Resurfacing a Porch Deck
As they say, you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression and this particularly applies to a front porch, which is the first thing that people normally notice when they visit your home. So if you have a wood front porch deck that has suffered somewhat from the ravages of weather or a concrete porch floor that has become chipped and worn, then renewing the porch surface is probably one of the priorities if you are planning any exterior home improvement projects.
If your porch has a solid wood decking on the surface then you have essentially two options for renovating or remodeling.
Firstly, if the wood decking has large holes or cracks and is severely weathered, then your best option is to lift up the existing boards and replace them completely. When replacing the wood decking, it would be advisable to select a species that is not only hard wearing, but is noted for its high durability.
Secondly, providing the wood surface is not excessively decayed and is therefore structurally sound, is to install interlocking deck tiles over the existing surface. These tiles simply snap in place over any existing hard surface so generally you don’t have the expense of employing contractors or tradesperson for installation. And since such tiles are now available in a number of wood species plus also granite, slate, porcelain and composite wood) you have the option of not only restoring the wood surface, but you can also change it to one of the other surfacing options available in these tiles. The wood tiles often are available in different designs such as those from HandyDeck, so it’s possible to create unique patterns, borders etc on your patio. Finishing pieces are often available to provide a neat edge to the porch.
If your front porch has a concrete surface, then you have more options for renewing the existing flooring material.
Concrete staining and stenciling – These days there are many different types of concrete patterns you can consider, not only stenciling or stamping to give a textured effect, but also various stains and other colorings. Generally with all of these options you’ll need to work with a specialized contractor.
Ceramic and porcelain tiles – For good reason, ceramic or porcelain tiles have long been one of the traditional options for re-surfacing concrete patios or porches. Not only do they look attractive, but they are available in a huge variety of colours. Installing porcelain or ceramic tiles is probably not a job that you’d want to undertake yourself unless you have particular experience in laying tiles so generally you need to employ a tiling contractor. Irrespective of who installs the tiles however, you need to ensure that the concrete surface is not severely cracked or suffering from any other structural defects as these will undoubtedly show up over time with any new surface that you lay.
Stone tiles -There are many beautiful stone products available, including granite, slate or sandstone. As with ceramic tiles, it’s best to employ a professional tile installer. In terms of cost, you’ll generally find that natural stone will be more expensive than porcelain or ceramic tiles.
Brick pavers – Brick pavers can be a suitable option if the extra height of these pavers will not be a problem with door openings. You will need to lay these in a bed of mortar and fill in the gaps between the pavers with a suitable grouting product.
Interlocking deck tiles – As with a wood porch deck, you can use interlocking decking tiles to cover the concrete surface of any patio, porch or veranda. Decking tiles have some advantage over conventional porcelain or ceramic tiles because they can generally cover small cracks and other minor imperfections on the surface without any problem. If necessary, depressions or cracks can be filled with suitable patching compound before laying the deck tiles. Interlocking decking tiles however are generally not designed to be used on steps or stairs, since they are not fixed to the surface in any way as they are effectively a floating type floor. So if you wish to cover steps or stairs as well, you would need to use more conventional materials such as wood or ceramic tiles.
Irrespective of which option you choose for your new porch deck, the end result will surely be a dramatic improvement, a revitalised space you can enjoy for many years in the future.
