Last Updated on January 14, 2019 by Kristi Linauer
My front porch floor is finished! And I am absolutely thrilled with how it turned out. My old, ugly, original concrete porch has now been covered over with a gorgeous wood porch that adds so much character to the front of my house. If you missed the previous posts about this project, you can click the links below to read the details.
- Part 1 – Covering an Existing Concrete Porch With Wood
- Part 2 – Wood Front Porch Progress
- Part 3 – More Front Porch Progress
- Part 4 – Critter-proofing and Installing the Porch Boards
Yep, it’s a long, time-consuming project. š But the the final product is totally worth the effort! Remember what this porch looked like when we bought the house? Here’s a refresher…
It was concrete that was very unlevel, with a concrete ramp attached to the right side.
This whole front porch area has had a major facelift (which is still not quite finished), and here’s how it looks with the new porch floor…
Quite a difference, right? I’m so excited about how this turned out!
I’m still undecided about what I want to do with the concrete below the white fascia board. I’ll make that decision after I build the new steps. So for now, let’s ignore that ugly concrete below the white fascia board. š
So to quickly recap this project, I used 2 x 4 pressure treated lumber rated for ground contact, and I ripped those boards to the heights needed to create “joists” (or risers, or sleepers, as they are also called) spaced 16 inches apart, and I attached those to the concrete porch.
That part of the project was the absolute hardest and most frustrating part, and it’s definitely a two-person job. My brother helped me with that part, and I couldn’t have done it without him.
You can click here and here to read more details about that part of the project.
Then I added spacers to the front of the risers…
…and attached the fascia board to those spacers and painted the concrete and risers black…
You can click here to read more about that process.
And then I critter-proofed the spaces that would be under the floor boards…
You can click here to read more about that.
So with all that prep work finished, I was finally able to install the floor boards! That was pretty straightforward. I cut them to fit the joists, screwed them down with DeckMate screws (two screws at every joist), and used two paint sticks (just the small paint sticks you get free from Home Depot) and placed one stick at each end between the boards to determine the spacing between the boards.
The hardest part was cutting the one board that went over the threshold of the door. It wouldn’t sit flat on the threshold because the metal threshold is angled. So placing the board on top created a lip that would have been a tripping hazard. So I had to get creative with my table saw and cut away the bottom of the board at an angle to fit properly over the angled metal threshold. It wasn’t easy, and it took me several tries to get it to fit properly…
…but I finally got it. I was so proud of how it fit! There’s still about a 1-inch space between the wood and the black rubber weather strip under the door, but it’s not a tripping hazard at all. You’d have to work hard to get the toe of your show between that black rubber strip and the edge of that wood board.
Because I stained/sealed the boards on the bottom, sides, and ends before installing them, I had made a mess of the tops of the boards. So before staining/sealing them, I had to sand them down and get all of that messy stain/sealer off of them. I would have sanded them even if I hadn’t made that mess because I wanted these boards to be really smooth. I also filled the screw holes with wood filler and let that dry before sanding.
The wood filling and the sanding are two steps I wouldn’t have done on a back yard deck. But this is my front porch. This is the first part of my house that visitors will see close up, and I wanted it to be a step up from a back yard deck, so I did the wood filling and the sanding. I just used my rotary sander and 150-grit sanding discs. Here’s how it looked with the whole thing sanded.
And while I love the natural wood color, it just wasn’t quite my style. I wanted darker and richer, so I sealed it with Thompson’s Penetrating Timber Oil in semi-transparent Mahogany. I brushed on two rows at a time, brushing the entire width of the porch, and then went back and wiped off any excess sealer. Then I moved on to the next two rows. You can see the color difference here…
And here’s the whole thing with one coat of sealer…
I’m undecided on whether or not I’ll do another coat. I keep reading different things about that. On the can, it says one coat is recommended. But in the Q & A section on the Home Depot website, more than one person said that they called the company and were told that if you do two coats (about two days apart), it will last about three years. So I might call the company myself and see what they say about that. Since I used cedar, and cedar is soooo dry, I really would like to do a second coat unless they tell me not to.
