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Deck or Patio? What is most cost effective and just plain better looking /long lasting.?
By admin | November 21, 2007
Fancy asked:
We are going back and forth on this. One day we vote patio the next day its deck. I always loved patios. I think of decks as needing constant maintenance. Pressure washing, staining, treating. But my husband always had decks. He thinks patios are difficult to put in. And the idea of concrete being possibly used even as a base is terrible to him. Even pavers seem too sloppy. And of course, cost is quite important. Any ideas? Want to have this done by fall. Help!
7 Responses to “Deck or Patio? What is most cost effective and just plain better looking /long lasting.?”
November 24th, 2007 at 5:28 am
i vote for the patio. like you said,there is less maintenece. but a patio can crack when the ground settles.you can fix that but you might always see were it was.it won;t rot and get slippery like a deck.
November 27th, 2007 at 6:38 am
Go for a patio, you wont be sorry you can use it all year and a deck only during summer. and there is a lot of work keeping deck up to date ,you are always having to do something to keep it looking good ever year. you can have a TV on your patio and a dinning table and chairs to relax and raise the windows and close them and set out there and watch it rain or snow.
You better get started if you are going to get it ready by fall, Even if it is higher it will last longer than a deck, Believe me I have seen it happen.
Queen bee
November 30th, 2007 at 5:49 am
how about both?
I want a composite(low maintenance) deck attached to the house with a patio down 3 steps and into the yard.
December 1st, 2007 at 5:56 am
Depends on what material you use. I have both. My patio is far more appealing to the eye, but then I built it out of 100 year-old solid brick and it looks like an English garden patio. I swept sand between the bricks vs. concrete. Again, this gives it a more casual and worn look I was looking for. My deck is 2 years old and already requires sanding and restaining. I rarely use it. It is in front of the house and gives the house better curb appeal, but visitors love the large brick patio. I can give it a different look every year. I kept a supply of the brick so I can easily replace the ones that winter destroys. I also have moss growing between the bricks which I love.
December 2nd, 2007 at 6:51 am
We have a deck that steps down onto a concrete patio. I prefer the patio. My future plans are to install flagstone on the concrete patio and one day remove the deck and extend the concrete patio and put flagstone on top of it also. Then build a small stone retaining wall around it with flower beds. I planted some evergreen trees that I want to let grow into tall shrubs someday for privacy the natural way instead of putting up another wooden fence. Maybe also put a small fireplace or fire pit at one end of the patio. You can’t do that on a deck! I have the plan in my head. Decks are a pain in the rear but my husband will not hear of removing ours just yet. I’m praying for termits to invade our deck! I hate those deck splinters! I really want to get rid of our deck and make a rock/concrete step-down onto a flagstone patio….through french doors. Lots of ideas but not lots of money to go with those ideas just yet!
December 2nd, 2007 at 7:28 am
I have both and enjoy them equally. The deck is a little more work, but not that much. The good thing about a deck is that you can change it if you wish without too huge of an impact. A concrete or stone patio is pretty much forever, you’d better get it right the first time.
And don’t think a patio is maintenance free. I spend about as much time pressure washing the patio as I do the deck. The only real maintenance difference is having to re-stain the deck every year, but that only takes a few hours, so it’s not that big a deal.
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:36 pm
Cost wise I think a patio may be your best bet, depending on the material you would choose for a deck…
The deck material makes a big difference in the maintenance factor as well. Check out Trex Decking and see what you think. It’s much cheaper than using IPE or some other expensive hardwood and needs much less attention. Also a lot of colors to choose from.
If your hubby is totally against a patio, present the idea of a sand-set patio vs. using concrete/mortar as a base. Using sand of course allows for sinking and you would need to sweep sand regularly to keep it set well…
There are definitely a lot of pros and cons to each option. Do a lot of research before you decide anything!