Deck tiles definitely look good outside. Are you considering revamping your floor with deck tiles but unsure of how well they do inside?
You can use deck tiles indoors. They work well in rooms that handle high traffic or moisture, such as entries or mudrooms, attics, basements, kitchens, and bathrooms. You can use deck tiles anywhere a floor is already established.
While deck tiles were created for outside use, their design makes them a great choice for indoor upgrades. In this article, we explore the most common places to use them inside as well as what benefits they offer.
Deck Tiles Design
From the name, you already know that these tiles were originally intended to switch up flooring on your deck and in other outside areas.
They come in many styles and materials, including:
- Wood
- Composite
- Porcelain
- Stone
- Rubber
- Plastic
You mount them on top of an existing flooring structure, usually a deck or concrete slab. Their interlocking design allows for quick and easy installation, and there is no need to stain or finish them.
This means you can use tiles that already feature the color or design you want to use in your home. You can even mix up tiles to create unique looks.
Where to Use Deck Tiles Indoors
The most common indoor spaces to use deck tiles include:
- Sunrooms
- Mudrooms
- Rooms attached to the patio
- Attics and basements
- Kitchens and bathrooms
As long as these areas have an established floor, adding deck tiles is a quick and easy way to upgrade the space or preserve the existing floor. You still need to be considerate of heavy spills that might drain through to the existing floor, but deck tiles are usually more durable and best for a quick solution.
Sunroom
Your sunroom probably already has hard flooring to accommodate a plethora of plants or facilitate a natural design. Patio tiles are easy to install, and they will not interrupt the visual appeal of this space.
If your sunroom doubles as an exercise room, rubber deck tiles may provide more relief. They also hold up better to dropped weights and you can replace a single tile at a time if there is an issue.
Because these tiles are designed for outdoor use, the higher temperatures and humidity found in a sunroom is not a problem.
Mudroom
Your mudroom gets a lot of traffic, and you need flooring that can hold up to:
- Mud
- Dirt
- Snow
- Water
Because this is where your family usually enters the home, flooring here wears out quickly. The durability of deck tiles can make sure you aren’t replacing the flooring too often, and it lets you change only the areas that are damaged.
Deck tiles can be used to easily transform a room into a mudroom, preparing it for heavy duty work.
Patio Attachments
Some common issues that come with rooms attached to the outside include:
- Inability to weather the elements
- A harsh aesthetic change from outside to inside
- Heavy traffic
As shown in their effectiveness in mudrooms, deck tiles are great for handling outside elements and heavy traffic.
They can also help you transition from an outside to inside style. Some people may not mind the immediate change, but if you want a softer transition, you can use the same tiles inside and outside. You can also choose a pattern that appears more natural, such as wood or stone.
Attics and Basements
Your attics and basements have floors, but most of the time these are left bare to save on building costs. This may not be a problem if you use the areas for storage, but it isn’t very stylish.
If you plan on transforming your attic or basement to a living or sleeping area, deck tiles can capitalize on the foundation and save you quite a bit on flooring.
The material is still durable enough to handle the varying climate in these areas, and the tiles are easy to remove if you change your mind.
Kitchens and Bathrooms
Your kitchen and bathroom areas need hard flooring capable of handling high humidity and the occasional spill.
Deck tiles work well in both these areas, and they are easy to clean up if there is an issue. The main concern is what would happen if the spill drains to the flooring below, but the tiles are also easy to remove to access that space.
You might also choose deck tiles if you want to cover up the space but are not ready to commit to a design.
Benefits of Using Deck Tiles Indoors
Deck tiles have plenty of benefits that put them over installing new flooring inside, including their:
- Low Cost
- Quick installation
- Durability
- Portability
You can still choose to install new flooring later on, but you might find you prefer the deck tiles.
Low Cost
You can find deck tiles at a wide range of prices, usually from a few dollars per square foot to as much as $20. This may not seem much different at first, but consider this.
Deck tiles are easy to install on your own, so you save hundreds on installation. Even with a DIY installation, you do not need to purchase other materials such as nails or adhesive. You also do not need to work to remove the flooring underneath.
Quick Upgrade
Deck tile installation also requires a fraction of the time, and you can usually upgrade your space in an afternoon or a weekend.
You can also pull the tiles apart in the same amount of time, so you aren’t worrying about setting aside weeks either way.
Durability
Deck tiles have an edge with durability.
They will not warp like wood or laminate, and you do not need to worry about stains or what kind of cleaning process you can or cannot use. Unlike carpeting, deck tiles won’t start to lay flat with heavy traffic.
If a deck tile gets to the point where you feel it needs to be replaced, you can replace the single tile. You won’t disrupt the surrounding flooring, and there is no cutting or splicing involved.
Portability
Deck tiles are a great choice for rentals or transition flooring because you can always pick them up when you are done.
You can reuse the flooring in a different room or space, or you can move it outside when you have a more permanent solution setup inside.
They may not be the most obvious choice, but deck tiles work well for indoor flooring.
Conclusion
Deck tiles are an easy and affordable way to upgrade your indoor flooring. They are durable, low cost, quick to install, and portable. You can find deck tiles in a wide range of materials and designs to match any space.
While they are most commonly used outdoors, deck tiles can also be a great solution for indoor flooring.
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