5 Excellent Materials for a Custom Stone Work for a Patio

Patios are essential home spaces for people to relax, unwind, and have fun. An advantage of having one at home is utilizing the area at the back of the house. Most people leave the back of their houses bare. Although it’s OK to leave some grass behind, establishing a solid space where people can do outdoor activities is an excellent option for people planning to sell their homes in the future.

Unlike porches, patios are structures standing on their own. They are not connected to the main structure of the house. Therefore, if any renovations are needed, the house’s structural integrity will not be compromised in any way. Although not required, patios may have overhead shades to protect people from harmful ultraviolet rays.

Although patios are located behind a house where it’s not the first thing people see, choosing the best materials to act as its flooring and foundation is essential. Since it’s an outdoor space, it’s necessary to select slip-proof materials to prevent accidents from happening. Here are some materials that are great for patios.

Concrete

Concrete is one of the most versatile materials in construction. It can be used to fuse blocks, pave walls, and even act as the patio’s floor. It’s also a time-tested material that only requires a combination of sand, water, cement, and gravel to make.

Aside from a bare concrete floor, the material can also serve as a base for various finishes such as smooth, stamped, brushed, scored, coloured, or tinted. It can also be decorated with inlays, painted, and surfaced with other materials such as pebbles.

Pavers

In the past, concrete pavers were only available in two colours—grey and off-pink squares. Today, they are available in more natural-looking colours and textures, fit for every house aesthetic possible. Because of their shape, pavers create a unique pattern on the ground. On top of the aesthetics, they are resistant to stains, durable, resistant to breakage, and easy to clean. Pavers are a no-brainer when it comes to the best materials for the patio.

Flagstone

Flagstone is a popular choice for patios and front areas due to its various colours and stones, depending on the quarry and where it’s from. They are large, flat slabs of rock usually an inch to three inches thick in irregular shapes. Flagstones are safe outdoors since they have a slightly roughened surface which provides good traction when wet.

Sandstone, limestone, bluestone, and quartzite are all types of flagstones. Remember that flagstones should be at least an inch and a half thick for patio floorings and should be laid directly on soil, bed, or sand. Thinner slabs can also be used, but they may be more fragile than the thicker ones.

Tiles

Standard tiles used in bathrooms may not be ideal materials for patio flooring. However, unglazed ceramic tiles may be a better choice. Porcelain, terracotta, and quarry ceramic tiles are types commonly used for patios.

Cut Stone

Also known as stone tile, the cut stone is similar to flagstone. Their only difference is the shape—flagstones are flat slabs while cut stones are cut into squares or rectangular shapes. Cut stones are often used in more formal applications because of their geometric form and layout. People can choose granite, marble, slate, travertine, limestone, bluestone, phyllite, and sandstone. All are types of cut stone with varying designs and patterns on them.

Conclusion

Considered last on the list of places in a home to improve, patios are spaces easy to renovate and customize. Since materials are now available in various colours, designs, and patterns, it’s easier to customize patios without changing the house’s aesthetics. All it takes is a bit of matching the stones to the current house design, and it should be all good.

If you’re thinking of redoing your patio, now is a perfect time! Red Robin Masonry in Toronto offers stonework services for patios and walkways. We are also equipped to build entire walls for houses, buildings, and retaining walls, including parging. Our word is the foundation on which our company stands. Request a quote on our website, and let’s change the landscape of your patio—one brick at a time