Deck repair & replacement · Ottawa
Fix it, re-deck it or rebuild it.
Soft boards, wobbly railings or a deck that heaves every spring? We'll inspect it, explain what we find and give you honest options.
Deck repair & replacement at a glance
- InspectionFreeon-site, with photos of what we find
- Your options3 optionsrepair, re-deck or rebuild, priced side by side
- PermitsHandleddrawings and applications when needed
- Our warranty5 yearson all new work
Repair or replace
Start with what’s underneath.
Most decks don't fail at the surface. They fail at the frame and footings: shallow posts that heave with frost, joists that have rotted where water sits, or ledger boards that were never flashed against the house.
We start with a proper inspection from underneath. If the structure is sound, a repair or a new surface can give you years more for much less than a rebuild. If it isn't, we'll show you why and quote a replacement on footings built to last.
- Board & stair repairs. Replace soft, cracked or splintered boards and treads.
- Railing fixes. Re-secure wobbly posts or upgrade to aluminum or glass.
- Re-decking. New composite or wood boards on a sound existing frame.
- Full replacement. Tear-out, disposal and a new deck on frost-proof footings.
What's included
Every repair job includes
Small job or full rebuild, you get the same process and the same written warranty.
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A real inspection
We check footings, posts, beams, joists, the ledger and railings, not just the boards you can see.
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Options side by side
Repair, re-deck and rebuild priced clearly, so you can choose with all the facts.
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Tear-out & disposal
Old boards, railings and framing removed and hauled away, and the site left clean.
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Written warranty
A written 5-year workmanship warranty on all the new work we do.
Before & after
Same yard. New deck.
Drag the slider to see the difference a re-deck makes. When the frame is sound, new boards and railings can transform a deck for far less than a full rebuild.
Re-deck · Weathered boards to new
Warning signs
Signs your deck needs attention.
If you notice any of these, call or text us for a free inspection. Some are cosmetic. Others, like a loose ledger or rotten posts, are safety issues that shouldn't wait.
Deck permits in Ottawa- Soft or spongy boards
Often a sign of rot in the boards or joists. - Wobbly railings
Loose posts are a fall risk and a code issue. - Heaving or sinking
Usually shallow footings moving with frost. - Gap at the house
The ledger may be pulling away. - Rusted hardware
Corroded nails, screws and hangers lose strength. - Cracked, split boards
Splinters, trip edges and water getting in.
Your options
Repair, re-deck or rebuild?
The right option depends on what’s underneath. Here’s how the three compare, and what each new surface involves.
| Option | Scope | When it makes sense | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repair | Targeted | The frame and footings are sound, and a few boards, stairs or railing posts have failed | Damaged parts are replaced and secured; the rest of the deck stays |
| Re-deck | New surface | The frame is solid, level and spaced for the new boards | Old boards come off, the frame is checked and reinforced, and new wood or composite goes on |
| Rebuild | Full | Footings heave, posts or joists are rotting, or the ledger isn’t flashed | Tear-out and disposal, new footings below frost, and a new frame and surface |
- Re-decking with woodThe most affordable new surface. Pressure-treated or cedar boards suit the joist spacing of most existing frames.
- Re-decking with compositeComposite usually needs tighter joist spacing than older wood decks were built with, so some frames need extra joists first.
- Re-decking with PVCLighter than composite and fully moisture-proof, with the same need for correct joist spacing.
- Railing upgradesWood railings are often swapped for aluminum or glass at the same time, since posts may need new blocking anyway.
- Stair rebuildsStairs take the most wear and water, and new stringers and treads are often the first repair an older deck needs.
- Ledger and flashingIf the ledger was never flashed, we lift the boards near the house, check the rim joist for rot and flash it properly.
Ottawa wear and tear
How Ottawa weather wears a deck out.
Most deck problems in Ottawa trace back to water and frost. Older decks were often set on concrete blocks or shallow posts. Each winter the ground freezes and lifts them, then lets them settle unevenly in spring, until stairs pull away and boards slope.
Water does the rest. It sits on the tops of joists, soaks into end grain and collects around fasteners, and repeated freeze–thaw opens the wood up further. Salt and ice melt speed up corrosion in older nails, screws and joist hangers.
When repairs need a permit
Like-for-like repairs, such as replacing boards or a stair tread, typically don’t involve the City. Rebuilding a deck, changing its size or height, or replacing the structure of a raised deck generally means a building permit, the same as a new deck: one is usually needed when any part is more than 60 cm above the ground, when it’s covered, or when it supports a hot tub. We confirm the requirements for your project.
When a permit is needed, we prepare the drawings and application. The City aims to decide on complete applications within about two weeks, and the new footings, framing and finished deck are inspected.
