A Deck or Patio – Which Is Best For You?
What if you had more usable space in your yard for hosting, chilling, and connecting with people?
Imagine what you could do: host great parties, accommodate family gatherings, and relax in nature after a tough day.
That is what a new deck or patio enables you to do!
However, designing a functional, practical outdoor space is harder than it sounds, and we understand that here at K. Graber Construction.
We are here to help! We’ve used our years of experience to put together an article explaining the difference between decks and patios, plus the pros and cons of each. This article will help you think through your needs and design a beautiful, functional outdoor space you will love for years to come!
Are you ready to get started?
Let’s take a look!
What Is the Difference Between a Deck And a Patio?
The main differences between a deck and a patio are their height and the materials they are made of.
A deck is a raised platform, usually made of wood, vinyl, or other synthetic material. Decks are typically attached to the house, not free-standing.
Patios are flat, paved areas right on the ground level. They are made of concrete, tile, stone, or other hard, flat material. Patios can be attached or unattached to your house.
Both of these types are great for relaxing, hosting, and beautifying your yard, but for different reasons.
6 Reasons To Build a Deck
A deck is a great addition to your home! Many potential home buyers say they would prefer a deck on their new home.
Here are 6 ways a deck offers greater benefits than a patio.
1. Offers a view
Since decks are elevated, they are perfect for showing off beautiful views! If you are lucky enough to live near a lake or have a mountain vista in your backyard, a deck might be your best choice, so you can enjoy the beautiful view.
Since they are on the ground level, patios aren’t great for admiring the view. However, they do tend to be more private than decks.
2. Works on uneven terrain
If your yard is sloped or hilly, a deck will work better for you. Patios require flat ground, but since decks are installed on posts they can accommodate uneven terrain.
In fact, if your yard is uneven, a deck may be a great way for you to make more of your space usable!
3. Higher resale value
Decks are more complicated and expensive to build than patios, and they usually require higher upfront costs to build.
However, decks also provide better ROI than patios. According to Remodeling.net, a patio recoups about 55% of building costs, whereas a wood deck recoups 76%. That is higher than most indoor home renovations!
Both decks and patios are great selling points that give you more leverage with potential buyers. But if you want to maximize the ROI of your outdoor improvement, a deck may be the best choice.
4. More comfortable in hot weather
If you get a lot of sunlight and hot temperatures during the summer, your deck or patio may get hot. Then it’s no fun to walk on!
Most decking materials absorb and retain less heat than patio materials. Natural wood tends to stay the coolest, whereas man made decking materials usually absorb more heat, though that depends on the brand.
When you design your deck, keep in mind that the darker the material's color, the hotter the surface will be in the summertime.
If you want to make your deck multi-seasonal, you could consider adding a roof overhead. With the addition of a roof and a hot tub, you could enjoy your deck all year round! This is a great way to provide yourself with more living space.
5. Can be on a level with your door
If your door is several feet above ground level, then you will have to make stairs going down to a patio. That is not handicapped-friendly and could be unhandy for you when you are carrying loaded trays of food out to guests. Plus, it’s not kid-friendly.
If you have disabled people or older folks in your home, a deck may be easier for them to access since a deck can be made right at the level of your door. You’ll be able to step right out onto a level surface. You can also build ramps up to your deck to make it handicapped accessible from the ground.
6. Looks warmer and cozier
Let’s face it:
A patio might look cold, hard, and flat unless you get creative and spend more time and money to spruce it up. A plain concrete slab could look pretty drab!
Decks, especially wooden ones, look warmer and cozier than patios. Real wood gives you rich, attractive natural colors and a warm feel. If you are the type that likes coziness, a deck might be for you.
Disclaimer: We aren’t saying patios can’t look cozy too. You can stain and spruce up your patio to be very inviting. However, it might cost you a bit more.
6 Reasons To Build a Patio
What about patios? Patios are another great way to give yourself some more usable hosting and relaxing space in your yard. In a lot of ways, patios are just as good as decks, and in some ways, they are even better. It all depends on your situation.
Here are the top 6 reasons to build a patio:
1. Offers privacy
Decks show off the view, but you might also be on display. Your whole neighborhood can probably see you on your raised deck.
Because they are on the ground level, patios can easily be screened by bushes or tucked away in a private corner. You may not get the view, but nobody can see you either!
If you want a private space, a patio is your way to go.
2. Less expensive to build
Patio materials such as stamped concrete or concrete pavers typically cost less than decking materials like natural wood.
Concrete paver patios are also easier to install and take less labor and maintenance, which helps keep the costs down. You may even be able to install your patio by yourself, whereas building a deck is a more involved operation that takes a professional.
