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Porches & Decks

composite over wood to update front porch

16 years ago

Hi Everyone,

We've recently moved into a north Florida house built in 1993. We have a lovely wrap-around front porch, but we don't like the columns and fencing. The columns and spindles are turned wood and they are thin. We would like them to be thicker and more linear - we think it would update the front of the house a lot. On one of the home improvement channels, I saw them update a porch by taking composite and nailing it right over the wood. That would put the project within the do-it-yourself space we can operate within - but it seems a little too good to be true.

Does anyone have any experience or ideas on such a project?

Thanks!

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Comments (5)

john_hyatt
16 years ago
It is defently too good to be true. Do not nail composite right over the wood decking,Do not belive 99.9 % shown on those home improvement channels. John
deckman22
16 years ago
What channel was that on, the "how to screw up a deck" channel?

You must strip the old decking off first before installing new composite decking on the existing frame. Make sure your joist are on 16" centers. If on 24" centers you'll have to add another joist between each pair of joist. Also you have to make sure the frame is in good enough shape to support a new composite floor.

Al
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I‘m in Cali too. Not sure, but it looks like the LA metro area. The thing that immediately stood out for me is the landscape mix of rocks and brick. I would have chosen one or the other. I could see a pale yellow on the stucco (I think the current color is too close to the roof color; reminds me of the popular colors of the 90s). I could also see removing the wrought iron decorative post (not sure if that is orginal based in the design) and put in a railing along that side, with a design tilting toward the 1950s. I am not the biggest fan of security doors, but understand why some really like the functionality of it. If it were my house, I would remove the security door and put in a stained wooden door. Love the original mail slot. I have a 1950s house too that is in Los Angeles proper that has the white wood siding too (vertical vs horizontal slats), but the stucco parts are a dark green with a dark brown painted front door. We also have wrought iron, but in the house. It acts as a wall near our staircase. I doubt ours is original too as the design does not fit the year the house was built (1958-59).
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You have a lovely, charming home, and I would keep it that way. Another vote here for working on the landscaping. Those bushes look so old and tired, and make the porch look sad. I would bet there used to be a wrought iron railing around the porch, too bad someone removed it.
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jtagabel
Original Author
16 years ago
I figured - so if we want to change the columns, rail and spindles, we have to start from scratch. Bummer . .but expected.

Many thanks!
riles_j
16 years ago
I agree putting composite decking over the top of old decking is a bad idea, but there are other items you listed that you were looking to upgrade (columns, rail, spindles). I may be misunderstanding what changes you want to make (a picture would help) but spindles (balusters) and rail can be replaced without starting from scratch. I'm not sure what you were planning with the columns, but I am assuming that they are columns that support a roof over the porch. There may be some things that can be done here to change the style as well without totaling starting over. If you could be more specific and maybe provide some pictures you may get some very creative ideas of what can or can not be done.

riles
theporchguy
16 years ago
Like RILES says - show us some pictures!
the porch guy

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