What flooring options are there for my greenhouse?

There are many factors to consider when choosing your greenhouse flooring beyond appearance

The sky is really the limit when it comes to flooring options for your greenhouse. You can select flooring based on your personal needs and wants, but there are a few things to consider in your decision-making process.

Drainage

Drainage is a crucial consideration in a wet environment like a greenhouse. If you are leaning towards having a solid flooring material, like concrete, keep in mind that you’ll need to install drains to help with drying the greenhouse floor and keep your plants healthy and free from mold.

Decomposition

Organic materials such as bark mulch, sawdust, and wood do not thrive in a greenhouse environment. These materials tend to decompose and become a breeding ground for algae and pests. The original cost savings will become prohibitive in the long term when you need to remove and replace the rotting floor.

Price

The cost of flooring materials is one of the factors to consider when selecting flooring options. Additionally, the maintenance that comes with that flooring, like regularly pressure washing your concrete flooring.

Heat Retention

When living in colder areas, this is definitely something to take into consideration. A concrete slab, brick and flagstone will help to slowly release the day’s heat during the cooler nighttime hours. This can help decrease your heating costs during colder weather.

Comfort

Standing for many hours while caring for your plants can be hard on your body. If you choose a harder flooring type, such as concrete, you can add rubber mats where you stand most often. This will help to alleviate back pain and are easy to clean.

Traction

Your greenhouse will oftentimes be wet or covered in spilled soil. This can lead to slips and falls if the proper precautions are not in place.

Weeds

Remember your greenhouse will create an environment that plants will love - and this includes ones you didn't intend to grow!