Patios
Patios are becoming more increasingly popular for homeowners as house additions. They are a great way to add usable space in the backyard for entertaining, lounging, cooking, and dining. A well-designed patio will add additional living space as well as increase your home’s resale value. Furthermore, there are proven health benefits to spending more time outside. Patios make your outdoor space more enjoyable by offering a level, comfortable, low-maintenance surface for furniture, fire pits, grills, etc. Patios can be constructed with a wide range of materials, but are most commonly paved with gravel, concrete, bricks, pavers, or natural stone. At Full Circle Land Design, we consider what different uses the homeowner wants, the budget they would like to stay within, any existing and potential drainage issues, the style of house, etc when deciding the paving material, size and shape of the patio. As an experienced paving company in Chattanooga, our team at Full Circle Land Design has gathered some helpful information over the years regarding the different type of patios to help you determine what material best fits your needs.
Paver patio, raised planter beds, landscaping, and low voltage lighting in Cleveland, TN
Pea Gravel
The easiest, less expensive route is using decorative pea gravel with some sort of metal or stone border around the perimeter. Pea gravel consists of small, rounded stones the size of 3/8-inch diameter peas, as the name suggests. There are a variety of colors, but brown is the most common. When it comes to installing pea gravel patios, the installation process is quite simple, only requiring a couple of inches of excavation. This helps to minimize site disturbance and haul-off costs. Also, it can easily be dumped into any shape or size patio, making pea gravel a good choice for curvilinear patios in natural settings. Filter paper (or landscape fabric) is important to keep the subsoil from mixing with the gravel and helps keep the top layer of dirt from eroding. Pea gravel also helps to prevent erosion since water runoff can percolate through the stones into the ground below. Keep in mind that the loose stones are not ideal for chairs or tables since they tend to shift. Be sure to consider the furniture used on a pea gravel patio to make sure it is compatible with the shifting stones. Also, you may have to rake the stones back in place occasionally.
Concrete
If you are looking for a low-maintenance patio that is more solid than pea gravel, yet still affordable, then concrete may be a viable option. Concrete is quick and easy to install and can take on many shapes. Unfortunately, concrete will eventually crack leaving you with unattractive marks in the patio. Unlike pavers or loose gravel, repairs are often very difficult and unsightly. This is a big concern in the Chattanooga area since many yards are sloped and experience erosion. Concrete also does not have the timeless beauty or resale value of pavers. Some companies can install stamped concrete to make it look like pavers or stone, but we find that it doesn’t look as good, can be slippery, typically loses its color, and requires resealing. If you are looking for a material that offers a smooth, strong surface but looks great, then consider concrete pavers (Please Note: we do no offer concrete installation services).
Pavers
Paver installation is one of our most popular services that we offer at at Full Circle Land Design. Pavers are often made of concrete and come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, styles, and sizes. However, they tend to cost a good bit more than pea gravel or concrete. Not only is the material more, but the excavation and installation process are much more involved. The overall beauty, durability, and return value of pavers, though, often outweigh the higher cost for most homeowners. A typical paver patio installation is between 300 and 400 square feet and will cost between $17 and $22 per square foot depending on the pavers, site access, excavation, etc. The customer’s needs and budget, as well as the site, will ultimately determine the size and shape of the patio. The wide range of paver shapes and colors allows for more design creativity, especially with patterns. Contact us today if you are interested in a quote for paver installation!
Belgard is our preferred line of pavers due to the outstanding quality and array of paver products they have to offer. We often suggest using a three-piece pattern consisting of 3x6, 6x6, and 6x9 pavers. While there are several different patterns that can be used, we tend to go with a random pattern to help them all blend together seamlessly while using all of the different pieces evenly. One of the best things about pavers is that they can be permeable. Permeable pavers create a sustainable, low impact surface by allowing water runoff to filter down in between the individual pavers. We install a permeable base with gravel underneath to further allow water to percolate below. Pavers are easy to repair if any are to crack or get stained by simply popping them out and replacing with new ones. If settling occurs, we can remove the pavers in the sunken area, relevel with sand, and put the pavers back in place for an easy, seamless fix.
