Is ‘Low Maintenance’ Decking Actually Low Maintenance?
One of the most common questions from homeowners researching decking materials: what would you actually use on your own house?...
Design
What Building Departments Actually Want From You
The most useful mindset when dealing with a building department: they're doing their job, and once you understand the rules...
What Kind of Wood Actually Belongs in a Deck?
Is wood a good choice for building a deck? The honest answer is that it depends entirely on species —...
The Stairs Built With Glue Instead of Fasteners
Every so often a deck inspection turns up a shortcut so unusual it takes a second look to actually register....
How a Deck Collapsed Under Ice — A Cautionary Design Story
Not every deck failure comes from a weak joist or a rotted post — sometimes it comes from a clever-looking...
Why Lateral Bracing Is the Difference Between a Renovation and a Collapse
A structure's exterior sheathing, brick cladding, and interior drywall aren't just finishing layers — on many homes, they're also doing...
The Staircase Held Up by 3 Nails — And How We Fixed It
A client living overseas bought a summer property near Wasaga Beach, Ontario, and asked us to look at a staircase...
Paint or Stain on a Deck? Here’s the Real Answer
Most finishing advice oversimplifies this question, and the industry's own reference charts are part of the problem. The Western Red...
The Hidden Risk of Buying Discontinued Composite Decking
When a composite decking manufacturer goes bankrupt or shuts down a plant, their leftover inventory doesn't disappear — it often...
How Far Can a Deck Really Cantilever? A Practical Guide
Cantilevering a deck — extending the framing beyond its last support point — is a normal and useful technique, but...
What Your Deck Should Actually Feel Like — A Homeowner’s Inspection Checklist
We regularly get calls from homeowners asking what they should reasonably expect from a deck — and the answer usually...
Reading the Fine Print on Composite Decking Warranties
Composite decking companies tend to be quite candid about their products' flaws — you just have to read the warranty...
Why Flashings Matter More Than People Realize
Anywhere a deck or porch attaches to a house, moisture has to be sealed against — and that matters even...
Composite Decking: An Honest Look from Inside the Industry
A note from someone who works inside a large composite decking manufacturer offered some unusually candid insight into where the...
What Are ‘Deck Apples’? Why Comparable Decks Aren’t Always Comparable
Anyone who's sat through a deck estimate has heard the phrase "comparing apples to apples" — and most people nod...
Why Deck Joist Sizing Depends on Where You Live
Logic in deck construction is relative to climate. A typical house is framed with 2x8 joists (sometimes 2x6 gets away...
Why Fasteners Matter More Than You Think
We've seen firsthand what happens when a builder cuts corners on fasteners. In one case where we served as an...
Cedar Decks in Etobicoke — A Toronto Rebuild
This project replaced a poorly planned three-level deck in Etobicoke — narrow upper and lower platforms that left almost no...
Decks with Curved Rails — A Muskoka Case Study
Curved rails are one of those details a lot of builders attempt and few pull off — something that actually...
Why We Don’t Use Deck Clips Anymore
Hidden fasteners sound great on paper: no visible screw heads, a cleaner-looking deck surface. In practice, we've seen this "better...
What to Use? Composite or Wood?
Composite decking marketing loves showing pristine boards and promising "maintenance free" performance and a "permanent solution" to yearly staining. The...
How to Build Curved Cedar Decks — Lessons from a North Kawartha Project
This deck, built by Gary Douglas near North Kawartha (close to Peterborough, Ontario), is one of the better examples we've...
Sometimes Composite Decking doesn’t live up to expectations. Composite Failures are more common than you expect.
Composite failures tends to repeat itself every few years: new product generations launch, and the same failure modes resurface —...
An Article on How to Design Decks in Deck Specialist Magazine!
Part 1 as it appears in Deck Specialist, May/June 2026. Click the spread to read the full article in the...
Stolen!- 5 of our Early Photos that Made us Famous–
The 5 Most Stolen Photos That Made Us Famous For three decades, we've been designing and building garden structures that...
Deck Builders in Midhurst, Ontario
Deck Builders in Midhurst | Waterproof Systems & Custom Design Premium Custom Decks Built to Last 30+ Years I build...
How Much do Cabanas Cost to Build?—A Comprehensive Guide
What is the cost of a cabana? Like most things, cabanas have a range of costs. It's all about size...
Pergolas in Southern Ontario – Nobleton
Pergolas Ontario: This project took place about 20 years after the client cut out a newspaper article in the Toronto...
Sustainable Decks — Inspected after 15 Years
Try our Deck Estimator Every area has a local species that lasts longer than you might expect to build decks...
New Pergola Designs – With Roof Options!
New pergola designs for 2025! This was a series of 3 pergolas to fit within a roughly 12x12 space in...
Deck Builders in Springwater Ontario
Try our Deck Estimator Who builds the best decks in Springwater? Of course, we do! There are plenty of deck...
3D Photorealistic Landscape Design in Nobleton, ON
Concept Designs in a Garden SettingCreating Bug-Free Outdoor Living3D Photorealism Brings Designs to LifeIntegrating Garden Structure DesignsLighting the LandscapeBuilding the...
A Traditional Porch in Bolton – Porch Builder Near Me
Try our Deck Estimator We are a traditional porch builder. In yesteryears you went to a master carpenter to design...
Best Wood for Decks: The Complete Lumber Guide
What is the best lumber for outdoors? Best Budget Lumber for Outdoors-- Pressure Treated When it comes to a deck...
Designing Decks in 2020
Try our Deck Estimator How complicated is deck design in 2020? A typical addition plan for the building department is...
I Just Want a Deck Estimate! How to Actually Get One Worth Having
Try our Deck Estimator When a homeowner calls a deck company these days, the experience can feel surprisingly frustrating. You'd...