A terrace quickly shows whether the decisions behind it were right. If the base was prepared by eye and the material cannot cope with moisture, the first winter can leave its mark. That is why it is worth considering recycled plastic boards. They are durable, stable and need no annual maintenance. How do you calmly get from the idea to the installation of such a terrace?
Table of contents
- Why recycled plastic boards work well on a terrace
- Planning: base, slope, substructure
- Ordering: how to calculate the material
- Installation: details that make a difference
- Mistakes after the first season
- Summary
Why recycled plastic boards work well on a terrace
Recycled plastic boards Ecoplank are designed for outdoor use, are weather-resistant and need no impregnation. Grooving on one side improves grip, so in practice they work as anti-slip boards – especially by terrace doors and after rain. Boards that suit terrace projects include the grooved board, the rectangular board and the tongue-and-groove board.
Planning: base, slope, substructure
A terrace starts beneath the boards. On concrete or slabs you need a slope so that water has somewhere to go. The Ecoplank installation guide specifies a minimum of 1 cm per 2 m. It seems like a detail, but it makes a huge difference in everyday use.
For a terrace laid on the ground, a proper sub-base is what counts: removing the topsoil, adding aggregate, compacting it and laying a weed-separating layer. None of this is visible in photos after installation, but it is usually this stage that decides whether the terrace keeps its line.
Then comes the substructure. Joists must be laid level and firmly, with spacing chosen so that the boards do not flex underfoot. The Ecoplank guide states that the clear span between joists should not exceed 50 cm, and each board should rest on at least three supports.
Ordering: how to calculate the material
Once the design is ready, ordering is simple. First the dimensions, then the direction of the boards, and finally the list of materials. We recommend adding about 10% extra for offcuts and edge trimming.
It is also worth remembering one thing that surprises some people: the colour may settle slightly after installation. This is a normal feature of the material, and the shade evens out after exposure to sunlight.
Installation: details that make a difference
Installation is best done at moderate temperatures, around +15°C to +25°C. First the joists – keeping the slope – then the boards. Leave expansion gaps at walls and fixed elements (the guide specifies about 10 mm of clearance). This is the detail that later protects the terrace from wavy edges.
The boards are laid perpendicular to the joists and fixed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. In practice, the small things matter: a level substructure, proper pre-drilling and a steady working pace.
Mistakes that show after the first season
Most problems with decking boards are caused not by the material, but by cutting corners:
- joists spaced too far apart cause the boards to sag,
- no slope makes it hard for water to drain off the terrace,
- no expansion gap at the wall makes the edges move,
- installing without pre-drilled holes damages the fixings.
These are things to keep in mind from the very start of design and installation, because mistakes of this kind are very hard to correct afterwards.
A terrace made of Ecoplank boards: summary
A good terrace is not built in a day. It comes from a few calm decisions taken in the right order. First the base and the slope, then the substructure, and only at the end the boards. Ecoplank gives you an advantage here: a recycled plastic board is durable, needs no annual oiling and copes well with the weather. And when everything is done properly, the terrace becomes a place you are happy to return to – in the morning with a coffee, after work, after the rain and after the winter.