Patios

Homeowners frequently ask to compare natural stone, brick, concrete pavers, and stamped concrete regarding durability, aesthetics, and cost. Our best advice is to be opinionated about what we feel is in the best interest of the homeowner as well as being transparent about costs, understanding affordability, and the overall longevity of the specific product.

Defining the primary purpose is crucial for determining the layout, size, and optional amenities (like an Outdoor Kitchen or built-in Fire-Pit).

A major concern is preventing water from pooling on the patio or, worse, flowing toward the house foundation. As Hardscape trusted professionals, installation excellence is standard. Also by being drainage experts, our exterior designers design and build with drainage solutions always in mind.

Clients often need help understanding the total costs, including site preparation, material choices, and labor, to avoid surprises. Prices significantly vary with regard to exterior remodeling. However, a 250 ft.² paver patio might cost $6,500 or more and the bigger the patio obviously the more Outdoor Living space the cost goes up. The biggest benefit of quality Outdoor Living space is the return on investment, which is significantly high if it’s built right the first time.

Homeowners want to know the expected timeline from excavation to finishing, especially if it involves extensive landscaping changes. Depending if HOA is needed for project approval, usually the installation can be scheduled immediately after a minimum financial deposit and agreement on the Outdoor Living project is completed. We usually book installations one to five weeks out depending on a variety of circumstances on our production schedule.

People often debate whether to connect the patio directly to the house or place it further into the yard to catch evening sun or better views. Most of the patios are directly connected to the house as an extension of quality usable space that’s mostly maintenance free. However, occasionally fire pits, paver patio islands, and other detached Outdoor Living spaces are becoming more common as we all try to utilize our property to create maximum benefit for our family, friends and community.

Understanding the legal requirements for construction is a high priority to ensure the project is compliant. As a fully licensed general contractor in North and South Carolina, Mr. Outdoor Living® has all the licenses and Workmen’s Compensation needed to do almost anything outside regarding exterior remodeling. However, we have a compliance officer that checks to make sure that every town, city, community, and neighborhood has the necessary precautions to do things in compliance. Mr. Outdoor Living® handles all permits regarding Outdoor Living® projects and as a courtesy assists each homeowner with regard to their HOA submittal process. Doing things right the first time is how we do business as trusted professionals.

A common fear is that heavy machinery will destroy the rest of the yard, leading to questions about site protection methods. During and after an installation, we take kind consideration of the neighbors as well as the front lawn of the existing customer and maintain a high standard of professionalism and respect of the space we’re working in. Repairing lawns and other items are part of our warranty, and as always, visiting our website for further information is always a good idea at www.mroutdoorliving.com.

Clients look for advice on elevating the design to create a “staycation” atmosphere, including hardscaped fire pits, low-voltage lighting, or pergola coverage. Several customers upgrade, depending on their financial budgets and how they feel comfortable working together. Usually, we’ll focus on the top priorities and kind of like a game show, you hit a stop button, and you stop spending money. Focusing on the top 1 to 3 priorities is best. However, some customers do 3 to 5 to 7 and even more Outdoor Living items to get things done professionally. Therefore, one added benefit of Mr. Outdoor Living® is having one responsible place to make homes more beautiful professionally.

Questions arise about the long-term care, such as cleaning, sealing pavers, or managing algae in shaded areas. Most paver patios are maintenance free, therefore becoming very popular over the last several years. Natural stone and other patios might have further maintenance needed. Other patios like concrete stamped, regular concrete and anything related to concrete or mortar can crack and have significant maintenance issues over time. Our exterior designers usually focus on the most maintenance free and cost-effective solutions. However, occasional maintenance like cleaning a paver patio can be done and is part of our service calls we do for our customers and new potential customers.