Floor for screened porch in Northeast, any updates?
I've read all the comments about floors for screened-in porches, but most are years old and I could use some updated advice.
Here's the situation: Our second-floor porch has screens floor to ceiling and is built over the walkout basement deck. We are in the northeast, so it gets water and snow, but no bugs. Currently it has stained/sealed luan plywood over exterior grade plywood. (The luan was a quick solution after a miscommunication. Nuff said.)
I've seen solutions ranging from ceramic tile to Duradek vinyl to decking with screens underneath. Some people claim they just don't get bugs even with spaces between the deck boards (really?). This porch gets dirty, so screens under the boards don't seem like a good solution. Carpet is not an option. Although we did briefly think about lock-together rubber flooring like gyms use, but we'd have to take it up every winter.
Any new ideas?
Comments (6)
cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
last yearlast modified: last yearI just installed Millboard on our new porch, second story over walk-out basement patio, and the stairs leading down from the porch. The company is Outlive and located in Minnesota. The decking is just amazing. We haven't quite finished because our contractor was very late in starting, so painting will need to wait until spring. Our Millboard is the Enhanced Grain Smoked Oak, but they have many color choices. Cleaning with soap and water is all that is needed once a year, although our big and often muddy dog leaves paw prints. They wipe or sweep off easily. The Millboard is not slippery when wet-our dog goes racing and leaping down them and has not slipped once. Apparently there is some sort of coating that the rain will wash off (and that I will need to wash off on the screened porch), but once it is off it is not at all slippery. The surface is a mold of actual trees and there are six different patterns that the installer has to vary to make it look natural. I included the link below. John Fowler is the founder of Outlive. Everyone at the company seems to be wonderful. I could not be happier.
dnbean thanked cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
dnbean
last yearRelated Discussions
Flooring for Screened Porch
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Comments (3)painting it black isn't going to help with the dirt. a photo further back to see the entire look would help. it's on both side of the entrance, right? Is it the interior side you want to improve, or both interior & exterior. Any thought on siding the interior space with an exterior siding, for a finished look to the dining space?...See MoreScreen porch converting to sunroom, what can I do with the floor
Comments (13)What do you want to use the space for? It looks like it's currently being used as outdoor living space. If you want to make it true extension space, hit up your local ordanances to see what is in code. Some places have some serious code about what you can do or can't rig up. Some are more lax or don't have much codes about it. For example, some places are ok with converting a deck into a living space like a sunroom. Other places might say no and you need to tear that out and put in a proper foundation/footing first. Or that you can just wall in your current framing- or you might need to put up proper wall framing for siding or other finishing requirements. But if you can just go ahead with what you have... I would try sealing up the floor from the underside first. And also you would want to remove the lattice and enclose that underspace to help reduce the wind whistling around down there. The better you insulate and close up the underside, the better it keeps out the weather you don't want and keep in the temps you do want. Before considering topside flooring, figure out your walls. How are you planning on enclosing your walls? Can your current decking build support the additional weight of enclosure? If you happen to have a lot of glass handy, great. But if you don't, your glass order and wall build is going to be just as serious of an issue as sealing up the floor is....See Morednbean
last yearcyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
last yearlast modified: last year
cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)