Calgary Framers builds, installs and repairs residential decks in Calgary and the surrounding towns. We are a framing contractor first, which means the deck you get is engineered from the footings up: piles driven below Calgary's frost line, a ledger flashed and lagged into solid rim board, joists sized for the span, and guards built to the height the Alberta Building Code requires for your deck's elevation.
Most deck failures in this city are not cosmetic. They are footing heave, ledger rot, and undersized joists, structural problems that surface three to eight winters after a deck is built. We build to avoid them, and we repair decks where another builder did not.
Free on-site assessment · Fixed-scope written quote · No obligation
Every deck quote we issue covers the following scope. Nothing on this list is an upcharge.
From a floating platform that needs no permit to a second-storey walkout on engineered beams, all framed by the same crew.
Under 0.6 m at every point, so no building permit is required.
The standard Calgary back deck, ledger-attached to the house.
Including engineered beam spans and post-to-pile connections.
Separate framed platforms tied together at shared beams.
Self-supporting, used where a ledger connection is not viable.
Framed for the added roof load from day one, and the natural companion to a home addition if you are enclosing the space later.
Matched materials, a single crew and one schedule.
Fence building 
If you are doing both, one crew, one schedule, matched materials and one quote, and no two contractors blaming each other over the same corner of your yard.
The deck and fence beside this were built together: same stain, same black steel, reading as one build rather than two jobs that met at a corner.
See fence buildingA covered deck is a shed-roof structure over an existing or new deck: ledger-attached, post-supported, and shingled to match the house. It is not a pergola with open slats and it is not a fabric awning.
It is a roof, which means it carries snow load, and it means the deck below it has to be framed for that load. A deck that was not framed for a roof usually cannot take one without rebuilding the beam and post structure.
Tell us at the design stage if a cover is on the roadmap, even if it is years away. Framing for it up front costs very little, and retrofitting costs a great deal.
Tying a covered deck roof into an existing wall is where these builds fail. The ledger has to be flashed into the siding, not simply fastened over it, and the cladding has to come off and go back without breaking planks. On this build the roof was tied into Hardie board lap siding with the flashing lapped behind the courses above, with no lap planks damaged in the process.
Ground view, the rafter and beam structure, the wall tie-in, the flashing details, and the finished shingle roof.
The figures below come from the City of Calgary's deck permit requirements.
A building permit is not required when the deck surface stays 0.6 m (2 ft) or lower above grade at every point.
| Deck elevation | Required guard |
|---|---|
| Decks under 1.8 m above grade | 0.9 m (3′-0″) guard |
| Decks 1.8 m or higher | 1.07 m (3′-6″) guard |
| Maximum opening between balusters | 100 mm (4″) |
In developed areas, the maximum deck height is generally 1.5 m, with defined exceptions for walkout entries.
Site plan, deck drawings and the application go in as part of the contract, and the framing inspection is called before anything covers the structure.
Free on-site assessment · Fixed-scope written quote · 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., seven days a week
Nine stages, in the order they happen on your property. Nothing gets covered before it has been inspected.
We walk the yard, check grade, locate the rim joist, identify utility lines and confirm setbacks against your property line.
You get a fixed-scope quote with the framing plan, footing count, material selection and a build window.
We prepare the site plan and deck drawings and submit to the City of Calgary.
Alberta One-Call is scheduled before any pile goes in the ground.
Piles are augered or screwed below frost depth and inspected before backfill.
Beams, ledger, joists, blocking and hangers go in. This is the stage that decides how the deck ages.
Called and passed before the deck surface covers the structure.
Surface, stair stringers, treads, guards, handrails and fascia.
Site cleaned, permit closed, workmanship warranty issued in writing.
Not every deck needs replacing. These are the failures we assess and repair.
If your deck moves underfoot, if there is dark staining on the siding behind the ledger, or if the guard flexes when you lean on it, get it looked at before the season ends. We will tell you honestly whether it is a repair or a rebuild. Where the damage runs past the deck into the house structure, that becomes structural repair, and it is the same crew either way.
Decking off, the joist frame and hangers exposed and assessed, then rebuilt. You cannot judge a deck's condition from the surface. The frame underneath is the whole story.
