From the Floors Up

How to Choose Tiles for Outdoor Spaces

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Are you considering tiling your outdoor space? Whether it is a patio or another area, if you are thinking about upgrading your outdoor space by installing tiles, it is important to know that at all tiles are not created equally. So, what does that mean? According to the experts, the types of tiles that you would traditionally install in your home’s interior is not ideal for outdoors. When tiling outdoor spaces, it is essential to purchase tiles that are manufactured with materials that can stand up to outside elements.

How can you find the right tile that fits your needs? First, it is essential to conduct a detailed inspection of the area you are planning on installing the tile. Consider factors such as: 

  • Temperature
  • What Type of Grounding (Your Base)
  • Moisture Level 

Choosing the Right Type of Tile

If you enjoy the look of hardwood and want to extend it to the outside area, you should opt for wood-like tiles made from porcelain. As you may know, other flooring options other than tiles are not an ideal flooring solution for outdoor environments.

Light or Dark Tiles

Deciding what type of tile design you are going to install in an outdoor space can be challenging. If you are stuck trying to decide whether to opt for light or dark toned tiles, you should observe the area at different times throughout the day. If the area is well lit during nighttime hours and the sunny during the daytime than dark, earthy tone tiles can look great in the area. On the other hand, lighter-hued tiles, like white or cream-colored tiles, will brighten up a space making it ideal for outdoor spaces that are not well light during the day or night.

Consider Installing Natural Stone

Natural stone such as slate, limestone, and quartzite are ideal flooring choices for outdoor environments. Such flooring is made up of natural materials that easily complement the area. You can use natural stone to create a pathway to the garden, or front door, and it can really bring the design of the patio together. Authenticate the look by choosing a natural stone with colors that harmonize with your landscaping features or elements in your home’s exterior.

We hope you found these three tricks helpful. Be sure to visit us weekly for more expert advice. Thanks for reading!

How To Plant and Grow Berries On Your Patio At Home

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Healthy eating is a wonderful way of life. It’s also really demanding! High quality fresh foods can be expensive, and when you’re eating highly perishable foods you find yourself going to the store more frequently than is convenient. There’s only way to tackle both of those challenges in one fell swoop. Grow your food at home. You don’t have a garden you say? No problem. Many foods can be grown in pots or containers. For purposes of this post we are going to focus on berries because they are highly nutritious, and they tend to disappear fast because they are so delicious. Here’s the how-to!

Blueberries

  • Easy to grow at home!
  • Minimum 12 inch diameter container – fill it with compost mix.
    • One part ericaceous compost because it is ideal for acid loving plants.
    • One part soil based compost.
  • Plant blueberry plant at its normal soil level and water it thoroughly.
  • Place the plant in an area that gets lots of sun.
  • Due to the substantial sun exposure, make sure to water frequently enough that the compost always stays moist.
  • If you live in a rainy climate consider collecting rain water for your blueberry plant because it is conducive to the acidic soil that the blueberry needs.
  • Feed it regularly during its growing phase and use ericaceous plant food.

Strawberries

  • Super easy to grow!
  • If possible, use a ‘strawberry planter’. If you don’t have much space try a vertical garden planter.
  • Fill it with multipurpose compost to which you’ve added a slow release fertilizer.
  • Plant the strawberry plant almost completely. Leave only the crown showing above the soil.
  • Water it A LOT. Strawberry plants are sensitive to any periods of dryness.
  • If it produces any baby plants (known as runners,) be sure to cut them off. Otherwise they will compromise the strength of the main plant.

Raspberries

  • Ensure you choose a container that is large enough! Look for something with a 24 inch diameter.
  • Fill it with a soil-based compost.
  • Plant six raspberry plant canes around the edges.
  • Never let the compost dry totally, always keep it moist.
  • Feed it with a high potash fertilizer on a consistent basis.

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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