It’s every homeowner’s dream to have a beautiful patio. Well done, patios make the outdoor space look and feel more substantial, giving enough space to entertain and relax.
Unfortunately, a perfect patio doesn’t just come about—you need to work for it. Here are dos and don’ts you need to put into consideration as given by patio builders:
Don’t cut corners
It’s a human need to want to do little and yet get much, but it doesn’t work like this when it comes to patio installation. The first thing you should do is to ensure that you hire the most experienced and certified contractor you can afford.
Some homeowners try to cut corners by hiring a cheap contractor. Don’t do this as you will end up with a cheap service that will give your yard an ugly look.
If doing the work yourself, put in all the necessary effort. For example, over-excavate the perimeter of the area you are working with so that you have an area that is large enough.
Just like contractors, don’t choose low-quality materials as they will be expensive to have in the long run. Avoid limestone screenings and stone dust as they produce a lot of dust that traps water that can lead to the early failure of the pavers.
Sand is one of the most popular materials you can go with. If you don’t like it, use ASTM#9. The material drains quickly and is easy to work with regardless of the weather conditions.
Do pay attention to the access of the patio
Even if you have the most beautiful patio, you won’t enjoy it if you have to travel a long distance to access it. A good patio should be easy to reach without much effort. If you are a super-entertainer, you will be better off with a patio that you can easily access from indoors.
Do spend more time on the base
Just like when setting up a house, the base is everything. The more time you spend on it, the easier the time you have with the rest of the project. When working on the base, pay close attention to the drainage.
Take your time to ensure that the surface is appropriately leveled and allows proper drainage of water. If you have never done the work before, let a professional patio contractor handle it.
Don’t compact the bedding layer
On the verge of controlling the height of the patio, many homeowners compact the bedding layer. You should note that there is nothing like 100% height control when it comes to patio design.
You need to have loose sand that is forced up between the pavers when making the final compaction. This will set and secure them so that you have a secure patio. The loose sand also allows the tamping process to even out the top surface of the pavers.
Don’t place plastic under the paving material
A beautiful patio shouldn’t have any weeds growing on it. To prevent weed growth, some homeowners place plastic under the paving materials. This is wrong as the plastic entraps water leading to plenty of other problems.
Weeds come from the top of the cracks. The best way to prevent weed growth on your patio is to use good quality polymeric sand. Place the sand between the joints and ensure that it fills up to 3 mm of the surface.
If you live in an area that is all clay and other poor draining soils, place a geotextile layer first, and then place a granular base. According to backyard patio builders Long Island, when you do this, you create a mechanical barrier that stabilizes and stops the clay from mixing with the sub-base materials.
