Can I Seal a Deck?

[lakngulf]

Several years ago I had a builder add some rooms onto the front of my cabin--two bedrooms and a large sun room. I lay out the design and made a slight error. I wanted a porch that was covered a bit, so I could sit out while it was raining. The porch was covered with deck boards. Problem is, the concrete blocks and footing ran along the rectangle of the addition, while the porch was inset from that. I know that is confusing, but the issue is the deck boards of the porch allow wind and rain to get underneath my house. I took care of what rain gets in by ditching and creating an exit for the water.

On cold nights, the wind comes whistling thru the deck boards to underneath the house, which does not help the heating process. I want to fix that, and hopefully without a major expense. I have included a couple of pictures to show the deck, and hopefully the design.

Is there a product to "seal" the space between the deck boards? Any type of thin solid material that i can lay over the deck? What are my options?

 

[Bandsaw]

Check out Duradek. its a vinyl product in many styles colors

 

[/pine]

Question...if you seal up the joints between the deck boards...what happens to the rain water?

If it was mine and all I wanted to do was seal the gaps and did not want it to look like I just calked them etc....

I would use a straight cutting router bit and with an extended straight edge guide I would cut a 1/4" deep by 3/4" or 1" wide channel and "inlay" ripped down (1/4") lattice...

either use old aged wood to make it blend or get wild and use something that contrasts...

cutting 1/4" on a single pass would require a heavy duty router and at the ends (where router body prevents a full through cut) would require a bit of chisel work but I've done it before (same basic application, different reason)

 

[Gary Fowler]

Just be careful that you don't seal it to where water will stay between your deck boards as they will rot very quickly if you do. Have you tried going under the deck and sealing the deck runner at the ends where they joint your house or even walling in the underside of the deck with some T111 or other outdoor plywood. I have a 12 x 44 deck on my house that I put a concrete pad underneath for storage or "stuff" mostly lawnmowers and gardening tools. It has a roof over it but still water blows in but with the concreted pad underneath, it all drains out. There should be an easy way to wall in the back side underneath the deck to stop all the wind and a nice roof over the deck would be nice in the summer and keep the rain off. This is a photo of mine under construction. They actually build the rest of the roof then put the deck roof on, you could do the same thing on your house to put a roof over yours if you wanted.

 

[Gary Fowler]

This is how it looked when finished and a few weeks after we moved in.

 

[Western]

I have seen people put a metal sub roof under a deck, slanted to drain towards the front. Not hardly noticeable at all and seems do do the job. I bet you could use the cheap corrugated metal from Lowes or HD. I dont think it would have to be to elaborate.

 

[jinman]

I have seen people put a metal sub roof under a deck, slanted to drain towards the front. Not hardly noticeable at all and seems do do the job. I bet you could use the cheap corrugated metal from Lowes or HD. I dont think it would have to be to elaborate.

That's exactly what I'd do. Pick a color of your choice in 29 ga metal. It doesn't have to be strong because you are only using it to stop wind and catch water. By turning it so the color side is down, you can choose a color that matches your house's siding. You could use galvalume or just the corrugated metal, but then you give up making the roof match from below. . . just a case of your choice in looks.

 

[lakngulf]

That's exactly what I'd do. Pick a color of your choice in 29 ga metal. It doesn't have to be strong because you are only using it to stop wind and catch water. By turning it so the color side is down, you can choose a color that matches your house's siding. You could use galvalume or just the corrugated metal, but then you give up making the roof match from below. . . just a case of your choice in looks.

I do plan to use that method to create a small storage area under the porch, but OUTSIDE the concrete block footing. My issue is inside the footing, inside the concrete blocks. I actually did us some T111 to help divert the rainwater to my exit pipe.

I am looking for more of a seal than the tin would provide, I think. My only option may be to take the existing boards up and start over. I don't want to do that, however.

 

[MarkV]

How about indoor/outdoor carpet on raised covered area?

MarkV

 

[lakngulf]

How about indoor/outdoor carpet on raised covered area?
MarkV

I kinda like that option. I could perhaps take up the edge of one board beyond the concrete block wall, and fold one end of the carpet under. Or just cover the whole area with the outdoor carpet. Would be more comfortable on my feet and crawling grand children.