Building a patio can be an exciting process, but you need to do it right to avoid problems down the road. You should consult patio contractors and take note of these dos and don’ts of patio installation to prepare yourself for the project.

Do Check If You Need A Permit

Different states have different regulations about outdoor structures in homes. Some require a permit for anything, while some others require a permit if the structure is bigger than a certain square footage. So, after planning the location and size of your patio, check with the local building permit office to know if you need a permit for patio installation.

Don’t Ignore The Utilities

Do you want a situation where you excavate and accidentally damage a utility line? To avoid these types of problems, before any excavation, call the call before you dig service and have the areas marked where utility lines are present.

Do Account For The Slope

This is a basic part of many home improvement projects, but some DIYers might forget it. So, it’s critical to remember that you need to create a slope for water to flow down easily. This will ensure that water doesn’t stand on your patio every time there is rain or snowfall or even when you clean the patio.

So, keep a slope of about 1 inch for every four to eight feet of patio space. As we all know the slope should go away from the house. Use stakes every four feet of the patio perimeter and a thread to keep the slope right.

Moreover, if your patio material is waterproof, you should also consider ways to channel water out of the patio to avoid water pooling on the surface.

Don’t Choose The Wrong Materials

The choice of the patio materials usually determines how long the patio will last, how much the patio will need maintenance and repairs, and how durable it will be.

People who want to save money may want to choose the material that costs the least, but don’t choose any materials without knowing more details about it. For instance, gravel is the cheapest patio material, but it can be problematic for people who want a solid patio base because the furniture will sink into the surface. Moreover, weed growth is another issue with a pea gravel patio.

This is why most people should stay with the options of concrete, pavers, and natural stones. You will find many choices within each option like if you select natural stone, there are various stones like flagstone, slate, limestone, cobblestone, bluestone, and others. Natural stones are slip-resistant so they are better for regions that receive frequent rain or snow in comparison to materials like outdoor porcelain tiles.

Moreover, a durable and relatively inexpensive patio material is poured concrete. It can be shaped to any size and design, but it requires less maintenance than natural stones and tiles. But it does crack and might appear stale. For appearance, you can use stamped concrete for any color and pattern you fancy. And for cracks, a better installation can reduce them, but can’t eliminate them.

So, consider the benefits and drawbacks of the common patio materials and choose the one that is right according to your preferences.

Do Prepare The Foundation Properly

A gravel base of 4-6 inches is used for patios and walkways. A good foundation will ensure that the patio surface doesn’t crack and a part of the patio doesn’t sink after some time. So, to make sure there are no uneven spots on your patio, you need to do the foundation right.

You need to compact your foundation or base properly to ensure that the above problems don’t occur. If you put 6 inches of gravel and compact it, only 2-4 inches will be compacted and the 2-4 inches beneath it won’t.

To avoid this issue, compact the foundation with every 2 inches of gravel. Put 2 inches of gravel and compact it. Then repeat it. For the process, use a plate compactor or a steel tamper.

Don’t Install Pavers On Dirt

We discussed preparing the base well and only compacting the base 2 inches at a time. That said, some people may just want to use dirt as the base and lay pavers on it. This will lead to the same problems as with any improper base: uneven and sunken pavers.

It’s tempting to use dirt as the base because it will be quicker and cheaper to install pavers on, but as dirt sinks and shifts unexpectedly with weather conditioners, it will only cause problems later.

Do Install Expansion Joints

Materials like stones and bricks already have many joints. Joints are needed on patio surfaces to avoid cracking, but they are neglected in poured concrete. This causes more cracks in concrete patios. Bear in mind that cracking is common in concrete with weather changes and the movement of concrete. Due to this, expansion joints are installed to reduce this as much as possible.

These are made of metal, rubber, or plastic. They give the material space for movement. This reduces pressure on other parts of the material and fixes the cracking problem.

Don’t Use Plastic

Some people may see a plastic sheet as the best option to use under the pavers to avoid weed growth. However, this will only trap moisture there and cause a multitude of problems.

Weed growth is an issue to tackle during patio installation. If you’re using a sand base, you should use a layer of polymeric sand to avoid weed growth. Another way is to use a landscape fabric to act as a barrier and prevent weeds from growing between the pavers.

Do Use Edge Restraints

Edge restraints appear as minor details in a paver patio installation, but they have a big impact. These will keep your patio pavers from becoming loose or moving out of alignment. So, make sure to use an edging strip that is either made of plastic or metal.

Don’t Compact The Final Bedding Layer

The 1–2-inch layer of sand on which you place the pavers must never be compacted. Many people presume that they should compact it just as the base material, but they should not. Instead, you should only screed it.

Do Hire A Professional

Installing pavers can be a fun project and if have some home improvement skills and are willing to learn, you may be able to pull it off. Moreover, with DIYing, you can save money as well.

However, performing the patio installation yourself can also lead to unexpected problems. Some materials are easy to install like pea gravel, but others like natural stones and concrete may be difficult to lay properly. So, if you want a perfect patio without any issues, get an expert to build the patio.

Don’t Underestimate Colors

Apart from the type and design of patio materials, choosing the right color and theme is also important. Generally, patios are of light and bold colors, but seldomly dark. Your patio color shouldn’t be dark unless the material is naturally dark like slate.

Conclusion

You need to follow the steps properly to install a patio successfully. It can be exciting for some and draining for others. So, if you want to get it done by someone else who knows better and will ensure an excellent result, hire a patio builder Long Island.