Meet TuffBlock - The Revolutionary & Highly Engineered Polymer Alternative to Concrete Deck Blocks

[@karenromero1703]

Opinion on using giant screw piles then mounting the Tuff block on top of it? Can I screw through the bottom plastic flange?

[@GenZyannd]

matt risinger sent me here. visiting their website next to checkout the spec

[@Buildtuff]

Matt makes awesome videos. Was great to feature on his channel!

[@bobinator7739]

I am trying these out for a three foot tall landscape flower box.

[@stephenjacobs1471]

These look awesome!! Gonna pick some up for an upcoming project.

[@Buildtuff]

Build On!

[@bradhenshaw2361]

Cool product! Great job too on using 100% recycled plastic.

[@j2carchery]

look cool! do you not stake them in to the ground in anyway after they are leveled an placed? would be worried about them shifting, or is that not an issue after the load is on them?

[@Buildtuff]

If you're worried about uplift from wind then you can use earth anchors which are cheap and simple to install. Alternatively you can dynabolt TuffBlocks to concrete.

[@j2carchery]

@@BuildtuffI appreciate the reply thanks for the info!

[@archieanderson2945]

Now I know what Im going to be using in a we area and that my friends is Tuff block.

[@Buildtuff]

Love to hear that!

[@sjr7822]

No wonder I was straining myself, 41 lbs! How long have these Tuffblocks been around! Got another shed to jack up-

[@Buildtuff]

TuffBlocks have been around for about 5 years now, but really taken off in popularity in the last 2. The floating foundation method is gaining a lot of traction due to the speed + ease of work, saving on tools and saving on labor cost. Best of luck with the shed!

[@heatherjolly8389]

this thing seems genius!

[@Buildtuff]

Thanks Heather we appreciate the great feedback. Hope it comes in helpful on your next project!

[@MrNobody66]

How does it prevent the movement of wood in summer

[@memebandit]

With gravity maybe.

[@MariaLuna-jl1uu]

we need the weight too for many reasons!!!

[@Buildtuff]

😂😂

[@samcoffeymusic]

You can use hurricane cables for that, much stronger than the puny amount of gravity weight provided by concrete blocks

[@November_Charlie_Red]

Would these be good for the corner pieces for a dirt greenhouse?

[@Buildtuff]

Yeah absolutely. Check out this video where April Wilkerson jacks up her greenhouse onto TuffBlocks.

[@kimchee94112]

So this thing allows water to escape then could you use standard lumber instead of pressure treated?

[@Buildtuff]

When building low profile decks we always suggest using treated lumber. It's true, TuffBlock prevents water buildup but building codes typically require treated wood for ground decks and it's the best bet for the longevity of your deck.

[@jackgray5749]

Why can't I buy these in the UK ?

[@Buildtuff]

We have plans to in the future but unfortunately as of now we don't sell in the UK or Europe.

[@bryanstone5207]

I have only seen these used for low decks. Can these be used for decks for an above ground pool? Posts would be around 4’ high.

[@Buildtuff]

We recommend using them up to 3 feet (1 meter). Local codes vary depending on your area, but I'm afraid unless you cement some down, then for a floating deck 4 feet would be too high. As an intermediary solution this would work.

[@Jackman8594]

What kind of ground prep do you need, you can't just throw on the grass?

[@Buildtuff]

It's not recommended as you want a compacted base to build on and the top soil that has grass growing tends to be on the loose side which can cause issues with movement. You can build on grass, but it's not the best method. It's also wise to remove any vegetation beneath your deck in general and use weed protection.

[@jonlukas3483]

Can your product be used for sheds?

[@Buildtuff]

Absolutely, it's a very common use. Check out the video with Matt Risinger where he used it to build a shed: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o32qqZqKdqZ-h8k Or BYOT who used it to make a greenhouse: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqi8k4xpgb5_rJY

[@tonymiceli8385]

I am looking at building a 20'' x 20' deck for a customer and the only length of lumber I can get is 2x6 in 16' length so was looking for some guidance on whether or not I can place two boards end to end on a tuff block allowing me to reach the 20' length and using a Tie Plate to secure them together.

[@Buildtuff]

Yeah absolutely you can do this. There's plenty of room in the TuffBlock slot to accomplish this. It's been done before by a number of builders and structurally it should be sound, especially with the tie plate.

[@19moods]

Ok. I looked up the price. Concrete Deck Blocks = $9.68. Tuffblock = $8.95. This is at LOWES. And in Home Depot, Concrete Deck Blocks are one penny more than Lowes concrete deck blocks. My only Question..mine are in Dirt...for a floating deck... are they going to slide around in the packed gravel I use to level everything? Is that why you recommend using heavy Concrete deck blocks at the ends ? I'm a Veteran.. have a bad back.. this will allow me to build the deck vs have to pay someone.. which I really cannot afford.

[@Buildtuff]

Hi there - apologies for the late response! In terms of the weight of the block itself, that isn't an issue as the weight of the materials that go on top of it typically weigh up to half a ton. When it comes to floating decks, so long as they're used on stable compacted grade level earth and you create a level base then there isn't any significant difference in the application between TuffBlock and concrete blocks. The benefit of TuffBlock is that it's very lightweight, strong, comes with perfect measurements for most lumber sizes and has an ultra low profile (all of which are an issue with concrete blocks). You shouldn't need concrete blocks at the end. What you might be referring to is in ground concrete piers (poured concrete that needs to set over days) which you can use when tying the project to the ground. Hope this helps.

[@Daddyoftam]

What happens if you nest these to level your deck? Is the strength compromised?

