If you’re looking to build or update your patio’s flooring, there are many materials to choose from. While aesthetics and design are essential, choosing a durable material that can withstand outdoor elements and heavy foot traffic is equally important. Here are four durable building materials for your patio: brick, concrete, natural stone, and pavers.

Brick

Brick is a classic material for many patios. Made of fired clay, brick is known for strength and durability. Bricks come in many colors and styles, from traditional red to modern gray. A brick patio is low-maintenance and can last for decades with proper care. If you’re wanting a great look and an old-world style, you can’t go wrong with brick.

Concrete

Concrete is another popular material for patios. It’s made from a mixture of cement, water, and aggregate and can be molded into various shapes and sizes. Concrete is strong, durable, and withstands heavy foot traffic and outdoor elements. It can be colored before it’s poured, or a stamped pattern can be impressed into it after the original concrete is poured. It can also be stained afterwards or have a variety of other finishes, meaning the possibilities are endless when customizing. 

Natural Stone

Natural stone is a beautiful and durable option for patios. It includes materials such as limestone, slate, and flagstone. Natural stone has a unique and timeless look and can create a natural and organic feel in your outdoor space. It’s also solid and durable, able to withstand outdoor elements and heavy foot traffic. However, natural stone can be more expensive than other options and may require more maintenance to keep it looking its best.

Pavers

Pavers are individual square tiles made from various materials, including concrete, porcelain, brick, and natural stone. They can be laid in many patterns and designs, creating a unique and stylish look for your patio. Pavers are durable and resistant to weather and heavy foot traffic. Because they’re made of individual tiles, they’re also easy to replace if damaged compared to concrete, making them a cost-effective option in the long run. In addition, pavers come in a wide range of colors and styles, so you can choose a design that complements your home and outdoor space.

When choosing a material for your patio’s flooring, consider your budget, lifestyle, and personal style. Brick, concrete, natural stone, and pavers are all durable options that provide a long-lasting, low-maintenance outdoor living space. Whether you’re building a new patio or updating an existing one, these materials will give you the beautiful and functional outdoor space you’re looking for.

Looking to make the most of your backyard but don’t have much space around your pool? There are plenty of ways to make the most of your pool area. Here’s a few tips for maximizing your outdoor living space:

Shape your pool

If you’re building a new pool for fun in the sun, consider the shape carefully as the size of your backyard will likely be the biggest factor in what type of pool you choose. Freeform or kidney-shaped pools can provide a more natural, organic look, but often come at a cost of taking up more space. Rectangular or square pools can be installed on almost any sized property. A spool, or a combination spa/pool can also create a relaxing area for guests to enjoy the summer and maximize the space around the pool.

Use vertical space

If you’re working with limited space, use vertical space to your advantage. Install a fence or privacy wall around the pool area or create a vertical garden to make a natural privacy screen. This not only provides space and privacy but adds a beautiful visual element to your pool area. Check out our previous blog on privacy walls and vertical gardens.

Choose the best furniture

When you’re adding furniture to your pool area, choose pieces that are equal parts functional and stylish. This could mean selecting compact pieces that can be easily moved or folding chairs that can be stored when they’re not being used. Additionally, adding built-in seating around the pool area is a great way to maximize space while providing seating for guests.

Add lighting to set it aglow

Outdoor lighting can create a beautiful ambiance in your pool area. Add string lights, lanterns, or other outdoor lighting fixtures to the space to create a warm and inviting atmosphere for guests and extend the use of your pool area well into the evening.

With a little planning and creativity, you can create a pool area that is both beautiful and practical for your needs.

Thanks to a robust demand in 2019, the outdoor living builder will double the size of its shade in 2020!

Texas Custom Patios, the premier builder and leader in outdoor-living designs for Houston since 2004, and in DFW since January 2015, will expand well past its immediate Mid-Cities roots in 2020.  While Dallas and surrounding areas have been dominating the business for the past few years, the demand for excellence in outdoor living style is growing exponentially in and around Fort Worth.  It is of the upmost importance to listen and serve the demand for the trailblazing owners of Texas Custom Patios. 

While they will continue their powerful presence in the existing neighborhoods of Dallas and a small area of Fort Worth, they are excited to now embrace the entire metroplex area.  This includes the communities of Aledo, Benbrook, Southwest Fort Worth, Crowley, Burleson, Mansfield, Grand Prairie, Cedar Hill and all of Arlington on the south side of the DFW area.  The custom builders will also focus their time in Denton, Argyle, Keller, Trophy Club, Southlake, Westlake, Northlake, Colleyville, Lewisville, Grapevine, Hurst, Euless, and Bedford.

