How to build an elevated deck on uneven ground building a stair construction for uneven ground the deck mod building covering an existing concrete porch with wood part 1 addicted how i built my floating deck on uneven ground you build a deck on uneven concrete you view topic can u deck over existing concrete … Will you be putting gutters on the front of the porch to deflect dripping water. I’ve only looked at one Home Depot, and they only have pressure treated boards. Curious. Narrower boards are less likely to cup, you should also consider thicker deck boards since thicker materials are usually more stable as well. Place the 2×8 girders into place, drill pilot holes through the components and insert the 6″ carriage bolts. It is also a good way to cover up peeling paint, slight chipping and discolored concrete. It’s great how he helps/works with you from time-to-time. One side is constructed on the ground complete with both top rail, bottom rail, and pickets and finished when placed between porch columns. Mar 15, 2016 - Is your old concrete patio an eyesore? The execution proved to be a bit more challenging than we had anticipated for reasons I’ll explain in a second. … poured concrete slab patio, and Id like to put composite decking over … I recently had a screened porch installed over. You can build a raised deck over concrete base in two ways. I would transfer those measurements to the next 2 x 4 board, use my table saw to rip it to the right height, then we’d test it to be sure it was the right height by putting it into place and checking with the level at the back, middle and front. Although I've built several deck and porch floors over the years, I still learned a few tricks of the trade that might help you too. All Rights Reserved. Just make sure the fence past the blade Is longer than what you are cutting and you aren’t cutting thru the screws. What type of floor boards will you be using? Once those are done, I will still need to install spacers on the front and right side of the concrete to attach the white trim board to. They are one of the few products you can install directly over old concrete patios and porches. It was challenging, and we certainly didn’t get any of them perfect, but they were good enough to do the job that needed to be done. Looks good! Studio Exterior Progress — Shutters Installed. That end, from the house (back) to the yard side (front) was level…miraculously. I’m also wondering if paint will peel? Installing concrete is a lot easier than putting together a wooden deck. You can avoid the cost and mess of tearing it out by just screwing down wood ... How to Build a Deck Over a Concrete Patio. So the plan yesterday was to get all of the risers/sleepers attached to the porch. When homes are built, the builder sometimes chooses to use concrete to build the porch because it's extremely durable and fairly cheap. Then I used my Ramset (i.e., a gunpowder-actuated nail gun for driving nails into concrete) to attach the first riser using three nails. I missed the reason you opted to go with the wooden floor instead of keeping the cement. I might just have to replace those with shorter screws. Drawbacks to Installing an Overlay Over Wood. Jun 4, 2013 - Attaching a wooden railing to a concrete porch adds a touch of elegance. This situation is common in many pool, patio and porch designs. 4. Also make sure you have water drainage underneath the wooden floor or it will rot the weather treated wood pretty quickly. And if all of this is clear as mud, hopefully it’ll become much clearer as this project progresses. Attaching deck boards directly to your concrete porch would lead to excessive mold, mildew and early deterioration of the deck boards. In order to measure and cut the next riser, my brother would hold the level so that one end was on the previously installed riser and the other end was hovering above where the next riser would be placed. Building a Wood Raised Garden Bed to Install on Concrete Step 1: Build or Obtain a Raised Garden Bed Frame. I am wondering if I might need to paint the concrete and risers black before I install the porch boards, though. Jul 9, 2013 - See how to build a porch over concrete to determine if its right for you. There is an easier method however to put a new wood deck directly over the top of your old concrete porch. Some homeowners will install 2×4 pressure treated sleepers 16 inches on center to the top of their concrete porch with concrete screws. It is easy to do and can be built by most do-it-yourselfers. While you don't have one of those, you can still make your concrete porch look like wood by putting wood boards over it like the designer of the porch in this picture. He said that concrete just continues getting harder and harder as it gets older, which is why the old stuff is so much harder to deal with than the new stuff. 3. Shouldn’t the skirting go on AFTER the deck is done? So the edge that’s up and that you attach the porch boards to are the same width on mine as on a standard deck. This homeowner had an old concrete front porch that had a large crack down the center. ; Insert lead shields into the holes in the concrete. It’s also a good idea to wrap your 2×4 pressure treated sleepers in a joist tape since they will be fastened directly to your concrete. So the plan yesterday was to get all of the risers/sleepers attached to the porch. Finally, you’ll add the treads for your porch stairs. Otherwise, you will have to create original footings for the overhead. Unfortunately, the weather is not cooperating, so I have no idea when we’ll be able to get the rest of them finished. But first, here’s a look at my current concrete porch so you can remember exactly what we’re working with…, The ramp on the side was removed after I took that picture, and unfortunately, I failed to get a picture of the whole porch without the ramp before we got started. Many years ago I was told that concrete takes 100 years to “fully cure”. Your email address will not be published. All cracked and spalling. Learn how your comment data is processed. Fascia