Deck & Exterior Renovation Guide Ottawa: Materials, Costs & Seasonal Tips

# Deck & Exterior Renovation Guide Ottawa: Materials, Costs & Seasonal Tips

*Last updated: December 2025 | Read time: 9 min*

Ottawa's extreme seasons make exterior projects challenging but rewarding. From decks to siding, this guide covers what you need to know about outdoor renovations in our climate.

**Quick answer:** Pressure-treated deck costs $25-45/sq ft installed. Composite runs $45-75/sq ft. Best time to build is May-October. Permits required for decks over 2 feet high or 108 sq ft.

## Table of Contents

1. [Deck Building Guide](#decks)

2. [Deck Material Comparison](#deck-materials)

3. [Exterior Siding](#siding)

4. [Ottawa Climate Challenges](#climate)

5. [Permits & Regulations](#permits)

6. [Seasonal Planning](#seasons)

7. [Cost Estimates](#costs)

---

## Deck Building Guide {#decks}

### Popular Deck Types

| Type | Best For | Cost/Sq Ft |

|------|----------|------------|

| Ground level | Flat yards, budget | $25-50 |

| Raised deck | Sloped yards, views | $40-80 |

| Multi-level | Large yards, entertaining | $50-100 |

| Rooftop/balcony | Urban, condos | $75-150 |

### Standard Deck Sizes

| Size | Sq Ft | Typical Cost |

|------|-------|-------------|

| Small (10x12) | 120 | $4,000-8,000 |

| Medium (12x16) | 192 | $6,000-14,000 |

| Large (14x20) | 280 | $10,000-22,000 |

| Extra large (16x24) | 384 | $14,000-30,000 |

### Deck Anatomy

**Substructure:**

- Posts (4x4 or 6x6)

- Beams (doubled 2x8, 2x10, or 2x12)

- Joists (2x8 or 2x10, 16" on center)

- Ledger board (attaches to house)

**Decking surface:**

- Boards running perpendicular to joists

- Typical boards: 5/4x6"

**Accessories:**

- Railings (required if 24"+ above grade)

- Stairs

- Fascia boards

- Post caps

---

## Deck Material Comparison {#deck-materials}

### Pressure-Treated Wood

The most common and affordable choice.

**Cost:** $2-4/sq ft (materials) | $25-45/sq ft (installed)

| Pros | Cons |

|------|------|

| Most affordable | Requires annual maintenance |

| Easy to work with | Splinters |

| Can stain any colour | Warps and cracks over time |

| Readily available | Contains chemicals |

| Strong | Shorter lifespan (15-20 years) |

**Maintenance:**

- Stain/seal every 1-2 years

- Power wash annually

- Replace damaged boards as needed

### Composite Decking

Wood fibers and plastic combined. Low maintenance but higher cost.

**Cost:** $8-15/sq ft (materials) | $45-75/sq ft (installed)

| Pros | Cons |

|------|------|

| Very low maintenance | Expensive |

| No splinters | Gets hot in sun |

| Won't rot or warp | Can scratch |

| Long warranty (25+ years) | Harder to repair |

| Consistent appearance | Some look artificial |

**Popular brands:**

- Trex (most common)

- TimberTech/Azek

- Fiberon

- Deckorators

### PVC/Cellular Decking

100% plastic, most durable option.

**Cost:** $12-20/sq ft (materials) | $60-100/sq ft (installed)

| Pros | Cons |

|------|------|

| Zero maintenance | Most expensive |

| Won't rot, ever | Can look plastic |

| Lightweight | Expands/contracts |

| Stain resistant | Limited colours |

| Best for wet areas | Harder to find installers |

### Cedar/Redwood

Natural beauty, no chemicals.

**Cost:** $6-12/sq ft (materials) | $40-65/sq ft (installed)

| Pros | Cons |

|------|------|

| Beautiful natural look | Expensive |

| Naturally rot-resistant | Still needs maintenance |

| No chemicals | Softer (dents easier) |

| Weathers to silver grey | Less available in Ottawa |

### Comparison Summary

| Material | Upfront Cost | 20-Year Cost | Maintenance | Lifespan |

|----------|-------------|--------------|-------------|----------|

| Pressure-treated | Low | Medium | High | 15-20 yrs |

| Composite | Medium-High | Medium | Very Low | 25-30 yrs |

| PVC | High | Medium | None | 30+ yrs |

| Cedar | Medium | Medium | Medium | 15-25 yrs |

---

## Exterior Siding {#siding}

### Siding Options for Ottawa

| Material | Cost/Sq Ft | Lifespan | Maintenance |

|----------|-----------|----------|-------------|

| Vinyl | $4-8 | 20-40 yrs | Low |

| Fiber cement | $8-14 | 30-50 yrs | Low |

| Engineered wood | $6-12 | 20-30 yrs | Medium |

| Cedar | $8-16 | 20-40 yrs | High |

| Brick | $15-30 | 100+ yrs | Very Low |

| Stone veneer | $20-40 | 50+ yrs | Very Low |

### Vinyl Siding

Most popular in Ottawa for good reason.

