Backyard Reflections

You should always do your research before pursuing a significant investment like a patio. Doing a bit of research can help you maximize the returns on your investment (ROI) and help improve your outdoor living experience. 

To help you get started, here are some of the questions you should ask yourself: 

What’s the Primary Function of Your New Patio?

The first step in the planning phase is to determine the primary function of your new patio. Will it primarily be a recreational space? Or do you plan on using it as an extension for your dining room? It’s hard to overstate the importance of determining the primary function of your new patio, as this will inform all of your decisions later on in the planning process. 

Where Do You Want to Place Your New Patio?

Where do you want to put your new patio? If you’re going to use your patio frequently, it’d be a good idea to place the patio near your home. The primary function of your new patio will determine which part of your home the patio should be near to. For instance, if your patio will be used as an alfresco dining area, it should be situated near the kitchen. The close proximity between the patio and your kitchen will make it easier to carry dishes across. If, on the other hand, you plan on using your patio as a lounge area, it’d be more practical to situate it near the living room, where it can serve as an informal extension of your home’s lounging area. 

Important note: Keep in mind there are other factors you need to consider before finalizing the location of your new patio. For one thing, the location of your new patio can affect the flow of movement in your backyard’s landscape design. That’s why it’s best to consult a landscape designer before making a decision. 

How Big Should Your New Patio Be?

If you hold a lot of intimate get-togethers with family and friends, a small- or medium-sized patio should be enough. However, if you tend to hold a lot of large gatherings, you might want to choose a larger patio. 

Here’s a tip: If you’re not sure how big your patio needs to be, try setting up tables and chairs on your lawn. This should give you a good idea of how much space is needed to accommodate guests.  

What Materials Should Be Used in the Construction of Your New Patio?

Exterior contractors recommend choosing a material that complements your home’s architectural style as well as its landscape design. In addition to the aesthetic appeal of the patio materials, you also need to consider their durability as well as their suitability to your area’s climate.

Here’s an overview of the most widely-used patio materials: 

• Pea gravel – A pea-gravel patio complements Colonial and Colonial Revival, Victorian, and even international contemporary homes. Pea gravel stones are quite popular among English households, making them a great choice if you want to give your backyard an English feel. If you don’t have a lot of time for maintenance, a pea-gravel patio would be a smart choice. They have relatively low maintenance needs; all you need to do is rake back the gravel back into your patio and remove weeds that might sprout out every now and then.

What are the cons? Pea gravel stones shift over time, so keeping your patio furniture level can be a bit of a challenge. Snow removal can also be tricky, as you’ll need to make sure you aren’t shoveling gravel along with the snow. 

• Poured or stamped concrete – Concrete is the most cost-effective choice if you want a customizable hard-surface patio. Concrete patios can be dyed using a wide variety of colors and customized to mimic the look and feel of stone or brick.

What are the cons? Concrete needs to be routinely maintained. Otherwise, cracks can form on your concrete patio. Cracks can also start to form if your patio has poor drainage, a consequence of installation errors. That’s why only an experienced landscape design contractor should handle the construction of your new patio. 

• Concrete pavers – Unlike poured or stamped concrete patios, you can replace broken pavers on a concrete-paver patio.

What are the cons? Concrete pavers are on the pricey side, but compared to the aforementioned two, they’re more durable and provide better drainage. As such, they’re well worth the investment. Remember: When planning a patio, it’s important to stay within budget but you also need to focus on maximizing your ROIs. 

• Brick – When in doubt, it’s best to stick to classic patio materials like brick. Thanks to their porous surface, bricks provide good water drainage. Bricks can be a bit pricey, but if you want a less expensive and more eco-friendly option, you might want to consider using salvaged bricks.

What are the cons? Bricks are vulnerable to thermal shock from abrupt changes in temperature. Fortunately, individual bricks can be replaced, so you don’t need to remove the entire patio to fix the cracks. A brick patio also has relatively high maintenance needs. For instance, you’ll need to scrub your brick patio with bleach every now and then to remove moss growing on the surface. However, with routine cleaning and maintenance, brick patios can last more than 100 years. 

• Stone – Nothing comes close to stone patios when it comes to aesthetic appeal. Flagstone, slate, bluestone, and limestone are some of the popular varieties.

What are the cons? A stone patio is expensive, but if you’re looking to add a bit of sophisticated elegance to your backyard, it’s with the investment. 

To learn more about your options, you can consult a landscape contractor. 

What Are the Amenities on Your New Patio?

Your lifestyle and the primary function of your new patio will largely determine which amenities you should add to your new patio. You can also ask a landscape designer from an outdoor living company about the amenities that can help improve your patio’s functionality and maximize your ROIs. 

How Many Plants Do You Plan on Adding?

Don’t underestimate the impact plants could have on your new patio and your backyard’s landscape design. Adding a few ornamental plants can help draw attention to some of your new patio’s features. That’s why when planning a patio, you should never treat plants as an afterthought. 

What Do You Think Your New Patio Will Look Like?

It’s also important that you visualize your new patio. If you don’t have a clear vision of what your new patio is supposed to look like, you’ll likely end up disappointed with the result, no matter how your project turns out. 

Having trouble visualizing your new patio? No worries; you can ask help from a contractor who can show you pictures of their work and make a few recommendations about the design styles that complement your landscape. 

Find a Contractor

Keep in mind that home improvement projects are essentially a collaboration between you and your contractors. That’s why it’s important to hire a contractor that’s qualified for the job and you can easily get along with. Online reviews should give you a good idea of the level of customer service you can expect from a contractor while the number of years they’ve been in the industry can give you an idea of their level of expertise. 

Backyard Reflections, a company with over two decades of experience in the industry, offers a wide range of professional landscape design services. To request a consultation, call us at (320) 274-6336 or (218) 454-1065 or fill out this form.