My house was built in 1920. It’s a humble Victorian. The front porch is small and has a railing around it with a “gingerbread” balustrade. Also gingerbread up above, just below the eave.
The floor of the deck is 2″ x 8″ fir with a 1/4″ gap between boards. The boards run parallel to the length of the porch. It’s all cut up near the door from past owners chopping their kindling there. I want to cover it with something nicer.
I have seen other old Victorians with a decking made of what appears to be 3/4″ x 2″ boards tightly placed and running perpendicular to the house wall (across the porch, not along the length of it).
What wood would you use for this? We live in California at 2000′ elevation so we get some snow and lots of sun.
Rick Barlow, Sonora, CA
Replies
I think Ipe would look very nice for that, finish it with Messmers UV or Penofin.
check out http://www.ironwoods.com for a description of Ipe and the installation methods to a degree. You'll get a lot of info here with a search through past threads, ditto at the journal of light construction forum
Is this a covered porch?
Sounds like you're describing T&G fir decking. Lots and lots of that stuff was used on the East coast. The old stuff was old growth and if maintained and under a porch overhang could last for over a hundred years. I've got a side porch on my house built circa 1884 and the painted fir t&g decking is in perfect shape.
The problem with the new stuff is that it's not old growth and most likely won't last as long. I replaced my front porch decking last year with Tendura, a synthetic T&G decking. It looks historically good and I'm happy with it.
Yes, I'll bet that's right. I might try that synthetic Tendura. Is it paintable?
I see that there are issues with expansion of Tendura. Here in Sonora, it can get over 100 degrees for a few weeks in the summer. The deck in question is west facing. The porch is covered. It would be nailed down to the 2 x 8s. I wonder if that would help the heat expansion by creating a heat sink or compound it by preventing ventilation?
Re: TenduraI remember a while back the Tendura site was down and some were hypothesizing that they were out of business. The site is back up but I'm still a little leery.There are plenty of people who report good things about Tendura in enclosed locations, but I've heard of enough issues with expansion that I'm very reluctant to use it in an enclosed location. Tendura exposed to significant sunlight is asking from trouble in my opinion.
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
I had tendura installed on a porch in Eastern PA in May - the new planks have spacer beads - we allowed for an extra 1/8 inch for expansion - at least 4-6 feet of the boards get afternoon sunlight - there has been no buckling or warping to date, just a little fading, which the mfgr says will even out over time. there is good ventilation also. If there are any changes, I will let everyone know. This is a coverered, but not enclosed porch - because the roof does not have much of an overhang, it gets a lot of sun on the Southwest side.
If it's taking much direct sun I think it could be nailed down to 2X100's and you're still screwed.
Also 100 ambient temps probably translate to 150+ surface temps in the direct sun.
Did you look at Gregs photos???
Runnerguy
Yes, I did! Wow, that's some expansion. I think I'll go with mahogany or fir, prime it well and paint it. Maybe put tar paper underneath. No, that would hold water. Better let it flow down through the spaces in the 2 x 8s.
Be careful with Tendura. It can heat up.
Runnerguy
PS: Just found this thread.
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=86389.1
If I did this right take a look at Greg's photos
Edited 11/10/2007 3:08 pm ET by runnerguy
Edited 11/10/2007 3:49 pm ET by runnerguy
Typically this would be clear vertical grain doug fir 1x4. Sometimes T&G painted and sometimes square edge with 1/8"spacing and oiled.
A good new substitute is Tendura
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