geome
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| 09/15/2009 8:15 PM |
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We need to re-deck our front porch (approximately 8' x 32'). Looking for a tongue and groove product that will last a Long time with Little maintenance. If you have any suggestions we would greatly appreciate it. Thank you!
P.S. We don't want to use deck boards since they all seem to require a 1/4" gap between the boards.
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aardvarcus
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| 09/17/2009 11:48 AM |
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The reason for the gaps is to deal with expansion/contraction. If you were to find T&G deck boards, they would either buckle up or pull the tongue from the grove, depending on whether they were expanded or contracted when they were installed. If you are serious about doing this, you could buy regular decking boards, use a router or a table saw with a dado cutter to cut something similar to this picture. This would limit the depths of the "cracks" to about 1/4 or an inch and you wouldn't be able to see through them, but the boards can expand/contract without damage.
Edit- Or you could just pour a floating concrete slab. |
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Jelly
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| 09/17/2009 2:33 PM |
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| It's a covered porch? How about mesquite. |
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geome
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| 09/17/2009 6:20 PM |
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We really don't want gaps since this is for our front porch.
I thought mesquite was just for BBQ's! If you are serious, I apologize - do you have any links for this? I was considering bamboo, but no tongue and groove. May get either:
http://www.wahoodecks.com/ariddek/
or
http://www.lockdry.com/
Anyone have experience with these products? |
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Jelly
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| 09/18/2009 7:39 AM |
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No I was serious actually. Mesquite is absolutely one of the hardest, most stable hardwoods that you can use for flooring. Not sure about outdoor use, that's why I wondered if your porch was covered. But if any T&G hardwood would stand up then I think it would be mesquite. Ok, teak or ipe could work, but you'll need a separate loan for that.
I can't vouch for this vendor, never ordered anything, but his website has a lot of great information:
MESQUITE FLOORING
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jonr
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| 09/18/2009 8:49 AM |
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| Ipe can last 100 years and 1/16" gaps (practically no gap) are specified. |
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Alton
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| 09/18/2009 1:17 PM |
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Jonr,
I know that Ipe is a very hard wood. Does it take a diamond tip saw to cut it? |
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Alton C. Keown
Residential Designer and Construction Technology Consultant
Auburn, Alabama
E-mail: alton at auburn dot edu |
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geome
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Posts:59
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| 09/18/2009 3:14 PM |
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| I was just looking at various Ipe web sites. Looks like a carbide saw will work. Properly treating ends immediately after cutting has been recommended in some sites along with cobalt alloy drill bits. Man, this stuff must be hard! Thanks jonr for suggesting it. Does anyone here have this type of deck? The big consumer reviewing company (guess who) reviewed decking materials last year. Ipe didn't rate well for staining and color change, but neglected to say if this was an issue if the decking was stained/sealed. |
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jonr
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| 09/18/2009 10:01 PM |
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I have used a similar wood, Brazilian Redwood, indoors. Hard but cuts fine with a sharp blade. My understanding is that you would never stain it, either let it go to the natural nice gray or put a UV protector on it and it will stay a beautiful dark wood color.
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Rio
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| 09/20/2009 11:08 PM |
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Tongue and groove porches have been used for hundreds of years on east coast homes. There was an article in the Journal of Light Construction regarding the maintenance and it also dealt with re-building parts that had fallen prey to the elements over time if I remember correctly. Check out the archives on JLC and you should get some good information on T&G porch decks. It also might be a good idea to check out Fine Homebuilding another good remodeling and light construction magazine.
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cmkavala
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Posts:1415
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| 09/24/2009 6:11 AM |
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Posted By geome on 09/15/2009 8:15 PM
We need to re-deck our front porch (approximately 8' x 32'). Looking for a tongue and groove product that will last a Long time with Little maintenance. If you have any suggestions we would greatly appreciate it. Thank you!
P.S. We don't want to use deck boards since they all seem to require a 1/4" gap between the boards.
Try greenheart or purple heart http://www.durablewoods.com/products/timbers.php
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Chris Kavala
chris@southernsips dot com
1-877-321-SIPS |
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arkie6
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| 09/24/2009 11:37 PM |
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| Maybe I just don't understand "GreenBuilding", but the recommendations to use old growth hardwoods from rain forests for porch decking just doesn't seem very "Green" to me. Doesn't providing a market for this material further contribute to destruction of these South American rain forests that are considered the "lungs of the world"? Not to mention the amount of fuel that is burned to transport this material long distances. |
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cmkavala
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| 09/25/2009 5:21 AM |
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Arkie6;
the post I made with durable wood products is a lonng established company in Guyana, unlike others their operation is managed and they re-plant. They do ship greenheart and purpleheart worldwide as there is no market for their product in guyana.
Those species are naturally resistant to termites and rot and are used as hardwood trim, split shingles, sidng, decking and pilings even in salt water
sustainability also makes something green
below is a view of their products installed over a SIP display that we precut for them |
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Chris Kavala
chris@southernsips dot com
1-877-321-SIPS |
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cmkavala
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Posts:1415
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| 10/03/2009 7:37 AM |
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| GreenHeart |
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Chris Kavala
chris@southernsips dot com
1-877-321-SIPS |
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