One of the unique features of balconies is that it is easy to design them into a great place to spend time – together or alone, over a cup of coffee with a good book, or at a relaxed family event. The design of the balcony may contain plants and a garden in pots, hanging elements – but do not forget that much of the design and appearance of the balcony depends on its flooring.
Since the balcony serves as a kind of corner that is almost outside the house – all the design rules on the balcony may be different from those in the house. Therefore, the flooring should also be chosen in a way that exactly matches the exterior stylistic preferences. It is also important to remember that flooring for a balcony is usually exterior flooring, and if the designed balcony is exposed to rain or wind – you should choose flooring that will withstand weather conditions (rain, sun and winds), and you should think about rougher flooring – and less prone to slipping.
A well-designed and well-kept terrace provides a pleasant place to go out, sit and relax with a cup of coffee, entertain, chat with family members, read or immerse yourself in thoughts. In order to get the most out of the balcony it is important to invest, design and furnish it so that it becomes inviting and comfortable. One of the key elements to keep in mind when it comes to a balcony is the flooring:
It is important to choose carefully
A balcony is inherently a space whose design is simple and has relatively few elements – so in an open balcony, but also in balconies with roofing and even closed balconies. This is why the floor surface in a balcony has a great impact both aesthetically and practically.
Other important elements in the balcony are the railing, the furniture placed in it, an awning, flower pots, planters and more. The flooring must match the look of the design we want to create – one must also pay attention to the way in which the balcony flooring integrates with the flooring of the interior of the house.
Of course appearance is only one part of the equation. It is very important to choose for the balcony flooring that is suitable for use in an area exposed to weather damage, flooring with tiles that have the required temperature range as well as a lot of sunlight and winter storms. In exterior flooring, it is highly recommended to choose tiles that are easy to clean and do not tend to form stains that do not come off. In addition, it is important that the flooring has a rough enough surface so that it does not become slippery even when the floor is wet.
Outdoor flooring
Tiles designed for outdoor use
Ceramic tiles are a good choice for balcony flooring as long as they are designed to be used in an open area, outside the building. It is important to choose quality and rough enough tiles so that there is no danger of slipping when they are wet, as there are a variety of examples and shades of ceramic tiles for outdoor use, from those with a wood-like look, to tiles with a clean and accurate modern look. There is no reason to use the same tiles that were used for flooring the interior of the house – the balcony is relatively small, so there is an option for a freer choice.
Other tiles that may be suitable for use in areas exposed to weather damage are porcelain granite tiles.
Flooring for open balcony and closed balcony
Choosing flooring for an open porch is more complex than choosing for an enclosed porch. For flooring to an enclosed porch, there is no reason to insist on tiles that are suitable for flooring areas outside the building. A closed balcony floor is more exposed than the interior of the house to sunlight, temperature changes, humidity and dust, but to a much lesser extent than an open balcony floor. As far as flooring is concerned, another important difference between a closed and open balcony is the danger of slipping when the floor is wet. It is easy to keep a closed terrace dry even on rainy days, while an open terrace floor will get wet from rain – so it is important that it is paved with tiles that do not become slippery when wet.
Beyond the correct choice of tiles, it is very important that the flooring work is done properly. It is necessary to maintain proper slopes that will ensure good drainage of water from the balcony; The raised edge must be laid first and only then, and it is very important to use a quality rifle, so that water does not penetrate through it into the sand under the tiles.
Concrete floors for the garden
The garden, although it is on the outside of the house, is an important and even integral part of it, and many of us tend to invest quite a bit in its care and design. Concrete floor tiles for the garden have become, in recent years, a much-loved flooring method, if only because of the many benefits they carry with them. Beyond their quality and strength, they contribute to the look of the garden and add the touch that makes it stylish and beautiful.
The properties of these tiles
The concrete floors, as can be assumed, are in fact an ordinary concrete casting, at least 8 cm thick, with a smooth and uniform appearance for the most part. It can be combined with different elements to add interest and uniqueness or leave the concrete completely smooth. The many benefits of concrete garden flooring are the ones that make them very popular recently, which put this garden flooring method at the top of the list.
The many benefits of concrete flooring
One of the salient advantages of these tiles is their strength. Concrete floors are considered to be very strong compared to other flooring solutions, and as they are used as flooring in the exterior of the house they must survive in not simple conditions. Strong winds, rains and also strong winds and sun, all these and more do not affect these floors at all and do not change their color or the texture. Beyond that, they do not crack easily or break easily and remain exactly as they were on the day of installation.
Concrete floors in the garden
Ease of installation of these tiles is another advantage. While installing a different type of flooring for a garden can be a real challenge, applying the concrete surface in a garden is a simple, quick and relatively short procedure. This is especially true when choosing the option of smoothed concrete, which requires leveling the existing surface, pouring the concrete, leveling it using a helicopter and drying it. The smoothness, in terms of the appearance of the flooring, is also a huge advantage, as it contributes quite a bit to the appearance of the garden. The smooth appearance makes the surface stylish, luxurious and also very uniform and you can walk on it or even ride the bike without any worries.
Other advantages of these floors are the easy and convenient maintenance and of course the appearance. The maintenance of the flooring does not require the use of special cleaning agents, and all that needs to be done to keep the flooring clean is to clean it with a wet rag, in case stains or dirt are discovered. The beautiful, natural and very special look of the concrete floors are a prominent and main advantage, which is reflected in the correct and harmonious combination of this raw material and the garden itself – the flowers and the variety of plants in it.
A selection of designs and styles
You can now choose concrete floors for the garden in different designs and styles. It is possible to create a kind of trail with different and weird patterns or a trail with a uniform look. You can add paint or other materials and complete, in this way the look of the garden.
Proper installation
Installing these floors is simple and easy as stated, but requires contacting professionals who specialize in it. It is very important, if only to enjoy the desired appearance and high quality, to make sure that we enlist the services of experts, who take care to perform the work on the best side with an emphasis on quality and visibility. It is very important to check with them the issue of responsibility, and make sure to accept full responsibility for the work performed. The conditions of the area, the design that dominates the house must be taken into account and, with the help of these tiles, a more comprehensive and correct look must be created, which properly combines the interior and exterior.
