Tips for Choosing the Perfect Patio Stones

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    It’s no secret that professionally installed patio stones can make a huge difference in the look and feel of your property. Whether it’s a classy walkway leading to the front of your home or a luxurious area in the back that’s designed for entertaining and family fun, the right patio stones will take your outdoor space to a whole new level.

    Here are 4 tips that will help you choose the ideal patio stones for your needs.

    1 – Determine Your Budget

    The budget may be the least exciting element of choosing new patio stones, but it’s a necessary step that will point you in the right direction. Modern patio stones come in a range of materials, textures, thicknesses and colors, so knowing what kind of budget you have to work with from the start will make the process much more efficient.

    2 – Long-term Plans and Goals

    Determining your long-term plans for the house and the property will help you decide on the right patio stones. Do you plan on selling in the next few years, or are you planning to remain in the house indefinitely? Do you envision further additions to the outdoor space like an outdoor kitchen, bar area or a pool? It’s not necessary to know exactly what you want to do for the next several years in order to choose patio stones now, but having that knowledge can be helpful.

    As an example, if you are planning to sell in the next few years, you might choose patio stones that are sure to boost the property value but are still budget-friendly. If you plan on adding an extensive outdoor kitchen area in the next couple years, you may choose patio stones that are going to last and have a timeless look, you can plan for additions later on.

    3 – Where and How are They Being Used?

    Whether you know the future plan or not is one thing, but you definitely need to know what you want to do with the patio stones now. Before the process gets going, you’ll need to know where in your yard the stones will be placed and the size of the area to be covered. You’ll also need to know how they are going to be used.

    Will they act as a border around the swimming pool? Leading up to a set of stone steps? The floor for your outdoor kitchen, fireplace or firewall feature? Or maybe you want to cover the entire yard because you don’t want to mow the lawn anymore? Whatever your motivation, having a solid plan for where they need to go, how much coverage you need and how you will be using them will yield the best possible results.

    4 – Deciding on a Material

    Now that you know the budget, as well as the long-term and short-term goals, you can decide on a material. This is where things get interesting because there are several exciting options. It always makes sense to work with your landscaping design team to narrow down the possibilities, but some notable options include natural stone, poured or stamped concrete, pea gravel and brick.

    Here is a little more information on each one:

    Natural Stone

    Natural stone usually takes the award for overall beauty and they will certainly help your property stand out from your neighbors. Some options for natural stone patio stones include slate, flagstone, limestone and bluestone. Stone patios have the ability to shift and adjust with the ground, so the likelihood of erosion or cracking is low, but if one does crack, you can usually replace it without digging up the entire surface.

    Concrete

    If you decide on a concrete patio, you’ll have to choose between a straight poured concrete patio or a stamped patio. Concrete consists of a paste made from water and cement and aggregates that can include sand, gravel, crushed stones or sometimes even shells. The fact that concrete starts off as a paste and hardens makes it a good choice if you want a custom shape for your patio. Stamped concrete is created by pressing stamps into freshly poured concrete to make lines, shapes or designs and can be dyed just about any color. Concrete is a good short term option.

    Brick

    A brick patio will give you a rustic kind of look and while there aren’t many different colors, you can arrange them in different patterns for a unique look. Brick patio stones offer good drainage, but they are susceptible to cracks and breaks and are usually easy to replace when needed.

    Pea Gravel

    While not technically a patio stone, some homeowners like the look of pea gravel instead of traditional patio stones. This look is common in many English gardens, and even though it adds a nice bit of personality, you may have issues with uneven surfaces or the individual pieces of gravel migrating to other parts of the yard.

    Choosing patio stones doesn’t need to be overly complex or time-consuming, but it does require a bit of planning to ensure you get the right ones for your needs.

    Do you need help with your Kansas City patio or outdoor living space? High Prairie Outdoors has you covered, simply contact us today for help!

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    About The Author

    Robyn is a 2009 Graduate of the Kansas State University Department of Horticulture. She grew up in South East Kansas where she graduated from Humboldt High School. She was a Kansas State University Leadership Scholar and President of the Horticulture Club. She married Bret in 2009 and they have a daughter Ellie, born in 2021. Their family is completed by three adopted dogs.

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