So you are thinking about adding or renovating a patio. There are many different types of surfaces to choose from. A patio can be a very large investment with prices from $2000 (standard size/shape concrete patio) to more than $40,000 (raised wet laid natural stone patio). So choosing the right surface can be very daunting.
Pros/Cons of Patio Flooring
Natural Stone (i.e. Bluestone) (on concrete base w/mortared joints)
Pros
- Natural stone is a very durable and versatile building material, due to its hard and dense composition.
- Natural stone is safe to use around the pool, for they have a non-slip finish to them.
- Natural stone will add natural beauty to your property, giving it that classical, ‘ancient’ aesthetic appeal!
- Because natural stone is available in so many different colors, there is bound to be the right color to match any of your existing materials.
- Natural stone can be very long living, if proper installation of concrete sub-base is completed.
- Same material can be used for pool coping
Cons
- Natural stone is very expensive to install in this manor (generally $30 – $45 per square foot installed)
- If proper drainage and/or compaction is not provided when concrete sub-base is installed, then heaving and cracking could occur damaging surface of paved area
Natural Stone (gravel base w/sand joints)
Pros
- Natural stone is a very durable and versatile building material, due to its hard and dense composition.
- Natural stone will add natural beauty to your property, giving it that classical, ‘ancient’ aesthetic appeal!
- Because natural stone is available in so many different colors, there is bound to be the right color to match any of your existing materials.
- Same material can be used for pool coping
- Much more less expensive to install then on concrete base (generally $15 – $20 per square foot installed)
Cons
- Extremely high maintenance especially in pool configuration, joints will encourage weeds & ants.
- Freeze/frost conditions can damage very easily, making longetivity very short
Interlocking Concrete Brick Pavers
Pros
- Wide range of surface finishes, colors, and styles to meet any architectural style of home.
- Moderate cost for installation (generally $10 – $20 per square foot installed)
- For long lasting, Thoms Bros. offers lifetime warranty on installations.
- Low maintenance, stained or broken pavers & sunken or heaved areas can be fixed relatively easily.
Cons
- Areas could sink easily if base is not properly compacted or washes away between boulders
- Weeds in cracks could be issue if polymeric sand and/or sealant is not used
StoneMakers Flatwork Concrete
Pros
- Custom colors to give real stone look
- Moderate cost for installation (generally $10 – $16 per square foot installed)
- Expansion joints are disguised in joints of individual stones
- Color is both mixed in with concrete and surface applied.
- Cracks can be disguised with new stone joints
Cons
- Must be sealed on regular basis (depending on quality of sealer) or surface damage will occur and color will fade.
- Concrete will eventually crack
Stamped Concrete
Pros
- Descent range of surface stamps & colors.
- Moderate cost for installation (generally $8 – $14 per square foot installed)
Cons
- Must be sealed on regular basis (depending on quality of sealer) or surface damage will occur and color will fade.
- Pattern of stamp can be ruined by saw cuts
- Repairs will stand out because matching color and stamps after the fact is almost impossible
- Concrete will eventually crack
- Many installers only surface apply powdered color.
Exposed Aggregate Concrete
Pros
- Better looking than standard concrete
- Lost cost for installation (generally $4 – $6 per square foot installed)
Cons
- Must be sealed on regular basis (depending on quality of sealer) or aggregate will pop.
- Less attractive alternative to above
- Repairs will stand out because matching color is almost impossible
- Concrete will eventually crack
Standard Concrete
Pros
- Extremely Low cost for installation (generally $3 – $5 per square foot installed)
Cons
- Least attractive alternative to above
- Repairs will stand out because matching color is almost impossible
- Concrete will eventually crack
