Porch Flooring Ideas

When building a new home or renovating an old one, if you’ve got a porch then choosing the right flooring is a very important decision. Porch flooring ideas aren’t hard to come by but there’s lots to consider before making your choice. What are your porch flooring options, which type of porch flooring is best, what’s cheapest and which gives the best return on investment?

A porch should be a place that’s stylish and inviting. It’s a focal point of the home and a very important part of the homes curb appeal. Which means the porch can have major financial implications. A beautiful front porch with the right front door can make a great first impression and a sale. While the wrong porch flooring can potentially turn buyers off before they even set foot inside the home.

And they’re are durability issues as well. Some porch flooring is very durable like concrete, brick or stone and others need maintenance like wood. There’s also costs to consider. Blue stone is quite expensive but it’s a rich look that will last for decades. Composite decking is mid priced and last a long time but lacks the charm of wood. Stained real wood is cheap and loaded with character but needs maintenance. Choosing the right porch flooring isn’t an easy decision to make.

There are only a few top porch flooring options to consider which is what we’ll be discussing below. Which you choose depends on the look you’re going for, your budget, the style of the home and if you want masonry, wood or composite.

Front porch with natural real stone flooring and cement grout Warm brown, tan and gray colors.

Natural Stone Porch Flooring

Stone is expensive for both material and labor but you can’t deny how beautiful and long lasting it is.

One of the reasons why stone porch floors are so expensive is because of the additional labor required for not only the floor but also the foundation. The floors shown above have been set on top of a very strong compacted base and then grouted with cement. It’s a very labor intensive process that requires a skilled mason.

I’ve always found installing stone floors to be an enjoyable days work. I like the process of finding different pieces and making them all fit together. It’s like putting together a puzzle in a way. But building the foundation is a different matter. You’ll need block or solid concrete foundation walls and footings. Some stone porches are even installed over a solid concrete slab which is yet another expensive and labor intensive step.

If you’re on a budget stone flooring should be used on small porches or not at all. It’s not something you can do cheap. But since the entry porches are a focal point as people come and go, If you have the money it’s a fantastic flooring choice.

A concrete front porch steps with real stone flooring. Cement grout. Irregular stones with a warm brown coloring.

Front Porch Flooring Over Concrete

If your looking for the best front porch flooring over concrete then consider stone. You can buy real stone flooring that’s been sliced into thin slivers. It installs similar to tile.

The difference between installing real stone on top of concrete instead of tile is the cement and grout. Instead of using a thin coating of thinset, real stone is set in cement. The cement used is much thicker than with tile because the stone isn’t perfect smooth. There are lots of voids and irregularities to fill. The grout lines are much wider and irregular too so real cement is used to fill the gaps.

One of the great things about using real stone flooring over concrete is how easy stone is to shape. You don’t want to cut it but breaking the stones into the shapes you need with a rock hammer is fine.

Using stone flooring over concrete isn’t that expensive if you’ve already got the concrete porch. Stone is a great solution for remodeling an existing concrete porch. The stone is still expensive but since the concrete is already there most of the cost of construction is already paid for.

Make sure to pick the right coloring and stone shape for the house.

Pro Tip: This is one of my favorite ways to remodel a front concrete porch during a house flip. Stone is a rich look and very durable but doesn’t cost a fortune when the concrete work is already done. For this reason it has an excellent ROI.

Covered front concrete porch with real stone flooring.

Covered Front Porch Stone Flooring

Stone over concrete is a great flooring for a covered front porch.

Because of how solid the construction is, a stone flooring over concrete front porch is almost completely waterproof. As long as the porch is built properly and all the cracks are filled with cement, no water will penetrate into the house.

Of course the front porch covering has something to do with this too, but water still gets onto a covered porch. Even though you’ve got a roof wind still blows water onto the porch and potentially into the house. You need a good porch floor that can deal with water, snow and ice. Stone over concrete is great for this type of application.

