A porch is a wonderful addition to any home; it provides a relaxing area to sit in the evening and a place to take off those dirty shoes before going in the house! If you are considering a new construction or just remodeling an existing, there are many porch-flooring ideas for you to ponder. Do you want hardwood or tile? Indoor/outdoor carpet or tongue and groove? Material types and colors are abundant for this particular area of your home. Here are a few ideas for your new porch floor.
Historically Accurate
Have you lucked into a beautiful historical home that needs a few repairs? Old houses, especially really old homes were generally constructed with rot resistant materials such as old growth Cyprus or longleaf heart pine. Today wood is milled from fast growing sources that have very little if any natural resistance to rot, which means you have a dilemma on your hands. Historical homes, particularly those that are on a registry, will have specific remodel requirements which could mean that ceramic or slate is out of the question. Check with your local historical registry about any regulations or restrictions to new construction and remodeling, if there are none work with a contractor who can help you choose the most impermeable lumber available.
Concrete
In some cases, you are going to remove carpeting or old flooring materials to reveal a concrete porch floor, which comes with its own set of problems. It is difficult to nail to concrete (though not impossible) so attaching new flooring is really a chore. Staining the concrete is one of many porch-flooring ideas that most people do not think about. There are varieties of stains and paints available that will make your porch pop!
Tile or Slate
Slate is a beautiful material that makes great porch flooring; however, some varieties become very slick when wet. Your best bet for slate flooring is to choose a rough pattern, something that will give you traction during wet weather or after mopping. Tile porch flooring ideas are also popular, in fact, manufactures provide specially designed options, water resistant, frost resistant and non-skid varieties should be easy to find. Figure the square footage, choose your color scheme and you are ready to begin!
Final Thoughts
If you want to go the simple yet efficient route, consider porch-flooring ideas such as treated lumber and indoor/outdoor carpeting. This is a nice option for busy homes and constant use, all you need is a hose and a broom to clean the porch! Porch flooring ideas run the gamut from simple wooden construction to more elaborate tiled affairs, it really comes down to your personal taste and of course budget.
For more information on porches, screened porches and related topics, visit AboutPorches.com
By Paul Lyte
