7 Patio Materials You'll Need to Get Started

It’s finally time, isn’t it? Time to start something you’ve been putting off for ages. No, I’m not referring to buying your spouse that special gift (though that’s always a smart idea). Rather, I’m talking about updating your patio. Whether you have an existing patio in need of replacing, expanding your current design, or starting from scratch, there are seven patio materials you’ll need before you get started.

Concrete

Although some patio designs are fully made of patio stones, we often recommend concrete to our clients. Over time, patio pavers or brick can become uneven (if not installed correctly or properly maintained). They have their place, don’t get us wrong, but concrete patios will give you a more solid foundation for places such as your sitting area. Of our seven patio materials you’ll need, concrete can be one of the largest by volume.

Brick or Patio Pavers

However, as we mentioned, bricks and patio pavers have their place. For example, garden walkways, connecting paths, around your in-ground pool, and as ways to mark barriers for your flowerbeds are all great ways to use brick or patio pavers. We’ve even seen creative ways of incorporating them into a fire pit area, acting as a barrier between the firebox and you.

Stone

No list of necessary patio materials would be complete without talking about stone. There are three main types of stone used in patio designs. Let’s look at this a bit closer:

1. Pea gravel: Pea gravel is a highly versatile patio material. It can be mixed with concrete to create a layer of texture to a normally smooth patio. It can also be used as a thin layer below your concrete. And others still will use pea gravel as their patio material, giving it an old Irish castle look.
2. Flagstone: Perhaps the most recognizable thing about flagstone is that it has no defined shape or size. They can be ultra flat, rectangular, misshapen, and even diversely colored. When used correctly, it can take your patio to the next level.
3. Cut stone: Similar to flagstone, cut stone can also add an air of distinction to your patio, making it one of the more creative options on our list of necessary patio materials.

Mulch: No landscaping design is complete without mulch, whether traditional wood or organic materials, rubber or a plastic style (though less common). Mulch helps prevent weeds, prevent soil erosion, retain soil moisture, and improve the overall aesthetics in your flower gardens or around your trees.

Tools

Our next category of necessary patio materials are your tools. There are a handful that you’ll need to get started while others are for long-term maintenance. Those include:

1. A shovel;
2. A garden rake;
3. Some kind of hand tamper;
4. A laser level;
5. A rubber mallet, and;
6. The ever-trusty tape measure.

Some of these are just handy to have around while others will help make sure your patio is constructed correctly.

Furniture and a shade covering

Perhaps one of the hardest decisions you’ll have to make is what kind of furniture and shade covering you want. In fact, before you get started, you should have a good idea the style of furniture you’ll eventually end up with as well as whether you’re going to install a permanent or retractable awning. Alternatively, you may opt for a basic umbrella.

These decisions aren’t necessarily things you need to buy today (then again, with supply shortages, if you find your dream patio set you may want to pick it up before it’s sold out).

However, having a basic idea can help you move forward on the other design cues you’ll incorporate throughout your updated or new patio.

Time

It might seem weird to see “Time” on a list of patio materials, but hear us out. It takes time to install a patio properly. It’s typically not a weekend job, as some of these steps alone can take a few weeks to handle on their own. With our busy lives, time is a valuable asset, so make certain you’re setting aside the right amount of time to do your patio the right way.

Masters Landscaping are the experts in choosing the right kind of patio materials.

When we launched our company in 2014, it was the result of years of love and appreciation for all things landscaping and hardscaping. We can help you make the hard choices, such as concrete vs pavers, brick vs stone, where to lay your mulch, what tools you’ll need, the perfect furniture and type of shade covering or awning.

Better yet, we’ll give you something even more helpful: time. With our team on your side, we can transform your patio or install a new one in no time.

Contact us to schedule your free quote. We can’t wait to meet you and help you turn your idea into reality!