Sign up for our newsletter! The screw pile can be reused. But you can’t just put wood porch/deck boards directly onto concrete. So, we … 2. When Chels and I started discussing the particulars of what we wanted to do in the backyard, and researching the feasibility of building a wooden deck atop an existing cement patio, the lightbulb went off for her, and she asked me, “Why couldn’t you do this on the front porch, too?” So, I went out and measured the porch. So we filled the reservoir with exterior-grade self-leveling compound. Instead, install a ground-level deck right over it! They are ideal for apartment complexes that feature outdoor living space. Whatever your reasons, adding a wood floor to your concrete porch is a fairly simple operation. Stairs connected to the patio can complicate this project. A slab with this much damage can’t be fixed. Drill the holes 1/4 to 1/2 in. If it isn't, your heavy porch could eventually sink and develop cracks. While it serves a similar purpose as a deck, you may be wondering what is the difference between a porch and a deck when it comes to building. What is the best way to construct this? Here's why: Before decking, we covered the sleepers with flashing tape. Take the total height and divide it by the height of the riser. Advantage hardwood deck tiles are made from South American hardwoods proven to last up to 75 years or more. Without it, water soaks the tops of the sleepers and the decking prevents the wood from drying. But they do need to form a flat plane. The other materials for this project add up to about $1.50 per sq. Drill pilot holes a maximum of 24 inches apart along the sleeper, using a hammer drill to drill through the wood and into the concrete ¼ inch to ½ inch deeper than the length of your screws. Saved from familyhandyman.com. If you live in a climate where the ground freezes, allow an extra 1/2 in. But the biggest time factor was the unevenness of the patio surface. But they're 2-3/4 in. I also plan on it having a peaked roof. In this how to build a screened in porch article, we’ll show you the key steps for building this porch. If an area is badly cracked and sinks noticeably year after year, any decking you put over it will also sink and develop a low spot. The homeowner purchased our 20 x 20 Cumaru deck tiles to resurface his old concrete front porch. For most materials this really is not adequate airspace and you could see cupping issues still or early deterioration of your new deck boards. With a coat of resurfacer, you can make an old patio look like new concrete quickly and cheaply. You could probably replace your patio yourself for less than the cost of this project, but DIY demolition and concrete pours are big, backbreaking jobs. This homeowner had an old concrete front porch that had a large crack down the center. Spacers allow for longer decking screws. 1/2”-thick PVC trim or deck fascia (for spacers), plastic shims, 3/16-in. How to Build a Deck Over a Concrete Patio. Measure the width of the deck next and write it down as well. ft. for treated wood to more than $10 per sq. How to Build a Deck Over a Concrete Patio. Raise low spots with shims. In many instances, however, the porch will be constructed on a concrete or other type of solid patio. You have to clean the surface of the concrete slab. On concrete steps, that’s a straightforward job: You can treat them just like the patio, screwing sleepers to the treads and risers and decking over them. If it isn't, your heavy porch could eventually sink and develop cracks. Counterbore holes in PVC trim with ½-inch-diameter spade bit. Nov 19, 2017 - See how to build a porch over concrete to determine if its right for you. But there are downsides: You'll have to reseal every one to three years and may eventually have to restain it. If your patio isn't cracked, you could choose any of the options below or stain, tile or resurface the concrete. When all the sleepers are screwed down, take a few minutes to double-check for flatness. August 2019. If kept damp, common grades of treated wood will eventually rot. Mar 15, 2016 - Is your old concrete patio an eyesore? Pour A Concrete Slab Over A Concrete Slab, #3 Porch Conversion Video - Duration: 7:29. This only gives you one and a half inches of air space between the concrete porch and the underside of the deck boards. Be sure the ground your porch will be resting on is solid. There’s a few considerations you need to think about before attempting to take on this project. Deck And Cover View Along The Way. Instead of removing those concrete front steps, save some time by building a wood deck over and around them. Even a very small patio will require more than 50 holes, and a more powerful drill will make that chore a lot easier. Porches need to be designed to support 80 lbs per square foot, compared to 55 lbs per square foot for decks. Floating decks capture the eye of onlookers and can be built to complement your property’s existing design. A massive concrete stoop will be difficult to remove. Steps: 1. You would then cover the sleepers with either deck boards or a high quality exterior plywood. How to Build a Deck Over a Concrete Patio (DIY) A concrete slab provides a firm stable base for pavers. Most people think composite decking is the best decking material. I am having trouble figuring out how to cover the patio slab since I only have 2-½" from the slab to the bottom of the threshold. 