Garden designers love to talk about the benefits of a seamless extension of your indoor living accommodation into your outdoor space – and the installation of a patio is the natural first step to achieving this idyllic scenario.

As a result, patios have become one of the most popular features in UK gardens today, providing a dedicated space in the outdoor room (which joins with the main living accommodation), specifically designed for outside dining, relaxation or recreation. Regardless of whether you have a rambling country retreat with plenty of space, or a small urban back yard, a patio makes it possible to create a dedicated outdoor living zone. And if you needed any further persuasion, lifestyle benefits aside, a patio will also add to the value of your home, according to a report in the Scottish Sunday Mail which claims “a new patio will add more in value to your house than the cost of laying it”.

The key benefit of a patio lies in its undisputed ability to extend the amount of time you are able to spend in the garden.  In the warmer months, the patio becomes the central hub for informal entertaining and socialising with an endless flurry of barbecues and impromptu garden parties – with the excellent advantage of dispensing with worries about mess and accidental spillages ruining the carpeting! As the temperatures begin to drop, the patio comes into its own by providing a safe place for the kids to play (thankfully without their play stations or Wii games) whilst getting some good old-fashioned fresh air.

Location location location

The natural siting for a patio is immediately outside any patio doors (if your property boasts this feature) or alternatively immediately outside the back door of the house.  Given you are likely to be using the patio for outdoor dining, easy access to the kitchen is key.  Think carefully about which parts of your garden enjoy a sunny aspect – although sitting in the glorious sunshine sounds appealing, the reality is that when you are sitting down eating a meal it is far more comfortable to be in a slightly shaded area.  Many people choose to position the patio in the warmest part of the garden but invest in a shade solution such as a good size parasol, bespoke awning or even – for the more adventurous – a contemporary sail.

Shapely solutions

The shape of your patio needs to be considered not only in terms of the space available, but also in relation to the overall styling you are hoping to achieve in your outdoor room.

Circular patios: part of a circle can often look better than a full circle when it’s right up against the house – it creates interesting shapes around the edges for planting.

A circular patio in the middle of the garden will reflect a modern look, although it can also be used in a formal garden. Think about having two overlapping circular paved areas, of different sizes or at different levels, for a less symmetrical look. Positioned at the rear of the garden a circular paved area makes an unusual ‘hidden’ feature, or it can also provide a perfect base for a gazebo.

Square patios: a square patio at the front of the garden can easily look a little unadventurous, unless you use a variety of textures, or add detail around the edge, such as building hollow-topped dwarf walls to plant in.  it may be worth considering taking a corner out create a more inspiring L-shape.

A square patio in the middle of the garden suits a formal courtyard-style garden, but once again, it is in danger of lacking impact unless you add detail like a central water feature, sculpture or container display.

A plain shape is easily lost when positioned at the rear of the garden where it’s flanked by planting, although it makes a good base for a summerhouse with seating space in front of it. However, note that a square, rectangular or L-shaped patio is the most economical shape if you are a sun worshipper and plan to install a series of sunloungers in the garden.

Triangular patios: a triangular patio at the front of the garden suits a modern design, and it adds drama to a typically rectangular garden. A triangular patio in the middle of the garden is only really suited to an outdoor space which boasts a very strong modern design. At the rear of the garden a triangular patio is ideal for a private seating area tucked away in a corner.

Sort out your surface

The appearance of the finished patio is often the first priority for many people. The choice of materials available to work with is endless and includes natural stone flags, man-made slabs, slate paves, bricks, crazy paving, concrete paves and granite setts. Generally your final decision in terms of surface choice will be largely dictated by budget, the style of your property, anticipated practical usage and personal preference. It’s harder to place furniture on some of the rough textured surfaces and if you have children riding tricycles, elderly friends or family who might trip, be sure to avoid anything that might produce an uneven surface.

One important consideration to bear in mind if you opt for a natural sandstone surface in today’s increasingly “ethically conscious” society is where and how the stone has been sourced. Make sure that the stone has been processed and supplied to comply with ethical trading standards.

John Key is a website designer in the UK and has recently designed and built an all new website for Outdoor-Creations.co.uk, leading garden designers and garden landscapers.

When it comes to planning the landscape for the patio, be it renovating an old one or making a brand new one, it is very important to begin with a fresh surface of concrete, stone or brick. The most important factor in landscaping your patio is the foundation; it will help you build a cozy place for you whole family to enjoy.

Using material for your patio

Choosing the right material for your patio is a very important factor as it is a place to relax for you & your family. Any material can be used as long as it is hard and durable, like stone, rock, concrete, bricks etc or you could even experiment with tiles if you want to give your patio a fancy look. It is advisable to select materials that suit your style and preferences and that of your family as well.

