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Why the Heck Would I Want a Concrete Patio?

Thu 28 Dec 2006 - 14:27

Why the Heck Would I Want a Concrete Patio?
By Franko Paul

They symbolize summertime. They make barbeques possible. They provide you with a place to gather with friends and family, or to relax alone in the sunshine. They can be enclosed, or they can be covered. They can be built next to a home, adjacent to a home, or around a pool.

They are patios.

Patios are becoming more and more popular among homeowners. As people tend to vacation more at home these days, the patio provides a place of relaxation and refuge from the outside world. This is evident in the way that many people are decorating their patios today.

Patios are no longer just a white slab of concrete with a few chairs scattered here and there. No, today patios are being made into home resorts! Patios can be decorated with lush flowers, plants, and trees. They can be decorated with creative designs and decors. Some homeowners continue the décor of their homes onto their patios. The safari-themed living room now extends out to the safari-themed patio, complete with tiki bar, bamboo lounge chairs and tables, and a mosquito-net umbrella. Whatever you can dream up, you can make a reality on your patio! Patio possibilities go as far as your creativity.

One new dimension of patio design is stamped concrete. Stamped concrete has a pattern on it to resemble materials such as brick, slate, stone, flagstone, tile, and wood. Imagine turning your old concrete patio into a concrete-wooden patio! Stamped concrete for patios comes in all types of colors and patterns. You can even blend it other types of decorative concrete elements such as exposed aggregate finishes and acid-etch staining - depending on the look you wish to achieve.

Patio decking also plays a huge part in today's modern patio designs. You could have basic decking to make an unsightly or uneven area a useable patio space or you could have a much more grand design which encompasses all of your garden area.

One thing is certain: creating a useable and attractive patio space in your garden will enhance the enjoyment you get from your home and will also undoubtedly add to its value. A recent estimate made on a property we had just built a new patio for had increased the value of the property by $10,000. As the cost of materials and labor was just under $5,000, the owner had made over a 100% return on the investment made on his patio: a good return by any standard!

If you want to liven up your garden with a patio, you don't necessarily need to pay someone to do it. Most patio refreshes can be done without technical expertise: you can learn on the job. Having said this, I would always advise that you speak to a professional patio installer if you require something more advanced: for example structural patio work involving steps, wall brickwork or excavation.

Whatever you decide for your garden, enjoy the outdoor life and get yourself a patio. It will add an element of fun to your life... that's for sure!

Franko Paul has written a number of articles about patios including:

Patios

Concrete Patio

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Franko_Paul


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