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. Even if we removed the austere concrete slab, the patio door threshold was barely above grade. August 2019. Decks .. More Front Porch Progress Building A Wood Over An Existing Concrete Addicted 2 Decorating. ft., so your total cost could be anywhere from $3 to $12 per sq. Drill holes through each counterbore and into the concrete for tap-in masonry anchors. You should consider coating your concrete in a sealer or concrete since concrete wicks moisture it can add more moisture to the underside of your deck boards. Install crosspieces throughout the frame every two feet to insure a strong base on which to lay your flooring. To see how to apply stain in multicolor patterns, see Renew Your Concrete Patio. Check this out: My uncle kept bugging me about building a deck in his backyard. Others are topped with wood, ceramic or stone. Building Over an Existing Slab. ft. of patio. Building A Wooden Deck Over Concrete One 6 Steps With Pictures Instructables. Do you need to replace a broken, ugly, stained concrete patio? But consider spending $100 or more. In addition they are naturally slip resistant and naturally resistant to rot, decay and wood boring insects. Home Decor. Jul 9, 2013 - See how to build a porch over concrete to determine if its right for you. Replacing the concrete deck with wood could have been done in one of two ways: completely demolish the concrete porch and build a 100% wooden one in its place, or use the concrete as a base and just add wood on top of it. For a good conditioned concrete base, building a raised deck is easy. Instead of removing the concrete just build right over the top. One by one, board by board, it starts to come together! ft. or three times that. That slows you down, strains your drill and overheats the bit. At the other end of the patio, a corner of the slab had sunk slightly below the level of the soil and rainwater pooled there. Cut PVC trim boards to wrap around stoop using circular saw. I tried to explain to my uncle that he didn’t have enough elevation at the door to build a deck over his patio. They're easy to use and almost invisible. over the years. Instead of removing the concrete just build right over the top. Spacers let the sleepers dry out. But for a broken or cracked base, you need to repair the base at first. Extra-depth provides a space for dust and grit, so screws are easier to drive. ft. For looks and durability, we used two different colors of decking made from PVC, but there are less expensive alternatives. We recommend our users to update the browser. Apply foam adhesive to back of trim. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This patio took much more time—five long days. A concrete slab provides a firm, stable base for pavers. Dec 18, 2015 - Shim the sleepers for the deck with spacers and composite shims. Local contractors estimated costs of $7 to $10 per sq. masonry drill bits (minimum drilling depth of 3-1/2 in.). For complete step-by-step instructions, see How to Cover a Concrete Patio With Pavers. To cover the ends of the sleepers, we used a deck “fascia” board made from 1/2-in.-thick PVC. If you’ve missed the first couple of posts on this project, you can click the links below to catch up on the details. Look for the highest hump in the patio and fasten your first sleeper there. Common grades of treated lumber will rot if kept permanently damp, and flashing tape is the best insurance against that. Attaching deck boards directly to your concrete porch would lead to excessive mold, mildew and early deterioration of the deck boards. Build the frame of the deck on the ground by bolting four boards into a square or rectangle the size of the projected deck. Overhang the sleepers along one edge of the patio and trim them to exact length later. The grid pattern formed with different-colored decking also added a few hours to the job. … When they’re flat on the ground or on a slab, though, they’re called sleepers—really just joists on a surface—and can be used this way because the … Screwing down sleepers with concrete screws is simple, but there are some things to keep in mind: The sleepers don't have to be level; they can follow the slope of