With every new home that is constructed, homeowners are faced with the decision to install a deck or patio. Both have their place and provide functionality. The materials available are endless, giving homeowners plenty of colors and styles to choose from. I am here to help you decide if you need a deck, patio, or possibly both. 

The first thing you should look at is how high above-grade your door wall is. If you are above 3ft, or if the home is newly constructed with a basement (even if you are below 3ft to grade), I would strongly recommend a deck landing to get you down to grade level. This is because the soil that has been backfilled around your foundation has not had time to settle. Decks have footings that allow for little to no settlement. My advice is, save yourself the trouble and install a deck landing to get you to ground level and then build a patio there.

Decks have evolved with composite materials making maintenance easier. The cost and energy expressed by staining or painting is no longer necessary with a composite deck. There is even the option to make the floor of the deck screwless to really give you a clean look. Composite deck companies tend to include warranties on their products and I have even seen some that offer 25-year limited warranties. Composite decks are more expensive than your typical wood deck, but they quickly pay for themselves over the years. With a composite deck, a quick wash with the hose a few times a year will be all the maintenance you need. My clients also love the decking colors that are available to complement their home. It is important to remember that when installing a deck of any type, it is vital to have an HOA approval letter and obtain the appropriate permits.

If a patio is the option you are looking for, make sure to hire an ICPI (Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute) Certified Installer to build your patio. Remember, in order to build a patio without a deck landing, the drop from your door wall should be less than 3ft. Having a landing will eliminate settlement issues in the future, especially on a newly constructed home.

Pavers patios can be raised or ground level which gives you many options for you outdoor living space. Raised patios are more expensive than ground level patios. In price, a raised patio is closer to the price of a composite deck.  Nonetheless, paver patios still tend to have good warranties if installed by an ICPI contractor. There are many ways to customize your patio with a wide array of colors and brick options. 

Most commonly, I see many small decks and large patios on the new home builds. The reason for this is the cost difference. Paver patios generally are less expensive than composite decks per square foot. The biggest factor is the maintenance on a paver patio. It is important to power wash and install jointing sand every few years as well as fixing cracked or settling pavers. In general, the maintenance costs on pavers are at least double that of a composite deck. Both composite decks and patios create a great space to entertain for many years. 

Concrete pavers are affordable, versatile, sustainable and more weather resistant than poured concrete or brick. There are two common production methods for concrete pavers; dry-casting and wet-casting. Knowing the difference between these two production processes can help you make the best decision when selecting hardscape pavers for your landscape project:

Dry-cast pavers are produced using a dry-mix of concrete and aggregates and have a low water ratio. These are what we traditionally think of when we say “pavers”.  Dry-cast pavers are formed through the vibration and compaction of dry materials and are air-cured, making them quick and affordable to produce, but limited in color and texture options.

• ideal for driveways and high-traffic areas

• affordable

• high density, high strength (an approximate PSI of 8,000)

Wet-cast paver mix contains more water than dry-cast pavers, rendering the mix a similar consistency to concrete. An increase in curing time means wet-cast pavers are more labor intensive to produce, resulting in a higher price point. Wet-cast pavers come in a wider variety of shapes, sizes, colors and textures. 

• ideal for pools, patios and walkways

• moderately strong (an approximate psi of 6,500)

• practically non-porous

Pavers manufactured for Michigan are versatile, long lasting and designed to withstand freeze-thaw cycles. For examples of how concrete pavers add beauty and value to your landscape visit our project image gallery here.