After the cold winter, there are some neat outdoor things to do in Indianapolis and Northwest Indiana. The folks in Indianapolis have Garfield Park, right downtown with something for everyone—activities such as walking through the sunken gardens, touring the aquatic center, tennis, and playgrounds. The canal offers a scenic venue for strolling, jogging or biking.
But for those who prefer to entertain at home, or enjoy the outdoors in their own backyard setting, why not extend your living space into the outdoors? A wooden deck or paved patio will serve those purposes. But which is best for you property? Here we’ll take a look at the benefits of each to help you decide.
What’s the difference?
Wooden decks and paved patios both provide outdoor living space. Other than that, they are very different. A deck is constructed of wood or PVC wood composite and raised off the ground by support posts. A patio, by nature, is installed on the ground or on a concrete foundation, and can be built from a range of different materials including concrete pavers or natural stone.
Decking
Decking is ideal for tough topography, as well as rocky or swampy ground. This being that the support posts can be sunk and provide elevation without too much excavation. On the downside, decking is notoriously high maintenance and wooden decking will require yearly upkeep. Even PVC composite decking will require repairs and replacements over time. Depending on the design, decking also is not as accessible as an open patio. And of course, decking can be more costly to erect than a simple paved patio. For poolside settings, the chlorine or salt used in pools can be damaging to the wood, not to mention the risk of rot associated with the high exposure to moisture.
Paved Patio
Patio pavers from Unilock are about the most durable material you can invest in for your outdoor space. Exposure to ultraviolet light, moisture, freezing temperatures and cleaning or pool chemicals pose no significant risk for the aesthetic or structural integrity of a Unilock paved patio. The wide range of naturalistic colors, textures and designs are ideal for introducing the charm and character of natural stone into your outdoor areas. Paved patio’s can be installed on an elevated concrete foundation provided the topography allows such excavation, or directly onto the ground if necessary. Sloping ground can also be tamed with the use of Unilock retaining wall systems in order to carve out a space for a paved patio if the lay of the land demands.
Check out this related read for stunning recommended Unilock natural stone and concrete options for your property!
Which one is right for your home?
Ultimately this is often a question of personal choice. What Unilock does offer is the guarantee of long term durability and the unique aesthetic of natural stone that is not available with decking. The Unilock range provides an outdoor look suitable to any architectural or landscape design theme and color options that rival even the sought-after warmth of wood. Even if the topography is such that a deck is the most convenient solution, Unilock pavers can be used to extend, enhance or complement wooden decking in the form of paved walkways or additional patio space.
The title image features an Umbriano paver patio with Estate Wall verticals and a Brussels Dimensional Stone fireplace, finished with Ledgestone coping.
