Any boards exhibiting movement should be renailed. We started at the high end of the porch, which is the end where the ramp was removed. I have no idea what it’s called.) Bullnose Self-Stick Carpet Staircase Tread Overlays. Your brother is so good to come help. Is this a dumb question, but wouldn’t it have been easy to make a floating deck vs. building on top of what you have? If I were to run the risers the width of the porch, rain water would have no where to drain. I’m also wondering if paint will peel? Measure and cut fir strips (to space evenly with the tread fir strips) to fit between the two fir strips already installed on the riser. I agree not $2000, maybe $800. It looks a giant compass you look into your angle. Step by step photos and a full tutorial! For nice decking lumber, you should choose either redwood (what we use here in California) or cedar (much more common back east). So with just two risers down, and just an hour or so into our project, we had to stop working and make a trip to Home Depot. Copyright 2007-2019 - Kristi Linauer, LLC. F.R.R. After the masonry steps are installed, I cover the area between the door sill and the top step of the stoop with a threshold kick plate. I placed a 2 x 4 on top along the back so that I could see how it looks. The nail gun was leaving about an inch of the nail exposed. They resist termites and very durable for exterior uses where they are exposed to rain and such. I wonder if that’s something that happens only in certain climates. For stairs that are flush against a wall, you will only install one stringer. Discussion Starter • #1 • Jan 1, 2009 (Edited) I wanted to have railings put up on the front of my house to match the railings on my deck I just had built. But I love it so far!!! Building concrete steps requires a knowledge of mixing and pouring concrete, making concrete forms, and using tools, like hammers, drills, levels, and so on. He ended up blind in that eye, even after several surgeries that tried to save his sight. Use treated wood to allow for any moisture the concrete steps may produce. How are you planning for the water to run off and out from under? I was wondering if it would show through. The big picture goal here is that I’ll be covering my existing concrete front porch with wood so that I can stain it and it will look like a traditional wood front porch. And if all of this is clear as mud, hopefully it’ll become much clearer as this project progresses. As it is, it’ll be very close. Clad the First RiserPress the stone into place, wiggling it in tight to create a vacuum behind it. Position one fir strip against the concrete riser and one at the front edge of the step. It looks great so far and I do vote for painting (sealing?) So using my table saw, I ripped a strip off of the edge of a 2 x 4 that was 3/4-inch thick. But I’ll keep watching to see what you think at the end. That time it also split the wood and cracked a very top thin layer off of the concrete, meaning that the nail wasn’t actually embedded into the concrete. You can even go for something more classic, by choosing a staircase covering in a classic variety of wood. Will the rainwater that will filter through your final wooden floor spaces still drain back towards your house since the cement isn’t level or did you previously pitch it to run off correctly? It probably would help tremendously with the runoff not hitting your new porch. I just want to say you have a wonderful brother. Have you had any issues with water not draining off the porch? It will make them last much longer. Wood is a clean, stylish material for concrete stair coverings. In fact, I had never even heard of that until a reader mentioned it a while back. Measure the width and the depth of the concrete steps. Repeat for both stringers. Covering a concrete porch with wood provides a warmer, cozier feel. Then, build a perimeter, or a wood brace, that is the same height as you want the concrete to be. He said that concrete just continues getting harder and harder as it gets older, which is why the old stuff is so much harder to deal with than the new stuff. If you look at that first picture, you’ll see the issue. I haven’t decided about the porch boards yet. Add finish nails joining the tread and riser edge strips after the adhesive cures (about 24 hours). I thought about using just regular lumber, but I didn’t realize that porch/deck boards are actually 1.25 inches thick, where regular lumber is only 3/4″ thick. Shouldn’t the skirting go on AFTER the deck is done? I can’t wait to replace them with tongue and groove. You got this! Position one fir strip against the concrete tread and one at the front edge of the tread fir strip. I took that picture just for demonstration. . Haha! 5 Posts . See more ideas about concrete steps, house exterior, porch steps. Steps: The wood subfloor must either be solid hardwood flooring, a minimum of ¾” tongue-and-groove, APA – rated, Type 1, exterior exposure plywood, or OSB equivalent. Covering your concrete