Patios are excellent home additions with many functional benefits. They are perfect landscaping features to add to your outdoor living spaces and can make ideal areas for dining, entertainment, or lounging. However, patios come in different material options. Therefore, you should choose materials that work well for your home. Unfortunately, choosing the right materials for your patio isn't always straightforward. And since pavers or patios can be expensive landscaping features, you must be careful in your selection. One trick to getting it right is knowing what options you have. Therefore, here is an in-depth look into some of the standard patio materials.
Concrete
Concrete is one of the most popular material choices for patios. That's because it comes with significant benefits. First, it is versatile. The material is an excellent choice for any size and shape of patio. It's also a great choice for custom patio designs because it can be poured in regular and irregular layouts. In addition, concrete can be combined with other materials like brick to create a unique decorative look. But that's not all. Concrete patios are also highly durable.
Concrete is also affordable and easy to maintain. On the downside, however, concrete tends to be susceptible to freeze-thaw action. Therefore, it may not be the best option if you live in an area that experiences freeze-thaw cycles because it can start cracking over time.
Brick
Brick is also another option to consider. It's also durable, like concrete. When it comes to aesthetics, it naturally provides a warm feel to your exterior living spaces due to its colour, which is ideal for both contemporary and traditional styles. Brick is also less expensive than other options like stone. However, like concrete, it's also susceptible to freeze-thaw cycles, particularly because it's porous. Therefore, it tends to crack, especially during winter.
Regarding maintenance, brick patios don't have the same low-level maintenance as their concrete counterparts. That's because brick tends to support moss growth that can be slippery and cause injuries. Therefore, sweep it regularly and power-wash it occasionally. You can also add a water-based sealer at the time of installation to prevent moss growth.
Natural Stone
Natural stone is the perfect solution if you are looking for a completely natural and aesthetic look. It's versatile because you can choose from various options, including flagstone, limestone, slate, bluestone, etc. Generally, flagstone comes in many colour options, so you can always choose an option that suits your desires or architectural style. Stone is also durable, so you don't have to worry about longevity.
However, stone is among the most expensive options you will find. Therefore, it may not be your best choice if you are on a budget. What's more, installation may sometimes be complicated due to the irregular shapes of stones and their weight. And when it comes to maintenance, different stones require different maintenance procedures, so keep that in mind.
Contact patio contractors in your area to learn more.