The Best Flooring for an Indoor Concrete Porch

Match Nearby Materials

• Materials in nearby rooms might work on the porch. For example, if you have created a four-season porch with well-made furnishings and accessories, you will need to use tile, hardwood or carpet in an adjacent family room. You can also borrow materials from wall surfaces to use over the concrete. Oak hardwood flooring on the porch can match oak beadboard paneling in a nearby room.

Review Vinyl Flooring

• Practical flooring is important. While you can add indoor-outdoor carpet to the porch, for instance, vinyl sheet flooring may work best. If your children like to paint pictures or work with clay, create flooring that suits their activities. Buy high-quality vinyl flooring, however, especially if the porch is next to a room with tile or hardwood. Cheap vinyl flooring will stand out in a negative way. The color of the vinyl might be slate gray versus white to give the porch floor a high-end look.

Consider Tile as Well

• Use tile over the concrete, if the budget permits, as one option. Tile is often more user-friendly than hardwood flooring. In addition, most porch furnishings will harmonize with tile. By using tile instead of other materials, you provide a reminder that the space is a converted porch. Done properly, a porch conversion creates special ambiance. You can fix up a porch in ways that differ from a standard room.

Check Hardwood Options

• Hardwood with polyurethane sealant is a tough surface. If you really desire the warmth of hardwood, you can install it over concrete. Contact a local installer to learn the steps for preparing the concrete surface. A rubber-based subflooring is typically used to provide cushion for the hardwood boards. Add the sealant, especially if sunlight is strong coming into the room. Polyurethane is waterproof, too, so it will protect flooring if you have to water lots of live houseplants in the space.

Install Carpet to Save Time

• Indoor-outdoor carpet is a fashionable solution. You can buy a specific brand and style to withstand bright sun and children's activities on the porch. Getting carpet put down in a day or so makes it attractive for those who desire a new floor without a big mess. This type of carpet comes in every color imaginable, so you will have nearly endless options to match tile or other flooring in nearby rooms.