Where to begin with while building a patio

Building forms is the most important aspect while building a new patio. The forms add extra height to the perimeter, which provides the extra foundational support. It is essential to ensure that the edges are smooth and no nails are sticking out from the sides of the patio and that the height is even with the doorway or the entrance of your home.

Once you decide and are done with the patio forms you need to add some curves to the design. Use bender boards for this purpose. These are made of plastic and as the name suggests it can be bended to ones requirement. Using these for the patio will give an overall look and feel. This will make it look elegant and stylish.

Match the flooring materials you add.

It should not be difficult now to use your imagination and creativity to select the right flooring material for this design. Choose one that matches the theme and does not dominate the look. Remember you want the flooring to compliment the patio.

Adding the finishing touches

Adding color will help you create a more inviting look to your patio. To achieve this you can add shrubs and flowers to your overall landscaping plan. You can use a variety of flowers for your patio landscaping. This can be done very creatively depending on whether you want to do a simple arrangement or a more complicated beautiful on.

Adding Potted Plants

If you don’t want to grow plants around your patio, you can opt for plants that are in pots. They are easy to maintain and can be placed wherever you want. One can find unique pots in the market that can help to add that additional touch to the overall theme. Your family and friends can have a wonderful time enjoying this place.

Andrew Caxton is the editor of different articles with reference to lawn care for http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com . You can find more information and resources on cutting grass at his website.

If a concrete patio is decorated well after being built, it can
be an attractive part of your landscaping. It also adds
convenience to your landscaping since it is rectangular and easy
to mow around. Concrete patios also offer great places to
entertain guests and a way to increase property value. Rather than paying someone else to do it, you
can save time and money by building the concrete patio on your
own in about 3 days. It is a relatively small amount of time and
effort to build when compared to how long the patio will last.
It will be very durable and can withstand years of wear and tear.

Planning the Patio

You need to begin by planning your patio. How big do you want it
to be? You’ll then need to mark off that area. Do you have all
of the necessary tools? How much concrete will be needed? A
common size for a patio is 50 square feet. To make a patio about
this size, at 6 inches thick, you will need 25 bags of pre-mixed
concrete. For the pre-mixed concrete (the best option) you will
need to have concrete tools and an automatic concrete mixer. If
you do not have these, don’t want to buy them, or you can’t
borrow them, you can rent them from a home improvement or
hardware store.

After marking off the area, you should use a garden shovel to dig
out the area six inches deep. Digging at this depth will allow
you to use 2 inches of gravel beneath 4 inches of concrete. It
is very important to do this in cold climates where freezing and
thawing can cause drainage problems. The gravel will prevent
these problems and prevent your patio from cracking.

After excavating the area for the patio, you should build a form
out of wood to hold the gravel and concrete in place. This will
prevent the concrete and gravel from spreading out past where you
want your patio to be. Other options besides wood for the form
are to use strong plastic or rubber. No matter what you use, the
entire form should be sunk into the ground and line the entire
border of the patio area. The top of the form should be at the
same level as the top of the lawn if you want the patio to be
flush with the ground. Next, you will add the gravel. Make sure
it is packed somewhat tightly so it doesn’t shift in the future.
Next, you should add two-inch high flat pieced of rock. These
will act as supports for the rebar that will reinforce the
concrete.

Forming the Grid

The rebar is made in a grid form, and will be installed in the
middle of the 4 inch thick concrete slab. You should install it
by putting pieces 2 feet apart from front to back an left to
right. Secure the intersections of the rebar together with
wiring. It is necessary to have the rebar to help unify the
concrete and to provide extra support for the patio.

Next, you should use the automatic mixer to mix the concrete.
Closely follow the directions for adding water. You should add
water first with a hose, then begin adding concrete. You can
begin adding water again until the concrete becomes a medium
shade of shiny gray throughout. Once the concrete is mixed, you
can begin to pour it into the form. You should begin to pour at
the end of the patio farthest from the concrete mixer. You will
most likely want to transport the concrete in a wheel barrow. It
is important that you have several filler rocks ready to add to
the concrete mixture. You should have everything prepared as
much as possible before pouring, because once you begin to apply
the concrete, you should pour as quickly as possible.

After the concrete is poured, use a creed to smooth out the
surface and to take off excess concrete above the top of the form
boards. Using a mason’s trowel, you should now cut initial
control joints into the patio. The joints should be 2 inches
deep, 3-4 feet apart from each other. When a watery layer
appears, you should wait for it to disappear before you move on.
Using a jointer will help you finish the control joints. You can
then make a clean groove, about one inch deep.

