Five Steps To Patio Building

By Joe Leopard, Joe’s Landscaping of Beavercreek, Inc.

STEP 1: What’s the purpose of your new patio?

 

Are you wanting to utilize your patio:

• For dining
• For grilling
• For around a pool/hot tub or fire pit

 

Figuring out the reason behind your desire for a new patio is the best way to start planning the layout and functionality of your new patio.

 

STEP 2: Where should your patio be located?

 

Maybe you want to use your patio for dining or grilling, if that’s the case you may want to locate your patio near your home for easy access to your kitchen. Are you needing to fill an underutilized area? This would be great if you’re wanting to create a seating area around or near your pool, hot tub or fire pit. Or lastly, maybe you’re wanting a little more of a retreat for yourself and your guests. In this case, you would want to locate your new patio away from your home. This gives you the ease of it being right in your back yard, but the privacy and serenity of it being secluded.

 

STEP 3: What size do you want your patio? 

 

Here are a few things to consider:

• What type and size of patio furniture do you have or desire? Do you have a pool or hot tub you’d like to center it around?
• Ideally, you want to add around 2-3 feet for walking space
• It is always better to go too large rather than too small as to make room for all of your wants and needs and more accessories
• Adding seat walls is a great way to reduce the amount of furniture needed and is aesthetically more pleasing to the eye
• Expand the patio to take advantage of shade protection
• Having a design of your new oasis is the best way to eliminate any unforeseen changes necessary before the first brick is laid
• Remember, your patio should look proportional to your home

 

STEP 4: How do you choose a shape for your new patio?

• Square patios and rounded corner patios fit well with formal and contemporary style gardens, are great for fire pits, grills, hot tubs and dining, however the square patio is the most common shape and most cost effective
• A circle patio typically features a focal point in the center, blends into the landscaping and is great as a retreat from home
• A half circle patio provides an elegant feel, looks nice as an entrance to the house and is a great addition to any existing square or rectangle patio
• A T-shaped patio provides a formal and symmetrical look and is great for landscapes with a view
• An L-shaped patio wraps around a house to provide shape for the patio and is great for reaching multiple entrances around the home
• A rectangle patio is cost effective and fits well with formal and contemporary style gardens

 

STEP 5: What’s the best color for your new patio?

 

Traditionally,

• Dark color homes go great with light colored patio block
• Bold color homes go great with monotone colored patio block
• Pastel color homes go great with darker colored patio block
• Grey color homes go great with brown/gold colored patio block
• Brown/gold color homes go great with gray colored patio block

 

Interested in creating your very own outdoor oasis? Call a BBB Accredited landscaping business, like Joe’s Landscaping for a complete design to build project, that your guests will be raving about for years to come.