[@Buildtuff]

We haven't tested a load rating for when they're stacked as they're not designed to be used that way, however a better solution would be to use 4x4 posts cut to the correct height with joists then attached. That's what we recommend in our installation guide, which you can find on our website. Hope this helps!

[@Bonkatronicks]

says height is 90mil is that with the wood inside or is that how big the thing is?

[@Buildtuff]

Hi Aiden - TuffBlocks are 90mm in height without the wood inside. Please check the BuildTuff website for a detailed diagram of the dimensions.

[@SouthBaySteelers]

How does it hold up against UV?…

[@Buildtuff]

TuffBlocks are UV stabilized so they will hold up to the sun no problem. We have many customer decks throughout California and Queensland in Australia that have held up in the harshest environments for UV over many years.

[@waheedmalik6120]

You put them straight on grass???!!! And you're saying they won't sink once there is weight on top? Should there not be a solid base?

[@Buildtuff]

You almost always want to remove the grass directly under the block. This is to remove vegetation, roots, and reveal the soil that you can compact with a tamp or compactor to create a firm surface to build on.

[@sobrooklyn-do5gs]

Expensive though, in comperison to C- block

[@rr7775]

Not anymore....concrete blocks coming in more expensive than these currently.

[@enlightenedillumination]

Are they good for sheds

[@olivertruswell]

There's a video coming out shortly showing how it was used as the foundation for a shed. It works great for them too.

[@Buildtuff]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eojVqqWsrdmUpsU Check out this video we recently created showing how it can be used with sheds.

[@enlightenedillumination]

Can I order in usa

[@Buildtuff]

​@@enlightenedillumination You sure can. You'll find them at Lowes here: www.lowes.com/pd/BuildTuff-TuffBlock-1/1001436780 Or at our website here: buildtuff.com/

[@brianbaker359]

Bought them at Home Hardware in Ontario and used them to build a shed. Extremely easy to use and reasonably priced as well. Highly recommended.

[@davidbooher5559]

Can I buy these bad boys at Lowes?? 💪🤔

[@Buildtuff]

You sure can. We're in over 1300 stores across the US. If you can't find us in your local store, we can deliver to you for free from our website buildtuff.com/products/tuffblock

[@e.mcclain1171]

Good idea though, but $10.00 a unit, Free S/H 🤔🤔🤔 The average Big Box store sells deck blocks between $6.37 - $7.29 +/-, the cost will add up quickly for the tuff block. Just saying......

[@Buildtuff]

Hey E. McClain. We see your point and thanks for letting us know. In Lowes we're actually cheaper than concrete deck blocks by more than 50c a block (this varies from store to store). Concrete deck blocks aren't a bad option but consider some advantages. It's ultra low profile design of 50mm to the base allows ultra low profile decks, which you can't achieve with chunky concrete blocks (without digging each block into the ground). TuffBlocks work extremely well on surfaces you can't dig into such as concrete, bitumen and tiles etc. where the wide flat base works perfectly. In these situations an ultra low profile deck isn't achievable with concrete blocks. With concrete you typically use a handsaw to cut out the post slot, whereas TuffBlocks come with precise measurements built in. With larger projects, getting 50+ concrete blocks in your truck isn't ideal (or perhaps even possible). TuffBlocks being lightweight and stackable means transporting is very simple. And that factors into speed of use when building. We hope you'll consider the advantages TuffBlocks provide and give us a try!

[@FJB2020]

@@Buildtuff Hmm here I see you are nearly DOUBLE that of a concrete deck block.. Which has at least a 10x compression strength as compared to your product... Only plus is you are made in USA... For now.. but I bet that will change...

[@Buildtuff]

@@FJB2020 It varies slightly depending on each store but currently we're about 30% more than the concrete blocks but factor in the additional benefits: easy to transport, store and use, they allow for 2 inch ultra low decks rather than the 6 inch minimum that concrete has. The TuffBlocks are break tested to 11,000 lbs each so strength definitely isn't an issue. The concrete blocks don't come with post slots pre-made, you have to chisel them out which adds time and labour. And a big complaint of the concrete blocks is that they vary in size from block to block, so your 2inch timber doesn't always slot in. TuffBlocks are precise. Oh, and don't forget that TuffBlock is made from 100% recycled plastic that repurposes plastic headed to landfill or the ocean. Concrete production is damaging to the environment. We appreciate the additional cost is a factor, but we hope you see the benefits as well! BuildTuff believes strongly in the re-shoring of manufacturing back from China, so don't expect us to leave anytime soon!

[@erikaw5669]

I was at Lowes tonight and concrete deck blocks are now $10 each. Tuff blocks are $8 something. Concrete is too expensive now.

[@timsmith7055]

So a concrete footing under my raise deck went sideways today after heavy rain… It was like 4 inches underground. Can I buy a new post and use one of these as a replacement to the concrete post? It was just the 4 x 4 sitting on top of the concrete… I know it’s not up to standard for today but the thing was built 30 years ago.

[@Buildtuff]

Hi Tim. Thanks for getting in touch! How high is your raised deck? Typically we don't recommend using a deck footing on anything higher than 1 metre.

[@carlw]

Me need

[@freedom1028]

What is required as a sub base? Jesus!

[@kaitlynrowena5463]

Is this good for fences?

[@Buildtuff]

We've not seen it used in a fence before - more foundations for decks, sheds and walkways etc. With fencing the posts are tall and firmly fixed into the ground with concrete. With floating decks we recommend posts no taller than 3 feet (where the weight combined with the post slot with a wide load are more than enough to create a very stable foundation). We're always open to being proved wrong so don't let us tell you no. But we'd probably advise against TuffBlock (or any deck block) for a fence structure.