Outdoor Floor Finishes: The Old and The New

Porch flooring has to be not only aesthetically pleasing, but also functional. Their design should not only blend with the general theme of the room, but also easy to maintain.

Stone/marble and wood are traditional choices. They have been in use for centuries and every contractor has knowledge about them. Wood lasts for a couple of decades, while stone lasts for a much longer period. But then, termites have always been a problem for woodwork and soil poisoning, to counter them, has potential health and environmental risks. Marble and Stone on the other hand, are immune to biological agents, but they chip off or crack over time. Furthermore, it’s not easy to find replacements. The alternative: Floor Laminates.

Laminates are made from synthetic melamine resins which mimic the surface of traditional finishes. They simulate wood, stone, or other more exotic finishes. The use of laminates drastically lowers construction costs because it enables the use of cheaper building materials like plywood and concrete as the base of the floor. Hence marble and/or hardwood may not be used, and yet you can still achieve the same effect. Moreover, laminates have been engineered to be more resistant to stains, abrasions, fire and water – elements that are usually present in an outdoor setting.

There are two issues though – the use of plastic resins and their electrostatic tendencies. Certain health groups have raised concern over the possible decrease of indoor air quality due to the emission of volatile substances by the resins. Secondly, electrostatic charges attract dust and dirt which stays lodged on the surface. Fortunately, recent breakthroughs have eradicated electrostatic.

Today, there are electrostatic-retardant laminates available in the major hardware stores, like those made by Donear Décor Ltd of India. Furthermore, more processes are also being developed to lower the ill effects of vapor emission to acceptable levels.

In essence, laminates allow floors to have a classic rustic feel without having to spend like there’s no tomorrow. With floor laminates, you can live royally without having to spend like a king.