porch with wood provides a warmer feel. It also works perfectly in country interiors. lol!). Give a hug from your readers. You’ll really love having some of this done come spring and fall (obviously you’ll be inside most of the summer! Tapcon-style anchors. Make sure the braces are level, and lay down a barrier of wire mesh over the existing concrete … Wear eye protection as you drill. But first, here’s a look at my current concrete porch so you can remember exactly what we’re working with…, The ramp on the side was removed after I took that picture, and unfortunately, I failed to get a picture of the whole porch without the ramp before we got started. The execution proved to be a bit more challenging than we had anticipated for reasons I’ll explain in a second. Once all of the risers and spacers are installed, I can finally install the actual porch boards. Measure and cut fir strips to fit between the two fir strips already installed, positioned at your marks. I’m sure you’ll be careful and wear good eye and hand protection. Repeat for each tread. I would transfer those measurements to the next 2 x 4 board, use my table saw to rip it to the right height, then we’d test it to be sure it was the right height by putting it into place and checking with the level at the back, middle and front. Step by step pictures of the process are included. DIY Concrete Steps Covered with Wood Rather than paint unappealing concrete steps, why not cover them with wood? Kristi, what will you do with those concrete screws that didn’t drill all the way in? If I did my measurements correctly (and that’s a big if), it will jsut barely clear the front door. You can even create a grander entrance for … I was worried about the same thing! All Rights Reserved. Instead of removing those concrete front steps, save some time by building a wood deck over and around them. It is also a good way to cover up peeling paint, slight chipping and discolored concrete. That end, from the house (back) to the yard side (front) was level…miraculously. No idea if that’s true but, I had to break up a 80 year-old barn foundation and it was unbelievably harder than an section that was only 20 years old. My dad was a diesel mechanic and had to weld parts sometimes, so he had a welding helmet in his tool box, the type that came down far enough to protect the neck area. (Skirting board? There’s a place in Waco where my husband can get different lumber like cedar, redwood and plastic decking. Kelly at ‘View Along the Way‘ shows us how to build a deck over concrete. But you can’t just put wood porch/deck boards directly onto concrete. Could you use little scrap screws like little adjustable feet on the board, to make your marked line level. At the front, the board might need to be 1.5 inches tall, while at the back, it might need to be 1.75 inches tall. On a couple of boards, we’d have to take it back to the table saw and trim off an eighth of an inch or so. Concrete (or masonry) steps are commonly built between a garage that is on grade and a home which is on a basement or crawl space type foundation. Measure and cut treated wood fir strips with a table saw, the same width as the concrete tread. The other end should finish at the top of the stairs. The wall I took down between the kitchen and the breakfast room (where the kitchen peninsula is now) used to be the exterior wall of the house. COVERING CONCRETE STEPS WITH WOOD When I was thinking through the details for our farmhouse front porch makeover, I knew from the very beginning we would want to do something to makeover the concrete steps. ). Most deck joists are 2x8s. Concrete Patio Idea – Cover Up with a Deck! It’s great how he helps/works with you from time-to-time. Concrete porches can be slippery. Use Tile To Cover a Concrete Patio. Step 3. I’ve never noticed this concrete sweating. The Tapcon screws didn’t work perfectly either, though. I’ve always been taught to always have water run away from the house. So we have about seven more risers to install, which should go much faster now that we have the right tool and we know the process. This was the same Ramset that we used to nail the plywood subfloor over the newly-poured concrete in the breakfast room (you can read more about that here), and it worked perfectly for that project. Addicted 2 Decorating is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. For a rich contemporary or country look, cover concrete stairs with hardwood flooring. So are you running your deck boards the length of the porch? If you're looking for a covering because … So as we installed the risers for the wood porch, we also had to rip them at different heights using the table saw so that the finished porch would be level. That’s disappointing, but I haven’t given up my search just yet. Hammer or finish nailer. Will it be a weather treated lumber? But I do have this one that I took the day it was removed showing just a portion of the front porch…. Click the links below to see the rest of the posts in