3 Types for Boat Flooring

inside of a boat with white furniture and wood accents

Nowadays there are a lot of different materials that can be used as boat flooring, among which are aluminum, wood, and fiberglass. These are the most commonly used materials for boat flooring. All of these materials have various advantages and disadvantages. Ideally, before you opt for a particular material you need to inform yourself about their pros and cons of each so that in the end you can choose the one that is the most suitable to your needs. This article will discuss some of the pros and cons of these three different materials when used for boat flooring.

1. Aluminum

Pros: Aluminium is becoming more popular in the boating industry. This is due to the fact that aluminum is very easy to install and is cheap to maintain. Another advantage of using aluminum is that since it is a lighter material than wood, the boat will eventually end up being lighter in weight.

Cons: The main disadvantage of aluminum is the initial cost. Obviously the aluminum used for boat flooring isn’t the same normal aluminum used for windows or doors frames, otherwise, it would be very slippery.

2. Fiberglass

Pros: The main advantage of fiberglass is that it can be easily modeled to be used with any type of floor design. Another advantage is that fiberglass isn’t too expensive, but quite moderately priced.

Cons: Fiberglass can easily crack hence and requires a high level of maintenance. Maintenance doesn’t cost much but it takes a few hours each time to get it fixed, hence it can be costly in that regard. Fiberglass takes a lot of power to clean properly. It is important to clean it regularly to avoid having to spend a lot of time cleaning hard stains.

3. Wood

Pros: Without any doubt, wood is the most reliable because it is very durable if it is taken good care of and regularly maintained. Wood doesn’t need a lot of maintenance because it is very rugged. Also, there are various types of wood that can be used for boat flooring. The best choice would be oak, which is both strong and flexible. It is very durable and has the advantage of having water-resistant properties.

Cons: Good wood is expensive but can serve you a lifetime so you can consider it an investment. Wood tends to fade so you have to refinish it from time to time if you want to retain that original golden color.

These are the three most common materials used for boat flooring. As you can see, they all have their own pros and cons. Make sure to select the material that suits your needs. If you are unsure on what to choose, contact a professional to help you out to avoid making a bad choice.