This was a fun and interesting little project. The existing porch which was completed only 3-years ago and was already failing. The reason for the premature failure was the previous contractor chose to use OSB (orientated strand board) as an underlayment, typical for indoor work but not so good for exterior applications. They also chose to finish it off with oak flooring (again not a great choice for exterior applications) and it was a mess! Whomever did the work also ignored the fact this house is on the historic registry and the historic preservation committee wasn’t very impressed with their architectural choices.
We were able to work with the committee to install a composite T&G decking (Deckorators Porch Flooring), intended for exterior applications. “While this material was not an in-kind restoration of the historic material it provided a reasonable substitute that simulates the missing historic material in texture and design.” Basically, the committee appreciates products that are sustainable while also maintaining the historic character of the property. As a side note, the particular product we used has wonderful traction in the snow and ice, something you do not find in all composite materials.
