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For several reasons, clients often opt for patios instead of decks to complete their landscapes. Patrick Beam, chief landscape architect, Lindsay-Wright Co., Columbus, Ohio, offers these pro-patio precepts as selling points.
Price. Though decks offer a superior return on investment, they are generally more expensive to add. While per-foot pricing for both patios and decks generally range based on overall project size, Beam said, a deck would cost roughly $19-25 per square foot compared to $10-14 per square foot for a comparably sized paver patio.
Design and privacy. Patios are most often flat or only slightly raised, allowing the openness of a space to remain unhindered by the railings that a deck requires. Also, because patios sit lower, they are generally less conspicuous and preserve privacy more than decks. “With decks, some clients feel like they’re onstage,” Beam suggested.
Easy maintenance. While decks require regularly scheduled maintenance – hosing, periodic refinishing, and rotted wood and popped nail replacement– to ensure safety and integrity, a well-built paver patio requires minimum upkeep. Contractors or property owners can apply a sealant to protect the color of a patio, after which the construction should only require a periodic washing, Beam said.
The author is Associate Editor for Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at ewilson@lawnandlandscape.com.