How to Repair Sagging Wood Porch Flooring
Sagging wood porch flooring can greatly affect the overall aesthetic appeal of a house. Therefore, it is imperative to address such a problem as soon as possible. A sagging wood porch floor is often not a problem in relatively new homes, but in old houses, it is fairly common. To fix this eyesore, you may need the help of a professional, but you can also complete the task yourself if you want to save a few bucks on repair.
Tools and Materials Needed:
- Circular Saw
- Pry bar or crowbar
- Hammer
- Oil Based Primer
- Paint Brush
- Polyurethane Construction Adhesive
- Stainless Steel Sliding Nail (optional)
- Electric Sander
- 80-Grit and 100-Grit Sandpaper
- Wooden Floor Boards
Step 1 – Cut and Remove the Damaged Board
Cut the damaged board lengthwise using a circular saw. Make sure that the blade of the circular saw extends no further than the bottom face of the board to avoid damaging or cutting through the deck joists. Cut starting from the edge to the porch and stop a few inches from the house wall. Using a crowbar and hammer, pry the old wood from both sides of the cut. Take care not to break the tongue of the neighboring boards that are undamaged. Remove all wooden debris, and pull out old nails as much as possible. Use the crowbar to pry the other sagging wood boards, and remove them from the deck joist.
Step 2 – Cut the Floor Boards to Size
Have the floor boards cut into desired sizes. You can cut the floor boards by yourself or have a professional carpenter mill the boards to the right size using a table saw. You may also purchase pre-cut wooden boards at the nearest hardware store.
Step 3 – Install the New Porch Deck
Grab a can or bottle of oil-based primer, and use a paint brush to coat the new wooden planks before installation. Let it dry. This will help protect the new wooden decks from moisture. Apply polyurethane adhesive to the exposed deck joists, align the grooves of the new board with the old flooring, and press the new board into the adhesive. Lightly tap the top of the new board with a hammer to ensure the entire length of the board is pressed firmly into the adhesive lined deck joists.
You may opt to nail the floor board to the deck joist. Pound the nail at an angle on the tongue of the new board into the deck joists. Flatten all recessed nail heads afterwards. Repeat the above mentioned procedure to all damaged parts of the porch.
Step 4 – Sand the New Floor Board
Use the 80-grit paper to sand the new floor boards and finish with a 100-grit sand paper to smooth the surface. Clear the surrounding area of dust and debris using a vacuum. You may now apply an oil based deck paint to further protect and beautify the porch.
Sagging wood porch flooring is easy to repair with the use of the right tools and techniques. Remember to carefully inspect all parts of the porch at least every six months to help protect it from further damage in the future.
