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Porches & Decks

Best flooring for open porch

16 years ago

We're adding a covered but open porch to our house. I have had two previous houses with the same type of porch that had wood flooring and it rotted where the water got to it (basically around the edges) pretty quickly. I saw someone's porch that looked like it had some kind of colored composite boards, but I don't know exactly what they were. I don't want the floor to look like a deck--it's on the front of the house. Any suggestions?

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Comments (6)

fishbrains
16 years ago
Well if it's wood or composite it'll look like a deck. Maybe concrete with tile or slate over it.

Fb
theporchguy
16 years ago
I'm with you. I hate to see a porch looking like a deck.
A real porch floor is made from 5/4 x 4 toungue and groove
mahogany or similar. It costs about $4 a SF but is a real porch floor. There are techniques and finishes that make the wood floor last.
Additionally there are some newer manmade porch look alike boards as well that require no painting or maintainance.
Please get in touch and fill me in with more details of exactly what your're hoping to accomplish.
Thanks,
the porch guy
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alisonn
Original Author
16 years ago
That's exactly it--I want it to have the look of the tongue and groove wood porch floor, but I'm looking for the most durable and low-maintenance material.
theporchguy
16 years ago
Try going to the link below. Tendura offers true composite 5/4 x 4 T & G Flooring. I'm sure the flooring comes in colors as well.
Search their locations for a dealer nearest you. Most good lumber yards can get it for you.

All the Best.
The Porch Guy

Here is a link that might be useful: Tendura.com
louisa_smith03
16 years ago
what about an iron deck? I live in a historic neighborhood, and the old homes have iron "stoops" in the front and "decks" in the back. why don't they do such work anymore? Our home has a newer wood deck in the back and it needs to be replaced-- the iron stoop in the front just need occasional maintenance.
john_hyatt
16 years ago
Using steel for the frame is a long lasting idea. There are still plenty of Contractors willing to weld up a frame for Ya These guys>>www.kingmetals.comKeep in mind all steel needs to be painted on a regular not just occasional. Of course a define of failure has to be set,any little break in the finish will let the rust start and bang bang the cancer has a start.

I defently do not recomend tendura its bad Customer track record includes a lot of failure causing complete reform in the product. A quick read of the instulation instrustions is the first red flag. As always with a flakey composite these guys blame the instaler,funny how its always the installer with composite never the product.

John

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