And finally, I sanded, wood filled, and painted the fascia board, and then I added some trim to cover the cut edges of the floor boards that I had to rip to fit right up against the house (i.e., under the windows, to the right and left of the door, etc.).
One thing I forgot to mention, and didn’t get a picture of, is that when I installed the porch boards, I didn’t cut the boards on this end before installing them. So when I installed them, they were all varying lengths. After they were all installed, and before I did the sanding, I measured and marked a straight line and then cut all of the boards at once with my circular saw. That gave me a perfectly straight edge on this end of the porch.
I’m so proud of how this turned out. It adds so much warmth and character to the front of the house.
And I think it’ll look so nice once I get the columns wrapped, trimmed, and painted the white trim color. And of course, I still need to paint that trim that was installed last week as well.
So this porch is coming right along! But there’s still quite a bit left to do before I can call it finished.
Those concrete steps will soon be replaced with new, wider wood steps to match the porch. As I mentioned, I need to wrap, trim, and paint the columns. And then I still need to install the tongue-and-groove boards on the porch ceiling. But now that the floor is finished, I’m feeling very motivated to continue and get the rest of it done!
UPDATE:
The front porch columns are now finished as well! Click here to see how I wrapped the skinny, bare front porch posts and turned them into beautiful columns.

Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I hope you’ll join me on my DIY and decorating journey! If you want to follow my projects and progress, you can subscribe below and have each new post delivered to your email inbox. That way you’ll never miss a thing!
93 Comments
Bobbie
March 13, 2018 at 9:55 amNever thought it would make that much difference. But the width it added is a big bonus also. Looks great. Have you thought of putting marine poly over porch boards?
Kristi
March 13, 2018 at 10:03 pmI don’t think you can put a clear coat like that over Thompson’s Timber Oil.
Mindy
October 5, 2019 at 2:16 pmDid you end up doing two coats or just the one?
Kristi
October 5, 2019 at 2:29 pmTwo. I waited and did the second coat after I built the steps.
Christy Hopper
January 1, 2020 at 2:44 pmDid you happen to do a blog Like this one on the stair project? Weāve loved the details you provided and want to do the same. Thank you.
Kristi
January 1, 2020 at 3:35 pmI did! It’s in four parts, and you can find Part 1 here: https://www.addicted2decorating.com/building-my-front-porch-steps-the-box-method-part-1-building-the-basic-frame.html
Matt "The Hubs" Linauer
March 13, 2018 at 10:04 amMY GOSH THAT LOOKS AWESOME! Our teacup mansion is looking fantastic. Can you guys tell I’m Krist’s biggest fan?
Gina
March 13, 2018 at 11:12 amMatt you must be one amazing guy!! Kristi is so lucky that have your support!
Kristi
March 13, 2018 at 10:07 pmI totally struck gold with Matt. There’s not one in a 10,000 men who would let me do the things I do. I can say, “You know, I think I want to take out this wall,” and without any hesitation, he’ll say, “Okay, if that’s what you want.” š He lets me have complete control over the decision-making when it comes to the house. Except for pink. His one rule is “no pink walls.” I’m okay with that. š
Marianne in Mo.
March 13, 2018 at 1:48 pmYou better be her biggest fan! LOL! You have a Wonder Woman of your very own right there!
Genelle McDaniel
March 13, 2018 at 1:48 pmMatt, your description is perfect. “Our Teacup Mansion”. I know that you have to be even happier than the rest of us fans! Just to think that one person (short like me) can make the most amazing changes. Thanks to both of you for bringing us so much enjoyment!
Mark Tisdale
March 13, 2018 at 10:10 amFantastic new porch. I bet it would be hard to find one with as much attention to detail – finished like interior trim work!
I hadn’t noticed until now how your framing beefed up the size of it just a little by going beyond the old porch. That small bit makes it feel like a more generous space.
Looking forward to more of the project!
Mark
Betsy
March 13, 2018 at 10:23 amHuge, huuuuge improvement to the overall exterior! It seems like a ton of work but wow, it really paid off. The columns, steps, and wall under the fascia board will button it right up!
Carol F
March 13, 2018 at 10:25 amLove it! It made a huge difference!
Sheri A Hepworth
March 13, 2018 at 10:30 amWay to go!!!