Texas Custom Patios has been exceeding expectations by leading the way in design and build quality for outdoor-living projects.  The builder, a pioneer in custom design, is family-owned and operated, standing behind every bid with honesty and integrity.   After building more than 1,700 projects in Houston and DFW, it was only a matter of time before they decided to share their love for outdoor luxurious living by expanding. 

“DFW is a perfect market for outdoor living – the climate, spacious backyards and the lifestyle.  This area had explosive growth during the last five years that we have been here and we feel as though we are always playing catch up. With the massive demand for builds, we recruited and trained more great designers and project managers so that this year, we’re ready to meet the needs of this expanded area,” says Texas Custom Patios President Rob Douglass.  Complimentary quotes can be scheduled by calling 972-915-2727.  For more information visit texascustompatios.com  Follow @TexasCustom Patios on Facebook, @txcustompatios on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. 

About Texas Custom Patios They custom design and build everything from covered patios, outdoor kitchens and dining areas, fire features, poolside cabanas, pergolas, decks, sunrooms and more! Every project is custom-designed and built to enhance the home and complement the homeowner’s personality.  They offer personalized service and flexible payment terms. Each project is assigned its own project developer who stays connected to the client from preliminary design stage, project approvals, finish selections, hand-off to project manager, to project completion and clean-up, making it easy and convenient.  Texas Custom Patios is proud of their A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and numerous accolades in the industry. 

Click on the image below to discover details about this gorgeous traditional project in Irving, TX!

Click on the image below to discover details about this beautiful covered patio built to match a home built in the 50’s!

Chances are if you are reading this blog right now, you are doing some patio pondering.  So will it be a covered patio or pergola? Outdoor kitchen or dining (or both)?  Maybe a fireplace or perhaps a beautifully lit fire pit?  Stone, granite, paint color … so many things to think about, but your first question should be … why Texas Custom Patios?

Let us help you answer that first!  We are a family-owned and operated business with offices located in Houston and Irving, Texas.  We proudly serve the greater Houston area and parts of Dallas/Fort Worth.  We have completed thousands of outdoor living projects since we opened our patio doors in 2004.

The TCP Difference

We offer personalized service and flexible payment terms, and when you choose to work with us, you’ll work with the same project developer every step of the way.  Start to finish, preliminary design stage all the way to project completion and clean-up.  It’s nice to have one main person that you can really count on each day.

We specialize in providing turnkey design solutions for outdoor living, including patio covers; outdoor kitchens; screened porches; room additions; pergolas and decks; outdoor fire features and so much more!  View our portfolio here to get a better idea of what you would like.

We Stand Behind Our Work

At Texas Custom Patios, we’re confident in our work, and we want you to feel confident, too!  That’s why we offer a two-year warranty for materials and workmanship, and a five-year warranty for structural components of your home improvement project.  We also have one million dollars in liability insurance to protect against accidents and injury.

Exact Quote Promise

When you schedule a consultation with one of our experienced project developers, you’ll receive more than just a ballpark figure.  We’ll tell you exactly how much your outdoor living project will cost – down to the penny!  So many times if you get a bid from multiple builders, they will give you a soft bid to entice you, but the costs add up as the project gets built, leaving you with something much higher than you were promised.   Every estimate of ours includes a detailed drawing with specifications and dimensions, plus rendered views and elevations -so you can see a preview of your completed project!  It’s like your day dreams come to life on paper, making it that much more fun to start building!

The Best of the Best (we always come full circle)

Year after year we are awarded and recognized for being the best in the business.  We constantly receive an A+ from the BBB (read our reviews here), and we are noticed by everyone from the National Association of Home Builders to fans on Houzz.  We love hearing from our customers and sharing the stories of how what we build for them has changed their lives.

We hope you will give us the chance to build a dream for you.

                                                                  

Texas Custom Patios

Awarded Best Of Houzz 2017

 “We are so pleased to award Best of Houzz 2017 to this incredible group of talented and customer-focused professionals,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “Each of these businesses was singled out for recognition by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts for helping to turn their home improvement dreams into reality.”

An enjoyable outdoor living space is a must-have for most people here in Texas – we are able to spend just about every day outside without too much trouble.  Of course it does get a little toasty in the summer, but with the right design and ample shade even the summer heat can be beat.  For many, the singular thing that holds us back when making big decisions is something called … moolah.  But with the right budget, a good plan and the perfect builders, your outdoor oasis is actually within reach!

