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Composite Decking: An Eco-Friendly Deck Alternative Composite decking, made from repurposed wood waste and recycled plastic, yields superior strength as a deck construction material — while helping save trees. From "The Inside Job" episode DISJ-109

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Carter Oosterhouse and his skilled team of carpenters transform a dilapidated deck and run-down patio into a backyard oasis in just two days. It's all part of a home makeover featured on the hit HGTV series Carter Can.

Now DIY takes you behind the scenes at HGTV as Carter reveals the steps involved in the installation of the backyard deck. What's more, the new deck is made from an Earth-friendly reclaimed/recycled composite material.

Below is a list of materials and tools, as well as a summary of the steps in the deck project as featured in this Inside Job.

DIY Green Solution: Composite Decking

We used composite decking to build the new deck in this backyard. Composite decking is made from a combination of a wood waste and recycled plastic. The result is a material that yields superior strength, longevity and dimensional stability. It lasts longer than ordinary wood decks — and with less maintenance. It won't warp, crack, splinter or rot like wood. And because the composite decking uses old wood wastes, no old-growth trees are cut down in order to make it. Moreover, the plastic component in the composite is being reused. So in more ways than one, this is one green product.

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Materials:

side-grooved decking
composite deck trim
composite deck posts
composite balusters
composite handrails (top/bottom)
mounting brackets
uni-ball connectors
2.5" stainless steel deck screws
1.75" mounting screws
saber clips
3" screws.
1/2" diameter stainless steel bolts.
foot block

Tools:

chop saw
drill
7/32" drill bit
mallet
measuring tape
pencil
safety goggles
1/2" bolt bit

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	Figure B

Steps:

1. Begin by removing your old existing decking. Unscrew the old deck beams from your joists so as not to damage the deck frame.

2. Place your first post at the corner of your deck, inside the rim joists. For this project, our post will sit between two boards that make up the rim joists (figure A). If you have spaces between the joists and the post, use a shim to fill the gap.

3. Attach the post to the rim joists by screwing 1/2" diameter stainless steel bolts with 1.5" heavy duty washers through the joists and into the post. Make sure the bolts are placed towards the outer edges of the post and not in the center.

4. Add placers/filler pieces in between the two rim joists (figure B). Secure these using 2" nails.

5. Now it's time to add the deck trim. Attach the trim to the outer deck frame joists using countersink screws. When placing the trim around your posts use a jigsaw cut out the post area, that way you will assure a nice, snug fit.

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