how to repair wood porch floor

How to Fix a Rotten Wood Porch Floor

1. Set the Cutting Depth. Set the cutting depth of a circular saw to the thickness of one of the porch flooring boards, instructs This Old House.
2. Pry Up the Center Piece. Pry up the part of the board between the cut lines up with a pry bar. ...
3. Pry the Rest of the Boards. ...
4. Remove the Joists. ...
5. Cut New Joists. ...
6. Install New Floorboards. ...
7. Add Your Finishing Touches. ...

Full Answer

How to fix a rotten wood porch floor?

How to Fix a Rotten Wood Porch Floor 1 Set the cutting depth of a circular saw to the thickness of one of the porch flooring boards. ... 2 Pry up the part of the board between the cut lines up with a pry bar. ... 3 Pry out all the rest of the rotten boards by working away from the space created by the one you removed. More items...

How do you finish hardwood flooring on a porch?

Use a rubber mallet or a scrap of the flooring as a protective block when tapping the floor boards together. Blind-nail the flooring in the tongue using galvanized or stainless steel finishing nails. After the flooring has been installed, apply two coats of porch and deck enamel paint to protect the top surface.

Can you use any flooring for a porch?

If you removed all the boards, however, you can use whatever porch flooring boards you like. Install the boards using whatever technique is appropriate for your porch. To match the existing floor, you may have to drive nails or screws through the tops of each board into the joists.

How do you fix a damaged porch board?

If there are signs of damage in the porch boards, start by removing them. Now this is a simple process of prying them up with a crow bar, unless the rails and columns rest on top of the deck boards. To lift a support column you’ll need to use a hydraulic jack and another post to temporarily lift the weight of the roof above.

How do you repair porch floor boards?

How to Fix a Rotten Wood Porch FloorSet the Cutting Depth. Set the cutting depth of a circular saw to the thickness of one of the porch flooring boards, instructs This Old House. ... Pry Up the Center Piece. ... Pry the Rest of the Boards. ... Remove the Joists. ... Cut New Joists. ... Install New Floorboards. ... Add Your Finishing Touches.

How do you repair rotted wood on a porch floor?

3:437:27How to Repair a Rotted Porch Post | Ask This Old House - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTogether. And i also like the fact that i have a lot more surface right here to glue and screw theMoreTogether. And i also like the fact that i have a lot more surface right here to glue and screw the two pieces together that makes a lot of sense all right so now all i have to do is trace our patch.

How do you repair a wooden front porch?

2:4421:22How to Repair a Wood Front Porch - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd put a lot of pressure on the top. Of. It success why all right. So so if you've never used aMoreAnd put a lot of pressure on the top. Of. It success why all right. So so if you've never used a flat bar. It's pretty easy depending on what you're doing just get it where you need to go.

How do you repair a rotted porch?

1:325:24Fix and Rebuild a Dry Rot Porch - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn the cavity you created using gorilla glue and screw moves in that party you make a tight. InsideMoreIn the cavity you created using gorilla glue and screw moves in that party you make a tight. Inside that cavity you created and let that dry overnight.

How do you fix rotted wood without replacing it?

0:033:30How to Fix Rotted Wood with Epoxy | This Old House - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd uh the bottom of the mullion post was rotted so i cut out the rot i mixed up a two part epoxy.MoreAnd uh the bottom of the mullion post was rotted so i cut out the rot i mixed up a two part epoxy.

What can I use to fill rotted wood?

Use a polyester filler to rebuild rotted or damaged wood. You can mold and shape it to match the original wood profile.

What is the best material for a porch floor?

While natural fir is the traditional choice for a porch floor, good wood alternatives include cedar, mahogany and Brazilian Ipe. You can add interest and texture to your porch floor by mixing woods or laying boards in a creative pattern.

How do I revive my front porch?

1:072:05Restoring Hidden Front Porches - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFirst instant gratification all that elbow grease is totally worth it in the end so when you buy anMoreFirst instant gratification all that elbow grease is totally worth it in the end so when you buy an old home don't forget to restore the front porch too it'll do wonders for your curb appeal.

How do you fix rotted floor boards?

4:457:43How to Remove and Replace a Rotten Subfloor - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe need to add boards in between the floor joists to screw the new subflooring. Into we're going toMoreWe need to add boards in between the floor joists to screw the new subflooring. Into we're going to use two by six pressure treated lumber like. This.

What is a Dutchman patch?

