Transforming your outdoor space is easier than it might seem when you opt for a professionally installed patio. The result is an oasis, only feet from your kitchen, that you can use to entertain guests, make memories with family and have quiet time in the early mornings or evenings.
When you put thought into your building plans and took the time to prepare, you can achieve a beautiful patio outdoor living space, especially when it’s built with natural-looking EP Henry stone products. No matter the look and base materials you choose, you should follow a few best practices to ensure your paver patio installation proceeds smoothly. Check out our five tips for preparing for a patio installation.
1. Decide on Paver Patio Square Footage
One of the biggest questions you’ll have to answer in the initial planning stages is: how big do you want your patio area to be? The answer to that question depends on what you’re using your deck for.
Eating Family Meals:
- Make sure your entire area can fit a table comfortably with extra room for chairs. A good rule is to add 4 feet around the table so people can walk behind seated others.
Hosting Barbecues and Cocktail Parties:
- Leave room for an outdoor kitchen, prep station and serving area, and a grill, whether built-in or freestanding. Consider handrails with broad, flat caps so guests can rest their drinks or food plates, and perimeter seating is helpful for large gatherings.
Lounging and Relaxation:
- Find a sunny or shady spot and make room for a lounge chair and a small table. Add sand and stones in corners for a homey relaxing feel. If local codes allow for it, adding a fire pit can help create a cozy ambiance on chilly late summer or fall nights.
2. Visualize Your Layout and Test It
Make some adjustments if necessary to perfect your paver patio plan. Use stakes and strings or spread sand and landscape fabric to outline your patio’s potential footprint. Test-drive furniture within the space and walk around inside to ensure you like the views and shape. Consider the position of the sun during the morning and afternoon: do you want your patio mainly in the sun, or do the trees around provide sufficient shade?
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3. Select Materials
The materials you choose will depend on the look you want to create for your backyard. First, select the patio base materials.
Traditional base material includes concrete or compacted gravel base. You need to consider the cost, maintenance, aesthetic and functionality factors. Some materials are plain, while others have a decorative flat surface.
After choosing the patio base, you can select your patio pavers’ materials. Choose from solid or mottled stone patio materials and ask for various patterns to be laid into your new paver patio to increase visual interest in your backyard.
Prince William Home Improvement uses EP Henry products for patios; they have a wide range of paver patio products that comes in different sizes, shapes and colors. EP Henry products include concrete pavers and stone that create a natural-looking peaceful environment in your backyard. The smooth stone surface is rigid yet flexible, perfect for patio pavers. The joints installed between the pavers allow the patio surface to move without cracking, and it also requires less digging to “unzip” them for access to utilities or to make minor repairs. Plus, the spacing between pavers ensures stones can expand and contract with outdoor temperature changes, so your patio pavers won’t give way to unsightly and potentially dangerous cracks.
Other materials that may be needed during patio installation include excess sand, sod cutter, garden hose, plate compactor and more. A professional patio installation company can provide some materials to help build your paver patio.
4. Tackle Legal Issues
Before beginning to build or install your pavers patio, check with your state, county or city offices for what permits may be necessary for constructing a patio. There may be building code requirements and forms you must fill out to get approval from the right people.
If you live in an area with a homeowner’s association, ensure your deck plans don’t conflict with established rules. One way to reduce the legal and code hassles of installing a patio is to work with a professional patio provider such as PWHI.
5. Consider Patio Pavers Safety
Be sure to check with local utility companies for the location of any underground wires, cables or pipes that may interfere with patio installation. At Prince William Home Improvement, we can assist you with this process before we begin to install your patio.
When you take the time to prepare by tackling legal and safety issues, choosing the suitable materials you want and making key decisions on the size and layout of your patio, you can help ensure the installation proceeds smoothly. Before you know it, you’ll have transformed your backyard into an outdoor living space that you and your family can enjoy for many years in the future.
Contact Our Patio Installation Experts Today
Contact our team or call us at 703-492-1294 today to speak to an expert about transforming your home with a new patio! We look forward to partnering with you to bring life to your home by building a patio that fits your budget and style.
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