Location. Many people assume a patio should butt up to the back of their home but a stand alone patio, perhaps in the middle of the lawn or tucked away amongst the flower beds has the distinct advantage of all day sun. If the back of your home is in shade during the afternoons you should consider a stand alone patio, especially if sun shine is your thing.

Size. At the moment your idea might be to create a small patio that you can retreat to from indoors. If there is a possibility though that you may put your home on the market sometime in the future you should build a patio as big as your space and budget allows. People live longer than ever before and with much more leisure time available, it is the garden we head for. The patio is now an outdoor living room with cooking appliances, comfy seating, perhaps a built in bar or even an outdoor fireplace. A large, well designed patio will give your home extra desirability when it goes on the market.

Style. Your patio wants to blend in with both your home and your garden. Blue tiles might look great with a white washed villa in the Mediterranean but will it at your home? Choose a color that blends in with the color of your home. If your garden is formal with straight edges then go for pavers. If your garden has a random landscape, consider natural stone or crazy paving.

Design. Even if you are having your patio built by a builder you should still be able to convey to him what you require with sketches or better still, a scaled drawing. If you are going to build a patio yourself, avoid curves. Try to make the final size match the size of your chosen paver so that as few cuts as possible are required.

Plan Ahead. An excellent idea is to buy all your patio furniture before the build starts but AFTER you have chosen a style. Set up your furniture where you envision it will go once the patio is built. By doing this you will be able to make sure you have designed a patio with enough room for your needs.

Finishing Touches. Gone are the days of fold up deck chairs. Patio furniture has come on leaps and bounds over the last few years due to demand. It is comfy, hard wearing and fashion conscious. Choose a color that suits your chosen paver. You could also consider an outdoor fireplace or chimney as a focal point. A water feature brings tranquility to the patio and they come in all shapes, designs and sizes. One other thing I would recommend is a patio heater for when the party is in full swing but the sun is setting fast.

Other patio building tips
Patio designs
Patio screens and shades
Pavers and other building materials

Patio and deck related businesses and products invited

719-432-9547

Find the finest patio and deck builders in your area