Decks versus Patios

In the quest for comfortable and practical outdoor entertaining and living spaces, many homeowners consider having either a deck or patio built. Each has its own pros and cons but for most situations one may be decidedly a better choice. As a landscape construction type, my bias is usually in favor of patios as I have found them in general to cost less and require less maintenance.

In a situation where the terrain is fairly level and the access from the home may only require a step or two down, a patio is almost always the better choice. Even if there is a slight slope a retaining wall is often used in conjunction with the patio. The general limit for a residential retaining wall is 4’ in height(including the part of the wall that is below the ground). Now, not everyone may want a 4’ high wall in their yard that could be a falling hazard for small children or guests etc. In this case, a deck with railings would make more sense. But not always, as it is possible to install railings or use plantings to keep people away from the edges of a retaining wall.

What seems to be more common are decks that have been built where a patio would have been a better choice. I have seen many decks that are basically built right on the ground or very close to it. Many of these also have railings that restrict access to the surrounding yard. Maintenance under these types of decks is often a problem. The space is usually too small for a person to keep the area cleaned out but a great place for spiders, rabbits, snakes, and other assorted critters to take up residence. We all love our urban wildlife, but living under our decks may be a little too close to home! Avoid this situation by building a patio instead!

There are other factors to consider as well---costs, maintenance, and environmental issues. Most brick paver patios can be built for a price in the $12-18 per square foot range. Brick pavers for the most part are maintenance free. As long as the base for the patio is properly installed and compacted(and this is something never to skimp on) the life span for a patio can be expected to be 20-25 years or more. Most wood decks need to be stained every few years, and you may not always know where the wood came from or if it was responsibly harvested. Materials like Trex are
better but that of course drives the price up. So while decks can be attractive, well built, and long lasting, make sure you don’t rule out a patio unless there is no question that a deck would be better.