Pro Tip: There are two things you have to do with a stone over concrete front porch and they’re both essential for keeping water out of the home.

Slope. Make sure the porch floor is sloped away fro them house. Since the floor is totally solid water can’t drain through it. This means water will run in any direction the floor is leaning. Make sure it’s leaning away from the house.
Seal. Make sure the connection point where the porch meats the house is sealed. There will be a natural joint here that’s filled with concrete but it will often crack. Make sure it’s always sealed so water can’t get in and potentially run down and into the home or foundation. Silicone is great for this and so is cement in a tube.

As long as it’s built correctly a stone over concrete flooring is a fantastic choice for a covered front porch.

Beautiful front porch built featuring a blue stone floor with limestone steps.

Blue Stone Porch Flooring

Blue stone is a fantastic product to use as a porch floor. It’s a durable real stone that will last for decades. Its natural earth tone blueish coloring is very attractive if you’ve got the right siding color for it. Its rough surface also means that it rarely gets slick or slippery when wet which makes it a great flooring surface for outdoor use.

Blue stone is readily available in the United States because it’s typically mined out of Pennsylvania or Virginia. This helps cut costs because it doesn’t have to travel from outside the US.

Blue stone can tolerate all kinds of weather and temperature fluctuations which is great for a porch floor that sees lots of sun and snow or ice. Here on the East Coast we use it all the time. It’s a classic look associated with shingle style Hamptons homes.

Most blue stone porches are built from masonry like a brick porch which includes a footing, walls and either a dirt or concrete center slab. You can install blue stone on a sand base like pavers or cement it in place like any natural stone. My favorite method is cemented in with a cement grout line.

On of the best features about blue stone is that it typically has a regular shape with uniform, cut edges. This gives it a very polished look that’s like tile. Only it’s a completely natural product. I really love blue stone as a porch floor. If you can afford the high price tag and blue works with your color scheme I’d definitely consider it.

Front porch floor built out of blue stone pavers with cement grout.

Blue Stone Pavers

Just like brick and other natural stones, blue stone has some man made versions. Blue stone pavers are made to look like real blue stone but it costs a lot less. It’s not going to fool anyone with it’s looks. You won’t mistake real blue stone for it, but it’s a close look for a lot less money.

Because it’s a paver you can install it into a cement base with cement grout or sand. The good thing is that it’s cut into rectangular shapes which makes it easy to fit together and install. Some manufacturers even sell it in pre-cut shapes that fit together to form a pattern. This makes installations even easier because you don’t have to shape the stone yourself.

If you want a similar look to natural blue stone but don’t have the budget for it then consider pavers.

Covered front porch with a concrete floor.

Concrete Porch Flooring

Another great porch flooring option is concrete. This is a classic porch flooring option that’s been used for over a century.

Concrete is a very clean, contemporary look that offers tons of options. Most people leave concrete it’s natural color with a smooth troweled finish. But you can stain or stamp concrete if you want a different look. There are also additives you can spread on top of the concrete while it’s drying to give it a textured feel. This texturing isn’t needed with a troweled finish but we use it a lot on stamped because it can get a little slippery when wet.

Stained and stamped concrete can give you the look of natural stone, brick, or tile without spending as much money.

Concrete is a great option for open or covered porch areas that are out in the elements. As with stone flooring over concrete, make sure the porch is sloped away fro the house and all cracks or gaps are sealed.

Concrete porch flooring is one of the cheaper options however building a masonry front porch isn’t cheap.

Modern home with a textured concrete front porch and matching steps. Stamped concrete walls.

Modern Concrete Front Porch Flooring

If you want a modern style front porch floor then concrete is the way to go.

You can leave it totally bare, color it, shape or stamp it. There are so many options which is why concrete flooring is considered such a versatile material. Even the wall caps are made from cast concrete.

I recommend using bare uncolored or stamped concrete as your porch floor. It’s a very modern look, in style and cheap. The other things like building the porch walls, the footings and back fill cost a lot. But the actually concrete floor is cheap when compared to other porch flooring options like stone, composite decking and even some types of wood.

