Woman Uses Old Wood Pallets To Make A Deck For The Backyard With An Impressive DIY

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It's common to drive past a warehouse or grocery store and see a stack of wooden pallets sitting in the back lot waiting to be hauled off to the nearest dump site. Ironic, given the many ways to reuse these pallets, including in popular DIY home projects. For example, you can even use them to build your own backyard deck, as demonstrated by YouTuber @shanitraneal.

In a quick one-minute video, she showed the phases to building this deck design, using about 10 wooden pallets as the deck's raised foundation. To the top of the pallets, she added deck boards, plus extra boards as skirting to cover the front and sides and hide the pallet slats underneath. Keep in mind that this deck comes in at about 125 square feet, but the exact number of pallets needed and wooden plank sizes will come down to your own layout. Make sure to measure your outdoor space first to determine the ideal deck size.

Your typical pallet size is about 48 by 40 inches, so you can use multiple two-by-fours to cover the top. As for the deck's height, standard pallets are around 6 inches high. The cost for the lumber will vary, depending on the type of wood you get and your location. For example, at The Home Depot, the two-by-fours run about $10 for 10-foot pieces. For the planks for the side of the deck, you could get 12-foot boards for about $15. As for equipment, you'll need a reciprocating or table saw, as well as concrete blocks, a shovel, paint supplies, and a base material such as gravel or sand.

Is this a renovation project that you can complete in one weekend? Probably not, as this build will definitely take a bit longer, especially if you're doing it alone. (This, by the way, was the DIYer's "first time building anything.") Also, be aware of how high your deck will be once done; if it's 30 inches or higher, you will need a building permit first. Remember, wooden pallets are 6 inches tall, but you must also account for the concrete deck blocks, too, and just how high this deck will be above the ground.

If all of this checks out, the first thing you'll need to do is dig out the grass and clear the area. Lay down your base material next, spreading it evenly across the deck's dimensions. This will prevent the surface beneath the deck from holding moisture, which can lead to a number of issues. From there, plan out your pallet layout and set concrete deck blocks at each corner position, one for every pallet you're going to use. If you're building on a concrete slab, you can skip the base material and blocks, as it offers a level, moisture-resistant surface. Once your blocks are in place, set your pallets down on top of them side by side to form your deck's frame. 

Secure the pallets together so they act as one solid unit. Now you're ready to lay your two-by-fours across the top of the pallets, trimming them to fit as you go. Add wood to the front and sides of the deck as skirting. Once done, add any trim pieces to clean up the edges and create a more customized look to the deck build. Add paint or stain to seal the wood and tie the whole deck design together.

There's no shortage of affordable backyard DIYs to reuse those old wooden pallets sitting in your garage, so don't feel locked into one look for this DIY wooden deck idea. For example, on this type of open-style deck, you can also use pallets to build a privacy wall for those summer BBQ sessions with friends and family. 

To build it out, you'll need additional pallets as well as some two-by-fours (and possibly brackets) to secure them together. On top of that, you can add string lights and even hanging plants for more decorative flair. Attach a shade sail or a retractable canopy overhead to block out excessive sunlight during the warmer months (note, you will likely need to install wooden posts to support the canopy, however).

There are also various ways to paint the patio to give it more character. Consider going with a two-tone theme, using a dark color for the outer edges and a lighter one for the deck planks. Dark gray and cream, for example, would go well together. Or, for a more modern look, consider pairing this idea with a couple of trendy deck chairs and a fancy teak wood or glass table. Further, if you need to make the deck easier to access, try adding one or two pallets set on top of thin pavers near the front of the deck to act as a stepping stone.