A patio is usually a paved slab adjacent to a home, but can also be set apart from the house or even located in the yard. They’re generally not raised above ground level like a deck and are designed for dining, relaxation and entertainment.
Choosing the right size patio is important because it will determine how much use it gets and the functionality of the space. Small patios feel cramped and chairs can easily skid over garden beds or the edges of a fire pit. Larger patios are expensive, feel less intimate and take up valuable garden real estate that could be used for plantings or other hardscape features.
The best way to determine the perfect size for a patio is to look at the furniture and amenities that will be included in the design, Frisch says. He recommends measuring the furniture and making a few preliminary sketches to help visualize the layout.
It’s also crucial to consider how the patio will meet up to the house, he adds. If a patio meets up too close to the house, it can create an unusable space that traps rainwater and causes drainage issues in the backyard.
Drainage is especially critical in Central Florida, Frisch says. Many municipalities limit the amount of impervious surface allowed in a residential yard, and some don’t approve permits for projects that require too much pavement. If the new patio pushes past this threshold, it could cause runoff into the neighbors’ yards and lead to expensive drainage problems.