Beautiful living
Functional or decorative? How to find the right balcony carpet
The so-called lawn carpet is an outdoor classic and can be found on many balconies. The star reveals what you should consider when buying and what characterizes a good balcony carpet.
© stern.de / Jan Sawert
A balcony is much more than a refrigerator, smoking area or storage room. The popular extension is part of the apartment. The most important accessory: a balcony carpet. Here you can find out what is important when buying and how to care for the outdoor carpeting.
Formally, balconies only account for a maximum of 50 percent of the living space. Probably also because they cannot really be used in the colder months of the year. Unless the extension is glazed in the style of a loggia or conservatory. But regardless of whether it is open or closed: balconies enhance the value of every apartment. That is why tenants often put a lot of time and love into the extension. Cozy seating areas are set up here for balmy summer evenings, and shelves are installed there to create more storage space. A socket for a cozy light or small electrical devices should not be missing. Balconies look even more homely if the floor is covered with a balcony carpet. It also protects the surface underneath. The outdoor carpet is exposed to the weather day and night. It must therefore be significantly more robust than its fluffy colleagues in the living room. In the following article you will find out what else is important with balcony carpets and how to properly care for the outdoor carpeting.
Balcony carpets: what to consider before buying
If you want to beautify the tiled or stone floor of your (open) balcony with a balcony carpet, you should first arm yourself with a measuring tape or folding rule. If the dimensions are noted, the search for the right carpeting is much more relaxed. In addition, you should be clear about whether the entire balcony (e.g. with a grass carpet) or only a part is to be laid out with a balcony carpet. Full-surface carpets are ideal for stone or tiled floors. Anyone who has already laid wooden floorboards on the balcony can also beautify them with a decorative (and somewhat smaller) balcony carpet.
Important: Stones, tiles, but also wooden floorboards absorb both the heat in summer and the cold in winter very well. Balcony carpets regulate these extreme floor temperatures.
Outdoor carpets are exposed to the weather 365 days a year. That is why they differ in very important properties from carpets for children’s or living rooms. Before a balcony carpet ends up in the shopping cart, you should check it for the following points:
- UV resistance: UV radiation often makes “normal” carpets difficult to deal with. Not only do they fade and fade, in the worst case they also start to crumble at some point. Therefore, make sure that the balcony carpet of your choice bears the “UV-resistant” label
- water permeability: So-called drainage nubs are now standard on good balcony carpets. They ensure that penetrating rainwater drains away more quickly. If this does not happen, there is a risk of waterlogging. This often leads to mold growth, so that the carpet has to be replaced.
- Material: Balcony carpets should be as robust and weatherproof as possible. Sensitive natural fibers such as new wool or leather are therefore ruled out for outdoor use. If you want to enjoy your balcony carpet for a long time, you should use products made of very durable synthetic fibers such as polyacrylic or polypropylene. Clear disadvantage: The production of these synthetic fibers consumes a lot of energy.
- Skin tolerance: If you want to spend a lot of time barefoot on the balcony, you should make sure that as few or no harmful chemicals as possible are used in the production of the balcony carpet. This aspect is also important for children.
How do you maintain or wash a balcony carpet?
One is sufficient for most outdoor carpets Vacuum cleanerto get the coarse dirt out of the fibers. This is the cleanest solution, especially for full-surface coverings.
Stubborn stains are best tackled with soapy water and a coarse brush. Smaller carpets can be shaken out over the balcony parapet. Here, too, simple soapy water helps with coarser soiling. Depending on the manufacturer, some balcony carpets can also be put in the washing machine.
Important: The dryer is also taboo for balcony carpets made of synthetic fibers.
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