The Complete Guide to Choosing Patio Materials for Your Backyard

Choosing the perfect patio materials for your backyard can be a daunting task, especially with the multitude of varieties available. As a homeowner, you might feel overwhelmed by all of the choices and unsure of even where to begin. 

Let’s explore how to navigate the complexities of choosing patio materials, ensuring that your patio not only enhances your backyard’s beauty but also stands the test of time. From considering your personal preferences and budget to ensuring compatibility with your home’s architectural style, we aim to simplify your journey and help you create a space you’ll love for years to come. 

Material Options for Your Backyard Patio

With truly hundreds of products to choose from, selecting the right materials for a patio in Boulder can be challenging. When selecting materials for a patio, keep in mind these three things:

1. What are your personal preferences?
2. What is the budget for your backyard patio?
3. What is the architectural style and overall look of your home?

Your Personal Material Preference

Truly the most important factor when it comes to choosing the right materials for your patio is selecting a material that you really love. Material options include brick pavers, concrete pavers, and natural stone pavers. Each option has benefits to offer your outdoor space. At LID, we don’t limit ourselves to installing just one type of material; instead, we let you, our clients, choose the best fit for your space and budget. 

If your budget is tight, concrete paver options have come a long way over the last few years. Nearly every natural stone option has a concrete paver option that looks similar. When looking through the options for materials, be sure to consider color, texture, and pattern options.

It is also important to consider how you plan to use your backyard patio. If you plan to use the patio throughout the summer and walk around barefoot, it is important to select a product that will not get overheated and scald your feet. Is your patio located right next to your pool? Be sure to choose a material that does not become overly slippery when wet. Plan to host dinner parties at an outdoor kitchen area? Select a material that has a smoother texture, so chairs can easily slide in and out of their place near the table. 

At LID, we have many product samples on hand at our office and can also obtain almost any product you may be looking at. We frequently drop materials off at your home to help you visualize what the product will look like when installed.

Your Budget

It is extremely important that your landscape contractor fully understand and respect your budget. There are material selections for your backyard patio to fit nearly any price point. When considering your budget, remember to include both the cost of materials themselves as well as the amount of time and labor it will take to install them. 

For example, concrete paver products tend to be less expensive for both the material and installation, however, natural stone products usually cost more and take longer to install. Natural products are more difficult to install because they come directly from nature, not a factory, so they can be uneven and vary in size, requiring the installation technician to spend more time during installation. 

Aesthetic Appeal

When selecting patio materials, there are several factors to consider in terms of aesthetics. First, you want to be sure your material choices complement the style, color, and architecture of your home and any existing landscape you intend to keep.

Manufactured products like concrete pavers are available in more colors and textures, but usually come in smaller pieces. They tend to also have a more formal style, as they are usually a dimensional, straight-line pattern. 

Natural stone has more varied color and changes drastically depending on where the stone itself came from. For example, some red flagstone is deep red while others are more light pink or even whitish. Natural stone also comes in larger pieces that can be put into a pattern with random and natural cuts or a more structured pattern. 

Considering Boulder, Colorado’s Climate and Backyard Patio Maintenance

The location of Boulder thankfully does not limit any material recommendations for your backyard patio. In fact, it makes some materials more readily available and affordable such as red or buff flagstone. 

However, our changing climate does mean you need to be concerned about the upkeep and maintenance of your patio. Our freeze/thaw cycle throughout the winter can put additional pressure on the joints of your patio, causing the material between the joints to degrade much more quickly than in a climate that has warm weather year-round. Thankfully, this problem has a straightforward solution. The joints in between your patio stones will need to be refinished every few years to prevent stone damage. This process is called ‘pointing’ the patio. 

Seasonally, be sure to gently remove dirt, debris, and leaves off the patio to prevent staining. During the winter months, avoid using salt on the stone as it can cause damage. If you are noticing any sections of your patio heaving or issues with your patio joints, be sure to call a landscape professional. 

Most types of patios do not need to be sealed, as they are designed to permeable or are natural stone, which has an innate porous nature, however, concrete patios may need sealing, especially if it is colored or is exposed to excess amounts of water. 

Performing DIY maintenance on your patio like power washing can void the warranty provided by most patio material manufacturers. Some patio problems may have a deeper cause, such as your patio having poor drainage or tree roots surfacing, all needing to be handled by a professional.

Sustainability and Your New Patio

As materials for patios have changed and developed over time, most pavers are now permeable, which means water can filter through them, instead of runoff them. This helps to prevent drainage problems like flooding and pooling of water, conserves resources, and helps to support our local ecosystem.

At LID Landscapes, we also recycle all patio materials we remove from job sites. The old materials are ground down into what is known as a road base, which is used as base prep on our future patio projects.

Partnering with a Landscape Expert for Your Backyard Patio 

Choosing the right materials for your backyard patio in Boulder, Colorado, involves careful consideration of several factors, from personal preferences and budget to maintenance requirements and sustainability. By meeting a company that provides expert landscape design services in Boulder, CO, you can make an informed decision that will enhance your outdoor space's beauty and functionality. 

At LID Landscapes, we're here to guide you through every step of the process, offering expert advice and a wide range of quality materials to ensure your patio meets your needs and stands up to the elements. 

With the right choice, your patio will become a cherished feature of your home, providing a perfect setting for relaxation and entertainment for years to come.