
On a Muskoka lakefront the deck is the most-used room of the house. We engineer multi-level cedar and composite decks for shoreline grade, ice loading, and decades of barefoot use.
Every specialty within decks & outdoor living, with its own scope, timeline, and fixed-price proposal. Pick the one that matches your project.
Western red cedar decks for Muskoka cottages with hidden fasteners.
View Cedar Decks detailsTimberTech, Trex, and Deckorators composite decks with zero maintenance.
View Composite Decks detailsFrameless glass and stainless cable railings for unobstructed lake views.
View Glass & Cable Railings detailsStepped decks that work with shoreline grade and shield rock.
View Multi-Level Decks detailsRepairing, resurfacing, or fully rebuilding aging cottage decks.
View Deck Repairs & Rebuilds detailsExterior stairs, landings, lake access steps, railings, and safer transitions.
View Deck Stairs & Landings detailsLake-facing decks, shoreline platforms, view decks, and waterfront access structures.
View Waterfront Decks detailsUnder-deck storage, skirting, lattice, access doors, and clean exterior detailing.
View Deck Skirting & Storage detailsOutdoor cooking areas, grill islands, stone counters, utility coordination, and dining zones.
View Outdoor Kitchens detailsHot tub pads, reinforced deck framing, service access, privacy screens, and electrical coordination.
View Hot Tub Decks & Pads detailsStep lights, rail lights, path lights, low-voltage systems, and outdoor switching.
View Deck Lighting detailsLicensed plumbing rough-in, fixture, and repair work tied to your decks & outdoor living project.
View Decks & Outdoor Living Plumbing detailsLicensed electrical rough-in, fixtures, and panel work tied to your decks & outdoor living project.
View Decks & Outdoor Living Electrical details
Named #1 by the Quality Business Awards for craftsmanship, transparency, and on-time delivery across Muskoka.
"I hired Northern Oaks for a driveway extension as part of my home renovation so I could park two additional cars, and I'm really impressed with the results. The quality of the work and craftsmanship really stand out. It's been over 6 months and it's held up perfectly."
"We hired Rob to install a new front porch and repair a set of stone steps leading into our garage. We are extremely happy with how the completed project looks and with the work Rob did for us. Rob was flexible and accommodating."
"Rob and his team at Northern Oaks Contracting are very professional, communication is excellent, and they were well priced. I had Rob come look at a water leak issue that had been looked at twice before by other contractors who didn't fix it."
"We had an excellent experience with Northern Oaks Contracting. Rob was always friendly, professional and very knowledgeable in many different areas. Not only did he do a great job with our renovation but he noticed and helped us out in some other areas too."
"The Northern Oaks Contracting crew has been amazing to work with from start to finish. Their ability to keep both customers and trades well-coordinated has made the entire process smooth and stress-free. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a reliable and professional team!"
"Robert installed a kitchen backsplash for us. Communication was great and he showed up to do the work when he said he would. The price was very reasonable and quality of work excellent. Would definitely recommend them."










Tell us about the space. A real project manager replies within 4 to 8 hours with next steps.
Four things we do on every job, no matter the size. It's how we make sure the finished work still looks and functions the way it should years down the road.
Before we quote or design anything, we walk the site, take real measurements, and ask what you actually want out of the space. The best projects start with a clear picture, not a guess.
Every material gets picked for how it'll look, feel, and hold up over years of real use. We'll tell you where to spend and where you can save without regretting it later.
Straight walls, tight joints, level floors, clean finishes. We take the extra hour it costs to do it right because it saves you the callback and it's the work we want our name on.
One project manager from first quote to final walk-through. Punch lists get closed, the site gets cleaned, and you get a warranty in writing. No loose ends.
All workmanship backed by a 5-year warranty in writing.








