Building a Useful Outdoor Patio
A patio at its most basic is an outdoor courtyard or paved open area such as a porch that's attached to the home, which can be made with concrete, brick or many other materials. If you patio is showing signs of wear and tear -- crumbling cement or masonry work, water damage or separation from the home, a service professional can best repair the damage.
Preparation
Preparing an area for patio paving is hard work, and probably best left for professionals who have the expertise and equipment. Most will start by stripping the area of vegetation, then excavating the area to the required depth. The depth (4 to 9 inches) depends on the climate and surface material. Next soil compaction is critical to ensure the pavement doesn't buckle with time. In warmer climates, follow with a compacted layer of road base (gravel mixed with dirt) followed with asphalt. In colder climates, follow with full-depth asphalt. Form work may be needed to build a set of stairs or perhaps a wheelchair ramp.
Removing old pavement
For old paving removal, you should check with your contractor to see if they know of places that buy old concrete and asphalt. Some types of paving can be recycled and used in new paving projects.
Patterns
Selecting your pattern usually involves three basic designs. A length-wise pattern is created by placing masonry units end to end. A herringbone pattern is made of rows of parallel lines which in any two adjacent rows slope in opposite directions. Parquet flooring consists of short pieces arranged in patterns. Although older floors may be designed of pieces that are individually laid, modern parquet floors are laid in six- to 12-inch units.
Other patio materials
Brick is a handy, hard, pre-manufactured, usually rectangular masonry unit. Made of moist clay hardened by heat, it gives a uniform look for your patio surface. Limestone is a smooth rock that comes in varying shades of color; it blends easily into any landscaping patio plan. Made of sand-like quartz, sandstone comes in a variety of colors. Slate is a dense, porous, fine-grained rock that has a natural, generally gray-green color. Cobblestone is a naturally rounded stone larger than a pebble and smaller than a boulder. If you have small children who will be playing or intend to walk barefoot, it's not recommended for a patio. The bricks of pre-formed interlocking concrete blocks are manufactured to interlock, creating a more uniform-looking surface. Don't rely solely on mortar to hold them together like bricks.
-- Tips courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com