Natural Stone
One of the most beautiful paving options is natural stone, or flagstone. Patios constructed with natural stone offer an organic look due to their irregular shape and earthy tones of browns, greys, and blues. Natural stone can also come in cut rectangular or squared pieces providing a more formal look. Flagstone patios can be laid dry for a permeable surface, meaning water runoff can percolate between the joints much like permeable pavers. Stone aggregate, moss, grass, or ground cover is often used to fill in the joints between the stone pieces. Be sure to consider the furniture being used since the joint size and filler may cause uneven areas. Another way to install a flagstone patio is using mortar joints. This will create a more functional surface for furniture to sit on; however, the concrete in between the stones will not allow water to pass through. Any drainage issues should be considered and dealt with appropriately since there will be more water runoff. You want to keep the mortar joint thickness at a minimum to reduce cracking and allow for more stone pieces. Since flagstone does not have a perfectly flat surface when cut, your patio will not be as even or smooth as a paver or concrete patio. For a more uniform, flat surface consider travertine. Travertine is the most beautiful and versatile paving option out there — which makes it our favorite choice! Some key characteristics of travertine are:
Heat resistant, non-slip surface makes them ideal for around pools
Withstands weathering
Color won’t fade since they are a natural stone
Unique, timeless beauty with an array of color options
Durable and can be sealed if desired
Add-On Features
The patio is often the foundation of your outdoor living space. But it is the accessories that make it unique, comfortable, and even more beautiful. Whether you are looking to add color around the patio or create a cozy place for a fire, here are some common patio features you should consider. Plants will help soften the perimeter of the patio. A good plant pallet will be lush and provide seasonal color. The most common request we come across from homeowners is that the landscaping be low maintenance. We do this by installing slow-growing and dwarf varieties of plants that do not require much pruning. To keep weeds down, we suggest a 2-3” thick layer of hardwood mulch. Some homeowners ask for weed fabric to be put down before the mulch. This is an added expense that we find is not needed.
We discourage homeowners from using weed fabric because:
Even though it helps to reduce the weeds, it won’t get rid of them entirely. Weeds will still grow through the fabric, and they are often more difficult to pull out.
The fabric gets pulled up by animals and become an eyesore.
Once the fabric is down, it makes it very difficult to add plants later or to divide plants as they grow.
The fabric is very difficult to cut, especially with a shovel, if you ever want to add annuals.
Check out our Landscaping page to find out more about the benefits of landscaping.
Fireplaces and fire pits are a great way to add warmth to your patio. They are often the main focus of the patio, too. The designers at Full Circle Land Design have some tips if you are waffling between a fireplace and fire pit. Fireplaces are more expensive but make much more of an impact. They are great for a more intimate space since you need to be pretty close in order to feel the heat from the fire. If you are considering a covered pavilion or pergola, a fireplace is usually the better option since the chimney will protect the overhead roof structure from catching fire or getting stained by smoke. We consider fire pits to be much more of a social fire feature than a fireplace. That is because you can have much more people sitting all around and enjoying the fire. Not to mention you can cook on it and enjoy smores. Since the fire is bigger you will need more room around it for optimal comfort. A seat wall on one side is a nice addition to create more seating and save on space. Both fireplaces and fire pits come in wide range shapes, sizes, and styles. They can be either gas or wood burning. We can either install a pre-made kit or custom design and build one for you.
To further enhance the outdoor living experience, a pergola can help define a lounging or dining space on the patio. Pergolas refer to a freestanding structure often constructed with wood, vinyl, or steel. The lattice top of the pergola will add a bit of shade from the hot afternoon sun. Usually, pergolas are built without walls, but modifications can be made to create privacy. If your patio consists of a hot tub, a pergola will help to create a more cozy, intimate setting. And a wooden screen or outdoor curtains will offer privacy from nosy neighbors. If you desire a more protected outdoor living room, a covered pavilion is the optimal choice. The roof is solid to protect you and your furniture from the outdoor elements. The roof can be either shingles to match your house or metal to create a unique look. Oftentimes, a gas or wood fireplace is added as the centerpiece of the pavilion with wood boxes on either side. A fully furnished pavilion will certainly be the epicenter of your backyard, perfect for entertaining, eating, or just relaxing. If you would like to see some ideas take a look at our Gallery.