Because of these factors, patios are usually less expensive to build than decks. So if you are on a tight budget, a patio may be best for you.
3. Do not require permits and inspections
Since decks are raised formations that affect the structure of your home, they usually require building permits and inspections. That red tape can be a real pain in the neck!
Patios are simpler, sit on the ground level, and don’t affect the structure of your home. Therefore, they don’t usually require a permit or inspections.
However, it’s always best to check before you build and make sure there are no restrictions or laws that affect your project.
4. Longer lifespans
Patio materials are made to withstand the elements for years! Materials like concrete and concrete pavers don’t wear out quickly.
Therefore, patios usually have longer lifespans than decks.
How long your patio will last depends on multiple factors such as materials, installation, and environment, but some patios last more than 50 years!
On the other hand, a typical wooden deck lasts 10-15 years.
Paver patios tend to last longer than poured concrete patios because pavers are less likely to develop cracks and chips with changing seasons. Plus, if one paver does crack, it’s easy to replace a paver. If your whole paver patio becomes uneven, you can even tear the entire thing up, level the ground, and reinstall it fairly easily.
However, pavers take more regular maintenance than concrete slabs, since heaving ground might put them out of place and weeds often grow in the cracks between pavers.
5. Easy to maintain
How much maintenance your patio requires depends on what materials it is made of. But as a rule, patio materials are easier to maintain than deck materials.
If your deck is natural wood, it will require staining or painting and sealing every few years. Patio materials like concrete, stone, and pavers don’t require the same amount of sealing and don’t need staining or painting at all.
The only things you may need to watch out for with your concrete patio is staining and cracking. Concrete slabs or pavers tend to stain easily and may crack, chip, or shift with age and changing seasons.
6. Don’t have weight restrictions
Since decks are raised structures, they carry the potential for accidents. That is why it’s important to get the proper permits and inspections for your deck.
That is also why there are weight restrictions for decks. Some heavier items, such as hot tubs, may not be allowed on your deck.
If you want heavier items or just don’t want to worry about weight restrictions, a patio is the way to go.
What To Think About When Making Your Decision
To summarize, here is a list of things you should consider when deciding whether to install a deck or a patio.
1. Your backyard
The topography of your backyard is perhaps the most defining factor.
If your backyard is flat and offers privacy, a patio would work wonderfully.
If your backyard is hilly and offers a great view, a deck might be better.
Of course, you could install a deck over a flat yard, and you can level a hilly yard to make a place for a patio. Ultimately the decision is up to you.
If you can’t decide, you could do both. Many people build a deck that transitions to a patio.
2. Your budget
It’s a good idea to determine a budget before you start any project.
If your budget is not limitless (most people’s aren’t!), maybe a patio would be more manageable for you than a deck, as patios require lower upfront costs. The only case where this would not be true is if your yard is uneven and would need a lot of leveling to build a patio. That sometimes gets expensive.
If you are up for a larger project, maybe try a deck. While it’s a higher upfront cost, a deck usually yields greater returns and home value in the long run.
3. Maintenance
Do you want to build your structure and then forget about it? Go with a patio! Patios take much less maintenance than decks, particularly real wooden decks.
Installing a deck means you must re-stain, paint, and seal it regularly. A patio may need occasional resealing but doesn’t need much routine maintenance other than sweeping and maybe a power wash.
4. Design versatility
Wooden decks can be stained or painted in almost any color you like! And you can change the color every few years if desired. With concrete, the color is permanent, so you don’t have the luxury of changing your mind!
On the other hand, you can form concrete into almost any shape you can imagine, allowing you to follow the contours of your landscaping or make creative designs. Plus, concrete pavers come in hundreds of different looks, and you can lay them in attractive, striking patterns.
5. Personal preference
In the end, personal preference may be the thing that makes your decision for you.
Maybe you like a real wood deck's warm, natural look and don’t mind the extra maintenance and cost. Go with a deck! Or you hate maintenance and want an easy-to-build option. Then a patio is a clear winner!
It may simply boil down to your personal taste and preferences, despite other considerations.
Conclusion
Imagine having more usable space in your backyard to chill, host, and connect with your favorite people.
A deck or a patio enables you to do all these things! And designing a deck or patio that works for you isn’t as hard as it seems.
At K Graber Construction, we can help you with your next project. We offer construction and concrete services, to make your project a breeze.
All you need to do is:
- Get a free quote
- Approve the estimate and design
- Sit back while we begin construction
And then love your new area!
We also offer other construction services:
- Metal roofing
- Concrete
- Pole barn homes
- New Home construction
- ICF construction
- Commercial and agricultural pole barns
- Steel building construction
With over 30 years of experience, we can ensure that your project is stress-free and well built.
We look forward to hearing from you.