How To Build A Plywood Deck

Plywood does not usually have the kind of moisture resistance needed to function as a finished surface. For homeowners intent on building a plywood deck, however, marine plywood — which has a much greater resistance to moisture than regular plywood — makes a serviceable decking material. It comes in 4-by-8 panels, holds paint and stains well. Although more expensive, its increased durability makes up for the extra expense

Most of the decks you find will be made out of individual boards and not plywood decking. This is not to say that plywood decking does not make a good alternative to individual boards. Plywood decking is essentially thin sheets of wood glued together to make a thicker sheet. The plywood decking is installed on top of the decking joists in one or more large sheets instead of individual pieces.

Standing Water

One issue you will have with using plywood decking instead of individual boards is the pooling of water. Keep in mind that plywood decking is very flat, and there is no place for water to run off the surface of the plywood. If you do not sweep the water from the plywood, you will potentially face several issues, including mold and the eventual rotting of the plywood decking. With traditional boards, the water simply falls through the spaces between the boards.

Plywood decking is a great choice as an alternative to regular boards as long as the right plywood is used. Normal plywood is only four or five layers of wood and is bonded together by a basic epoxy. The only kind of plywood you should use as decking material is marine plywood.

There are several differences between marine plywood and normal plywood which make it the best choice as an alternative decking material. Marine plywood is seven to eight layers thick, and the epoxy used to bind the layers is waterproof. On top of that, the plywood itself is treated with a waterproof sealer. Another major difference is that normal plywood is created with voids in the layers. If you cut into the plywood, you will see spaces between the layers. This is not conducive to being waterproof. Marine plywood, on the other hand, is made so that there are no gaps or voids between the layers.

These 2×4 marine plywood slabs will keep your next woodworking project water resistant and sturdy.

Ease of Installation

Sometimes you just want to get the deck built and done. The time it takes to build a deck will also impact the cost of the project when it is finished. With traditional boards, the deck can take several days to finish. You may also face the problem of the boards being installed incorrectly, nails not properly sunk, or the wood looking less than perfect. Plywood decking comes in large sheets, which means you can cover the deck easily with the plywood.

Instead of the deck taking days to finish, the job can be completed in hours by using plywood for the decking instead of individual boards. This will also keep the cost down.

Plywood decking comes in large sheets, which means a deck can easily be covered with plywood. With Marine Plywood, you can finish your deck in hours instead of the days it would take using individual boards, and at a very reasonable cost.

Most exterior decks have dimensional lumber as their flooring material, instead of plywood. Plywood does not usually have the kind of moisture resistance needed to function as a finished surface. For homeowners intent on building a plywood deck, however, marine plywood — which has a much greater resistance to moisture than regular plywood — makes a serviceable decking material. It comes in 4-by-8 panels, holds paint and stains well. Although more expensive, its increased durability makes up for the extra expense. Building a floating deck with a foundation of precast concrete makes construction much easier.

Layout

Step 1

Measure out the deck width against the side of the house with a tape measure. Tack a nail to each mark and wrap a string around it.

Step 2

Measure the length of the deck straight out from the nail, and place a wooden stake. Repeat for the other side.

Step 3

Connect the strings on the nails to the stakes. Pull the string taut and wrap it around each stake.

Step 4

Run another string line between the two wooden stakes.

Step 5

Measure the two diagonals inside the string rectangle. Ensure that the measurements match.

Deck

Step 1

Apply a plywood panel to the corner of the framing. Place it flush against the support board and the end joist. Fasten in place by drilling deck screws about 6 inches apart through the plywood and into the joists and support board.