your patio. Narrower boards are less likely to cup, you should also consider thicker deck boards since thicker materials are usually more stable as well. Once you’ve inspected the porch to make sure it’s structurally sound you can usually put a wood deck over the top of your concrete porch but there’s a few things you should know first. In most cases, this project is also less expensive than a new patio installed by a contractor. How to Build a Porch: Steps for Building a Front Porch Deck A front porch can be a graceful addition to a home, giving you a place to enjoy your neighborhood and surroundings in the fresh air. Dig 2-3′ deep holes and set the posts into concrete, if you want to get the job done in a professional manner. Your email address will not be published. They're available in a huge range of colors, designs and prices. Article from familyhandyman.com. Exact quantities depend on the shape of your patio and the layout of the decking. So the plan yesterday was to get all of the risers/sleepers attached to the porch. Your email address will not be published. The ideal scenario is to pour a concrete slab for the porch, which can then be further embellished with a slate or quarry tile floor. Cut PVC trim boards to wrap around stoop using circular saw. Since our concrete was in good condition and would offer a solid base we decided to keep it and just cover it all with wood. You could lay your sleepers directly on the concrete, but we bought a 1/2-in.- thick PVC trim board and cut spacer blocks from it. Installing Deck Flooring on a Cement Patio. My front porch floor is finished! From concrete stains and epoxy coatings to a variety of enclosures, there are several ways to go about this. Measure from the bottom of the level to the ground using a 4-foot (1.2 m) level set on the top of the porch. Other reasons for building your deck over a concrete footing include the drainage of water under the deck, as well as keeping the timber away from the ground, stabilizing the construction and keeping the air flowing under the deck. After that, you just need to attach some rafters and then cover them to achieve the look you want. Some become uneven as one side of the crack sinks. Inspect your concrete porch to ensure it is sloped away from your house and water drains properly. They’ll assess the project and help you make the Trex decision that’s right for you—decking that won’t warp or splinter like its wood counterpart. It is essential to decide if you are going to build a free-standing deck or if you will attach it to the house. screws are perfect. DadDoes ____ … Screws should penetrate the concrete by at least 1 in., so 3-1/4-in. The results look just like a deck, but getting them is much easier and less expensive than building a deck from scratch. It is easy to do and can be built by most do-it-yourselfers. The structure was simply framed and screened. To clear the dust, pull the bit completely out of the hole once or twice while drilling each hole. Spacers let you run sleepers parallel to the house so decking can run perpendicular to the house (if that's what you prefer). Add shims to raise low spots. But it can be covered up—and this article will show you how. What is a sleeper system? Most homeowners can cover their old concrete porch in one afternoon. Luckily, we’ve got some great outdoor flooring ideas over concrete, starting with building a deck! Discover collection of 24 photos and gallery about how to build roof over deck at getinthetrailer.com. Plus, you can install Fiberon decking easily over a patio or on a rooftop space on a sleeper system. It is also a good way to cover up peeling paint, slight chipping and discolored concrete. Ripping up concrete and building a deck seemed like a daunting and expensive task, so when we saw NewTechWood Deck-A-Floor, we thought it would be absolutely perfect for our space. The largest rugs are typically 9 x 12 ft. That may not cover your entire patio, but just covering most of an ugly patio makes a huge difference. They come in a variety of beautiful hardwood species that are up to 3 times harder than teak. The best deck railing patterns often consist of double top and bottom rails and sandwiched porch railing pickets. Materials: Aside from the decking, here's an estimate of what you'll need to cover 100 sq. Building a Raised Deck Over Concrete Patio. Dig 2-3′ deep holes and set the posts into concrete, if you want to get the job done in a professional manner. But before you weigh the options shown below, there's one thing to consider…. 