3 Things to Think About When Building the Perfect Patio
The outdoor patio is one of our most favorite things about spring and summer. What's better than enjoying friends and family comfortably and casually out back on the patio and in the pool? That's what this time of year is all about. If your backyard patio isn't perfect yet, or you're just ready to have it re-designed or building a new one, here are 3 important areas of consideration when designing and building an outdoor patio. 1. Location Where is the patio in relation to the house? Do you have a natural view, view of your pool and backyard area or something entirely different? The perfect patio design should take access points into consideration. Where will people enter and exit the patio? Do those locations compliment potential uses such as grilling, dining and enjoying the sun? A patio is an extension of the home, so plan accordingly. Determining the patio uses you have in mind and how they work with the house and with its inhabitants will better prepare you for the next step and the perfect patio. 2. Size How much space do you have to work with and what size patio makes the most sense for your needs? Remember, you'll likely be entertaining family and friends on your patio so ensure that the size is enough to handle everyone. As a good rule of thumb, the size of your patio should be based on the maximum number of people you expect to be using it at anytime. Another important size consideration is how much grass or other backyard features do you want to have? Parents with young children may want larger areas of grass than baby boomers on the cusp of retirement. Some homeowners have a tendency to initially want one large patio, but as it turns out, if the space is available, most homeowners are better served with a few smaller patios - a cooking and dining patio, a sun deck patio and a "living room" patio. 3. Materials The look-and-feel of your outdoor patio is largely based on the materials that are used. There are quite literally and endless array of finishes, materials, colors, etc. Obviously, you need to choose carefully, but which factors go into such a decision? Start with the end in mind. What do you want your patio to look like? What kind of "feel" should it have? Are you envisioning a dark motif or something more casual and light? Knowing what you like (surfaces, colors, lines, etc) and the type of look-and-feel you're hoping for will make those decisions about materials much easier. Still can't envision the perfect patio for you and your family? Give us a call, we're always happy to help. Of course, we do have some experience in building the perfect patio! |