Patio Design and Construction

This is one of those pictures only a landscaper could like. Please forgive me. I have even used this one before in this blog, I liked it so much. It’s the “construction dude” in me, I guess.

It shows a project actually designed by someone other than myself, which is highly unusual in this blog. Typically, I give credit when it occurs and the rest are my designs and installations. This was a recent project undertaken for my good friend John Stone, who runs a local Portland/Washington company called JP Stone Contractors. He’s many things, but he is this: a hardscape specialist about as good and interesting as anyone I have ever seen. We have worked closely for nearly a decade now.

Anyway, it resulted in this: (which I thought was a pretty cool look and a great patio)

Since patios and outdoor living are this week’s theme, I’ve been surfing my pictures to find good examples of some of the more intriguing patios we’ve constructed. I hope I am not being too redundant and I know I probably am, but it is the time of year for patios, so I say go for it. There may be an idea or two someone can use in here because so many are considering patios any more, integrtated with their landscape projects.

A good patio can serve the same purpose as a good driveway. Inasmuch as they occupy a pretty sizable territory, they catch they eye and result in some serious and permanent curb appeal. They each tend to add value to a property which never changes, depending, of course, on the material. As can be plainly seen, I am a believer in the highly compressed interlocking brick pavers in my work. They have more than proven my statement about adding value over a very long period of time. Here are a few more:

The last are back to our own creations. The other and perhaps even more primary considerations with all this patio madness is how the home owners enjoyed them. They have. To be perfectly honest, if I did not have some envy surface as we were finishing a project, then I would feel my client had not been well-served.

7 thoughts on “Patio Design and Construction

  1. Sorry the Hawthorn brought back painful memories! Love the paving, I am trying to decide what to do with mine at the moment, and am torn between a few styles.

  2. I never thought how much work and know-how should go into paving. Lovely your designs. I like the large rocks in this one. Are the rocks real? Our garden is rocky with aloes and succulents, this design would fit in nicely but I will have to make do with my “natural” soil paths and just envy your designs.

  3. Some of the reason I post these very technical posts, Erica is so that it won’t be “brain surgery” to installers who want to do it themselves. Plus, to arm them for contractors. Information is the thing, but most of it ends up being surprisingly simple. We just need to know what to look for and care about.

    And, oh yes, the rocks are very real. Real heavy! 😉

  4. Gotta love the pavers! I especially appreciate the picture with the raised, circular patio — it sets it off and is sure to get some ooooh’s and aaaah’s.

    I’ve designed a couple of fire pits with large boulders near it — easy seating. You never have to worry about taking the cushions in. — Plus, who doesn’t love boulders (except maybe farmers).

  5. LOL, Heidi, true story! Circular pavers take some work, but they do stand out. Curved lines just seem more natural in landscapes, to me. Thanks for visiting! Your site is very interesting too. Good luck back there!

  6. Thanks for giving us such wonderful information on patio design. Patio designers offer a wide selection of patio materials and unique patio applications. 

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