Alternatives to Concrete Patios
Installing a patio allows you to extend your living space to the outdoors because you have a level ground for furniture. The easiest type of patio is arguably a concrete slab patio. Although they are simple and affordable to install, plain concrete looks quite boring, especially if your patio is meant to showcase your landscaping and gardening toils. If you are building a new patio or want to upgrade, there are several aesthetically pleasing options. Does this Spark an idea?
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Natural Stone
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Natural stone is a popular alternative to plain concrete patios; the stones are usually bound with thin-set mortar. Some stones can feel cool even on hot days, which is ideal for use around pools. You can use flagstone or river rock to create a patio that looks more natural than structured. Flagstone is flat, making it an ideal material for setting up a table or patio bar. If you build with river rock, use flat rocks that are similar thicknesses. You can compensate for varied thickness by setting thicker rocks deeper into your sand or mortar base. Natural stone tiles, such as granite, marble and travertine, are cut to the same thickness, making it easy to attain a level surface. Use tiles of the same color and size for a uniform patio or vary the color and size to achieve a visually interesting mosaic effect.
Brick
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Brick pavers, a material made from natural clay, can easily be laid to create a level patio surface. By using the dry-laid method to set the bricks, you can completely avoid the need for a concrete base in your project. The dry-laid method involves laying bricks on a level base surface of crushed stone or sand. The pavers are then arranged tightly together to prevent them from moving or dislodging from their positions. This method works best if you lay the pavers in straight rows, but you can try a swirled effect if you cut pieces to fill in any gaps. Once the bricks are arranged, you sweep sand into the small crevices between each brick to keep them from moving. A mortared brick paver patio will not shift at all compared to dry-laid patios, but these require a concrete base and cannot be moved.
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Wood
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Wood has long been used for creating living spaces and can be used for a patio. Wood is an especially great option if you have an existing deck and would like the patio and deck to flow together seamlessly. You'll need a level foundation to build the wood patio -- compacted sand or crushed rock is suitable. If you have carpentry skills, you can lay a wood floor over a frame and joists to make the patio. DIYers with little carpentry experience may find better success with interlocking deck tiles. The wood tiles line up perfectly and snap into place. Bamboo is gaining popularity among the eco-conscious because it is a renewable resource. Be sure to apply a tinted deck sealer to protect against UV rays and water damage.
Pebbles
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Pebbles can work very well as a flooring material for a patio. Heavy iron and wood patio furniture is sturdy enough to set itself into the bed of small, loose pebbles so you can have a level table and chairs. If you're into creative projects, you could design and make a pebble mosaic for your patio floor. Depending on your level of devotion, you can make anything from stripes to entire pictures with different-colored and -sized pebbles. Spread a base layer of dry mortar and lightly sprinkle it with water to make it crumbly. Arrange the pebbles in the design you would like, making sure there is plenty of mortar surrounding each pebble. Let the mortar cure and then brush on a mortar topping level with the tops of the pebbles. Lightly mist the topping until it is saturated throughout, cover the mosaic and let it cure for several days or weeks.
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References
- Popular Mechanics; Build Your Own Natural Stone Patio; Steve Wilson; May 18, 2006
- Landscape Design Advice: Paving Costs--Choosing Hardscape Materials
- This Old House; Lay an Appealing Brick Patio; Joseph Truini;
- Fine Gardening; Create a Pebble Mosaic; Jeffrey Bale
- Handy Deck:Resurfacing a Concrete Patio Deck
- Flooring Outdoors: Bamboo Flooring--A Hardwood Alternative
- Photo Credit garden patio image by Georgios Alexandris from Fotolia.com
