Service

Deck & Pergola Builders in Hamilton, Burlington & Oakville

By Riaad, Owner & Project Manager · ICPI Certified Installer · Last updated May 13, 2026

Cedar, pressure-treated, and composite decks built to Ontario Building Code with frost-line footings (4 ft / 1.2m min.), plus freestanding and attached pergolas. Serving Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Ancaster, Dundas, Waterdown, Stoney Creek, Milton & Mississauga since 2013. $5M liability, 5-year workmanship warranty. Get a free on-site deck or pergola quote.

Get a Free Quote +1 (289) 700-0312
Landscape Ontario Member Licensed & Insured
Custom cedar deck Burlington backyard
Paver walkway and steps with lit risers at night
Techo-Bloc paver walkway with natural stone steps at a front entry

A deck or pergola is a structural build, not a surface finish. We design every project around the footing, the ledger detail, and the railing, then layer in the decking material and shade structure. That order matters in Ontario, where clay soils, frost, and heavy snow loads punish any short-cut. We build across Hamilton Burlington Oakville Milton and Ancaster.

Decks We Build

  • Pressure-treated decks the most affordable code-compliant option
  • Cedar decks naturally rot-resistant with a warm, open-grain look
  • Composite decks capped PVC or capped wood-plastic for low maintenance
  • Multi-level & wrap-around decks for sloped Burlington and Ancaster lots
  • Pool-surround decks with code-compliant gate and guard detail
  • Built-in benches, planters, and step lighting

Pergolas & Shade Structures

Pergolas extend the usable season of a patio or deck and cut mid-day sun without closing the space in. We build both attached pergolas (tied to the house with a ledger and flashing) and freestanding pergolas (own footings, anywhere in the yard). Typical options:

  • Cedar post-and-beam pergolas with open-slat roofs
  • Aluminum pergolas with louvered roofs for rain control
  • Pergolas over interlock patios or stamped-concrete patios
  • Integrated lighting and fan rough-ins

Footings, Code, & Railings

Every Seven Stones deck starts with engineered-spec footings set below the Ontario frost line, typically concrete piers or helical piles at 4 ft (1.2 m) deep. Any deck surface over 24 inches (60 cm) above grade gets a code-compliant guard at least 36 inches high with openings no larger than 4 inches, per the Ontario Building Code. This is where a lot of older decks fail inspection; we design to spec from day one.

Permits & Inspection

Most attached decks and any deck over 24 inches above grade need a building permit in Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville and Milton. We prepare the site plan, the structural drawings, and the permit application when one is required, then coordinate footing and final inspections. For a broader overview of when landscaping and hardscaping work needs a permit, see our permits guide for Hamilton, Burlington and Oakville.

Planning a New Deck or Pergola?

Get a free written quote with material options, footing spec, and permit scope.

+1 (289) 700-0312

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about deck and pergola builds in Hamilton, Burlington and Oakville.

In Ontario you generally need a building permit for any deck more than 24 inches (about 60 cm) above grade, any deck attached to the house, and most decks over 108 square feet (10 square metres) regardless of height. Hamilton, Burlington and Oakville each enforce the Ontario Building Code with their own application process. We confirm the requirement for your property and handle the permit drawings when one is needed.
Deck footings in Ontario must extend below the local frost line, which typically means concrete piers (Sonotubes) or helical piles at least 4 feet (1.2 metres) deep. Proper footing depth prevents the deck from heaving during freeze-thaw — the single most common cause of wavy decks and pulled ledger boards in older builds.
All three common options work in Ontario if they are installed correctly. Pressure-treated wood is the most affordable and lasts 15–25 years with staining. Cedar is beautiful and naturally rot-resistant but needs annual maintenance. Composite decking (capped PVC or capped wood-plastic) costs more up front but resists rot, splinters, and fading, and is often the best long-term value for families who want less maintenance.
An attached pergola ties into the house with a ledger board and shares load with the home, which usually requires a permit and flashing detail. A freestanding pergola sits on its own footings and posts and is often simpler to permit. Freestanding pergolas can sit on a deck, a patio, or a dedicated slab and are easier to reposition or remove later.
Yes. Under the Ontario Building Code, any deck surface more than 24 inches (60 cm) above grade requires a guard, and the guard must be at least 36 inches (900 mm) high — 42 inches (1070 mm) if the deck is more than 5 ft 11 in above grade. Guards must also resist specified lateral loads and have openings no larger than 4 inches to prevent a child from passing through.
New pressure-treated decking usually needs 4–8 weeks of dry weather before a stain or sealer will penetrate properly — the wood arrives from the mill saturated with preservative. Cedar and composite decks have different timelines: cedar can be stained within a couple of weeks, and most capped composites never need staining at all. We pair new-deck builds with our fence and deck staining service so the finish gets applied at the right moment.

Often Bundled With

Related Reading

Call Contact us