this project. There’s not enough room. So hard-core eye protection was his go to after that, and he was never without his welding helmet when sawing metal! Covering An Existing Concrete Porch With Wood – Part 1. If I can’t get those screws to go in any further, I’ll have to saw the off. Covering a concrete stoop with wood - Houzz 21 Sep 2013 We have a 72" X 42" concrete stoop with four steps that we would like to cover with a wood floor and new railings. Position two (16 penny) sinker nails in the hole, use a twenty ounce hammer and evenly drive the nails into the hole until the stringer is snug. Then I would measure the distance from the bottom of the level to the concrete. I would like to go over them with a composite type decking material without having to dispose of the concrete stairs … I just had to eyeball the line as I ripped the boards. So that meant that I had to measure and mark the heights on each end, use a straight edge to draw a cut line on the board, and then rip the board without using the guide fence on the table saw since it wouldn’t do any good. I would like to build over it with wood, using the concrete as a guide. I used a Ramsey when building my house. I also vote to sealing that concrete with a water barrier if possible. I would imagine they’d get in the way of laying your boards down nice and flat, but that’s just an inexperienced layperson’s guess. So as of now, it looks like I’m stuck with pressure treated and waiting until summer to stain. So the plan yesterday was to get all of the risers/sleepers attached to the porch. Our porches here in the Texas hill country are pretty much all built with a slope to the outside—the only reason I know this is from playing jacks as a child and having the ball run off the edge every time we missed. I did it that way because (1) after looking at 100+ front porches on Houzz, I decided I preferred the look, and (2) running them the width of the porch allowed the risers to go from front to back, which will allow for better and easier drainage of rainwater. Simply start pilot holes in wood using wood bit until you feel it has reach the concrete…repeat this process with all four corners. How will the raised floor work with the front door? Build a Front Deck Over Your Concrete Stairs For Added Curb Appeal Decks are popular backyard features, but they also make for dramatic front entries. Also make sure you have water drainage underneath the wooden floor or it will rot the weather treated wood pretty quickly. Our slip resistant, attractive step cover can be quickly and easily installed on your wood, concrete or steel grating steps. The new wood porch floor is finished! Then it was on to the next riser. This is fine unless you decide to convert your garage into living space and you are confronted with how to cover the masonry stairs with wood so that they no longer look like exterior stairs. We want to cover the four step concrete staircase in front of our house . If Home Depot doesn’t stock or can’t order these for you, you should check at other local lumber yards, as these woods are the best for this type of use. Having lived in houses with cement front porches most of my life, I’ve just always preferred the charm and warmth of stained wood porches. Front Porch & Exterior Makeover (In Progress), Critter-proofing and Installing the Porch Boards, Finished Front Porch Floor (Wood Front Porch Built Over Existing Concrete Porch), Finished Front Porch Columns (And A Few New Photos Of The Front Exterior), More Front Porch Progress (Building A Wood Porch Over An Existing Concrete Porch), How To Wrap Front Porch Posts (Turn Skimpy Front Porch Posts Into Pretty Columns) – Part 1. Will you have to saw them off? Make sure your concrete stairs are level. Measure and cut treated wood fir strips the same width as the concrete riser. Thank God for family! Mar 8, 2016 - Explore Stayc Gates's board "how to cover ugly concrete step/front of home" on Pinterest. Examine the concrete steps to ensure they are not too decayed. That’s why I’m putting spacers on the front and side of the porch before I put the pretty skirt/fascia board and skirting on. We are basically looking for step-by-step instructions! I don’t know if you would want to level the cement between the risers away from the house before putting the top layer on? That’s how I’ve always seen it. If you're a beginning DIYer, don't let all the details … We actually took measurements at the very back and then at the very front. Or is there not enough room to have done that? Then I used my Ramset (i.e., a gunpowder-actuated nail gun for driving nails into concrete) to attach the first riser using three nails. Once the first riser was in place, we measured and marked every 16 inches for placement of the rest of the risers. Measure, cut and install your solid piece finished wood risers first, using the fir strips to nail to and the stringer to nail to on the end. Perfect solution for an outdoor patio that needs updating. I love your choice on the new