As homeowners in Ontario, we take great pride in our backyard decks because we know how few opportunities we have to enjoy them throughout the year.
On top of designing, building, sanding, staining and decorating your deck, it’s also important to ensure it’s protected by your Ontario home insurance. Looking for a quote? Visit here.
If you’ve recently decided to build or upgrade your backyard deck make sure to reach out to your insurance provider to ensure it’s covered or call us anytime with questions or a quote request and we’ll be happy to help.
WILL ONTARIO HOME INSURANCE COVER MY DECK?
Absolutely!
In almost every case, home insurance policies in Ontario cover both the home itself as well as all other structures attached to it, including:
- Garages
- Decks
- Porches
- Sunrooms
All of the same perils and threats that your home is covered for should also apply to your deck as well:
- Wind damage (walls, gazebos)
- Fallen trees
- Liability
- Hail
- Fire
It’s important to keep in mind that your home insurance will very likely NOT cover things related to maintenance and aging of your deck such as rotting wood that needs to be replaced.
Do you own a deck with a home? Get a 100% free no obligation quote for home insurance here.
DOES ADDING A DECK TO YOUR HOME INCREASE THE COST OF HOME INSURANCE IN ONTARIO?
The short answer is yes.
The full answer is that homeowners should always keep their home insurance providers up to date on any additions, renovations and upgrades to the home so they can make sure it’s all covered in the event of the worst case scenarios.
Building a new deck and making sure it’s included in your homeowner’s insurance policy may result in marginal increases to the costs of your home insurance because it will be taken into account when determining your home’s reconstruction costs.
However, these minimal increases will be plenty worth it should your property suffer a loss from a fire or some other disaster.
HOW TO REDUCE YOUR LIABILITY RISK WITH A DECK OR PORCH
The best way to protect your deck from loss is to avoid it altogether.
Since one of the most common threats is liability risk, here are some of the best ways to keep anyone using your deck safe and claim-free.
- Repair all loose or broken stairs including nails sticking up and rotting deck board.
- Install a secure hand railing whenever stairs are present. Refer to your local bylaws for height requirements.
- Sand and stain the deck every couple of years to slow or prevent wear and tear.
The cost of fully replacing your deck is high thanks to the price of lumber these days so it’s often a much more economical option to ensure the maintenance of your deck on an ongoing basis.
DO YOU NEED A PERMIT TO BUILD A DECK OR PORCH IN ONTARIO?
The requirement and costs of building permits for decks built in Ontario depend on the specific bylaws of the municipality you’re in.
For example, if you’re a resident of St. Catharines you’ll find that their guide to residential decks and porches says that a building permit is required for covered decks and porches regardless of size but that uncovered decks less than 24 inches above grade do not (however they must still comply with city zoning bylaws).
Or as a senior official in Niagara puts it for us:
“A Building Permit is required to be obtained by your local municipality to build a deck or porch in Ontario. This ensures that the structure is designed, built, and inspected in accordance with the minimum standards prescribed in the Ontario Building Code, and verifies compliance with local Zoning By-law regulations. Public safety is the main goal of the OBC, so obtaining a Building Permit will certify that your deck is built properly.”
– Jennifer McRae
Senior Plans Examiner
City of Welland
Erie Mutual Insurance proudly serves the commercial insurance, farm insurance, home insurance and auto insurance needs of members throughout Southern Ontario including Haldimand, Niagara and Hamilton.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have about this or any other topic related to your insurance.
