The floors for patios have to be long-lasting and resistant, while being aethetically pleasing at the same time.
If you are thinking of reforming your home, you should know that all outdoor flooring must have several features, such as:
- Be waterproof.
- To be non-slip.
- To have a high cement content.
- To be resistant to the sun’s rays.
- Easy to clean and maintain.
When choosing the pavement for your patio, you should also consider the budget you have and the investment you want to make.
Characteristics of outdoor flooring
The best floors for patios and exteriors are those made with cement, ceramic tiles, natural stone or quarry, cobblestone or porcelain tiles.
These materials are characterized by their ability to withstand harsh weather conditions (rain, heat, cold, wind, etc.), and they are perfect for covering dirt floors, as well as for building decks or sundecks.
The main characteristics of exterior floors are:
- Weight. Depending on the type of construction, we can find light and resistant outdoor flooring, or ones that are heavier and more solid.
- Versatility. Currently, there are different types of pavements for terraces and patios of excellent quality, so the aesthetic options are virtually endless. In addition, since they can be placed in different outdoor spaces, they are always very versatile.
- Resistance. This type of flooring is used outdoors and withstands the sun, temperature changes or wind and water erosion. They are very durable materials.
- Strength. Many pavements used outdoors must withstand the loads of pedestrians or vehicles, so their tensile strength and load-bearing capacity is high. They must also have sufficient structural strength because they usually do not have protection like roofs or walls.
- Low maintenance. The maintenance of exterior floors is low and accessible. In fact, cleaning is simple and only requires the use of pressurized water, a brush and soap to keep it in good condition.
Types of flooring for patios: Our Expert Recommendations
Finding the best type of flooring for an outdoor patio is not always an easy task. These following three, are some of the most common floors for patios.
Printed, polished or deactivated concrete floors
These are three options in high demand, due to their high strength and durability.
However, they can be ‘plain’, with very limited aesthetic possibilities, so they are not always the best alternative.
Here are two interesting options:
Bricks
Bricks offer a distinct, rustic aesthetic, and fits well in country estates, homes and country settings.
When using this type of material for patio flooring, you can choose from satin, gloss or matte effect bricks.
The result is quite good and inexpensive, it can be used in certain homes.
Pavers
In the same line would be pavers.
This type of floor is manufactured with a concrete mold to which additional ingredients are applied to give it the perception of natural stone.
Apart from these three options, from L’Antic Colonial we would like to advise you on what we consider to be the best floors for patios according to their functionality.
Our recommendations are:
Clay and stoneware floors for patios
Outdoor ceramic floors are easy to maintain, resist extreme temperatures and impacts, and offer a wide range of finishes and textures.
When choosing a flooring model for your patio, you should take into consideration its anti-slip capacity (type 3 or high), especially if there are uneven or shaded areas. This information will always be provided by the manufacturer of the material.
The main disadvantage of these stoneware or clay floors for outdoor use is that they can heat up in the sun (depending on the finish, color, roughness…).
Clay floors are ideal for achieving a rustic atmosphere and handcrafted finishes, although you will have to maintain them with care, as they are quite sensitive to stains.
Stoneware floors, on the other hand, are versatile, durable and easy to install, and offer virtually endless customization.
In fact, their designs can mimic other materials, such as wood, stone or marble.
Natural stone patio flooring
The multiple sizes, colors and textures of the different types of natural stone give great versatility to this type of flooring.
However, before choosing one for your outdoor patio, you should take into account the climatic conditions of your location.
The types of natural stones most commonly used outdoors thanks to their high resistance to extreme temperatures and their different finishes (brushed, bush-hammered, sawn…) are slate, sandstone, travertine and granite.
In the case of marble, it can be used to cover walls and exterior facades, giving patios and terraces an elegant and sophisticated touch. This type of material is a better option for this type of application.
The performance of natural stone in floors and patios is usually very good: most of these materials are great thermal insulators and, in addition, they do not require a lot of maintenance and resist humidity well.
L’Antic Colonial offers a wide range of stoneware floors and natural stone floors for patios, terraces and outdoor gardens.Check out our product catalog and read more tips on decoration and building materials in our blog.
