Hardscape: Patios

A patio (from the Spanish: patio meaning ‘back garden’ or ‘backyard) is an outdoor space generally used for dining or recreation that often adjoins a residence and is typically paved. It may refer to a roofless inner courtyard of a house or a paved area between a residence and the garden. Homeowners who want a low-maintenance landscape, an interesting alternative to lawns is the extended patio, which is simply an enlarged patio that takes up space where lawn grass would otherwise be planted.

Helpful tips regarding types of materials used for patios:

• Bricks are perceived to be the most economical and sophisticated to use.
• Patio pavers are also seen practical to utilize since they come up with a wide range of options – different colors, sizes, shapes and styles. They are very austere and inexpensive, too.
• Stylish and attractive stones are seen beautiful and so flexible for landscaping and the likes.
• Concrete patios are known to be the most durable, versatile and affordable among them because these cannot be destroyed or broken by some sudden changes in the climate and weather.

Having a patio has no bearing on the size of your home since because it doesn’t technically contribute to the total area of your home. But its advantage is, patios can create an expansive entertainment and recreational area for your home that you’ll enjoy for years to come. Outdoor patios especially make excellent places to entertain family and friends, or simply have a quiet place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the world. They can be enclosed with windows, screens, vines, or plants too, creating a general private outdoor room space addition on your home.