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I’m rebuilding an old porch and I’m not sure weather I should install the 1×6 pressure treated pine flooring with the grain cupped up or cupped down. I will be blind nailing it with a floor stapler. The slope is 1/4″per ft. away from the house. If I install it cup down, won’t water flow into the cracks? Wouldn’t that promote rot? I could install it cup up with a couple of saw kerfs cut into the bottom to help prevent cupping but this might weaken the floor too much for the 16″span……. I need some good carpentry feedback.
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andrew..if im not mistaken, with T&G flooring once you install the first board you have no choice as to which way to lay the "cup". You will have to match the tounge of the board laid to the groove of the board being nailed. unless the manufacturers cut and shape each board the same you have no choice. All porches ive done with this were covered so i never paid attention to this factor.
*Don't do it at all! No one seems to take care of their T&G floors, nearly every one i see is rotting. Of course, rot = income ... what a tragedy if everyone built their houses from plastic. Interesting how one's perspective changes as he becomes mercenary.Seal the wood well (all sides) and, if possible, shield it from rain. Paint it every one-two years. Consider another surface without cracks tha drains well, or space regular boards and provide drainage below. (I tend towards lower-maintenance solutions.) Consider synthetic decking -- Trex, Timbertech, whatever.On this darn cupping thing: My guess was that the bottom of the wood stayed wet while the top dried in the sun or dry air, causing swelling 7 shrinking to create a cup. You don't hear people complain about crowned deck boards, which would at least look bad even if they don't collect water. Anyway, here is the Forest Products Lab take on it in FPL FAQs ... which boils down to put the best looking side up, if there is one, otherwise bark up -- for reasons other than cupping! Yes, i know this debate will never end, esp. among the woodworkers -- take this one to Knots.
*Andrew,The rotted porches did b nothave pressure treatment.Near the stream walking Matilda (One of my favorite lobsters, My most flamin red ones are named Gabe and Joe!)J
*Sure they did! I get to start ripping one out next week ... and whoever did the work never saw a piece of pt he didn't like! Anyway, the water causes lots of damage other than rot ... I should be faulted for using "rot" too generally, there's cracks, splits, cups, splinters, shelling, checking.... T&G just seems high maintenance in a significantly-exposed location. I like big eaves best. Yeah, I know, ice dams.
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I'm rebuilding an old porch and I'm not sure weather I should install the 1x6 pressure treated pine flooring with the grain cupped up or cupped down. I will be blind nailing it with a floor stapler. The slope is 1/4"per ft. away from the house. If I install it cup down, won't water flow into the cracks? Wouldn't that promote rot? I could install it cup up with a couple of saw kerfs cut into the bottom to help prevent cupping but this might weaken the floor too much for the 16"span....... I need some good carpentry feedback.