What’s the Best Patio Material for Me?
Patios are a terrific expansion to invest in for your home. Patios can act as an extra room for your home and are very customizable. Also, they will increase your home’s value and can have a return on investment around 80%, making patios a great project to consider.
But what’s the best patio material to use? That can be a tricky question to answer, as each material has its benefits and drawbacks. Each material offers a different look and requires varying levels of maintenance. In the end, there is no “right choice” when it comes to patio materials, but understanding the benefits of each will help you make an informed decision.
Let’s explore some of the most popular patio materials to help you decide which is the best for your home.
Concrete Pavers
Concrete patios are a classic patio idea for your outdoor living space. As one of the most common materials used for patios around the country, concrete pavers are both durable and adaptable. Concrete can withstand various types of weather conditions, making it among the best patio materials for a cold climate.
The small gaps between each pavers allow for the concrete to expand and retract as the weather gets warmer and cooler – also known as “breathing.” This way it can maintain its structure without breaking.
Concrete is also a lot easier to maintain than many other patio materials. It requires very little maintenance, making it both environmentally and financially friendly. Pavers come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and textures to match or blend with the aesthetic of your home.
Brick Pavers
Follow the yellow brick road to the popular patio surface of brick pavers. Brick pavers come in several different colors and patterns to fit your home’s look. Additionally, the color of a brick pavers patio is long-lasting and won’t stain or fade.
Like with concrete, you can expect your brick pavers patio to last quite a while. It’s sturdy and durable, making maintenance easy. It also offers more of a retro look to your home than a concrete patio.
One note of caution for using brick pavers for your patio project is that brick is a very heavy material, making it difficult to move, re-color, or expand. If you know you’re going to have your new patio for a very long time, you should not have an issue installing brick. But if you are rapidly making expansions to your outdoor space, other materials may suit your needs better.
Flagstone
Flagstone patios offer a very unique look. As the stones used are natural, the shapes and sizes are varied and building the patio means fitting the various pieces together like a puzzle. Using irregular flagstone (also known as broken flagstone) results in a very artistic look that will ensure that your patio is completely unique from other flagstone patios.
Professional installers can seal the cracks between the stones of a stone patio to make it both cold weather and rain resistant, allowing it to last for a long time without any foundational shifts or breaks.
If you prefer a more structured look, cut stone patios can also be made. This allows you to keep the look and feel of stone material but with a more regulated pattern (like in the image at the top of this page).
Wood
Wood has long been a popular material for decks and patios around the country. However, many people are shying away from wood because of the maintenance required to keep them from rotting, chipping, and breaking. If you’re willing to put in the effort to stain your wood and keep up with the necessary maintenance, you’ll reap the benefits of a beautiful, natural look.
Unlike many other materials, wood decks remain cooler to the touch under the scorching sun. This means you and your guests won’t burn their feet when enjoying your space during the summertime.
Many people who are wary of the work required to keep wood patios maintained have shifted towards wood composite rather than natural wood. Wood composite – a mixture of wood and plastic – doesn’t rot or splinter as easily as natural wood while keeping the look of wood.
Gravel
Depending on how you’re utilizing your outdoor space, gravel could be an excellent material to use for your patio area. Gravel patios require a solid foundation and well-constructed outer barriers to maintain, but you’ll be rewarded with a material that provides a more natural look to your outdoor space.
Gravel naturally prevents weed growth and necessarily cannot crack or break. Most gravel patios are made using pea gravel, which is gentle on the skin and doesn’t put you at risk of injury if you were to walk around barefoot on it. You also don’t need to worry about slipping or flooding after rainfall since gravel more easily absorbs water.
Ultimately, the type of patio material you’re looking to select depends greatly on the aesthetic you’re hoping to achieve. Outdoor Spaces can help you determine the best material to suit your specific needs and ideas. Give us a call today to find out why people all over D.C. & Northern Virginia trust us for their hardscaping needs.