All About Patios

Patio Designs

2010-02-01T01:37:00.000-08:00

Patio Designs

When contemplating your backyard deck or patio design, you will consider which material to use, shape and size of the deck or patio, and best way to transition off the deck or patio (into the house, or onto the rest of the backyard). For our purposed here, let's agree that patios are made of bricks, stone or cement, while decks are made of wood or simulated wood products.

Patios can be attached to a house or detached. They are often designed and oriented with the landscape in mind. Patios are versatile: they can take on any shape and be built with a variety of materials, including concrete, pavers, stone, tile, brick, pebbles, rocks or gravel. Most patios are set on a concrete slab or a sand and pebble base. Once you've decided to build a patio instead of a deck and have chosen a site, there are other design considerations:

A simple design plan to make laying brick patios easy for do-it-yourselfers. This brick patio design is easy to build yet elegant, laying the bricks in a striking pattern that requires no cutting!

After 7 years of watching our wood deck look like crap (despite constant staining) due to the SouthWest exposure to the Colorado sun (and dry climate), I finally replaced it with stamped concrete. Being the analytical type of person I am, I fiddled with various deck designs, trying to determine what would be best. One early idea was having a patio design with a permanent shade structure, but that would have cost $30k (or more!) ... so my frugal wife decided a pair of outdoor umbrellas would suffice. These provide adjustable shade as the Sun moves across the sky, and has worked out much better than the shade trees we planted in 2002.

Are you using it for family dining? Will you be entertaining quite a bit?

Would you like some areas for relaxing in your backyard with some nice lounge chairs? These answers will help determine your patio size.

We used dry laid, patterned bluestone for this lovely patio. The bluestone color is "full range", which looks great on many patio designs.

Patio

2010-02-01T01:29:00.000-08:00

Back Patio Photos: Dream Home 2010
Casita Patio Photos: Dream Home 2010
Decorating Patios, Porches and Decks: Make the Most of What You Have
See inspired ways for creating or transforming an outdoor room without spending a dime....
Back Patio Tour: Dream Home 2010
Designed as an outdoor living room and social space, the back patio welcomes guests with comfortable seating and...
Casita Patio Tour: HGTV Dream Home 2010
The perfect spot to enjoy cocktails at sunset, the hardscaped patio boasts a double-sided gas fireplace that warms the...
Patios and Decks We Love From Rate My Space
Get inspired by the design ideas of these beautiful outdoor rooms....
Transforming Patios With Paint
If your outdoor space needs a breath of fresh air, here are a few colorful ways to give it new life....
Dreamy Decks and Patios
Browse these inspired outdoor gathering spots and gather ideas for your own backyard....
Laying Pavers for a Backyard Patio
Laying concrete pavers is a simple and inexpensive way to create a patio entertainment area....
Natural Patio Oasis
Designer Kim Myles transforms a bland patio into an an earthy living space with natural elements....
Building a Wooden Patio Overhang
A new patio overhang adds life to a dull backyard....
Family-Friendly Outdoor Patio Retreat
Designer Kim Myles transforms a barren patio into a fun, tropical hangout for the whole family....

Patio Love
How to Build Outdoor Patio Bench with Ottoman
Built-in patio furniture from Rip and Renew provides a comfy spot for outdoor lounging and entertaining....
Slatted Patio Wall With Planter Boxes
Instead of using lattice on your patio, try this easy-to-make slatted wall....
How to Build a Mahogany Patio Bench
This bench can be made to any length to provide plenty of seating at your next backyard party....

Patios in the tropics

2010-02-01T01:14:00.000-08:00

Picture a brick patio in your yard? Are you ready for vibrant colors and exciting pattern combinations? Do you need more space for entertaining? Are you sure?

Tropical Patios designs and installs brick paver patios, sidewalks, driveways and pool decks. When you call Tropical Patios, the owner, Jonathan Kidd, will meet with you to discuss the scope of your project. We will then design a plan and provide an estimate for your home or business. We can also install pavers from your plans.

Concrete brick pavers are manufactured for use on the ground. They are available in a wide range of colors and shapes from manufacturers in Texas. Typically, brick pavers are not set on a concrete foundation. Installation begins with a compacted sand base. After the sand is leveled, the brick pavers are placed in your selected pattern. Then, our craftsmen cut and trim the patio, giving careful attention to detail. A hidden concrete edge restraint holds the patio together. Finally, sand is vibrated between the brick with a plate compactor, locking the pavers together.

Harpery's blog about Patios

Using brick pavers has many advantages. Any outdoor area can be enhanced with the color, pattern and texture of brick pavers. Properly installed pavers will not shift or sink under heavy traffic making them ideal for driveways. A brick patio makes an excellent pool deck because of its non-slip surface. Individual pavers are easily removed and replaced to access underground utilities and plumbing. Brick pavers are installed on a flexible base so they will not crack as the ground shifts during drought or floods. Brick pavers are ecologically sound. They allow water and air to penetrate the ground. Also, they are reusable, avoiding waste.

