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Can I put hardwood flooring on my screen porch?

I'm building a house that will have a screen porch under roof and 2 sides with screening. I have extra tongue and groove flooring from the inside, an exotic hardwood from Bolivia, that I'm considering putting down as decking. The planks are 3/4" thick, 4" wide, and 4' long - my porch has treated 2x8s that are 12" OC - the underside of the decking will not be exposed as the porch has a 4' poured wall around the perimeter and 4' of gravel inside of it. Would this type of flooring work in an outdoor environment that is fairly protected from the weather? As for sealing the decking I thought tongue oil might be the best option. I also thought it might be worthwhile putting 1/2" treated plywood under the decking to give it added support. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insight!

Public Comments

  1. I'm not at all an expert on this kind of thing, but I would think that even though it's somewhat protected, the dampness might warp or damage the floor. I would think you'd do better with something like Pergo, a laminate flooring that you can buy to look like any kind of hardwood floor. You'd hate to go through all that work and then have it damaged.
  2. I think a lot of it depends on your climate..if you are in a somewhat dry, arid climate, no problems, but if you are in a more humid enviroment, you may be asking for problems. I think everything you have said makes perfect sense...the only thing I would caution you on is two things....first, I would recommend a vapor barrier under the flooring...second, when you treat the flooring with oil, apply the oil liberally to all sides, don;t just apply it as a top coat after you have laid the flooring....good luck, it sounds like it will be very nice.
  3. To begin, a 1/2" treated plywood subfloor is not adequate. You'll need to use 3/4" plywood minimum. If you live in a northern climate, installing this type of flooring is going to be "iffy" at best. The constant changes in humidity, plus the freeze/thaw cycles, coupled with the the moisture (rain, etc.) that will inevitably get on the flooring could pose some problems. However, it might be worth a try. Install a heavy (6 mil minimum) plastic vapor barrier over all gravel to eliminate moisture from beneath, and a plastic or roofer's felt vapor barrier on top of the new subfloor. Install your tongue and groove, I'd double all the "blind-nailing" to make sure that the T & G is secure. Tung oil might not be the best top-coat, I'd suggest staining (if you want, not required) then the application of several coats of a "Spar" type exterior urethane. Follow the finishing/sanding requirements as outlined on the urethane application instructions. This type of installation could prove to be rather "high maintenance" regarding maintaining the finish etc. and will require re-application of urethane etc. at least every couple of years to maintain the water-proofing required.
  4. Dampness,rainstorms and weather changes will continually be deteriorating your floor. I dont think there is one manufcturer that implies this use. I never use a product for more than its intended use. Personally I would go with ceramic tile unles you enclose the porch and supply heating and cooling.
  5. Are you planning on putting heating or cooling out in your porch. Even if your porch is protected from the elements, humidity levels can change the composition of wood. if it is an exotic 3" thick i am sure it was probably expensive and I would hate to see wood like That get damaged. not to mention you would have wasted a lot of money and have to figure out something else to put on your floor. I sell flooring and we installed wood in someones house that was building a new home and he never got his ac hooked up and it totally dried out the wood in the heat. It needs to be totally protected from the weather but sealing it will help. It is not getting the top wet that is the issue it is getting water between the cracks or too much or too little humidity that will kill wood. It is the same way with laminate it is a wood by product. If you want the wood look I suggest checking out mannington or metro floor. they have vinyl planking that actually looks like wood and metrofloors knoeckto floor is a do it yourself type job. Good Luck