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.