Ottawa deck permit guide- Footings. We look for heaving and settling. Rebuilds go on footings below the frost line, around 1.2 m in Ottawa, or on helical piles.
- Posts and beams. We probe for rot where posts meet the ground and where beams hold water.
- Joists and hangers. We check joist tops, ends and hangers for rot and rust.
- Ledger and flashing. We check that the deck is bolted to the house and flashed so water stays out.
- Guards and stairs. We check for loose posts, and compare guard heights and openings with today’s code: 900 or 1,070 mm high, with no gap a 100 mm sphere can pass through.
How it works
A repair or rebuild, step by step.
Every job starts with a proper look underneath, whether it’s one stair or the whole deck.
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Inspect
Free on-site inspection
We check footings, posts, beams, joists, the ledger and railings, and take photos of what we find.
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Options
Choices side by side
You get repair, re-deck and rebuild options priced clearly, so you can choose with all the facts.
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Permit
Drawings and permit
If the work needs a permit, we prepare the drawings and apply to the City of Ottawa.
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Tear-out
Removal and disposal
Old boards, railings and framing come off and are hauled away.
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Rebuild
Repairs and new surface
We fix or replace the frame where needed, add joist tape, and install the new boards, stairs and railings.
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Handover
Final walkthrough
We clean up and walk the finished deck with you, with care instructions for the new materials.
What affects the price
What makes a repair cost more or less.
Repair pricing depends mostly on what we find under the surface. Our Ottawa deck cost guide and estimator shows what a full new deck costs by size and material, which helps when you’re weighing repair against replacement.
If a rebuild makes more sense, see new wood decks and composite re-decking and new composite decks. We repair and replace decks across the region, including deck repair in Ottawa, deck replacement in Kanata and deck rebuilds in Orleans.
Deck cost guide and estimator- Extent of damageRot or movement in the frame costs more to fix than surface wear.
- Deck sizeRe-decks and rebuilds are priced by size, so bigger decks cost more.
- New surfaceWood, composite and PVC boards are priced differently.
- Frame reinforcementExtra joists, blocking or new beams to support new boards.
- Stairs and railingsStair rebuilds and railing upgrades add parts and labour.
- Tear-out and permitsRemoval, disposal and, for rebuilds, drawings and a permit.
Seasonal care
Keeping a deck in good shape after the repair.
Most of the damage we repair started small. A seasonal walk-around catches problems while they’re still easy to fix.
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Spring
Walk the deck after the thaw. Look for boards or stairs that have moved, posts that have heaved and any new gap where the deck meets the house. Catching movement early keeps a small repair small.
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Summer
Refresh the stain or sealer on wood boards every two or three years, and keep planters on feet so water can drain from under them. Check railing posts by giving each one a firm push.
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Fall
Clear leaves, keep the gaps between boards open, and check that downspouts and sprinklers aren’t soaking the deck or its footings.
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Winter
Shovel with a plastic shovel and avoid rock salt on wood. If you notice a sagging beam or a railing that moves, keep off that area and call or text us for an inspection.
Projects
Decks we’ve built
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Ryan's project
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Composite deck with black railing
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Two-tier cedar deck with built-in planters
Should I repair or replace my deck?
It depends on the structure. If the footings, posts and joists are sound, repairs or a re-deck can add many years. If the frame is rotting or the footings are heaving, replacing the deck is usually safer and better value. We'll show you what we find and price both.
Can you put new boards on my existing deck frame?
Often, yes. We check that the joists are solid, level and spaced correctly for the new boards. Composite usually needs tighter joist spacing than old wood decks were built with, so some frames need extra joists first.
Do you repair decks you didn’t build?
Yes. Most of the repairs and replacements we do are on decks built by other contractors or previous owners.
How much does deck repair cost?
Small repairs can be a few hundred dollars, while a re-deck or full replacement is priced by size and material. After a free on-site inspection you get an itemized quote, usually within 24 hours.
Is it safe to use a deck that wobbles?
A deck that sways, has a loose railing or is pulling away from the house should be inspected before you keep using it. Those are structural issues, not cosmetic ones. Call or text us for a free inspection and we’ll tell you what we find.
Other services
Pair it with
Composite decks
Low-maintenance boards that never need staining.
Wood decks
Pressure-treated and cedar decks with a natural look.
Railings
Aluminum, glass and cable railings that frame the view.
Last updated:
Free quote
Call or text for a free quote.
613-806-4000Talk to the people who'll actually build your deck. Prefer to write? Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day.
- Call 613-806-4000
- Text 613-806-4000
- hello@ryanscontracting.com
- Mon–Fri, 7:30 am – 5 pm
- Ottawa
- Stittsville
- Kanata
- Carp
- Richmond
- Riverside South
- Manotick
- Greely
- Barrhaven
- Orleans
- Findlay Creek
Request a free quote
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