| Pros | Cons |

|------|------|

| Affordable | Can crack in extreme cold |

| Low maintenance | Lower perceived value |

| Many colours | Fades over time |

| Easy to repair | Can melt if too close to heat |

### Fiber Cement (Hardie Board)

Premium look, excellent durability.

| Pros | Cons |

|------|------|

| Looks like real wood | Heavy (hard to install) |

| Fire resistant | Expensive |

| Doesn't rot | Requires painting |

| Long lifespan | Difficult DIY |

### Cost for Full House

Average Ottawa home (2,000 sq ft siding):

| Material | Total Cost |

|----------|-----------|

| Vinyl | $8,000-16,000 |

| Fiber cement | $16,000-28,000 |

| Engineered wood | $12,000-24,000 |

| Cedar | $16,000-32,000 |

---

## Ottawa Climate Challenges {#climate}

### Freeze-Thaw Cycles

Ottawa gets 100+ freeze-thaw cycles per year:

- Causes heaving of deck posts

- Requires proper footings below frost line

- Frost line in Ottawa: 4 feet (1.2m)

### Snow Load

Decks must handle:

- Snow accumulation (40+ lbs/sq ft possible)

- Proper structural engineering critical

- Code specifies minimum load requirements

### Temperature Extremes

-30°C winters to +35°C summers:

- Materials expand and contract

- Composite decking especially affected

- Leave proper gaps during installation

### UV Exposure

Intense summer sun:

- Fades stains and finishes

- UV-resistant materials last longer

- South-facing decks fade fastest

### Salt and De-icers

Road salt tracked onto decks:

- Damages wood finishes

- Can stain composite

- Rinse decks in spring

---

## Permits & Regulations {#permits}

### When Permits Are Required

**Decks require permits if:**

- Over 2 feet (600mm) above grade

- Over 108 sq ft (10 sq m)

- Attached to house

- Has roof/cover

**No permit needed for:**

- Ground-level deck under 108 sq ft

- Floating deck under 2 feet high

- Basic repairs/resurfacing

### Railing Requirements

Railings required when deck is 24"+ above grade:

- Minimum height: 36" (residential)

- Baluster spacing: Max 4" apart

- Must support 200 lbs lateral load

- Graspable handrail on stairs

### Setback Requirements

Decks must respect:

- Property line setbacks (varies by zone)

- Easements

- Pool barriers if applicable

- Check with City of Ottawa

### Permit Cost

Typically $150-400 for residential deck.

---

## Seasonal Planning {#seasons}

### Best Time to Build

| Month | Conditions | Recommendation |

|-------|-----------|----------------|

| January-March | Frozen ground, cold | Not recommended |

| April | Thawing, wet | Prep and planning |

| May-June | Ideal conditions | Best time |

| July-August | Hot, peak season | Good, busy contractors |

| September-October | Cooling, dry | Excellent |

| November-December | Freezing begins | Finishing only |

### Booking Contractors

- Book in January-March for spring/summer work

- Peak season: May-August

- Last-minute availability: September-October

### Winterizing Your Deck

**Before winter:**

- Clean thoroughly

- Apply fresh stain (pressure-treated)

- Remove furniture or cover

- Check for needed repairs

**During winter:**

- Use plastic shovels (not metal)

- Avoid salt-based de-icers

- Clear snow to prevent ice buildup

**Spring:**

- Inspect for damage

- Power wash

- Restain if needed (pressure-treated)

---

## Cost Estimates {#costs}

### Deck Building Costs (Ottawa)

| Component | Cost Range |

|-----------|-----------|

| Design/permit | $300-800 |

| Footings (Sonotube) | $75-150 each |

| Framing lumber | $8-15/sq ft |

| Decking material | $4-20/sq ft |

| Railings | $50-150/linear ft |

| Stairs | $100-200/step |

| Labour | $15-30/sq ft |

### Complete Deck Examples

| Size | Pressure-Treated | Composite |

|------|-----------------|-----------|

| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $4,000-6,000 | $7,000-10,000 |

| 12x16 (192 sq ft) | $6,500-9,000 | $10,000-15,000 |

| 14x20 (280 sq ft) | $9,000-13,000 | $15,000-22,000 |

| 16x24 (384 sq ft) | $12,000-18,000 | $20,000-30,000 |

### Add-On Costs

| Feature | Cost |

|---------|------|

| Pergola | $3,000-10,000 |

| Built-in seating | $1,500-4,000 |

| Deck lighting | $500-2,500 |

| Privacy screen | $1,000-3,000 |

| Hot tub support | $1,500-4,000 |

| Outdoor kitchen area | $5,000-15,000 |

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## ROI & Value

### Deck ROI

| Material | Cost | Value Added | ROI |

|----------|------|-------------|-----|

| Pressure-treated | $15,000 | $10,000-12,000 | 65-80% |

| Composite | $25,000 | $16,000-20,000 | 65-80% |

Decks are among better outdoor investments - you get to enjoy it AND recoup most costs.

### When to Repair vs Replace

**Repair if:**

- Surface boards damaged

- A few boards warped

- Railings loose

- Stairs worn

**Replace if:**

- Joists rotting

- Posts deteriorating

- Major structural issues

- Deck over 20 years old

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*Ready to build or upgrade your deck? [Contact us](/contact) for a free estimate.*