Tongue and Groove Decking for Porches

Your porch is one of the first things everyone sees as they approach your front door. What kind of impression do you want to make? If one of your home improvement goals is to renovate your front porch, you need to know the best materials to use. After all, your porch is one of the easiest and fastest ways to decorate, update, revitalize, and repair your home.

Wood porch flooring options is the most popular material for porch floors. You can choose any species from domestic Walnut to exotic Cumaru. There is a wood floor to fit any budget and/or design. Often, exotic species such as Tigerwood or Ipe are more resistant to mold, mildew, and domestic pests than domestic species like Maple or Ash.

What do most professionals recommend? Ipe wood is believed to be the best wood for exterior use. Colors can range from olive brown, to brown-black, and sometimes striping of lighter colors throughout. It is very strong and dense, has high durability, and is resistant to splintering, warping, or cracking. Its natural oils help the wood to resist decay, insects, and mold, which leaves this wood chemical free. In addition, the wood has a class A fire rating for flame spread, which increases the fire safety of your home.

Tigerwood is, in my opinion, the most beautiful, and can be used for both interior and exterior use. Many high end homes use Tigerwood to create a smooth transition between their outdoor porch and their indoor living area. The color of Tigerwood can vary from a dark red to a red-brown and is known to have black and brown stripes. Tigerwood, like Ipe, also contains natural oils to help resist mold, mildew, and insects. In addition, its density and strength stands up to even the toughest of foot traffic.

Mahogany is just also very strong and dense, but not nearly as strong as Ipe. Its strength is comparable to Tigerwood and teak. It has the least amount of knots compared to the other porch decking materials. Mahogany is a great wood porch option because it is very rot-resistant.

As for the best profile to use, many installers choose the tongue and groove profile for covered porches because it is easy to install and gives you a solid, seamless look. If you're looking to renovate, or build a porch on your own, then Tongue and Groove decking can be installed easily so you don't have to worry about an expensive professional installer.

What about porch decking made of plastic composite materials? Their track record is spotty at best. Why? Well, mostly because of spots. You can find composite deck porch owners sharing pictures and horror stories about constant maintenance and repairs due to splotchy mold, decay, and peeling. The hardwoods mentioned above don't have that problem.

Before you get stared building a deck porch, be sure to check your local building codes. They are in place to make sure your porch passes inspection and has a long life.

Building a deck porch? Check out porch decking details and installation instructions.

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Decks vs Porches - What's the Difference?

Some houses have porches. Some have decks. Some have both.

But what's the difference between decks and porches, anyway? Is it just that one is on the back of your house and one is on the front? What happens if the porch wraps around to the back of the house? Or is it the deck that's wrapping around to the front?

Here's the thing about decks: It doesn't matter whether they're on the front or the back, whether they're called "decks" or "porches." A deck is a sure way to add beauty, value and class to any home.

Decks can be anything. They can be places to fire up the grill, or for jumping into your pool. They can be big or little. Simple or ornate.

It's this versatility that makes trying to differentiate between porches and decks a fruitless affair.

Think about it: There's no end to the possibilities. Here are just a few ideas.

Gazebos. Adding a gazebo to your decking project is a great way to add festivity to your backyard. Decks with gazebos installed in them are the perfect place for parties, cool spring nights, and, if possible, Dixieland jazz bands.

Cabanas. Why not add a roofed- and screened-in area to your new deck? Well-built decks can support some pretty impressive architecture, so there's no reason not to build a structure that'll keep the bugs out as it beautifies your home. It'll also give your home a great tiki feel that'll make it seem just a bit warmer in the winter.

Tree Houses. Who says decks are limited to houses? Nobody, that's who! Now's the perfect time to add a flight of stairs and some decking to that Southern live oak in your backyard. The versatility of decks means there's no end to the possibilities.

Multiple Levels. Your new deck can stretch from the second floor of your home to the first, with a few landings in between for creative uses, like game tables or swinging benches.

Garden Boxes. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to step right out onto your deck whenever you needed some fresh herbs for that tomato sauce you're stewing up? You can make a garden box or a small tree arbor out of the very decking material you're using to build your deck.

Dining Areas. A deck that extends from the dining room or kitchen is an easy way to add elegance to any dinner party. Imagine treating your guests to a view of the outdoors, instead of the four walls of your dining room. And like the garden boxes we mentioned earlier, you can make tables and chairs to match your decking material.

Decks n' Docks. If you're lucky enough to have waterfront property, you may be able to extend your deck into the water. It'll take some creative building and some elbow grease - building into a muddy bank is rarely anyone's idea of a good time - but you'll never regret it for one second.

So - still wondering about porches? Nah, probably not. Decks are where it's at.

But if you still want to call them porches, we won't tell anyone.

Kevin Ott is a freelance copywriter who lives in California and writes on a variety of topics, including home improvement, food, travel, marketing, and a variety of other topics. One of his clients is Sequoia Supply, the premier supplier of composite wood decking material (to both contractors and do-it-yourself homeowners) in the Northeast.

Visit Sequoia Supply here:

http://www.decksupplies.com

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