Adding a patio to your home is a great way to use any outdoor space. It’ll liven up your home and give you an excellent area to use for socials or relaxation time. But it’s easy to get caught up in the hype, causing you to overlook a few things that could make your patio even better!
This article will examine common mistakes people make when building a new patio.
Avoid these mistakes when building your patio.
No patio is going to be 100% perfect! But you should be able to get them at least 99% of the way! Here are some mistakes we’d suggest you look out for:
Trying to do it yourself
Building a new patio might seem like a simple job. Still, there’s a lot to it, like getting council approval and meeting their design requirements, choosing materials, and designing and building a sound structure that’ll last time. The mistake here lies in trying to do all of this yourself.
Now, you might be pretty good with your hands, and that’s great! You can still do a lot of DIY work for your patio! But, regarding the approvals and building side of the patio, we’d suggest hiring a professional to ensure the job is done right. There are other benefits to this as well.
Say you build the patio and accidentally mix the wrong ratios of concrete. As a result, it doesn’t set. The cost will be on you to replace the concrete, making the job even more expensive. But, if a mistake like this happens with a professional, which is pretty unlikely, then the cost will fall on them.
Not utilising natural light.
One of the best uses of a patio is to create a corner where you can sit and enjoy the sunlight! People often build a patio based on the area available without considering how much light it gets. As a result, their patio is always dark and dingy, with very little warmth making it uncomfortable. Now, you don’t want the sun to scorch you while you sit there. But, having enough natural light entering the patio with some sunlight at different can really change its atmosphere!
Selecting the wrong materials
Choosing the wrong materials is another common problem when building a patio. Here, we need to talk about two things: choosing the wrong materials for your area and choosing them because of the lack of funds. Finances are tight, it’s understandable, but you need to understand that when you buy cheap, you’ll usually get lower-quality materials. The issue with purchasing lower-quality materials is that they don’t last as long. They’re wear and tear faster, and you’ll have to replace them sooner. The solution? Instead, save a bit longer and purchase reputable materials with good reviews and a good warranty.
To the first point there. Buy appropriate materials for the area you live in. Some common materials used on patios are wood, steel, ceramic tiles, or composite materials. If you stay next to the ocean, steel might not be the wisest option because it’ll rust. Likewise, if you stay in an area with a lot of rain, wood might not be suitable because it’s porous. So, choose the right materials.
Getting your measurements wrong
It’s easy for homeowners to envision a patio in a particular area, but that area is too small when it comes to reality. It doesn’t work like they imagined it would. This is where having a professional helps. Because they have the experience, they’ll know instantly when something isn’t going to fit and will be able to suggest a better plan of action for you.
Another issue that affects this is cluttering the patio with several other features. If the area you’re using for the patio is already tiny, adding a fire pit, barbeque area, and furniture might make it too cramped. To avoid this, we’d suggest writing up your design for accurate patio measurements and the extras you will put on it. This will give you an idea of how everything will work with its size.
Installing the right lighting
Lighting is another component that can completely change the atmosphere of your patio. We’ve already spoken about the need for natural light on the patio; now, let’s look at mechanical lights. Installing lights into your patio can extend its use into the evenings. Lights also add security, allowing you to light up the area around your house. You can even hang up warm fairy lights to create a more sober, relaxing environment. Don’t neglect how functional lights can be on a patio.
Final Thoughts
Just imagine chilling on your patio with the sun hitting your seat perfectly on a mid-summer evening! It’s possible! All you need to do is consider the factors above when designing your patio. So, just to recap, consider the natural and mechanical lighting options, what materials you’ll need, and the size of your patio before you start building. This should ensure that you hit that 99%!
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