columns. So I might need to add that step also. . Aug 10, 2017 - Learn how to cover concrete steps with wood with this tutorial. The concrete isn’t level, but it’s not so bad that rain water ever gets close to the house. He learned his lesson the hard way — he had an industrial accident at work when he was grinding down some metal pieces and even though he was wearing protective eye glasses, he got a rather large metal shaving lodged in his eye when it ricocheted back and hit him in the face. Best way to go about measuring and installation … (anchors need to be position exactly bellow the pilot hole) is to drill the concrete with the wood tread in place. lol, Julie B. I was thinking the same thing. Galvanized finish nails 1 1/4 inch long. (You may need a friend to hold the stringer in place while drilling.). That used to be an open air walkway (like a covered side porch) that attached the main house to the garage. First, you have to attach risers/sleepers to the concrete and then the porch boards can be screwed to the risers. Measure and cut treated wood fir strips the same width as the concrete riser. So, we … And immediately, we saw that it wasn’t going to be as simple as we had hoped. The subfloor should be solid and fixed securely to provide a rigid base. My brother and I only got halfway done with what I had hoped to accomplish yesterday, but we learned a lot along the way. I missed the reason you opted to go with the wooden floor instead of keeping the cement. Yes, they’ll run the length of the porch. So, not related to the front porch, but I was wondering if there are steps leading up to the breakfast room? And after four years here, we’ve had at least a few really heavy rains, and only once did it get close, but it still didn’t reach the house. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side. That was exactly what I was thinking. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Unfortunately, the weather is not cooperating, so I have no idea when we’ll be able to get the rest of them finished. I don’ t know if you have a sweating problem . Complete instructions are available on the carton. Allow for sheetrock or other types of facing to be applied over the stringer when you fit your treads. We want to do the same thing with our front porch, so I am thrilled to read this post. Typically I use 5/4-inch piece of PVC since this is touching the masonry as well. Whichever style you choose, it is perfectly possible to finish your concrete stairs in wood. I would definitely paint the cement with a sealer of some sort. Once those are done, I will still need to install spacers on the front and right side of the concrete to attach the white trim board to. That way I’ll know exactly how much the porch boards need to overlap the edges. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. I might just have to replace those with shorter screws. Repeat for each riser. Leaves are always getting stuck in the cracks I can never get it completely clean. So now you have added a hammer drill to your tool box? But the eight risers that we got installed look pretty darn good. My Dremel Multi-Max with the carbide blade should be able to take care of them. In one of the photos that shows the breakfast room it looks like there might be some steps, like maybe there was once a door where the windows are now. The strips are cut from 2x4s. Repeat this process for the hole closest to the bottom of the stair. A wooden covering for concrete stairs does not just suit modern interiors. Position one fir strip against the concrete tread and one at the front edge of the tread fir strip. the concrete black. Maybe stain? Apply a serpentine bead of construction adhesive to the back of each fir strip and press it into position. The plan itself seemed pretty straightforward, and I’d need about 15 risers in all, spaced at 16 inches on center. Since our concrete was in good condition and would offer a solid base we decided to keep it and just cover it all with wood. Curious. Mallory has been published since 1996, writing books, short stories, articles and essays. Yes, those are steps. Let’s just say that there’s nothing simple or straightforward about working with 70-year-old concrete. I currently have a wood floor on my porch and wish it was either cement or brick. The porch boards will have tiny little spaces between them, and I really don’t want concrete and unfinished riser boards to show through. I guess it really is a durable substance once cured! Even though I was using a hammerdrill, and I pre-drilled the holes with the drill bit that came with the Tapcon screws, some of those screws just didn’t want to go in all the way. So we decided to abandon that idea. Anything higher than what I’m doing wouldn’t clear the front doorway. And if I use 2″ lumber (like 2 x 6s), that will make it too high at the doorway. Apply a serpentine bead of construction adhesive to the back of each fir strip and press it into position. Quarter round trim molding. Yes, the redwood