Roswell, GA on Sep 19, 2011

What is the best maintenance free flooring for a 2nd story deck, coming out of the den?

It will be covered, but not enclosed. Indiana stone has been recommended, as it's not suppose to retain heat like flagstone. I'm replacing the 1st generation of TREX. Wood products need to be maintained annually, I've been told.

What SHOULDN'T I use?

51 Comments Displaying 25 of 51 comments | See Previous

Patti Roswell, GA

GREAT catch! Super observant!

on Sep 22, 2011 · Like 0
DESIGN FLOOR AND BATH Suwanee, GA

Indiana Stone or natural stone is the best choice for out door

on Sep 22, 2011 · Like 0
John Grayson, GA

Hello Patti, I'm tearing down my 2nd story deck off our den (Southern exposure which is too hot to enjoy), and replacing it with a screen porch. I checking into the possibility of a tile floor for the screen porch.
I feel a tiled floor might be a good maintenance-free flooring, but not 100% sure.
Does anyone have any suggestions if a tiled floor is a possiblity on a 2nd story screen porch?
John

on Sep 22, 2011 · Like 0
HandyANDY Home Renovation... Marietta, GA

I would think the biggest issue will be making sure you have adequate support for the weight of the tile and some pitch to drain to the outside edge for water that gets in through the screen.

on Sep 23, 2011 · Like 0
Peace Painting Co., Inc. Alpharetta, GA

@ Nichter, perhaps they asked for Ipe and got Yipe, but I don't think so. The sealer is somewhat amber. Now we are using Penafin. I'll post another pic a year from now to see if what we have has been preserved.
CP

on Sep 23, 2011 · Like 0
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

Nicther...I think you meant Cumura...its the less dense version of Ipe.
.
John. Tile is an option for a Deck on a second floor...provided the original deck was built as a "deck" for proper loading. It is one of the points covered in this article I wrote.
http://www.networx.com/article/two-reasons-w... ...»

.
More of an issue would be floor pitch or slope...most decks are built level with tapered joists over a water proof membrane that has pitch to drain water out and away from the house..decks are porous where water can flow down between the boards. Tile would not allow this so the drainage engineering would have to be planned out thoroughly.

on Sep 23, 2011 · Like 2
Nichter's Home Services C... Islesboro, ME

Never heard of cumura before, but I can buy Meranti or Canbera here, as well as a few others.
IPE` is my favorite.

on Sep 23, 2011 · Like 0
Nichter's Home Services C... Islesboro, ME

I did alittle google searching to check out this cumura. It seems to be one of many names for what I know as canberra, also called cambera
http://www.novausawood.com/images/products/D... ...»

http://forum.woodenboat.com/archive/index.ph...
in that discussion, I found this..."I'm no wood expert but my reasearch indicates that "Cambera" = "Cambera Philippine Mahogany" = any one of a bunch of species (mostly Shorea) commonly sold as 'Philippine Mahogany", "Meranti" or 'Luan".
It's commonly used for decking and plywood. The wood color can vary from dark red (i.e. "Red Meranti") to light yellow (i.e. "Luan") depending on the true species. The working properties of the various species are pretty much the same although rot resistance is supposedly greater in the darker colored species than the lighter. It weathers to silver-gray. In general (and this is a generalization based on my personal experience with "Meranti", "Philippine Mahogany" and "Luan"), "Meranti" and "Philippine Mahogany" are darker in color and appear to be closer to what you have than "Luan".
Since your wood could be any one of a dozen or so species and since lumber dealers don't sort by species but only by generic categories, I think the only way you're going to get something that matches what you have is to go to a place that deals in "Philippine Mahogany" or 'Cambera Decking" or "Meranti" and sort through the piles until you find something close. Based on the wood I've seen in person and the pictures I've seen online, I think that the "Meranti" category is closest to what you have but given the non-specific and non-standardized nature of these categories and naming systems, it's impossible to be certian. Inany case, you're not going to be able to order it and have something pretty consistent in color and grain they way you would with white oak, rock maple or other woods that come from a single species or a very limited number of similar species"

on Sep 23, 2011 · Like 2
HandyANDY Home Renovation... Marietta, GA

At least we have some wood experts among us. I had a client who wanted me to come to AZ to install some sort of tile over a self-draining mat for his decks. He is doing a 3-story custom home out there and had found this deck system somewhere. I've googled but no luck....anyone heard of something like this?

on Sep 24, 2011 · Like 0
Patti Roswell, GA

Awesome contribution, Nichter's Home Services!

on Sep 24, 2011 · Like 0
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

When I first got into woodworking (some 30 years ago) I worked with mostly domestic woods...Then I meet a piece of Rosewood and it has changed my life every since.
One of my degrees is in Botany, and I have always had an interest in the Unique properties of various woods. I have a small collection of wood species and have found a number of them to be similar but still unique. ...»

