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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One of the biggest complaints about the most commonly built style American home – the ranch – is that it is quite simply rather boring. In their most basic form the single story ranch can be a little dull. Four walls, a roof , rather plain, not many bells and whistles architecturally speaking. Even those with a second story are not always something worth writing home about.

That does not mean you are condemned to living in a nice but plain house. They are plenty of remodeling tweaks – some big, some small – that can add a little of that “wow” factor to your ranch home.

Landscaping

Nothing livens up the exterior of a ho-hum house as well as a departure from the featureless (if well manicured) lawn into a landscaping project that is a little more adventurous. Think winding paths, flower beads, exotic shrubberies, even water features. Enlist the aid and expertise of great landscaping professional and your ranch home could be the breakout star of the block in no time.

Siding

Most ranch homes have vinyl siding and, in many cases, rather boring, drab siding at that. There is nothing wrong with vinyl siding but why not upgrade to give the exterior of your home a lift?  Just changing this single design feature can make a huge difference when it comes to remodeling ranch style homes.

Aluminum or concrete siding gives you the opportunity to spice things up a bit with a daring paint job and cedar shingles or faux stone will make it look like a different house altogether. Even the simple addition of small stone or brick accents for chimneys or bump-outs can add a nice texture.

Decks, Porches and Patios

Because ranch homes are generally built to be economical and affordable these outdoor features are often omitted or, if they are there, are very basic. By hiring a skilled deck builder or patio designer to help you create something extraordinary you get more enjoyment out of your home as well as enhance its aesthetic appeal.

Windows

Many homeowners underestimate the impact new windows can have on both the home’s exterior appearance and their energy bills. In general larger windows are better in design terms as they let in more light.

One of the most important things you can do when remodeling a ranch style home  is to add texture to the uniform exterior. Bay windows are a great way to do that, but also don’t overlook picture windows which can be equally as attractive and effective.

Radical Remodels

If you have a little bit of money saved up that can be put to good use undertaking a more extensive remodeling job on your ranch home our advice is go for it, so long as you find a good, reliable general contractor to manage and execute the project.

If yours is single story ranch, adding a second level is a possibility well worth considering. Gabled dormers for the newly created upstairs bedrooms add a lot more of that “exterior texture” we were talking about earlier and a nice covered entry way can add a little extra something to your front door area as well.