Outdoor Carpets: All You Need To Know

The purpose of outdoor carpets is to improve the area outside your house, such as walkways or the perimeter of garden areas. They are very different in construction than normal carpets, and are made to be tougher and more resilient.

A very important characteristic of outdoor carpeting is that it must be waterproof, or to will quickly become damp in the conditions outside a house, especially if near a pool or in the rain.

The fibers that make up most types of outdoor carpeting are usually of relatively simple build and made of plastic derivates, making them cheaper by the square meter than indoor carpets.

The main purpose of outdoor carpets is to cover up concrete flooring, which is both unsightly and uncomfortable to walk on. With an outdoor carpet you will both get the practical effect of a more comfortable and safer surface, and the aesthetic pleasure of nicer surroundings. Outdoor carpeting are often the first step to personalizing the outside area of your house to your tastes.

Besides adding the decorators’ or owners’ personal touch to the area, outdoor carpeting also has two very concrete advantages. First and foremost, wet carpeting (such as after a rain shower) is less dangerous and slippery than concrete.

Second, the added layer makes the surface more comfortable and better isolated from cold coming from the ground, resulting in a more pleasant experience when sitting or walking with bare feet. It also merges the interior of the house with patios and conservatories in an appealing manner.

Olefin and polyvinyl are common materials for artificial outdoor carpets, while sisal and reeds are usually employed as natural materials. An expensive alternative for outdoor carpeting can be heavy wool, treated to be waterproof so that it doesn’t become damp and smelly.

All natural and manmade fibers for this kind of flooring are highly water-repellent, so a correctly installed outdoor carpet will never soak and become completely wet. Damp smells are therefore very rare, provided that the carpet was put in with drainage in mind.

As for installing, usually outdoor carpets can be glued directly to the underlying surface, but sometimes a special kind of interim padding is needed. Please note that some carpets are available in tiled form, which makes installation much easier than for rolled carpets.

Outdoor carpets are available in a wide range of patterns and colors, and you will surely find something that suits your eye. These are great materials to furnish the outside of your house, and they are also cheap and durable.