Service area · Ottawa, ON
Decks, fences and interlock in Ottawa
Korvex builds decks, fences, interlock patios and drainage across Ottawa. Most of the city sits on Leda clay, a marine clay that holds water and loses strength when disturbed, so every post, footing and patio base is planned around how the yard drains today. On a small lot, a change in grade also reaches the house next door.
The Glebe, Sandy Hill and Old Ottawa South were mostly built up in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Post-war areas such as Alta Vista followed, with single-storey houses and attached garages. On both kinds of street, the site visit also settles how materials reach the yard.
What we plan around in Ottawa
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.
- Clay under most of the city
Leda clay underlies most of Ottawa and is sensitive to water and disturbance. Excavation, compaction and a granular base are sized for that soil.
What it changesfences, interlock, retaining walls, interlock repair, fence repair, exterior waterproofing
- Original lot grading
The City expects owners to keep the lot grades set by the original grading plan. Swales cannot be filled, piped or blocked by sheds, gardens or other landscaping.
What it changesdrainage & grading, backyard renovations
- Downspouts on tight lots
Downspouts should discharge onto grass at least four feet from the foundation, and never onto a neighbour's yard or the sidewalk. On a narrow lot that leaves little room, so the downspout is planned together with the patio or deck.
What it changesdecks, interlock, drainage & grading, parging
Outdoor work on central Ottawa’s older streets
Decks, fences, interlock, walls, steps and complete yards
Korvex Construction builds decks, fences, interlock patios, retaining walls and complete backyards on central Ottawa lots, and rebuilds the masonry steps and landings at the front door. The estimate is free and done at the house, and the scope and price follow in writing. The request form or a call to 613-880-7679 sets up the visit.
In the Glebe, post-war houses filled the remaining acres after 1945, and side yards and vacant lots disappeared in the last stages of building. A backyard on such a street can have no side path at all. Old slabs, stone and block then travel in small loads along a route agreed with you in advance.
Heritage districts change the permit picture
Centretown, Sandy Hill West, New Edinburgh, Rockcliffe Park and others
The City of Ottawa lists heritage conservation districts across the core, among them Centretown, Sandy Hill West, Lowertown West, Clemow Estate East, New Edinburgh and Rockcliffe Park. Under the Ontario Heritage Act, alterations to a property inside one of them need the City’s approval.
That reaches the backyard too. On most Ottawa lots a deck under 24 inches, a fence that encloses no pool and ordinary landscaping need no building permit. The City states that designated heritage buildings and buildings in a Heritage District Overlay are not subject to those exemptions, and asks owners there to contact a Building Code Service centre first.
We check the heritage status of a central address before drawing a layout.
What the Rockcliffe Park plan says about yards
Soft landscape first, hedges where a dividing line is needed
The Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District Plan treats green space as heritage value: front yards keep a generous area of lawn, shrubs and beds, with hard surfacing kept to a minimum.
- Planting, gardening and minor landscaping in character with the street need no heritage permit; most other exterior work does.
- Pools and pool fences still need their pool permits, though no heritage permit.
- Existing narrow flagstone walkways are to be kept, and new walkways follow their width, material and location.
- Fences, where needed for safety, stay out of the front yard; hedges are named as the alternative between lots.
- A heritage permit application includes a site plan, a landscape plan with grades and trees, and a grading plan.
Rain Ready Ottawa and older drainage
Rebates in the City’s priority retrofit areas
The City’s Rain Ready Ottawa program offers rebates for downspout redirection, rain gardens, soakway pits, permeable pavements and certified landscape designs, in priority stormwater retrofit areas where studies showed that work on private property helps manage rainwater. Eligibility depends on the address and on one further condition, such as a Rain Ready Ottawa home assessment or a project done with a certified landscape or hardscape professional, so it is worth checking before a patio or walkway design is settled.
What we build in Ottawa
Services in Ottawa
Every job starts with the same site review: soil, slope and where the water goes.
Projects
Recent Korvex work
Recent jobs from across Ottawa.
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
How do I find out if my house is in a heritage conservation district?
The City of Ottawa suggests looking the address up on geoOttawa, under the layer Planning, Heritage and Heritage Conservation Districts (Part V), emailing heritage@ottawa.ca, or calling Heritage Planning at 613-580-2463. You can also request a heritage confirmation letter. Since 2005, properties in new districts have the by-law registered on title.
Does a new fence or patio in Rockcliffe Park need a heritage permit?
Usually, yes. The district plan exempts planting, gardening and minor landscaping in character with the street, and pool fences need only their pool permit. Other exterior work needs a heritage permit, approved by City staff or, for larger projects, by City Council. We check which applies to your lot before any drawings are made.
Can you rebuild the stone steps and low walls at the front of an older house?
Yes, that is part of our masonry and steps work. Under City of Ottawa rules, steps, landings and walls that give access to the house need a building permit where adjacent surfaces differ by more than 600 mm, and landscape structures are not to be attached to the foundation unless a professional engineer designs them. In a heritage district, City heritage approval comes on top. Before work starts, we confirm which approvals the address needs.
Do you work in central Ottawa neighbourhoods?
Yes. Korvex Construction builds decks, fences, interlock and drainage across the City of Ottawa, from the Glebe, Sandy Hill and Old Ottawa South to post-war streets like Alta Vista and the suburbs beyond. On older central lots, the free on-site estimate also covers how materials reach the yard. Request an estimate or call 613-880-7679 with the address.
How tall can a backyard fence be in Ottawa?
Generally up to 2.13 m in side and rear yards and up to 1 m in a front yard, under the City of Ottawa fence by-law. Lower limits apply near corners and driveways, for visibility. We check what applies to your property before we build.
Do I need a permit for a deck in Ottawa?
Often, yes. Under City of Ottawa rules, a permit is required when a deck is attached or next to the house and its walking surface is more than 600 mm above grade, or when it is raised and gives the main access to the house. A freestanding deck needs one when it is over 10 m² and more than 600 mm high. We check what applies to your property before work starts.
Can you regrade my yard if water sits near the house?
Yes, within the City of Ottawa rules. Owners are expected to keep the grades from the original grading plan and keep swales open. We check what applies to your property, then plan slope and drainage inside those limits so water moves away from the foundation.
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 Ottawa? 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.