I also recommend adding just a little bit of texture to the concretes finish. There are additives you can spread over the concrete slab as it’s drying which help a lot when it rains. Since this is an outside porch that will be in the elements you don’t want things getting slippery when wet.

Another great option with concrete is how easy it is too heat. There are electric and hot water slab heating systems that work great for a concrete front porch. These aren’t available for wood or composite decking and don’t work as well with stone over concrete because of how thick the flooring is. Although with stone over compacted soil it works as well as with a concrete slab.

Classic front porch design with a red brick floor.

Red Brick Porch Flooring

Brick flooring is one of the most beautiful and classic porch flooring options. And one of my favorites. I grew up in a city where front porches and stoops are all made from bricks and I’ve always loved the look. They offer a warmth and charm that few other flooring options can match. And the look is very versatile. We use brick flooring on everything from a Colonial to an Ultra Modern home. Brick is considered a timeless choice no matter where it’s used.

These bricks are installed over a cement slab base. They’re laid one at a time in a bed of cement with cement grout. The bricks themselves aren’t that expensive but due to all the labor involved it’s not a cheap flooring option.

The foundation for brick work has to be very strong. You need a solid concrete footing, masonry walls and a concrete slab. Any movement in the foundation will result in cracked grout lines or bricks.

Because of how many brick styles and colors there are to choose from, you can use brick to achieve all sorts of different looks. The bricks used on the porch above are very red and tumbled with a thick white cement grout. It gives the porch a rustic look. Bricks come in a variety of colors which include tan, white, brown and red. And there’s a lot of variety even within a particular color. Some red bricks are very red like a firehouse and other have just a hint of color.

You can lay the bricks in all sorts of patterns to give your porch floor even more versatility. Herringbone is a popular choice.

Red brick porch flooring with a herringbone design.

Herringbone Brick Flooring

Here’s a great example of a beautiful red brick front porch laid in a herringbone pattern. These bricks are a mix of red and brown with a gray cement grout. The borders are called a soldier course and create a very nice edge detail for the porch.

Laying a brick porch floor in a herringbone pattern is more expensive than a traditional design because of all the angles and cuts around the edges. Each brick that touches the border needs to be cut at an angle. It’s labor intensive and takes time to get right. It’s also harder to keep all the joint lines the same when your following a pattern like this.

Porch with a red brick paver floor.

Red Brick Paver Porch Floor

Another version of brick porch flooring are brick pavers. These are a lot different from actual bricks. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and typically don’t get cemented in. They’re installed on a sand base with a sandy grout. Because of the lack of cement it’s a lot cheaper to use brick pavers than traditional brick.

Porches that use pavers can be built on a foundation built out of masonry or right on the ground. The example shown above has been installed right on grade. It has a base of crushed stone and sand but there’s no concrete footing or block walls. Because of this it’s a very cheap way of building a porch floor. The drawback is that it only works if your home is at ground level.

If you have an elevated porch then you need a concrete footing and foundation walls. In this case the center of the porch foundation is filled with compacted dirt, crushed stone and sand. The pavers are then laid right into the sane and grouted with more sand. You don’t need a cement slab or cement grout.

Just like with real brick you can lay brick pavers in all sorts of designs.

When brick pavers are laid with a sand grout they’re considered a permeable surface. It’s a fancy way of saying water can drain through them. This can help keep water out of the house since the surface has some built in drainage. Although you should still pitch the porch away from the house.

Brick pavers are an attractive option and are great if your on a budget.

Front porch built from red brick and painted white on a Modern style farmhouse.

Painted White Brick Porch Floor Ideas

One of my favorite porch flooring option is painted white brick. It’s built the same as a red brick porch with cement and a masonry foundation only painted white. It’s a very hot trend at the moment that gives a home a more modern look.

You can’t just use any white paint on brick. Masonry needs a special type of paint that can breath in order to let moisture out of the brick. We’ve written an article all about it that I’ll leave a link for HERE.