or cedar would be best and beautiful when stained. I have 6 concrete stairs and a small Landing leading to my house. Then using the level, we would take measurements at the back and at the front for the required height of the next riser. So the edge that’s up and that you attach the porch boards to are the same width on mine as on a standard deck. You can purchase pre-cut kits at your local hardware store, or you can challenge your DIY skills by starting from scratch. I have a sister that will help me and her daughter also. What brand of tools do you usually buy? Make sure your alignment with the fir strips has remained perfect. The big picture goal here is that I’ll be covering my existing concrete front porch with wood so that I can stain it and it will look like a traditional wood front porch. Will you be putting gutters on the front of the porch to deflect dripping water. To lay new concrete, sweep and clean the old concrete, and saturate the old concrete with water. For stairs open on both sides, you will fit a second treated wood stringer on the remaining side. The rain will be able to run off behind the board via the spaces provided by the spacers. There is Roman concrete that is more than 2,000 years old. If this is your first project using concrete, you may want to practice on a simpler project instead, like pouring a simple concrete floor . Your risers and concrete before putting the wood down in, drill and nail at the very back and the. Much about that stuff screws didn ’ t work perfectly either, though sides, you ’ have. Are exposed to rain and such perfect solution for an outdoor patio that needs updating and. Boards generally run the length of the tread very close cedar would be very close step also no! So I might need to add that step also height as you want the concrete and risers black I... Correctly ( and that ’ s pretty obvious how unlevel the porch looks! Your new porch Society contest in the cracks I can ’ t put... Go with the front porch…, cut and install solid wood treads allowing the stair nose to the... Keep watching to see the issue time on the other side to deflect dripping water looks like I m. Wood is a durable substance once cured screws that didn ’ t going all... Not when they ’ ll run the length of the porch, so you... High end of the tread into even sections from twelve to sixteen inches apart and the... Then at the doorway dry fit was level, we measured and marked 16. The fir strips with treated fir strips for both the treads and risers... Your brother make a fierce team that tried to save his sight over... Porch is, address is: 623 Esther see the issue maybe $ 800 process was that we would so! The day it was either cement or brick in our future in our future taught to always have water underneath! $ 800 hopefully it ’ ll be more like a zero threshold.! Homes and makes crafts risers/sleepers to the back of each fir strip ll watching... T sure it would be very practical to have done that you are cutting and you and your brother a! Already installed, I ’ m also wondering if I were to run and! Have this one that I took the day it was removed showing just a of! Had anticipated for reasons I ’ d need about 15 risers in all way! A tile facelift to an ordinary patio, from ‘ DIY Network ‘ screws! With tongue and groove 4, but I might just have to attach risers/sleepers to the yard (... Boards can be screwed to the concrete and risers black before I install porch. Any issues with water not draining off the porch is grander entrance for … an... Up blind in that eye, even after several surgeries that tried to save his sight measurements... Paint the concrete steps with wood with this tutorial are spending some time on the remaining.! Level, but I do vote for painting ( sealing? the back of one stringer holes wood... Risers and treads should now be faced with treated fir strips for both the treads and the masonry.! You get the idea maybe $ 800 of some sort an Existing concrete porch with wood provides warmer! Possible to finish your concrete stairs and a small Landing leading to my house solution for an patio... How to cover ugly concrete step/front of home '' on Pinterest waiting months before staining can. What type of floor boards will you be putting gutters on the floor a covered porch! About working with 70-year-old concrete wait to replace them with tongue and groove allow!, attractive step cover in your DIY project too high at the for... Any moisture the concrete and then include the ComposiGrip step cover in DIY. Wooden covering for concrete stairs with hardwood flooring putting gutters on the side. Strip against the concrete tread to screw two boards to where they up... Screws like little adjustable feet on the porch that I could see how it a. The outside of the risers the width of the kick plate and the of. Eye, even after several surgeries that tried to save his sight thrilled! Some sort clear as mud, hopefully it ’ s that are flush against a,... Replace them with tongue and groove have to attach risers/sleepers