Woodworking. In construction and woodworking, a dutchman can refer to an inset wood patch used to repair wood. Typically a square inset is cut into the damaged area and a new piece of wood is glued into the inset.

How do I keep my porch from rotting?

Boric acid (borate) is one of the most effective fungicides for use in treating wood rot. It can be applied to wood during construction to prevent future rot, or as a treatment to stop an active decay fungus from growing.

How do you jack up a porch?

2:244:49How to Raise and Level Sinking Front Porch Deck Handy Manny - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTo put the jack on top on top of and then I raised the porch from there a jack. You may or may notMoreTo put the jack on top on top of and then I raised the porch from there a jack. You may or may not be surprised. Most people know somebody who has one.

What is the best material for a porch floor?

While natural fir is the traditional choice for a porch floor, good wood alternatives include cedar, mahogany and Brazilian Ipe. You can add interest and texture to your porch floor by mixing woods or laying boards in a creative pattern.

How do you fix rotted floor boards?

4:457:43How to Remove and Replace a Rotten Subfloor - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe need to add boards in between the floor joists to screw the new subflooring. Into we're going toMoreWe need to add boards in between the floor joists to screw the new subflooring. Into we're going to use two by six pressure treated lumber like. This.

How do you rebuild a front porch?

5:438:00Front Porch Rebuild Part One - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBetween the column the rebar and the finish depth. It's the morning after the concrete pour. And theMoreBetween the column the rebar and the finish depth. It's the morning after the concrete pour. And the columns are setting up nicely you give them a few days to cure in this hot weather.

How do you replace a porch column?

Steps to Replace a Porch ColumnStep 1 - Detach the Balustrade (If Applicable) ... Step 2 - Prepare the New Column. ... Step 3 - Raise the Roof. ... Step 4 - Replace the Porch Column. ... Step 5 - Re-attach the Balustrade (If Applicable) ... Step 6 - Paint/Stain New Porch Column (If Applicable)

How thick is a porch floor?

Historically, porch floorboards were milled from vertical grain 5⁄4″ tongue-and-groove Douglas fir, which meant they were fully 1″ thick. The ends were often shaped in a half-round bullnose by an onsite carpenter, the better to shed water. After World War II, board thicknesses shrank to ¾”, and the ends were typically square-cut, both compromises in terms of the expected lifespan of the wood.

What is the best way to join boards on a porch?

On a porch with changes of direction (for example, on a verandah that turns a corner and continues on a second side of the house), cut the boards where they meet along a diagonal. There are two classic join patterns: miter joints (shown at top) and herringbone joints (bottom).

What is a good porch?

A good porch starts with good footings. While the earliest porches were built on large stones set deep into the ground or full masonry piers of fieldstone or brick, contemporary building codes call for footers of poured concrete.

Why ventilate skirting under porch?

Ventilation is crucial for preventing dampness, which can attract wood-eating insects and encourage decay. “You want the bugs to crawl in,” says Andrew Curtis, an exterior restoration specialist, “and you want them to crawl back out.”. It is crucial to ventilate skirting underneath porches to avoid decay.

How long has OHJ lumber been around?

As OHJ has been repeating for more than 40 years, lumber of that quality is nearly impossible to find today, so it makes sense to preserve and re-use as much ...

What to document before rebuilding a porch?

Before beginning any restoration or rebuilding, it’s worthwhile to document existing joinery and spacing details with photographs and/or a sketch that includes measurements on all components, even when the parts are beyond saving. What’s left may provide clues to construction techniques that gave the porch its initial long life.

What are the elements that make up a porch?

If not kept in good repair using water-resistant materials and strategically applied coats of paint, the key elements of a porch—floors, framing, posts, railings, and decorative elements —will deteriorate quickly.

Why do porch floors rot?

A wood porch floor can rot and deteriorate over time due to exposure to the elements. When replacing a porch floor, be sure to use pressure treated pine or other rot resistant wood for both the joists and flooring.

What to do after old flooring is removed?

After the old flooring has been removed using a crow bar, replace any rotten floor joists with treated lumber before installing the flooring.

Why prime tongue and groove flooring?

It’s a good idea to prime all four sides of tongue and groove flooring before installing it to reduce expansion and contraction due to changes in temperature and humidity.

How long does pressure treated flooring need to dry before painting?

Flooring that hasn’t been dried after treatment should be stacked with spacers between the boards, protected from getting wet, and allowed to dry for at least 30 days before painting.

