Some homeowners spend so much time renovating the inside of their home, that they give minimal effort to their landscaping and outdoor flooring options. But for homeowners who enjoy entertaining or spending any amount of time outdoors, it’s important to consider the exterior appearance as well. It all starts with giving your home the curb appeal it deserves. There are numerous alternatives to boring wood so consider the following when choosing the best flooring options for your poolside patio, porch, front yard and backyard. This list will help break down your choices.
Traditional Wood Decking
We will start with wood because it’s probably the #1 option on your mind anyway. Based on it’s versatile appearance and composite, it’s no wonder that traditional wood decking is a popular choice for outdoor patios. It gives a modern look with a polished and chic touch. Wood is always in style so you never have to worry about following trends or looking outdated. Download the Fairmarket App to quickly get detailed pricing on different types of outdoor flooring.
Composite Wood Decking
With all the bells and whistles of traditional wood, the benefits of composite wood decking are often overlooked. But you’ll get the best of wood decking, with the technology of luxury vinyl without any of the hassle. Composite wood looks realistic but with much less maintenance of natural wood. Instead of worrying about the wood rotting, termites, contraction or expansion, refinishing, or literally any of the other issues with traditional wood, composite wood is easily cleaned with soap and water. As an added bonus, composite wood is fire resistant, so your family stays safe.
Porcelian and Ceramic Tile Outdoor Flooring
If you’re trying to make the neighbors jealous, go with classic stone patio tiles. Nothing is more gorgeous and most of the “stone” options aren’t actually natural stone. They are a much less expensive and durable option such as porcelain exterior tiles. The “stone” tiling on patios creates an upscale look while being versatile and easy to clean and maintain. A simple sweeping is sufficient most of the time. Tiling is also great for entertaining when you bring the guests outdoors. One thing to consider, although this isn’t much of a problem in north Texas, is that ceramic outdoor tile does not do well in extremely cold temperatures. They can also become extremely slippery after a storm, which north Texas has plenty of – so they are best for a smaller area rather than the entire deck. For that same reason, they are also not an ideal choice for a pool deck.
Concrete
Some may say concrete isn’t actually a flooring option. But many homeowners choose concrete because it is easy to maintain and will last forever. You can stain it or leave it natural. The color goes with everything, so there really is no need to stain it unless you have a specific color preference. It is extremely to clean, versatile, and inexpensive. The main cons of concreate are that, unless you want to leave it au naturale, you’ll have to spend some money to jazz it up a bit. From stamping and staining, and texturing, there are a ton of options if you don’t want to leave it plain. It’s also extremely hard, so keep that in mind if you have small children.
Brick as an Outdoor Flooring Option
As one of the most durable options out there, brick offers a variety of colors and patterns to give your outdoor flooring a unique look. It’s a beautiful choice if you have an outdoor fireplace or are looking for a way to cozy up your patio. The biggest downside to brick is that it is extremely expensive. Yet, when installed correctly by a professional, such as a Fairmarket contractor, it will last forever. Until you destroy it yourself, that brick is there to stay! Brick is an elegant, classic option that adds character and personality to any home.
Artificial Grass for Outdoor Flooring
We gave a pretty extensive overview of Artificial Grass flooring options, so trust us when we say, astroturf is not stuck in the 1980s. More and more homeowners are choosing it as their outdoor flooring option. It has come a long way in the last few decades and looks extremely real. In most cases, you could walk by an artificial grass lawn and never realize it wasn’t natural grass! For that reason and more, it’s become a sought after alternative to real grass, particularly in warmer climates like Texas. It is much easier to maintain and you don’t need to mow the lawn when it’s 110 degrees outside!
Outdoor Carpeting
Yes, this is a real thing. We’ve gone over the pros and cons of carpet inside the home, but outdoor carpeting is actually a really great option for patios, especially ones in drier climates. Of course, we aren’t talking about the ultra-plush carpet you have in your bedroom, outdoor carpet is typically low pile and is a similar style to what you may see in gyms or offices. Outdoor carpeting gives off a homier feel when entertaining and can be fun to mix and match designs. It is also a very inexpensive option. Although outdoor carpeting is durable, it still requires some regular maintenance to keep it looking good. If you opt for carpeting, you will need to replace it more often than most of the other choices on this list.
Rubber Flooring
This one may make you do a double take, but its true, rubber flooring is a fantastic outdoor flooring option. It is absorbent, versatile, durable, shock absorbent and slip resistant, and actually looks good! Rubber flooring is great if you have kids because it offers the look of brick or cobblestone without the slippery, hard surface. It can withstand the elements and can be used on the surface of a pool deck.
Now that you have plenty of options for outdoor flooring, the final decision should come down to location. Are you considering the flooring for the front of the house or the backyard? Will it be for a pool deck or for entertaining near an outdoor fireplace. If you are looking for an app to find contractors for your flooring replacement, download the Fairmarket App. It is our favorite app for contractors and homeowners and make it super easy to get multiple bids from contractors.
