Column: Patio materials matter

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IO 0516 Randy Sorrell

Commmentary by Randy Sorrell

More than ever, patio materials matter. There are hundreds and hundreds of paver options available with size, color and shape, all part of the dizzy equation. Couple that with concrete versus clay pavers and confuse it with the natural stone alternative, and the decision process can be daunting — unless experienced professionals are guiding the sourcing process.

VARIABLES

Once a few of the essentials are considered, it becomes a cleaner process to guide and offer strong material recommendations. Those variables start with budget, are influenced strongly by the style of the home, neighborhood setting and whether the project is leaning natural/formal/modern. A few samples on site confidently verifies the decision.

VARIETY

Mixing materials injects fun, prompts movement and creates drama. A contrasting ribbon of pavers can suggest different living spaces (dining space and a separate area around a fire feature, for example). It also calls attention to patio shapes and can serve to tie in architectural elements of the home. Careful not to inject too much variety,  however.

PROJECT

The featured home displays a front courtyard and is a fantastic example of variables and variety. The sprawling ranch home in a leafy, mature Indianapolis neighborhood commanded the use of both manmade pavers and a natural limestone cap on an existing edgy cinder block wall. We selected Cotswold Mist, Belgard Lafitt concrete pavers for the primary patio, walk and step, with a bold contrasting Monroe color Holland paver as the border. It helps identify the step tread as a safety feature, too. The natural limestone wall cap pays homage to the neighborhood and introduces an additional level of variety.

Materials matter!  Enjoy the sourcing process.


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