Deck and Patio Builders
Adding a patio or a deck to your backyard is a great way to get the most out of this area. You can even combine them to maximize the use of your living space outside.
You can use the deck for more intimate gatherings and family dinners, and the patio for the more entertaining part of the evening while making use of the yard. You can even make full use of both areas at the same time when throwing large outdoor gatherings. It’s up to you.
If you’re considering building a deck or patio, here are a few important things to have in mind before contacting deck and patio builders. The answers to the following questions will help you decide whether a patio or deck is what you want and need.
Patio Building: What to Consider?
Should a Patio be Sloped?
Yes, patios should be sloped to carry away water. The standard formula is ¼ inch drop for one foot of length, which means 5 inches for a patio that’s 20 feet in length, according to Captain Patio.
If the patio slopes towards your house, it can cause water damage in basements, foundations, lower windows and rooms, and crawl spaces under the house.
How Do I Level the Ground for a Patio?
Installing a patio on a ground that’s uneven is more expensive, so you can level the ground on your own by driving stakes in the ground around the patio perimeter, tying a string between them at a ground level indicating the top of the patio, and digging into the ground as much as needed while checking the location level using a builder’s level, Home Guides explains.
How to Make a Quick Patio?
Outline the shape of your patio and remove the soil and sod using a sharp garden spade shovel. Build the base of sand and gravel, and place flagstones.
You can also use pavers or bricks in straight or slightly curving patterns. Rotate the pieces as desired and spread more sand over the patio once all the pieces are in place, Better Homes and gardens explains. This is the easiest DIY patio. Enjoy it.
Can You Put Patio Pavers over Grass or without Digging?
You must do a little digging before laying the pavers on the grass. Otherwise, your pavers will sink and become uneven and even cracked, which will lead to invasion by grasses and weeds.
Generally, you need to dig around 9 inches using a shovel. This, however, depends on the depth of your paver.
Can You Lay Pavers Directly on Dirt?
Laying patio pavers directly on dirt can make them sink or shift over time. That’s why it’s recommended to adjust the patio space before placing the pavers to ensure it will fit your needs.
How Many Inches of Sand Are Necessary for Pavers?
In general, you need to spread ½ to 1 ½ inches of sand beneath the patio pavers. But, you’ll need more sand to fill the gaps between the pavers. Ideally, the sand should be spread over a layer of crushed stone.
Can You Pour Concrete over Dirt?
You must prepare the ground before pouring concrete over it by removing vegetation and constructing sturdy barriers to hold the concrete in place until it dries. Also, you should wet the dirt inside the frame before pouring the concrete by spraying it with a garden hose.
Do You Need a Rebar in a Patio?
Building a concrete patio usually requires a rebar to make it even more durable and prevent the formation of cracks.
When it comes to 4 inch slabs, you don’t really need a rebar because it’s too thin. A rebar is generally necessary when the slab is 6 or 8 inches.
How to Keep Your Patio Chairs from Sinking in Your Lawn?
The worst type of legs for your lawn patio chairs are straight legs which dig into the soil and create holes. Consider two legs for your lawn chairs, one in the front and one in the back.
Another option is wide legs which distribute the weight more evenly and create less noticeable indents, recommends Do It Yourself.
Can You Pour Concrete over Grass?
You should first till the ground and uproot existing grass, weeds, and plants to prevent them from growing back and damaging the concrete.
What Can You Use Instead of a Concrete Slab?
Cheaper alternatives to concrete slabs are gravel, sand, wood mulch, patio mats, or a combination of materials such as marbles, moss, etc.
Do You Need Gravel under Concrete?
Even though gravel under concrete is a good idea, it’s not absolutely required. However, a strong gravel base won’t allow the concrete to crack or shift.
It is especially important if there’s a clay soil under the concrete slab, as that will lead to water pooling underneath it and slowly eroding the soil while draining.
Do You Need Plastic Under Concrete?
While putting plastic under an interior concrete slab is recommended, putting it under an exterior concrete slab will trap water from rain and other external sources in the slab. This is not good as it can promote algae growth and make the slab slippery.
How Many Bags of Cement Do You Need for a 10×10 Concrete Slab?
It depends on the thickness of the slab and the size of the concrete bag. If you want, let’ say, a 5-inch, 10×10 slab, you’ll need 139 40lb concrete bags, 93 60lb concrete bags, or 70 80lb concrete bags, Concrete Nation explains.
Can You Put Too Much Sand under Pavers?
Yes, you can. If you put too much sand, the standard is one inch of sand, the pavers will soon misalign and become uneven, SF Gate explains.
Can You Lay Pavers on Just Sand?
It really depends on the type of your soil as long as it won’t let the pavers move or sink over time and you use the patio to just walk across it. It is recommended that you add a layer of road base, coarse sand, or polymeric sand first to ensure a firm and stable base.
Should You Compact Sand before Laying Pavers?
No, you shouldn’t. Don’t even walk through it. You can compact the pavers once you lay them in the sand.
How Much Space Is Needed Between Patio and Pavers?
Unilock recommends leaving 1/8” or 3 mm space between the pavers. However, make sure you fill the space with sand to keep the pavers in place.
Building a Deck: What to Consider?
What Is a Good Size Deck?
