If you live in the suburbs, the patio in the front, the back or the side of your house may well be why you chose your property. But if you’re adding a patio to your home or renovating one that’s already there, here are some important things to consider to ensure you get the best result for you and your family.

How Will a Patio Fit in with Your Life

For some homeowners, the patio is where the parties happen. Cool drinks, barbeques, kids playing and sharing laughter and conversation with family and friends. Or it may be where you sunbathe after a dip in the pool, read the latest novel, enjoy your first cup of coffee early in the day and relax over a beer before dinner. Whatever your vision for a patio, that vision should be the starting point for your patio plan.

A patio is the perfect place for the whole family to relax, talk and enjoy the garden.

How Much Can You Afford to Spend on Your Patio

Patios can turn a small space into a mini-retreat

Patios – whatever the size – add living space to your home, especially in the warmer months. And they increase the value of your property by up to 10%. But building one can be a costly project.

According to Dan Simms who blogs for Angie.com, a professionally installed patio costs $3,894 on average, and you could pay anywhere between $800 and $14,000. There are several factors that determine the cost besides size, including the type of materials used, the location and condition of the ground, the shape of the patio and additions such as landscaping, a fountain, a fire pit, outdoor lighting and an outdoor kitchen.

Poured concrete is one of the most affordable and durable materials used for outdoor patios and costs ranges between $5 and $18 per square foot. Another cost-conscious option is gravel, which runs between $2 and $7 per square foot.

However if the ground under the patio is uneven, the patio should be installed over a raised platform of poured concrete or wood to ensure the final result is level. Another solution we’ve used when building on uneven or slopping ground is to build a wall from block to level the patio, and then back fill it with permeable gravel. These solutions, of course, add to the cost, but make an enormous addition to the attractiveness and usefulness of your property.

An example of how we can level a slopping area to utilize the space for a patio.

Other variables that impact price are the patio’s shape and the material used to finish the surface. A square or rectangular shape will cost less than one that is round or curved. More expensive surface options include pavers of natural or artificial brick, stone, and flagstone. The great thing is, with all of these choices to consider, your patio can be as individual as you are.


Samples of three different kinds of materials used for patios – natural stone, brick and concrete.

Your Patio Style Should Be Consistent with Your Home's Architecture

The driveway and patio complement the elegance of this building.

Patios and other hardscape around your home should reflect the architectural style of your home. The picture above is a good example.

This former residence is now used as a corporate retreat, and its elegant façade is enhanced by the superb stone pavers in the front patio and driveway. Whatever your home’s architectural design, your landscaping and patio should always match its exterior and interior style.

Your Patio Can Add Drama to Your Entranceway

These graceful steps provide a lovely transition point between indoors and out.

An important element of how well your patio fits the style of your home is the entrance from the patio. Does it create a sense of discovery about the home within? Do visitors anticipate being impressed from the entrance alone? Are the steps wide enough to be comfortable and safe when moving from indoors to outdoors? All of these factors should be considered in your design.

We Can Help Make Do-It-Yourself Patio Projects Easier

We built the footings for this Pergola that was built by the homeowner.

Of course, many people enjoy building a patio themselves. But if you’re not experienced in this kind of project, you should consider hiring a professional landscaper. At the very least, get an estimate from a contractor for a realistic assessment of what’s involved in adding a patio.

For example, you may need to get permits from the local government and observe certain building restrictions that someone in the field is familiar with. Even if you choose to do most of the work yourself, getting advice from a trustworthy professional is always a good idea.

Whenever you use a contractor always check their credentials and references.

Also ask to see recent examples of their work, ideally in person but at least in photos. Landscapers usually have testimonials on their websites. Make sure to read them carefully to get a realistic view of the services being offered. Here’s a testimonial that we received recently about a patio we built.

“Curt knows his stuff! Did an excellent job as my wife and I are very happy with our new patio! Curt and his men working did a great job! Communicated well, were very thorough, started and finished in a timely manner at a very fair price! Thank you for a job well done.”

By the way, all the photos in this blog are of projects that we worked on. If they give you some ideas of what you’d like to do for your home, please call us at 847-912-6319. Right now is the perfect time to get started.

Thanks for reading,
Curt