Good patio designs might look nice in pictures, and they may even seem good on paper, but they could fall flat in person. Why? Patio designs need to make sense within your space. They need to account for how your property is actually laid out and what everyday life actually looks like there.
At Herrmann Construction Company, we’ve been in the business since 2014, and we know what makes an outdoor patio great. We’ve also seen many concrete patio mistakes over the years, which has given us insight into the details that can make a meaningful difference in how the final results stick the landing.
If you want to create a concrete patio that’s truly built for your home, here are the top concrete patio mistakes to avoid:
Ignoring Drainage
Water has a way of finding every weakness in an outdoor design. Your patio might look perfectly level when it is being installed, but its relationship to the surrounding property matters. The right concrete patios are designed to move rain away from your home’s foundation and support a broader drainage plan for your landscape.
Forgetting About Shade
Shade deserves consideration before your patio is finished; it shouldn’t be tacked on after the fact. Existing trees, the position of the home, umbrellas, pergolas, covered areas, and other shade-producing features need to be considered in the design phase of your concrete patio project.
Too often, we see homeowners focus so heavily on the appearance of their patio that they overlook how much direct sunlight the space will receive throughout the day. This common concrete patio mistake has a direct impact on your comfort.
Designing Around Fleeting Trends
There’s nothing wrong with a concrete design trend. But you need to put those trends under the microscope and determine which of those trends is fleeting and which ones add timeless appeal to your outdoor space. An avoidable concrete patio mistake is choosing an appearance solely because it happens to be popular today without considering whether it actually suits your home.
Not Defining Zones
A large patio can offer incredible flexibility, but more square footage does not automatically create a functional outdoor space. Without some thought behind your patio layout, a large concrete area can become one oversized surface where everything competes for the same space.
Defining zones gives the patio a sense of purpose. You can easily define zones with borders, patterns, textures, colors, concrete stamps, etc. If you want your patio to support more than one activity, zoning can make your entire space feel more comfortable and easier to use.
Pattern With the Right Team to Avoid These Mistakes
At Herrmann Construction Company, we know that a residential concrete project is a meaningful investment in your home and your comfort. That’s why we’re here to help you get the design just right before we pour concrete. With a satisfaction guarantee and owner oversight on each project, we give you added confidence throughout the process, from the initial planning stages to the finished patio.
Our goal is not simply to avoid concrete patio mistakes; it’s to create a patio that feels right when the project is finished. Get an instant quote today on your patio project.
