The Most Popular Patio Materials

There are all types of patios and there are only six materials that are most commonly used for building them. Those six materials can afford you all kinds of creativity, durability, and flexibility in the planning and building of the patio. The patio you want is limited only by your imagination and your budget for the job.

Selecting the material you want for the job is going to be based around your personal tastes, the placement of the patio on your property, the size of the space, and of course, the amount of money you want to spend on the project.

We’ve spoken to a whole host of patio builders about the materials they prefer and are commonly used for their clients’ patios. Here are the options that chosen most often for home use:

Concrete

One of the very best materials to use on your patio floor is concrete. It brings together a mix of sand, water, gravel, and cement and brings about a much greater durability and flexibility than other similar alternatives such as brick. You can mold and manipulate concrete into just about any surface you wish.

Once you’re done, you can create a whole variety of finish options include smooth, brushed, painted, patterned, scored, and stamped, just to name a few. You can even mix small pebbles into the concrete for a unique aesthetic.

Brick

Brick is a very popular material for the patio because it has been designed and manufactured for dependability while maintaining a classic aesthetic that has been popular for decades. It can go with just about any architectural style and mixes well with multiple landscaping options. You will find a lot of homes are built out of brick, so you can be sure it’s a great choice for your patio.

Even more advantageous, you can place brick just about anywhere in and around your patio, whether it’s the floor, pathways, walls or even use it to edge the patio and landscaping. Traditionally, brick is known to have one single aesthetic but if you would prefer a little variety with your bricks, you can find patterned bricks bonds to offer your brick a unique appearance.

Flagstones

You can use flagstone for your patio, your front entryway, just about any place you wish to have large slabs of flat stone in the front or back of the house. Flagstones are typically one to three inches in thickness and they come in odd shapes. So, you can give your home a remarkable aesthetic with these misshapen and slabs.

No matter what type of flagstone you decide to use, most of them come with a distinct texture that makes them a good option for exterior spaces that require additional traction. Exterior living spaces and walkways in particular, these will be exposed to rain and moisture and the textured surface will help to prevent anyone from slipping and falling.

You can find flagstones in a whole range of types like sandstone, bluestone, and limestone. Just be sure that your limestones are at a minimum of 1 to 1 ½ inches thick You can go with slimmer widths, but you will need to lay down concrete or wet mortar first.

Pavers

You can find pavers in all kinds of colors now, whereas there were just a few options available previously. The newer paver options can even be made to resemble other materials from brick to cobblestone and homeowners will choose pavers for their unique appearance.

When laid down, pavers interlock with one another and do not require any grout or mortar in between the seams. They click together and offer a one-of-a-kind look that can complement any home. If you want your patio to stand out from the others, you may want to go with pavers as your material of choice.

Tiles

A word of warning upfront, if you are going to use tiles for your patio choose unglazed tile. The glazed versions come with a smooth surface and that can make them very slippery to walk upon when they get wet. So be careful about choosing the right kind of tile for your patio.

You can find unglazed tile in three types: quarry, terracotta, and porcelain. Each one has its own pros and cons for use in certain climates and regions. But whichever you choose, be sure the tile has been properly sealed or coated to keep it protected from the outdoor elements. Moisture can damage your tiles if they aren’t protected against the levels of precipitation in your area.