Tropical Patios has been installing brick pavers since 1982. We work throughout the Rio Grande Valley and Corpus Christi. Our projects have ranged from interlocking circles in an atrium to subdivision streets on South Padre Island. Paver projects were Jonathan Kidd's hobby as a child. He has always enjoyed designing and installing patios for people's homes. Our craftsmen have worked with us for many years. All of our work is supervised. The quality of our work and your satisfaction are very important to us. All of our work is guaranteed for two years. If your project has special difficulties, rely on our experience for creative solutions. That's right.

Patios news

2010-02-01T01:10:00.000-08:00

Smoking law could burn already-compliant bars

San Francisco Examiner - Erin Sherbert - ‎2 hours ago‎

Mars Bar & Restaurant patrons can buy cigarettes at the bar and then light up on the outdoor patio, which seats as many as 50 people. ...

Rocky Mount Telegram

Smoking ban isn'ta burning issue

Rocky Mount Telegram - John Henderson - ‎8 hours ago‎

Smokers at Westridge can smoke at an outside patio. “We have one of best patios in town,” she said. “I'm prejudiced. People can enjoy a puff (on the patio) ...

French Market first to get 'Dogs on Patios' permit

WVLT - Michael Grider - ‎Jan 26, 2010‎

(WVLT) -- The French Market on Gay Street in downtown Knoxville is the first restaurant to apply for and receive a Dogs on Patios permit, according to ...

Restaurant with Rover: French Market gets Knoxville's first dogs on patios permit WBIR-TV

Downtown's French Market to allow dogs Knoxville News Sentinel

Knoxville issues 1st permit allowing pet dog in restaurant's outdoor seating area WREG

LA council extends smoking ban to outdoor cafes

Los Angeles Times - Maeve Reston - ‎Jan 20, 2010‎

"This ordinance will help those smokers move away from under our windows, allow us to go back out on our open patios and participate in our lives," Moore ...

No Smoking in Outdoor Cafes Please NBC Los Angeles

LA Council bans smoking in outdoor dining areas Los Angeles Daily News

Outdoor Smoking Ban for Los Angeles to Become Law LAist (blog)

Daily Breeze - Monterey County Herald

Architecture and Design

Grate innovation

Architecture and Design - ‎9 hours ago‎

... kit has been available for the last 12 months and has been very successful, in particular for bathroom applications, balconies, thresholds and patios. ...

Grate innovation Architecture and Design

Planting time just around the corner

NewsOK.com - Rodd Moesel - ‎2 hours ago‎

Many folks are even raising some vegetables in large nursery cans or decorative containers on their patio or porch. Root Control, an Oklahoma company, ...

L.A. Council bans restaurant patio smoking

abc7.com - ‎Jan 21, 2010‎

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles City Council has unanimously adopted an ordinance that bans smoking in restaurant patios and other businesses that ...

Ban smoking on patios: tobacco council CBC.ca

No More Smoking in Outdoor Dining Areas LA Downtown News Online

Creston News Advertiser

Landscaping with retaining walls adds curb appeal, usability to your home

Creston News Advertiser - ‎Jan 28, 2010‎

"Fire pits with paver patios, retaining walls, columns, sidewalks and driveways all are within the capabilities of most do-it-yourselfers. ...

Emergency declared in SF, 4 other counties

San Francisco Chronicle - Kevin Fagan, Henry K. Lee - ‎Jan 21, 2010‎

A 60-foot chunk of soil, fencing and the patios of three apartments, including Coelho's, had plummeted into the churning ocean waves 85 feet below. ...

Stauss reflects on comments

Grand Forks Herald - Stephen J. Lee - ‎3 hours ago‎

They made it so you can walk along it with beautiful patios, with stands like amphitheaters where bands can play,” Stauss said. ...

All About Patios

Patio Designs

Patio

Back Patio Photos: Dream Home 2010

Casita Patio Photos: Dream Home 2010

Decorating Patios, Porches and Decks: Make the Most of What You Have

Back Patio Tour: Dream Home 2010

Casita Patio Tour: HGTV Dream Home 2010

Patios and Decks We Love From Rate My Space

Transforming Patios With Paint

Dreamy Decks and Patios

Laying Pavers for a Backyard Patio

Natural Patio Oasis

Building a Wooden Patio Overhang

Family-Friendly Outdoor Patio Retreat

How to Build Outdoor Patio Bench with Ottoman

Slatted Patio Wall With Planter Boxes

How to Build a Mahogany Patio Bench