If you're looking for a tile that's moisture resistant and looks amazing then I would definitely check out www.ceilume.com. I used their drop ceiling tiles in my basement and am thrilled to say the least. Moisture was a huge concern for me as well and I was assured by the Ceilume staff that these would be suitable for my basement, and they were right. I too checked out the tiles from Home Depot and Lowes but the were so ugly I had to look for something else before deciding on them. I found Ceilume online and got their free samples which can be found here: http://www.ceilume.com/ceilingtile_browsefreesamples.cfm When they say Free, they mean it unlike almost all other online tile companies. There was not even a charge for shipping and they gave me a coupon good for 5% off my order. Not much but it definitely helped. So far I am very pleased, the customer service was great, the product was inexpensive, and the tiles look like they are much more expensive then just the vinyl they are made out of. Good luck to you!

I was looking for a quick fix to some carpeting issues I had, and I discovered Trafficmaster. While researching Trafficmaster, I found the following discussion boards to be of help in determining the quality of the Trafficmaster "vinyl plank" flooring. So in case someone is trying to find more information about this type of flooring, I hope these sites will be of help: www.mobilehomerepair.com/forums/read_thread.php?id=4703 http://forums.houseandhome.com/showthread.php?t=18503&f=10&page=1&pp=15 http://pergo.blogtopper.com/trafficmaster-laminate-flooring/113#more-113 http://www.mobilehomerepair.com/media/img/user_images/1810.pdf

NO vinyl flooring is suitable for exterior use. The UV will destroy it in a short period of time. Traditional tongue and groove porch decking would be the flooring of choice for your application.

Beware of salesmen... you are doing the right thing by doing your own reaserch. I have almost the identical situation and same issues and concerns. I've been stymied for months trying to find a suitable flooring for our basement that has had occasional water incursions. SIGH... Anyhoo, recently I was looking at Flooring America's Quick-step laminate planks, which the salesman said was "The Answer" to my problem. He said the QA testing process included soaking the product in water for 2 weeks. However, looking at Quick-step website and warranty, I see the product is definitely not recommended for potentially damp sites and the lifetime warranty excludes damage due wetness from any source. But, I digress... I was really going to comment on the cement paint you mentioned. The bubbles in the paint over cement can happen when concrete isn't thoroughly dry when it is painted. If cement has excess moisture sealed in by paint, when it gets warm, moisture vapor tries to escape, forming bubbles. If the bubbles aren't popped, they will shrink back down when it gets cool again. FWIW, I've been told I can have moisture barriers painted on the exterior walls and cement floor to prevent moisture coming in. But then I'd have to remove the drywall; and who knows if you can trust these membranes anyway? Anyhoo, I will be following this thread to learn what others have to say.