Concrete Ideas
As the months warm up here, you are going to warm up Richmond, right?, we are in the home improvement stage of living. You know this is when we paint doors and exteriors, do some landscaping, and basically getting our homes ready for the cookout season. I for one, since becoming a homeowner, want to create my inviting outdoor space finally. There’s so much to think about, from flowers to whether I want to try out an outdoor rug to should I go ahead and start planting the flowers I plan on killing by summer’s end?
I do not like a blank backyard area. It serves no purpose but to give your lawnmower a whirl. For me, there has to be a back porch or a deck or a patio. I love a good patio. I like feeling the Vitamin D absorbing into my skin or sitting out in the drizzle under a large umbrella while reading a good novel. So patios are easy to decorate, but choosing the right one that will enhance your home’s rear is a bit trickier. Here are a few styles you might want to consider when building your backyard oasis.
Concrete Pavers
Paver patios require more prep work than they do installation of the actual patio, but it’s also the easiest to design. You can choose colors and textures to warm up your space and depending on which pavers you use, cost can fluctuate. In the end it is a low maintenance alternative that can turn out to be your own unique design.
Brick
Brick patios are about the same as pavers, but without much diversity. You can see these in more traditional settings. You can still play around with design / shape, but these are not the studiest when it comes to the elements, nor can they be dyed or come in different colors. Make sure you don’t get builder’s bricks but actual
Porcelain Tiles
There are a few ways to add colorful patterned tiles to your patio design. You can work with an already concrete slab that might already be installed in your home or you can start from scratch. I love the look of tile because it never seems to dull and it’s easy to clean. You also have less water erosion. These can set you back depending on size and of course maker, but is a fairly easy project.
Floating Deck-Patio
Yes, technically this is a deck(?), but a platform deck can be anywhere in your yard, which can also be named — patio! These can be built quite affordably with as simple material as wooden pallets. You can treat these just as you would a deck with a variety of stains or paints, but as you know wood is not as durable as concrete. It does however build better in sloped areas. Check out those lumber prices!
These are just a few ideas on how to build your patio, but also consider your design (round, square, coverage), special features (built-in firepits, speakers, lights), and decor (seating, plants, dining) of your patio. You want your space to be the pinnacle of summer fun and entertainment. Check out more ideas from my Pinterest Board.
