A ledger can make a deck look reassuringly joined to the house. The important connection may be hidden behind the brick that everyone can see.
Compare support systems, not a row of bolts
A freestanding arrangement needs its own foundations and lateral stability. An attached arrangement needs the house connection assessed and detailed. Neither choice removes the need to understand the site.
Simpson Strong-Tie's ledger discussion describes connections that bypass veneer to reach structural framing. Product suitability and Ontario acceptance still need to be established for the actual wall; a photograph of a similar bracket is not that review.
Look at the awkward strip beside the house
Ask where posts and excavation would fall for the independent option. Show basement windows, utilities, vents, and any narrow access route. For the attached option, ask what must be opened, inspected, flashed, and restored.
Keep permits separate from the nickname
Oakville's deck page says an attached deck requires a building permit regardless of size. It also sets conditions for other decks and requires zoning compliance. Calling a structure floating does not settle those questions.
- Ask for the finished floor height and the foundation locations on both options.
- Include wall repair and flashing in the attached price.
- Include all supports and bracing in the freestanding price.
- Check how either choice affects doors, windows, and future maintenance.
Our preference is the option whose load path and water details can be explained clearly. A tidy drawing is worth more than a confident promise that the brick has always been fine.
Changing the doorway as well? Coordinate the wider patio-door opening with the deck design before ordering either.