10 weatherproof balcony floor coverings in direct comparison

Balcony covering should be weatherproof and have a long service life. However, due to the large selection, it is not always easy to make the right choice. Our comparison shows what is important.

bamboo

bamboo has some advantages as a balcony flooring. Including:

• high degree of hardness
• long lifetime
• environmentally friendly because of rapid growth
• does not turn gray quickly

The material can be used as a board or tile.

Floorboards

Assembling planks is a physical effort. Cleaning is also not that easy, as there are grooves between the individual elements and earth, dust, leaves and other dirt can penetrate and collect in them.

In terms of optics, however, there is a large selection. Possible materials are:

• wood
• plastic
• WPC

A good variant of the fastening is a stilt bearing.

Tiles

Ceramic tiles are comparatively easy to clean, are durable and create a modern to natural look. They also have the following advantages:

• great variety of different designs
• long lifetime
• relatively easy to lay
• Water drains well

When laying, make sure that a gradient of two percent is maintained. This is the only way that rainwater and melted snow or hail can drain away quickly and easily.

However, this can cause frost damage. Even tiles and mortar suitable for outdoor use change under the influence of temperatures. Since this is different for each material, there are sometimes enormous forces acting between the various elements.

Another disadvantage is that the tiles can usually only be used once. They also have to be removed with a certain amount of effort if a change is necessary or if you move out.

Tip: When laying, choose pedestals. This makes it easy to create the slope and it is easy to apply.

Wood tiles

Wood can be laid on the balcony in the form of planks or tiles. In both cases it is important that there is sufficient space between the individual elements, because wood works. That means it expands and shrinks. These processes depend on the temperature and humidity as well as the contact with water.

Advantages of wooden tiles are:

• no strong heating
• natural look
• comparatively low weight
• numerous design options
• Cutting is possible without any problems

Just like floorboards, the tiles must not lie directly on the floor. A corresponding one Substructure so is required.

The potential disadvantages of wooden tiles as balcony flooring are:

• Splinter hazard
• Wood turns gray over time
• Cost can be quite high
• Care must be done regularly
• Deformations are possible

Click systems

Both floorboards and tiles made of different materials are available as balcony floor coverings in the click system. They are extremely easy to lay and have a comparatively low weight.

Variants that have a plastic grid are particularly simple. This means that no separate substructure is required. In addition, click systems can easily be removed again at any time, which is particularly useful in rental properties.

Possible disadvantages are:

• Adjusting the size can be difficult
• Plastic mesh can become porous over time
• Cleaning is made difficult by joints and grooves

Plastics

Plastics have numerous advantages as balcony flooring. These include:

• easy cleaning
• low cost
• lightweight

However, the material can become brittle over time as a result of temperature fluctuations and the effects of UV radiation. So it's weatherproof, but doesn't do as well in terms of durability as stone and wood. In addition, the look is not really natural, even with high-quality designs.

Natural stones

Above all, natural stones are visually appealing. However, they store the outside temperature for a long time and are very heavy. As a balcony floor coverings, they can be downright hot in summer and freeze over in winter. In addition, they may exceed the load-bearing capacity of the balcony.

Natural stone carpet

Natural stone carpet is a combination of gravel or stones and a binding agent. The “carpet” is distributed on the floor of the balcony. If necessary, a waterproof layer must be applied beforehand.

One of the advantages is that there are no joints whatsoever on the various balcony floor coverings. However, the natural stone carpet is only partially weatherproof and associated with high costs and a comparatively large amount of effort. The binder can yellow over time and may have pores that prevent the material from becoming impermeable to water. These disadvantages should be taken into account.

Tip: The laying out should be carried out by specialists. Otherwise, significant errors can occur.

carpet

Carpets suitable for outdoor use, such as artificial grass, are a very quick solution as a covering for the balcony. Simply rolling it out is sufficient. The material can easily be cut to size. An adaptation of the balcony floor coverings is therefore possible without any problems.

In addition, the purchase costs of these balcony floor coverings are low and there are several color options. A simple vacuum is sufficient for cleaning. In terms of durability, however, the carpet is inferior to other materials.

In addition, the surface does not appear natural and it will discolour over time. After rain, the material also soaks up with water. If you would like to run barefoot, you will not have much fun with it. There is also a risk of mold and mildew stains.

WPC

at WPC it is a mixture of wood and plastic. This combination should combine the advantages of both variants. Processing is comparatively easy, as is cleaning. WPC is also weatherproof.

However, due to the plastic content, it also becomes porous over time. Cracks can develop. This in turn can cause frost damage.

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