Choosing the Right Patio Design

Patios are outdoor living surfaces and sometimes considered structures when they are covered and/or enclosed. The foundation of a patio is made from concrete, stamped concrete, stained concrete, flagstone or a combination of materials. Your patio can be circular, oval, square, rectangular or an odd shape. It can be covered and a part of your house or a freestanding construction that stands free of a covering.

Patios have a great appeal because their usually a few steps from a home's back door and can be used for relaxation, cookouts and entertaining. Patios are often paired with swimming pools to provide additional activities and a space for swimmers after taking a dip in the water. Patios near swimming pools are often created to be a part of the area surrounding the swimming pool. The foundation is, therefore, often made from the same surface surrounding the pool and forms the patio's foundation for the sake of continuity.

Patios can incorporate many different outdoor features that make use of the space more enjoyable, such as fire pits, built-in seating, planters and other gardening elements. Patios can be small to large areas behind or beside a home's structure. They facilitate outdoor recreational activities during all types of weather conditions. Some patios are covered with awnings; others have umbrellas for individual tables offering shade from the heat of the day. Patios can even be enclosed similar to an enclosed porch or a verandah.

When patios are enclosed the ground is paved with concrete or flagstones, but the patio is framed with supporting structures that hold outdoor curtains providing privacy. The curtains can be used to create walls or a roof over the patio. Because of the shade projected by the curtains, the temperature on the enclosed patio is a few degrees cooler than the area outside the enclosure.

Having a patio built by a professional will give the homeowner access to a variety of materials. Perhaps an open-air patio is best for your needs or maybe an enclosed patio is needed for privacy. Understanding what details can be added can make having your patio built by a professional the best avenue to the widest selection of design options.