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An exterior floor, be it a wood deck, pavers, turf or a combination of all is the foundation for creating a desirable outdoor environment.

Challenging this is the variability in where you build. From uneven surfaces at grade (ground level) to slopes and height variations inherent in roofs and balconies, exterior flooring projects face unique hurtles which makes choosing the right materials and construction approach is integral to creating a finished floor that meets your expectations. This information is designed to provide you an overview on the relative benefits of our pedestal based flooring systems, how they work and when to use them. Additionally included is an overview on installing and common questions that arise.

Before we dive in....

Need a quick, easy and quality wood deck solution to cover a solid, flat surface? You might be interested in our interlocking deck tiles. Simply lay them down, snap them together and enjoy your space!

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Common Pedestal Flooring Questions

As the name suggests, pedestal flooring is an approach to building raised floors where many individual pedestals are used to position flooring at a desired height. individual pedestals can adjust to ensure the final surface is level.

As they say "nothing in nature is perfect" so goes most exterior construction. It is uncommon that one can lay flooring directly over an exterior area without extensive and expensive subfloor preparation including leveling, flattening, repairs, removal, pouring new foundations, etc. Raised floors, eliminate all of this by allowing you to build a perfectly level floor above any solid surface regardless of the state it is in.

Raised pedestal flooring projects on smaller residential areas can be installed with relative easy following directions provided for each type of desired floor. Larger residential or commercial projects, or those done atop complicated surfaces may require experienced installers.

No, installation costs for pedestal flooring are dramatically less then conventional approaches, which often more then makes up for differences in material costs. The high quality of our pedestal flooring materials and hence longevity is greater then alternative approaches and replacement/repair should damage occur is a fraction of what is required for conventionally installed decks or pavers.

Raised floors allow you to create a flat floor at precisely the right height, compensating for drainage slope and/or undesirable step downs from interior  to exterior environments. Benefits include:

  • Concealing and protecting above ground services such as electrical and piping.
  • Improving heat and sound insulation
  • Facilitating rapid surface drainage
  • Allows easy access to permanent sub floor
  • Offers solution to areas prone to flooding
  • Reduces installation cost and time
  • A permanent solution that is easily removable if needed

Yes, our pedestal floors are designed to be permanent, but by design can be easily manipulated and/or removed should there be a need to change out individual areas or access areas underneath.

"Perimeter containment" is how we refer to what should occur along the outer edges of your raised floor. Your project may include one or both of situations of "open" (Your floor ends to open space) or "contained" (your floor ends against an existing surface)

Contained Edges: For edges that but up against a vertical surface we recommend using a simple clip that creates a controlled joint between you perimeter and the wall, keeping the floor locked in place.

Open Edges: Less common, we offer brackets that are run along your perimeter and allow you to adhere material vertically that butts up to the underside of your floor to create a seamless edge along your perimeter.

Step 1: Do I have an appropriate area to put in a pedestal floor?

Pedestal flooring can be used to create a desired exterior floor on most solid outdoor areas.The easiest way to identify whether you can install a pedestal floor is to identify what hurtles might require additional consideration.
  1. Surface must be stable:Generally only a concern with ground level applications, the surface on which you are placing your pedestal flooring must be solid and unmoving. Example: grass or dirt can be surfaced with decomposed granite or another appropriate material to create a suitable sub floor.
  2. Subfloor must be waterproof/ drains.Pedestal flooring is design to allow water to quickly flow though the floors to the sub floor where it should then drain away. Any waterproofing or drainage issues should be resolved before flooring is installed
  3. Surface slopes no greater than 5 degrees. Slope correctors compensate for standard slopes in balconies and flat roofs, but dramatic sloped areas need to be resolved to within a 5 degree tolerance before installing floors.
  4. High-traffic or heavy-load areas: Additional structural support may be required for extreme commercial applications, generally not a concern for residential areas used for
  5. Unique environmental conditions: Check local building codes for regional regulations that may restrict your building methods.
  6. Height of final floor is between 0- 2': Pedestal flooring is generally used to build raised floors up to 2' above the sub-floor. We do not recommend using pedestals to raise a floor higher than this height.

We are experts in this area, should you have any concerns, just reach out and we can discuss your specific project and advise on appropriate steps.

Step 2: Choosing your surface

You likely already have a broad idea of the type of flooring you are looking for, generally we break out surfaces into three groups, wood, pavers and turf. Each surface can be installed using any of our raised flooring systems. Additionally different surfaces can be installed together (ex: wood deck surrounding turf). Below are desirable attributes of each of the popular floor surfaces we offer. Additional options are available through custom requests

Wood

Wood has a warm, natural beauty that adds character and visual appeal to outdoor spaces. It has a natural warmth and softness underfoot, making it comfortable to walk on, even in bare feet. Our hardwoods tiles are naturally resistant to rot, decay, and can withstand the elements and remain durable for many years.

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Porcelain

Offering exceptional durability, weather resistances, and aesthetic appeal in a virtually any desired appearance and size, Porcelain pavers are the most versatile option for creating a raised floor. Finished appearances can mimic, stone, wood, terrazzo, concrete and more. Porcelain require minimal maintenance and retains their original appearance in all types of exterior conditions.

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Turf

Turf can provide a natural and vibrant green surface, creating a visually appealing outdoor area. It is designed with a cushioned backing, providing a soft and comfortable surface underfoot. As a flexible surface turf requires FRP panels (a structural substrate) to be placed underneath. Using FRP panels allows one to create a

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Step 3: Pedestals and Risers

You know the flooring you want, now it is time to figure out what will be used as the foundation, or in simple terms what will be used to raise your finished surface above the existing surface. Your floors will require a riser/pedestal to be placed at the corner of ever tile including around the perimeter of your floor. To keep it simple we offer three options for raising your floors.

  • Risers: solid rubber shims used to lift your floor just above the existing floor. Our shims can be stacked to compensate for subtle variations in the subfloor height
  • Adjustable Pedestals: Designed to allow for raising floors significantly above your existing floor. These pedestals compensate for height variation and slope, allowing for a level floor to be created on sloping or surfaces with varying heights.
  • Hybrid Pedestals: Designed to allow for raising floors significantly above your existing floor. These pedestals compensate for slope and use (separately purchased) cut PVC for defining elevations, allowing for a level floor to be created on sloping or surfaces with varying heights.

Step 4: Quantities To Order

For simple spaces we offer a calculator that can provide you estimates of the primary parts: (tiles and raisers/pedestals) required for your raised flooring project. Additional materials that you may want to include in your project can then be estimated based on the quantities provided by the calculated estimate.

Flooring Calculator

Step 5: Installation

While similar, the installation of different flooring materials have subtle differences which are reflected in the material specific installation instructions provided. We recommend reviewing installation instructions prior to purchase in order to prepare accordingly.

Installation Instructions
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