Patio installing

We've gathered everything you need to know from start to finish. If you're beginning from scratch, start with a little prep to successfully construct a beautiful patio.

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We'll walk you through the simple 4-step process. Concrete stairway. Move the pipe to a new location and begin the process again until the entire pavered area has a uniform and flat layer of bedding sand. Installing a border around paver patio. In order to achieve professional looking results, it is essential to install a paver border, whether it is the same blend as your field pavers or not. Before you start laying the border course, it will be necessary to re-layout your patio with marking paint.

Beginning in a corner closest to your home, lay the pavers along your home and out along the layout string you set earlier and following your layout marking until the entire border is laid. Installing the field pavers. Start laying the paver pattern in one corner and work your way across to the opposite corner.

In most cases, the paver along the opposite sides will need cut or trimmed to fit your design. Installing the joint sand to paver patio. After you have laid all the field pavers, it is time to install the paver restraint. This is a pretty simple installation and is self explanatory. Just lay the edging up tight against the pavers, down on the gravel and begin installing the 12" spikes into ALL the spike holes in the paver edging. Installing the joint sand to paver joints. As with all the above steps, how you install the joint sand is very important.

Choose either a fine sand or a polymeric sand manufactured for pavers. We recommend a professional grade polymeric sand to keep weeds from germinating in the joints. Start by spreading the sand over the entire paver patio and sweeping it into all the paver joints. With access still on the pavers, begin running the plate compactor all over the top of the pavers.

This will vibrate sand into the joints, but more importantly seat the pavers into the bedding sand. Once finished sweep off the excess sand. If you are using polymeric sand, follow the manufacturers instructions. EMAIL: designer mypatiodesign. My Account 0. Shopping Cart. My Account. Welcome to MyPatioDesign.

Login Create Account. Step 2. All tiles used outdoors on a patio must be rated for outdoor use. This often means the tiles are thicker and nonporous, in the case of man-made materials. The tiles are laid in a bed of sand or gravel and usually have sand packed between the joints 4.

Stamped concrete provides the look of many materials, including pavers, stone, wood, and other looks. It is made with poured concrete that is colored and pressed with molds to resemble other materials. It is very durable and does not need joints packed with sand. This can mean it is lower maintenance long term than other materials. Flagstones are large flat stone pieces. They must be individually fitted like a puzzle or mosaic on the patio.

The joints between them must be larger to make up for the irregular edges. These joints are filled with sand for a finished appearance. Flagstones often come in several colors, sometimes within one piece, giving the patio a varied appearance. Slate is a unique material that naturally splits along clefts. It can be formed into precise pavers or tiles or roughly split into ungauged pieces. The machined pieces have clean edges with straight lines that are relatively easy to install. The ungauged pieces are irregular and need more installation expertise.

Both are laid in a bed of sand or gravel and have sand packed between the joints. Pavers come in a range of shapes and sizes. In the case of stone pavers, they are thicker and larger than other materials. Pavers are set in a bed of sand or gravel. Sand is pushed between the joints to fill them. With the different available paver sizes and shapes, you can lay them in different patterns and configurations. This creates various styles and appearances for a patio. Bluestone pavers are large, thick, flat stone rectangles or squares.

The flags or pavers are very heavy and may be slightly irregular in size or shape. They are laid in a bed of sand or gravel and have sand pushed between the joints.

Bluestone flags are often very large, which can give your patio a more subtle look versus smaller pavers with a busier appearance. The labor costs to install a patio varies depending on the material. The remainder is made up of the pavers, sand, gravel bed, and delivery and equipment fees. For all patios, the ground must be cleared and leveled. This can be a very simple process or more extensive, depending on your yard, soil, and current landscaping.

From here, the process changes, depending on the patio type. For gravel patios, the gravel can be put down immediately once the area is cleared. For concrete, drainage may be necessary in some cases. In others, the concrete may go down right away onto the cleared area. In the case of any individual material, such as bricks, tiles, or pavers, a bed of gravel or sand is put down first.

Then, individual materials are placed and arranged. These variations mean the labor costs range. The more involved the process, the more layers of material, the more hands-on the work is, laying individual tiles or pavers or shaping the stamped concrete, the higher the labor costs. Patios can also be built or designed in numerous shapes, including those that work with natural features and landscaping.

Some shapes are more common than others because of how pavers and other patio building materials are shaped and laid. Squares, rectangles, and ovals are the three most common shapes you can find for standard patios.

