The spring and summer months are, without a doubt, the best time of year to revamp your outdoor spaces. The arrival of good weather means you can head outside and start work without having to worry that rain, wind and cold will have an impact on your projects… and there’s no better time than right now to consider hard landscaping like patio installations at home.
During the winter, it can be difficult to get going with projects of this kind because frozen ground can cause all sorts of problems for the foundations. Additionally, you need to leave time for the joints to settle and this happens a lot quicker in summertime.
It can be difficult to know where to begin with patio design and installation if you’ve never done it before, so here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions to help point you in the right direction.
Where should I install my patio?
Location is key and it will largely depend on the layout of your house and what you intend to use your patio for as to where the best place for it will be. You often find patios to the rear of a property as this gives you plenty of room and privacy for al fresco dining.
You could also consider wrapping the patio around the sides of the house to give you extra room and allow you to take full advantage of the sun throughout the day.
Is drainage necessary for a patio?
What you don’t want is for water to collect in pools on your patio, which is why you would usually set them with a slight slope away from your property so that water can drain away. In some cases, additional drainage will be required – but we’ll be able to help you with this.
How long before I can walk on my newly laid patio?
Once your patio has been laid and pointed, try not to walk on it for at least 24 hours. It may take longer for the mortar to dry in colder conditions, which is something else to bear in mind. You may see cracks in the pointing and the slabs may shift if you walk on it too quickly.
For further help and advice relating to patios for your Chester home, get in touch with LW Landscapes today.