View the pre-build checklist
Planning sequence only. Your municipality, approved documents, and locate responses determine whether
work can begin.
Pause points
Three checks before work gets hidden
These are planning prompts, not construction specifications. Confirm the details against your approved
drawings, municipality, designer, and manufacturer instructions.
During the build: the frame is still accessible before decking goes down. Photo: Delta Decks.
01
Before drawings or orders
Set the footprint, stairs, board direction and material shortlist. Where a permit is required, build from the approved drawings.
02
Before the frame is covered
Check alignment, blocking, hardware and service conflicts. Complete any required inspection while the work is visible.
03
Before finish details are ordered
Coordinate boards, stairs, railings, fascia and lighting so the parts and transitions work together.
Tools & calculators
Tools for your next decision
Choose a layout, compare samples or explore a specific question.
See how the deck systems fit together
Conceptual anatomy, not a construction detail. Site conditions, the approved design, and the exact
product instructions each govern a different part of the finished deck.
Before you order
Order the complete package
Include boards, fasteners, railings, trim and delivery in one material list. Check these details before ordering.
01Final outside dimensions and finished deck height
02Approved drawings and inspection sequence, when required
03Board direction, borders, seams, stairs, and waste allowance
04Compatible fasteners, plugs, clips, fascia, and railing hardware
05Delivery access, storage, cover, and a plan for long boards
06One consolidated takeoff so trim and accessories are not missed
See the material-order checklist
Procurement workflow only. Confirm quantities and compatibility against the final drawings and the
current manufacturer instructions for every selected system.
DIY or hire?
Build it yourself or bring in help?
DIY can be a good fit for a simple, well-documented project. The risk rises quickly when structure,
waterproofing, guards, stairs, or building systems overlap.
Pool edges and changes in level add planning decisions. Photo: Delta Decks.
DIY may fit if
✓The deck is low, simple in shape, and the scope is fully defined
✓You're comfortable reading plans and following manufacturer instructions
✓You have help for long boards, beams, and safe material handling
✓You can dedicate full workdays and protect an open site between them
✓You have the correct tools — including accurate layout and levelling tools
✓You're prepared to manage permit questions and required inspections
Get professional review if
!The deck attaches to the house or affects the building envelope
!The project is elevated, multi-level, on a roof, or beside a pool
!Footing conditions, spans, loads, or existing structure are uncertain
!Guards, complex stairs, waterproofing, gas, electrical, or drainage are involved
!You are relying on a sketch, online photo, or material list instead of project-specific drawings
Important: A permit, online calculator, or general guide is not a project-specific structural
design. Your municipality and qualified project professionals determine what your build requires.
Official resources
References when you need them
These links go to public authorities and first-party installation libraries. Recheck them when the
project starts; regulations and product documents can change.
A limited Canadian Wood Council reference. It does not cover footings, guards, house attachment, or lateral bracing.
Canadian Wood Council · PDF
Product-specific instructions
Use the guide for your exact board
Use the current Canadian guide for the exact brand, product line and fastening system — requirements differ between collections, so a general composite-decking article is not a substitute.
Short answers to the questions that should be settled before construction or ordering begins.
Do I need a permit for my deck?
Requirements depend on the municipality and project. Toronto lists decks more than 60 cm above ground as requiring a permit; some detached decks may be exempt. Do not treat height alone as approval. Confirm your design with the local building department before starting.
What drawings do I need for a Toronto deck permit?
Toronto asks for scaled, dimensioned drawings showing footing details, columns, beams, stairs and guards, plus a site plan showing property lines, setbacks and the proposed deck. Check the application guide for the complete document and form requirements.
Can I use a free online deck plan for my permit application?
Use it as a starting point, not automatic approval. Toronto requires project-specific dimensions, structural details and a site plan. Adapt the plan to your property and confirm that it meets your municipality’s submission requirements.
Contact Ontario One Call at least five business days before digging, including for deck footings. Do not start simply because five days have passed: every utility listed on your request must have cleared the work area or completed its locate. Follow the instructions in the locate package.
Does Ontario One Call locate every buried line on my property?
No. Homeowners must also arrange locates for privately owned underground services. Examples include a gas line to a barbecue or pool heater, power to a detached garage, and septic piping. A public utility locate does not replace those private checks.
Can I reuse my existing frame for new composite decking?
Possibly, if the foundation and framing are sound. Trex advises checking both the overall condition and joist spacing before resurfacing. Have the existing structure assessed and confirm that it suits the new decking system before ordering replacement boards.
Is one joist spacing suitable for every deck layout?
No. The selected board and its layout affect support requirements. Trex notes that diagonal boards, picture-frame borders and other layouts can require closer joist spacing or extra blocking. Follow the current installation instructions for your exact product and the structural design for your project.
Do not use surface decking as a substitute for posts, beams or joists. Fiberon explicitly states that its composite decking is too flexible for structural use. Select framing separately and follow the board manufacturer’s support and fastening instructions.
Should I install the boards before the required framing inspection?
Keep work that requires inspection visible until the inspection is completed. Toronto states that inspectors must be able to see the work being inspected. Confirm the inspection stages for your permit before covering the frame or other connections.
