Frequently Asked Questions

We are often asked what the advantages of decking pedestals are and why they are preferable to traditional glued/non-adjustable installation methods. There are many reasons! Adjustable decking pedestals offer numerous advantages.

Firstly, using pedestals simplifies layout and installation. JOUPLAST® PVC decking pedestals are designed to simplify the installation of decking, whether it is made of slabs, composite, wood, mixed materials or even low-height decking. Height-adjustable pedestals allow for quick installation without heavy earthworks.

Adjustable pedestals also offer great adaptability, flexibility and modularity, making it easy to change the configuration of the decking according to the changing tastes and needs of the owners over time. This modularity is particularly advantageous for temporary or evolving installations.

Made from recycled materials, JOUPLAST® pedestals are stable, durable and resistant to temperature variations and crushing. They are highly resistant to heavy loads and can support up to 1 tonne. Their design includes an ingenious screw system that prevents sagging over time. They also allow for effective drainage of rainwater.

Adjustable decking pedestals are practical and save money by reducing construction costs and minimising environmental impact through the use of recycled materials.

Another significant advantage is that the pedestals can be used on various types of ground, whether level, sloping or uneven. Our self-levelling pedestals allow you to compensate for or correct a slight slope, making it easier to install your decking on a variety of terrains. Whether you want to landscape your garden, balcony, pool area or even a space with a pergola, adjustable pedestals will be your allies in outdoor landscaping.

The space under the terrace on pedestals allows cables and pipes to pass through, facilitating the installation of electrical or plumbing systems without requiring additional work. This makes it easier for you to integrate lighting fixtures into your outdoor design project, for example.

In short, JOUPLAST® terrace pedestals offer a practical, economical and durable solution for terrace design, while meeting the requirements of professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike.

Before starting work, it is essential to estimate the number of pedestals you will need to purchase. Here are the steps to follow to estimate the quantity of pedestals required:

Start by measuring the surface area of your patio and drawing up a layout plan, taking into account the recommended spacing for the type of paving slabs. Generally, a pedestal is placed at each corner of the slab, but some formats or materials may require additional support points, and therefore additional pedestals.

To find out the recommended spacing between each pedestal, we recommend that you consult the appropriate installation advice, available on the product sheet for the pedestal you are using, and the recommendations of your flooring manufacturer.

To calculate the number of pedestals:

• Divide the length of the terrace by the recommended spacing between two pedestals, then do the same with the width.
• Multiply the two results to obtain the total number of pedestals required.
• Remember to add extra pedestals for edges, corners or specific cuts.
• Always round up to the nearest whole number for optimum stability and to have a few spare pieces in reserve.

The lifespan of a wooden deck depends mainly on the quality of the structure.

That is why we advise you not to neglect this part of the deck, even though it is hidden.

When installing your decking, you must ensure that the weight is evenly distributed, that the structure is ventilated and protected from rainwater with a protective strip, that the boards are spaced correctly, etc. All these details matter.

To ensure your wooden deck on pedestals has a long life, it is also important to maintain it regularly. To do this, remember to protect and clean it regularly. Take care of your wood, and it will take care of you!

Fixego® must be used for wooden decking projects that comply with French DTU 51.4 standards. It is fixed directly to wooden joists using screws.

Once installed, it holds the boards in place, creating regular spacing between them and promoting air circulation and water drainage.

We recommend using wooden joists made from the same type of wood as the decking boards. We do not recommend using Fixego® with wood that is knotty or unstable, such as acacia.

We do not advise using Fixego® on joists less than 45 mm wide.

Yes! Jouplast ultra-flat pedestals are made from recycled materials. Their more environmentally friendly composition doesn’t make them any less durable—quite the opposite! They are resistant to weather conditions such as frost, as well as to UV rays.

The use of an aggregate stabilisation module is essential to avoid the creation of ruts by repeated use of vehicles entering and leaving a garage, for example.

The choice of edge finish for your riser pedestal terrace depends primarily on your landscaping preferences.

• For a look compatible with light-coloured or beige paving, such as a faux travertine, for example, the preference might be a RAL 1013 Oyster White profile.
• For a look compatible with darker paving closer to grey, a RAL7016 Anthracite Grey profile might be preferable.
• If you prefer an industrial or even metallic look, our advice would be to choose from the grey aluminium profile range.
• If you prefer to match the colour of your paving to the rest of your terrace, we recommend that you opt for a cut tile edge finish and use the paved side finishing plate and paved terrace side cladding support.