The answer to this question depends on your location, budget, and lifestyle. Generally, a small deck is better for smaller houses, while large houses can be balanced by a large, unbroken extension.
A general rule of thumb is that your deck shouldn’t be bigger than your largest room. This rule, however, may not apply if it’s intended for entertainment. In that case, it should offer 20 square feet of deck per person, plus extra square footage for other items like furniture and planters.
Legends Built say the average size of decks should be 300-400 square feet.
How Many Posts Do I Need for a 12×16 Deck?
According to Hunker, the space between deck posts depends on the size of the deck, the type of post, and the local code. They can either be 4×4 or 6×6.
For example, if your 12×16 deck is created for recreational purposes, it’ll probably require one post every 7 or 5 feet.
Can You Use Deck Pier Blocks Instead of Footings?
Yes, you can use pier blocks instead of footings for ground-level decks that don’t require permits. You can also use them if the frost level depth is less than the pier block heights, and if the deck is floating, less than 24 inches from grade, and not attached to your house foundation.
Can You Build Floating Deck over Concrete Patio?
Yes, you can, especially if your old concrete patio is in bad condition. Choosing the right deck over concrete patio design will transform your dated concrete patio into a beautiful floating deck where you can enjoy with your family.
Deck and Patio Builders: Cost
How Much Does It Cost to Put in a Patio?
The cost of a patio construction depends on the size of the patio, the materials used, and similar details. According to How Much, it costs around $4,000 on average.
You can find local patio builders that charge $10-$20 per square foot, the materials costing anywhere between $5-$35 per square foot and labor $5-$15 per square foot.
How Much Does a Paver Patio Cost?
Building a paver patio costs $10-$17 per square foot on average, says Home Guide. This means that for 12×12 paver patio, you should spend between $1,400 and $2,500, and for 15×15 paver patio, between $2,250 and $3,825.
To cover 400 square feet with pavers, you’ll need between $4,000 and $6,800.
Is It Cheaper to Lay Concrete or Pavers?
Pavers and concrete slabs are two of the most popular patio materials. In general, the installation of a concrete patio is cheaper than pavers installation because it takes more time to lay each paver and fill the gaps.
The average cost to install a paver patio is $10-$20 per square foot, while the price for concrete installation ranges between $6 and $10 per square foot. The maintenance and repair services are more expensive for pavers than for concrete slabs, but they are also more durable.
What Is the Cost of Pouring a Concrete Slab?
According to Home Advisor, the cost to pour concrete patio slab ranges between $2 and $8 per square foot, or $30-$50 per hour for the installation. The price, however, depends on the location, slab thickness, multiple levels, stains and coloring, patterns, etc.
So, for 10×20 concrete slab, you’ll have to spend between $400 and $1,600, and for 12×12 concrete slab, between $288 and $1,152. For 24×24 concrete slab, the cost will range between $1,152 and $4,608.
But, to save money, you can pour concrete slabs yourself. This, however, is a large and complex project that requires proper planning, tools, and materials.
Does Stamped Concrete Add Value to Your Property?
Stamped concrete is an appealing and easy to maintain patio material. It adds value to your property by boosting its curb appeal, safety, and by being durable, explains My Decorative.
What Type of Patio Is Cheapest?
The cheapest patio material is considered to be pea gravel. This is a more affordable alternative to concrete. Other ways to build a cheap patio include using materials such as pebbles, discarded brick from a demolition site, stamped concrete, or crushed stone.
Building a Deck or Patio – What’s Cheaper?
In general, building a patio is cheaper than building a deck, but the total price depends on the materials used, size of the addition, location of the addition, and additional features.
What Is the Cost to Build a Deck?
According to Home Guide, building a new desk would cost you around $25 per square foot if you use average materials. Of course, the price can vary depending on the materials used.
So, for a 12×12 deck installation using average quality materials, you’ll have to spend $3,600, for 12×16 deck you’ll have to pay $4,800, and for 20×20 deck around $10,000.
What Adds More Value to a Home: A Deck or Patio?
Even though both renovations done outside of your home add value to your property, installing a new deck has a greater ROI (return on investment) than installing a patio. The average ROI for a deck installation is around 76%, Nationwide explains, while the ROI for a patio is between 30%-60%.
What Is Better, Patio or Deck?
Before you google “patio builders,” “deck builders,” “patio construction near me,” or “local patio builders near me,” here are a few things to have in mind.
Whether a patio or deck is a better option depends on your location, budget, and preferences. When it comes to the location, if you want this area to be separate from the house, you should probably go with a patio. Decks, on the other hand, are a better choice if you want this area extending from the house.
Decks are more expensive to build than patios, but they add more value to your home than patios.
If you have in-ground pool and you want a place around the area where you can spend time with friends and family relaxing and cooking, a patio would work better. They are at an even level to your lawn, so surrounding trees, shrubs, and flower beds will be elements of this area.
A flat roof patio offers shelter and shade, similar to a flat porch roof.
On the other hand, a deck offers a wider visual range as it can be built off of the ground. They need to have some kind of boundary around their perimeter to ensure safety. This is usually a fence or railing.
No matter what you choose, days of outdoor enjoyment with your family and friends await as you can all enjoy your new outdoor living space.
If you have any questions about this article or deck and patio construction services, give us a call at 919-358-7426. We’d be happy to help you.
Belton’s Professional Lawn Care & Landscaping