Frost heave lifted one corner of my deck in Evanston. Can I jack it up and add more piles, or do I need to rebuild?

Frost heave damage to your deck corner can often be repaired by adding properly installed frost-protected piles, but the extent of structural damage will determine whether jacking and adding supports is sufficient or if a rebuild is necessary.

The good news is that many frost-heaved decks in Calgary can be salvaged without complete reconstruction. Jacking up the affected corner and installing new concrete piles below the frost line is a common and effective repair method. However, you'll need to carefully assess the structural integrity of the existing frame first.

Start by examining the deck joists, beams, and connections around the lifted corner. Look for cracked lumber, pulled-out fasteners, or twisted framing members. If the structural components are still sound and the connections intact, jacking and adding new piles is likely your best option. The key is installing the new concrete piles to extend at least 4+ feet below grade (Calgary's frost line depth) and ensuring they're properly sized for the load.

Calgary's expansive clay soils and extreme freeze-thaw cycles make frost heave a recurring problem for shallow foundations. Your original deck piles were likely installed too shallow or without proper concrete footings below the frost line. The chinook temperature swings we experience here create particularly aggressive frost action that can lift even heavy structures.

For the repair process, you'll need to temporarily support the deck with jacks while excavating and pouring new concrete piles. This work requires a building permit from the City of Calgary, as you're modifying the structural support system. The new piles should be 8-10 inch diameter concrete with proper reinforcement, extending to undisturbed soil below the frost line.

Professional assessment is strongly recommended before proceeding. A structural engineer or experienced deck contractor can evaluate whether the existing framing can handle the jacking process and determine the proper pile spacing and sizing. If the deck frame has suffered significant damage from the movement, attempting to jack it could cause further structural failure.

When to rebuild instead: If multiple corners are affected, the deck is older with deteriorated lumber, or the framing shows significant damage from the heaving, a complete rebuild might be more cost-effective long-term. A new deck allows you to properly design the foundation system for Calgary's challenging soil conditions from the start.

The repair typically costs $2,000-$5,000 depending on the number of new piles needed, while a complete deck rebuild runs $15,000-$40,000 depending on size and materials. Get quotes for both options to make an informed decision.

Find experienced deck contractors familiar with Calgary's frost conditions in our verified contractor directory to assess your specific situation and provide proper engineering solutions.