A patio can be the perfect addition to any backyard space. Whether it’s hosting a weekend get together, holiday cookouts, or simply a space for you to sit back and relax, a patio installation is one of the most impactful ways landscaping design can transform your backyard.

Like all hardscaping installations and landscaping projects, a patio installation should be reflective of your space and aesthetic. You can even include additional elements like a water feature installation to create a unique patio for your home. A great place to start is with a landscape planner online to help plan and budget for your patio installation. (Learn more on the difference between hardscaping and landscaping after this article!)

Need help with some inspiration? We’ve got you covered! Keep reading for inspiring ideas for a patio installation as well as answers to some of your biggest questions.

Types of Patio Installations

So first, what types of patio installations are there? When it comes to building a patio for your home, you want it to be a reflection of your style and taste. While your landscape professional will help you with patio design ideas, knowing what materials you like is helpful to the process.

Some common types of patio installation materials are:

• Concrete
• Natural stone or flagstone
• Brick
• Pavers

Concrete patios are the least ornate of these types of patio installation materials, but you can opt for stamped concrete to add flair to your design. While these are often the cheapest patio type, they require more maintenance and may not be as ideal for some climates. For example, frost and extreme cold during winter months may make this material a challenging patio installation Albany, NY and Capital Region homeowners need to do service more frequently to maintain.

Natural stone is a lower maintenance patio installation option but comes in at a higher price tag. The reason for this is that the natural stone must be quarried. Natural stone patios like slate can make for a polished, chic look coming in shapes like large floor tiles. Flagstone is the most expensive natural stone patio installation option as it creates a one-of-a-kind patio design (the stones are not shaped, but come in natural formations) but may require additional labor to ensure the end result is level.

Brick patios come with some similar challenges as concrete. Their porous nature makes them a patio installation Albany, NY and surrounding areas may want to think hard on before choosing. While they can be made absolutely beautiful, they will require more maintenance to keep them in perfect shape during the freezing winter months. Bringing in a bit of old world charm, however, brick patio designs also give the homeowner options for color, mortar, and brick pattern.

Using pavers for a patio installation is very popular as manufactured pavers come in a seemingly endless variety of designs, colors, shapes, and sizes. For the ultimate control over your patio installation design, pavers may be your preferred material. Additionally, they are an economical choice as they’ll be identical to one another, making laying them less labor-intensive.

Additional Patio Feature Ideas

When you’re having a patio installation done, that’s the perfect time to think about the big picture of your backyard landscaping design. Spice up your design with a fire pit or patio water feature installation!

Water features add value to your home and add to the professional look of your landscape design. Your professional landscape design artist will be able to help you determine which water feature design is right for your patio installation based on the space available, budget, and the end result you’re looking for.

Fire pits are also popular additions to a patio installation. When it comes to choosing a fire pit, gas options are generally considered safer as they don’t have loose embers like wood-burning ones do.

How Much to Install a Patio?

Okay so you’ve got an idea of which patio installation material you want to use and maybe want to add a water feature installation or fire pit. Now the big question: how much to install a patio?

The national average patio cost ranges from $2000 to $8000. That said, pricing for a patio installation can vary greatly depending on the materials you choose and the amount of labor it takes to install it. For example, a flat backyard will require less prep work than a steep one will to ensure your patio is level.

You may also want to factor in patio feature ideas, which can fluctuate the price, as well. Installing a patio water feature will increase your cost up front, but may save you time and money down the line if you decide you want to install one later. It’s always easy and more cost efficient to make these decisions together to cut down on additional labor for later projects.

A great place to start for budgeting your patio installation is a landscape planner online. This can help you see what your design idea may cost you as well as give you inspiration for any additional patio features you want to add on.

Backyard Patio Inspiration Ideas

One of the most exciting parts of planning for a patio installation is getting your backyard patio ideas and inspiration! Check out these beautiful patio inspirations and see what elements you’d like to see in your backyard.

• Flagstone patio with built-in fireplace and kitchen
• Brick patio with water fountain
• Paver patio installation with garden pond water feature
• Patio installation in lush landscaping

Flagstone Patio With Built-In Fireplace

Starting off with a showstopper, this flagstone patio installation is complete with a large built-in fireplace and outdoor kitchen! This is the perfect patio for outdoor living and hosting all your friends and family for gatherings.

Brick Patio Installation With Water Fountain

This brick patio installation is an example of how brick can be elevated by intermixing color and laying them in an interesting pattern. The herringbone brick pattern in this patio gives it a little movement and flair. The patio water feature in the back is a subtle fountain in the shape of a large garden urn. Not only does it fit the space perfectly but adds to the vibe and creates a beautiful sound!

Paver Patio With Garden Pond Water Feature

This inspiring patio idea shows how landscaping ideas can transform your backyard entirely! While the patio itself doesn’t have a water feature on it, these homeowners have their patio laid right up to the edge of a stunning garden pond. They’ve completed the professional look of this backyard by adding a full landscaping design and installation creating a private oasis.

Patio Installation With Lush Landscaping

This example takes multiple patio ideas and meshes them brilliantly into a lush landscape escape. The flagstone walkway leads to a natural stone patio installation. This patio is surrounded by a lush landscape design that gives you the feeling of being in your own dream garden!

We hope you’ve gained insight and inspiration ideas for a patio installation. You can start planning your patio installation project with our Project Planner tool. You can submit your plans to the best landscape designer in Albany, NY and the Capital Region to get started right away!

Curious about water features but worried they’re too much effort? Check out our guide on how to maintain a water feature after installation to see how that’s not the case. If you prefer, however, we know water installation professionals who are happy to help!