Porch/Deck Help

[HunterdonPaul]

I just received some new information.

The flooring will actually be 1 1/4" Mahogoney, not 1/2" as I originally had thought. I was confused a bit based on previous conversations that I had with the contractor. Also the joists are just under 10' long and are made from 2 x 10" s. Given this, should I have any problems?

Also should there be any sort of wood that prevents the joists from twisting such that you might see in a basement (lookin up)? In my basement there are two 1 x 4" which are sort of criss crossed perhaps to keep the joists from twisting.

Just wondering...

And BTW thanks for the great advice as always. I am always at wits end when it comes to handing $$$ to contractors. I have some really good experiences and some not that good.

Thanks,
Paul

 

[Egon]

x bracing never hurts. It's what your local codes demand that must be met.

The new dimensions sound a whole lot better.

Egon

 

[Slamfire]

CB, The floor on my porch is 2x6 treated southern pine. We used 2x6s for joists on 2' centers. The floor feels real stiff when people walk on it. When my chiuahua trots across the floor though, the whole porch vibrates like an earthquake was happening. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Yes the x braces, will stiffen up the spacing between the joists, nail the tops before putting down the flooring, and the bottoms afterwards. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[ejb]

>>The flooring will actually be 1 1/4" Mahogoney, not 1/2" as I originally had thought. I was confused a bit based on previous conversations that I had with the contractor. Also the joists are just under 10' long and are made from 2 x 10" s. Given this, should I have any problems?


No you won't. Sounds like a well built porch. Only improvement you *could* make would be 12oc instead of 16oc..maybe overkill, but not a lot of extra cost. With an 10' span my guess is you could have got by with something smaller, like a 2x8, but I definetely would have picked a 2x10 too. I also braced/blocked each joist twice roughly at the 1/3 and 2/3's point, whereas 1 blocking would be sufficient. (again, about $20 extra materials)

 

[DieselD]

I have the same size porch made on 16oc with 1 1/4 X 3 T&G mahogany floor down for 3 years now. Its built like a tractor.
You don't need subflooring, this will make it warp. (wont dry evenly when it gets wet). Just make sure you seal the bottom of the boards before you put the down & use stainless nails.
even though you don't see them, they'll still be there in 50 years and so will your floor.
Danny

 

[HunterdonPaul]

Thanks for everyone's help. You guys are the greatest. The porch is just about done (5/6 weeks late and $4000 over budget) and it looks great.

Paul

 

[tonyw]

Countryboy, We built a house in 2000 and installed Trex on both porches. We are glad we did; it doesn't bow, swell, split, etc. I was satisfied with the color it weathered to... a light gray, but we decided to paint it to better match our house. It takes paint very well and has been really easy to clean. I sure am glad we didn't listen to the contractor and use concrete, Trex is a lot more forgiving when you have small kids.

 

[ejb]

>>The porch is just about done (5/6 weeks late and $4000 over budget) and it looks great.


Yikes!...isn't that the way it always is, especially when you hire out...thats why I do all the work myself. (I still end up over budget, but at least I work for free /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

 

[Junkman]

My contractor started the porch 20 years ago and is just getting around to finishing it now...... started work again in the spring and took the summer off.... more fun to play on the tractor than pound nails...... The wife has been nagging the contractor for about 30 years now and the more she nags him the slower he works....... You might have guess by now that I am the contractor. Don't ever believe in rushing the job...... Only bad thing is that now I have to replace the decking on the original part because it doesn't match the new material that is now available. Do it right the first time and it will last a lifetime......