How To Get The Most Use From Your New Patio Addition
If your home doesn't have a patio, you're missing out on having a great outdoor space to grill , relax in the sun, and enjoy picnic dining. You can have a basic concrete slab put in that provides all you need for a useful space, or you can put in a more glamorous patio with decorative concrete and features like an outdoor kitchen. Here are some ideas for getting the most out of your new outdoor space.
Install An Awning Or Cover
You'll get more use out of your new space if it has a cover over it. Then, you can dine outdoors even if it's raining. Plus, you'll be able to spend time outside even in the full summer sun because you will have shade from a cover. You can get an awning that retracts so you can use it only when you need it, or you can have a permanent cover installed that includes electricity for a ceiling fan and light.
Build Raised Beds Around The Perimeter
When your contractor builds your patio, think about additional things that can be added with concrete at the same time. You might want knee walls, sitting areas, or raised beds. If the slab is in the sun most of the day, it would be the perfect place to grow plants in containers and raised beds so that you can step outside your home and pick foods for a salad or gather herbs for cooking. Plus, growing plants or flowers in the beds can make the space more attractive.
Add A Walkway Extension
A fire pit is another nice enhancement for your yard. Your patio may not be far enough away from your home to hold a fire pit, and you wouldn't want to use a fire pit under an awning or cover anyway. A solution is to have a walkway added that leads to a smaller slab that holds a fire pit the proper distance from your home. The small extension to your patio would be a perfect place to sit in the evening and watch the stars or have a hot dog cookout.
Include Space And Strength For A Hot Tub
If your patio is large enough, consider adding a hot tub for family fun. A hot tub can be fun for kids, especially if you don't have a pool. The tub can be used as a dipping pool, water exercise tub, and a relaxing spa. Be sure you let your installer know you plan to put a hot tub on the concrete so the slab is built to hold the heavy weight of a big tub full of water. You'll have other design considerations too, such as connecting electricity or gas lines for heat. In addition, if you plan to add an outdoor kitchen or natural gas grill, you'll need to plan the addition of utility lines for those appliances too.
A patio provides a new outdoor room for your family to use for regular cooking and dining whether it's a plain slab or an upscale outdoor kitchen with a fireplace and built-in lighting. Start with a basic slab if your budget is tight or if you just want a place to grill outdoors, and once you see how much use you get out of your new outdoor space, you may decide to expand.
