Floor is one of the most crucial elements of a building. This building element could be located indoors or outdoors, such as for terrace, balcony, garage, and garden. Even though they basically have the same function, you could not simply use the same building material for indoor flooring and outdoor flooring, because floors located outside of a building are usually exposed to sunlight, rain, and changing weather. Here are some building material types that you could use for outdoor flooring:
- Wood
Wood is a building material that is often used for outdoor flooring. A lot of people go for this material when it comes to outdoor flooring, because this material could give a natural and warm touch to the building. However, this material is known to be quite prone to insect and fungus attacks, as well as weathering. Therefore, if you decide to use wood as floor building material, make sure to put a sealant coat on top to avoid damage caused by insects, fungus, and weathering.
- Natural Stones
Natural stone is one of the most suitable material for outdoor flooring. Apart from having unique color and pattern, natural stones usually have textured surface, which could reduce floor slipperiness and provide more safety for house residents. Outdoor floors usually get wet due to rain, so textured materials are suitable for use as outdoor floor material. Some natural stone types that you could use for outdoor flooring are andesite and basalt stones.
- Clay
Clay building material is not only suitable for use for roof tiles, but also floor. This material could be an option for your outdoor floor, as its signature color could give a traditional touch to your house. Clay floor is very suitable for use in your terrace and garden. To add an elegant touch, you could provide warm-colored lighting such as warm white and yellow.
- Ceramic
Not many house owners choose ceramic material for outdoor flooring, because this material is considered too slippery, which could be unsafe for house owners during rainy days. However, in fact this material could still be used for outdoor flooring. To avoid slipperiness during rainy weather, make sure to choose textured or anti-slip surfaced ceramics. Furthermore, avoid using white or bright-colored ceramics, as they could reflect sunlight and disturb your sight.
- Pebbles and Synthetic Grass
Another material that is quite popular for use in outdoor flooring is pebble stone. The usage of pebbles as outdoor floor is usually combined with synthetic grass to give a natural look to your outdoor space. This material is most frequently used for garden flooring, but it could also be a perfect solution for house terrace flooring.
The five building materials mentioned above could be a reference for you when it comes to choosing outdoor flooring material. Besides the materials mentioned above, you could also use other materials according to your desired look and house needs. Before choosing floor material, make sure that the material is durable and not slippery. Beside floor material, you should also pay attention to the main materials used for house structure. This is very important because main building materials could affect house’s strength and durability. For example, when choosing cement, go for premium quality cement with proven quality, such as Semen Merah Putih.
