The Flooring Expert

Q: We are considering using a cork or bamboo flooring for our three season porch. Being from Minnesota where temps often get below 0 degrees, is this a problem for those materials? Also the porch has several steps, can these materials be used there?

Thanks
Marilyn

A: I would NOT use bamboo or cork flooring in this case. Being wood, they will expand and contract drastically from the conditions they would be exposed to. This will cause gapping that will be very obvious and you will likely see the product warp as well.

I spoke with Tad A., Director of our Installation Program, and he stressed that if you chose to use flooring for this project it would instantly void your warranty because it is being used outside. Gene D. gave me some additional insight from Pete over at APC Cork (great products). To quote Pete “It would not hold up to the elements.”

You will want to look into a decking based solution, essentially you need a product that is built for outdoor use. If you can find a bamboo decking then you'll be set, but using flooring will not hold up to the temperature extremes and you will not have any warranty on the floor.

Q: Hi, I'm looking for indoor/outdoor patio flooring, it's a covered patio but the floor needs to be one that is all-weather. Can you recommend something?

Billie N.

A: I would suggest looking into deck planking of some form. We have a great snap together product made by Vifah which can be used to give a great parquet appearance. Beyond this, I would suggest looking into actual deck planks.

You will want to avoid residential/commercial flooring as they are built specifically for controlled environments with no exposure to the elements. Should you elect to use regular flooring expect to see issues with warping and gapping from the moisture and expansion/contraction. Also, it will instantly VOID your warranty.

Q: We built a screened porch over an existing wood deck. The floor is presently 2" x 6" wood treated lumber. We would like to cover this with a more suitable flooring material. The area is a non-heated or cooled area with only a ceiling fan for air movement. Can you suggest any flooring material that we could attach to the treated lumber?

Thanks.
Jeff

A: Screened-in porches are becoming popular as a place to floor lately. As I have mentioned with Billie's porch question, look into products meant to be decking or for outdoor purposes. iFLOOR.com carries a snap together deck tile and plank made by Vifah, which gives a parquet appearance and is very easy to install.

If this look is not something you want, I would look into decking thats in a wider plank format or similar outdoor products to go over your treated lumber. As I mentioned before, do NOT use residential or commercial flooring as these products are not meant to be exposed to the elements and you will instantly void your warranty. Also, if you use a standard flooring, expert to see warping and gapping as the planks expand and contract from temperature and moisture.

Q: We have an incontinent cat who is presently confined to one room of our house which is covered with incontinence pads. We would like to give her more area to be in with some "outside" space, so are planning to build a screened porch but I'm having a hard time coming up with an appropriate flooring option. Obviously it needs to be easy to clean and not porous so it won't absorb odors. The existing space outside has no concrete pad; there are some concrete tiles divided by small rocks as "mortar". I'm sure this needs removing, but under this is just dirt.

Thanks,
Deborah

A: Your best bet here is going to be either a form of tile or some type of stone flooring such as patterned concrete or natural stone like slate or granite. Unfortunately with any type of wooden flooring or carpet the moisture problems will happen in an outdoor situation and with your cat's problem. Stone or tile on the other hand is essentially impervious to moisture. Also, this gives you a wide array of appearances you can look into from natural stone to ceramic tile or to some of the very interesting effects done recently in patterned concrete.

Another alternative you can look into would be products like Mannington's iCORE. iCORE is made from a plastic composite instead of wood. This means it is impervious to moisture while still having the wood floor appearance of a laminate.

When constructing your room, you will want to ensure you build a proper subfloor, concrete being a good choice here. After you have built the subfloor/foundation of the room and its exterior walls, you can then finish it and install the flooring.

Q: Do you carry any products that can be placed on top of concrete for an outdoor patio area? What would happen to cork? We live in So California so rain doesn’t happen often, but it is quite sunny!

A: Before we get directly into product, remember that part of the problem with outdoor installation with many flooring products is the fluctuation in temperature. Since we can't control mother nature, it limits the selection of items we can use for outdoor installations.

Your best bet here would be a type of decking or flooring specifically manufactured for outdoor installations. Vifah makes a great snap together decking material which would be great for your project.

You could also look into something like cork, as I have seen it used in boat cabins, which has some potential for temperature change and moisture, but I would generally suggest avoiding a wood flooring product meant to be in a home as an outdoor solution. If you were to use cork you would have to use glue down cork tiles which do not have a fiberboard core (this means no cork products which are able to be floated or are click together). The key here is ensuring that the cork itself is carefully adhered with the adhesive, which I would suggest using a contact adhesive, and ensure that all edges of the cork are well sealed or site finish your cork after installation to add a bit of moisture protection in case it does rain.

Other alternatives here would be to look into stone or tile or a composite based laminate like Mannington's iCORE. iCORE looks much like wood, but the core of the product is made from a composite which is impervious to water. If you choose to go with stone or tile, ensure that you install an uncoupling membrane into your thinset to ensure that your stone/tile does not end up cracking over time from movement in the concrete slab.

