Patios

A patio is a practical and aesthetically-pleasing addition to anyone’s yard. Whether you have a small yard or a big one, adding a small patio space can give you an area to entertain or simply to cook and eat outside when the weather is nice. Stone patios are easy to install and they’re a job that just about any homeowner can do.

Strategies

Installing a patio begins with looking at various patio layouts and materials. Patio designs can range from extremely complex interlocking brick or stones, to simple concrete slabs. Wood is also a type of material commonly-used for outdoor patios. The style and layout that you choose will determine the strategy you use for installing your patio.

The first step once you’ve chosen your style of patio is to prepare the earth where the patio will be. Depending on the landscaping that you already have in place, that might mean uprooting the grass or removing a flower bed. Measure out the shape of the patio and clear the area of grass, roots, or other obstructions. Keep in mind when measuring the space that for stone or flagstone patios, you will need to account for additional space between the stones. Once everything is measured and cleared, you should dig down enough to accommodate the height of the stones you are installing.

You can use something called landscape fabric on the ground where you will lay the patio on top. That way, weeds won’t be a problem on your patio. Cut a piece of fabric that snugly fits the cleared area. You might also want to create a border using wooden planks to contain your patio. If this is the case, measure out how much wood you need and align the planks accordingly. Other considerations might include whether you will install a gravel bed below or a sand bed to keep the patio stones in place. What you choose will depend on the type of stones you are installing.

Key Information

Choosing the right type of stone depends entirely on what you like. There are a wide variety of options, so you should go with what you think will match the rest of the landscaping and appeal to your personal taste. Slate is one of the most commonly-used materials. Bluestone is also an option that can help you to create a flat patio surface with an attractive color. Fieldstone is definitely an unique option. These stones are rough-edged and will give your patio a much more natural look, but they won’t provide as smooth a surface to stand on.

Bricks are another option. They create a cohesive pattern and are usually fairly easy to install. Since all of the units are the same size, it is easier to arrange bricks than it is to arrange stones. They make for fast, efficient installation and because they weigh much less than most types of stones, it can take out some of the labor required.

Essential Tools

You will need a number of tools to build your patio. The good news is that many of them you might already have lying around from other landscaping projects. For instance, you probably already have a shovel, wheelbarrow, tape measure, rake, and broom. Those tools will come in handy during the installation process.

Other items that you might need include a spade, such as this Traditional Carbon Border Spade from Spear and Jackson. A good spade will help you to dig out the patio area. Another essential tool is a sledgehammer, which will help you to hammer in stakes or get the stones in place. Silverhead’s line of sledgehammers is a great place to start.