In the Industry wood is often grouped by their Trade Name...which is a bit more specific than the many common names used by the locals when describing a tree / or lumber. From a purely scientific stance any given tree will be a unique specie....but most lumber is grouped by genera.
ie: Ipe belongs to the Tabebuia spp. Which is in the Catalpa family.
http://tropix.cirad.fr/america/CUMARU.pdf
http://tropix.cirad.fr/asia/balau_red.pdf
http://tropix.cirad.fr/asia/lauan_red.pdf
http://tropix.cirad.fr/america/IPE.pdf
As an example the "true" rosewoods belong the genera "Dalbergia"...and one of my favorites is Dalbergia retusa also know as Cocobollo.
I made a table with this some years back.
on Sep 24, 2011 · Like 4
Patti Roswell, GA

Kudos to everyone who has spent time in sharing their expertise, in educating me as to what would work on my 2nd story deck!. Today I went to the Atlanta Home show, where all the discussed products were featured, and I've decided to go with Ipe. MANY THANKS! Now, I need a recommendation for a good architectural shingle...., and discussion on using solar powered fans for roofing vents. I'll post it in the roofing section.

on Sep 24, 2011 · Like 1
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

Great to hear your choice to go with Ipe....I love it when owners step up and go with the best product rather than the cheaper "cop out"
A far a shingles go I went with the Tamko 50 year shingle when I added on to my house about 10 years ago...so far so good...I had them 6 nail it Which is the only way to combat our 100 mph winter winters. ...»

Its called the "Heritage Premium" now.
http://www.tamko.com/ResidentialRoofing/Lami...

on Sep 25, 2011 · Like 1
Peace Painting Co., Inc. Alpharetta, GA

At the Home Show this afternoon, Azek deck products looked pretty good for being the lowest maintenance product available. They are 100% PVC, not a composite. Plastics, the way of the future.
CP

on Sep 25, 2011 · Like 2
Nichter's Home Services C... Islesboro, ME

My experience with TAmko is very good also, but with one clarification...The shingle makers ALL vary in quality for different regions of the country because they all have several different factories. I know from personal experiences that the GAF and the Certainteed shingles have differing qualities based on which part of the country they are made in.
So it is wise to find references from your own geographical region. ...»

That said, I have roofer friends in the SE who also like the Tamko line of products.
The reputation and trustworthiness and experience of the installer will be far more important than the shingle itself tho

on Sep 25, 2011 · Like 1
SawHorse.net Atlanta, GA

Here is some other great comments from a similar thread a couple months ago- http://www.hometalk.com/activity/43202

on Sep 25, 2011 · Like 1
Patti Roswell, GA

I did see the AZECK 100% PVC product, but because I got the 1st generation TREX,(and it's problems) I'm leery of trying another new product. How long has it been around?
SHINGLES - SUCH good info! didn't know about quality differences with the same mfg. THANK you!

on Sep 25, 2011 · Like 0
HandyANDY Home Renovation... Marietta, GA

Way to go...there should be an award for that...a homeowner who made a decision and got back to us to let us know! I think you are wise to stay clear of the plastics in our market at least.

on Sep 26, 2011 · Like 1
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

A plastic deck is made from Oil...even virgin PVC....so from a green standpoint having a deck made from a non-renewable source...or from a carbon sequestering, renewable source...the choice to me is clear.

on Sep 26, 2011 · Like 1
Peace Painting Co., Inc. Alpharetta, GA

Agreed, in principle. Time and money for future maintenance are a non-renewable resource and come into play for the motivation behind a question like hers.

on Sep 26, 2011 · Like 0
Peace Painting Co., Inc. Alpharetta, GA

I was wrong on the wood species in the posted picture of the cupped wood. It is not Ipe, it is Masuranduba. Apology and thumbs up to Nichter. I'm reminded of that old definition of the word ass-u-me.
CP

on Sep 26, 2011 · Like 0
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

Peace..it happens to everyone sooner or later...I have found it challenging to walk away humbly with one foot stuck in my mouth

on Sep 27, 2011 · Like 0
Nichter's Home Services C... Islesboro, ME

Man, Oh Man, if I spend a year here, you'll find a god dozen mistakes of mine...not that we are keeping score or anything - right?

on Sep 27, 2011 · Like 0
Peace Painting Co., Inc. Alpharetta, GA

What score; good creed; a little mercy. The truth will eventually come out. Plus, it is written, 'Judge not, that you may not be judged'.
Best, CP

on Sep 27, 2011 · Like 0
HandyANDY Home Renovation... Marietta, GA

But we should keep score....after 12 "wrongs" you are banned for a year...just kidding. All 3 of you are great and very knowledgeable. I enjoy all the posts.

on Sep 28, 2011 · Like 0