How to Design and Build a Stone or Brick Patio
Posted: December 30, 2015
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There’s nothing more rewarding than getting your hands dirty, investing your time, energy and sweat into creating something of your own. Designing and building a brick or stone patio is an excellent project that will reap benefits year after year. If you’re considering taking on this project, here is some practical, step-by-step advice to help ensure that the end result is a resounding success!
Step 1 – Choose Your Location
There are a lot of factors that go into choosing a location for a brick or stone patio. First and foremost, you’ll want to select an area that’s large enough to suit your needs. You’ll also want to pick a spot that’s convenient. After all, you’ll want to get as much use out of the area as possible once the project’s complete. Plan the shape and size of the area so you’ll know how much materials you’ll need for the next step.
Some other important factors to take into consideration when choosing a location include:
- Slope – Unless you’d like to also build a retaining wall, stick with spots that have no more than ¼ inch slope per square foot.
- Drainage – Spots that are too low could become a big problem when it rains. Keep this in mind.
- Digging Issues – Consider things like slate, tree roots, pipes and underground wires when you’re looking for the perfect patio spot. All of these could cause a huge headache when it comes time to dig.
- Shade – How much shade are you comfortable with? If you’d like the option of sun, you may want to choose an open location and instead use patio umbrellas or shade sails to control the amount of shelter you have.