When it comes to enjoying outdoor spaces, nothing beats a beautiful, spacious patio. Patios offer spaces to sit and relax with friends and family, a tranquil spot to read, a place to watch kids play, or just a space to enjoy the outdoors. If you’re considering installing a patio on your home, a little planning will help you be able to enjoy it the most.
As experienced patio installers in Maryland, Chesapeake Landscape Group is here to offer some tips on planning your new patio.
Size Considerations
To determine what size patio will best suit your needs, a good place to start is marking off the area with wooden stakes and string. Outline the area you’re considering using for you patio. If you’re like most, your patio will have furniture for seating and/or dining, a space for grilling, and perhaps additional space for a fire pit, water feature, or potted plants.
Once you have marked off the area, place the objects you’ll be putting on your patio within that area. If you do not yet have them, try using similar sized objects or making additional markings to show where those objects will be placed. If the space feels adequate, you should be good to go. If it feels tight, widen your outline until the space feels right. The worst thing you can do when building a patio is to build it too small and have it be crowded. Price and size go hand in hand, but we’ve never met a homeowner who has regretted spending a few extra dollars to have a spacious patio!
How Will You Use Your Patio?
When determining what material your patio will be made from, consider how it will be used. For example, do you have small children who will be playing on it? Is it adjacent to a pool? Is it in a spot that is shady and prone to mold? Will you be placing bird feeders and houses near your patio? Do you despise weeding? There are pros and cons to each different type of patio material. Depending on your needs, considering these will help you get your perfect patio. Below we have included different types patio material and their characteristics.
Paver Patio Characteristics
Patio pavers come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and colors, making the design possibilities endless. Pavers are generally dry set, meaning instead of being set into wet concrete and having mortar between them, they are set into a sandy surface. Benefits of a dry set installation include ease of installation, flexibility in design, flexibility to change later, and cost. Pavers are at the lower end of the price range, as compared to natural stone and travertine tile. Depending on the color of the pavers, they are generally cooler to the touch than natural stone, making it a nice option for pool decking.
Natural Stone Patio Characteristics
Natural stone is an ideal option for those wanting a patio that blends with nature. Natural stone comes in a variety of sizes, and no two stone patios are alike. Most natural stone patios are wet set and have mortar between the stones, which keeps weeds away. Natural stone is not generally porous, and therefore can be slippery when wet. It can also retain heat from the sun, which may not be the best option for areas where bare feet will travel! Natural stone is higher in price than pavers, but offers a high end look.
Travertine Tile Patio Characteristics
If a high end look is what you’re after, a travertine tile patio should be on your list of considerations. Travertine comes with a higher price tag, but the look is second to none. In fact, you will often see travertine tile in surrounding pool decks and on walkways in resorts. Lighter colored travertine absorbs less sunlight, and is a nice choice for pool decks. Travertine can be wet or dry set, depending on the size of the tile and your particular needs.
Trust the Experts
Installing a patio of any type requires technical and material knowledge, and experienced installation. If you’re considering having a new patio installed, contact the experts at Chesapeake Landscape Group today.
Call us at 888-984-6484 or visit our Contact page to submit an online inquiry.
