Interlocking Deck Tiles - A Great DIY Project For Beautiful Deck, Patio And Porch Flooring

Many people have to replace their porch flooring, decks, or patios every year due to normal wear and tear. Treated lumber degrades over time, boards crack and splinter, and staining it another year isn't going to help much. Concrete patios crack, just no way to get around that. You can live with the small cracks but after a while those cracks can look like the Grand Canyon. You can replace all the deck boards or remove the concrete and pour another one.

Here's another option - interlocking deck tiles. The great thing about interlocking deck tiles is that they can be placed right over your porch flooring, decking, or patio. They are specifically made so that anyone can do it; you don't need to hire a contractor (saving you significant money right from the start).  As long as your existing flooring is in good shape, the interlocking deck tiles hide unsightly boards and cracked concrete. And because they are an engineered product they'll last a long time.

Another feature that's sure to make you take notice is the variety of materials, styles, colors, and patterns that are available. You can mix and match to create your own unique design. You can use one style as a border for your porch or patio and use another to cover the rest. You are only limited by your imagination. Not only that but you can choose from a variety of woods, porcelain, slate, granite, and even composites. They make great flooring for screened porches, 3-season porches, and four season porches as well.

Most people can install them over a medium size area in a few hours so you can enjoy the beauty of them right away. The only thing you won't want to do is install them on steps or stairways as they are not specifically designed for that. However, you can also use them around your pool, hot tub, walkways, and garden areas. Because the tiles are not directly fastened to your subfloor, you can even take them with you if you move, making them a great investment.

Interlocking deck tiles may be just the answer to that worn out porch, deck, or patio floor. Install them in the morning and have your friends over to enjoy your new look in the afternoon!

To learn much more about front porch flooring and to be inspired by many front porch pictures, please visit http://www.front-porch-ideas-and-more.com/interlocking-deck-tiles.html.

Dave R. Morris is a co-creator and co-founder of http://www.front-porch-ideas-and-more.com/front-porch-designs.html, your portal for front porch ideas and designs.

Dave is a retired Air Force officer, teacher, logistics analyst, woodworker, remodeler, and niche e-business developer. A grandfather and lover of the outdoors, Dave lives in Nashville, TN. Take a break and enjoy your porch!

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Financing Your New Decking Project

Decks are a great way to improve the value and overall attractiveness of your home, but they aren't always the cheapest way to do so. While most decks recoup a substantial percentage of their material costs in appreciation value, the initial price tag may be enough to turn some homeowners off to the prospect. But if you meet the right conditions, a decking project may be within your grasp, through a grant or a subsidized loan.

Here's a short list of funding options that you may be able to apply to your decking project.

HUD's 203(k) Program. If you're buying a home that the realtor describes as a "handyman's special," that generally means you'll have to plunk down some cash to make improvements before a bank will approve a mortgage. The Department of Housing and Urban Development offers its 203(k) program specifically for situations like this. What's not often mentioned is that homeowners wishing to refinance are also eligible. Installing a deck or decks is one of the most reliable ways to improve a home's value, so including a decking project in your assessment of the necessary repairs may make the home in question a more attractive prospect to the lender.

Property Improvement Loan Insurance. Under this program, the Federal Housing Administration insures home improvement loans made by private lenders, in an effort to make it easier for people to increase the value of their homes with projects like decks, basement remodeling and home additions. The maximum loan amount is $25,000 for a single-family structure - considerably more than enough to complete an extensive decking project.

Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program. This program, which targets Native American families and tribes, is most often used for home purchases, but it also guarantees rehabilitation loans. Decking is often included in housing rehabilitation projects.

Housing and Community Families. The United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development office offers a broad variety of loans and loan programs to persons living in rural communities. Many of these programs cover home improvements and renovations, as well as housing rehabilitation, meaning they'll likely cover a decking project, especially if it's part of a larger renovation scheme.

Kevin Ott is a freelance copywriter who writes about several topics, including home improvement, food, travel and marketing. One of his clients is Sequoia Supply, the premier supplier of quality decks and decking materials (to both contractors and do-it-yourself homeowners) in the Northeast.

Visit Sequoia Supply here:

http://www.decksupplies.com

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