Kaitlyn
June 6, 2019 at 5:09 pmI love this! What color is your siding? Iām trying to pick siding right now. š¬
Kristi
June 6, 2019 at 6:04 pmMy siding is Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray.
janpartist
March 13, 2018 at 10:31 amI have to commend your work and just look at the over all improvement of the street view of your home, well done! Yes, I bet you are anxious to see the project completed and the end result. You will have your dream home before you know it!
Char
March 13, 2018 at 10:32 amAmazing Kristi. This has got to be one of the best before and afters… You nailed it…(pun intended)
Heather Gillett
March 13, 2018 at 10:34 amLooks GREAT! Have you ever tried using homemade stain(vinegar & steel wool)?
Katherine
March 13, 2018 at 11:35 amOMG. It turned out perfect. You are incredibly talented, plus you work real hard!!
Kristi
March 13, 2018 at 10:24 pmI actually used it on a coffee table years ago. It’s fun to play with and use on small projects, but I’d never use it on a big project.
Tiffany
March 13, 2018 at 10:35 amIt looks amazing! I love how the wood warms it all up and canāt wait to see what you do with the stairs.
Cam
March 13, 2018 at 10:43 amVery pretty!
Karen
March 13, 2018 at 10:43 amIt sure looks fantastic – and it’s great that Matt thinks so, too! You occasionally tell us that he lets you follow your vision because he is not so fussed about the look of things, but I guess that you are very pleased by his reaction š I’m very astonished how much of a difference this makes and think going with the dark wood colour has a great and beautiful impact. Well chosen!!
Kristi
March 13, 2018 at 10:26 pmHe really does let me do whatever I want to when it comes to the house, but of course, it’s always nice when he’s impressed with my work. š That makes it even more fun. But he’s not difficult to impress. He’s generally pretty proud of almost every project I do. He’s very encouraging.
Sharon C
March 13, 2018 at 10:45 amWow, I can’t believe the difference the wooden boards make on your porch floor! It looks fantastic. You’ve done a great job Kristi. The icing on the cake (so to speak) will be trimming out the columns and painting them and the new steps.
Tracy
March 13, 2018 at 10:53 amLooks fantastic! Canāt wait to see the before and after of the whole thing completed. Hope the momentum keeps going, your on a roll!
Curious as to maybe why you didnāt use concealed fasteners on the deck boards? There is a Kreg jig and others, to help skip that tedious job of filling, waiting and sanding.
Kristi
March 13, 2018 at 10:35 pmI considered it, especially when I was initially planning on using the pressure-treated pine boards. I really like every single Kreg product I’ve bought, but what I don’t like about their concealed fastener jig for decks is that you have to pre-drill every single hole. That’s incredibly time-consuming. Lowe’s actually carries a different brand that doesn’t require any pre-drilling of the holes, and it’s way faster. That’s the one I would have used had I decided to go with the concealed fasteners.
But then I decided to use cedar instead of pressure-treated pine. And then when I realized just how dry the cedar is, and after doing a bit of research, I decided to seal every single side, edge, and end of each board. At that point, it seemed counterintuitive to take all that time to completely seal each board on all sides, edges and ends, only to then turn right around and put holes all down both edges of each board that couldn’t easily be filled and that would allow for water penetration. So I decided to do it so that the holes could be easily filled, sanded and sealed.
At least that made sense in my mind. š And really, the filled screw holes don’t show. I mean, they do since they’re a slightly different color, but you’d have to be looking for them to notice them.
Gilmer Gal
March 13, 2018 at 10:53 amYour porch looks awesome! Can’t wait until the columns are finished and landscaping. I have a feeling that your neighbors are itching to see the inside also!
Connie in NJ
March 13, 2018 at 10:57 amBeautiful! I know you haven’t asked for ideas from the peanut gallery, but I keep thinking, would it be possible to use the stone that you removed from the side of the house on the concrete below the porch? I’m not sure if it is thin enough to fit under, but I think it might look good and save money on buying other materials. Just a thought!
Lenora Carver
March 13, 2018 at 11:14 amThat was my thought as well it would tie everything in very well.
