Outdoor Patio Increases Usable Living Space
There are very few times that are more relaxing than sitting quietly on the patio enjoying the fresh air and a cool drink at the end of long, hot day. Many families also use their outdoor patio as an extension of their indoor living space, essentially increasing their amount of usable floor space. Many will build them under an existing roof or they will extend the roof line to offer protection from the elements while enjoying an outdoor lifestyle.
For the most part, a patio is made of stone or concrete resting on the ground, typically at ground level with a door leading from a room in the house to make it readily accessible. Often times a sliding glass door is installed in the house as an exit to the patio as well as offering a scenic view of a landscaped backyard. If the floor is raised off the ground and made of wood or some other materials, it is usually called a deck.
An outdoor patio can be used for a variety of purposes, such as providing a table and chairs for outdoor dining or for a place away from the television and video games for children to play and do their homework. Adults often find them useful for sitting around and talking to friends and neighbors and they provide a relaxing atmosphere when hosting outdoor parties.
Building Area To Accommodate Needs
Depending on the size of the house and the slope of the ground, a patio should be made large enough to be useful. There have been a few that were made much too small to be of any use. If a homeowner is going to go to the trouble of building a patio outside their home, they may as well build it large enough to use.
Many times a patio can make an area transitional between the home and other outdoor recreation areas such as a swimming pool, which provides a place for water to drip from bathing suits before they enter the home, tracking the water into the kitchen or living room. Extra absorbent outdoor mats can also collect dirt and debris from the feet to help avoid damage to expensive flooring.
Whether the patio is constructed of paving bricks over sand or out of poured concrete is really a matter of taste, but the materials and colors should fit into the overall landscape theme of the home. Typically, a patio is added to the back of a home for privacy, but adding one to the front also affords the chance to keep an eye on the neighborhood.
