Modern interiors are more and more often finished with raw materials. Wood and concrete appear on the floor, walls, furniture and accessories. And what should you choose for your terrace?
If you are planning a renovation of your terrace, think about the materials you are going to use in the arrangement. They need to be resistant to high humidity, adverse weather conditions, lots of sunlight and frost. Is it better to choose concrete or wood? You will find the answer to this question in this article.
Wood is a universal solution. It works well both inside the house, and on the balcony and terrace. However, just as for underfloor heating you should choose the best heat-transmitting boards, so for the terrace you should choose species that are characterized by considerable strength. And these are not cheap solutions. The best are exotic woods, which can cost you even a few hundred zlotys per square meter! If you are looking for cheaper solutions, definitely reach for concrete
For comparison, the cost of pouring concrete for a 20 square meter terrace floor is about 1500 PLN. Of course, there is also the cost of reinforcement, but all in all, it’s still not as expensive as a floor made of natural planks.
Concrete is very often chosen also because of its extraordinary resistance to bad weather conditions and mechanical damage. Of course, you should know what you are buying – the best will be concrete with high abrasion class (at least IV) and water absorption of less than 3%. The lower the absorbency, the less water in the structure of the terrace – and therefore less chance of cracking during frost.
If you’re dreaming of a wooden floor, check out domestic species first. Definitely no pine or spruce, as their soft structure is not particularly durable. Harder species such as oak, beech or ash are stronger. They are distinguished by a fairly good resistance to moisture. If you are a fan of darker colors, you may also like larch – its delicate red wood will definitely attract attention. Additionally, larch does not attract pests or fungus
The most resistant, however, are imported planks of exotic wood. The most popular and generally available is teak wood, but massaranduba, lapacho or bangkirai will also work. Their resistance to mechanical damage, bad weather conditions and humidity is due to natural impregnation – a large amount of oils and resin. However, even these boards should be impregnated with protective preparations in order to increase their lifespan.
>> See also How to protect a terrace from wind and sun?
Wood is a much more versatile material. Planks full of delicate charm, especially whitewashed, work well not only in interiors that love a connection with nature – such as traditional Scandi – but also in modern design. The natural colouring of wood creates a wide range of design possibilities and allows for frequent changes in décor – the same floor can be used to create an industrial, rustic or retro look… You are limited only by your imagination!
Concrete is unambiguously associated with minimalism and raw coolness of loft interiors. Floor made of micro-cement or architectural concrete does not allow to finish terrace in a cozy and atmospheric way – romantic evenings in boho style are out of the question. Concrete is the quintessence of minimalist simplicity, modernity and industrial interiors – and it will look best in such a finish.
If you are tempted by the aesthetics of wood but you care about the durability of concrete, choose wood-like concrete! Its natural and pleasant texture doesn’t require constant protection and impregnation like a floor made of wooden boards, but it can still enjoy its intact form for years. Wood-like concrete is extremely resistant to scratches, moisture and mechanical damage. It is also available on the market in many versions – it can imitate staves of parquet, long boards, and also create geometric patterns.
