• Make your porch more inviting by adding a new floor.valley view porch image by John Keith from Fotolia.com
  
  When you are deciding on flooring for your outside porch, you obviously want something that will last for years. There are several things to think about before making your decision. Probably the most important of those is how much time the porch spends in the sun.
  
  

Tongue and Groove Wood

• Wood is one of the most common choices for a porch floor. Tongue and groove decking is beautiful and classic for outside porches. Hard wood decking lasts a long time when properly treated. You can apply paint, stain or special oil to tongue and groove decking to lengthen the life of your porch. Plan on the finish lasting for a few years depending on the type and the brand you use, the weather where you live and the location of the porch. Flooring will last much longer on covered porches; that on uncovered porches in direct sunlight will need new finish applied sooner.
  
  

Composite Decking

• You can use composite decking instead of wood. Composite decking is a combination of wood pulp and plastic, which makes it very durable for porches that receive a lot of use. This is especially good for uncovered porches or those that get a lot of direct sun or a lot of traffic. Composite decking is a low-maintenance choice. It will last a long time, though it will need cleaning every couple of years.
  
  

Slate

• Slate is much more durable and elegant-looking than wood or composite decking and is very low-maintenance. Use an all-purpose cleaner to mop it clean and make it look almost like new. You can choose from perfectly square slate tiles or irregularly shaped tiles. Slate comes in different colors, such as red, green, purple or gray, so you can choose the perfect color to complement the décor of your home. Seal your slate flooring after you install it to give it some extra protection from stains.
  
  

Concrete

• Use concrete for a long-asting porch floor. Pour a concrete slab to create your porch floor. After the concrete dries completely you can paint it whatever color you desire or cover it with an outdoor carpet. But even outdoor carpeting should be used only on a covered porch.