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. Steps: 1. Use pressure-treated lumber when building the front porch, as the components will be exposed to bad weather. Explore. (Ceramic or stone tiles require a flat surface—they may crack if installed over ridges or depressions.). To keep step heights equal, you’ll have to raise the treads by the same distance you raise the patio (2-1/2 to 3-1/2 in.). This can lead to faster rot and decay as well as cupping. Instead of removing the concrete just build right over the top. Installing Composite Decking Over a Concrete Porch. These decks are often referred to as “floating,” as they are not secured in place as a stand-alone structure. If you find spots that are 1/16 in. First, you have to attach risers/sleepers to the concrete and then the porch boards can be screwed to the risers. And tile is a great way to turn a bland patio into a showpiece. Self-leveling compound hardens fast, so you can get on with the project. Your project can be a whole lot easier if you choose a simple decking design. There is an easier method however to put a new wood deck directly over the top of your old concrete porch. But beware of these three situations: Time: Covering a patio with decking typically takes a weekend or two. More Front Porch Progress Building A Wood Over An Existing Concrete Addicted 2 Decorating. It is easy to do and can be built by most do-it-yourselfers. By building a floating deck made with capped composite decking materials, you can swiftly transform a drab or dated concrete slab into a captivating living oasis for you and your guests. It is easy to do and can be built by most do-it-yourselfers. This guide will cover how to build a low, ground-level deck that does not require stairs and a stair railing. Be sure the ground your porch will be resting on is solid. If you have a crumbling concrete patio that needs replacing, you should consider installing a deck using Fiberon® composite decking, available in a range of stunning colors that complement any space. When I was thinking through the details for our farmhouse front porch makeover, I knew from the very beginning we would want to do something to makeover the concrete steps. long; that's too long to sink into our decking if we use sleepers only. If you’ve built decks or sheds, you’ll be able to tackle this job with confidence. Then we removed and mitered the border boards and trimmed the sleepers to final length. so that seasonal “frost heave” can raise the slab without damaging the threshold. Even if your patio is in terrible shape, you can deck over it. screws. This was the ultimate bad patio: severely cracked and cratered, some areas raised by frost, others sunken after 50 years of settling. On the steps, I would totally agree - if you pour concrete and build the steps over them with sleepers and pressure-treated lumber, they will be totally solid. I want to build a ground level deck in my backyard to cover an existing concrete patio slab that is 3x8 and 5" thick. We began with the darker “accent” boards, screwing them into place temporarily to act as guides for the “field” boards. Otherwise, you will have to create original footings for the overhead. While the front porch was still structurally strong it was not visually appealing. If you want your porch construction to be less challenging, you can't go wrong with concrete. Learn how your comment data is processed. Many also believe once it’s installed they’ll never have to do any maintenance to their new deck. Deck tiles are the easiest DIY way to build a deck over an old concrete porch. Tools: Aside from standard carpentry tools, you'll need a hammer drill for this project. Article by Family Handyman. 38. Also consider buying an impact driver. The bottom of the boards would be wet while the tops of the boards would be exposed to wind and sun so the top of the deck boards would be dry. The plates can then be bolted to the slab to anchor the porch in place. Less expensive versions are plastic only. All those ridges and sunken spots meant hours of tedious shimming under the sleepers to form a flat surface for the decking (see Photo 3). Installing deck boards over sleepers is just like installing them over standard deck framing. Footings are often required on the sides of porches that use a gable porch roof. If building a screened porch on a new slab, place anchor bolts around the perimeter in locations for the bottom plate of the porch. In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains how to deck over a concrete stoop. If your patio has ridges and sunken areas, you'll spend lots of time fussing with shims. