I have a front entryway on my house that had some wet rot and termites that ate away at the floor joists and mud sill. I just had a contracter tear them out and replace all of them with pressure treated 2X10’s and pt plywood subfloor. The outermost foot of the floor is outside of the front door and I am pretty sure that is where the moisture came from as that is where the rot was the worst. I’m planning on putting a step of either tile or brick paver on the plywood just outside of the door. One person told me just to use hardibacker and tile like a normal floor. Someone else told me I needed to use a black plastic barrier like you would in a shower. Does it matter? any advice would be appreciated. Thanks Brian
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Replies
I do not think wood makes good base material for exterior tile work or pavers as described. Moisture, expansion, contraction, deflection will all work against you.
May also be slippery.
Obviously you live in a wet climate. Here in the northeast that design would never hold up. Would need to build a self-supporting masonry platform/stair unit with footings below the frost line to accomplish this, ...and have it last.
yes
Excellence is its own reward!
Ditto above comments. You need to cover the wood. Either move the door out (it's recessed, yes?) or at least build a porch over the door. I suppose you could rework the floor system back under the door sill and extend your foundation back under it. The last suggestion's vague, but could be elaborated.