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What are the Different Types of Outdoor Carpet?
Outdoor carpet is sold in different types. The pile, backing and grade of carpet required for an outside space depends on what the outdoor carpeting is going to be used for and what type of problem it’s needed to solve. For example, in areas where moisture could be a problem, marine outdoor carpet is often installed.
Marine outdoor carpet is usually made with an olefin top layer and a rubber backing. The backing on marine carpets is designed to keep water in rather that allowing it to leak out onto flooring. Marine carpet is named for its primary use on boats and boat trailers, but indoor-outdoor marine carpeting can also be installed indoors such as in basements where moisture is a problem. Marine carpet is also practical in garages, on patios and around swimming pools. It's available in subtle patterns or in plain colors such as darker shades of blue, green and red as well as gold, grays and browns.
Olefin is a synthetic resin material that is also called polypropylene. Olefin is known for its toughness and properties such as being stain, dirt, fade and mold-resistant as well as fast-drying. Popular for use in residential, marine and industrial outdoor carpet applications, olefin carpeting may be of a cut and loop or a pile type. Cut and loop carpet features the carpeting fibers placed as loops that are sealed with a coating on the backing to hold the shapes of the loops. Pile carpet is created the same way as the cut and loop method, but the top is shaved off so that only straight, non-looped fibers remain.
Grass carpet has green or neutral tuft-like fibers made to look like a grassy lawn. This type of outdoor carpet is usually fade-resistant as well as stain-resistant and is available in different grades. Lower-grade grass outdoor carpeting is usually suitable for covered outdoor places, while higher-quality grass carpets are made to stand up to uncovered outside areas. Grass outdoor carpet is popular for use on home backyard golf courses as well as on patios and in sheds.
Unlike marine outdoor carpeting that is usually cut to fit and then glued down with marine carpet glue, grass outdoor carpet is available in tiles with a peel and stick backing. However, these tiles may not have marine backing, so they aren't recommended for damp or exposed outside areas. High-quality types of grass outdoor carpeting with marine backing are recommended if the carpet is needed for uncovered areas outdoors or damp areas indoors.
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![Marine outdoor carpet can be a good choice in areas where there is a great deal of water and moisture.]()
By: Iriana ShiyanMarine outdoor carpet can be a good choice in areas where there is a great deal of water and moisture. -
![Indoor/outdoor carpet may be featured in a sun room.]()
By: Wollwerth ImageryIndoor/outdoor carpet may be featured in a sun room.
Discussion Comments
I was looking for some outdoor carpet for a project I was working on, and was surprised to find the variety of choices and colors that were available.
I was making a game for the kids that would sit outside most of the time, so I needed something that could get wet and take a lot of abuse.
Using outdoor carpet was a perfect solution and it survived years of wear and tear. When the kids were grown and I got rid of the game, the outdoor carpet looked almost as good as the day I bought it.
When I bought it I went with a dark blue color that complemented the color of paint I was using. I usually associated outdoor carpet with the classic green color, but was pleasantly surprised to see other color choices.
When my dog had puppies we laid a piece of green grass outdoor carpet inside the dog bed. This worked great to help absorb the moisture from the puppies and really helped control the odor.
I had two pieces that were cut to fit the size of the dog bed, and two big pieces that I laid around the bed. Everyday I would take these pieces of carpet, hose them off and hang them up to dry. I would replace them with the clean pieces I had from the day before.
This worked out perfectly and was so much easier than blankets or straw that I had used in the past.
Outdoor carpet isn't very soft, but it sure serves its purpose when needed. I always keep a big square of outdoor carpet just outside our camper door.
Even though we have an awning for some protection from the sun and rain, a large piece of outdoor carpet works perfectly as a rug. You don't have to worry about it getting wet and it is very easy to clean up when it gets dirty.
The outdoor carpet keeps most of the dirt and moisture outside and doesn't get tracked in the camper. I think it also adds a nice touch to your camping spot and makes it look homey and inviting.
@runner101 - What a great idea - I had thought of carpet tile or carpet squares for our high traffic areas indoors, but I had not thought about outdoor carpet squares which is silly because I had even noted that the tiles I had seen online said "indoor/outdoor carpet tiles."
So I do not know if they are marine carpet style, but I think I might check them out and try out a tile or two and see how they hold up outdoors (or in your case you could try a tile or two and see how they hold up in your parent's basement)!
My parents had particular difficult with moisture in their basement for this reason my brother and I suggested that they try carpet tiles instead of laying out a whole carpet in which the edges of the carpet typically received the moisture and would wear out before the rest of the carpet.
Our hope was that with the carpet tiles, they could replace just the area that they might need to replace and pulling up the tiles and replacing them is supposed to be easy!
But now I am wondering if I could find some moisture resistant outdoor marine carpet that would come in squares! That might be perfect for their basement.
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