Lisa E
March 13, 2018 at 11:34 amLove that idea. If painted, it would have to be maintained which is no easy task with landscaping in place.
Linda
March 13, 2018 at 1:11 pmConnie, she talked about that in an earlier blog (maybe couple weeks ago)can’t remember for sure. She hadn’t decided yet š
Kristi
March 13, 2018 at 10:41 pmThe stone that I have is way too thick to go on the bottom of the porch. It’s about 3.5 inches thick, while the space between the porch and the white fascia board is only 1.5 inches. So that stone would either stick out two inches, or it would take a whole lot of cutting to slice it into thin pieces, which I’m sure would cost an arm and a leg since I’d have to hire it out to a pro. I don’t have the tools necessary to do a a job like that.
But I have been looking at faux stone, stone veneer, etc., to see if I can find something that matches reasonably well. I’ve found a few, most of which are extremely expensive, but I just may have found one reasonably priced option that might work. So we’ll see. š
CahyR
March 13, 2018 at 11:01 amIn my neighborhood Iāve noticed that a lot of homes have painted concrete foundations the same color as the house. Iāve been thinking of using concrete stain on mine as well as my block garage. I didnāt want to go to the expense of siding the garage ( built in 1970 by previous owner). It would certainly brighten up the inside if the garage.
Missy
March 13, 2018 at 11:05 amAs usual, you wow us again! A suggestion for the concrete foundation-you could always stain it a dark brown color, since you are planning to landscape in front of it anyway, it will help to “disappear” into the background.
Alta Craig
March 13, 2018 at 11:32 amThe porch is looking great, Kristi! I look forward to seeing the final result. What sort of porch furniture are you planning to have?
Kristi
March 13, 2018 at 10:42 pmI’m planning on one swing at the end (i.e., the far right side where the ramp used to be) and two rockers in front of the windows.
Alta Craig
March 14, 2018 at 7:36 amThat will be very nice and give guests lots of seating options.
Val
March 13, 2018 at 11:36 amLooks very beautiful!
Kristi, I know it is Texas and you do not have that much rain but it might be a good idea before you do a second coat to test scrap pieces of wood – wet them well, dust them slightly to imitate the natural dust residue that would form on you porch, sprinkle some more water on top of it, and see how slippery they are. Here in UK the deckings a notoriously famous to cause slipping accidents. I have personal experience with it too.
If it is the case with your wood, it might help if the second coat has some anti-slippery additives.
Lisa E
March 13, 2018 at 11:36 amFabulous!
Sheila F.
March 13, 2018 at 11:37 amI simply the coral door against the dark wood. Just lovely ! This is going to be a great area to sit and enjoy the spring and fall seasons!
CLHays
March 13, 2018 at 11:42 amAbsolutely one of your best renoās on this house . So inviting whatever you do to the concrete paint ,tile, stone ā brick it will look grand. Did you throw away all the stone? I know you are trying to not have a craftsman look . I feel the stone would bring that back so maybe not an option.
Kristi
March 13, 2018 at 10:44 pmI still have the stone. I don’t think I could bring myself to throw that away. I’ll find a use for it eventually. š
Katy
March 13, 2018 at 11:44 amGreat transformation!!
~ Angela
March 13, 2018 at 11:51 amWow! So pretty. I absolutely love your door too!
CINDY SCHWARZ
March 13, 2018 at 12:22 pmAs always, I’m very impressed with your skills. The house is coming along beautifully and I love how inviting the front porch now looks. Can’t wait to see it completely done. I do have one question though, were you going to make the porch handicap accessible? I know you say Matt is in a wheelchair and I’ve seen you’ve done away with the ramp. Just wondering.
Kristi
March 13, 2018 at 10:47 pmThat ramp was way too steep and was very dangerous. He has a ramp out to the back through the sunroom and when we build the carport, there will be another ramp from the studio to the carport. There’s no need for another ramp on the front porch.
Leslie
March 13, 2018 at 12:58 pmWonderful work. It gets better daily.
Leslie
Sue
March 13, 2018 at 1:12 pmThe floor looks beautiful. I love the mahogany color.Every step is another step towards a couple of rocking chairs to sit and relax and enjoy that new porch.
