Choice of materials, structure, water management, impact of frost: everything you need to know to build your own terrace and save almost half the costs

As soon as spring arrives, decks become one of the most popular renovations, and it’s no wonder. It allows us to expand our living space and make the most of time outside in summer.

This is not a small project. It requires good planning and there are a lot of rules to follow to obtain a terrace that meets our expectations in terms of aesthetics and durability, but it allows us to save more than half the costs, so often the game worth the effort.

And contrary to what one might think, it is a project accessible to the uninitiated if they are ready to put in the time and energy and if they are good coached.

Before embarking on building a terrace, however, there are basic elements that must be understood to build a durable terrace: the impact of frost, water management, structure and types terrace coverings.

1. The impact of frost

The first thing to know is that in Quebec, with freezing and thawing, all structures that are not anchored below the frost level (4 feet below ground) rise and fall with changes in temperature. temperature.

If the terrace is detached from the house, this is not ideal for its long-term integrity, but nothing more.

If the deck is attached to the house, it can cause significant damage to the structure of the house.

It is therefore very important to anchor the terrace below the frost level, and there are two ways to do it:

1. With 7-foot screw piles installed by a specialized company (if the soil allows it, this is the preferred option since it is much faster and more environmentally friendly).

2. With reinforced concrete sonotubes going at least 5 feet below ground level.

The quantity of piles and sonotubes as well as their size will be determined according to the structure of the terrace. There are several possible arrangements and it is worth evaluating the costs and the particular situation, but it is generally more economical to install several smaller piles than large piles. Putting more piles also reduces the cost of the structure.

Companies specializing in piling will be able to inform you and help you make the right decision for your specific situation.

2. Water management

One thing that we must keep in mind, both for the terrace and for any other element of the house, is that water always finds a way to pass.

The important thing with a terrace is that water and air can pass through, and that the structure of the terrace is adequately protected. There are different things to do to ensure this:

It is important to have a positive drainage slope around the house and under the terrace (water must flow outwards from the land).

It is important that the soil under the terrace is draining and does not retain water. We recommend 0-3⁄4 stone.

The terrace must not directly touch the building. Two washers can be placed behind the screws to ensure space for the flow of water and air at all times; Specialized deck hardware such as NAMI can also be used.

All horizontal surfaces of the structure must be covered with G-Tape, a self-adhesive waterproof membrane specially designed for this purpose. Resisto and 3M membranes should be avoided since they are not compatible with treated wood.

3. The structure

The structure of your terrace must be built according to a plan. It is possible to have a plan drawn up by a technologist or a company specializing in terrace installation, or to use a virtual terrace designer online.

You will still want to keep in mind that:

To resist bad weather and mold, it is recommended to build the structure of the terraces in treated wood.

Columns must never touch directly on the ground or concrete.

Joists should always be perpendicular to the floor covering. If you want the deck boards to be parallel with the house, the joists will have to run from the house towards the yard.

To stabilize the terrace, you need to put braces between the joists, approximately in the middle.

The joists are made of wood, a living material, and are always at least a little crooked. They will have to be straightened manually with a hammer.

Your structure must be square. Check several times before installing the siding. You can’t go back later and that complicates the rest of the installation.

When the siding is wood, the joists must be installed every 16 in. For composite or PVC coverings, they must be installed every 12 in.

Wooden terraces are “deceptively cheap”

An option that seems interesting when you have a specific budget is to turn to treated wood or cedar decks, which are less expensive to purchase than composite wood or PVC decks.

Although wood has many advantages, it is important to keep in mind that it is not an economical option in the long term.

Taking into account the regular maintenance that wooden terraces require, they cost much more over 20 years than a composite or PVC terrace.

Low-end floor coverings that damage easily are also bad long-term investments because you’ll want to replace them more quickly, which is more expensive and less environmentally friendly than going for quality from the start.

4. Terrace coverings

There are now many options for decking that vary greatly in both look and price, and the decision needs to be made quickly because the choice of decking affects the structure.

There are a multitude of factors to consider when deciding on cladding, and it’s worth going to specialist stores to touch the products and discuss your situation with an advisor. However, your maintenance needs and your budget may direct you towards certain product lines rather than others.

1. The interview

Wooden terraces have a lot of advantages, but they have a major disadvantage: they must be maintained on a regular basis to remain beautiful and healthy.

This maintenance takes time, is expensive over time, and, when we are not diligent, we greatly reduce the lifespan of our terrace (and its appearance during the period when it is not maintained).

In short, if your time is limited and the idea of ​​regularly maintaining your terrace gives you a headache, wooden coverings should be avoided (with the exception of very hard exotic woods, which are also very expensive) .

2. The budget

Especially if your terrace is large, the price can increase very quickly depending on your choice of covering, and your budget will certainly direct you to certain products rather than others.

Premium PVC coverings, which almost perfectly imitate the style of wood and offer a warranty of up to 50 years, are the pinnacle of decking, but come with a hefty bill. If you can afford it, the look is great, they are less heavy and hot than composite and last a long time without any maintenance.

If your budget is limited, there are excellent mid-range composite products that are much less expensive and still offer an interesting look and good durability. The less high-end the product, the more you will need to avoid dark colors, which become very hot in the sun.

Les Filles de la Construction share their favorite coating choices (budget and high-end) in their Terrace guide.

Resources for making your own terrace

1. Terrace guideGirls of Construction

If you want to get started building a terrace (yourself or with a professional), the first resource to consult is the Terrace guide of the Girls of Construction.

It is a 25 page guide that includes:

√ All stages of building a terrace;

√ The advantages and disadvantages of each terrace covering;

√ Our favorite terrace coverings;

√ The tools needed to build your terrace;

√ Our maintenance tips;

√ Exclusive discounts from suppliers.

Get the Terrace guide : lesfillesdelaconstruction.com/guide-de-terrasse

2. The PurPatio terrace construction plan

PurPatio offers a free construction plan for a 12×12 terrace. This allows you to see all the details of a construction plan and adapt it to the needs of your terrace if necessary.

3. The Manual Institute of Girls in Construction

If you want to develop all the skills to do your manual work yourself (including your terrace!), be coached throughout the duration of your projects to ensure that you don’t make mistakes and get stuck at the beginning of the project, you will want to consider enrolling in the Girls of Construction Manual Institute.

It is 100% online training and support that teaches you how to use power tools, build non-load-bearing structures, install gypsum, ceramic, hardwood or floating floors and make repairs at home. YOU.

You keep access to content, online coaches and supplier discounts for life so you can do the majority of your work yourself and save money every time.

Les Filles de la Construction are passionate about construction and residential renovation. With their dynamic 100% online training and remote coaching, they educate and support home owners so that they can make the renovation work to be done on their property profitable (and carry out several of them themselves!).

They publish a monthly column in the CASA notebook.

You can follow them on Instagram @lesfillesdelaconstruction to get lots of other renovation tips.