Building a deck in Okotoks

-By Landon Knapp

Okotoks is a rapidly expanding bedroom community that offers a short commute to neighboring Calgary and still delivers a small town feel. Another advantage of living in Okotoks is that it shares Calgary's great quantity of sunny days.

Calgary is recorded as having around 333 sunny days a year which ranks it as Canadas sunniest city. Since Okotoks is a short distance away it enjoys the same privilege of sharing these 333 days (or 2396 hours) with Calgary. One of the best ways to take full advantage of the heat is to install a quality deck in your backyard. Decks provide extra square footage of living space that allow you to enjoy the outdoors and by implementing a few strategic privacy screens, you can enjoy with the full privacy that staying at home provides. Read further to learn everything you need to know in order to make the most of summer in Okotoks.

How much does a deck in Okotoks cost?

As my 4th year instructor at SAIT said "The most critical question before starting any project is: how much will this cost?". Answer that question and the rest will fall into line.

Unfortunately there isn't always a straightforward answer.

The cost for a deck will hinge greatly on a number of variables. The type of decking, size, existing deck (if there is one), number of stairs, type of railing, will all contribute to the cost among other factors. A 30'x12' composite or PVC deck with cable railing that is tiered is going to run up a much larger bill than a 10'x8' pressure treated deck with wooden hand rails. You can tailor the project to your budget and cut some extras to save some money here and there, but remember, there is some benefit to spending money now rather than later. While going with powder coated aluminum rather than glass might be a matter of aesthetics going with pressure treated over composite will mean that you save money on the initial install but will see the deck deteriorate sooner if you do not regularly apply sealant. Be sure you are spending money in all the right places. If you want some ideas on how to build a budget friendly deck Carpenter Shop Construction is happy to help! Feel free to send us an email.

Do I need a permit?

When deciding to build a deck it is critical to ensure you have proper permitting if required. There are 2 types of permit, development and building. You may require one or both depending on your situation. Generally If you need a development permit you will also require a building permit.

In Okotoks you will require a development permit if:

-The deck does not meet the Building and Placement Standards in the Land Use Bylaw.

-Your deck will be taller than the primary residence

-The property is not in the Traditional Neighborhood district (Most residential areas in Okotoks will fall under this district)

You do not require a building permit if your deck:

-Is under .6 meters (about 24 inches) at every point

If you are unsure if your deck requires a permit it is wise to contact Okotoks's permit services.

How to submit a permit

In order to submit a permit application to the town you will require a site plan that details the deck dimensions as well as setbacks from any property lines or existing buildings. The deck will need to adhere to the municipal and national building codes. Once the permit is submitted with the necessary blueprints and fee it can take around 15 business days to receive approval.

Once you receive approval work can begin and must begin within 90 days of receiving the permit. If the project is not completed within one year an extension of 6 months can be given, otherwise the permit will expire and another application will be necessary. Once your deck is finished its time for an inspection. The town will need to be notified of the projects completion and an inspection will need to be booked. After the inspection is completed an inspection report will be sent by email that will list any deficiencies that need rectifying before the permit can be closed. After the necessary adjustments are made to comply with inspection a VOC (Verification of Compliance) can be submitted to notify the town that the deficiencies are addressed. If the project passes inspection a Permit Service Report will be issued showing that the permit is closed.

Selecting your deck products

The ocean of products to choose from when construction your deck is as deep as it is wide. We won't go over every option available to you, but some will be listed here to get you started.

Foundations

-Concrete Piles

By far the most popular option, a concrete pile provides a relatively cheap an

d durable foundation that if installed correctly will give your deck a solid foundation for years to come. Usually formed inside of a cardboard tube, there are a number of sizes to choose, from 8" to 12" in most residential applications. It should be noted that concrete piles as well as other below ground foundations need to exceed a depth of 4' in order to be below the frost line and avoid frost heave.

-Screw Piles

Helical piles or screw piles are a less common foundation for a deck but are growing in popularity. One of the upsides to screw piles is that they can be installed during the winter when digging a concrete pile hole is much more difficult. A skid steer or excavator with a special drive head is necessary to install the piles.

