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Outdoor spaces like a beautiful patio with areas to lounge, cook, and play help increase your home’s overall square footage. When designing a new patio, it’s important to consider how the space will be used to create the right flow. For example, are you installing an outdoor kitchen? Will there be built-in seating around a fire pit or outdoor fireplace? Are retaining walls and a water feature on your list? Another key decision you need to make is what material to use for the patio.
For many homeowners, cost is the first consideration for a home improvement project and a patio is no different. Concrete patios are generally less expensive to install. However, poured concrete can crack and discolor, meaning you’ll have to spend money on maintenance and repairs. Brick Pavers are a bit more expensive to install, but they are easier to maintain, making them a popular choice for patios in St. Louis.
It’s important that the patio material you choose is able to withstand the elements which is why you need to make sure the surfaces are properly sealed for maximum protection. In addition, your patio material has to be able to handle the adult foot traffic, kids and pets, patio furniture, and all your outdoor living essentials. Not sure which material to use? Ask a patio expert for advice.
There are an endless number of patio designs and patterns that can be created using pavers. In fact, pavers come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes, and colors to perfectly blend into and enhance your home and garden. Poured concrete can be colored and stamped to mimic a number of paver shapes, smoothed out, or textured. It really comes down to which material appeals most to you.
While easy to clean, concrete slabs are prone to cracking and breaking over time, requiring repairs or replacement. Pavers are also easy to clean, but are less likely to break and crack since the spacing allows for natural expansion and contraction. Both pavers and concrete should be sealed annually to protect the surface and to maintain its new luster.
Your property’s specific characteristics are going to come into play with a new patio. Your patio design and build team will need to work with existing conditions such as elevation changes, drainage, trees, and plantings, etc. It’s best to follow their recommendation when it comes to patio materials to ensure you get the results you desire.
At Landsmith Landscape Architecture & Construction, we are obsessed with helping our clients design and build the most amazing outdoor living spaces. When you’re ready to add a new patio, or reimagine your current space, contact us. We’d love to talk to you about your outdoor living ideas and plans.