Budgeting for your outdoor living space is actually easier than you may think.  We have built outdoor living spaces with just about every single budget in mind.  We put together a quick guide that will you have you well on your way to building out your outdoor space.  So get ready to start planning, building and living (outside)!

How to budget for your outdoor living space …

How big of an area is considered ample?

Whether you are wanting a covered patio, a pergola, a sunroom or a screened in porch about 300 square feet is average. If you go much smaller than that, you will feel cramped and will not have enough room for both a dining area and a sitting area. The cost for something that size would start around 25K – Sunrooms would be more due to windows and inside wall finishes.

What are items that would affect this budget?

* Type and configuration of your home – 1 Story homes usually run more because the roof tie-in is more complicated.

* Do you have concrete already? Having an existing patio or other flat surface will lower your cost… unless you want something more than a standard brushed concrete surface. Upgraded surfaces – stamped concrete, tile, travertine, stone pavers means your cost will increase.

* Type of columns – do you have any existing columns on your home? If so, you may want to match them – are they brick or stone? That will be an added cost because a standard column is wrapped with hardie board and painted to match your home’s paint color.

*Ceiling finish – Like the columns a standard ceiling is just hardie plank painted to match your home’s soffit. If you want a different look, you can go with cedar or stained tongue and groove, you will need to add some to your budget.

* Electrical matters – a basic project does include running electricity for recessed lights and ceiling fans as well as wiring for a TV and sound system.

So, what does a 300 SF project with some of the upgraded options cost?

* With additional items such as those listed above, your 300 SF project would start around 30K -35K.

What if I want to add an outdoor kitchen? Several things need to occur …

*Size of the space – to have adequate space to accommodate the added kitchen area, we suggest an area that is closer to 400 SF. So, that is an added cost to build your covered area.

*A basic kitchen – this is a tough question – you can have a small, very functional outdoor kitchen area that is in the 8 – 10 linear foot area. To get lots of prep and serving space, you may want to consider something that is closer to the 14-15 linear foot option. Our kitchens include a custom built counter area with granite, stacked stone, brick, or stucco, stainless steel appliances (grill, fridge, storage). The 8-10 linear foot kitchens would start around 15-20K, the larger kitchen would start around 20-25K.

Can it be bigger?

* Absolutely! We have built kitchens that are as large as 20-25 linear feet.

* Why the 5K range in the cost?

Many things affect that – type and size of grill, choice of granite, propane or natural gas, raised bar top, type of side finishes, among other choices.

What about adding a fire feature?

*A fireplace – whether wood burning or natural gas – will generally add about 15-20K to your project. Your choice of stone, is there going to be a mantle, and how big will the hearth be all play key roles in the cost of the fireplace.

* A fire pit – again whether it is wood burning or natural gas – will add about 3-6K to your project. The size, shape and type of stone plays a part in the variance of the cost.

So as you can see … a lot goes into the prepping and planning when building something to any extent, but it CAN be done!  Take notes, let us know how we can help and we look forward to building something beautiful for you!

Each month we like to feature someone in our “Builder Spotlight” blog who plays a significant role within Texas Custom Patios!  This month we are featuring a very hardworking young man that often hears rave reviews when he has completed a project!  Meet German Cardenas …

How long have you been with TCP?  5 years.

How long have you been in the business?  15 years.

What’s your “specialty?” Plumbing and HVAC.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?  Contributing to making installations not only functional, but look great, too!

What’s inspiring in the construction/build world to you?  Automated and ecological houses.

Do you have a favorite project from the past?  These two homes were a challenge for me, therefore they are my favorite!  Always up for obstacles to overcome, because it makes you that much more proud of the completed product.

What trends have you seen in outdoor design in the last few years?  Stone coverings in different types.

What do you see to be popular in the future? Material with less environmental impact.

What’s the one think most clients HAVE to have?  Outdoor Kitchen (grill and side burner are super popular).

What’s the biggest obstacle you face during the design/build process?  Making sure it’s both functional and appealing to the eye.

What do you hear most often from clients when everything is completed?  They LOVE it!

What do you think an outdoor living space does for a home and person?  Adds space to the home where the homeowner can make it their own.

What do you hope to build/design in the future?  Build outdoor living space with the latest technology.

Click the image below to discover details about this transitional project in Houston.