Porch flooring and wood decking

have a lot in common, even though it’s customary to use tongue-and-groove boards on a porch—rather than lumber laid with a slight gap to allow water to drain, as on a deck. Weatherbeaten floors are vulnerable to a host of ills: cracked, split, or waterlogged lumber; • chipped, peeling, or faded paint or stain. Because a porch is part of the house proper, and also because it has a roof to mitigate its exposure to the elements, its floor should be wood. But a new deck is more forgiving of modern materials. If weather is wet or harsh, ultraviolet light a constant, and maintenance spotty, you might choose a composite, most of which don’t require sealers. With a Class A fire rating, composites resist mildew, but will need scrubbing at least annually.