What you may not know about these natural materials for patios.
When it comes to the foundation of a backyard gathering with family and friends, you generally don’t need much in the way of sundries. Personally, as long as I have enjoyable company, I’m grateful. A few chairs, a table large enough for everyone to gather around, and maybe an umbrella to thwart that mid-day sun, are the basic necessities needed for meaningful conversations, lessons, and stories to be shared and swapped. A good bottle of wine doesn’t hurt.
The space from where we host our gatherings should be a natural extension of ourselves. With a solid appreciation for nature and all that it brings, great options for the base of these gatherings open up.
Flagstone
The beauty of flagstone can be in its random patterns. No two pieces will look the same. The term in an of itself describes a broad range of styles and does not specify a specific stone type. The area you live often will determine what is common, and the style of the home or your personal tastes will pick the shape. Flagstone can show up in many forms, though all similar in that they are slabs of natural stone, curated and installed to create a flat surface to enjoy. The rough surface area of the stone provides good traction in dry or wet conditions, which makes it perfect for a lakeside or poolside environment.
Colors naturally vary as well. Here in the northeast, Pennsylvania Bluestone makes a beautiful backdrop for your gatherings. Despite the color in its name, you can find it in cool shades of color, like blues, greens, or greys as well as warmer colors like subtle browns and tans. Our own Backyard Expert and founder, Robert specifically gets excited when he comes across fossils in the stone such as shells, fern imprints, and petrified wood. When that happens he makes sure to leave that small feature exposed for the world to enjoy.
Placement of the flagstone can vary too. Randomizing the cuts, shapes, and placement offers an eyeful of lines that wander all over. Often, a very natural touch of moss or crushed gravel of a different color between the flagstone adds contrast, interest, and drainage. Optionally, it can be cut in straight lines and placed very close together creating a clean, tiled look.
The wonderful advantage of flagstone is the durability and ease of maintenance. A regular sweeping to keep debris off will keep it from possible discoloration. If you need to clean it, use a mild soap and water or a cleaner specifically for the type of stone. The incorrect cleaner can etch or discolor the stone, or worse cause damage to the surrounding landscape. Keep in mind that stone is extremely durable in most settings and, depending on the scene, some natural weathering could enhance the stones appearance giving a timeless look.
Stone is well-suited not only for ground level applications. It can be used for retaining walls, fences, and artistic features just to name a few. Have you considered that it is the world’s oldest building material?
Wood
Intimate areas for gatherings are often found on wood decks. Personally, I love a clear stain that shows the natural beauty in the wood grain, but you can go with what brings the most joy to you. The main advantage that a wood deck has over stone is that the wood deck can be elevated from a few inches to many feet above the landscape. The deck is also a good route when the space has uneven topography.
Wood is at a disadvantage to stone because of wood’s more rigorous maintenance requirements. The wood must be cared for in specific ways based based on the type. More common lumber might require staining and refinishing every 1-3 years, where exotic woods such as ipe will last much longer when oiled appropriately at the same intervals. Certainly, there are many manufactured choices nowadays. However, there is something real about the rough rusticness of a real piece of lumber.
Decks are not the only use. A pergola on the deck or even on a flagstone patio offers an intimate and enclosed feel without creating an entire room. Stained or painted, make it your own with colors that bring out your personality.
Gravel
For an unexpected and casual look, I’m a big fan of gravel seating areas. This also is a more budget friendly option. The sound of walking on beach pebble, river rock , or pea gravel is nostalgic for me. It brings back old memories of my parents’ driveway and vacations at the Jersey shore. We’ve used this for smaller, intimate areas to create a separate space for additional dining or seating. With little to no maintenance and perfect for areas that may see high amounts of water, the permeable nature allows for the water to drain through and prevent pooling.
With a variety of options for your outdoor living space, feel free to mix and match to create areas of interest or just separate areas. If you have questions about what material is going to be best for you and your property or whether how an area can be improved, Sierra Landscape Management has been helping homeowners improve their backyards since 2004. Let us know what you’re dreaming of.