Patios are always a great addition to any home and being able to
design and build one is just one way of personalizing your living space, as well
as expressing your preferences and tastes for all to see and admire. Patios not
only provide you an excellent place to relax and unwind after a hard day at
work, they are also great places to entertain in, a place that can help you
enhance your home’s aesthetic value and one place that can increase your home’s
resale value as well.
With so many things that one can do with a patio, it is no
surprise that most people want to design and build their own patios rather than
hire professionals to do it. Many feel that having a professional suggest this
and that interferes with the creative process and doesn’t quite make the patio
your own, even if they based the design on your preferences. Even if
researching popular patio designs and how to build one can be tedious and
time-consuming, there are people who would rather go through the whole nine
yards and learn everything there is to know about designing and building their
own patios just to feel that it’s really their work and their personality that
is reflected.
This is one reason why prefabricated patios sold online like those
for example, are quite popular. Not only does it require minimal assembly, you
can also choose from a wide variety of prefabricated patios that are designed
and built to fit every type of home décor. Of course, this is one choice for
people who have minimal building experience but for those who are good with
their hands and are quite familiar with which end of the hammer to pound nails
with, designing and building their own patios is the only way.
If you are planning on building a new patio or replacing an existing one, you need to understand that patios will allow you a lot of designing freedom, from the size of your seating area to the paving slab patterns to the materials you use. Play around with your designs until you come up with what you feel is the best for your home. It is recommended that you consider more than one type of patio paving to break up the monotony or maybe add a focal feature like fountains or sculptures to make it more dynamic.
You will also need to understand that you may require patio
building permits which
will require you to submit not just a permit application, but also the
prescribed building permit fee, verge permit form, verge bond if applicable,
site plan and construction details showing elevations and sections.
If you are laying your own patio for the first time, a
right-angled shape is the easiest laying to do and using freeform slabs of
different sizes are also recommended as these are easiest to position. To lay
your freeform slabs, start by laying them from one side then use a roller or a
compactor to flatten and smoothen the space. Add a layer of fine sand to even
out the bumps.
If you want to go for mortar and crazy paving, you need to add the
mortar to the back of the slab you are laying with a trowel. For small slabs,
add a dab of mortar to each edge and for larger ones, make a cross shape from
corner to corner. Leave little gaps in between for more dimension as with
experienced patio layers who use odd shaped slabs which are known as crazy
paving. Make sure the slabs lie flat by tapping them gently with a rubber
mallet or by using a spirit level. Once the mortar sets after two days, fill
the space between with paving slabs and some more mortar.
If you want to go for the classic Roman villa look, use a combination
of slab sizes to get that mosaic-like effect. If you prefer a more complex
design, make sure you mark each slab so you know where to put it before
permanently putting it in position. Using pavers for this type of design
ensures you have a smooth, finished look and if you want to block weed growth,
then it is recommended that you use polymeric sand to fill the spaces between.
The idea of a run-off design on the other hand, is to keep the
water from seeping into your home especially if you plan to place your patio
close to or next to your home. Drainage is important as this can prevent your
home from being damaged by moisture and damp, especially if the water runs off
adequately. For this design you can use pea shingles to fill the gaps or allow
grass to grow to create a more visually striking look. To make your patio space
wider than it really is, you can try using triangle-shaped paving slabs or
place your slabs in a circular pattern that radiates from a central point going
outwards.
To make your designs work, you will need to determine the uses to
which you will put your patio through. For intimate gatherings, make sure you
position your patio away from the house and keep the space relatively small.
Make sure the lighting you use is installed close to the ground to provide more
intimacy. Use tall plants or stone walls for a more secluded feel and pea stone
or natural stone for surfacing.
For family gatherings, you need to make the space wide enough to
fit several people and kids. Make the patio feel more social by adding fire
pits where you and your family can sit around and talk while roasting
marshmallows on the grill. Make sure the area is well-lit and for great
surface, you can use pavers or stamped concrete for a more level patio.
If you’re going to use the patio for relaxing or sunbathing, you
may want to put up hedges for privacy. Designing for an outdoor patio for this
purpose will depend on the climate and on whether you want to maximize your
exposure to the sun or limit it. If you want to get more sun, make sure you
position your patio where it gets more sun or if you want to limit your
exposure, choose a shady spot or incorporate a pergola as part of your patio
design. Also make sure you use lounge chairs to ensure the utmost comfort. For
this purpose, pavers and stamped concrete are recommended since you’ll be
mostly barefooted with this type of design.
Designing and building your own patio can be a time-consuming
endeavor but with the right materials and enough building know-how, it can be
something fun and eventually a work of art that you can be proud of enough to
show off to your friends and family.
You might also like:
Patio
and Driveway (planningportal.gov.uk)
Build
a Patio: Notes from a DIY (huffingtonpost.com) Build
a Patio with Pavers (diynetwork.com)
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Photo Credit: SimplySheds
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