| Posted By |
Message |
CSK
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/11 892 total posts
Name:
|
Deck or Patio
So we've been in our house for 6 years and we finally feel we have teh $$ to actually address something in the backyard. It needs some landscaping a fence and an entertaining area. Currently there is a raised broken concrete patio that is 2 steps down from the house and 1.5 steps up from the ground.
We're trying to decide what to put in, deck or patio or combo. FYI, we're in Wantagh, property is 65x125 (so decent but not a 1/2 acre)
Deck- we could put it in ourselves with help. It may take a while. We need to pay someone to remove the existing concrete.
Pros- you step out right onto the level (which is a big pro)
Cons-I feel it can be imposing having a deck that is 3-4 steps high in the yard. It needs to be big enough for the grill a nice sized table and some room. You're kind of on display and maybe a bit cut off from the rest of the yard. Then there is the work and cost.
Patio
Pro- at the level of the yard. can feel more integrated into the yard. don't feel boxed in
Cons- you must step 4 steps down to both grill and eat. Is it more buggy being down in the grass? Will need to pay someone to put in, patio part anyway.
For the patio, we have an outswing patio door. We will need to have some stoop either stone or decking material with enough room to comfortably open the door, then 4 steps down. Either going straight out into the yard, or next to the house.
We were thinking originally to have someone go over our existing patio and expand it (its too small). However, we had a guy look last year and he was very insistent that the existing wasn't built well enough to go over and not have problems, and doing a raised patio would be pricey. And at this point, it would either be high like a deck, or still be steps down.
It also seemed that the stoop portion of the patio costs quite a bit in the ballpark quote we got last year. which is one of the reasons we would consider doing it out of decking material to save cost and do a slightly larger stoop.
Anyone have opinions? want to share pictures?
Anyone have any positive opinions about having both? 2 levels
|
Posted 3/28/17 12:35 PM  |
| |
|
GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
|
Re: Deck or Patio
You also want to check about the building code in your area. For a deck, you may need a permit, inspections, etc. For a patio, especially pavers, you probably don't need anything.
|
| Posted 3/28/17 1:20 PM |
| |
|
CSK
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/11 892 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Deck or Patio
Posted by GoldenRod
You also want to check about the building code in your area. For a deck, you may need a permit, inspections, etc. For a patio, especially pavers, you probably don't need anything.
Yeah, I don't need to check, I know I need a permit. Not 100% sure whether I'm going to get one. I got one for my shed, it was the biggest PITA to get, waiting months for them to review the plans, then a significant amount of additional time to reflect a very very minor change notation in the plans.
I certainly felt at the end of all of it, that they make it super painful to do things the right way, its no wonder why their are a significant amount of people that don't follow the rules.
If I submitted plans today, I'd venture a guess that the earliest I'd be allowed to build would be August.
|
| Posted 3/28/17 1:31 PM |
| |
|
GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
|
Re: Deck or Patio
Posted by CSK
Posted by GoldenRod
You also want to check about the building code in your area. For a deck, you may need a permit, inspections, etc. For a patio, especially pavers, you probably don't need anything.
Yeah, I don't need to check, I know I need a permit. Not 100% sure whether I'm going to get one. I got one for my shed, it was the biggest PITA to get, waiting months for them to review the plans, then a significant amount of additional time to reflect a very very minor change notation in the plans.
I certainly felt at the end of all of it, that they make it super painful to do things the right way, its no wonder why their are a significant amount of people that don't follow the rules.
If I submitted plans today, I'd venture a guess that the earliest I'd be allowed to build would be August.
