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Westwood Carpentry
A front porch built by Westwood Carpentry in Ottawa

Planning a 2027 Build

Why start in the winter

April is the busiest month at the lumber yard and at the permit office. Winter is when a build gets designed properly.

Time to decide

Over the winter there's time to work out the size, the layout and the materials, and change your mind without holding anything up.

Materials

Order early and you get the materials you picked, not whatever the yard has that week.

Permits

Apply over the winter and the permit is not what holds up the build.

How it works

01

We come and look

Measurements, grades, access, and the things that move a price: the slope, the gas line, the neighbour's fence sitting six inches over. If it is not something we do, we say so.

02

We plan it together

We work together over the winter to get the design right, from the materials to the overall design.

03

The build

Nothing is booked until you sign. Some people plan in January and build in June. Some call back the year after.

A fence

Pick the board layout, height, wood and finish in the fence designer.

Design a fence

A deck

A rough idea is enough. Photos help.

Start a deck

Common questions

Am I committing to anything by getting in touch now?
No. The call, the site visit and the estimate are free. Nothing is booked until you sign a contract.
Is it cheaper to book in the off-season?
Not usually. Planning early gets you a better-planned job.
How far ahead is too far?
People talk to us a year out and that is fine. The only catch is that material prices move, so an estimate written now gets revisited if you come back much later.
What if I am not sure what I want yet?
Bring a rough idea, photos of things you like, or the problem you are trying to fix.