L or U-shaped patios are available for multi-use patios, particularly if they wrap another landscaping feature like a fountain, fire pit, or pool. You can also custom design your patio. Drainage is an important part of patio design. A flat patio collects water and develops issues, such as cracking or sinking. Most patios are designed to slope away from your house, which allows the water to drain naturally.

If this is the case, you do not need additional drainage added, and you can install your patio right away. However, some patios are located on landscaping that wants to drain back toward the house. In those cases, you may need to install a drain.

The most common drain is a French drain 7. It may also be called a trench drain 7 , tile drain, or pipe drain. It is a perforated pipe installed beneath the patio. It carries excess water away to another part of the yard, usually in a lower area away from the house. French drains require more labor, excavation, and trenching, increasing your costs regardless of the material. Hire a patio builder in your area Find Pros. If you intend to use your patio in the evening and nighttime, install lighting.

There are many ways to illuminate a patio. You can use outdoor landscaping lighting or specific patio lights, such as string 8 lights or lanterns. You may also have the option of using recessed lights if you have a covered patio, depending on the cover material. Many people combine different lighting for the best results.

You can also combine your landscaping lighting with patio lighting to light your entire yard. Solar lights are a great addition to patios because they do not require an electrical connection.

Most can also be installed DIY, so there are no additional costs. Some solar lights can even be disguised as rocks so that you can hide them in your landscaping. Most solar lights come in groups so that you can purchase up to 10 at once and illuminate large areas in minutes. String lights are a great way of illuminating the patio and adding ambiance.

They come in multiple bulb and string length sizes. You can string them along a patio cover, twist them around poles, or attach them to the house beside the patio. They can be hung in minutes by the homeowner, so they do not require professional installation. You can also find a range of colors and styles to customize and complement your patio. Outdoor lanterns come in a range of styles and materials.

Some are designed for temporary use, but most are made to be permanent. They can be hung from a patio cover or placed on poles. They have varying degrees of brightness, and many can also accommodate smart bulbs to control brightness and use from a smartphone or smart speaker. Most lanterns require professional installation.

To use recessed patio lights, you need a cover to accommodate them. This usually means a wooden cover or roof, but some aluminum roofs may also work. The lights are installed like indoor recessed lights. They connect together and to the same power supply. Like interior recessed lights 9 , you have several style and color choices. You can add to or upgrade your patio in many ways. This improves its appearance and makes it more functional. Patio upgrades include things like furniture and heaters that can be moved or used as needed, or they can include permanent additions like outdoor kitchens and hot tubs.

Not every patio needs these upgrades, but many improve the way you interact with the area. Patio sitting walls are usually constructed of a similar material. If you use pavers, you can have a wall constructed of the same material as the pavers, usually slightly larger.

The sitting wall usually encompasses one end of the patio and can also wrap the entire area if desired. They can separate the patio from other areas, define the space, or be used near a dining area, outdoor kitchen, or fire pit for extra seating.

Because they are custom-made, the exact cost depends on the length and material. Patio heaters are a great way to extend the use of your patio into the cooler months. Patio heaters are typically tall, thin heaters that put out enough heat to adequately warm the space around them. They come in many sizes and BTUs. Larger patios may need a larger heater, or you may need to invest in two heaters to place one at either end for the best results. They can be powered by gas, propane 10 , or electricity, depending on your needs and their placement.

Patio furniture comes in many forms. It can be inexpensive plastic chairs and table sets or have elaborate upholstered couches, chairs, and glass and metal tables. When choosing a patio set, keep several things in mind. The first is: who is using it? Families with young children might want to start with cheap items and invest in higher quality later.

The next is: how often is it used and in what climate? Sturdier items used year-round cost more than things you might only bring out in the warmer months. There are many ways to add a fire pit to your patio. You can purchase a ready-made pit made of ready-to-use metal. You can also purchase a kit and build one yourself or have a fire pit built for you. Fire pits can burn wood or use fuel from your gas line.

Fire pits come in a range of sizes and styles. Consider its placement on the patio and seating and walking space around it when choosing and adding a fire pit. There are many reasons why you may want to add a walkway to or from your patio. If your patio is not beside your home, you may need a way to get to it.

If you have other landscaping features, you can add walkways from the patio to reach them. For example, you may want a walkway to a pool, fountain, garden, or other feature.

Patio roofs are a type of patio cover. Rather than a softcover like an awning, this is a permanent hardcover closely resembling a pavilion. These roofs can be made of many materials, with wood and aluminum being the two most common.

All patio roofs come in a range of styles, pitches, and sizes.