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Choosing The Right Material for Your Perfect Patio
When it comes to selecting the right patio surface for your outdoor space, there are a variety of options to choose from.
Be sure to consider your budget, desired upkeep, patio usage, and the style of your home when selecting your materials. Use this simple guide to help you find your ideal fit.
- Gravel is low maintenance, affordable, easy to install, and drains well. It's a casual material that can form to any patio structure. However, it's poorly suited for outdoor furnishings, and can also be high maintenance as the stones are difficult to keep in place.
- Concrete is one of the most affordable, durable, customizable, and easiest to install materials. However, you can expect additional upkeep and a shorter lifespan as the surface will crack in colder climates and the color will fade in high traffic areas.
- Pavers can be made of concrete, or clay, and come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. There are many styles to select from depending on the architectural features of your home. The modular pieces when laid on a concrete paver base can make installation easier and more affordable. The use of Polymeric Sand in the joints helps with locking the pavers together as well as keeping the weeds from growing in the gaps, minimizing maintenance. Adding a decorative border of another color and shape will add more design appeal to your patio. Many suppliers have created pavers that imitate the look of natural stone.
- Natural Stone offers a natural, timeless appeal for either a classy or casual patio. Sandstone, Bluestone, and Limestone are a few options. Sandstone/Limestone tend to grow slippery moss due to a more porous surface. In Northern climates, these stones can be wet-set or mortared to a concrete base to increase installation efficiency and long-term durability. Natural stone is also more expensive due to its excavation, weight, and time needed to install each stone individually.