One of the easiest and most noticed improvements we made to an old house was painting the back porch deck. Paint gives new life to foot-worn and weather-beaten wooden planks. Considering the low ...

Patio paint and stencil create carpet of color for outdoor room. ... Apply a good coat of cement deck primer. The Vidals used Life Deck Paint from Jill’s Paint in Atwater Village.

Framing a porch is virtually identical to framing a floor in a house. Floor joists resting on a cripple wall are covered by a subfloor of plywood or 1-inch-thick boards 8 to 12 inches wide.

Most deck finishes cost between $20 and $100 per gallon, and you’ll need at least one gallon for a 150 to 200 square foot deck area. That equates to material costs of about $0.22 to $0.74 per ...