Although pine is not a very rot resistant wood, a four-year life span for deck boards does seem remarkably short. I suspect there may be very little ventilation underneath your veranda floor, and this could be a larger problem than you realize. If floorboards are rotting in just four years, what about the joists and beams that are underneath them? Your first step is to ensure that lots of fresh air gets under the veranda floor, if that’s not happening already. Second, you need to use either pressure treated wood or cedar lumber for replacing floorboards. Neither of these woods will last a long time without ventilation, but you will enjoy several decades of deck life if they’re installed over a properly ventilated framework. Another thing you need to realize is that all solid wood expands and contracts seasonally with changes in humidity. This is why it’s impossible to fill the spaces between deck boards and have that filler last for more than a season or two. Traditional verandas were often built with narrow boards that fit together with tongue and groove edges. Narrow board width minimizes board to board gaps developing, and interlocking edges conceal those small gaps that do appear. Composite deck boards are another option you may consider. Most brands are completely rot proof, and because they’re made with a high proportion of plastic they don’t expand and contract seasonally.
Similar Posts
Q&A OF THE WEEK: “How Can I Insulate Walls In My 1940 Home?”
Q: Is it possible to blow insulation into the wall cavities of one of those little veteran homes built right after WWII? I’m afraid to shop around for this work to be done because I don’t want to be taken…
HOMES & RENOS: Follow This Design Approach to Truly Make a Place Your Own
Question: How should my husband and I choose an architect? We’ve bought five acres of waterfront property that’s blessed with interesting topography. We envision a small, green home, perhaps using water reclamation technology and solar energy, incorporating local materials. How…
How can we stop frost from forming on the inside face of the garage walls?
How can we stop frost from forming on the inside face of the garage walls on our three-year-old home during winter? The drywall is getting ruined. Our builder wants to help, but doesn’t know how to begin. This sounds like…
Independent Garden Seed Companies
Sed arcu non odio euismod lacinia. Sit amet cursus sit amet dictum sit. Nunc pulvinar sapien et ligula ullamcorper. Pellentesque diam volutpat commodo sed egestas. Tellus elementum sagittis vitae et leo duis ut diam quam. Eleifend donec pretium vulputate sapien…
OUTDOOR WOOD FINISH: Watch a New Version of an Old Favourite in Action
Click below to watch me apply a new, coloured version of a favourite outdoor wood finish of mine. It’s called Ecowood Treatment. Join me as I apply the “weathered wood” version to a new white cedar picnic table. I’ve never used…
Rooftop Revolution
More and more builders are including stunning roof designs in their projects. Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, talks about the evolution of roofing.






