We have talked a lot about raised flooring for internal use – such as in data centres, offices, retail spaces, etc. It is probably the most widespread use of a raised floor. However, external raised floors are gaining in popularity and for an increasingly widening array of uses. We explore the external use of raised flooring more this month and take a look at the key things to keep in mind when considering where, how, and when to install it.
There are two main reasons for considering outdoor raised flooring:
- Challenging terrain
- A need to extend your working area
Challenging terrain
You don’t need to run a riverside café, a shop by the beach, or restaurant on a hillside to work with challenging terrain and uneven floor levels. Across the country our environment varies, and with it our ground levels do as well. Instead of paying huge sums of money to level out an external area – not to mention the potential damage it can have on the surrounding environment and its flora and fauna – a raised external area could solve those problems at a fraction of the cost.
Make the most of your external space, no matter how unusable it may seem at first, with a raised deck or veranda. There are plenty of flooring finishes that you can choose from to retain the character of your business and safety features for those areas where you are at a greater height due to a sloping ground.
Extending your working area
It may be that the terrain is not the issue, but that you need to grow your space and out is the only way you can go. You can create additional space by extending outwards, building a veranda or patio that will give you more room to run your business. Build it wisely and it need not only be in use during the summer months, but all year round.
Materials and safety
In either case, a raised external floor can be installed above drainage features – natural or manmade – without interfering with them. Particularly important for those areas that suffer from poor drainage, it means that there is no danger of flooding. For ground that is soft and prone to waterlogging, a raised area will not interfere with drainage or create compaction of the ground below.
Finishes can vary, fitting in well with the design and aesthetics of your business. Think ceramics, wood, or stone flooring. The structures and finishes are designed to withstand the elements and will be weatherproof, waterproof, and well insulated. External raised flooring can be designed to bear significant weight and wide margins are built-in so there are no safety concerns.
If you are considering extending your outdoor areas but are not sure how a raised floor may help, just talk to our resident specialists at Fieldmans Access Floors. With a wealth of expertise and experience that spans the range of uses and locations, we are well placed to help. Call us on 020 8462 7100 for an informal chat or book an appointment with us for a more detailed discussion.
