Woman Replaces Concrete Slabs With Old Wood Pallets For A DIY Deck With A Rustic Touch

You can build the perfect deck in many ways, from using high-quality materials to buying more supplies than you think you need. If budget isn't an issue, choosing a longer-lasting wood alternative that stands up to harsh weather is a smart investment in an outdoor feature the family can enjoy year-round. But if money is tight and you still want a sturdy deck, then you might want to follow what holman_home on TikTok did to replace her old concrete patio with wooden outdoor flooring. 

Her strategy involved using wood pallets in building a DIY deck. It's not just any other deck with single-width patterned boards, either. She gave her outdoor space a rustic touch by repurposing the pallets into a floor with a herringbone pattern.

"We can't afford new slabs or decking so decided to create our own decking from free pallets," Charlotte, who documents DIY home projects on her TikTok, explained in the on-screen text caption. After removing all of the concrete slabs, she laid down the pallets to cover the area. She then used them as building blocks for the new deck, removing the top wooden boards and cutting them into shorter lengths so they could be arranged at right angles to form the distinctive herringbone pattern, or a zigzag design, on the top surface of the deck.

Charlotte's rustic DIY deck made from old wood pallets is just one of the many ways the flat, portable wooden platform can be repurposed for various projects around the house. Because they are mass-produced for industries such as construction, agriculture, and warehousing, wood pallets are relatively easy to find. In fact, around a billion of them have been produced yearly since 2020 (per Fastmarkets). Once businesses no longer need them, these pallets are often discarded or sold at a fraction of their original cost. A brand-new, standard-sized 48-by-40-inch wood pallet typically costs between $10.50 and $17, while a similar-sized used pallet can cost as little as $5 to $7.

Beyond their affordability, what's good about wood pallets is that they are easy to dismantle, recycle, and customize. In Charlotte's renovation project, the alternating pattern of the boards introduced movement and texture to the surface, making the floor look more intricate and well thought out. The variations in grain, color, and weathering further added to the deck's rustic charm. Of course, wood pallets may not offer the uniform appearance or longevity of hardwood decking, but the material can still give any backyard a fresh look without splurging on new decking materials.

Apart from flooring for garden paths, patios, and decks, wood pallets can also be used for DIY storage solutions around the house. Just be sure to inspect for signs of chemical contamination, structural damage, or rot before purchasing or repurposing them.