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Home Repair Flooring Design Dilemma

Composite flooring for screened porch and steps.

8 months ago

We are hoping to replace our 37 year old wood porch floor with something that it easier to maintain. It is difficult to keep looking nice unless we repaint it every year. The outside steps are not holding stain. Everything looks ” rundown”. Is there someting inportant that i should know before considering composite flooring?

Featured Answer

PRO

HALLETT & Co.

8 months ago

If you currently have a painted tongue and groove porch floor it probably isnt built with treated lumber- most composite decking materials are designed to allow water to flow through. Even the tongue and groove options aren’t waterproof. Additionally composite products require very close joist spacing (typically 12”) since the material has no rigidity. Finally many of the composite materials are slippery when wet- I suggest spending extra for a material like timber tech aged hickory. It has a brushed finish that is very slip resistant. Good luck!

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Comments (11)

Lyn Nielson
8 months ago
a professional installation. woodworking skill is everything. words to live by

'measure twice, cut once'
grapefruit1_ar thanked Lyn Nielson
grapefruit1_ar
Original Author
8 months ago
Yes, i am aware of instalation importance but was hoping to get info on the materials.
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I 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. Outlive
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ci_lantro
8 months ago
Pictures of existing wood porch floor? General geographic location so we have a clue about the climate. And exterior pictures so we know if there is free air flow under the porch.
grapefruit1_ar
Original Author
8 months ago
I will take pictures tomorrow in the daylight. The wood floor has been fine for 37 years, but I am looking for an easier way to keep it better looking. The porch is elevated so there is airflow underneath. We are located in central PA on a wooded lot.
grapefruit1_ar
Original Author
8 months ago
Here are some pics of the porch.
You can see how awful the “ deckette” is , and the stairs are the same. That is why I am wondering if we should get composite for the whole thing? The porch floor would be fine if we painted it every year, but I really do not want to have to do that. This was much easier 37 years ago,
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
8 months ago
Looks like a composite will be perfect for you. I would start by selecting the tongue and groove product for the porch area as there are limited manufacturers. You will need to go to a local lumberyard for this not big box.
grapefruit1_ar thanked HALLETT & Co.
grapefruit1_ar
Original Author
8 months ago
I can do the same product for the porch and stairs?

Thank you very much for your input!
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
8 months ago
Your exterior area was designed for decking not tongue and groove so you may want to stick with a decking type material but hard to say without seeing framing etc
grapefruit1_ar thanked HALLETT & Co.
grapefruit1_ar
Original Author
8 months ago
Your input is greatly appreciated. We live in an area of small towns so I will have to start looking for a contractor and then a material source.
charlie4129
8 months ago
You need to look structure underneath, specifically at the spacing of the joists.

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