I'm having my front porch rebuilt. It has a roof, but other than a
balustrade, the floor won't be covered. It has northern, eastern, and
a bit of southern exposure. I live in NJ.

The builder plans to use pine (I don't know which species). Is that
okay? We plan to paint it (I've heard that the paint should be an
oil-based enamel--will that do?), and I will specify that the ends
must be treated with a sealer and that the ends and tongues and
grooves must be primed before the boards are laid. Does that sound
right? Is there a more appropriate wood species?

Thanks for any help!

Anne

Pine might be OK. It is generally a soft wood but depending on which species
it may be fine (Douglas Fir?). There is also a mahogany T&G porch floor
material that I like better. The boards should be free of knots and have a
tight, close grain. Quatersawn is best.

"Anne" wrote in message
om...
I'm having my front porch rebuilt. It has a roof, but other than a
balustrade, the floor won't be covered. It has northern, eastern, and
a bit of southern exposure. I live in NJ.

The builder plans to use pine (I don't know which species). Is that
okay? We plan to paint it (I've heard that the paint should be an
oil-based enamel--will that do?), and I will specify that the ends
must be treated with a sealer and that the ends and tongues and
grooves must be primed before the boards are laid. Does that sound
right? Is there a more appropriate wood species?

Thanks for any help!

Anne

I live on a lake and even with a shaded south exposure the deck only
lasted 10 years till treated came out. Get Treated at least and be sure
the proper fasteners are used, I believe Stainless is the only thing the
New treated wont destroy. My treated deck is now 25yrs old and fine.

Are you referring to Southern Yellow Pine?

On Fri, 10 Sep 2004 10:02:28 -0700, Abe wrote:

As for wood species, unless it is hard pine (which is expensive) I'd
go with cedar or fir.

The choice of paint is correct.

On 10 Sep 2004 05:56:34 -0700, (Anne) wrote:

I'm having my front porch rebuilt. It has a roof, but other than a
balustrade, the floor won't be covered. It has northern, eastern, and
a bit of southern exposure. I live in NJ.

The builder plans to use pine (I don't know which species). Is that
okay? We plan to paint it (I've heard that the paint should be an
oil-based enamel--will that do?), and I will specify that the ends
must be treated with a sealer and that the ends and tongues and
grooves must be primed before the boards are laid. Does that sound
right? Is there a more appropriate wood species?

Thanks for any help!

Anne
---------------------
If you really want to go all out in the wood protection area, after
the ends are sealed and dry, have the boards dip primed before
installation. It's not hard or expensive. The painter builds/buys a
narrow trough equal to the length of the boards, puts in primer, dips
the boards into the primer, and then backrolls off the excess. Full
coverage.

As for wood species, unless it is hard pine (which is expensive) I'd
go with cedar or fir.

The choice of paint is correct.

She is talking about a T&G traditional porch floor not a deck. I'm pretty
sure. Good advice for a deck though.

"m Ransley" wrote in message
...
I live on a lake and even with a shaded south exposure the deck only
lasted 10 years till treated came out. Get Treated at least and be sure
the proper fasteners are used, I believe Stainless is the only thing the
New treated wont destroy. My treated deck is now 25yrs old and fine.

Anne wrote:
I'm having my front porch rebuilt. It has a roof, but other than a
balustrade, the floor won't be covered. It has northern, eastern, and
a bit of southern exposure. I live in NJ.

The builder plans to use pine (I don't know which species). Is that
okay? We plan to paint it (I've heard that the paint should be an
oil-based enamel--will that do?), and I will specify that the ends
must be treated with a sealer and that the ends and tongues and
grooves must be primed before the boards are laid. Does that sound
right? Is there a more appropriate wood species?

Thanks for any help!

Anne

I have a porch like you describe but mine gets primarily eastern
exposure with a bit of northern and southern. The floor was put in in
1960 by my grandfather and is fir as far as I can tell. It is painted
with an oil base porch paint and is still in decent shape given it is 45
years old. The only protection on this porch was the paint. The northern
exposure part gets the most weather damage as would be expected. I
looked into replacing the floor earlier this year and it was recommended
that I use fir. Pine is softer as far as I know (but I'm not an expert
either).

Rob
NE PA

To those who so generously took the time to answer my questions: Thank
you so much for the help. I will talk to the contractor about using a
different wood, such as mahogany, cedar, or fir.

Anne