Linda
March 13, 2018 at 1:15 pmLooks great! I love the front door and your choice of stain just makes everything look cohesive. Beautiful!
Debs
March 13, 2018 at 1:21 pmAwesomeness!
Marianne in Mo.
March 13, 2018 at 1:59 pmLove the dark stain. Great job as always! Would love to show my husband how you did this, but I know, having been married for 43 years, there’s no point. He would say “I’m not doing all that! Are you nuts?” And if I tried, he would have a hissy-fit! Your house is going to be so awesome when all your plans are completed! But THEN what will you do to fill your days? You should seriously get your G.C. license!
Kristi
March 13, 2018 at 10:49 pmInterestingly, there’s no licensing for general contractors in the state of Texas. I could hang my shingle up today and call myself a general contractor. š
Marianne in Mo.
March 13, 2018 at 11:23 pmWow, don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, but I think you h have some serious talent!
Kismet
March 13, 2018 at 2:02 pmVery nice. What will you do about the downspout you removed?
Kristi
March 13, 2018 at 10:50 pmI plan to get all new gutters as soon as I get the front porch done. Hopefully they can find a creative way to attach any needed downspouts in a way that won’t ruin the look of the work I’m doing on the front porch.
Holly C
March 13, 2018 at 2:27 pmAbsolutely beautiful!!
Rebecca Neustel
March 13, 2018 at 2:55 pmI love how your porch has turned out so far, and I’m glad you’re having that warmer weather to enable you to get outside and work. We wound up getting nearly three inches of snow yesterday, and I’m so ready for warmer weather! The porch looks like it was made to be there all the time, not like the cold, dreariness of concrete. You must be a wizard with the table saw. That’s some pretty incredible cutting right there!
Lisa
March 13, 2018 at 5:31 pmThis is an amazing transformation! Well done, it looks absolutely beautiful.
Bonnie
March 13, 2018 at 5:42 pmI love the front porch makeover ! Wondering why type of sander you used. I am looking for one that does not wear down the drum so fast…..I have gone through two Rockwell sanders on small projects.
Kristi
March 13, 2018 at 10:56 pmI use Dewalt. The one I have is a variable speed 5-inch orbital sander. I got it at Home Depot for about $80, and it’s by far the best sander I’ve ever had. I used (and burned up the motor on) two Ryobi orbital sanders before getting the Dewalt, and there’s no comparison. The Dewalt is far superior, and I love the variable speed control.
Bonnie
March 14, 2018 at 12:28 pmThanks, Kristi, I am going to get this sander for sure. I love following you and seeing all the AMAZING projects you take on. Bonnie
Carole Prisk
March 13, 2018 at 6:21 pmLooks really nice and you have a good brother!
Ellen W.
March 13, 2018 at 6:30 pmIt’s very inviting looking! Beautiful work.
Kimberly
March 13, 2018 at 7:20 pmWooooowwwwww! That’s such an impressive before and after! The new porch looks fantastic, and everyone who looks at it can tell that it had a very detailed, super-professional job done on refinishing it. You should be so proud!
Bonnie Leighton
March 13, 2018 at 7:25 pmKristi, this is gorgeous. Love what you did and are doing.
Cyd
March 13, 2018 at 10:58 pmIt’s a thing of beauty!
Lisa Garber
March 14, 2018 at 7:58 amThis looks fantastic. I am continually amazed at your transformation of this nondescript Plain Jane into a stunning home. I think, though, I am most amazed at your vision. There is no way i could have looked at that house and envisioned its makeover.
Alma Miranda
March 14, 2018 at 1:00 pmMaybe someone else suggested it, but how about some stone for the cement? The porch looks awesome. I’m printing your procedures because I’m attempting leveling a back porch area and your suggestions are the ones I’m following.
Judy
March 14, 2018 at 1:06 pmThis is sooo good! What a transformation this “teacup mansion” is undergoing! Your vision and lots of hard work are really paying off. I love following your journey.
A note on the concrete block – as long as it is in good condition (not crumbling or such), do you need to do anything? The landscaping will cover it, and painting (and repainting) with plants in plants is such a pain. Up north here, we typically don’t paint such small areas, but will do so if they are large and highly visible such as in an underdeck patio area.
