A patio is a great alternative to a deck that can help homeowners get the most out of the outdoor space that surrounds their home. With the good weather finally beginning to return if you have been considering adding a patio to your landscape, or rejuvenating an existing one now is the perfect time.

Once you and your landscaper or builder have determined the perfect location for new patio you will have to determine what materials are going to be used in its construction. Here is a little basic information about the most popular options available today:

Brick

A brick patio can be used to bring a touch of warm elegance and practicality to almost any outdoor space. Brick is often the best choice for patios that are built around homes that experience very cold weather in the winter, as they are more durable than many other options.

How much it will cost you to have a brick patio installed will not only depend upon the type of brick you choose but the manner of installation as well. If you opt for the brick to be mortared in rather than dry laid over gravel the cost will be higher. Mortaring in does however create a patio that is likely to stay in great shape for far longer and the mortar itself can be used as an aesthetic enhancement. The only real maintenance a brick patio should ever need after it is installed is the occasional power-wash and touch up of any chipped mortar.

Dry Laid Flagstones

A patio created with dry laid flagstone creates a rustic look that can be truly enchanting, especially if it is enhanced with the right amount of greenery and natural color. It also affords the homeowner a great deal of creative license as many different kinds of stones can be incorporated into the overall design.

How much a dry laid flagstone patio will cost depends very much upon the type of stone that you choose. After the patio is complete it should be fairly easy to maintain, with weeds occasionally needing to be pulled and any missing sand between the flagstones replenished.

Pea Gravel

Pea gravel is probably the easiest patio surface to install and because it shifts underfoot can be far more comfortable to walk on than harder patio surfaces. Pea gravel is also one of the least expensive patio surfaces one can opt for. On the downside if you live in a colder clime efficient snow removal can be hard to achieve without disturbing a great many of the stones.

Concrete

Concrete patios are not the cheapest option available to homeowners but it can be one of the most versatile. Concrete can be poured to conform to any shape, can be dyed in many different colors and can be stamped right after it is laid to add extra textural interest. Exactly how much a concrete patio will cost will depend upon the size of the patio you have poured and upon the extras, like color, that you might choose to opt for. In terms of maintenance concrete patios require very little. Like brick they will benefit from the occasional power wash but other than that they should be fairly trouble free.

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Spring Cleaning Time

Spring is here and most people do still take the time to do that big spring clean. But, while you are vacuuming, dusting and uncluttering, you should also be making sure that your home is in a decent state of repair.

Fixing all the little problems now, many of them that may have been caused by the bad weather, will potentially save you a great deal of money. Little problems around the house have a way of turning into huge headaches if left unchecked, so here is a spring home maintenance checklist that, if followed, should help you make sure that your home is ready for the summer months ahead.

Deck Maintenance

If your deck has been covered with an inch of snow for the last few months the fact that it probably needs a little TLC should be no surprise. Although a good power wash can be the best way to restore your deck’s appearance, you should also make sure that the winter months have not damaged its structural integrity. If you have any concerns after throughly inspecting your deck call in a pro now instead of trying to patch things up yourself, which often only makes matters worse.

Check Your Gutters

When it was cold and miserable outside not cleaning out your gutters was understandable. However, that means that the chances are all those leaves that fell last fall are still there, cluttering up your gutters and presenting a potential problem. Now is the time to get rid of them and make sure that they are still in good shape.

Schedule an HVAC Checkup

The need to use your air conditioner may still be a few months away but the time to schedule a check up for your HVAC system is now. If you wait until June to discover that something is not quite right, you may find yourself spending more than a few days wilting in the heat because your HVAC company is booked solid.

Consider an Exterior Paint Job

Spring is the ideal time to have the exterior of your home repainted if it is looking a little shabby. If you paint at the height of the summer the higher temperatures may mean that the paint can be affected by all that heat and humidity and you may end up having to have it redone again far sooner than you should.

Wash the Windows

The one thing that it is easy to neglect (or purposely avoid) is cleaning your windows. However, after all that bad weather they really are going to need it. If ladders are not your thing spend the extra few dollars to call in a professional window washing company to do those tricky second story windows.

Check All Your Summer Tools

Is your lawnmower still working?

Does the grill still fire up?

How about that patio furniture, is it really up to another season in the sun?

Spring is the best time to check all of these things to avoid disappointment when the really good weather arrives and most stores still have great deals on summer items that will be gone by the time the summer sun comes out for good.