Do you need to trim around the edges of a porch before painting?

Once the porch boards are all down, it’s a good idea to add some trim around the edges before finish painting. For the longest wear, be sure to apply two good coats of porch and deck enamel to protect the surface from future damage.

Can you replace rotten porch flooring?

Replacing rotten porch flooring with new flooring. A wood porch floor can rot and deteriorate over time due to exposure to the elements. When replacing a porch floor, be sure to use pressure treated pine or other rot resistant wood for both the joists and flooring.

What happens if a porch post is not plumb?

If the post is not plumb—straight up and down—the resulting angle can cause the post to slip, often violently, off the jack. This can result in bodily injury to whomever is operating the jack or damage to your house when everything crashes back down, or both. The porch columns posed an obstacle.

What made short work of the old boards?

A hammer and pry bar made short work of the old boards.

What material is used on the exterior of a historic home?

I am of the belief that the only two materials to use on the exterior of historic homes are pressure-treated lumber or some type of plastic/polymer product. The two porch columns that were sinking into the floor were in good shape since someone else had already replaced their wooden bases with composite bases. Even though the flooring under the base plate was rotting, which caused the posts to sink, the bases themselves were in perfect shape.

Can you mill wood on a router table?

Once the wood has dried out sufficiently it can easily be milled on a router table using a tongue-and-groove bit. I prefer using a router bit with a 2-in. arbor for this job. I also highly recommend purchasing a router with the highest horsepower you can find and one from a reputable manufacturer. Running twenty and thirty boards through a router, adjusting the bit for the other side, then making the same number of passes puts a lot of strain on the router motor.

Can you mill treated lumber wet?

The next step is to let the lumber dry out. Treated lumber is milled while it is wet and is normally still wet when it is received by the lumber yard. Through trial and error, I determined it is much harder to mill a tongue and groove on wet wood.

Why do porch floors rot?

Porch floors have more of a tendency to rot than decks because the floorboards are usually set too close together to allow the wood to breathe. Even if the floor doesn't get wet from rain, moisture can damage the undersides of the boards and the joists.

What to do if rot spreads to rim joists?

If you notice that rot has spread to the rim joists, posts or other parts of the porch foundation, your best bet is to disassemble the entire porch and start over with new, pressure-treated wood.

Skill

5 Easy The most challenging part: locating and pulling the old face nails.

Pull the Nails

These square-edged deck boards were face-nailed to the joists. To remove a board, Tom looks for a telltale row of nailheads, then uses a cat’s paw to pry out each nail in the board. If a nail is missing a head, he uses nail-pulling pliers, as shown.

Remove the Broken Board

With the nails gone, Tom jams a pry bar under the break, levers up one end of the board, and pulls it out. He does the same at the other end. Scoring the paint along the joint on the board’s edges eases removal.

Make the Cleats

To support the ends of the new board, Tom cuts a pair of cleats out of the cracked board, making each three times longer than its width. He squeezes construction adhesive on the ends of the unpainted face, as shown.

Install the Cleats

Tom snugs a cleat, adhesive side up, under the neighboring boards and drills pilot holes through the deck and into it. He secures it with stainless-steel trim-head screws, as shown. The cleat at the opposite end goes in the same way.

Cut and Fasten the New Board

Tom uses clear Douglas fir because it’s more stable and holds paint better than a cheaper wood. He cuts a single board to length, beds it in adhesive at each joist and cleat, and secures it at those locations with two hot-dip-galvanized 8d nails, placed 1/2-inch from the edges.

Set the Nailheads

Using a nailset, Tom taps the nailheads a hair below the board’s surface. They’ll be invisible after the wood gets a coat of oil-based exterior primer and two coats of deck paint.

What to use on wood floors to get a golden sheen?

If your floor is natural unstained wood: try a few types of floor urethane on your test patch. Water-based urethane will dry clear, while oil-based formulations will impart a slight golden tinge to the floor. See which matches best. Be sure to get the sheen right, whether it be gloss, semi-gloss, or satin.

How long do wood floors last?

And, when you’re shopping for wood floors, be sure to look for quality products that offer an extended warranty—anywhere from 30 to 100 years—on finishes.

Can you urethane over a stain?

Know that the color you’ll wind up with after you’ve applied urethane over the stain will be most similar to the color you see when the stain is first applied and is still wet. Now that you’ve nailed down the stain and urethane, make sure the worn part of your floor has been sanded completely smooth.

Can you sand a gouge in a hardwood floor?

