Installing an outdoor patio can help your yard become an inviting place where family or friends can relax, visit and dine. Pavers and concrete slab are two popular choices for patio materials.
To help you make the decision between patio pavers or concrete slab, consult the following guide to patio materials.
Patio Pavers Are Versatile and Attractive
Patio pavers are small bricks or blocks that fit together to form a surface in your yard. Pavers can give a backyard a classy look that's able to fit in with an old-world design scheme or a contemporary one.
Because pavers are available in a wide variety of shapes, colors and materials, you can easily customize a patio that's made out of these blocks. You might choose the look of light gray natural stones near your pool or opt for dark, rectangular bricks under your patio table. You can even arrange pavers in eye-catching patterns. The choice is up to you and your design goals.
Find inspiring patio paver design ideas in the following video:
When a paver cracks, you may be able to remove it from the patio and replace it with a new one. This can help keep your patio looking nice for years to come.
The small spaces between patio pavers serve an important purpose. They can help rainfall and other moisture drain into the soil so that standing water doesn't collect on your patio.
Considerations to Keep in Mind
Because it takes many individual pavers to build a patio, the walking surface can become uneven over time as the blocks settle. This can create a problem for people with limited mobility who may trip over gaps or ledges. Professional paver installation can help avoid this issue.
Pavers have a tendency to spread apart from one another over time; this can leave gaps in your design. Using interlocking pavers and rimming the patio with a strong edging material are two workarounds for this issue. However, one of the best things you can do to ensure that your pavers will stay together well is to hire a professional to lay your patio.
You can achieve nearly any patio shape with pavers, but some designs are more challenging than others. While rectangular pavers can easily form a rectangular patio, constructing other shapes from them can require trimming or configuring. Incorporating additional paver styles can help create curves or angles as well.
Because there are so many options for paver materials available, costs and maintenance needs can vary widely. Pavers are unlikely to be your cheapest patio option, but with proper care, they can last for years to come.
When to Use Patio Pavers
You can achieve a beautiful backyard look with patio pavers. This may be the material for you if you:
Concrete Slab Is Functional and Economical
A smooth concrete slab might be one of the first things you think of when you consider a backyard patio. You may even have grown up with a patio like this at your house. Concrete slab patios are common because it's a reliable material that does the job without breaking the bank.
In fact, this can be one of the most reasonably priced options for adding hardscaping to your yard. Saving money on the patio surface may free up more of your budget for adding plants, furniture or other decorative elements to your backyard makeover.
Because concrete is poured to cover large areas, a concrete surface is smooth. This increases its safety and reliability for people with mobility issues.
Another great thing about concrete slab is that you can arrange it to fit any size or shape. Whether you want a simple rectangular patio, a round eating area, or a curved surface next to your kidney-shaped pool, you can achieve it with poured concrete.
You may worry about the plain look of concrete. It's true that concrete on its own is a pretty basic material. That may suit the look that you're going for just fine. If not, you can dress concrete up by adding colors, textures, patterns or pressed-in elements.
Considerations to Keep in Mind
Concrete slab patios require regular maintenance. You should sweep them daily and wash them often. It's also smart to get stains out quickly so they don't become permanently set, and you should scoop away ice and snow so they don't cause damage. Finally, one of the most important steps is to have your concrete patio resealed every few years.
If your concrete slab patio cracks, you'll probably have to live with the crack for a while. Although it's possible to fill a crack in concrete, the fix won't blend in with the surrounding material. To really get rid of a crack, you have to tear out the old patio and pour fresh a concrete slab.
When to Use Concrete Slab
A concrete slab patio is a great choice for many homes. Consider this material for your hardscaping project if you:
Whether you choose patio pavers or concrete slab for your hardscaping project, you can create a beautiful outdoor space where you'll enjoy relaxing on your own or with others. To ensure your satisfaction with the finished results for years to come, you should have your surface professionally installed. Contact our PALERMO PAVING team today to get started.