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I am getting ready to put a new porch on the front of our house and I am trying to decide on which type of t&g flooring to put down. We want to use t&g to avoid having the porch “feel” like a deck.
The details: The porch will extend 8′ from the front of the house and be covered with a roof that overhangs the porch by 2′. Location is Central Ohio. The porch will be added to the west side of the house. Most of our rain comes in from the west. The floor will be painted.
I can get PT flooring, but I am worried about the boards shrinking. I do not want any gaps between the boards in a cpl of years!
I can also get untreated t&g and treat it (with what I’m not sure of) prior to painting.
One more question/comment: I had thought that in order for rain to run off the floor “better” that the flooring boards should be installed perpendicular to the house. In the places I have looked, I have seen drawings with the boards running parallel to the house.
Any thoughts/comments/ideas on this and any help on a wood preservative that has worked well for you would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike
Replies
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Mike,
If you do install t&g flooring, be sure to prime all four sides of it (ie: before installation), not just the top after you have it down. I would run it perpendicular to the house as well, with a very gentle slope for runoff of whatever water is going to get on it (and it will!). How high is your porch off the ground?
Good luck,
- Gary
*Thanks Gary. To answer your question, the porch floor will be aprox. 15" off of the ground.One more question: Should I use glue in the t&g?Thanks,Mike
*Agree totally on the perpendicular installation, and the prime all sides edges and cuts. Pay special attention to the ends and remember you won't be likely to crawl under there and paint the underside again. Don't see any sense in gluing the T&G tho you may think of gluing to the joists. Blind nail. Powernail or hand nail, but use something that wont rust. You might want to get the wood acclimated to the area (not the weather) b/4 you prime and put it down. I've used and am satisfied with fir, tho the wood we get now is not of the old school. Make note that there is a one way up on all the fir flooring I've used. Look at the end and see if there's a little offset in the tongue and mating groove. Keep em all the same when you lay it. I put the thick part up, in case of future sanding. Another thing to consider since you are so close to the ground would be a vapor barrier/or good drainage under there. You'll want to keep that as dry as you can under there. Don't block it with a bunch of bushes and stuff. Best of luck.
*Thanks Calvin.I was thinking a cpl of layers of 6mil poly and 4" crushed limestone for under the porch.Mike
*You've got minimal chance for water to gain entry from above ground, but put some fall in that visqueen so what does get under there will drain away. The poly should keep the ground moisture at bay. Best of luck.
*Mike, is the crawl space vented, need to keep air moving beneath the planks. Always intstall perpendicular to house and pitch floor slightly away from house wall. I have just finished one using Merandi planks. Added an edge piece to cover all exposed ends; looks great. Is the porch covered ?? If it's exposed to sun (as well as rain/snow) your potential for problems are increased. Have also had good luck with pine (dry as possible) and Benjamin Moore Deck paints. Either way, Enjoy !!!
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I am getting ready to put a new porch on the front of our house and I am trying to decide on which type of t&g flooring to put down. We want to use t&g to avoid having the porch "feel" like a deck.
The details: The porch will extend 8' from the front of the house and be covered with a roof that overhangs the porch by 2'. Location is Central Ohio. The porch will be added to the west side of the house. Most of our rain comes in from the west. The floor will be painted.
I can get PT flooring, but I am worried about the boards shrinking. I do not want any gaps between the boards in a cpl of years!
I can also get untreated t&g and treat it (with what I'm not sure of) prior to painting.
One more question/comment: I had thought that in order for rain to run off the floor "better" that the flooring boards should be installed perpendicular to the house. In the places I have looked, I have seen drawings with the boards running parallel to the house.
Any thoughts/comments/ideas on this and any help on a wood preservative that has worked well for you would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike