What materials are unsuitable for a porch floor?

expert EXPERT April 26, 2007

Floors are occasionally made with plywood, waferboard or other manufactured wood products. These products are generally not successful in outdoor applications, particularly where they are installed horizontally and wetted regularly. Because they are sheet goods, they do not allow water to drain through quickly. Where they are installed with a slope to drain and are well protected with paint or stain, they may work, although you should pay very close attention to edges. Edges of plywood tend to delaminate and edges of waferboard tend to swell with exposure to moisture.

Decks, porches and balconies should be considered walking surfaces. In some cases, materials such as roll roofing or single-ply roofing membranes are applied. Most roofing materials are not intended to be walking surfaces and will deteriorate as a result of the mechanical and abrasive effect of foot traffic.

There are some single-ply roof membranes that are intended to be walking surfaces. We suggest you visit roofing suppliers and become familiar with the various roofing products.