Outdoor carpeting works great for most boats, around pools, garages, gazebos, or just about anything that could benefit from a carpeted surface that may be exposed to the elements. Prior to deciding on what type of carpet you choose for your outdoor area, do some research as to the durability and its ability to stand up to the elements. For example, some outdoor carpeting may fade if exposed to daily sunlight directly.

If looking at Olefin or Polypropylene for your outdoor carpeting, make sure it’s been chemically treated to resist damage by the sun. Olefin or Polypropylene fibered carpet will break down in the sun if not treated properly and need to be replaced. Also think about what is going to be used around the carpeting. For example, if you’re carpeting around a pool or drainage area, make sure the outdoor carpeting you choose can stand up to chlorine or water constantly running off of it.

Like with any purchase, outdoor carpet is no different. Having the right expectations is the only way to be fully satisfied. It pays to do your research. If you install carpet around or on your deck, which is partially under the roof line where it get’s shade on half the covered area. And the half that is exposed to the sun fades over time… well, it’s going to look terrible and you’re going to be unsatisfied obviously. So choose a carpet that is chemcially treated to stand up to sun exposure. With that said, there are few outdoor carpeting, if any, that will stand the test of time in the sun forever. So remember that even the most expensive outdoor products eventually show results of constant exposure to the elements.

One great choice for outdoor carpeting is Olefin, which you’ll find in many berber typed carpets. Olefin is stain resistant and stands up great to normal wear and tear. Olefin is also considered colorfast since the fiber has the color added during production. Additionally, it stands up very well to midew, mold, and moisture over time compared to other materials.

The best idea is to simply visit a local carpet retailer and take home some outdoor carpeting samples to take home and see what looks good. In some cases, carpet remnants may be available in the outdoor carpet you could use.

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Obviously we may want to use the outdoor carpet tiles around a pool or spa, but what about some other areas like inside a storage shed or garage. We recently installed some great olefin carpet we got as remnants to put in our outdoor storage shed next to our pool. This polypropylene type olefin carpet works great for storing our pool supplies and things we want to keep off the wet pavement. What we did was purchase some of those rubber mats like you see behind bars (as in restaurant and bar, not jail and then laid the carpet over that. The rubber matting keeps the carpet up directly out of any moisture and allows it to run out of the shed. It does get wet sometimes but dries quickly and the olefin for outside carpet works pretty well.

Any synthetic or polypropylene fiber will work outside but may fade if in direct sunlight so be mindful of the color you choose. Another pretty cool idea for using carpet outside (or sort of) is in the garage. A friend of mine actually has pink olefin carpet in his garage. Yes you heard me right, pink outside carpeting in his garage! Yes he’s married and it wasn’t his wife’s idea, I won’t get into why he choose pink, but it actually doesn’t look that bad.

You would think that using outdoor carpet in your garage would be a bad idea because it would get all stained and covered with oil. It does a little if you have a car leaking oil, but my friend’s car is pretty new and he keeps a large matt underneath the area where the condensation from the AC drips. Sure it gets stained from time to time, but his reasoning is, it’s easier to replace dirty carpet then have the concrete floor get permanently damaged. Although I didn’t think I would put indoor outdoor carpet in my garage, it might not be such a bad idea. I think I would probably go with the marine outdoor carpet tiles. They’re a lot more resistant to staining and can even be hosed down. Although you would want to make sure you had a sloped garage and nice draining. If not the marine tiles, some type of olefin tile that would be easier to replace tiles that got stained. There is something cool about being able to vacuum your garage.

I’ve also seen people use olefin an outside carpeting to cover balconies which ads a nice warm and homey feeling to that type of outdoor space. Of course we’ve all seen it in screened in patios and porches, but not so often on balconies.

What types of places can you think of using carpet outside?

Will the carpet be exposed to the elements? This would be one of the first things to consider since just because a carpet may be advertised for outdoor use, doesn’t mean it’s manufactured to stand up to the tough elements of rain, snow, and direct sunlight.

For example, marine outdoor carpet is manufactured with a rubber backing and olefin top layer which makes it highly resistant to staining and water. This type of carpeting is really made to keep the water in, as opposed to allowing it to leak out on to flooring. The carpet is named for where it is used the most; marine, boats, decks, etc. But it can also work great in other areas where moisture may be a problem such as basements or a garage. Available in different colors and patterns such as blue or green, which is most common, or even gold, brown or gray.

The synthetic material olefin that makes up most outdoor carpeting is also known as polypropylene. It’s extremely tough and durable and it’s resistance to dirt, fading, mold, and it’s fast drying properties. Coming in both pile or cut and loop, marine carpet comes in roles similar to most indoor carpet which makes it easy to lay in large areas without many seems. Many times marine carpet is cut to fit the area exactly and using carpet glue.

The turf and grass variety of outdoor carpets is meant to simulate grass (obviously). One thing about this type is that it comes, generally, in squares which have a stick backing that is peeled away and stuck to the surface. You see this type of covering used on a lot of practice putting greens or backyards. This turf is extremely resilient to the elements and can stand up to water and direct sunlight being resistant to fading. Although you may have seems with the tiles, one nice thing about the turf tiles is the ability to replace them if they become torn or worn in certain areas. It’s much easier to replace a small few square tiles than an entire area.

