Designing & Building Your New Deck
When designing your new deck, or renovating an existing structure, plan on finishing your project with Rhino Deck. Use standard wood posts and joist runners when constructing the frame, then finish the project with Rhino Deck boards, spindles and posts. Remember, Rhino Deck is only designed for use as a deck board.
Installation Temperature and Board Gapping
For optimum performance: install at the mean temperature of your geographical area. Rhino Deck reacts to dramatic changes in weather much like natural materials. Gap end joints should be spaced allowing 1/16" for every 20 degrees of difference between installation temperature and the hottest average temperature expected. Allow 1/4" gap between sides of boards allowing for moisture absorption and water drainage.
Joist spans should be no more than 16" on center, the same as recommended for wood construction.
Fastening
We recommend high quality deck screws. Rhino Deck lasts and so should your fastener. Use at least a #8, 2 1/4" or longer deck screw. Pre-drill the diameter of the deck screw through Rhino Deck to allow for thermal expansion and contraction. Make sure to pre-drill only the deck board and not the stringer or joist. To prevent board ends from splitting, it is important to predill so that you get a complete clearance hole. Holes need to be pre-drilled at an angle, while allowing the heads of the screws to be at least 5/8" away from the end of the boards.
Cutting Tools
Carbide tipped tools are recommended.
Weathering
Deck areas that have different exposures to the elements, for example, under an overhang or a table would have less exposure, therefore, will show less weathering to neighboring boards.
Safety Information
As when doing any home improvement project, all safety precautions must be taken when handling materials and tools, including, but not limited to, the use of eye protection, gloves, safety guards on saws, and all power tools. Also, a safe work environment should be maintained which includes children and pets being absent from the construction area.
Handling Information
Rhino Deck acts very much the same as wood. Being heavier in weight, use the same precautions you would when handling natural materials. Store for long periods of time flat, with support every 2 feet. Do not attempt to lift similar volumes of Rhino Deck board as if it were wood.
Cleaning
Dirt and grime can simply be sprayed down with a high-pressure water hose. For mold and mildew use a cleaner containing sodium hypochlorite. For all other stains, use a deck cleaner like Flood's Dekswood®. http://www.floodco.com. When shoveling snow off, use a plastic or plastic tip shovel to avoid gouging the finish. Ice and snow will melt off of Rhino Deck if calcium chloride or rock salt is applied. Rinse the calcium chloride or rock salt to avoid surface residue build-up.
Recommended Care
Click here to download Care & Cleaning recommendations. 
Rhino Deck Ingredients
Rhino Deck decking material has a limited 20 year warranty. This warranty offers coverage against checking, insect/termite damage and splintering for a full 20 years after the date of purchase. Rhino Deck does not guarantee consistent fade free color. Rhino Deck is made out of HDPE plastic and wood, color variations and uneven fading may occur when exposed to the elements. We do not cover labor or consequential damages. The warranty is fully transferable so remember to save your receipt(s).
Recycled Product
Master Mark Plastics is the manufacturer of Rhino Deck located in beautiful central Minnesota. Master Mark is recognized as one of the top HDPE recyclers in the country. Master Mark recycles upward of 35 million pounds of recycled HDPE plastic annually.
Recycled material is important. Rhino Deck uses approximately 50% recycled wood and 50% recycled plastic. The recycled wood is from recovered shipping pallets and scrap wood from cabinet making operations. The HDPE plastic is from recovered post consumer bottles. These ingredients are then blended with colorant and U.V. stabilizers to make Rhino Deck, the toughest and longest lasting decking material for your building projects.
Want to show off your project?
We want to see it! Here is an opportunity for you to proudly show off your latest project that you have created using Rhino Deck boards, posts and spindles. No matter what project you have done, Rhino Deck materials can be used in a variety of places like decks, walkways, gazebos, pool areas, docks, children's play areas and other places that you want a low maintenance, splinter free materials! We would love to see what you have done. The photo(s) sent will be for our internal use only, and will contact you for your approval if we use the photo(s) for other than internal uses.
Please send us your color photograph(s) in the mail to:
Master Mark Plastics
Marketing Department, P.O. Box 662
Albany, MN 56307-0662
Or send us digital images of your deck projects through e-mail to: marketing@mastermark.com
