Your outdoor projects, plan before starting

Executing outdoor projects - whether a shed, a terrace, a fence, a garage, a gazebo, paving or a poolside patio - requires that you prepare a plan much as you would to build a house. The complexity of such projects and their legal ramifications make it worthwhile for you to plan your work in detail.
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Make sure
Sketching out the plan, to get the job done
The legal side
The construction
Small details that make a big difference
The different steps

Make sure

Before attacking the project with shovel in hand, you should first visualize it in a serious, realistic way. Furthermore, you should ensure it will satisfy your needs and those of your immediate family. You should take into account the age of your children as well as your lifestyle, both in terms of relaxation and leisure needs. If your backyard is a gathering place for dozens of family members, friends and neighbours, a 10 ft. by 10 ft. terrace just will not do! In fact, it is likely to be spilling over before you are finished building it!

Also, bear in mind that outdoor additions to your property may make the difference between the interest or disinterest of potential buyers. A well executed project can also add value to your property. That is why your project should blend in well not only with your own property but with the neighbours'.

Sketching out the plan, to get the job done

In order to better visualize the project, take a photograph of your yard or garden with the house in the background. Then use a felt marker to sketch a rough plan over the photograph. That should give you a more accurate idea of the eventual results. Once the sketch is done, use a sheet of squared paper to draw a scale plan of the project, each square representing a square foot of the planned garage, terrace etc. for example. This is the step that entails getting the measuring tape and "walking the yard" to precisely locate your new construction taking into account a plethora of municipal by-laws governing outdoor construction on private lots.

The legal side

Ignoring by-laws and standards can mean trouble

Executing outdoor projects requires careful checking of municipal by-laws and the approval of local authorities. Generally, you must obtain a construction permit before beginning.

At your request, your local municipal inspector should visit, and note the details of your project and of related costs. He should also ensure that your plan meets relevant municipal standards and by-laws. You should see the inspector as a professional ally, your link with the municipality in matters of construction by-laws and standards.

The inspector can also keep you abreast of current local trends in construction and renovation within his jurisdiction. He may also be able to help you clearly interpret and apply relevant provincial laws.

The municipality may require various documents to validate your project, such as a location certificate from a surveyor attesting to the accuracy of the description of your lot, and describing any irregularity such as illegal views, non-compliance with by-laws, non-registered rights of way, etc. or that it is not subjected to servitudes that could restrict its use. The certificate of location also determines the actual boundaries of the lot and helps owners avoid a number of problems that often result in tense relations with neighbours.

You may also consult a surveyor about such matters as markings, staking and the preparation of plans, cadastral registrations, etc.

The construction

Detail your plan and avoid bad surprises!

Whether you intend to do the work yourself or manage the work of hired professionals, you will quickly appreciate the advantages of an accurate plan.

A plan from an architect or an architectural technician may first strike you as a superfluous expense. But, in the end, you and the various trades people involved in the project will find it a much appreciated reference. Properly prepared with your help, the plan will take into account your needs and tastes and give you a precise fix on the materials required as well as an idea of approximate costs. It will facilitate the work of the various trades people and allow you to closely follow every step of the project.

Small details that make a big difference

Financing your project is one of the important steps you should take before conceptualizing. You may choose to meet with a planner or advisor from your preferred financial institution or from another recognized institution, bearing in mind that certain loans are especially designed for renovation projects. You may also be entitled to certain loans depending on the type of mortgage you may carry or on your personal financial situation.

Some may also elect to buy insurance in order to deal with the worst in unforeseen problems. Quite obviously, replacing a few boards of treated wood on your patio does not call for insurance. But work involving the hammering of concrete around a swimming pool carries enough risk to warrant insurance suited to the circumstances.

We advise you to always deal with professionals that are recognized in their particular fields. This decision may first seem more expensive but it often avoids a number of inconveniences and bad surprises that can prove extremely expensive in the end.

The different steps

Below is a summary list of the important steps, a help to planning:
  • A sketch that meets your needs
  • Financing the project
  • Municipal and provincial standards and by-laws
  • Choosing the materials and executing the detail plan
  • Getting bids from professionals or from a general contractor
  • Preparing the lot (staking, removing grass, digging, etc.)
  • Foundations
  • The structure
  • Finishing
  • The protection of exposed materials
  • Maintenance
  • Etc.
Important:
The National Building Code of Canada establishes guidelines for the construction of buildings and various structures, including decks. However, these standards can vary depending on the local building requirements in effect in a particular province or municipality.

For instance, in the case of a deck, the height of the deck’s surface above the ground determines the requirement for the railing height:
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Height of deck or patioHeight of railing
Under 24"Optional or decorative railing
24" to 5’10"36"
Over 5’10"42"
Also note that the maximum distance between the balusters and under the bottom rail is 4". For a stairway, the treads should be no less than 9 ¼" deep and the risers no more than 8" high.

Always check the local building requirements for your area before beginning any such construction project.
it can be a truly peaceful haven, a valuable source of shade during the day and a place to enjoy those long summer evenings in relative peace.
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