Figure 1 bright and sunny

All patios require the elements of design observed by artists worldwide. It must have enough balance and style to, well, look good. Other than that, when designing it is important to consider characteristics of patios such as drainage, weed control, and borders.

Figure 2 natural balance

For drainage: one inch slope for 8-12 feet of patio is usually good. The slope can be measured by a ruler with a leveled string tied to two stakes. It is important to allow water to run off the patio when considering different patio designs.

Figure 3 sloped patio designs

Properly installed patios will likely automatically control weeds, so there’s no big problem there. If you’re building from loose materials, however, remember to lay a sheet of holed plastic before you begin filling. Paver patios and some other types will have occasional weed growing. These happen when seeds land in the cracks and crevices, and therefore are virtually unavoidable. Nevertheless, they are easily removed by hand. If you have excessive weed, one dustling of weed killer may be sufficient.

Figure 4 landscape

Borders are important to give the patio a finished look and a distinctive end. You can make borders by placing the stones in a different orientation or just use fascia boards. Prefabricated borders are available at home improvement stores.

Figure 5 cracks