Yeah.... you can always tell a homeowner that went through a permit process... just say the word "permit", and you'll get all sorts of head-shaking, complaining about their own permit process, complaining about how difficult it was, etc. (Can you tell that I'm among those who had to get a permit....  )
|
| Posted 3/28/17 1:46 PM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: Deck or Patio
I prefer a deck to a patio. I like not having to step down and prefer to be further away from the grass/bugs lol
|
| Posted 3/28/17 2:32 PM |
| |
|
PhyllisNJoe
My Box Is Broken
Member since 6/11 9145 total posts
Name:
Phyllis
|
Re: Deck or Patio
Posted by MerryChristmas
I prefer a deck to a patio. I like not having to step down and prefer to be further away from the grass/bugs lol
THis
|
| Posted 3/28/17 5:56 PM |
| |
|
CSK
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/11 892 total posts
Name:
|
Deck or Patio
Interesting, the patio is in the lead, followed by the deck and then 2 levels. Where are the patio people in the comments?
|
| Posted 3/29/17 10:47 AM |
| |
|
lightblue
LIF Adult
Member since 1/17 2249 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Deck or Patio
I'd probably prefer a deck in this case but like someone else mentioned, you may have to get a permit to build one.
|
| Posted 3/29/17 12:30 PM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: Deck or Patio
A deck adds more value. I don't know exactly how big your yard is or what the set up is, but a lot of people have both. A deck area coming out of the house leading down to a patio area. And then the grass further away from the house. If you only have money for one, I'd choose the deck.
|
| Posted 3/29/17 12:47 PM |
| |
|
TreAnt427
-
Member since 8/06 8652 total posts
Name:
Tracy
|
Re: Deck or Patio
We ended up doing a paver patio instead of a deck. I felt the deck would have made our yard seem a lot smaller.
Ours goes down 4 steps and it's not a big deal at all. And I think in the long run the pavers don't really need any up-keep/maintenance either.
Message edited 3/29/2017 1:47:32 PM.
|
| Posted 3/29/17 1:46 PM |
| |
|
EandF
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 1674 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Deck or Patio
Posted by Christine Braun - Century 21 American Homes
A deck adds more value. I don't know exactly how big your yard is or what the set up is, but a lot of people have both. A deck area coming out of the house leading down to a patio area. And then the grass further away from the house. If you only have money for one, I'd choose the deck.
Interesting. I didn't know this. We currently have a patio. It's not in great shape and will need to eventually be replaced, but it's not at the top of the to do list. We have two sets of stairs from the back of the house, family room and kitchen, leading out to the yard. DH wants to do one huge deck across but I'm not sold. It would be nice to walk out and not have to immediately step down but our yard is not particularly big so I'm worried that it will make the yard small and closed off.
|
| Posted 3/31/17 11:45 AM |
| |
|
mommy2Alex
3 babies for me :)
Member since 5/05 6683 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Deck or Patio
Patio, decks are too much maintain in my opinion unless you go with trex. They rot, they need to be painted and stained, the kids get splinters. I also do not like being up where the neighbors can see us on the deck. We are currently ripping our deck off and putting in a paver patio with an outdoor kitchen.
|
| Posted 4/3/17 5:26 PM |
| |
|
CSK
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/11 892 total posts
Name:
|
Deck or Patio
Its ironic, I had 14 people over on saturday, and all of them were very pro deck. But when you broke down who actually has a deck or patio very few of the people are homeowners who have either. or like my neighbors, they have a deck, prefer a deck, and probably use theirs once a year.
Our backyard is decent sized for Nassau but not big. Doing the math, its 120 deep property, subtracting the setback of the house, plus the house, I think we have around 60 feet. There are bushes lining the back edge, which take up probably clsoe to 10 feet with a shed there that comes about 15 feet off the back. So 45-50 feet of yard. taking 16-20 for a deck and you're down to 25-30, which seems like alot but I''m not sure how it feels.
if we went deck, we'd do trex or similar.
I'm honestly turning anti 2 levels. my boss has it that way and his partner is on the deck grilling, but the seating area is at the patio below. And the griller always is disconnected from the people.
|
| Posted 4/3/17 5:54 PM |
| |
|
CSK
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/11 892 total posts
Name:
|
Deck or Patio
duplicate
Message edited 4/3/2017 5:57:53 PM.
|
| Posted 4/3/17 5:57 PM |
| |
|
mommy2Alex
3 babies for me :)
Member since 5/05 6683 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Deck or Patio
Posted by CSK
Its ironic, I had 14 people over on saturday, and all of them were very pro deck. But when you broke down who actually has a deck or patio very few of the people are homeowners who have either. or like my neighbors, they have a deck, prefer a deck, and probably use theirs once a year.
