It has become popular in recent years to think of the outdoors of our homes as an extension to the indoors. This means that we have come to regard it as an extra room, and not just somewhere to sit on the occasional sunny day or warm evening. Patio designs can help you to make the most of your outdoor space.

When planning your patio area it pays to make a list of what you want this area for. Maybe you are looking for a fairly formal area for outdoor entertaining, or maybe somewhere more casual with space for the kids to play. Is there space for an outdoor kitchen area, or space for a barbecue.

Decide how many people you would like to be able to sit on the patio without it feeling too cramped. Are there flowerbeds, and if so will they be formal or informal, and what about a pond or some kind of water feature. What about lighting, and power to the patio.

Look at the area that you have designated for a patio and find out which direction it faces. You can then work out which areas will get the sun and which might be in shade. Look at where you would like your seating are to be and see if it will get enough sun, or maybe you would like some shade. If there are flowerbeds in your plan then decide what kind of plants to put in them according to how much light they will receive.

If you have a complicated plan in mind then consider purchasing some landscaping software as this can make the process a whole lot easier. You will then know exactly where everything will go before you have even touched a shovel. You can then mark out the appropriate areas so that you can calculate the amount of materials that are required.

There is also the type of materials to be considered, as a patio can be made out of concrete or from bricks or slabs of concrete. Whatever materials you decide on it will need some sort of base, either of sand or some other base material. Most stores will be happy to help you calculate the amount of materials needed and to advise on the best ones for the job in hand.

Now the area is ready to be excavated. Before even starting make sure that you know the position of any utility companies pipes and electrical cables. Contact the companies if you are at all unsure.

This part of the preparation is very important, as a firm and level base is needed for a long lasting patio. Make sure that any water that will collect on the new patio will drain away from your house and not towards it. You will probably need to remove grass to a depth of between two and a half inches to four inches to ensure that everywhere is level. Once this is done then you can start to lay the base, and then it will be time for your patio designs to come to life.

Author Bio: Artevia is a decorative concrete company serving in the GTA offering services on backyard landscaping and stamped concrete.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: concrete, landscaping, patio, home improvement, houses, life, society, family, business, recreation