Finished grey composite deck with glass railings

Decks and renovations built right.

Handy Hughes builds custom decks and handles renovations, finish carpentry, fences, and more across Simcoe County. Straightforward communication, careful craftsmanship, respect for your home.

Call (705) 718-1843 Get a Free Quote
Fully insured6 years hands-on building experienceFree quotes, straight answers

What we do

Decks and basements first — that's the work we're known for.

Deck Building & Repair

Custom wood and composite decks built for Simcoe County weather. Repairs too: boards, framing, stairs, railings.

See the work →

Renovations

Basement, bathroom, and kitchen remodels — plus whole-home updates. From framing to fixtures.

See the work →

Finish Carpentry

Trim, moulding, and detailed woodwork.

See the work →

Fence Installation

Wood fence builds and repairs.

See the work →

How it works

Simple process, no surprises.

1. Reach out

Call, email, or send the form. Tell me what you're thinking — even if it's rough.

2. Walkthrough & honest quote

I come out, take a look, measure up, and give you a straight price. No pressure, no obligation.

3. We lock it in

Timeline, materials, and what to expect — agreed up front, in writing, before anything starts.

4. Build days

I show up and build it right. Tidy site, straight communication the whole way through.

5. Walkthrough & enjoy

We go over everything together before I call it done. Then it's yours.

Recent work

Real jobs, real photos. Before, during, and after.

Grey Composite Cottage Deck

Torn off in the snow, rebuilt on new footings — finished in grey composite with glass railings.

BEFOREGrey Composite Cottage Deck — Before
DURINGGrey Composite Cottage Deck — During
DURINGGrey Composite Cottage Deck — During
AFTERGrey Composite Cottage Deck — After
AFTERGrey Composite Cottage Deck — After
AFTERGrey Composite Cottage Deck — After
AFTERGrey Composite Cottage Deck — After

Deck with Wrap-Around Steps

A full replacement where the steps are the showpiece.

BEFOREDeck with Wrap-Around Steps — Before
BEFOREDeck with Wrap-Around Steps — Before
DURINGDeck with Wrap-Around Steps — During
DURINGDeck with Wrap-Around Steps — During
DURINGDeck with Wrap-Around Steps — During
DURINGDeck with Wrap-Around Steps — During
AFTERDeck with Wrap-Around Steps — After
AFTERDeck with Wrap-Around Steps — After
AFTERDeck with Wrap-Around Steps — After

Bathroom Remodel

One bathroom, full remodel — rough-in to final tile.

DURINGBathroom Remodel — During
DURINGBathroom Remodel — During
AFTERBathroom Remodel — After
AFTERBathroom Remodel — After
AFTERBathroom Remodel — After

Midland Fence Repair

Rotted fence section rebuilt — old posts out, new posts set, fresh boards and lattice.

BEFOREMidland Fence Repair — Before
DURINGMidland Fence Repair — During
DURINGMidland Fence Repair — During
AFTERMidland Fence Repair — After
AFTERMidland Fence Repair — After

See all deck projects →   See renovations →

What our customers say

Rated 5.0 out of 5 on Google.

★★★★★

“Handy Hughes was an incredible hire for doing our deck. He was extremely professional and always very punctual, which I notice is hard to find in the world of trades. Handy went above and beyond on all fronts and every detail of my new deck looks perfect. I will be recommending him to everyone I know. 10 out of 10!!”

— Michael Crawford

★★★★★

“HH has been amazing with a few of my in-home projects. Hayden’s quick response and professional approach to our projects is much appreciated. Hayden problem-solved our device installation until it was complete. His kind and engaging manner with my elderly parents is wonderful to watch. Hayden’s contact info stays at the top of the list in our home. Thank you Hayden”

— Anderson Family

★★★★★

“We hired Hayden on the recommendation of another builder last summer. From the moment Hayden started working on our home I knew we had found a gem. Over the last year Hayden has done many jobs helping us renovate our home. Every job was done impeccably well, on time and on budget. Hayden is very conscientious and particular in his work. He is not happy until the work is done precisely and well. He is a man of integrity and honesty that I have grown to trust implicitly. He keep his word and the timetable he promises. I have absolutely no hesitating in recommending Hayden to anyone who is looking for a gifted competent builder. You won’t be disappointed.”

— Paul Little

★★★★★

“We are so incredibly happy with Hayden’s work. From start to finish he was incredibly precise and reliable. He always showed up exactly when he said he would, finished our project in great time and did a fantastic job. His attention to detail really shows in his work! So excited to enjoy our new deck this summer.”

— Alyssa-Lee Crawford

Read all our Google reviews

Hayden framing on a job site

Meet Hayden

Handy Hughes is run by Hayden — a builder, not a sales team. When you call, you talk to the person doing the work. Every job gets straightforward communication, careful craftsmanship, and respect for your home.

Service area: Barrie · Springwater · Simcoe County

Where we work

Based around Elmvale & Midhurst — about a 30-minute drive in any direction.

Elmvale · Midhurst · Barrie · Minesing · Phelpston · Wyevale · Tiny · Wasaga Beach · Stayner · Coldwater · Oro-Medonte · Craighurst · Horseshoe Valley · Orillia · and everywhere in between across Simcoe County.

Common questions

Plain answers, no sales pitch.

Do I need a permit for my renovation?

Depends on the job. Structural changes, additions, or new plumbing and electrical need a permit from the township. Cosmetic work like painting, flooring, or replacing deck boards usually doesn't. If your project needs one, I'll tell you upfront.

How does our weather affect the work?

Simcoe County winters are hard on anything outdoors — decks need footings below the frost line and materials that handle freeze and thaw. That's how I build them. Indoor work like basements can happen year-round.

How long will my renovation take?

Straight answer: it depends on the scope. A bathroom is usually a couple of weeks, a basement several weeks. I'll give you an honest timeline with your quote, and I'll tell you right away if anything changes.

Which renovations are worth the money?

Around here it's kitchens, bathrooms, and finished basements. A solid deck gets used every summer and buyers notice it too. I'll give you my honest take on what makes sense for your house — I'm not here to sell you work you don't need.

How much does a deck cost?

Depends on size, materials, and what's underneath. A straight resurface is one thing; a full rebuild with new footings is another. Send me the details and I'll give you an honest number — the quote's free.

Pressure-treated or composite — which should I pick?

Pressure-treated costs less up front and looks great stained. Composite costs more but you never stain it again. I'll tell you which makes sense for your yard and your budget — no upsell.

Can you repair my deck, or does it need a full rebuild?

If the framing's solid, a repair or resurface can buy you years. If the bones are rotten, I'll tell you straight that a rebuild's the smarter money. I'll never sell you a rebuild you don't need.

Do you do the work yourself?

Yes. When you hire Handy Hughes, you get Hayden — not a crew you've never met. I'm on your job from the first board to the last.

How far do you travel?

I'm based around Elmvale/Midhurst and work across Simcoe County — roughly a 30-minute drive in any direction. If you're near the edge of that, just ask.

When should I book?

The earlier the better — spring and summer fill up fast. Fall and winter are great for indoor work like basements and bathrooms, and for getting your deck on next spring's list.

Get a free quote

Call or send a message — you'll hear back from Hayden directly.

(705) 718-1843 Call Now Request a Quote