What's the best flooring material for my lanai?

If you're looking to add luxurious warmth and timeless beauty to your tropical style lanai, nothing compares to genuine hardwood flooring. Although engineered and solid hardwood floors are very similar, there are significant differences in their overall construction. Engineered wood floors behave somewhat differently than solid hardwood does. Engineered wood flooring tends to be easier to install and, as a general rule, is usually less expensive than solid hardwood.

It should be noted that not all hardwood floors are created equal. The type or species of hardwood the flooring is made of will determine what type of performance qualities it has. Understanding these differences will go a long way towards helping you choose the best hardwood flooring option for your home's lanai.

Both cork and bamboo have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially here in Southwest Florida. Both are better environmental choices than traditional hardwood flooring. Cork doesn't require the harvesting of an entire tree, only its bark, and even this is primarily done by hand. Cork feels softer under your feet and remains cooler than any other alternatives, even in the scorching heat of our tropical summers. Cork is also fantastic at reducing sound and is very easy to maintain. The installation process for cork floors is very easy as well, there is no underlay required and preparation of the subfloor is unnecessary.

Hypoallergenic and naturally anti-microbial and anti-bacterial, cork is an absolutely ideal flooring material for your lanai here in the humid, tropical climate of Southwest Florida. Cork planks can come in many different sizes, but are cut in the same dimensions as hardwood planks, giving it an appearance that is very similar to that of traditional hardwood floors. As mentioned above, cork flooring has been steadily increasing in popularity, making it a great option when considering resale value.

Porcelain tile is one of the most popular choices for lanai flooring. Compared to ceramic tiles, porcelain is a denser, less porous and harder option that offers greater stain and water resistance. Porcelain tile has unmatched design versatility and can often mimic natural stone varieties, such as granite and limestone. There are two basic types of porcelain tiles, through-bodied and glazed.

Through-bodied porcelain tiles give off colors and textures that run all the way through the entirety of the tile, which helps to disguise any chips or scratches that may occur. Since through-bodied tiles contain no glaze that could potentially wear-off, they are extremely strong and durable. This feature makes through-bodied porcelain tile a fantastic flooring option for lanais.

Ceramic tile is a great option for lanai flooring because it is easy to clean and doesn't harbor bacteria. Ceramic tile is rated from zero to five based on hardness; zero through two is suitable for wall tile, three is good for most residential uses, and four and five are hard enough to be utilized in commercial applications. With the harder, vitreous tiles in particular, you would have to drop something really, really heavy to cause any sort of damage to the tile itself. Because of the natural strength, ease of maintenance and extraordinary ability to withstand high pressure ceramic tile is a great material for use on lanai and pool decks.