The pallet is not just for furniture! In this article, discover how to use pallets to build a terrace deck. A project in only 3 steps, we present here only the steps to make the deck, i.e., the surface.

Our search for the best ideas for decks made from pallet wood, we were particularly impressed with this project, found at instructables.com.

By the way, is it really a good idea to build a deck with pallets? The author of this DIY shares his opinion on the durability of his deck. An interesting opinion to consider before you start, to discover a little further down in the article.

Why make a pallet deck?

The author of the project explains why he chose the pallet wood as a support for the build of his terrace deck. As a tenant, he looked for an economical solution to create a second terrace in the garden. After some research, he bought cheap pallets on the internet. He even found pallets with no space between the boards, perfectly adapted for constructing a terrace.

What budget should I set aside?

The total budget is about $200, including wood pallets, cushions for the garden pallet furniture (from IKEA), and the varnish. It is important to note that this budget also includes the material and pallets necessary for creating the garden salon. If you only want to build the terrace, i.e., the surface, the cost will be lower.

You can, of course, find free pallets. But when it’s a project that requires a lot of pallets, it can take time! That’s certainly why he preferred to buy pallets.

The 3 steps to building a pallet deck

Step 1 – Choosing the right equipment and tools

The Equipment

  • 25 pallets
  • varnish to protect the wood
  • screws and cleats

The Tools

  • a cordless drill and screwdriver
  • a sander
  • a saw
  • a paint gun
  • a spirit level
  • a shovel
  • a spade
  • a rake

Step 2 – Setting the Stage

The garden before the construction of the pallet terrace

A few tips :

  • don’t hesitate to test different layouts
  • when you find the ideal position, mark the ground around the pallets using the spade
  • take pictures to help you remember the location of each pallet
  • remove the pallets and remove the sod
  • prepare the surface with the rake and the spirit level (flat surface)
  • place the pallets

Land and Surface Preparation

Before placing the pallets on the field, the surface must be prepared, in particular, with the spirit level.

Preparation of the ground before the installation of the pallets for the construction of the terrace
Preparation of the ground before the construction of the pallet terrace with a level

Step 3 – Laying the pallets

Once the field is ready, you can start positioning the first pallets.

The laying of the first pallets for the construction of the terrace deck

The pallets are positioned; you can now proceed to sand. A good idea to test the surface? Walk barefoot on your future terrace!

Sanding of pallets for the construction of a terrace

To protect the wood from the pallets, apply varnish.

After being sanded, the pallets are varnished to protect the wood.

Here is the rendering after the sanding, and varnishing steps.

Pallets for the deck after sanding and varnishing

You can now make the necessary adjustments and screw the pallets together using the cleats to consolidate the whole. There you go! You now have a pallet terrace in your garden!

The complete tutorial to be found on instructables.com also includes garden furniture, with a corner sofa and a small coffee table made with pallets.

The final rendering

A terrace and garden furniture made with pallets

The terrace, the garden furniture, the coffee table, everything was made from wood pallets!

The terrace and the garden furniture in pallet (sofa + small coffee table)

Before / After

A picture before and after the construction of a pallet terrace

An Important Notice on the Use of Pallets for a Terrace Project

Is the pallet really suitable for an outdoor patio project? The author of this construction shares his opinion. He acknowledges that after 1 year, the pallets placed on the floor begin to “suffer.”

He, therefore, recommends creating an intermediate surface, in gravel, for example.

What do you think of this construction? Are you going to build a pallet terrace in your garden? Leave a comment below!

Neokentin

Engineer, Co-founding partner of 1001Pallets. I earned my Engineer degree in Aeronautics & spatial telecommunications and navigation systems from INSA (Toulouse, FR). I worked as a sub-contractor for Airbus Aerospace & Defense for more than 12 years; I was the guy who worked on the black box inside the aircraft that give its exact position, useful if you want to land in the right place :). Since September 2015 I'm full-time working on 1001Pallets.com & Recyclart.org. I'm passionate about recycling, vintage & refurbished things; I'm always amazed by the creativity of people around the world and how with their two hands and some imagination they can transform almost anything into beautiful objects, I also love to explore flea market in search of the "unfounded" object. I'm also a kind of a geek, and I'm behind the technical aspects of 1001Pallets.com & Recyclart.org, so if something is not working as it should, it's all my fault, and you should contact me for debugging purpose. In my spare time, I love going in the countryside, hiking in the mountains, drinking a delicious glass of wine with my friends and traveling to explore the beautiful places of this earth and meet other people and cultures.

View Comments

  • Since pallet wood is not pressure treat for outdoor use, how will this hold up to rain and snow, heat and dry weather conditions, over time?

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