A patio is a paved outdoor area adjoining a house. More generally, patios are small roads within the compound of your home, usually between porches, gardens, and even for driveways. They could range from being narrow (serving solely as paths), to being very broad (a possible location for recreation and relaxation). Without further ado, let us dive into the guidelines for choosing the best patio pavings for your home.
1. Brick or Granite?
First things first, it is germane that you determine what material you would like to use for your patio. A lot of factors ranging from personal preference to safety measures, go into choosing patio. Overall, if you’re not picking PTFE (the most slippery material in the world), there is no particularly wrong or right choice. And who says you have to make a particular choice? It is a typical style to merge a variety of materials in different locations in your garden or along your driveway. These include granite, clay brick, oak, knapped flint, to name a few.
River-worn gravel and clay bricks fit more traditional designs, while sawn limestone and quartzite (though more expensive) are for more modern designs. As we stated earlier, however, the blend of both conventional and contemporary can be used to have a truly unique appearance.
Let’s briefly examine some common materials:
Brick: It is incredibly versatile, with the capability of looking rusty or formal, depending on your choice. Bricks have this DIY feel, but it is advisable to allow professionals to handle them.
Natural stones: If it’s a garden slab, what better material can you ask for? Sandstone, granite, marble; the list is endless. They are arguably the most beautiful materials there are, and expectedly, the most expensive to purchase and install. Also, you should avoid these around pool areas as they tend to get slippery. They also serve as beautiful garden stepping stones.
Concrete: Concrete is bland. They are very affordable but lack the aesthetics that patios are known for. They also crack under frigid weather.
Porcelain pavers: These are literally the newest kids on the block. They combine the effects of all the more natural materials, excluding their downsides. They are durable, easy to maintain, relatively cheap, and incredibly versatile (they can take on the looks of whatever natural stones you desire). With porcelain pavers, limitations only exist in your head.
2. How durable?
Yes, colours and physical appearances are excellent, but they are not good enough. How well would the pavements fare in a projection of say, ten years, under the harshest of weather conditions? How much maintenance would be required to keep them as good as new? Colour change due to climate should also be put into consideration. During rainy seasons, waterlogging of the soil beneath is usually very common. Only materials of high quality like brick, for instance, can withstand this. High-quality materials are generally costly, but they are worth it in the long run.
3. Black or White?
What colour is your pavement going to be? Folks tend to consider more dirty or earthly tones, since the pavements are for gardens that have plants and flowers, after all. It only makes sense. These colours include earthy brown, dark grey, and deep brick red, amongst others. An upside to these colours is that they do not stain easily. Neither do their colours change when exposed to the elements. You don’t want to go multi-coloured here, we assure you. Nothing in the whole universe looks odder.
4. Repeatable random patterns or stretcher bonds?
Upon deciding on what colour and material to use for your patio, what style do you wish to adopt? The stretcher bonds are the most straightforward styles for patio. It is essential to avoid cross joints when using random course paving designs to prevent the notice of specific patterns. Other patterns include herringbone, basketweave, and circular.
5. CCs – Consider Continuums
For those that have homes with gardens directly outside their homes, having outdoor patio pavings that match with those that are indoor is ingenious. There is an illusionary effect of increased space that same indoor, and outdoor pavements give. The materials to be used must have the same response to the differing climates. Then, an unpleasant transitional colour change will not happen.
6. Eco-friendliness
As much as you want to have a beautiful home, and live in comfort, careful considerations must be made for your neighbours, and the environment at large. Since most patio slabs are concrete and water impermeable, there are always drainage issues. For estates that have most houses with patio slabs, water logging is rampant. Hence, in 2008, the government pegged pavement construction at 5 Square meters. Peradventure you plan to exceed this restriction, you will require planning permission. Due to the technicalities that accompany permission grants, most people opt for permeable pavements like granite, and ground concrete.
7. Cost of patio slabs
Like almost all other construction works, there is no fixed price for pavings and garden slabs. Prices depend on the quality of materials used, adopted style, location, and the level of expertise hired. More generally, however, contractors charge per square metre. Most engineers charge between £75.00 and £100.00. Again, even this range is not set in stone.
8. Maintenance
News flash: Garden slabs and patio pavements don’t clean themselves! While they require little maintenance, they still do need support. This is important, especially in spring periods, where they accumulate dirt and weeds the most. Most times, a good patio cleaner, a stiff brush and pressure washer is all you need. If they’ve collected too many outgrowths and have turned green, you might need to ‘attack’ stronger with chemicals like vinegar. This, however, could adversely affect garden life.
Conclusion
Do you think you have a beautiful house without patios? Have patio pavements installed the right way, and quickly realize for yourself how relative beauty can be. Read over the highlighted guidelines again, and let us help you in making the best patio decision your home deserves.
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