A plastic deck is a versatile, stylish, and low maintenance addition to any residential or commercial property. If you’re interested in installing one, you must first make sure that it’s allowed by your local municipality. Then there are several design options to consider as well as various steps involved in building the deck itself. There are several different types of plastic deck materials available, each with unique characteristics and benefits. Typically, the type of material you choose depends on your project requirements. Plastic decks can be built and installed in a short period of time. You’ll need basic tools, and even if you don’t have them all now, you can rent or borrow them. The cost of the material is much lower than that of a wood deck and once installed it is maintenance free.
Welcome. If you’re here, you want to build a plastic deck. But how? I’m glad you asked. This guide will cover the steps for building one, as well as some materials recommendations. I’m about to get started with my own and can’t wait for you to experience the joy of having your very own beautiful plastic deck.
Step 1
- Choose a location for your deck
- Lay out the deck plan and dimensions, using a tape measure and a straightedge
- Dig post holes in the ground at each corner of the plan (about 12″ deep), then install metal posts in these holes with concrete or cement mix
- Install joist hangers to support joists on either side of each post (at 16″ intervals)
- Cut 2 × 6 boards into lengths exactly equal to those shown on your plan at right angles to one another according to these instructions.
Step 2
- Use a level to make sure the deck is level.
- Use a tape measure to make sure the deck is the right length.
- Cut the deck to size with a saw (or ask someone else to do it for you).
- Drill holes into the ground at each corner of your deck and hammer them in with a hammer until they go all the way into the ground, using care not to set off any buried utilities (if you’re lucky enough to live in an area without any), breaking your hand, or anything else that could injure yourself when trying this step.
Step 3
- Level the deck
From here, you’ll want to use your level to make sure that the deck is straight and level from side to side, front to back, and top to bottom. Don’t forget the corners! If you don’t want any areas of your deck to be higher than others or lower than others, it’s best if you start by leveling out each corner first before attaching a joist—this way one end doesn’t get more work than another when attaching them (making them uneven). Once all four corners are leveled out properly with each other at exactly 90 degrees from each other (they should form an X), then go ahead and attach them together using joists and screws.
Step 4
- Install the joists across the deck’s width.
- Install the decking boards.
- Install the railing.
- Addition of skirts (if desired).
- Installation of steps (if desired).
- Addition of deck’s trim, including its edge moulding and any handrails along stairs
Step 5
Once you’ve decided on a deck material and color, it’s time to install the deck itself. The process is similar to installing any other type of roofing, but it will require more specialized materials and tools.
You’ll need:
- A tape measurer
- A square or leveler
- Wood screws (or lag bolts) with washers and nuts if your plastic deck doesn’t come with predrilled holes in every joist end piece like ours did. Also make sure that your screws are long enough to go through both pieces without coming out the other side! And don’t forget a drill/driver; they’re super handy for this job.
Step 6
- Finish the deck. Once your foundation is dry and your decking is in place, you’ll want to finish the wood by sanding it down and staining or painting it. The same goes for any other materials that you’ve used on your project, such as tiles or pavers.
If you’re doing this yourself, it’s important to make sure that everything is level before staining or painting—it can be tough for two people working together to get everything perfect when one person has a ladder and the other doesn’t. It might also be worth using a spirit level if you don’t have access to more accurate tools like laser levels (which are expensive).
- Clean up any messes left behind by construction materials with soap & water mixed with bleach (10:1 ratio). Otherwise they’ll stain over time as dirt builds up on top of them.
- . Install this brand new deck on top of its concrete foundation using screws driven into pre-drilled holes along all edges; look closely at where each screw goes so that they’re evenly spaced out around corners without being too close together near corners themselves – this will give people who use their decks plenty of room between sets of steps when walking up onto them from below (which should help reduce slips accidents). After installing four corner posts per side plus two additional posts at each end point where long sections meet short ones (for example 4 sets total), set aside
You can build a plastic deck
The first step in building a plastic deck is to choose the appropriate size. Plastic decks come in two different sizes: one that measures 8 feet by 10 feet and another that measures 6 feet by 8 feet. If your deck will be accessible only from inside of your house, then you can use either size without having to worry about children or pets falling off it. However, if the deck will be accessible from both inside and outside of your house (such as in front of a garage), it’s best to use the larger size so that adults do not trip over small children playing on it while walking through their garage door into the home.
You also need to decide whether you want an enclosed or uncovered plastic deck area because each option has its advantages and disadvantages.
Final words
At this point, you should have a complete understanding of how to build a plastic deck. If you follow the steps outlined in this guide, then you will be able to complete your own project in no time at all.
