If you’re ready to add an outdoor living area to your home, you probably have an overall idea about how you want it to look. Starting from the ground up, one of the first things to consider is what type of patio flooring you’ll install.
You want something that can stand up to Florida’s outdoor elements—namely sun, salt, and humidity—for sure.
Are you building on rough terrain?
The most common ground type around here is going to consist of a lot of sand—unless you live in the panhandle and then you’re dealing with a substantial amount of clay.
The sandy soil, called Myakka and only found here in Florida, gets tricky to work with when digging an inground pool. Adding a patio to your home doesn’t pose the same amount of pre-planning though. Because we have so much sand in the soil, it holds water and doesn’t drain well. It’s what increases the chances of cave-ins when digging a backyard pool.
You need to begin with level ground, so if your yard slopes in one direction or another you’ll need to plan to have the area graded. That’s true whether you’ll be building a wooden deck, laying paving stones on grass, or pouring a concrete foundation.
If you’ve ever had problems with sinkholes or animals that love to dig, you may need to plan for extra reinforcement underground to ensure the integrity of your structure is sound.
Weathering the storms
You want hearty patio flooring. It rains a lot here in Florida. Additionally, the harsh sun, the salt constantly being left on every outdoor surface, and, of course, the high winds that pummel us from time to time get hard on floors.
Choosing your material wisely adds years to the life of your floor. Using quality materials and keeping up with any required maintenance goes a long way toward increasing the lifespan of your patio floor.
If you’re planning to enclose the area, we think you’re making an excellent choice. Covered areas fair better than those constantly exposed to the elements. They provide an element of privacy that you’ll love immediately. And, they provide additional benefits for you and your family as well.
You won’t be driven indoors during a sudden rainstorm, for instance. You’ll have some additional UV protection—which benefits you and your stuff because the sun won’t be able to fade it as quickly. Lastly, you won’t be swatting at bugs and mosquitoes all the time either.
Outdoor flooring choices
Let’s take a look at some traditional choices you can choose for your patio flooring. It can help you make the final decision as to which best suits your lifestyle.
Wood, tile, or brick are the most common materials used for patios and lanais, but today’s market contains other choices—playground flooring, for instance! It’s extremely low maintenance and has an extremely long lifespan.
Some flooring, such as pavers or pieces of stone, will go down easily and make a great do-it-yourself project which makes it a very economic choice overall. It’s a lesson in patience and perseverance, but your outcome can be truly breathtaking.
Wood or tile flooring needs to be measured and cut to size so is best installed by a professional. If you want your patio floor to flow into the outdoors—which appeals to the eye and the senses—use a natural material rather than a man-made one.
Wood
Wood is an organic material so you don’t want it to be in direct contact with the ground. If it is, moisture is going to work its way into the wood causing rot and mold issues, as well. Hot, humid climates provide the perfect environment for it. And, once it gets started, it spreads.
Mold is a health hazard to both humans and pets. It can trigger allergic reactions in some and the symptoms worsen over time.
Exotic woods are more expensive but are ideal for outdoor use because they come from tropical environments. They are used to a lot of rain! Wood deck boards or wood floor tiles both create a stunning look. You want to maintain it so plan to clean them periodically with a pressure washer. You’ll need to reseal them annually if possible, as well.
Stone
Stone floors won’t fade as wood floors do so they’re pretty popular around here. The best stone to use for outdoor flooring includes the following:
• Travertine
• Granite
• Slate
• Marble
• Basalt
• Quartzite
•Bluestone
It would be amazing to purchase a huge piece of stone and use the entire slab of rock as your patio surface. However, most homeowners would find the cost far too extravagant.
Stone is typically cut and sold in tile form or, for those who like irregular shapes, as flagstone. Stone floors should be sealed at regular intervals to maintain their integrity. Most homeowners choose to have it done professionally.
Tile
If you’re looking for an economical choice for your patio flooring, tile may be the winner. Porcelain tile is the most durable and does well in wet areas. It’s more expensive than ceramic tile, but it’s long-lasting and the beautiful result will not disappoint.
However, some tile floors get slippery when wet. Putting down outdoor rugs can help. You can also take note of the slip-resistance rating when making your purchase. Make sure that you choose tile rated for outdoor use because if you don’t exposure to the elements could have them popping loose from time to time.
Both ceramic and porcelain tile needs grouting and sealing which, of course, should be repeated routinely.
Synthetic flooring
There are three types of synthetic flooring to consider.
• Composite decking is a board composed of a mixture of compressed wood and plastic that is held together with a bonding agent. Using real wood is often less expensive than using composite boards, but composite lumber outlasts organic lumber by decades.
• Rubber is well-known for its long lifespan. It’s extremely low maintenance and comes in rolls or various sizes of tile. It’s an appealing flooring choice because it’s comfortable and cushy underfoot and it provides excellent traction too.
• Outdoor carpet can add an element of style to your patio or lanai in either the traditional style or using carpet tiles. Either come in a wide array of colors and textures. Outdoor carpet does require cleaning periodically to keep it looking attractive, but it’s relatively easy to maintain.
Stamped or textured concrete
This flooring choice is becoming extremely popular. The variety of colors and textures available provide aesthetic appeal at a minimal cost.
The perfect patio flooring
Which of the above options is the perfect choice? The answer to the question is whichever one of them allows you to create the perfect space for you and your family to enjoy. No one knows your family better than you do. Providing them with a space that they want to be in is what you do best!
It’s going to be the perfect hangout, we’re certain of it.
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