BUILD A BALCONY DECK

The MultyDeck™ bases can be assembled on virtually any type of flat surface.  In this project, Dan removed an old carpet fabric, and laid a vapor barrier fabric over the balcony floor.

For this project, PMQ for TWO built a 4 ft x 45 ft floating wooden deck with 6" wooden sealed, pressure-treated deck boards.  Your material needs will depend on the size of your balcony.

You will need:

•  45 pcs 6" x 8 ft deck boards (each cut in half to 48")

•  46 pcs MultyDeck™ recycled rubber bases

•  1⅝" decking screws 

•  electric drill

•  jig saw, for this project, Dan cut the boards to accommodate railing posts

•  vapor barrier fabric

As in all construction projects, remember to use the correct personal protective equipment.  Always wear safety glasses, and protect your hands by wearing all-purpose utility gloves. This will drastically reduce the risk of eye and hand injury.  

It all starts with our patented recycled rubber base.  Made from used car tires diverted from landfills, the bases are durable, weather resistant and provide traction under the floating deck to minimize slippage.

Take your rubber base and apply it to the wood, which is placed face-down on a flat surface. Put it at the recommended spacing, in this case 15-18" apart between bases.  For his project, Dan had ~17" between bases.  Start at one end, with the end of the base flush to the end of the boards.  To build a balcony deck similar to Dan's, you will need two bases per panel, and build twenty panels (a 22-inch x 4-foot long panel for every 26" of deck length).

Next, use 1⅝" decking screws to secure the base to the wood, screwing through the rubber and into the back of the wood.  Remember to only dimple the rubber with the screw head (or, alternatively, use a washer).  Avoid screwing all the way into the rubber.

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For Dan's first panel, he built it right-side up due to the configuration of his space and the railing posts.  For each consecutive panel, he built them upside down as shown in the video linked above.

Once you have built the panels, flip the panels over.  Align them side-by-side, with a 5.5" gap in between panels.  This space is for the joiner board. 

Using a loose 6" decking board, simply place the board into the space and secure it to the patented side supports of the rubber base.  Screw from the top, through the wood and into the rubber.

Install optional transition boards for doorways from the inside of the home.  For the sliding glass doors, a transition board was added.  For the outside perimeter of the balcony, finishing boards were used to complete the professional, stylish look around the balcony railing.

Ariel finished the project by creating three different living areas for her family.  Each space is curated for different needs and functional uses for the balcony throughout the day, from morning tea, to afternoon daybed, to bistro nook.  Visit the PMQ for TWO blog to learn more about the DIY projects used to finish this toddler-friendly, pet-friendly, high style space.  It's a efficient use of a small space, captured only four feet wide, that extends her family's home to the outdoors!