Here is a common scenario for homeowner: knowing that a pleasant outdoor place is naturally relaxing and restorative, you have decided to add a picnic table, outdoor grill and a couple of lounge chairs to your backyard.

Currently, there is no place to put them. Is it better to build a patio or a deck?

Here are some things to consider as you decide what type of construction is best for your landscape.

Convenience

The most important consideration in choosing the type and location of an outdoor space may be convenience. You will want your deck or patio to be close to the house and accessible for the intended use. If it is primarily for outside dining, it should be close to the kitchen. If it is an extension of indoor living space, it should be adjacent to the living room. A private outdoor oasis with a hot tub might be best next to the master bedroom.

Once you know where your space should be relative to the house, you can narrow down the decision on the type of structure. If you have a two-story house and your outdoor space needs to connect to an upper level room, it may be best to build a deck. For a single story home or a connection from the ground floor, a patio will often be the best choice.

Topography

The topography, or the shape of the land, in your backyard will help determine whether a patio or deck is best. Though it needs some amount of slope for drainage, a patio is essentially level. A small retaining wall can be built on either the uphill or downhill side of a patio to make adjustments to the grade. In fact, a 15 or 18 inch high wall can be a nice place to sit.

If you have a severely sloping yard, it may be best to build a deck. That will minimize the amount of earthwork needed for your project. However, by using retaining walls and steps, an interlocking or natural stone surface is plausible- even for severe slopes.

Maintenance

While no landscape is completely maintenance free, in general, patios need less maintenance that decks. Both will need to be swept on a regular basis; a light washing with a spray hose now and then is good, too.

A deck should have a more thorough cleaning every couple of years with a commercial deck cleaning solution, something a patio does not typically need. In addition, wood will typically naturally wear faster than stone or brick.

Weeds on a patio that was constructed properly should be a rare sight.

Lifespan

Most decks are built with pressure-treated wood, giving them a projected lifespan of 20 to 30 years. The materials used for your patio will probably outlast a deck. Assuming there are not issues with drainage or poor soils, a patio should last for many years longer than a deck (some materials come with a lifetime warranty).

Connecting to Your Landscape

A final consideration in comparing decks and patios is more philosophical. Which provides a more meaningful connection to your landscape? In general, a deck sits above the landscape while a patio is integrated with the landscape. For some people, that may not matter, but others find it is a question worth considering.

Both decks and patios are good investments, adding considerable value to your home. More importantly, regardless of which one you decide to build, you are sure to enjoy the additional time spent in your new outdoor space.

Contact us today to learn about the patio materials available to you.