installed new fence posts and were creative in reinstalling the panels that were old and past their prime. Vladyslav and his partner are efficient, reliable and their work is reasonably priced. They are pleasant to deal with and good at communicating the details of the job. I highly recommend them.”
HomeStars user · Fence posts replaced · Nepean
FAQ
Fences in Orleans: common questions
Our Orleans fence was built in the 1980s. Is it still allowed?
A fence lawfully built under the old Cumberland or Gloucester fence by-law can stay in use and be maintained under Ottawa’s current by-law. A new or rebuilt fence is planned to the current rules: up to 1 m in a front yard and 213 cm in side and rear yards, with lower limits near corners and driveways.
Does a wood fence have to be painted or stained in Ottawa?
The City fence by-law asks for fences to be protected by paint, preservatives or another weather-resistant material. Wooden fences made of cedar, redwood or treated wood are the exception. We talk through the wood and any finish at the estimate.
Can a leaning fence be straightened?
Where the rest of the fence is still sound, yes: the leaning posts are straightened or reset. One of our projects is a long wood fence with a lattice top standing straight again after repair. Where the posts have rotted along the run, they are replaced.
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.
Do I need a permit or my neighbour’s agreement for a fence?
In Ottawa, a fence that does not enclose a pool needs no building permit. The fence by-law caps its height: 1 m in a front yard and 2.13 m in side and rear yards, lower near street corners and driveways. A fence around a pool or hot tub needs a pool enclosure permit. Korvex goes over what applies to your lot at the estimate. On a shared line, talk to your neighbour early.
Book a free fence 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.