Choosing the Best Patio Flooring

There are so many different types on the market today that it can be hard to know which is best.

From natural stone to wooden decking, concrete pavers to brick, we've researched the different types and listed their advantages and disadvantages to help you make the right choice.

Patio Flooring: Natural Stone

Setts are the small, chunky, paving stones, usually with a slightly curved upper surface that were once used for city roads. They are often made from granite and are extremely hardwearing. Confusingly, setts are sometimes also called cobbles or cobblestones, although the term 'cobble' also refers to the smallish, naturally rounded pieces of stone that can be fitted together to make paths and other surfaces.

Both setts and cobbles can be also be used to create decorative insets for other types of patio flooring.

Advantages of Natural Stone

• There are many types ranging from slate to sandstone to granite so you are bound to find one that is just right for you.
• Each piece is truly unique and has its own beauty and character.
• Natural stone ages well and looks better and better as its patina develops over the years.
• It is very hardwearing and will last a lifetime.
• Once installed it needs no special treatment.

Disadvantages of Natural Stone

• It is very expensive and delivery and installation costs can be high.
• It is heavy to work with.
• Its weight means that you will need to prepare a solid foundation of hardcore and concrete.
• Some types, such as slate, can be extremely slippery when wet or icy.
• The presence of natural flaws and cracks in some types of stone can result in cracking and flaking over time.

Broken and irregularly shapes pieces can usually be purchased more cheaply and these can be ideal for crazy paving.

Patio Flooring: Reconstituted Stone

It is also possible to buy patio kits made from reconstituted stone. These are extremely convenient to use and allow you to create decorative patterns, such as circles, with ease.

Advantages of Reconstituted Stone

• Less expensive than real stone.
• Available in lots of different textures, colours, and sizes.
• Its regularity makes it more straightforward to lay than quarried stone.
• It has a uniform texture so is less prone to cracking and flaking.
• Long lasting.

• The colours of cheaper types can fade rapidly.
• Reconstituted stone lacks the subtle beauty and natural variation of real stone and doesn't age as well.

Patio Flooring: Brick

Take care to use exterior grade bricks as these are weather and frost resistant. You could also use engineering bricks which are extremely hard and durable although the smooth surfaces can become slippery.

Advantages of Brick

• Bricks create an attractive and sympathetic surface that is cheaper than stone.
• Available in a range of colours and finishes.
• Hardwearing - a well laid patio made from good quality bricks should last a lifetime.
• Their small size makes it easy to create a range of interesting patterns or 'bonds' such as herringbone and basketweave.

• Their small size makes them time consuming to lay.
• Used over a large area they can look rather overwhelming.
• Poor quality bricks are prone to weather damage.
• Bricks with a smooth finish can become very slippery in wet or icy weather.

If you like the effect of a brick surface but can't afford the cost of the real thing, you could consider one of the pre-cast concrete pavers that replicate the look but at a lower price.

Patio Flooring: Clay and Concrete Pavers

Some pavers are designed to replicate look of a brick surface laid in different patterns, such as herringbone or basketweave, but at a much more affordable price.

Advantages of Clay and Concrete Pavers

• Produced in a range of styles and sizes giving design flexibility.
• Allow you to replicate the look of more expensive surfaces such as brick or tile.
• Hardwearing.
• Moderately priced.

• Clay pavers must be weather resistant or else they will be prone to cracking.
• Concrete pavers can discolour unattractively over time unless they are cleaned regularly.

Patio Flooring: Concrete

You can make your concrete patio more interesting by adding a surface texture to some or all of it. Try adding a thin layer of gravel before the concrete has fully set and pressing it gently into the surface, or create a brushed finish by using a broom on the surface before it is fully set. You can also buy tools (or use any suitable household objects) to create a stamped effect.

If you already have an old concrete patio and don't want to go to the expense of tearing it up, you can lay paving stones directly on top of it, or even add a layer of gravel if you are looking for a cost effective solution.

Advantages of Concrete

• Readily available.
• Relatively cheap and easy to lay.
• Hardwearing.
• Concrete with a textured finished gives a non-slip surface.

• Can look rather unattractive and forbidding.
• Discolours over time and needs frequent cleaning.
• Surface cracks and imperfections make it vulnerable to weather damage.

Patio Flooring: Wooden Decking

They are also a good solution to the problem of a very sloping site. Rather than moving quantities of earth to create a level surface and building retaining walls, you can use different lengths of posts to compensate for the different levels and allow your deck to 'float' above the ground.

Patio decks can become very slippery so use purpose made decking boards with a grooved surface to give a better grip.

Advantages of Wooden Decking

• Moderately priced, depending on the complexity of your design.
• Can be used to easily create multi-level patios.
• Looks attractive.
• Easier to install than many other materials.

• They are not as long lasting as brick or stone.
• They require regular maintenance to keep them looking good and in a safe condition.

Patio Flooring: Gravel

To prevent the gravel being trodden into the underlying soil use a layer of geotextile material or landscaping fabric underneath.

Advantages of Gravel

• Relatively inexpensive.
• Quick and easy to lay - you can create a gravel patio in a weekend.
• It is easy to create curves and other irregular shapes.

• Tends to find its way on to your lawn or to be walked into the house.
• Needs frequent raking to keep it looking neat and tidy.
• Can be difficult to walk on.

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