Picture this: The sun is setting, casting a warm glow over your perfectly styled backyard patio. You're lounging in a comfy chair, a cold drink in hand, surrounded by friends and family in a beautiful outdoor living space. Or maybe, you’re just soaking up the peaceful vibes of your outdoor oasis.
It sounds like a dream, right?
Creating the backyard patio of your dreams isn’t just about picking the right furniture or laying down a few stones. To successfully build the backyard patio you’ve always envisioned, you’ll need to lay the groundwork by answering some important questions about your project.
We’re here to help you get started — with some real-world inspiration from some of our past clients’ projects to inspire you. With this important first step, you’re on your way to creating the backyard patio that is the gathering spot of the neighborhood.
This Moodscapes client wanted to create a backyard patio that combined personal relaxation with entertaining guests. We used bluestone pavers that fit perfectly with the feeling of the backyard, which was full of shrubs, vegetable garden beds, and other plantings. Now, it has a grill and dining table for outdoor dining, as well as separate outdoor seating for 12 people.
There is often flexibility in where a backyard patio is located in your yard — but you’ll need to keep some important practical considerations in mind before making your decision on your patio space.
We used pavers to create the foundation of this inviting backyard sitting and entertaining space our client envisioned for their home. An outdoor kitchen allows the homeowners to mingle with family and friends while preparing meals. The nearby dining table, situated below a custom wooden pergola adorned with string lights, provides just the right ambiance for an al fresco dinner party. Patio furniture and a fire pit for casual gathering is the final finishing touch.
That process starts with assessing your existing space. You’ll need to answer questions like:
And we have a special note for homeowners envisioning a new patio as a way to create a space for outdoor entertaining. Amenities like outdoor lighting, an outdoor kitchen, an outdoor fireplace, or a fire pit area can all be wonderful additions to improve both the function and ambiance of the space.
However, these all require utility hookups by a licensed plumber or electrician, which are regulated by code under local laws.
For example, in Massachusetts, there are laws about where gas lines can be placed, or specific materials that you can use for your project. It is important to work with licensed professionals who can ensure your project adheres to these codes when building your outdoor patio.
Assessing the drainage and ground conditions of the existing backyard landscape is a step that cannot be overlooked when building any new patio.
The first task is surveying the existing slope of the yard. A slope — even one seemingly slight — can cause water to flow naturally downward to the patio. This can cause pooling or flooding.
In this backyard, our client wanted to build a patio that could extend their home’s entertaining space outdoors. However, a significant slope in the land — which could lead to major drainage problems — was a crucial factor for us to address. To achieve the client’s goals, we used a combination of materials for different areas of the hardscape: Beacon Hill smooth pavers for the main patio, Holland stone pavers for the walkway, and permeable Techo-Bloc pavers for the rock wall and stairs. The result was an eye-catching, multi-tiered patio with stairs, retaining walls, and sitting walls.
One way to mitigate this potential problem is by incorporating existing drainage systems into the design as much as possible. If a drainage system isn’t already in the vicinity of the space, installing French drains, catch basins, or gutters can help with directing water away from your patio.
In addition, building on a slope can damage the patio itself. Installing a patio without proper preparation and leveling can decrease the stability of the foundation, leading to uneven settling, cracks, or shifting of materials.
Leveling, excavation, and building terraces and retaining walls are all ways to resolve this challenge in your desired patio area.
A new patio should be considered an extension of the style of your home, continuing your personal aesthetic to the outdoors. Different hardscape materials can help you achieve your desired look for your patio design.
For example, a rustic farmhouse feel can be achieved with flagstone, such as bluestone or sandstone. If you’re envisioning a sleek, modern look, polished concrete or porcelain pavers are an excellent choice. Gravel paired with pavers is perfect for a natural, earthy style. Different surface finishes — smooth, textured, tumbled, or polished — enhance the overall look.
This paver patio has multiple access points, allowing our client to conveniently use the space from different areas of the home. Seating and dining areas offer space for simple family dinners as well as larger gatherings. It also offers a clear line of sight to children playing in the nearby playhouse, or simply running through the grass. In addition to the patio, we also designed and installed the surrounding flowers and plantings, creating a cohesive and attractive landscape.
When choosing your materials, it’s important to factor in variations in the weight of different types along with their style. Heavy tiles, like flagstone and concrete pavers, require a strong base to prevent cracking and stay in place. A solid, compacted base layer, such as crushed stone or sand, is required. This can be topped with a foundation made of concrete to provide extra stability.
Lightweight tiles like porcelain pavers, on the other hand, require less structural support than their heavyweight counterparts. Loose bases like gravel or sand can work better for these types of patios; however, they may need more frequent leveling over the life of the patio.
Are you interested in learning more about the process for designing and building a new patio for your home? Please download our free ebook, The Expert Guide to Building the Custom Home Hardscape of Your Dreams. You also can complete this form to schedule a complementary project discussion with our team.