No mystery, no ghosting between steps. Here's the exact path from first phone call to final walk-through, with what happens, who's on it, and what you'll have in your hands at the end of each stage.
Story-pole the deck on site so you walk the actual footprint before the order goes in.
Helical piers or pinned footings drilled into Canadian Shield.
Frame, deck, rail, and stair finished in a single run.
Same project manager from first call to final walk-through.
We run the full scope or with vetted partners on a single contract. Here's what typically lands inside this kind of project.
Helical piles or sonotubes set below frost with engineered post connections.
PT, steel, or hidden-fastener framing systems sized for the load.
Composite, hardwood (ipe, cumaru), and cedar boards with hidden fasteners.
Glass, cable, aluminum, or wood railings to code with continuous handrails.
Stringers and treads engineered for rise/run code with code lighting.
Low-voltage step and post lighting, plus outdoor outlets for entertaining.
Two ways to kick things off. Whichever is easier for you.
We'll meet you at the property, pull tape, take photos, and walk the scope with you in person.
Book a site visitPrefer to stay put? Hop on a video call and we'll walk the space or the plans together from anywhere.
Schedule a callComposite if you want zero maintenance, cedar if you want the smell and the patina. Both are fine in Muskoka with the right detailing.
Pinned footings drilled and epoxied into rock, or helical piers where soil exists. Engineered post-base connections rated for uplift and ice load.
Most lakefront decks run 4 to 8 weeks from footings to railings. Multi-level builds run 8 to 12.
Sweep, occasional rinse, that's it. No staining, no sealing, no sanding. The trade-off is appearance: composite reads modern, cedar reads classic.
Glass is the cleanest sightline but needs cleaning. Cable is nearly invisible and maintenance-free. Both are code-compliant.
Yes. Engineered framing for the loaded weight, dedicated electrical, and screened equipment access. Hot tub spec is locked before framing.
Yes, in almost every case. Township and District of Muskoka building permits apply, and shoreline decks may need MNRF review.
Sometimes. We assess the frame first. Most older cottage decks need new joists and ledgers along with boards.
25 to 35 years with stain-and-seal every 2 to 3 years. Composite frames with hidden fasteners last 40 plus.
We come to the site (or hop on a video call, whichever is easier), walk through the space with you, take measurements and photos, and ask questions about how you actually use the property. There is no sales pitch. You leave the meeting with a clear next-step plan and a rough sense of scope and timing, and we leave with enough information to start putting a real proposal together.
Local sourcing is absolutely an option and something we lean into whenever it makes sense, but it is not the only path. We source based on each client's needs, budget, and the specific goals for their project. Sometimes the right material is a local Muskoka supplier or a nearby millwork shop. Other times it's a specialty product from further away that better fits the look, performance, or lead time. We walk you through the options and make the call together.
A dedicated project manager owns your file from the first conversation through the final walk-through. On the ground you'll see our own carpenters and site lead running the day-to-day, plus vetted trade partners for plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and specialty finishes. Everyone on site works to the same standard and reports up through the project manager, so you always know who to call and never get bounced between subs.
You get a single project manager as your point of contact, weekly photo updates so you can see progress even if you're out of town, scheduled check-in calls at major milestones, and any change to scope, timeline, or materials in writing before it happens. Most of our clients live in Toronto or out of province, so the whole process is built to work without you needing to be on site.
Change orders happen on almost every project once things are open and real conditions are visible. When something needs to shift (a hidden condition, a design tweak you want, a material swap) we document exactly what's changing, the impact on schedule, and the impact on the number, then send it to you for sign-off before any work happens. No surprises on the final invoice.
Every day. Site gets broomed and organized at the end of every workday, materials get stored properly, and containment stays in place so dust doesn't migrate through the rest of the house. At the end of the project the site gets a full detail clean before handover, and we do a joint walk-through with you to catch anything that needs a final touch.
A full two-year workmanship warranty on everything we build, in writing, handed to you at closeout along with a maintenance schedule and a folder of all product manuals, paint colours, and finish specs. If something isn't right we come back and fix it, no debate. On new builds you also get the applicable structural warranty coverage on top of that.
Real projects, real progress shots. Tap through for the full story on any of them.

Deck pricing swings more than almost any other exterior project. Here is what drives the number, from framing to railing to the rock under your feet.
Read the guide
Cedar and composite are both good answers on a Muskoka cottage. How we walk owners through the choice on substructure, boards, railing, fasteners, and lifecycle cost.
Read the guide
An outdoor fireplace turns a cottage patio into a room that gets used until November. Here is how we scope, build, and permit them.
Read the guide