4 types of outdoor flooring: advantages and disadvantages

Kamla Villanueva Kamla Villanueva
Old wine factory and farm, Espacios y Luz Fotografía Espacios y Luz Fotografía Balcones y terrazas de estilo rústico
Loading admin actions …

Choosing of the type of flooring for your house is quite entertaining and enjoyable but is not always a simple task. Your decision should go beyond aesthetic so it would be best to know a bit more of the technical aspect, which we will discuss further on. Finding the type of outdoor flooring that best fits the conditions of your house may seem less significant compared to choosing the color of the walls or the style of furniture you would want for the living room. However, it is something that should not be overlooked for it is critical element in building a house that may help you in the long run.

Today we are going to focus on the types of flooring that can be used for the exterior. There are many factors to take into account, since it is a type of flooring that must be able to withstand both high and low temperatures as well as other extreme weather conditions. In addition, although the technical aspects are fundamental, we also have to find a floor that visually pleases us, since on the terrace or in the garden we will spend some of the best moments during the summer season. With the intention of making this a little easier to understand, we will tackle four of the best and most popular types of outdoor flooring for the patio or the terrace.

Ceramics

Ceramic outdoor flooring is one of the most commonly used options. The reason, it has many advantages. First of all, it is easy to maintain and clean, ceramic is also resistant to temperature changes, making it ideal option for the exteriors.

There are several types of ceramic floors that we can choose: there's clay, porcelain stoneware, and the normal stoneware. Each one with its own specific advantages.

1. Mud floor: Ideal in giving a rustic flair to your terrace, as the material is pretty much handmade and therefore has irregularities and imperfections that make it very special. Although resistant, they require some treatment and care, as they are very sensitive to blemishes.

2. Porcelain stoneware: It is highly recommended for its durability: scratch resistance and high and low temperature resistance. In addition it is very versatile and today you can find tiles with many shapes and colors, some even imitate textures of other materials, such as stone, marble or even wood. It is easy to install, although a couple of details must be taken into account. When it is an exterior floor, that means that the materials are subjected to more sudden changes of temperature, so it would be necessary to leave expansion joints between the tiles.

3.-Normal Stoneware: It is cheaper and easier to place, but being thinner than porcelain is also less resistant for the outdoors.

Wood

At the time of putting the floor in the terrace there are many who would consider the option of going with wood. It is a very aesthetic and comfortable choice, but even though it has many advantages, it also has some drawbacks. Although resistant, it is generally more delicate than other materials and requires more continuous maintenance, especially if it is natural wood. Synthetic or natural, the installation of wooden pavement is more complicated than that of other materials, so it is advisable to go to a specialist.

Its advantages, however, are worth it:

1. Beauty: Wood is undoubtedly the floor material that has a more beautiful and aesthetic finish. There is also a very wide variety of woods, so you can choose different types. The tropical woods, teak, bamboo, and ipe, are resistant to rain and changes in weather. The wooden floors give a warm feeling and are much more comfortable when walking barefoot.

2. Practicality: One of the great advantages of wood is that, when placed on a substructure, you'll be able to level the floor, thus avoiding irregularities and its consequences, such as the uncomfortable tables and chairs that limp. In addition to installing the flooring it would be best to avoid future problems of dampness or leaks in which you may opt to coat it with varnish or a clear sealant.

Natural stone

An environmentally friendly and visually pleasing material is natural stone. Both polished and irregular, the stone is a material that is easy to maintain and has great durability. Its appeal lies precisely in being a natural material wherein you can see how each stone is unique.

The most common types of stone for outdoor flooring are:

1. Stone slabs: Resistant to all types of weather, these flat stones are highly recommended for the coldest places, as they are not affected by ice. A well-kept slab floor can be for life.

2. Granite: It's not the cheapest option, but one of the most beautiful. This is highly recommended for warm areas, due to its heat resistance, this material is also very versatile, as it is available in different colors, sizes and shapes.

3. Slate: This material is often used for roofs, since it is a very waterproof material which provides good thermal insulation, making the slate a great option for pavements as well. It has a gray color, which ranges from lighter shades to almost black grays, which gives a very distinct character to a terrace. An option that is very aesthetic and also very resistant.

Outdoor polished cement flooring

To give a modern touch to your terrace, polished concrete floors are the best option. They are often used both for indoors and outdoors, being so impermeable that it is also used for outdoor pools. The polished concrete is easy to install and because it is a material resistant to all types of oils and stains, it is easy to clean and maintenance and is very economical. Although we are accustomed to seeing it in gray, the truth is that there is a wide range of colors with which you can play with.

¿Necesitas ayuda con tu proyecto?
¡Contáctanos!

Destacados de nuestra revista