How to finish this porch floor?

[Dana Carr]

I’m considering a house and this is the floor of the front porch. What is the best and most cost effective way to finish/cover the sad plywood? This will be a rental, low to average cost neighborhood. I want to add value but not over improve.

[Joe Splitrock]

@Dana Carr I don't think that spending much money on this will add to value of the property or increase rents. I would clean it, prime it with high adhesion primer and apply "porch & floor" paint. It will start to wear off over time. We just repaint between tenants. For $50 and an hour of time, repainting is no big deal.

If you want a more lasting solution, install composite decking. That will require removal of the plywood, which opens you to more repairs as you see what is underneath. Composite materials can last 20 years with no maintenance. Trex is one major brand, but there are others.

[Marcus Auerbach]

What @Joe Splitrock said. But pressure wash before you prime it.

[Scott Mac]

Hi Dana,

In addition to paint, maybe put a strip of black indoor outdoor carpet just in front of the door (and on the steps if they are not cement).

That area is going to take most of the abuse of moving (scraping appliances and furniture) in and out, as well as most of the foot traffic.

Cut 3 or 4 more sheets and toss them in the attic for future use.

A hand full of staples is much cheaper and faster on turns than a full repaint.

Also keep in mind that is a long narrow space and Lighter colors make things appear larger, darker colors--the opposite.

Good Luck!

[Dana Carr]

Originally posted by @Scott Mac:

Hi Dana,

In addition to paint, maybe put a strip of black indoor outdoor carpet just in front of the door (and on the steps if they are not cement).

That area is going to take most of the abuse of moving (scraping appliances and furniture) in and out, as well as most of the foot traffic.

Cut 3 or 4 more sheets and toss them in the attic for future use.

A hand full of staples is much cheaper and faster on turns than a full repaint.

Also keep in mind that is a long narrow space and Lighter colors make things appear larger, darker colors--the opposite.

Good Luck!

Thank you for this! I didn’t think of stapling down a mat.