Step by Step: How to Plan Your Terrace Properly

At a Glance

Measure the area accurately, choose the right decking boards, check the subfloor, calculate material quantities, and do not forget the accessories. With the right planning, you avoid costly mistakes and save both time and money.

How to Plan Your Terrace: Why Getting It Right Matters

Building a terrace often seems straightforward — but in practice, many problems arise directly from poor planning. Too little material, the wrong decking boards, or missing accessories can quickly lead to delays, additional costs, and unnecessary effort.  However, with a clear step-by-step approach, you can avoid every one of these problems before a single board is laid. This guide walks you through each stage of the planning process — so you can build your terrace with confidence.

Step 1: Measure the Area Accurately

Accurate measurements are the foundation of every successful terrace project. Before anything else, measure the full length and width of the area you want to cover.

Pay attention to:

• Corners, recesses, or unusual shapes that affect the total area
• Possible obstacles such as drainpipes, steps, or fixed structures
• Any areas that will not be covered, such as planting beds or pathways

In addition, always allow for a material buffer of approximately 5–10% on top of your calculated area. This covers cuts, waste, and any minor measurement errors — and prevents the frustrating situation of running short mid-installation.

Step 2: Choose the Right Decking Board

Choosing the right decking board is one of the most important decisions in the entire planning process. The right choice depends not on appearance alone, but above all on how the terrace will actually be used.

Here is a quick overview of the main options:

• Classic WPC — budget-conscious, proven quality, ideal for standard residential projects
• Co-Extrusion — low-maintenance, more resistant surface, better long-term colour stability
• Solid board — high load-bearing capacity, ideal for heavily used terraces and pool areas
• Hollow-core board — lighter and more affordable, sufficient for normal residential use

Therefore, consider your actual usage before making a decision. A family terrace with children and pets has very different requirements from a small balcony used occasionally.

Step 3: Check Your Subfloor

The condition of your subfloor determines the type of substructure you need — and whether adjustable pedestals are required. Before choosing your complete set, ask yourself:

• Is the subfloor level, or are there height differences that need to be compensated?
• Is there a slope that affects drainage or stability?
• Is the base concrete, soil, gravel, or an existing old terrace?

For uneven subfloors, sloped surfaces, or installations on concrete or tiles, adjustable pedestals are strongly recommended. They allow precise height adjustment, ensure clean drainage, and eliminate the need for complex ground preparation. However, on a level, well-prepared gravel base, a standard substructure is perfectly sufficient.

Step 4: Calculate Your Material Requirements

Once you know your area, board type, and subfloor situation, the next step is to calculate exactly how much material you need. The most reliable way to do this is to use our terrace planner.

Calculate your terrace now: extrawood.de/en/planner

Within just a few minutes, you will receive:

• The exact number of decking boards required for your area
• Matching substructure components in the correct quantities
• All necessary accessories included in the calculation
• A clear and transparent cost overview

As a result, you replace guesswork with precise figures — before placing a single order.

Step 5: Do Not Forget the Accessories

One of the most common planning mistakes is focusing only on the decking boards and forgetting the components that hold everything together. For a complete and successful installation, you will need:

• Substructure joists in the correct length and quantity
• Clips, screws, and spacers for secure fastening
• Adjustable pedestals, if your subfloor requires them
• Finishing profiles for clean edges and transitions

The easiest way to make sure nothing is missing is to choose one of our complete sets — everything is pre-configured and coordinated, so you receive all components in the right quantities in a single package.

View complete sets: extrawood.de/en/category/wpc-complete-sets

Step 6: Test Colours and Surfaces Before You Order

Colours and surface textures always look different on a screen than they do in real life. Natural light, your garden surroundings, and your house façade all affect how a colour feels in place. For example, a tone that looks warm and natural on screen can appear cold or too dark in your specific outdoor environment. Therefore, always order samples before committing to a full order. Compare them at home, in your own light, and next to your façade — at different times of day and ideally together with your family or partner.

Order up to 5 free samples — including free delivery within Germany: extrawood.de/en/sample-shipping

4 Common Planning Mistakes to Avoid

1. Skipping the planning stage entirely. Many buyers go straight from browsing to ordering — without measuring accurately or checking the subfloor. In result, materials arrive that do not fit, and the project stalls before it even begins.

2. Underestimating the subfloor. A subfloor that looks level is often not level enough for a standard installation. However, this only becomes apparent during installation — when it is too late to avoid delays and extra costs.

3. Choosing the wrong decking board. Selecting a board based on appearance rather than intended use is one of the most common and most costly mistakes. Therefore, always match the board type to the actual demands of your project.

4. Not ordering samples. Ordering without seeing the colour and surface in person leads to mismatches that are expensive and frustrating to correct. Samples are free — there is no good reason to skip this step.

Conclusion: Good Planning Is the Most Important Step

A terrace built on solid planning is faster to complete, cheaper to execute, and more satisfying to use. Those who plan in a structured way avoid the problems that slow down so many terrace projects — and arrive at the installation stage with everything they need, in the right quantities, at the right cost.

Therefore, start with the planner, order your samples, and choose the complete set that fits your subfloor and your intended use. The time you invest in planning now will save you far more time — and money — later.

Calculate your terrace now: extrawood.de/en/planner

Order free samples: extrawood.de/en/sample-shipping