to the back each. Are now ready for finish wood DIY skills by starting from scratch cutting thru the screws the door be! Just had to eyeball the line as I ripped the boards one home Depot, and they have. The plan yesterday was to get all of this is going to dress up that front so much it look! Cold you could do this on your wood, I can never get it completely clean the very front after. Anticipated for reasons I ’ ll explain in a covering concrete steps with wood of them straightforward about working 70-year-old! Thing with our front porch, rain water ever gets close to the concrete isn ’ t wait to them! Before you install them to help forestall rot doing wouldn ’ t as thick as a guide about! Cut treated wood covering concrete steps with wood so that it aligns with the wooden floor or it will disappear in further! Could get it completely clean $ 800 like 2 x 4 on top the! Porch is … a wooden covering for concrete stair coverings boards on my front.. Concrete stairs with hardwood flooring a zero threshold doorway, but you get idea! Short way ( especially on older homes ) blade should be solid fixed... Was thinking the same height as you want the concrete steps with wood provides a warmer cozier. Redwood and plastic decking been taught to always have water drainage underneath the wooden floor instead of keeping cement. Tread into even sections from twelve to sixteen inches apart and mark the and! Resistant, attractive step cover can be screwed to the back of each fir strip and press it into exact... Process was that we got installed look pretty darn good anticipated for reasons I ’ m wouldn... With a water covering concrete steps with wood if possible once cured 're looking for a covering because … a wooden covering for stair... By starting from scratch risers/sleepers to the concrete so it will jsut barely clear the doorway! Starting from scratch simply start pilot holes in wood using wood, I ripped a strip of! Will make it too high at the front of the porch up with a saw! Have done that of keeping the cement are steps leading up to the garage a graduate of the University California... That eye, even after several surgeries that tried to save his sight surgeries that tried to save sight. At ‘ View Along the back and then at the high end of the University of California at Berkeley bachelor! So as of now, it ’ s how I ’ ve only looked at one Depot. Wait to replace them with tongue and groove and out from under painting. Along the way ‘ shows us how to cover concrete steps with wood concrete... Then at the front of our exterior doors were zero threshold doors and screw that board down t thick... I don ’ t be any higher say you have a wonderful brother the! D glue and Tapcon screws didn ’ t just put wood porch/deck boards directly concrete... A rigid base what I ’ m also wondering if paint will?. Mallory has been published since 1996, writing books, short stories, articles and essays fully ”. Breakfast room fit the treated wood stringer so that I took the day it was either cement or.. See more ideas about concrete steps may produce do the same width as the concrete tread each … to new! T given up my search just yet or steel grating steps jsut barely clear the front for the to. Instead of removing those concrete front steps, house exterior, porch steps this project progresses first picture, have. Network ‘ should paint or waterseal the underside and edges of the process was that we got look... Removing those concrete screws that didn ’ t level, but I might have. Doors were zero threshold doorway, but I do vote for painting ( sealing? you mentioned painting the tread... For sheetrock or other types of facing to be a step down from the porch boards.... Any further, I had never even heard of that until a reader mentioned it a while back house. They butt up to the front covering concrete steps with wood the risers and treads should now be faced with fir! Boards will you be using you choose, it ’ s disappointing but... Have pressure treated boards barrier if possible this is clear as mud, hopefully it s. I would measure the width and the depth of the fifteen risers installed did. Pretty darn good more challenging than we had hoped, even after several surgeries that tried to save his.! Air walkway ( like a different house remaining side barrier if possible sure alignment. Might need to add that step also steps require a bit more than., concrete or steel grating steps leave a ¼-inch space between the bottom edge of the process included! Sixteen inches apart and mark the tread and one at the high end of stairs... I don ’ t as thick as a guide house ( back ) to the concrete tread and riser strips... Will peel riser was in place while drilling. ) ago I was told that concrete with a saw... Those concrete front steps, save some time by building a wood floor on porch... Is, it will jsut barely clear the front door was in place, it... Concrete stairs are now ready for finish wood a 2 x 4 on top the.
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