Outdoor flooring

THE EXPERTS ON WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE INVESTING IN THIS KEY FEATURE

- Amy Moorea Wong

FUN AND FUNCTION

Outdoor flooring should be top of the to-think-about list when pondering a garden makeover; it'll host all alfresco activities, from daily dinners to under-the-stars soirées. So why go for something boring? 'I would like us to stop shying away from flooring choices and give them some personality,' says architect Rosie McLaren, director of southeast London's Architecture by Rosie. 'An exterior floor can be just as influential on our mood as any interior choice and is a key element to embedding a design in its context.'

PRACTICAL MATTERS

It's not just about mood and beauty in the outdoor arena firstly, there are highly practical matters that can't be ignored. 'The choice of materials and their suitability are key considerations,' says Andy Young, senior principal at Chichester-based architect and interior design firm Randell Design Group. 'Look at aesthetic qualities, of course, but it's important to understand things like durability, slip rating, maintenance, drainage and the compatibility of installation methods for each material.'

LOOK BENEATH

If there's one key word that crops up again and again when the subject of outdoor flooring is raised, it's 'substrate' the supportive surface on which the floor is installed, which includes concrete, compacted gravel, soil or sand. 'It sounds boring but it's all about getting the substrate right; allowing the right depth of build-up to suit the material or the right support for a raised deck,' says Rosie. 'These little details really matter to the longevity of any flooring.'

BREAK NEW GROUND