All three perform in Calgary; they differ in cost, upkeep and lifespan.
| Pressure-treated SPF | Western red cedar | Composite / PVC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Lowest | Mid | Highest |
| Maintenance | Stain or seal every 2–3 years | Stain or seal every 2–3 years | Wash; no staining |
| Movement | Prone to cupping and checking as it dries | Stable, softer surface | Dimensionally stable |
| Chinook freeze-thaw | Handles it; fastener pop is common | Handles it well | Handles it; expansion gaps matter |
| Typical service life | 10–15 years surface | 15–20 years surface | 25+ years surface |
| Best for | Budget builds, large footprints, painted finishes | Natural look, bare feet, low-height decks | Low-maintenance owners, high-traffic decks |
A note specific to this climate: Calgary's chinook cycle can swing a deck surface through freeze and thaw dozens of times in a single winter. That cycle is what drives fastener pop in treated lumber and what makes proper expansion gapping non-negotiable on composite. Whichever surface you pick, the framing and footing detail underneath matters more to the deck's lifespan than the board on top.
We build and repair decks in Calgary, including the inner-city communities, the northwest, northeast, southwest, southeast and the newer outer quadrant developments, and in the surrounding communities:
Permit requirements and setback rules differ outside Calgary city limits. We confirm the correct authority having jurisdiction before quoting any job outside the city.
Deck framing is structural carpentry, the same skill set as beam sizing and load path, and the work we do every week. Calgary Framers is a framing contractor first; your deck is built by the crews that frame houses, the same crews that handle basement development and additions.
Piles augered or screwed below frost depth and sized to the point load they carry. It is the detail most commonly cut short on a cheap deck build, and it is why so many Calgary decks heave.
The number on the quote is the number on the invoice unless you change the scope in writing.
On the structure, in addition to the manufacturer’s warranty on the decking product.
Clearance letters and certificates of insurance are available on request. Call (587) 355-2799 or email [email protected].
Reviews from Calgary homeowners we have built for.
They recently did a fantastic custom framing job for my new deck, and I couldn’t be happier. The attention to detail and craftsmanship were top-notch. Not only did they deliver a sturdy and beautiful frame, but they also took the time to understand my vision and bring it to life.
They transformed my outdoor space, and the framing work they did was absolutely flawless. From the initial consultation to the final touches, their team was professional and efficient. If you’re looking for a reliable and skilled deck builder, look no further than Calgary Framers.
They recently built a fence for my property, and I’m beyond impressed with the quality of their workmanship. The framing of the fence is solid and durable, providing both privacy and security for my home. The team was friendly, professional, and completed the project in a timely manner.
Still unsure? Call (587) 355-2799, 7am–7pm, 7 days. We would rather answer a question now than quote the wrong scope later.
Ask us about your projectYes, if the deck surface is higher than 0.6 m (2 ft) above grade at any point, or if it is covered by a roof or pergola. Decks that stay at or below 0.6 m at every point do not need a building permit. We handle the application either way.
Below the frost line, so the footing bears on soil that does not freeze and lift. This is the detail most commonly cut short on cheap deck builds, and it is why so many Calgary decks heave. We size and set every pile to bear below frost depth for the specific point load it carries.
It depends on square footage, height above grade, footing count, stair runs and decking material. A ground-level pressure-treated deck and a two-storey composite deck with engineered beams are not comparable products. We quote on site, in writing, with the scope itemised.
Most residential decks are framed and finished in three to seven working days on site. The permit turnaround at the City, not the build, is usually the longest part of the timeline.
Often, yes. If the footings are sound and the framing is not rotted, surface replacement or targeted structural repair is far cheaper than a rebuild. We tell you which one you are looking at after the inspection, not before.
Yes. Airdrie, Chestermere, Cochrane, Okotoks, Strathmore, High River and the surrounding counties. We confirm the local permitting authority before quoting.
Yes. Tell us at the design stage and we frame for the additional dead load and snow load from the start. Retrofitting a roof onto a deck that was not framed for it usually means rebuilding the beam and post structure.
Yes. Deck-and-fence packages are quoted together, built by the same crew, on one schedule, with matched materials and finish. See our fence building page.
Tell us what you are planning. We will come out, look at the site, and put a fixed-scope quote in writing, with the scope itemised so you can see exactly what moves the number.
We reply within one business day, seven days a week.
We've received your request and will get back to you within one business day. Need to talk sooner? Call us at +1 (587) 355-2799.
Detached and attached garages, garage suites and packages. Slab to shingles, engineered trusses, permits handled.
Garage builders in CalgaryWood, cedar, vinyl and chain link, built to Land Use Bylaw heights with posts set below frost depth.
Fence builders in CalgaryFraming to finished basement, including legal secondary suites, egress windows and beam work.
Basement development in CalgaryRear additions, second storeys, bump-outs and garage conversions, foundation through roof tie-in.
Home additions in CalgaryFire, water and impact damage rebuilds, load-bearing wall removal, beam and joist repair.
Structural repairs in CalgaryFree on-site assessment. Fixed-scope written quote. Permit prepared and submitted by us.
Free on-site assessment · Fixed-scope written quote · 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., seven days a week
