Design Material
More and more homeowners these days are looking to get the most out of their living space, and this includes creating, improving and/or expanding outdoor areas like patios and decks.

This is a great way to create more outdoor living areas, which gives homeowners places to gather, barbecue, enjoy a drink and just generally socialize outside of the home.

Adding these types of elements to your outdoor areas can also increase your home’s value, while simultaneously giving you more space to enjoy your property on a regular basis. The American Institute of Architects conducts an annual survey where for the last eight years or so, homeowners continually rank the outdoor space "as an important" area of the home.

But patios, decks and other outdoor areas are diverse, with many different options and designs to choose from. There are several questions you’ll need to answer before deciding to build a new patio or improve an existing one.

But regardless of if you want a larger area for entertaining or just a simple patio where you can sit and enjoy your morning cup of coffee, there are several design materials you can choose from.

These depend on your needs, of course, and should be selected on an individual basis.

Some of the newest and most popular design materials for patios include:

Stone

Stone is increasingly popular as materials for patios in the United States, and there are always new designs to choose from.

Stone products are more environmentally friendly and can seamlessly fit into your home setting, with popular types for residential patios including slate, bluestone and limestone.

Natural stone can easily fit into any setting because of its natural look and its durability. Stone materials can be expensive, however, so take this into consideration when deciding on what types of products you want to use for your backyard patio.

Pavers

Paver patios are growing in popularity every single year because they can mimic brick or natural stone, but at a lower cost. And they come in a variety of shapes and colours, with more added all the time.

Pavers can also be extremely easy to install, with some even having interlocking joints. These joints aid in adding stability to the patio, and are made in a way that anyone can install them on their own.

Concrete

Okay, this doesn’t exactly fall under the “new” category, but we’re mentioning it here anyway because it continues to be a popular choice for patios in the United States, and really around the world.

Concrete is easy to pour and can be formed into pretty much any size or shape, thus it’s popularity. The versatility is really only limited by your imagination, as concrete allows you to create a patio that is both hard and durable, and requires very little maintenance.

You may not want to use concrete, however, if your patio is located on top of sewer or electrical lines. If those lines need to be accessed, you’re probably going to have to replace much or even all of your patio once the repair job is complete.

Tile

New designs of tiles are being created and introduced every year, thus leading to the growing popularity of the product in regards to patio design.

Tiles come in a wide variety of styles and can easily create a smooth transition from your home to your outdoor patio. They can also help you to create a backyard oasis that is as visually appealing as it is functional.

The colours, styles and designs of tiles are plentiful, thus giving you many options to choose from during the planning process. So let your imagination go wild if you’re using tiles to create or improve your outdoor living space.

Brick

Brick has been around for a long time, but new innovations specifically designed for patios and decks give you greater flexibility and durability.

Bricks used for patios are especially fired with makes them less porous and more appropriate to use in an area designed for outdoor living space.

Bricks are also not only red anymore but also come in other colours that include tan, black and several other shades. You can also use bricks to create exciting and eye-catching designs in your patio area, so use your imagination and see what you come up with.

Brick designs can add formal elegance to your outdoor living space, but just make sure they’re installed evenly and are easy to walk on. This will make life on your patio much more enjoyable, for you as well as your family members and invited guests.

About Author:

Eddie Sanchez - Owner/Author, NXS Home Remodeling
Licensed Texas Contractor
NXS Home Remodeling
Eduardo "Eddie" Sanchez is a remodeler located in San Antonio Texas. He served in the United States Air Force and is a native of San Antonio. For over 30 years as a custom home builder, Eddie and his team have constructed over 1000 homes in South Texas. Eddie employs several employees and has a sales staff to include a Project Manager to assist NXS Home Remodeling with ongoing home projects. To learn more about NXS Home Remodeling. please visit http://www.nxshomeremodeling.com/