Outdoor patios provide clean, dry and attractive places for extended living areas. Unlike decks, which are suspended off the ground, most patios in North America are made from stone, a stone substitute or concrete. These are either placed over a concrete base or embedded in compacted gravel. Patios can take up the whole backyard and include walls and shrubs, or they can be as small as a four-foot square.
Lawn is Shrinking
For almost a hundred years a grassed-in backyard was the preferred leisure spot for almost every suburban property. Even households with extensive decks used a lush lawn as an embellishment and employed fertilizers and pesticides to keep it looking green. The lawn was also very thirsty and required regular watering.
In many parts of the country water has become a rare privilege when it comes to keeping a lawn healthy and many counties outlaw lawn watering during the summer. In addition, new laws prohibit the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, so maintaining lawns even without watering restrictions is even tougher. However, inventive design and materials for the construction of patios can utilize much of the space once occupied by grass without the costly upkeep and maintenance.
Planning Outdoor Patios
Before building the patio there is some planning to do:
1. Purpose
One of the first things to consider is: "What is the preferred use the patio?" In other words the primary function of the patio should be determined because then the area and surface material can be planned to incorporate amenities such as outdoor kitchens, vegetation or fish ponds. In larger settings the patio is built around a pool area.
2. Placement
A patio should provide an area that is:
*Comfortable
*Eye-catching
*Wholly functional.
As well, the patio should fit in with the entire landscaping aesthetics:
Position of the Patio: Most patios are located in the backyard to get away from the traffic noise and to provide privacy. Another reason for the location is to provide the easiest access from the home to the patio. This is especially important if there is an outdoor kitchen because the proximity of the grill to the eating area should not be too far. Water drainage and septic tanks will also affect where you can situate the patio.
Position of the Sun: To build a patio in an area where the summers are hot a homeowner should try to take advantage of shade trees and shrubs. Having a patio where the sun's rays hammer at the space for hours on end is not a smart idea because the sweltering heat will chase the sunbathers into the home after a short period of time. In cooler areas of the country access to the sun may be desirable but in July and August the sun can be overwhelming. The best location could be away from the house the sun is blocked by the trees and shrubs.
Uneven Ground: if the home is built on a hillside a multi-level patio could be the best idea. There could be different platforms: eating area; fire pit or grilling kitchen; and hot tub area. Some patios even provide great areas for fitness equipment.
Materials
The most popular materials for building a patio are natural stone, concrete pavers and stamped concrete. These products are chosen for how well they fit in with the appearance of the home or landscape as well as the cost, ease-of-maintenance and wear.
1. Natural Stone: Flat paving stones can be made from rocks such as flagstones. Each stone has a unique appearance, however the non-uniform sizes and shapes make natural stone pavers more difficult to install. The depth of the crushed-rock base must be altered to accommodate the various shapes of the stone even if the surfaces are flat. Also, trying to fit the irregular shapes together is like putting a puzzle together so installation can be a tedious process. Besides its beauty the best thing about natural stone is that it is very durable and history shows that these patios last for centuries. In addition, both natural and concrete pavers can be easily replaced if broken or cracked.
2. Concrete Pavers: Made from pressure-treated concrete these pavers are very durable. In addition they are available in a wide variety of finishes, colors and shapes. The cost is very reasonable and they are manufactured so that a novice can put them together in a wide variety of patterns.
3. Stamped Concrete: A surface that simulates pavers is a poured concrete product that has been dyed and “stamped,†a process where a mold is pressed into the soft concrete surface. The cost is comparable to installing concrete pavers but the surface can be tinted and textured to fit the property. However, in colder areas where there is a freeze-thaw cycle, cracks can be a problem.
A Good Base is the Answer
The best way to have a long-lasting patio is to provide a good base of least three layers of compacted Class 5 aggregate, each formed with two-inch layers and then topped with one-inch of sand. This will prevent sagging and the erosion of the base from underneath.
For more information on patios consult our Contractor Directory for a landscaping contractor or post your project online.
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