Porch Flooring 2

The type of porch flooring you use is an important consideration when you build on a new porch to your home. You have to consider how much time you have for maintenance and this will influence e the type of flooring that you buy.

Even if you want to go with wood, you have several options. You can lay wooden planks that you need to sand and paint or stain on an annual basis. There are also interlocking wood tiles that you can easily install over any existing material, even concrete. These tiles come in various designs so that you can create really unique patterns. They look so much like wood that visitors will comment on your craftsmanship.

For real wood, the best type to use is Southern Pine, especially if your porch is not fully enclosed. This wood is weather resistant and has a built-in resistance to rot and insect infestation. Just make sure that the wood you buy for the flooring has been pressure treated to withstand the moisture from the weather and you can save yourself a lot of time in annual maintenance.

The size and the grade of the wood are also important factors to consider when choosing wood for the floor of your porch. In some areas, you might have to add a sealant to further protect the floor from the elements of the weather. Experts recommend using wood that is 1 inch or 1 1/4 inches in thickness for an enclosed porch and thicker wood for outdoor porches.

Whether you use the wood tiles or real wood, the installation process is relatively easy. The tiles simply snap together to forma floating floor and the tongue and groove in the wood makes the planks easy to put together as well. You can take up the tiles whenever you want and relay them to make a new pattern, but taking up the wood floor requires more work.