REAL LIFE

BY MOLLY NICHOLAS

Spring Into a New Patio Project

It's that time of year to begin planning and installing Spring and Summer living spaces for your home. An outdoor patio can provide a beautiful and relaxing extension to your indoor living area. In addition, a well-done outdoor space will add interest and value to your property. Tips compiled here can help you determine how to avoid costly mistakes when planning a budget for the project.

Price a basic patio at the bottom of your budget.

A plain concrete patio can cost around $6-$12 per square foot. Colored or customized concrete can be as much as $20 per square foot. Get fancy with bluestone or travertine pavers, and expect costs to surpass prices for sandstone in some markets. Installing a plain concrete patio is typically going to be the rock bottom of the budget; prepare for that and follow these suggestions for getting the most for your money.

Know exact measurements

To estimate the cost of a paver patio, you first have to find out the number of pavers that you need. You can determine the number of pavers that you need by identifying your desired patio size. Measure the length and width of your patio in feet. Multiply the width by the length to find the square footage (E.g., width x length = patio sq ft.). Assuming the width is 12 ft., and the length is 10 ft., 12 x 10 = 120, and your patio size is 120 sq ft. Next, identify the paver size. Keep in mind the length and the width of your bricks or paving stones in inches. You might have to cut some pieces to make them fit perfectly; be sure to use the right tool to do this, so you don't damage valuable materials. It is suggested to add 5-10% more pavers to replace any that are mistakenly broken. Divide the total patio size by the paver's surface area, and you have the material costs.

Properly Price Installation

Labor estimates are wildly unreliable. Plan to hire a professional to install the paver and ask them to walk through your space to get a realistic quote. Not only does their rate depend on the size of the patio, but also on how much time is needed to complete the work and how many people are needed to finish the job. The location and even the weather conditions could transform costs. Ask the installers to price their work based on your materials. They usually need to lay deep sand and gravel before setting brick and stone pavers, so that time counts too. Although some materials require less prep work, others make for a time-consuming job given your yard configuration. Only professionals can share the cost of tool rental they might need but don't already have. Ask for a complete quote that covers this. If your vision involves installing fences, or other boundaries, there might be additional costs and a city permit to consider.

Ask Around

Just like you would when planning for a major purchase, shop around before deciding on one kind of material or professional landscaping company to build your patio. Compare costs and quality. Check online reviews for contractors before committing to this big-ticket purchase.

As with all projects, starting with a solid strategy and reasonable budget leads to less stress and more success!