Judy
March 14, 2018 at 1:07 pm*plants in place
Anita
March 14, 2018 at 1:40 pmI have both covered and uncovered stain decks; the uncovered is the only one that gets slippery. These are both lakefront (Alabama) and would think they get a lot more moisture and/or rain than under your porch. Your porch looks fabulous btw!!
steph
March 14, 2018 at 7:31 pmI think this is my favorite transformation that you have done so far and I was SOOOO impressed with your kitchen!
Great job!!!! The stairs are going to be awesome.
designdreamer
March 14, 2018 at 11:51 pmLooking great!!! I saw a sneak peak of the wrapped column – it’s going to be amazing!!!!
Sarah
March 15, 2018 at 7:57 amWe redid a porch on a former home. We painted the concrete flat black and then attached white, vinyl lattice over that. It was gorgeous. Wish I had photos to share
Lona
March 15, 2018 at 8:07 amGreat job! Looks amazing…
Jocelyn Walters
April 21, 2018 at 8:03 pmWhoa that is amazing!! Looks great…we too have an ugly old concrete front porch that we are trying to decide how we want to tackle. Your project is inspiring!! Will have to watch and see what you do with your steps, ours are out of code too and it will cost big $ to get the ripped out and repoured…
Jenny
May 7, 2018 at 5:03 amIt’s looking so nice, Great work!
andrew cornell
May 18, 2018 at 9:47 pmWhat kind of wood was used for the decking?
Kristi
May 18, 2018 at 10:21 pm5/4 x 6 cedar decking boards
Sandie
August 30, 2018 at 5:44 pmAmazing transformation of your front porch. You did an outstanding job. I’ve been wanting to do a facelift to our front porch and came across yours. Your porch and mine are about the same length and width with same amount of posts (3)… so this encourages me. Thank you for sharing and posting pictures.
KoiBoi
February 12, 2019 at 6:32 pmCurious as to how you replace the old wood deteriorated column with a newer one?. Or, was it not replaced and you just wrapped around it. From the photos, the original columns looked more wear and then there is a photo before you wrapped it, the column looked more new.
Kristi
February 12, 2019 at 7:46 pmIt’s a new post. You can see how I changed it here: https://www.addicted2decorating.com/front-porch-progress-no-more-sagging-roof.html
Toby
April 23, 2019 at 8:07 pmStunning! On your porch remodel which wood filler did you use? Any issues with the stain or wood filler since you installed it? Thanks
Kristi
April 23, 2019 at 8:28 pmI used DAP Plastic Wood. Home Depot has two different types. One is water-based and comes in a plastic tub. The other is a solvent-based and comes in an upside down metal can (like a pint-sized paint can). I used the solvent-based one on my porch. It works great and holds up to the weather. The stain has also held up, but I can tell that it’ll have to be redone every two or three years.
Tina
May 30, 2019 at 7:45 pmWhat color is the exterior of your house? What a transformation!
Kristi
May 30, 2019 at 9:32 pmItās Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray.
Elena
June 4, 2019 at 11:30 amyou are so inspiring Kristi!!! thank you so much for sharing your projects! my porch will be the next project after i finish mortar joints on my brick wall :0)
what material did you use for the facia?
Kristi
June 4, 2019 at 11:46 amI used pre-primed finger joint board. I made sure it was thoroughly coated with primer (oil-based) and paint on all sides/edges, and then made sure that all holes were filled and primed and painted. So far, it has held up well in the Texas weather. However, if I had to do it again, I would use PVC boards. As the name suggests, they are made of plastic, but you can get them in different sizes (just like lumber). I get them at Lowe’s, and they have one smooth side and one side made to look like wood grain. From now on, my outdoor projects will be built with that. It’s more expensive than wood, but it will last forever. I plan to build window boxes this summer, and I’ll be using the PVC boards for that.
Mona Murphy
March 5, 2022 at 5:15 pmItās beautiful. For the steps, did you do the same thing?
Kristi Linauer
March 7, 2022 at 10:50 pmNo, I had the original concrete steps removed completely, and then started from scratch building the steps.