When you think of flooring, you immediately think of indoor spaces: hardwood living room floors, tiled kitchens, stone-floored bathrooms. But as more and more people extend their living spaces, outdoor flooring is fast getting a hold in the market. After all, it’s still part of your home—why not invest in good décor as you do with your other rooms? Whether it’s a sprawling backyard or a little garden, a well-placed outdoor floor is sure to give it a distinct look that sets it apart from the rest.
Needless to say, outdoor flooring is all about durability. Traditional wood and ceramic floors simply won’t stand up to the constant weather abuse, at least not for very long. What you want is a floor that can withstand the elements and keep its look with little to no maintenance. While you mostly get what you pay for, there are some floors that do very well in the outdoors but don’t cost an arm and a leg. You just need to know which one suits your budget, lifestyle and design theme. Here are some popular outdoor floors you may want to consider.
Terrazzo
Terrazzo is Italian for "terrace," and that gives us an idea of where terrazzo flooring was first used. These days, the word is used to mean mosaic-style flooring made from a mix of various stone materials. This usually includes granite, marble, onyx, and sometimes some glass chips. These are mixed in with cement and cured to set the pieces, and then cut into smaller tiles. The result is a unique, colorful material with an interesting texture that’s sure to catch the eye.
Its sturdy construction makes terrazzo a good choice for areas that have extreme weather conditions (i.e. very cold winters and hot summers). However, the unique designs can make it a bit too fancy for small yards, not to mention expensive. What you can do is use a few terrazzo tiles as accents, and cover the rest with a simple solid-colored tile that complements the design. Look for one with a textured finish to prevent slipping.
Sandstone
Sandstone flooring is made from rock or mineral pieces about the size of sand grains, which are cured and pressed together to form solid planks or tiles. Most of them are made from quartz and feldspar, but other minerals are often mixed in to give it a wide variety of colors. The most common are tan and brown, but you can also find them in gray, pink, red, yellow, and green. All-natural sandstone often sports colors unique to the region where it was mined.
As an outdoor flooring material, sandstone is one of the most durable options. Installation may be a bit more expensive—you’ll definitely need professional help, unless you’re a professional yourself—but once it’s laid out, it’ll last virtually forever. Indoor sandstone tiles need occasional resealing to keep their color, but outdoor tiles need a bit less to keep their texture. Usually, all it needs is some sweeping every few days, and a quick wipe after heavy rains.
Terracotta
If you’ve always liked brick paths but couldn’t afford real brick, terracotta tile may be a good alternative. Terracotta is a type of ceramic made from fired clay, and usually sports a brown, brownish orange, or brownish red color much like traditional brick. Depending on the material and method used, they can also be made in less common colors such as pink, gray, and yellow. You most often see them in pots and sculptures, but they’ve only been recently used as floors.
Terracotta is one of the few flooring materials that actually look better with age. As they wear out, the natural colors are set firmly into the clay and take on a much more solid shade. They look especially good on driveways, patios and garden paths, and can be combined with concrete or sandstone for a more varied look. Place some on your front yard and immediately improve your home’s curb appeal!
Decking
Decks are coming back in style as people start extending their living space to the outdoors. And this time, we’ve done away with the metal railings and slippery tile finishes. Modern decks are usually made of hardwood, treated and finished to give it that classic look without compromising quality. If you want extra space in your backyard as well as a good entertainment area, one thing you can do is build a wood deck.
It all starts with choosing the right kind of wood. You want something that’s extremely sturdy, preferably a strong hardwood like maple, oak, or beech. Concrete can be used as foundational support if you’re building a large deck or putting up heavy furniture. Use a strong sealant to protect the wood from the elements. If you get a lot of rain or snow, you may want to add a roof or awning to keep it relatively dry.
is all about durability. Traditional wood and ceramic floors simply won’t stand up to the constant weather abuse, at least not for very long. What you want is a floor that can withstand the elements and keep its look with little to no maintenance. While you mostly get what you pay for, there are some floors that do very well in the outdoors but don’t cost an arm and a leg. You just need to know which one suits your budget, lifestyle and design theme. Here are some popular outdoor floors you may want to consider.
Terrazzo
Terrazzo is Italian for "terrace," and that gives us an idea of where terrazzo flooring was first used. These days, the word is used to mean mosaic-style flooring made from a mix of various stone materials. This usually includes granite, marble, onyx, and sometimes some glass chips. These are mixed in with cement and cured to set the pieces, and then cut into smaller tiles. The result is a unique, colorful material with an interesting texture that’s sure to catch the eye.
Its sturdy construction makes terrazzo a good choice for areas that have extreme weather conditions (i.e. very cold winters and hot summers). However, the unique designs can make it a bit too fancy for small yards, not to mention expensive. What you can do is use a few terrazzo tiles as accents, and cover the rest with a simple solid-colored tile that complements the design. Look for one with a textured finish to prevent slipping.
Sandstone
Sandstone flooring is made from rock or mineral pieces about the size of sand grains, which are cured and pressed together to form solid planks or tiles. Most of them are made from quartz and feldspar, but other minerals are often mixed in to give it a wide variety of colors. The most common are tan and brown, but you can also find them in gray, pink, red, yellow, and green. All-natural sandstone often sports colors unique to the region where it was mined.
As an outdoor flooring material, sandstone is one of the most durable options. Installation may be a bit more expensive—you’ll definitely need professional help, unless you’re a professional yourself—but once it’s laid out, it’ll last virtually forever. Indoor sandstone tiles need occasional resealing to keep their color, but outdoor tiles need a bit less to keep their texture. Usually, all it needs is some sweeping every few days, and a quick wipe after heavy rains.
Terracotta
If you’ve always liked brick paths but couldn’t afford real brick, terracotta tile may be a good alternative. Terracotta is a type of ceramic made from fired clay, and usually sports a brown, brownish orange, or brownish red color much like traditional brick. Depending on the material and method used, they can also be made in less common colors such as pink, gray, and yellow. You most often see them in pots and sculptures, but they’ve only been recently used as floors.
Terracotta is one of the few flooring materials that actually look better with age. As they wear out, the natural colors are set firmly into the clay and take on a much more solid shade. They look especially good on driveways, patios and garden paths, and can be combined with concrete or sandstone for a more varied look. Place some on your front yard and immediately improve your home’s curb appeal!
Decking
Decks are coming back in style as people start extending their living space to the outdoors. And this time, we’ve done away with the metal railings and slippery tile finishes. Modern decks are usually made of hardwood, treated and finished to give it that classic look without compromising quality. If you want extra space in your backyard as well as a good entertainment area, one thing you can do is build a wood deck.
It all starts with choosing the right kind of wood. You want something that’s extremely sturdy, preferably a strong hardwood like maple, oak, or beech. Concrete can be used as foundational support if you’re building a large deck or putting up heavy furniture. Use a strong sealant to protect the wood from the elements. If you get a lot of rain or snow, you may want to add a roof or awning to keep it relatively dry.
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