Our backyard is decent sized for Nassau but not big. Doing the math, its 120 deep property, subtracting the setback of the house, plus the house, I think we have around 60 feet. There are bushes lining the back edge, which take up probably clsoe to 10 feet with a shed there that comes about 15 feet off the back. So 45-50 feet of yard. taking 16-20 for a deck and you're down to 25-30, which seems like alot but I''m not sure how it feels.
if we went deck, we'd do trex or similar.
I'm honestly turning anti 2 levels. my boss has it that way and his partner is on the deck grilling, but the seating area is at the patio below. And the griller always is disconnected from the people.
Currently, we have a deck off the house which is huge, with two sets of stairs going down to pavers around the pool area. So in a sense it is bi-level. We very rarely use the deck because it is so separate from the paver area around the pool. Our grill and main table are on the deck. I always say it is like an old style home where all the rooms are closed off from each other. For us, our deck is a complete waste. One large usable space is better than bi-level, IMO.
|
| Posted 4/4/17 7:31 AM |
| |
|
ChilisWife
God Bless America
Member since 5/05 3572 total posts
Name:
A.K.
|
Re: Deck or Patio
I prefer the "look" of a deck to that of a patio. Patios can be really nice depending on the type of stone or other material used. But most patios I see are just uneven and discolored concrete. Our deck is wood. We didnt want Trex bc it gets too hot to walk on in the summer.
|
| Posted 4/4/17 12:33 PM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: Deck or Patio
Posted by CSK
Its ironic, I had 14 people over on saturday, and all of them were very pro deck. But when you broke down who actually has a deck or patio very few of the people are homeowners who have either. or like my neighbors, they have a deck, prefer a deck, and probably use theirs once a year.
Our backyard is decent sized for Nassau but not big. Doing the math, its 120 deep property, subtracting the setback of the house, plus the house, I think we have around 60 feet. There are bushes lining the back edge, which take up probably clsoe to 10 feet with a shed there that comes about 15 feet off the back. So 45-50 feet of yard. taking 16-20 for a deck and you're down to 25-30, which seems like alot but I''m not sure how it feels.
if we went deck, we'd do trex or similar.
I'm honestly turning anti 2 levels. my boss has it that way and his partner is on the deck grilling, but the seating area is at the patio below. And the griller always is disconnected from the people.
A yard that's 120 feet deep is oversized for Nassau, believe it or not. The "standard" sized lot is 100 feet deep.
I think a nice paver patio adds value, too. Any type of improvement to the yard that lends itself to making the yard part of the usable living space (i.e., a space to hang out, entertain, etc.) is great.
Personally, most buyers are ok as long as there's a little bit of grass. So I wouldn't worry about the deck taking up too much of the yard (although if you do it legally, with permits/COs, there are restrictions about how big it can be, how much of the yard can be covered by improvements, how close to the fenceline it is, etc.). Most people like the idea of having a seating area and eating, drinking, etc. off the grass. I have a split level with a deck off the kitchen that is only about 4-5 steps up from the patio (which is off my den). We use the deck much more often than the patio when we have friends/family over for bbqs, etc.
But like everything else, it's a matter of personal taste. And it depends on your lifestyle. I mean, if you have kids who like to play a ton of sports and activities in the yard (and need space for equipment, trampolines, etc.), or if you have dogs that need room to run, or if you may want to put in a large pool down the road, preserving grass space may be important. If you envision your yard more for entertaining, or making more of an indoor/outdoor living/dining space, then I would like a larger deck and/or patio as opposed to keeping lawn space for the sake of it, if that makes sense!
|
| Posted 4/4/17 2:00 PM |
| |
|
w8andsee
LIF Adult
Member since 10/09 1193 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Deck or Patio
I like a paver patio. You can be more creative with the design by adding curves and medallions.
|
| Posted 4/5/17 9:21 PM |
| |
|
