Decks · Riverside South, ON
Deck builder in Riverside South
New decks and stairs for Riverside South homes, most of them on recent lots between the Rideau River and Bowesville Road. The deck is set to keep the lot’s grading plan working.
- Cedar decking
- Joists and beams
- Footings
- Outdoor-rated hardware
The local picture
Decks in Riverside South
Riverside South was mostly farmland until its first homes went up in 1996, and the City’s design plan sends runoff from its lots into the Mosquito Creek valley and a set of stormwater ponds. Owners are expected to keep the grades from the original grading plan and keep swales open, so the deck and the ground under it are laid out around that plan.
The community plan notes marine clay soils, which hold water. Footings are set to resist frost movement, and each location is checked as we dig. Lots near the green corridor along the top of the Rideau River slope keep structures back from the edge.
Deck builder in Riverside South: decks, stairs and railings
Korvex Construction is a deck builder for Riverside South, working from the streets off Limebank Road to the older houses of Honey Gables by the river. Request a free estimate online, or reach us at 613-880-7679 by call, text or WhatsApp; a written scope and price follow the site visit.
Honey Gables is the older corner of the community: three streets on the west side of River Road, first built around 1950. A deck there is usually a rebuild on an established lot. Across the rest of Riverside South, the deck is more often a first addition to a house that is only a few decades old, or newer.
How to prepare for your deck estimate
A few things gathered in advance make the visit more useful. Photos of the yard, close up and from a few steps back, plus a sentence on how you want to use the deck, are enough to book it.
On a recent lot, the grading plan is worth having. Owners can ask the City for it with an Access to Building Permit Records request; where the City has no plan on file, 3-1-1 answers grading questions. The plan shows the swales and elevations the deck has to work with.
- Photos of the yard and of the wall the deck will meet
- Your grading plan or lot survey, if you have one
- Any plan for a hot tub, pool or patio beside the deck
- Your board preference: cedar, or composite to discuss at the visit
Stairs and railings that last
On a deck that leads straight to the lawn, the stairs carry the most traffic. Stringers need solid support at the bottom so the steps stay level with the deck, and the spot where they land is graded so it sheds water.
On our cedar rebuild, the posts stand on black metal post bases, the cedar rails carry black aluminum balusters, and a lattice skirt closes the space under the deck. If you would rather keep the view open, ask about glass railings.
At the site visit
What we check on a lot in Riverside South
- 01
Swales and elevations on the grading plan
- 02
Where the stairs land and how that spot drains
- 03
Distance to the rear lot line, and to the slope on lots near the river
- 04
Older framing and footings on Honey Gables lots
- 05
Hot tub or patio plans next to the deck
What we plan around
Local conditions in Riverside South
Each point links to the public source it was checked against. At the site visit we check how it applies to your lot.
- Marine clay soils
The community plan calls for tree planting standards suited to marine clay soils. Clay under a new yard holds water, so base depth and compaction are planned for it.
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 we have built
Recent jobs from 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 Riverside South: common questions
How do I get my grading plan before the deck estimate?
Through an Access to Building Permit Records request to the City: if a grading plan exists for your lot, it comes through that request. When none is on record, 3-1-1 takes grading questions. The estimate can go ahead without it, and we look at the swales and slopes on site.
What railing options are there for a Riverside South deck?
Our cedar decks are shown with cedar rails and black aluminum balusters on black metal post bases. Glass railings can be discussed at the estimate as well. The railing and stairs each appear as their own line in the written estimate.
Our grading plan shows a swale along the back. Where can the deck go?
The deck is laid out so the swale stays open and water keeps moving along it. If you have the grading plan, we look at it with you at the site visit; newer homes are more likely to have one on record with the City.
Do you work in Riverside South?
Yes. Korvex Construction builds fences, interlock, decks and backyards across Riverside South, on established streets and newer phases between the Rideau River and Bowesville Road. Most lots here follow a recent grading plan, and we set patio height and slope to keep it working. Request a free estimate or call 613-880-7679.
Can you replace just the boards on my deck?
Yes, when the framing and footings are sound. Korvex checks the joists, beams, footings and the connection to the house before quoting new boards, because fresh decking on a soft frame fails early and hides the problem. Where the frame is rotted through, rebuilding that part is the lasting fix, and the quote says so plainly.
Book a free deck estimate in Riverside South
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.