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Please take a look at my backyard in the attached photos. I want to put in a paver patio but I can’t visualize what shape will look best. As you can see, the house and landscaping form a [ shape. My best guess is that a rectangular patio that roughly follows the contour of the house would look best, but I’m open to suggestion. I know that there’s a lot of vision/talent out there so I would like to hear a few suggestions before I get to work. I am only going to be in this house another year before I get transferred, so I am not going to do anything elaborate, just a place to put the grill and the patio furniture and enhance the resale value. I live in Louisiana so big bucks spent on improving the house probably won’t be returned when I sell. Thanks! Frank |
Replies
Do oyu want the patio directly adjacent to the covered porch, or as a seperate area? Are you willing to remove any of the existing landscaping and hardscaping?
No, I really am not interested in removing any of the current landscaping as I just had it put in this summer! I had them put in irrigation and stone retaining wall, so it would be a major waste of money to pull any of it out. My thought was to have a strip of grass between the landscaping and the patio and the patio would be centered out there.
Frank
Alright, that makes it easier..... Or harder. Your site looks pretty level, and it's certaily clear, so I don't think there would be any particular spot that would be better suited than another. It all depends on how you tie it into the exsiting landscape that you have. thats what will make the difference in asthetics.
looking at those pics is a little hard - kind of like looking at the Washington Monument through a soda straw...
Weather you use concrete pavers or paver bricks, consider coming up with a design that will minimize cutting if possible. Not sure if you have ever done this before, but you will likely have to rent a large wet saw with a diamond blade, but even still the cutting can be very time consuming.
As a contradiction to that, some flowing edges would be nice to compliment your curved retaining wall. Regarding leaving a grass strip between the proposed patio and the small retaining wall, from a design point I think it is unnecessary since you already have the flower/shrub beds between the porch and the proposed patio, and the grass strip would mean extra maintenance (harder to mow) - assuming you use a rider. Also, your spaces would be well defined by the bed separator, but at the same time in an entertaining situation, people on the patio would still be "connected" with the people on the porch - kind of like a multi level deck.
On the other hand, if the intention is to put the patio sort of out in the yard with walk way going out there; two entirely separate "living areas" that would be nice too - I'm just opposed to a thin grass strip.
Not sure what you want to put on the patio (if anything) but if you want to put some furniture, chairs, table & umbrella, grill, or something like that, plan your space carefully but liberally by actually drawing in the furniture to-scale on the to-scale plan. Several decks I built for people, I went back later after they "furnished" it and it was nothing but crowded looking and cluttered feeling.
Just some ideas to get you thinking about some different things.
Edited 10/16/2006 7:24 pm ET by Matt
"Weather you use concrete pavers or paver bricks, consider coming up with a design that will minimize cutting if possible."I think the nicest paver patios are the ones that contrast the square edges of the house with lots of flowing curves.We're putting in a paver patio this weekend (hopefully). I thought the curves would be great. Then I thought about all the cutting. So, now we're going for lots of 90 degree angles and a basket weave pattern. If I do it right, I might get away with no cuts! ;o)
a nice half circle coming off those steps from the porch would look really sharp.
10 feet out from the last step.
Any good landscape supply hard could set you up with the victorian circle bricks.
All pavers are presized and shaped to get the circle pattern you need.
Never any cutting
Good Luck
I like pavers - and have a whole lot of them in a patio & walk to prove it - but in your case I'd strongly recommend costing out stamped & stained concrete. Pavers can get very pricy; your cost-to-value may well come out better with concrete.
Sorry, don't have any ideas on the layout.
Thanks for the good ideas everyone, I haven't decided how I'm going to do it yet but I will post some pics when I get it done.
Frank
with that size of pic there will a few here that won't attempt to open them..
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