Deck Builders in Newmarket — Pressure-Treated, Cedar, Composite

OCM Excavation & Construction builds decks across Newmarket — Glenway, Stonehaven, Woodland Hill, Summerhill, the Davis Drive corridor, and the older lots around Historic Downtown. We handle permits, frost-rated footings, framing, decking, railings, stairs, and privacy screens in pressure-treated lumber, western red cedar, or composite. Call us at 416-317-3090 for a free on-site measure and a written quote. We work straight with the homeowner — no sales rep, no upsell — and pull the Newmarket building permit when one is required.

Materials we build in Newmarket

Newmarket homeowners typically choose between three deck materials, and the right pick depends on budget, sun exposure, and how much weekend maintenance you want to do.

• Pressure-treated brown (PT): The workhorse. Lowest material cost, structurally sound for 20+ years when built right, needs a stain or sealer every 2-3 years. Common in Glenway and Woodland Hill where the deck sits under tree cover and homeowners want a budget-friendly rebuild.
• Western red cedar: Mid-tier. Looks better than PT out of the box, naturally rot-resistant, lighter underfoot. Great for shaded Stonehaven backyards where a PT board would stay damp.
• Composite (capped polymer): Top tier. Brands like Trex, TimberTech, and Fiberon. Zero staining, fade-resistant 25-year warranty, hidden fasteners. The cost is higher up front, but if you don’t want to sand and stain every couple of summers, this is the call.

For all three, we still build the substructure — joists, beams, posts — out of pressure-treated lumber. That’s standard practice and what the Ontario Building Code expects.

Permits, footings, and the Newmarket frost line

A Newmarket building permit is required when your deck is attached to the house or sits more than 24 inches (about 600 mm) above grade. We pull that permit for you, draw the deck plan, and book the framing and final inspections through the Town of Newmarket Building Division.

Footings in York Region need to sit below the local frost line — we excavate roughly 4 feet (1.2 m) deep so the concrete bell sits on undisturbed soil and won’t heave through a hard Newmarket winter. We use either bell-bottom sonotubes or helical screw piles. Helicals are faster, leave less mess on a finished lawn, and are what we lean toward on Stonehaven and Summerhill estate lots where the landscape is already done.

If your deck plan touches a tree over 20 cm DBH, the Newmarket Private Tree Protection By-law requires a permit before that tree comes down. We flag it during the measure so you’re not surprised. Lots near the East Holland River corridor also fall under LSRCA (Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority) regulation — we check that before excavation starts.

Our build process

1. On-site measure. We walk the yard with you, take dimensions, note the door height, and sketch options.
2. Written quote. Itemized — material, labour, permit, disposal. No “miscellaneous” line.
3. Permit and locates. We pull the Newmarket building permit and call Ontario One Call for underground locates.
4. Demolition. Old deck off, debris hauled.
5. Footings. Sonotubes or helicals drilled to 4 ft below grade, inspected by the Town before we frame.
6. Framing. PT joists at 16″ on centre (12″ if composite is going on top), beams sized per span tables.
7. Decking and railings. Hidden fasteners on cedar and composite, screwed-and-plugged on PT.
8. Final inspection and walkthrough. We’re there for both.

Typical Newmarket deck cost ranges

Every yard is different, so these are ballparks based on what we see across Newmarket. A small 10 x 12 ft pressure-treated deck off the back door, no roof, simple aluminum railing — generally in the lower range. A larger 16 x 20 ft composite deck with stairs, lighting, and glass railing on a Stonehaven lot — higher range, sometimes 3-4x that. The biggest cost drivers are square footage, railing type (aluminum vs. glass), and how high off the ground the deck sits (which dictates stair runs and guard height).

For an accurate number on your specific Newmarket build, call 416-317-3090.

Why Newmarket homeowners hire OCM

• We’re a build crew, not a sales office. The person who quotes is on the job.
• We pull the permit and handle the inspection booking.
• Frost-rated footings, never floating blocks under an attached deck.
• We work across the GTA — see our full service-area list — but Newmarket and the rest of York Region are core territory.
• If you also need a privacy fence to go around the new deck, we self-perform that too. See fence installation in Newmarket.

FAQ — Deck building in Newmarket

Do I need a permit for a deck in Newmarket?

Yes if the deck is attached to the house or sits more than 24 inches above grade. Detached, ground-level platforms under 24 inches usually don’t need a permit, but they still need to meet zoning setbacks. We confirm with the Newmarket Building Division before quoting and pull the permit on your behalf.

How deep do deck footings need to be in Newmarket?

Below the frost line, which in York Region is roughly 4 feet (1.2 m). We dig sonotubes or drill helical piles to that depth so the footing sits on undisturbed soil and doesn’t heave when the ground freezes. Floating blocks are only acceptable for small detached platforms — never for an attached deck in Newmarket.

Pressure-treated, cedar, or composite — which lasts longest?

Composite has the longest warrantied life — 25 to 50 years depending on the brand — with effectively zero refinishing. Cedar lasts 20-25 years with light maintenance. Pressure-treated lasts 20+ years structurally but the surface looks tired without staining every 2-3 years. Pick based on how much weekend maintenance you actually want to do.

Can you build over an existing concrete patio?

Sometimes yes. If the concrete is sound and the height works, we can build a low-profile sleeper system over it. If the deck needs to be attached to the house or higher than 24 inches, we still need proper frost footings — we’d cut through the slab where the posts land. We assess on site.

What if there’s a large tree where the deck goes?

Newmarket’s Private Tree Protection By-law requires a permit to remove a tree over 20 cm in diameter measured at 1.4 m above ground. If your deck plan forces removal, we flag it during the measure and you apply for the permit before demolition. Often we can redesign around the tree — building a bump-out or framing a tree well.

How long does a Newmarket deck build take?

Permit turnaround through the Town of Newmarket is typically the longest single step. On-site work for a standard backyard deck runs from a few days to a couple of weeks depending on size, height, railing type, and weather. We give you a real schedule at quote time, not a guess.

Ready for a quote on your Newmarket deck?

Call OCM Excavation & Construction at 416-317-3090 or use the free quote form. We’ll come measure, talk through materials, and send a written quote — no pressure, no commission salesperson. Newmarket builds usually start within a few weeks of permit approval.

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