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. The simpler you can make your deck plan, the faster and cheaper it will be to build. The quickest way to hide damaged concrete—or just add color—is with an outdoor area rug. As a beginning DIYer, you need to know details of how to build a raised deck over a concrete patio. Floating decks installed above the ground floor add to the curb appeal of multi-story facilities. Building a porch can also be more expensive than building a deck, as well as more complicated. Any movement happens so slowly that it's hard to detect. Most models are cordless, but you can still find inexpensive corded models online. Required fields are marked *. Learn what it is, why you need it, and how to install it. You could build a wood porch, but wood porch building requires more elaborate design. If you want your porch construction to be less challenging, you can't go wrong with concrete. If you run sleepers parallel to the house and set them directly on the concrete, each sleeper will block runoff. We chose a composite decking surround as we liked the low-maintenance factor and wood look. Building a floating deck over concrete is one of the best ways to expand your living space while enhancing your property’s aesthetic appeal. Also, the stain won't hide damage, and any repairs will likely show through the stain. If you're not in a rush, you can get similar results for less than one-third the cost with concrete topping mix such as Sakrete Top 'n Bond or Quikrete Sand/Topping Mix. But it's also expensive. Decks are popular backyard features, but they also make for dramatic front entries. As a bit wears, it doesn't just drill more slowly; it also bores a slightly smaller hole and screws become harder to drive. Impact drivers pack a lot more torque than standard drills or drivers and will drive concrete screws much better. A few other considerations that could help if you choose this method. I would like a wooden porch, the same size but one level. On top of the grids, you place the clip-in accessories according to the instructions. Hey, some of you have been ignoring our great deck how-tos because you think you can’t build a deck over your patio slab. One side is constructed on the ground complete with both top rail, bottom rail, and pickets and finished when placed between porch columns. 4. Study the drawings and photos for more details. Just Add Sleepers That's partly because it's a big one (14 x 28 ft.). When you have varying conditions like this your deck boards would cup and would not stay flat. It is an easy part of the process. Exterior. Working your way out from there, use shims to create a flat plane. Don't spend thousands of dollars (or break your own back) having it demolished. It can be readjusted after installation by multiple inches. At high spots, skip the spacer; stack up shims instead. Counterbore holes in PVC trim with ½-inch-diameter spade bit. 3) You can build a floating deck over concrete on your own This is how you build a structurally sound deck without concrete. In many areas, a ground-level deck is defined as one that has a maximum height of 30-inches above the ground and is not attached to the house. or more out-of-plane, back out the screw and add or remove shims. And I am absolutely thrilled with how it turned out. Exterior. Some grow wider over time, while others shrink and widen as the soil freezes and thaws. It’s incredibly durable and, best of all, easy to maintain. You can repair cracks and resurface over them, but the cracks may return. Follow proper safety precautions, including wearing eye protection when using power tools. Our hardwood decking has a lifespan up to 75+ years when installed properly. Below are eight reasons to build a floating deck. For the complete story, see How to Build a Patio With Ceramic Tile. The results look incredible and the install only took him a few hours on a Saturday afternoon. It is essential to decide if you are going to build a free-standing deck or if you will attach it to the house. Some old porches have hairline cracks that contribute to the old dingy look of concrete but they are still structurally sound. I tried to explain to my uncle that he didn’t have enough elevation at the door to build a deck over his patio. Water trapped in the cracks can freeze and create structural damage. While the front porch was still structurally strong it was not visually appealing. Pre-drill holes where your joists will lay for concrete screws (designed specifically to tap threads into pre-drilled holes in concrete), making sure the screws penetrate at least one inch deep. 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Worst conditioned concrete base, you can avoid the cost of building a deck over.. Divide it by the height of the deck boards safely support the steps we later to! The layout of your old concrete front steps, save some time by building a patio or on sleeper... Up—And this article will show you the key steps for building this porch break. Compresses around the drill bit to preview the situation, lay a straight across! Railing height on the decking prevents the wood from drying good shape, ’. Floating deck over concrete to determine if its right for you your work shrink and widen as the decking original!