If you’ve got an existing red brick porch and want a cheap update then consider painting it white. Just be sure you like the look because once you paint the bricks there’s no way to go back. This isn’t something you can undo later.

When you paint the brick in this way you paint everything. This includes the cement lines. There are other versions of painted white brick called white washing or a German smear. With these methods the paint isn’t as opaque and doesn’t completely cover the bricks so you still see some of the original red. Whichever form of painted white brick flooring you choose it’s a very in style look at the moment and a fantastic choice.

Covered porch built with wood and finished with a composite decking floor.

Composite Decking

Composite decking is another popular porch flooring option. While composite materials are my least favorite flooring option they work really well and look nice.

Composite decking is very durable and resistant to water, mold, mildew and stains. If you’re looking for a very low maintenance flooring material that has the look of natural wood, composite decking is the flooring for you.

Composite products range quite a bit in price depending on the brand you buy and what it’s made of. Trex and Timbertech, which are probably the two most popular manufacturers of composite decking, are made from a mix of materials with a protective outer shell. They both offer a wide range of products in lots of colors. Some are cheap while the high end models are more expensive.

Other brands like Azek are made from solid PVC which makes them very resilient, although they’re even more fake looking.

The good thing about composite decking is that most companies offer great warranties and have plenty of color and style options. With natural materials you rarely get a warranty.

You can install composite decking with face screws or hidden deck fasteners. We’ve got an article all about them HERE. I highly recommend the hidden fasteners.

Composite porch decking is installed on a wood frame. This is generally a cheaper option than building a porch out of masonry. Overall, a composite porch/deck is one of the cheapest options.

Beautiful shingle style home with a real wood porch floor.

Wood

One of my favorite types of porch wood flooring is wood. It’s a wonderful flooring material that’s been around for centuries and is very affordable. You can use wood porch flooring on a multi million dollar ocean front home or a small cottage the end result is the same. A beautiful porch floor, that if maintained, will last for decades.

Wood porch flooring comes in a wide variety of sizes and types. Here are some of the most popular.

Pressure treated wood is the most common and affordable. It’s been treated for use in an outdoor space to make it resistant to weather, mold, and rot. You can stain treated wood flooring just like more expensive options. Pine is the most common type but there are others.
Exotic hardwoods are on the market like Ipe. Hardwoods don’t need treatments because the wood itself is naturally resistant to the elements. You can stain hardwoods.

Regardless of the type of wood you use, some basic maintenance is generally recommended. if you don’t stain your wood flooring you should at least seal it as recommended. This will help with it’s longevity.

Wood flooring can be face screwed or secured with hidden deck fasteners. I highly recommend the hidden variety. The look is much cleaner and the hold is very good. We’ve written an article all about them that you can read HERE.

Covered front porch with stained wood flooring.

Stained Wood Porch Flooring

This wood porch floor has been installed very tight to mimic the look of hardwood flooring inside the home. It’s been stained with a rich reddish brown stain and sealed. This is one of my favorite ways to finish a traditionally styled front porch.

This type of porch flooring is great when the porch is covered. It will still see some water when the wind blows but not nearly as much as an open porch.

Covered wrap around wood porch flooring painted solid gray.

Painted Wood Porch Flooring

Another great way to finish wood porch flooring is paint. This is typically used for wood that’s been installed very tight which looks like inside hardwood flooring. Make sure you get an exterior paint that’s meant for wood flooring. Even opaque stains will generally work.

make sure not to use an interior or wall paint on the floors. if you do it’ll flake and peel.

One of the great things about painted wood porch floors is how many color options you’ll have. You can pretty much mix any color you want. The floor will need re-painting periodically which means you can change the color and freshen the look of your porch. this isn’t an option with the other materials on our list. For this reason painted wood is the most versatile flooring option.

Gallery

Here’s a picture gallery filled with some of my favorite porch flooring ideas. Hopefully one or two will help you choose the perfect porch floor for your home.