Building a Puppy Spot on Your Deck Phase 1: Installing Artificial Grass
Would you ever add artificial grass to your deck? We have a new puppy at our house and we are first time puppy parents. Our yard is only partially fenced in so letting him out to run or enjoy the fresh air, off leash, is nearly impossible. Taking a look around the yard, we decided that our back deck was the best option of making a puppy outdoor spot. It’s a place where we like to hang out. The deck runs the length of the house so there is plenty of room to spare and it’s covered, meaning it’s sheltered from many of the outdoor elements.
This post may include affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you click on the link and/or purchase from that site. I use that money to keep this blog running. You can see our full disclosures here: http://therefininghome.com/disclaimer/
Choosing A Puppy Spot
After walking our yard and designating this space on the deck for the puppy, we had to clear it out and get it ready for installation. We measured the space, then measured the left over piece of artificial grass from our pergola build with Select Surfaces. You can read about why we chose Select Surfaces in our blog post here: http://therefininghome.com/One Room Challenge Artificial Grass After measuring we then checked the area for any dangers to make sure it would be a safe spot. Because it is on the second floor and the spaces between the railings are wider than I like, we will be adding protective measures to keep our puppy from accidentally falling off the deck. He’s a smart little pup but I like to err on the side of caution.
Getting Started
Of course we needed our puppy, Pawquets (sounds like Pockets), to approve of the space. Which he was happy to do. The scrap piece of artificial grass we are using measured 3’x12′. Cutting it in half and laying the pieces side by side gave us a 6’x6′ space. Perfect for our little pup! And perfect for the deck space. One thing you’ll want to think about is how big your dog is expected to grow. If you have more than one dog make sure that the space will be comfortable for however many pets will be sharing this space. You may want a larger space.
Securing the Artificial Grass
Even though the deck is completely covered, it still gets exposure to occasional rain, snow and definitely sunshine. We opted for Exterior wood screws, which have a 10 year warranty against rust and corrosion. Then used a power drill to screw the artificial grass to the wood slats of the deck floor. We started on one side spacing the screws 3 to 4 inches apart. Moving to the center where the two pieces meet up and working down the length of the center before attaching the opposite side of where we started. Next we attached the remaining two ends, placed a few screws throughout the middle and then gave it a tug test. A tug test is just pulling up on the grass to make sure it didn’t come too far up off the deck. If it did, we attached another screw.
Finishing Up
Now that the grass is installed on the deck, our sweet pup has a space to lounge out on the deck or chase his tail around while we relax and watch the sunset or read. We can let him out here to play and watch the cars drive by while washing dishes or sweeping and mopping the floor. It’s shaded most of the day as it’s the west side of our house. In the late afternoon he loves to sunbathe out here. We think he really likes his puppy spot and he definitely knows it’s his spot. If you love DIY’s and are looking for inspo for pet projects, home remodels or home decor; you are in the right place. You’ll want to stay tuned as we add a few more details to this puppy spot in upcoming posts.
Much Love;
Joleen & Jess
