Replacing my decking on farmers porch. I like trex and Azek , been wondering can get the decking with tongue &grove ? I like the standard width they sell. I was also wondering can I but a tongue &grove myself before I install the deck? Or is this a bad idea? I have a porch that is 6’ by 66’ rap around porch I’m also gonna bread board this or picture frame it. Any opinion would be greatly appreciated.
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Decking and porch flooring are two different products. If this is a porch, with a roof, then use porch flooring not decking. The composite T&G porch flooring requires 16" o.c. framing as does composite decking. Most old porch are not framed 16" o.c. I don't know what you mean by bread board or picture frame?
Both Trex and Azek offer decking options with tongue and groove profiles, which can provide a seamless and smooth surface for your porch. This type of decking can offer a cleaner appearance without visible fasteners and can help prevent debris from accumulating between the boards.
As for creating your own tongue and groove before installation, it's generally not recommended. While it may seem like a feasible solution, creating precise tongue and groove profiles requires specialized machinery and expertise. Attempting to create these profiles manually could result in uneven or poorly fitting boards, which may compromise the integrity and aesthetics of your porch decking.
Instead, it's best to purchase decking boards with pre-milled tongue and groove profiles from reputable manufacturers like Trex or Azek. This ensures consistency in size and quality, as well as compatibility with other components of the porch structure.
Additionally, incorporating a breadboard or picture frame design around the perimeter of your porch can add visual interest and provide a finished look to your decking project. Just be sure to plan and measure carefully to ensure proper installation and alignment of these features.
Overall, investing in pre-milled tongue and groove decking boards from trusted manufacturers is the recommended approach for achieving a high-quality, durable, and visually appealing porch surface.