The most important part of outdoor carpet tiles is making sure their adhered properly to the sub-floor, cement, or underlying decking. For areas where the tiles may be exposed directly to rain or weather, the interlocking type of tiles a great because the actually allow drainage. If the decking is not washed or clear of all debris of dirt, the squares will not get a good seal and likely peel up over time. Here’s something else to think about, store the tiles in the room or area you’ll be installing them in for a few days prior to application. This allows the tiles to reach the same temperature as the surrounding area and will make for better application.

Most outdoor carpet tile brands come with an adhesive that is exposed by pealing off the back. Simply peel away the back and push the tile down into place. There are normally arrows or some type of indicator on the carpet tile to indicate which way the tiles should be applied. Make sure to follow the arrows to insure the pile is going in the same direction.

Always make sure that your outdoor carpet tiles have marine backing if they’re to be used in areas constantly exposed to moisture. Like around pools, decks, or hot tubs. Also, always think about the amount of traffic one area is going to get. One nice thing about using tiles to carpet outdoor areas, is the ease of replacing worn tiles as opposed to the entire area as mentioned earlier.

It’s also always a good idea to make sure you’re choosing outdoor carpet that is treated properly (such as in chemicals) for the expected use. Certain outdoor carpets will be treated with chemicals or are made from certain fibers that resist fading or damage from the elements.

There are several different types of indoor outdoor carpet. The most commonly sold and used are: Rib Loop, Cut Pile Velour, Cut Pile Grass Turf, Cut & Loop Texture, Sisal Look, and Loop Pile. Note that many of these types are same as normal indoor carpet (cut pile, loop, etc.) The carpets are made essentially the same way as indoor carpet; they’re just treated differently and made from different materials that stand up better to outdoor elements.

Rib Loop – Indoor Outdoor Carpet is pretty much what it sounds like (as are most the carpet types). It has rows of loops which make the carpet more resilient and resistant when it comes to matting from large amounts of traffic. You can spot loop carpet by looking at the top of the strands, if they’re bent over and appear to be one strand that is doubled over.

Indoor outdoor carpet known as cut pile velour, has no loops and is used mostly on cars, around pools, boats, and patios. However, with this carpet the strands are packed much tighter which gives a bit more formal look to it.

Grass turf (Cut Pile) is commonly seen around outdoors still. It was really popular in the 1960’s era and basically looks like plastic grass. Although most commonly green in color, you can find this in many other colors such as red and blue. One thing about this type of indoor outdoor carpet, is they can make it in multi-colors that does a great job of hiding stains. You’ll see this type of outdoor carpet mostly around pools, putting greens and decks. Some artificial turfs, laid over foam rubber are also cut pile type turf.

There’s also cut and pile loop turf that is basically a combination of both cut pile and loop.

Regardless of our indoor outdoor carpeting needs, there’s a carpet out there for it. Although there isn’t quite as many choices for carpets that will stand up to the weather, as opposed to indoor only carpet, you should be able to find something for your needs.

There are many uses for outdoor carpet. Many people use it around their pool, hot tub, or screened in porches or any outdoor area. Most people, when thinking of outdoor carpet, think of the simple fake green plastic or blue colored grass. This isn’t the case at all when it comes to your only options of carpeting your outdoor areas. There are some amazing carpets that are made just for outdoor areas and can add some real class and amazing aesthetics to any type of outdoor area.

Let’s look at the different types of outdoor carpet. First there is what is known as the Marine outdoor carpeting. This is the carpet most often thought of when mentioning outdoor carpet. The word marine to me just conjures up old memories of hanging around the marina as a kid and the ragged looking green carpet covering the docks. Well, that’s pretty much the same stuff. It does come in many different colors however. This carpet is mostly used where there will be a lot of moisture or even possibly standing water. As with most carpeting jobs, the type of carpet you’ll want to install depends on the problem or experience you’re trying to solve or provide. Grade, pile, and backing will all depend on the location and exposure the outdoor carpet will have to the elements. Marine carpet is designed specifically to keep the water in as opposed to run off. This is why you often seen it on boats. Even though you most typically see this type of carpet in green, it is available in other colors and patterns.

The next type of outside carpet to look at is olefin. Olefin, also known as polypropylene, is made from a synthetic resin. Olefin’s best qualities are its fade and mold resistant qualities along with its ability to resist dirt and stains. It’s also very fast drying which is why it’s often used as outdoor carpet. Olefin is available in pile, cut, or loop types and used for outdoor carpet solutions in marine, industrial outdoor, or residential projects.

Another type of outdoor carpet is grass carpet. Grass carpet is made of neutral or green fibers much like turf that resembles grass. This type is usually more resistant to fading and staining. This type is often seen in putting golf greens in people’s back yards, as flooring in sheds or other outdoor areas or patios. Marine carpet is most generally cut to fit and glued down to the service. the grass type comes in outdoor carpet tiles that you peel and stick to the surface. Proper preparation of the surfaces is always essential to insure the outdoor carpeting stays adhered and in place; especially since these can sometimes be high traffic area. Some of these grass type tiles do not have the marine backing so they’re best used in areas out of the direct elements. If using outside directly under the rain or in wet areas, make sure they have marine backing.

No matter what you’re indoor outdoor carpet needs are, visit your local carpet retailer or call and ask about outdoor carpeting options. Outdoor carpet can make any drab outdoor area seem more cozy and comfortable.