Overall, your best bet is to find something specifically manufactured for an outdoor installation. There are alternatives out there and with proper care during the installation process.

Q: I have an outdoor concrete patio and walkway that is approximately 700 square feet. The concrete is over 20 years old but in good condition. I want to lay porcelain tiles over the concrete. An installer told me that the best way to do it is to paint the concrete with a moisture barrier like RED GUARD and then lay the tiles. Does this sound right?

Thanks,
Diane from CA

A: This sounds fairly correct assuming there is a moisture issue with your concrete. It is fairly common to seal concrete, especially outdoors, before applying a new surface over the top. The key here is to ensure the sealant being placed over the concrete will not interfere with the adhesion of your mortar.

One thing to keep in mind here is that the Red Guard will not prevent the tiles you install from cracking, but if you install an uncoupling layer this will take care of the problem. Let me explain why the uncoupling layer is good and what it prevents. When you have a stone or tile surface installed over concrete, you will encounter in-plane movement. This movement occurs as the concrete expands and contracts (much like wood flooring) as temperature or moisture changes. When this movement occurs it places stress through the mortar and into the tile or stone surface installed over the concrete. Over time this causes cracking, which is why old tile floors will occasionally have a cracked tile or two. Now an uncoupling layer acts as a shock absorber of forms, absorbing all of this movement and preventing it from transferring to the stone/tile surface.

When doing your installation, you will lay some thinset mortar, then install the uncoupling layer. Now lay another layer of mortar and set your tile. A good uncoupling layer to use would be Schluter's Ditra or any other similar quality uncoupling membrane.

Q: We have an outdoor cement 'patio' that we are thinking of refinishing with the patio wood tiles and we are wondering what we need to do to the cememt prior to adding the tiles, like would we need to level the concrete with sand or some other product? How would the flooring fair in winter conditions?

Cathy

A: When planning to floor an outdoor area it is important to note than you MUST you a product which is approved for outdoor use. Standard wood flooring simply can not take the abuses mother nature will put it through.

Now if you are looking to get the wood floor tile look, or parquet look, there is a great outdoor decking tile made by Vifah. These tiles feature a click-together composite backing which makes installation very simple and this is specifically intended for outdoor use, which means you can get the wood tile look on your patio.

The concrete on the patio itself should be checked to ensure that it is level and is not sweating more than it should. If you see any white build-up on your concrete, then you will need to clean and reseal the concrete as this is a result of the concrete sweating too much and losing some of the calcium in the concrete.

You can use a simple 2" x 4" to check for low/high spots in your concrete, though a proper level is advised. If you find any high spots, grind them down and for low spots, use an outdoor approved leveler. Once you have leveled out the concrete and ensured any leveling compound has cured, I would suggest sealing the concrete just to be safe. From here all you need to do is install the deck tiles and your patio will be complete.

Q: What do you suggest as flooring for a screened in porch? It does get wetness from rain and wind.

A: Any time you plan to put some form of flooring outdoors where mother nature can send its full fury at the surface, you must look into something built for the temperature changes, moisture shifts, etc.

If you want the appearance of wood, look into decking, such as the deck tile made by Vifah. Now if you are not quite as concerned with a wood look, this does open your options a bit more, but you still need to find a product which is approved for outdoor use or is, at the very least, 100% moisture resistant. This means look into something like a composite floor or a vinyl which is suited for outdoor use.

A final alternative here would be to use tile or stone flooring. Patterned concrete is another good option in this sense as it is generally cheaper than stone or tile and can get some very nice looks.

In the end here, personal taste will have to be suited with products which are actually able to be installed in an outdoor setting. The easiest choice would likely be something like the Vifah outdoor deck tiles or similar decking, but you can do quite a bit with stone, tile and vinyl as well.

As we get into the height of warm weather, DIY projects and various home make-overs, I'd like to go over outdoor flooring options for decks, patios and similar applications. As spring and summer roll around it is very common for questions about what product to use for a patio/deck/etc come in to the iFLOOR staff here - so let's dig in and go over good solutions.

First and foremost, indoor flooring is NOT suitable for an outdoor environment. Simply put, wood flooring and even some vinyl, tile, linoleum and similar products are not designed to handle the shifts in temperature found outdoors nor deal with the shifts and exposure to moisture. This is especially true with wood flooring. Unlike other products which are suitable for outdoor applications, typical wood flooring is not treated to handle the moisture and climate changes of the great outdoors.

If you plan on doing a project outside which involves flooring, like patios, then you need look into a product which is designed for this environment. Decking or stone tends be very common so let's look into these options.

Wood Decking

We all know it and it is the best outdoor wood solution out there. Nowadays you can get more than just the old long plank look from decking, companies like Vifah make snap together decking products which come in parquet styles and plank set ups to vary your appearance. Also, many companies make a variety of different species, but softwood species like cedar, pine, and others still remain very popular. If you want to have a wood floor outdoors, use decking material - not only is it easier to get, but it also is a bit less hassle than finding another product and ensuring it gets the proper treatment to withstand the outdoors.

