I live in upstate New Yprk State and am looking for the best material for a traditional porch floor that is exposed to the elements of this great region. The porch is covered but open as traditional porches were in the “old days.” Suggestions for material and finish? I prefer a painted finish.
I am also looing for any comments regarding cedar versus fiber cement siding.
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My local planing mill sells t&g mahogany porch flooring at a decent price (cheaper than trex etc) I don't recall the price right now.
As for Cedar and Fiber Cement... they are very different products - if you are painting, go w/ fiber cement, if you are staining, cedar looks great. Carpenter bees like cedar too.
I had cedar on my last house and I am putting Hardie on the current one fwiw.
For the flooring you could use something like Trex. Rip it narrow to emulate the look of old-time flooring. It can be painted. It must be supported closely, probably every 12 or 16 inches if you rip it.
Some people don't like the coarse texture of Trex.
I had one house with cedar and one with Hardie Shingle. The Hardie Shingles held paint a whole lot better, and they didn't curl, nor dry out, split, and fall off like the cedar did.
Went to the lumber yard this afternoon to pick up cedar shingles for a small siding job. Right next to my order was an $18,000 order of hardee shingles and 5/4 trim. Never did the trim before, they say you have to predrill just to drive a nail through it!
I like cutting the cedar better, no silica
Grunge on. http://grungefm.com
traditional straight grain fir ...
or .. mahogany.
like the other poster .. I recently found the mahog to be a coupla cents cheaper bd/ft than the fir.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Jeff,How does Mahagony hold up to weather? IPE is indestructible, but it's difficult to install and seal, so I'm looking for an alternative.
very nicely.
doesn't take paint as well as the traditional fir ...
but that's why it weather well.
it's a covered porch ... why the over kill?
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
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Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Edited 4/15/2006 1:23 am ET by JeffBuck