You should choose the material for the patio which works for you. You won’t do much good with the cheapest patio content out there when it doesn’t meet your goals. Decide on your patio room priorities. Look at your expenses and see what you can afford.
The following are the 4 cheapest patio materials
- Pea Gravel. Pea gravel patios and roads look beautiful, and quaint, and are inexpensive and easy to set up. This gravel type consists of loose, smooth, earth-toned stones below one inch in diameter — about pea size. Pea gravel is low-cost since the stones remain loose and don’t need to harden or set, this gravel can be used to easily create a patio in any shape. It is just as easy to mount, so even for a novice hardscape, it is a reasonably simple DIY project. If properly looked after, a pea gravel patio will last forever. As pea gravel is not a solid surface, it can shift over time and some adjustments may be needed to keep the furniture on the patio. At times, the loose gravel scatters outside the designated patio and must be retrieved. Removing snow can be a problem because you don’t want to risk snowing up the stones. Overall maintenance is relatively low for this form of patio – semi-weekly picking of the stones can prevent weeds from growing and keep the surface smooth and dry.
- Stamped Concrete. Concrete is one of the most common and cheapest materials for building a patio. Concrete is a piece of aggregates and paste – stone, sand, grave, or even shells may be crushed in the concrete; water and cement are a paste. In general, the concrete patios are not a DIY project and should be built by an entrepreneur. Special care is needed for concrete patios. Although it is initially inexpensive (about 6–300 dollars per foot per square foot), the concrete can rust, break up, and wear over time, especially if the ground changes. (Wait for a period of about 20–30 years). Once the concrete patio is broken, it must be removed and replaced entirely.
- Concrete Pavers. Pavers are made in different shapes and colors, concrete blocks. In comparison to poured or stamped concrete, the pavers can be replaced separately — if one breaks, the whole patio can not be replaced. The construction of a concrete paver may be DIY, but as a starting project, it is not recommended. Concrete pavers have been expensive at approximately $13–$20 per square foot, but a patio made of pavers can last 50-100 years because of its consistency and the ability to replace pavers one by one. A paver patio offers much better drainage than a patio with poured concrete because water will drain from the pillars. Pavers can wear down due to erosion over time but seldom break because they can change from ground to ground if they move.
- Brick. The patios of brick are a classic sight. Though brick does not vary in color and can not be thinned, a unique appearance can be arranged in many different patterns. Brick courtyards cost $14–$20 for every square foot, but saved brick can be bought less as an environmentally friendly alternative. It is porous and brick provides good drainage because water can flow easily through the spongy clay. While brick patios, like paver patios, can be a DIY project, it’s not recommended for beginners. Although they don’t easily erode, bricks can break or crack as a result of stress or freezing temperatures. However, bricks can easily be replaced individually, and because this patio material doesn’t fade, a replaced brick will not stand out. There will be no smooth brick patio (mortar does not flush the brick surface) and patio furniture will wobble.
Top 10 Questions About Interlocking Concrete Pavers (and Our Answers)
- What Is Cheaper Concrete Or Pavers?
- What Is The Least Expensive Patio Material?
- Can You Lay Pavers On Just Sand?
- How Do You Keep Pavers From Moving?
- What Is The Best Material To Put In Between Pavers?
- How Thick Should Sand Be Under Pavers?
- Can You Put Concrete Between the Pavers?
- What To Put Between Pavers To Stop Weeds?
- Are Pavers Worth The Money?
Are You Considering Interlocking Concrete Pavers for Your Pool, Patio, or Driveway?
At DPG Design and Build, we’ve been providing our customers with Interlocking Concrete Pavers for Pools, Patios, and Driveways for over 30 years. DPG Design and Build, with locations in San Rafael, Walnut Creek, Oakley, and San Ramon, California is the best curb appeal and outdoor living space designer and installer in the San Francisco Bay Area. Appearing on HGTV’s Curb Appeal and featured on Discovery Channel’s program Renovation Nation, our team of skilled designers and landscape engineers provide top-quality service and professionalism our customers love. DPG Design and Build offers 2-D and 3-D conceptual home and landscape design plans that allow you to visualize your dream space and make that dream concept a reality. Want to transform your front yard, backyard, or driveway with pavers? Contact DPG Design and Build to schedule your free consultation today!
