DIY ready-made solutions for arranging a patio in the country
Content
What it is
This is the name of a certain open area, usually in an isolated inner courtyard or in a garden. The patio can be covered with a light canopy or built directly in the open air (translated from Spanish "patio" means "patio without a roof"). Here they place comfortable upholstered furniture, put coffee tables, and then invite friends for gatherings. Instead of full-fledged walls, patios are surrounded by a decorative hedge or light openwork partitions are placed.
To equip such a zone with your own hands, you do not need to apply a lot of effort. On warm days, it is convenient to use it as a living room or outdoor dining room.
Video "How to make a patio with your own hands"
From this video you will learn how to make a patio in the country with your own hands.
Variants
When arranging the site, it should be borne in mind that it can be used for different purposes. By exchanging some interior items for others, the patio quickly transforms into:
- summer kitchen;
- dining area;
- living room;
- solarium for sunbathing;
- playground for children and adults;
- sports corner.
There are no restrictions on the size of the area allocated for the patio. Any area of arbitrary shape will do: elongated, curved or encircling the main building around the perimeter. It is necessary to organize some kind of elevation above the ground, sometimes without any foundation. A wooden flooring or a fill of stones, paving slabs, etc. will do. It is also advisable to provide for a certain slope for the entire territory so that wastewater does not flood the site, flowing down to adjacent beds.
The patio can be made multi-level by dividing it into several zones and constructing decorative transitions between them. For example, make one zone a dining area, and place sun loungers and sun loungers on the second. Often, something like a hearth in the form of a fire pit is organized here, or a miniature pool is built.
If the balcony is large enough, the patio can be organized in it, and if the architectural features of the house allow, then even on the roof.
We build on our own
It is better to choose a suitable site in the backyard. It's good if a separate exit leads here - you don't have to go around the house to get inside. Another place is a secluded area of the country garden, always in the shade of trees, away from street noise and prying eyes.
A suitable seating area for two is easy to organize on a 3 sq. m. To accommodate a company of four, it is desirable to allocate a place in 4 square meters. m.
Since the site needs to be somehow raised above the ground, you will need a dense material that can withstand heavy loads. The easiest way is to concrete the entire area, but it is much more beautiful to use specific flooring options.
A good solution would be:
- slabs of natural stone, with their help a fancy pattern is laid out;
- paving slabs or bricks of different colors to highlight individual areas;
- garden parquet that can withstand any bad weather;
- decking that looks beautiful in landscape design.
The budget option involves the creation of flooring from boards treated with an antiseptic, or a more expensive decking. The flooring frame is assembled from wooden blocks or a more practical metal profile.
Before setting up your patio, sketch out a rough site plan on a piece of paper. Define on it:
- where to break the hearth;
- how a dining table with benches or a sports simulator will stand;
- from what to lay out the border.
Now it's time to prepare the highlighted area:
- the site is cleared of debris, the bushes are uprooted, the sod is removed;
- soil is removed to a depth of about 20 cm to get rid of future weeds;
- lay a sand pillow.
If you live in a region with a rainy climate, it is recommended to additionally cover the sand layer with plastic film or geotextiles.
Zamostka
For the construction of an open-air site, a serious foundation is not required. The ideal option is to lay a monolithic site with a slight slope away from the residential building. If you plan to make a protective canopy over the patio area or enclose it with a practical gazebo in the future, you will have to tinker with a strip foundation.
A monolithic site is constructed according to the following scheme:
- The prepared area with a poured sand cushion is leveled. The height of the sand layer should rise 2 cm from the ground level.
- If concrete slabs or paving slabs are used, the coating is laid directly on the sand, sealing the cracks with cement mortar. A border is laid out along the perimeter.
- If you plan to build a flooring from boards, a frame of bars is constructed around the perimeter, which is then sheathed with material.
- To drain water, the pavement is either made at a slope, or they provide for diverting grooves 40 cm wide and 15 cm deep.
Experts do not advise covering the area with small pebbles, it is difficult to walk on it even in shoes. If natural stone is used, it should be laid flat side up and make sure that there are no thresholds that are easy to trip over.
When the coating is laid, sand is poured into the openings between large parts (stones, slabs), which is then scattered over the entire surface, making sure that it caulked all existing cracks. After that, the entire area is filled with water.
The procedure with sand and water is repeated twice more, only after that the site is considered ready. It is advisable to lead a path from it to the house using the same coating material.
Hedge
If a patio site is chosen in the backyard, the wall of the house will serve as a natural protection from the wind. The other sides are left open or covered. For full protection, the area is fenced off:
- movable screens;
- a hedge of climbing plants;
- trellis.
Canopy
Cover the patio area as protection from rain or sun. For this purpose, a light canopy is erected over it, preferably from a translucent material, such as plexiglass or polycarbonate, so that the area is well illuminated during the day. Often the recreation area is divided into two parts, covering only one with a canopy. Here you can install a portable grill or barbecue oven, and sunbathe nearby in the open air.
Another option is to stretch the awning by constructing a folding frame for it.
Practical owners dig support posts around the perimeter, on which supports are mounted in the future, turning the patio area into a light open gazebo.
The easiest way to protect yourself is to install a tall, fold-out beach umbrella over the table.
Furniture
You can equip the patio area with any type of garden furniture, it is only desirable that it be made of materials that are resistant to temperature extremes and excessive moisture, and also does not fade in the sun. Wrought iron, cedar, vine, rattan or plastic furniture will do.
The dining area is equipped with a bench, chairs and a table. It is advisable to periodically treat all wooden parts with antifungal drugs.The recreation area is equipped with sun loungers, sun loungers and a rocking chair. A sleeping area or a garden sofa with a coffee table is suitable for a living room.
Other elements
For evening lighting, it is best to use garden torches or solar-powered lanterns. If wiring is available, lighting can be made more sophisticated by hanging lamps on the wall of a house or hedge.
A fireplace or barbecue will turn the patio into a summer kitchen and a place for organizing a picnic. A popular solution when a fire pit is set up in the center (in compliance with all fire safety standards).
The patio is well decorated with flower beds, pergolas and a garden in the form of pots.
In order to organize a solarium in this place, you will need to build a small pool.
Building Tips
If the zone settles down in a lowland, be sure to worry about drainage channels, otherwise the site will remain damp for a long time after rain. If there is nowhere to drain the water, the easiest way is to dig a hole on the site and dig a wide basin into it, decorating the "shores" of the man-made "lake" with flowers in pots or in any other way.
The patio area is easy to maintain. You just need to keep it clean by removing garden debris. By the way, in order to reduce the cleaning time, it is not recommended to plant deciduous trees around the site - with the onset of autumn, falling foliage greatly spoils the appearance of the site.
But your children can play here, safe and clean, while you look after them, sitting in a sun lounger or preparing dinner in the house.