Building Cost to Hire a Contractor For My Deck

by Jody Benson
(Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)

I just paid $24 a square foot for a 10x15 pressure treated deck. I am not sure what it costs elsewhere but here in Ottawa, Ontario.

Pretty basic with a simple 2x2 baluster railing secured to the edge of the deck and two stairs down about 3 or 4 feet. That came to $3750 for materials and labor.

It could have been a lot more if I used cedar and added some extras. Also, here in Ottawa we get a good winter so the builder had to dig quite deep and put in concrete footings to deal with the frost heaving. That is a lot of labor as opposed to just using those concrete foundation blocks on the surface.

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Oct 26, 2020
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		deck price
by: dustin

as a contractor based 2 hrs west of Ottawa have been in business for 20 yrs. with repeat customers being the majority of my business and have done many custom decks gazebos and pergolas.my price pre covid 19 before materials increased 40% in price would be 25.00- a sq ft for a basic deck with deckorator aluminum balusters this includes permit concrete sonotubes and concrete. that rate sounds accurate to me.if anyone's interested in seeing some of my projects check out my facebook page Riverside Reno's

https://scontent.fybz2-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14462953_1411149542526144_4120552826159863351_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=2&_nc_sid=e3f864&_nc_ohc=Yc5eSz2avW4AX8zsKU8&_nc_oc=AQnXdZY82ODuqn4erlKTXqPw12kiutVyz_ukaERSYYUVefE3MGeLfIPylmRhG_R2iiU&_nc_ht=scontent.fybz2-2.fna&oh=bff91eedcdd828b918ed8525b19f47a1&oe=5FBCE8F3
Oct 16, 2020
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Building a deck with roof
by: Handyandy

How much would the cost per square foot be if I added a metal roof over top of a 12 X 28 ft deck?
Apr 09, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Completely disagree
by: Anonymous

Not sure who these people are leaving comments here but they obviously have no idea what contractors must pay for WSIB premiums and liability insurance. The materials costs have risen drastically & places like Home Depot have taken away contractor discounts completely.

Unless you're in the business, it's easy for you to say contractors are ripping people off LOL

Editor's Comments
Contractors are very hard working and by and large a highly honest group of people. The way to get to the bottom of the answer is to take the time and talk to three contractors and you will quickly see exactly what the real cost of designing and building a quality deck costs.
Sep 12, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		good price
by: Anonymous

The guy above doesn't know what he is talking about. Cedar is more than twice as expensive as pressure treated. That contractor must have got his materials for next to nothing to build a deck like that for 8000.
Apr 04, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Reference
by: Anonymous

Can you recommend his company?
Mar 09, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I think you got a good deal
by: Anonymous

I don't know any contractor that will supply labor and material for $19. I think you got a good price at $25 or $26. That is the going rate and the price of wood has gone sky high.
Cement has doubled in price from a few years ago. Everything costs more.
Nov 29, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Average
by: Anonymous

Sounds average. It ranges from $25-$35/sq ft
Aug 30, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		you are where you are
by: Anonymous

There are a lot of rip-off contractors working in the Ottawa area. I think because it is a government-based town.

You can't do much about this fact, except order your own materials from outside the city.

Maybe try to hire contractors who are based and operating in smaller towns near Ottawa but not in it.

It was cheaper for a friend of mine to hire a gas fitter from Toronto and pay his hotel room than to get a local contractor to install a gas fireplace.

Contractors rob elderly folk blind in Ottawa!
May 24, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		The last word
by: Roy

If you're happy with the deck it was worth the price regardless of the cost.
May 27, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Miscalculated The Building Cost
by: Anonymous

If my math is right (10*15=150) (3750/150=$25.00 per sq. ft.)

You paid $25.00 a square ft.
Apr 04, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Deck Cost Seems Too high
by: Anonymous

I agree with the previous comment. We had a two-tiered cedar deck built last summer, about 20 x 40 with 2 steps on either side. Same type of concrete footings, plus a nice pergola going across one tier, all for $8,000.
Mar 11, 2008
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		ouch
by: Anonymous

The builder walked with about $2800 on you. A deck like that can be built for a nice profit for more like 18-19 dollars a square foot.

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