Outdoor Stone/Tile

Stone has always been a popular choice for out doors. From stepping stones to a simple concrete patio, stone products are, simply put, the best resilient option out there. Stone and tile are great options for outdoor patios or various other outdoor applications because they are virtually impervious to moisture and climate shifts.

Another option would be to use patterned concrete. Patterned concrete or stamped concrete now comes in many different patterns, colors and appearances that simulate the look actually stone tile patterns or even cobblestone style looks.

Outdoor Carpet

Carpet is one of the largest selling and most widely used flooring options out there, so why not make it for the outdoors as well? Outdoor carpet has several great applications such as screened-in porches, lounge areas besides pools and many others. Outdoor carpet is a great option for bringing a warm, comfortable look to the outdoors as well as some comfort under foot. Outdoor carpet also comes in a myriad of colors and patterns so you can achieve virtually any look. The only issue you may run into with outdoor carpet is resiliency. Although its built for the outdoors, the weather will take its toll and unlike stone and most wood decking, outdoor carpet will eventually need replacing.

There are other options out there including types of vinyl, rubber and composite floors. Although not as commonly seen, these are still great options and provide a myriad of looks.

My ending advice here is simply to reinforce that flooring meant for indoor applications is not suitable for outdoor environments. Make sure that the product you select for your outdoor floor is meant for this application. Whether its stone, decking, outdoor carpet or other options, ensure you install a floor which is treated and built for outdoor applications. Also, make sure proper expansion room is left for those needing it. Decking typically needs a good 1/4" or so between planks and stone typically needs about 3/8" or so for grout lines to ensure that the surface is properly set and can shift throughout the seasons.

Q: I would like to install a wood laminate in a new sun room. The room is built over a wood deck, but will be insulate. Is a laminate a good choice for me? The room will not be heated or air-conditioned.

Lynne

A: Considering that this room will not be heated, so that mother nature's temperature fluxes will be present in the room, to a point, I would suggest avoid something like laminate which is built for a home environment where the temperature is controlled somewhat. What you will run into is a bit of expansion and contraction, likely more than the flooring itself is built for, depending of course on how the area under the deck is built and how/where the room is insulated.

A better option here would be to look into decking material which is built for an outdoor application. Vifah makes a great outdoor decking which comes with an easy click together mechanism in both a plank and parquet style set up. Another option here would be to try a wood-appearing vinyl such as Konecto. Another option would be to install a stone or tile floor as these tend to be a better suited to outdoor based applications.

Q: We currently have a raised wood deck off our living space, and we are wanting to have stone laid on top of the wood. I have heard about floating tiles that can be placed over a deck. Are we able to put tile on top of our existing deck, and if so, do you know what product we should be looking for? Thanks so much for your assistance!

Michelle

A: The short answer is "yes," but lets go over some details about what tile to use and certain precautions to take. First off, make sure that your deck will be able to support the additional weight from all the tile, while still being able to handle foot traffic and potential furniture. Second, when looking at tile, make sure you are looking into a tile that is approved for outdoors. It may also be necessary to create a plywood substrate over your deck if you have gaps which are too great for the product you intend to install, check with your tile's manufacturer to make sure.

There are lots of outdoor tile and patterned concrete which can give you many great looks while being built for the great outdoors. When doing your installation, make sure you leave proper grout lines as suggested by the manufacturers. Many outdoor tiles for patios and such suggest 3/8" grout lines between tiles to help give the stone more room and move as the weather changes.

Q: My contractor wants to use tongue and groove pine flooring on the deck. The deck doesn't have a slope. Will there be enough space for the wood to move in the South African weather conditions. ( Winter -5 degrees Celsius and summer 35 degrees Celsius and a fair amount of rain in summer.) Shouldn't he rather be using deck wood made of pine or Rhodesian Teak? Please help? Kind regards. Elma
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Q: I have a patio deck of a commercial building that I need flooring
for. The 2' square rubber-like existing flooring has proven totally
useless as it is cupping at all four corners of each square. The
deck, which is also the roof to the floor below, consists of a layer
of Styrofoam covered with chipboard which then has sealed rubber
moisture barrier covering it. I wish to lay the flooring directly
over this rubber membrane. The deck is 13' x 50'. I can not use
fasteners to secure anything because they would break through the
rubber deck membrane. Ideally the thickness of the flooring would be
between 1" to 2". Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks,
Rolande

A: Your best bet here is going to be an outdoor product which can click together. A good choice would be the snap together teak decking tiles made by Vifah. These decking slats come as either planks or as tiles and are very easy to install. Since they are meant for decking you should have no issues with moisture causing problems in the product, plus its built as a floating product so you don't need to anchor into your membrane covered substrate.