Composite Deck Installation in Ottawa

Sometimes, and it is worth checking before assuming a rebuild. The frame has to be structurally sound and at the joist spacing the composite requires. Where an older frame sits at wider spacing, sistering in additional joists to close the gap is often cheaper than a full rebuild, and we price that as an option after looking underneath.

In direct summer sun a composite deck runs hotter than cedar, and darker boards run hotter than light ones. On a south or west-facing deck with no shade it is a real consideration for bare feet and for dogs. Choosing a lighter shade helps measurably, and we will say so when the exposure warrants it rather than after the deck is down.

Maintenance free in the sense that matters, which is that it never needs stripping, sanding or re-staining. It still needs washing. Pollen, leaf tannins and the grit that comes off winter boots all mark a composite surface, and a capped board cleans up with soap and water where an uncapped one can stain permanently.

The board gets replaced, because composite cannot be sanded back the way wood can. With a hidden fastener system an individual board in the field can be released and swapped without pulling up the whole deck. Colour match on a board replaced years later is usually close but not perfect, since the original boards will have weathered slightly.

That is a different assembly and it needs to be treated as one. Decking over a membrane roof means pedestals or sleepers that do not penetrate the waterproofing, plus drainage and access for inspection underneath. We look at the roof assembly first, because a deck that traps water on a membrane will cost far more than it saved.