-Precast Deck Block

If your deck is fairly small, freestanding, and ground level a budget friendly option is deck blocks. Though not resistant to frost heave they do provide a cheaper option that concrete or screw piles. Most often we try to avoid deck blocks for anything other than the smallest projects.

Decking

-Pressure Treated

If you want decking that is affordable but will need a little maintenance now and again pressure treated is for you. Unlike the green colored lumber of days past, most suppliers carry brown, more natural looking material. Both 5/4" round and 1 1/2" decking is available depending on the desired thickness of the material. It is advisable to reseal the decking every 1-3 years, although to know exactly when to reseal you can apply a mist of water to the surface and see if the liquid beads or soaks in. If it soaks in, its time to re-seal.

-Cedar

Although a price step up from pressure treated, one of the pros of cedar is the aroma that your deck will emit once it is built. Few things conjure up images of a British Columbian rainforest like a fresh cedar deck. It does share a similarity with pressure treated in that it will require re-sealing every few years. It will also turn a silver color after prolonged UV exposure. Stain can be applied regularly to retain a consistent color.

-Composite

Invented in the 80s and made commercially popular in the 90s composite decking is a blend of wood fiber and plastics. Favored by many for is durability and atheistic factors, composite provides a lasting comfortable surface for a deck. It is worth mentioning that most composite manufactures require spacing between decking boards to allow for expansion and contraction.

Railing

-Powder Coated Aluminum

The most common option for most decks built today, specifically the picket style. It is fast to install and is relatively affordable. There are a number of styles and colors to choose from.

-Wood

The most inexpensive although does come with some downsides. Wood railings can be customized to the fit the home and deck it is being built on, however it also will likely need to be replaced before other more expensive options.

-Glass

Glass railing is among the most expensive options as the price for tempered glass that can stop someone from tumbling off the side of a deck is fairly high. The most common type of glass railings have tempered panels fitted into powder coated aluminum frames. There is also the option of frame-less glass railing that provides maximum visibility that does not have the top or bottom rail.

-Cable

Another option for low visibility is cable railing. it provides a modern look that is distinct from glass railing. It does require periodic tightening of the cables.

Other Features

Often when installing a deck you will want to include more elements during the construction to improve the space. It is often a good idea to implement these during construction as it is usually easier to install while building is ongoing rather than after the fact. Some options include:

-Lighting

In deck lighting extends the hours that your backyard is usable. Often installed in the riser, decking, or railings of a project, integrated lighting can also provide better mood lighting than your porch lights.

-Pergolas

As stated at the outset of the article, Okotoks is relatively sunny for a Canadian town. Although this can entice people outside it can also be oppressively hot during the peak temperature months of July and August. Pergolas can provide shade to a deck that is unbearably hot during these months. There are a number of options to consider, joisted pergolas that provide partial shade as well as fully roofed structures that provide complete shade and louvred roofs that do both!

-Under Deck Storage

Few people have ever said "I wish my home had less storage." Constructing a new deck provides opportunities for storage that might not have otherwise presented themselves. Adding walls and doors under your deck joists for privacy, security, and aesthetics is an easy way to add several square feet of storage to your home.

-Privacy Screens

Being in the foothills Okotoks has several changes in elevation across the town. This means that some homes often look directly into the yards of their neighbors. Many homes also back onto the extensive public pathways and parks. One way to ensure privacy on your new deck is to include some privacy screens. They can be built to fit seamlessly into whatever style of deck you are constructing. From wood, to aluminum to composite there are a number of options.

-Sunrooms

Although a well placed pergola can extend the summer days you can use your deck it can't help out much when the weather turns cold. Sunrooms can provide both protection from the sun and from the cold as well as offering a haven from insects. Most 3 season sunrooms have screen walls that can be closed in by glass or vinyl windows.

Conclusion

Okotoks is one of the best places in Alberta to enjoy the great outdoors and there is no better place than your backyard to start. If any of the above products, features or structures is of interest to you Carpenter Shop Construction is leading provider in decks and backyard spaces and is happy to work with you to fulfill your vision.