Gouges. If the damage to your hardwood floor goes beyond a simple scratch and moves into the category of a gouge, then you’ll need some type of filler to repair the nick before sanding, staining, and finishing, because it would simply be impractical to sand to the bottom of the blemish.

Is wood flooring durable?

Wood floors are durable and easy to maintain, but they're still subject to accidental gouges, scratches, and heavy wear. Before you call in a refinisher, consider trying some of the easy fixes outlined here. This article has been brought to you by Lumber Liquidators. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila.com.

Can scratches on hardwood floors fade?

Grit on shoes, overly enthusiastic pets, and heavy items that have been dropped or moved can all leave scratches on our precious hardwood floors. If you have light surface scratches on the floors, all that might be required to make them fade is application of a solution such as Lumber Liquidators’ Scratch Away ( view on Lumber Liquidators ), which cleans and polishes floors while reducing the appearance of scratches. If the scratches are deeper, then you’ll want to follow the instructions above, sanding the floor down to the bottom of the scratch before restaining and/or refinishing.

How does Ted assemble a porch deck?

When Ted assembles a porch deck, he begins and ends with a special technique that helps prevent the overlapping end boards from pulling loose where they overhang the edge: He glues the first and last three boards tightly together with marine epoxy. Then he cuts the tongue or groove on the termination side flush, and attaches the three-board panel to the framing with galvanized finish nails.

Who started the plastic sheeting on the porch?

Ted and his associate, Mike Marini, began the job by spreading 6-mil plastic sheeting all around the porch—a requirement of the recent Lead Safe Work Practices legislation. (Because paint wasn’t being sanded or scraped, the men didn’t need to wear masks for this particular job.)

Who built the porch on Foursquare?

When district resident John Smith realized he needed a new porch on his circa-1905 Foursquare, he called Ted Robertson of Kirkwall Construction. Ted arrived to find a porch with rotten tongue-and-groove decking, disintegrating steps, falling-off balusters, columns compressed into the floor, and a distinct lean to the whole structure, including the roof. Ted’s experience told him that these visible clues foreshadowed structural problems below.

Can you jack a porch back into position?

When a porch develops a significant lean over the years, it is usually impossible to jack it completely back into position without removing the subsequent layers of accumulated roofing materials. This roof had remained pretty true—there was no perceptible lean in the roof ridge—so the men decided to leave it alone.

Is a new porch picture perfect?

The new porch is not only picture-perfect, it’s built to last, thanks to thoughtful structural details.

What to do if your flooring is rotted?

Badly damaged or rotted sections of flooring must be removed and replaced with new pieces. This involves cutting out or prying up a section of the finish flooring, gluing or nailing replacements to the subflooring, filling cracks to match, sanding the surface, and refinishing.

Why does my hardwood floor squeak?

As it does so, boards can separate or warp and nails can loosen. With expansion and contraction—and movement in general—hardwood floors can develop squeaks.

What is the best tool to cut out wood flooring?

The best tool for cutting out a section of wood flooring is an oscillating multi-tool, as shown in this photograph. For more about this tool, see the HomeTips Oscillating Multi-Tool Buying Guide.

Is wood flooring hard?

Hardwood flooring, by its name, sounds like it should be really hard. But, compared to other materials like tile, stone, and laminate, it is relatively soft and prone to damage such as scratches, gouges, and discoloration. Unfortunately, surface scratches and gouges are the inevitable result of daily wear and tear.

Can you replace hardwood floors that have warped?

If several hardwood flooring boards have warped because of excessive water damage, they’ll probably need to be removed and replaced. In many cases, you can replace only the damaged areas. In order to do this, you’ll need to be able to identify and buy identical replacements. Of course, this isn’t always possible.

Can you replace warped laminate flooring?

If your floor is a laminate wood floor, as opposed to solid hardwood flooring, you may be able to replace damaged pieces. This video shows how one homeowner replaced a couple of warped laminate wood flooring boards in his kitchen:

Can you replace flooring that doesn't match?

if possible, buy replacement flooring that matches the size and color of your existing flooring. If you can’t find an exact match and you only need one or two small replacement pieces, consider removing those pieces from an inconspicuous place on your existing floor (such as a closet). Then you can repair that area with new material that doesn’t match as well.

Tools and Materials Needed

Step 2 – Cut The Floor Boards to Size

Step 3 – Install The New Porch Deck

Step 4 – Sand The New Floor Board