Screened porch additions are an excellent way to extend your home and bring the outdoors in. They provide an outdoor oasis for you and your family to comfortably enjoy the beauty and serenity that Mother Nature has to offer. We, at Fineline Construction, will ensure that you choose the best quality screened porch materials because it is an extension of your home and should transition seamlessly. We want to educate you about the many flooring materials available so that you can choose the best quality products that will enable you to enjoy your screened porch for many years to come.
There are various flooring styles to choose from when considering your new screened porch. These include pressure treated, composite, PVC and exotic flooring products. Let’s examine each one a little closer along with their individual advantages and disadvantages:
Pressure Treated Products
According to industry studies, pressure treated wood products remain the most commonly used decking material today. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that all pressure treated material is not created equal. It is important to purchase material that has had time to dry. Most large box stores carry very wet material. When you install very wet material, it tends to warp, cup, and splinter more.
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Composite Products
Most composite products are made from the same basic formula of recycled wood scraps and plastics, making them eco-friendly. They are available in a variety of colors but are completely compatible with paint and stain if you prefer to customize. Trex and Everlast are just a few of the top producers of composite products. The Trex Transcend series (pictured above) of products are some of the most superior products on the market today and ones that we highly recommend to our customers on a regular basis.
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PVC Products
Many companies that once specialized in only composite products are now producing PVC products.
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Exotic Hardowoods:
There are several exotic hardwoods available on the market but the most commonly used are Ipe and Tigerwood.
Ipe, pronounced e-pay, is one of the hardest species available.
ADVANTAGES:
• It is naturally resistant to rot and decay.
• No special preservatives are required but can be used by choice.
• Naturally slip resistant and exceeds the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for Static Coefficient of friction in a wet environment.
• The life expectancy of Ipe is about 25+ years.
Tigerwood is also a very durable species of exotic hardwoods and is very much like Ipe except that Tigerwood costs much less than Ipe and the color is different.
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Whether you decide to use pressure treated, composite, PVC or exotic hardwood flooring, your decision will set the tone for the rest of the project. We know the options are vast and overwhelming, so please feel free to contact us to discuss all of the above options in further detail. You can also visit our screened porch page for additional information. We look forward to the possibility of working with you on your new screened porch addition!