Patio is one of the most important constituents of your outdoor landscape. That’s why you should create the plan carefully, choose the proper materials and also provide a compact and safe base before placing pavers, stone or concrete.
The design and location of the patio depends on three factors: the space that you use, the flow of traffic, the location of the sun, septic systems and grading.
 Tim Johnson who has a 10 year practice in designing landscapes managed to get a specialized certification in patio construction from the Interlocking Concrete Paver Institute (ICPI). He states that planning is a crucial factor. He starts designing patio by asking the clients about their entertainment, especially how many people are involved. Not the events that happen once a year but ordinary daily gatherings. He says that they also discuss how they prepare food and how it is served to find out whether they require space for grilling, drinks, a fire pit or need furniture, lighting and the like.
The main goal is to make your space convenient, aesthetically attractive and functional. Tim Johnson also points that you can be astonished when you find out how many people build the patios outside the back door and suddenly realize that it is unsuitable for having dinner because of the sun angle and it is uncomfortable to get in and out of the house. Sometimes the best location for the patio is to build it on some distance from your house where the sun and traffic are convenient for you. Also it will be helpful if you plant older trees which create privacy and shade and select easy-to-move furniture. These factors can make your patio available at all hours and throughout the season.
The property should determine the correct location. Sometimes drainage and septic issues can influence on the location of the patio. In case of steep grade you can choose multi-level patios that have different eating areas, a fire pit and even grilling or an outdoor kitchen. Tim states that nowadays a lot of people like to entertain in the front yard. When people visit you they want to sit down somewhere while their kids ride the bikes or play night games.
Materials: advantages and disadvantages
The three most popular patio materials are involved in patio construction: concrete pavers, natural stone, and stamped concrete. The selection of the materials should depend on their appearance, price, maintenance, durability and snow removal.
You are able to choose suitable concrete pavers from a wide variety of surface finishes, colors, shapes, and patterns. They are inexpensive and they can be installed by the homeowner or by the specialist. They have smooth surface which provides easy snow removal.
Natural stone, such as flagstone, have a determined appearance but it will be hard for you to install them. For creating level patio you should place a base in order to accommodate the varying thickness of the stone. If you want to mix together irregular shapes it can look like assembling a puzzle and it will make your installation twice longer. However natural stone is extremely durable and can serve you for centuries. Like in the case of concrete pavers you can easily remove broken or cracked stones. But it is hard to plow the irregular surface and the shoveling will be difficult.
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