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Covering a concrete porch with wood can be a great way to give it a fresh and stylish look. First, clean the concrete thoroughly and let it dry. Next, measure the porch and cut the wood boards to the desired size. Attach them to the concrete using adhesive and screws. Make sure to leave a small gap between the boards for expansion. Finish the wood with a sealant or paint to protect it from the elements. This simple process can transform your porch into a warm and inviting space.
If you want to make your concrete porch more inviting and homely, adding a wooden floor is a great option. Not only will it cover up any unsightly wear and tear, but it will also give your porch a warmer feel. The two most popular wood flooring options for porches are 5/4 treated decking and traditional tongue-and-groove floorboards.
Installing Battens
Step 1
To create battens, cut 1-by-4 treated lumber to make a row spaced 16 inches apart from the house to the front of the porch. For a porch that’s 4 feet deep and 10 feet wide, nine 48-inch pieces will be needed.
Step 2
Attach the two outer battens using tapcon-style anchors, drilling evenly spaced Вј-inch pilot holes in at least three places along the board. One hole should be 4 inches from one end, another 4 inches from the other end, and the rest evenly spaced 20 inches apart.
Step 3
Position the pre-drilled batten flush with one edge of the porch, running from the house to the front of the porch. Using a 3/16-inch rotary mason’s bit, drill down through each pilot hole into the concrete 1/8 inch deep to mark the spot for the pilot hole in the concrete.
Step 4
Drill each marked location to a depth of 1ВЅ inches and blow out the dust from each hole.
Step 5
Replace the board and drive a 2-by-1/4-inch tapcon-style anchor through each pilot hole in the batten into the porch. Repeat with the batten at the opposite end of the porch.
Step 6
Space the remaining battens across the porch, starting at one end and spacing them 16 inches from center to center. Attach each batten with a concrete screw at each end of the board, same as for the end battens.
Installing the Wooden Floor
Step 1
Begin at the front edge of the porch and lay out the floorboards one row at a time. If using treated 5/4 decking, leave approximately 1/8 inch between the ends and edges of each board for swelling, or the width of a treated deck screw. For tongue-and-groove flooring, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and butt each piece snugly to the next.
Step 2
Use 1ВЅ-inch treated deck screws to attach treated decking. Drive at least two screws into each batten along the length of each board.
Step 3
For tongue-and-groove, attach with finish nails through the face of the floor boards into the batten using 1Вј-inch nails. Hammer the nails in place or use a pneumatic finish nailer and compressor to speed up the work. Keep a nail punch nearby to tap the nail heads slightly below the surface to prevent painful scrapes to your feet.
Step 4
Trim the last board along the house to fit the width of the remaining gap. Set it in place and nail or screw it down as for the rest of the flooring. For tongue-and-groove, leave the next-to-last row unnailed until this final piece is in place.
Step 5
Add quarter round molding on top of the flooring against the house to cover any remaining gap and give your porch a clean, finished look.