LESLIE: Bob in Texas is calling in with a concrete flooring question. What can we do for you?
BOB: Hi, yes. I have an enclosed back porch that the previous owner left a planter box, for lack of a better term – about 14 inches wide, 8 feet long – that I guess I’d like to fill in with concrete. I’m wondering do I need to add some type of reinforcement or rebar for that.
TOM: So is this like a hole in the existing back porch?
BOB: Exactly. It’s along an outside – exterior wall. There are two exterior walls and they built in, enclosed the back porch.
TOM: Right. OK. And they left kind of a space out where you can have plants.
BOB: Right, right.
TOM: Well, look …
LESLIE: So it’s like a trough, almost.
TOM: Yeah. I mean you can pour concrete in there. Having a little bit of reinforcement mesh is not a bad idea. But it’s never going to adhere – it’s never going to level perfectly with the existing floor. You’re always going to have sort of a seam there.
BOB: I understand.
TOM: But I think you can do a pretty good job of patching it.
BOB: OK. And as far as maybe a suggestion for the type of flooring over the top? Is it …?
TOM: Is this a weatherproof room?
BOB: It’s an enclosed back porch. It’s going to be used as a bedroom by some college students. It’s a rental house.
TOM: Oh. Well, if it’s totally enclosed and you don’t have any weather there, then I would use laminate flooring. Because laminate flooring will interlock together. It’s very moisture-resistant …
LESLIE: And let’s say it’s super-durable for those college kids and the crazy parties they’re going to have.
TOM: Yeah. Yeah.
BOB: OK.
TOM: And pretty easy to install, too.
LESLIE: And easy to clean, easy to maintain and they pretty much cannot destroy it.
BOB: Right. Alright, I’ll try my hand at concrete.
TOM: Alright, Bob. Good luck with that project. Thanks so much for calling us at 1-888-MONEY-PIT.
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