It’s hard to beat that new paver feeling, when you linger in your driveway a few extra minutes just to admire how great it looks.
Or, in rarer situations, you move your bed out to the patio because you can’t bear to leave the beauty of it all.
Paver projects add a huge visual boost to your home, but they won’t continue to look great without occasional sealing.
If you’re standing in the backyard with a ruler and your Pinterest patio printouts trying to decide how big your new patio should be, you might be overwhelmed.
You don’t want your cool new outdoor space to be way too big and cost more than it has to, but you don’t want things to feel too cramped, either, and have your party spill over into your pretty petunia beds.
What size patio do I need?
Ground Source landscape designer Eric Frisch says there’s no average patio size — the beauty of patio design is creating a space that perfectly suits your lifestyle. But he offers some helpful tips:
If you’re sitting on a patch of dirt in your backyard, perched on a wobbly busted lawn chair, you’re probably pondering a landscaping re-do. There’s definitely room for improvement, right?
When you daydream about your beautiful new paver patio, you don’t imagine somebody tripping over a crooked paver and tumbling into your avocado corn salsa.
That’s because in your daydream, your pavers are expertly installed. No uneven pavers sticking up, or sunken pavers, or cracked pavers.
Everybody loves a good shortcut, right?
But it doesn’t always work out.
Like that peanut butter and jelly swirled together in one jar. That just seems wrong.
Same thing with installing pavers over concrete. It sure sounds easier than jackhammering out your existing concrete, right?
Unless you’re an otter, you’ll probably spend more time on your pool patio than actually in the pool.
Is your pool patio design perfect?
Lots of pool patio areas aren’t very inviting. Patios with outdated concrete squares are pretty common in Florida. And not very exciting.
You can do a lot better than that.
Pondering a paver patio or driveway, but have some concerns?
Maybe you know a guy whose pavers started sinking.
Maybe your neighbor had a paver driveway installed but the color faded.
Worried about paver patio drainage? Tripping? Weeds sprouting in-between?
Everybody loves a patio. It’s a relaxing space to lounge with a good book, host a dinner party, or watch the neighbor mow his lawn while you happily do nothing.
But what patio material to choose? Concrete? It’s cheap, right? More money to buy steaks to grill.
Or pavers? Pavers look pretty fancy. They’d make the whole yard look better. And they make a really stunning driveway. But can you afford it?
If you’ve decided to add a fire pit to your patio and all you can think about now is s’mores, we don’t blame you.
In fact, save us a couple, will you?
Meanwhile, there are a few things to keep in mind, besides watching for a sale on graham crackers.
Is it possible to find paradise in your own backyard?
What if it had a pool, a mini beach with a hammock and fire pit, festive string lights, and plenty of comfy lounge chairs?
Pretty close.