An outdoor patio will create the perfect environment for family gatherings and additional space for entertaining. Consider backyard cookouts on a lovely summer day, dinner under the stars on a warm summer night or just relaxing with your favorite book and a cup of tea. With a great outdoor patio for your Northern NJ home, you’ll love spending more time outdoors with family and friends year-round.
Installing an outdoor patio will add years of outdoor enjoyment to your home and lifestyle, but good planning is essential. For best results, there are some important factors to consider that will impact your patio installation cost in NJ.
Choose the Right Location
Most homeowners choose to locate their outdoor patio adjacent to the house for easy access and convenience. If you plan to use your patio for outdoor dining and entertaining, keeping it close to the house will be more convenient and comfortable for guests. It will create a convenient setting for serving food, after-dinner clean-up and access to the powder room for guests. With a patio right next to the house, you won’t have to walk as far, and you can use your indoor kitchen for cooking and refrigeration needs if you don’t include an outdoor kitchen in your NJ patio installation cost.
If you prefer a remote backyard location for your patio, you can create a quieter, more private setting, but you will need to make the patio self-sufficient. If your patio is not close to the house, you’ll need to include an outdoor kitchen for cooking and dining if you plan to entertain. Carrying food from the house to a backyard patio or terrace will create a burden that will hinder the pleasure of entertaining.
A satellite kitchen, away from the house, will require its own source of water, gas and electrical power to operate. This means running separate utility lines from the house to the satellite location, as well as getting proper permits and providing proper drainage. If you prefer a remote patio location with a satellite kitchen, plan for additional expenses that will increase your patio installation cost in NJ.
NOTE: Water lines, gas lines and electrical outlets for an outdoor kitchen must be installed by a licensed professional contractor. Utility lines require building permits and must be installed according to city building codes and regulations. To ensure safety, it’s important to hire a professional, licensed contractor to install your outdoor kitchen.
Build the Right Size
Before you build an outdoor patio, it’s important to plan for a patio size that will accommodate your needs. The size of your patio will be impacted by the location you choose, your existing landscape conditions and how you plan to use the patio.
If you’ve been thinking about adding an outdoor patio to your home, you have probably gathered some appealing patio ideas from design magazines and websites. You may have photos of patio styles and materials that you like for your home. If so, discuss your ideas with a Bergen County patio contractor, like Borst Landscape & Design, to see if you can create that look for your home within your desired budget. Borst professionals can assess your chosen location and existing landscape conditions to ensure good results. If your design ideas don’t fit within your budget, we can help you create a similar look that does.
To help determine the size of your patio, assess your wants and needs and decide how you plan to use the patio. How you use your patio will impact patio location, size, maintenance and patio installation cost in NJ. Here are some helpful questions:
- Do you want to cook, dine and entertain on your patio?
- Do you want to include an outdoor kitchen?
- Do you want one level or multi-level spaces?
- Do you want an outdoor fireplace or fire pit?
- Do you want to use your patio at night?
- Do you plan to use your patio year-round?
Choose the Right Materials
Choose the Right MaterialsThe patio flooring material you choose will have a big impact on NJ patio installation cost, as well as maintenance requirements. There’s a variety of beautiful outdoor materials to choose from, but you should consider durability, maintenance requirements and material costs when making a selection. You should also choose a material that enhances the style of your home, existing materials and colors on your home and your backyard landscape. Here are some great options:
Natural Stone
Natural stone is the most popular choice for homeowners, but also the most expensive. The beauty of natural stone provides a natural look in any landscape. It’s durable and easy to maintain but it should be sealed regularly to protect against stains. Pavers are available in granite, marble, limestone, travertine and slate in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors and finishes.
Brick
If you want a classic, timeless look with traditional appeal and mid-range costs, brick is a great choice. It’s available in full-size bricks that require mortar, as well as thinner brick pavers. It’s durable and easy to clean. Colors include red and muted shades of green, rust, brown, tan and beige. Brick pavers come in various sizes and finishes that resemble both aged and new bricks. Although brick is somewhat porous, a sealer isn’t always necessary for outdoor use.
Rock
Flagstone and river rock are great for a mid-range patio budget. They create a natural, casual look and work well for casual and rustic landscapes. Colors include natural shades of brown, gray and tan. Flagstone and river rock are durable and easy to clean. They wear well outdoors without a sealer, but a sealer will increase stain protection. Use a matte-finish sealer to retain a natural look.
Provide Adequate Shelter
To create a comfortable patio setting, it’s essential to provide adequate shelter from sun, rain, wind and snow. If your patio location gets a lot of sun throughout the day, you will need to consider a permanent roof structure or retractable awing or canopy. If that’s not possible, consider a less permanent solution like a pergola or patio umbrellas for shade. Here are a few helpful tips for adequate shelter:
Patio Roof
If your patio is adjacent to your house, consider building a permanent cover that’s attached to the roof line of the house. It will provide permanent protection from the elements that will last for many years. With a solid overhead structure, you can easily include ceiling fans and outdoor lighting in your patio installation cost in NJ for added comfort and convenience.
Pergola
Although a pergola is not a solid overhead structure, it will provide some sun protection and added shade. For more protection and cozy atmosphere, you can add lush greenery, blooming vines and outdoor lighting to the top of the pergola. For more cover from sun and rain, you can have a retractable awning installed on the pergola.
Draperies
Outdoor patios can be transformed into great outdoor rooms with the help of outdoor draperies. There’s a variety of outdoor fabrics that are waterproof, stain resistant and sun resistant. You can hang beautiful draperies or panels in fabrics that complement your home. When they’re closed, they will provide shelter from the elements, as well as more privacy.
If you want to use your patio at night and throughout the year, you will need to include outdoor lighting and warmth in your NJ patio installation cost. Bergen County weather can be quite unpredictable, especially during the fall and winter months. For added warmth and comfort on chilly evenings, consider adding an outdoor fireplace or a fire pit to your patio. If your budget doesn’t allow for these patio features, include patio heaters for needed warmth.
The landscape professionals at Borst can help you build an outdoor patio that meets your needs and your budget requirements. We can help you choose the right location, build the right size and select the proper materials to enhance the beauty of your home and landscape. Contact us to discuss your design options and your patio installation cost in NJ.
