I installed 1×4 T&G pressure treated flooring on an exterior porch three years ago. I installed with galvanized nails @ 16″ o.c. Front of porch was tight and I left gap @ house for expansion. The middle of the porch flooring has buckled badly. The porch roof does not extend past the flooring, in fact it is short by about 6 inches. There are no gutters and the main roof drains onto the porch roof. The porch receives a lot of water. It also faces south. the joists are perpendicular to the house with the T&G running parallel and the framing is not pitched away from house. Are these the factors responsible for the buckle?
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Hi Bill,
You put it down dry... tight, and as it has absorbed moisture it has expanded...just like an interior floor would.
T&G is a poor choice for decking if it is not covered.
When you did see T&G on a porch... it was mostly covered and the boards ran perpendicular to the outer wall of the house. They always had some slope to allow drainage. They always sealed the end grain and often painted the boards 4 sides prior to installation... the ones that lasted well anyhow.
Sloping the soil beneath the porch and installing a vapour barrier with gravel atop will also help keep the moisture level down.
Good Luck with it!
L
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