7 Good Reasons to Install a Patio Instead of a Deck

Having a deck in your backyard can be a wonderful thing, giving you a place to enjoy the outdoors while providing a solid surface on which to place furniture, potted plants, or bird feeders. There are, however, good reasons to consider a back yard patio, instead of a deck. Here are seven of them for your consideration.

1) Community Regulations. You will likely need to have your home inspected and acquire a permit in order to add a deck to your home, which will be time consuming and can add expense to your project. Building a patio may not require either of them, depending on your municipality, which will save you both time and money.

2) Material and Labor Costs. A patio can be based on a concrete pad or stone block, both of which are less expensive than the wood, metal, or composite materials that will be required for a deck. Poured concrete or stone blocks are also easier and quicker to install then deck materials, saving you labor costs, as well.

3) Maintenance. A patio is much easier to maintain than a deck. Instead of having to refinish or paint a deck every year or two to keep it in good condition, all you have to do with a concrete pad is keep it clean. Stone blocks only need sand swept into the joins every few years to maintain an even surface.

4) Longer Lasting. A patio, since it is based on permanent materials that will not rot or corrode, will likely last much longer than a deck, and will likely add more to the value of your property than a deck would.

5) Complementary to Landscaping. A patio can be designed to fit in with and complement your landscaping, making for a more pleasant aesthetic experience for enjoying your back yard.

6) Freedom of Choice and Safety. Your options with a patio are nearly endless, as far as size and shape are concerned, whereas a deck is limited by the need to be attached to your home for structural support. A patio also allows you to build sitting walls right at the edges, and eliminates the need for guardrails, alleviating the concern of children or pets falling and being injured.

7) Future Options. A patio is much easier to alter or add to than a deck. If you decide you want a roof, or to surround it with screening or other walls, it is much easier to do so with a patio than with a deck. You can also add to the size of a patio in the future without further alterations to your home. There is even the option of adding a fireplace or attaching a fire or barbeque pit to a patio, which is definitely not recommended with a deck.

There are many more reasons than just these for building a back yard patio rather than a deck, but even just these seven should be enough to give you cause to think of a patio as a serious option for consideration.

Taken From Door Fly