Best option for covering a deck floor that has been enclosed to make a porch?

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Best option for covering a deck floor that has been enclosed to make a porch?

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andrew75

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#2962228 2-Sep-2022 06:40

Don't see how you would stop the water tracking along the outside decking and bringing it inside. Covering up the inside floor sounds like a recipe for rot to me.

Bung

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#2962229 2-Sep-2022 07:07

Handle9: I’m guessing you didn’t get building consent?

OP's enclosed porch is only 3m². It needs to follow Building Code but doesn't need consent.

"A building consent is not required to close in an existing veranda or patio if the enclosed space is under 5 square metres."

Handle9

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#2962232 2-Sep-2022 07:12

Bung:
Handle9: I’m guessing you didn’t get building consent?

OP's enclosed porch is only 3m². It needs to follow Building Code but doesn't need consent.

"A building consent is not required to close in an existing veranda or patio if the enclosed space is under 5 square metres."

You’re correct. I missed how small it is. Regardless the way it’s done looks half arsed and almost impossible to make water tight.

Handle9

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#2962233 2-Sep-2022 07:16

If it was me I’d screw some reasonable thickness marine ply down with stainless screws and throw some artificial grass down and call it a day. It’s probably about as good as your going to get and it’s only 1 1/4 sheets. You can usually get ply cut at a reasonable size Bunnings so you wouldn’t need to do much.

Use screws so you can pull it up as required and don’t use sealants etc as that’ll trap in moisture.

Shanemc

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#2962316 2-Sep-2022 12:07

I think those tiles look like the ideal solution. They look like they sit on plastic feet creating an air gap.

I wouldn't put any ply over the deck timber without an air gap. As any moisture would get trapped and eventually rot them both out.

The only problem is you will still have the 'wind' blowing through. Perhaps you need to enclose the lower sides of the deck, so the wind doesn't get under the deck.

blackjack17

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#2962327 2-Sep-2022 12:40

Other option would be a marine carpet with foam backing.

Something like this https://www.bunnings.co.nz/q-decor-2m-dark-grey-ribbed-marine-carpet_p0313212

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alavaliant

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#2962345 2-Sep-2022 13:35

Handle9: You’re correct. I missed how small it is. Regardless the way it’s done looks half arsed and almost impossible to make water tight.

Correct I didn't get consent, since (as already noted) it was under the size requirement to require consent.

I think the enclosing of it was done in a limited way since my brief to the builder was just to enclose it, I never asked about redoing the floor. And given also that I'd only just bought the house and most my income was going on the mortgage at the time. I wouldn't have been able to afford redoing the floor and might have even have said no if it was suggested due to cost.

alavaliant

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#2962346 2-Sep-2022 13:39

Shanemc:
I think those tiles look like the ideal solution. They look like they sit on plastic feet creating an air gap.

I wouldn't put any ply over the deck timber without an air gap. As any moisture would get trapped and eventually rot them both out.

The only problem is you will still have the 'wind' blowing through. Perhaps you need to enclose the lower sides of the deck, so the wind doesn't get under the deck.

Good point, I didn't think about wind coming up around the tiles. I guess I could partly limit that by possibly putting some sort of sealant between the small gap between each tile. That wouldn't help at the edges however, but I guess if I get the tiles as flush with the wall as I can that might limit the amount that can get through.

Enclosing the lower sides of the deck could be an option but I suspect it potentially would be quite tricky as the deck expands out from the porch, so you'd need to be working in a very enclosed space to put up anything enclosing it.

Handle9

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#2962357 2-Sep-2022 14:11

Shanemc:
I think those tiles look like the ideal solution. They look like they sit on plastic feet creating an air gap.

I wouldn't put any ply over the deck timber without an air gap. As any moisture would get trapped and eventually rot them both out.

The only problem is you will still have the 'wind' blowing through. Perhaps you need to enclose the lower sides of the deck, so the wind doesn't get under the deck.

Replacing the ply and the decking every 10 years isn’t a big job, certainly no bigger than the alternatives.

Shanemc

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#2963226 5-Sep-2022 08:06

Probably right.

And on second thought, those tiles would be quite a bit of work cutting to size and around protrusion. I might just end up looking messy.

Unless there is a heap of water getting in. I'd probably go with the ease of the marine ply, and keep the water out.

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