board? I’m sure you’ll be careful and wear good eye and hand protection. Careful planning of the finished deck layout will result in better looking finished projects. Click the links below to see the rest of the posts in this project. Making a wooden deck over the existing patio in your backyard can be the best solution. Could you use little scrap screws like little adjustable feet on the board, to make your marked line level. The structure was simply framed and screened. They help give the patio a classier and warmer appearance that is sure to get the attention of your guests. What brand of tools do you usually buy? Cut PVC trim boards to wrap around stoop using circular saw. I have a sister that will help me and her daughter also. lol, Julie B. I was thinking the same thing. I just want to say you have a wonderful brother. That would not be fun! If you live in a climate that has freezing temperatures it’s a good idea to seal any cracks with a good concrete caulk to prevent water from seeping into the cracks. ... 2nd 10 Ideas How to Make Concrete Patio Ideas for Small Backyards Thumbnail 1. Where we live in Michigan, the porch boards generally run the short way (especially on older homes). Still not worth $2000, though. I don’t know if you would want to level the cement between the risers away from the house before putting the top layer on? First, you have to attach risers/sleepers to the concrete and then the porch boards can be screwed to the risers. It is essential to decide if you are going to build a free-standing deck or if you will attach it to the house. Building a floating deck over concrete is one of the best ways to expand your living space while enhancing your property’s aesthetic appeal. Fortunately, I was used to shooting rifles/shotguns! It’s best to build the wooden deck in removable sections for cleaning and maintenance of the rubber roof, and repair of the membrane if ever needed. Good work!!! There is an easier method however to put a new wood deck directly over the top of your old concrete porch. Good thing our house is elevated and our porch is covered or else we’d worry about water getting in during hard rains. Even if we removed the austere concrete slab, the patio door threshold was barely above grade. I just had to eyeball the line as I ripped the boards. The strips are cut from 2x4s. I'm a DIY fanatic remodeling my way through our 1948 fixer upper.More About Kristi. If you need any pointers here, please check out our detailed “How to Design & Build a Raised Garden Bed” tutorial. Whether your porch needs two steps or 22, you’ll need posts, stringers, treads, and risers to build your porch stairs. Bosch Combo Tool Kit→ https://low.es/2FJFxg5Bosch Circular Saw→ https://low.es/2T99ycqMaterials list below! My husband Harrison and I have wanted to change out our patio floor since the day we bought the house. Drive at least 2 bolts through each post if you want to create a rigid bond. Then add the risers. Addicted 2 Decorating is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The two most common wood flooring choices for porches are 5/4 treated decking and traditional tongue-and-groove floorboards. I would advise locating a vinyl siding company and getting them to break some scraps that they’ve laying around about an inch much higher than the concrete will be poured and as far out from the house as the scraps will go. For most materials this really is not adequate airspace and you could see cupping issues still or early deterioration of your new deck boards. One specific application that’s asked about often are installations over concrete pads. Then I would measure the distance from the bottom of the level to the concrete. This was a bit challenging because the measurements would be different at the front and back, meaning that I couldn’t just rip an even strip down the board using the guide fence on the table saw. Run bead of hot-melt glue across miter joints and press trim board against stoop. If you decide to try this method you should try to find narrower deck boards like 4 inch wide decking opposed to the standard 6 inch wide deck boards. We recommend that you do not exceed 36” in height above grade. In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains how to deck over a concrete stoop. Whatever your reasons, adding a wood floor to your concrete porch is a fairly simple operation. I currently have a wood floor on my porch and wish it was either cement or brick. After setting the wooden posts into concrete and making sure their tops are horizontal, you need to fit the girders. To attach a wood handrail post to concrete: Mark the location of the holes in a metal post bracket on the concrete. But I’ll keep watching to see what you think at the end. Advantage hardwood deck tiles are made from South American hardwoods proven to last up to 75 years or more. It dries in a day or two but would need to cure for at least 28 days to a full month. Haha! I used a Ramsey when building my house. We want to do the same thing with our front porch, so I am thrilled to read this post. Hardwood Deck Tiles Can Be Installed Directly Over Concrete. First, you have to attach risers/sleepers to the concrete and then the porch boards can be screwed to the risers. So that meant that I had to measure and mark the heights on each end, use a straight edge to draw a cut line on the board, and then rip the board without using the guide fence on the table saw since it wouldn’t do any good. But you can’t just put wood porch/deck boards directly onto concrete. Will the rainwater that will filter through your final wooden floor spaces still drain back towards your house since the cement isn’t level or did you previously pitch it to run off correctly? This would cause the surface to hold water and make your new deck undesirable to walk on in a short matter of time. In addition, I use post plates to keep the posts away from the concrete. These detailed patio cover plans also show you how to build a wooden deck over an existing concrete slab. Steps: 1. 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