Jouplast snappable flat packers are easy to handle and adjust. They can also be used singly in one piece or snapped into 2 or 4 sections, stacked and/or combined with ridged wedges. They can be screwed, glued or screwed to provide maximum stability as work progresses.

The Jouplast® square gripper/isolation mat is compatible with the Cleman® and Essentiel® ranges of paver riser pedestals.

The Cleman® self-levelling 40/55 riser pedestal is designed and used to create tiled, ceramic or paved terraces for pedestrian use. Its self-levelling mechanism compensates for uneven ground and gradients of up to 5% to facilitate stable installation on irregular surfaces.

Cleman® 28/40 riser pedestals can be installed only on stabilised ground or a precast concrete slab. They are not suitable for use on loose soil or unprepared ground and must be laid on a flat surface whose gradient must not exceed 1.5%.

Jouplast® forked packers fit directly over a screw to ensure stability when adjusting and fixing joinery components. Their snappable tab makes them easier to grip and adjust more precisely. Depending on project requirements, they can be screwed, glued or nailed to ensure lasting stability. They can be stacked to achieve the desired thickness and optimise packing, including on uneven surfaces.

Jouplast® joist support pads must be installed only on rigid, flat surfaces, such as concrete slabs or stabilised ground. They are not suitable for loose or unstable ground, which could potentially compromise the long-term stability of the decking structure.

The Jouplast® isolation mat is designed to isolate the terrace riser pedestal from the substrate it stands on. Dimensionally stable, immovable and strong, the mat adapts to irregularities in the foundations, thereby distributing loads more evenly. It also improves structural stability and helps reduce vibration, impact noise and resonances. It is particularly useful for improving acoustic comfort and increasing terrace durability.

The Cleman® adjustment wrench is used to adjust the height of Cleman® riser pedestals. It can be used to correct up to 1 mm of misalignment after the paving has been laid, and enables riser pedestal heights to be adjusted as work progresses in increments of 1 mm per quarter turn. The adjustment wrench makes it possible to adjust each riser pedestal individually to create a perfectly flat and even finished surface. It is therefore an essential tool for laying paved terraces.

All our modules are strong enough to cope with the load imposed by reasonable traffic volumes. Alveplac® and Greenplac® have a maximum load bearing capacity of 600 tonnes/m2 when filled with aggregate or grass.

Il est nécessaire de préparer la surface sur laquelle sera installée votre terrasse en dalles. Un sol non préparé (pose directe sur de la terre, par exemple) peut évoluer dans le temps et bouger. En fonction du poids qu’il supportera et des conditions climatiques (sécheresse, fortes pluies…). C’est pourquoi, il est nécessaire de stabiliser le sol pour garantir une durabilité dans le temps à son projet.

Before installing adjustable pedestals, it is important to stabilise the ground to ensure the durability of your wooden or slab terrace. Regardless of the installation context, the ground must be flat, levelled and free of any obstacles.

On concrete slabs, be sure to remove any contamination that could interfere with the installation and stable support of the pedestals.

On raw ground, it will be necessary to carry out minor earthworks in a few simple steps. First, you will need to excavate your ground in order to start with a flat base and ensure that the ground is properly levelled. The installation of a geotextile and the creation of a crushed stone foundation layer are then essential in order to be able to accommodate the adjustable pedestals in good conditions.

If installing on a waterproof surface, comply with DTU 43.1.

If installing with our Elevo® pedestal for metal posts, soil preparation is minimal and simply requires the installation of a geotextile for proper rainwater drainage.

Jouplast® pedestals are designed to support heavy loads, with a crush test resistance of over 1 tonne per pedestal.

However, the load capacity of your slab terrace does not depend solely on the strength of the pedestals: it also depends on the type of slab used and its own mechanical strength.

Each material (porcelain stoneware, natural stone, etc.) has its own technical characteristics. It is therefore essential to consult your paving manufacturer’s recommendations to check their compatibility with installation on pedestals and their ability to withstand high point loads.

If your project involves the installation of heavy equipment (such as a spa, for example), we recommend that you opt for a reinforced structure system or provide a specific masonry support under the area concerned to ensure optimal load distribution.

Depending on the nature of your soil and the intended use, there are three types of stabilisation available:

• Without foundations : this method is suitable for covered projects on well-drained or load-bearing soil with sufficient slope. It can be used for temporary projects.
• With minimal foundations : this method is recommended for moderately draining and load-bearing soils.
• Conventional foundations : this method is recommended for low-bearing and impermeable soils.

If in doubt, do not hesitate to ask a specialist for a geological analysis (drainage and load-bearing capacity) of your soil.