Cedar Deck & Privacy Retreat

This Whitby property had a modest backyard by suburban standards, but the homeowners wanted to maximize every square foot for comfortable outdoor living without feeling exposed to neighbors on three sides.

The solution was a multi-level cedar deck design that created distinct zones: a main seating area, a smaller dining space, and a built-in bench running the perimeter, all elevated slightly to improve sightlines while maintaining intimacy. Horizontal privacy fencing wrapped the exposed sides using tight-spaced pickets that block views without creating a fortress feel.

Critical to longevity: footings poured below frost line (deeper than many contractors go for decks this size), structural framing overbuilt for the load, and hidden fasteners throughout so the cedar surface is clean and splinter-free. The fence posts got the same treatment: deep, concreted, and properly aligned so the fence stays straight as long as the deck beneath it.