Just for your information, if you decide not to get a permit and you get caught a number of things can take place. First a stop work order, you can get an order requiring you to get an engineers report or remove the deck all togehter and then your permit fees can double. On top of that you maybe required to go to court.
Also, changes to the building code act now states that the Municipality has one year from the time of discovery of the contruction to go to court, not one year after the completion of the project. So now building departments are more apt to go these types of violations.
True. This is what might or could happen, but it's like the signs that say 'Fines up to $XXXX.XX'. That is the worst possible case. Real world, usually a lot less difficult unless you try to piss off the inspector. Like cops, when you get caught, time to kiss ***.
Another alternative may be getting some plans from Summerwood. They are very detailed and diverse.
I had a contractor come over last night to do a quote for my house, it's 18.5' x 14' one step deck and the quote I got was $4K.
I'm going to a Home Depot seminar this weekend and see if I can build it myself.
a simple conversation with the neighbor to mutually come to a compromise is all that's needed.
$4k for a 260 sft deck is only about $15/sft. when I was in school I spent my summers building decks and fences to pay tuition, that was 10 years ago and I wouldn't touch a deck for less than $20/sft (and I was one of the cheaper guys....)