Finishing

Last, you can finish by adding any stylistic elements that you
would like. Pushing a broom lightly over the surface, for
example, will create a nice look while being functional in
preventing a slippery surface in wet weather. After you do this,
you should lay plastic over the patio for the concrete to “cure”
(dry) properly. The plastic should be left on for 1 week, and
you should not heavily use the patio for at least 2 weeks after
that.

Did you know that a landscaped patio area can add as much as 12.4% to the value of a property!
Once the patio is completed it’s time to look at adding some landscaping as the next project for your patio.

Keith Markensen looks at landscaping around a patio pulling from his decades of landscape experience. Keith regularly shares his professional landscape knowledge at http://www.Plant-Care.com

A patio in a garden can be categorized into two types. The first one is attached to the house building, preferable in the backyard. Such types of patio will be a semi-open space with seating arrangement like cane chairs and a small coffee table. Because of it’s semi-open nature the residents can enjoy the view of the outside garden by seating inside the patio.

The second type of patio is detached from the house building into the garden itself. A small paved walk connects the patio and the house building. In this type also the design of patio is of semi-open type so that the residents can enjoy the view. Such type of patio can also contain a doghouse or any other arrangement for the safety of pets.

Patios can be designed with enough creativity. The second type of patio mentioned above can be treated as a separate building in itself and can have a very different theme that the rest of the house.

The construction of a patio in the garden is very simple. A brick wall with medium height and a sloping roof that is supported by vertical posts is an ideal patio design. Container gardening works best with such kind of patios. The main purse of a patio is to just create a small space to enjoy the surroundings and carry out certain human activities. A design that creates a habitable space is enough for a patio.

A little creativity can create wonders in patio landscaping. The surrounding landscaping can be merged into patio interiors for creating extra interest. For example a potion of the lawn or even fishpond can be taken into interior of the patio. As I said earlier the main purpose of a patio is to enjoy the garden fro m close. So such kind of ideas work really well in patio landscaping design.

Copyright Shrinivas Vaidya

Want more free tips on patio landscaping? Visit my website http://www.LandscapingDatabase.com to get great free tips to create a stunning landscaping ideas easily.

Building a concrete patio is hard work, but with a lot of planning, a bit of sweat, and the know-how below, it’s definitely a job that you can tackle yourself.

1) Like most home improvement projects, a little planning goes a long, long way. You should not only plan your concrete patio itself but be sure to have all the materials you’ll need.

Anything other than a tiny concrete patio will require renting a cement mixer. If you’re building a typical six inch thick patio, you’ll need one bag of pre-mixed concrete for every two square feet of patio.

2) Dig out the patio shape with a shovel, digging down at least six inches if you live in an area that freezes in the winter. If you’re building next to your house, establish a grade so that water will run off the patio.

The easiest way to establish a grade is to drive stakes into the ground at the high end as well as the low end, and then hang a string and line level between them.

Try to dig out the patio so that you have a grade of 1 inch for every 3-4 feet.

3) Build a form from 2×6 lumber that will hold gravel and concrete. This is the basic frame for the outer edge of the patio and once inserted into the area you’ve excavated, it should be level with the ground, assuming you want your patio to be flush.

4) Once the form is in place, put down a two inch base of gravel. This will provide some flexibility so that the concrete won’t crack during the winter when it freezes.

5) Insert rebar as reinforcement into the hole, making a grid by placing sections of rebar either one foot or two feet apart, moving from front to back and then from left to right.

6) Mix the concrete in the automatic mixer. Pour the concrete as quickly as possible, mixing in filler rocks as you go and using a straight board (called a screed) to keep it level. Drag the screed down the length of the form, with it resting on both sides.

Use a float to smooth out any lumps, sweeping it in a long arc and taking care not to gouge it into the concrete.

7) For larger patios, you’ll need to cut control joints with a trowel to prevent the slab from cracking. These are grooves cut every 3 feet or so in the concrete. For the first pass, use the trowel to etch them in place, with the edge of a board as a guide to keep them straight. Once in place, extend the grooves deeper to about one inch deep with the jointer.

Cover the patio with plastic sheeting so that it can cure properly. The sheeting traps moisture in and prevents the concrete from drying to quickly. Try to keep the patio covered for at least a week with the sheeting and avoid putting too much stress on the new patio for at least a month, as concrete takes 3-4 weeks to completely cure.

In addition to designing patios and decks for my own backyards, I’ve also written a ton of freelance articles about patios, pools, and decks for print and Web publications, as well as on my own Patio to Pool website.