THE ADVANTAGES OF CONCRETE PAVER PATIOS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
Creating an outdoor living space offers you many options when it comes to usable space. Inevitably, your decision comes down to choosing either a wood deck or a patio. So how do you choose?
Both offer the homeowner benefits and both can increase your home’s value and shorten the time your home is on the market. Let’s look at the options and why in the California bay area, a concrete paver patio might be the better choice.
THE PROS AND CONS OF WOOD DECKS
Adding a deck to your home can increase usable space, and increase the value of your home by up to ten percent according to the Gallop Organization. Decks are attached to your home and allow you some creativity in where it is placed. Because they are a raised structure built above the ground level, tree roots, wet ground and slopes can be avoided making construction in certain environments easier.
However, decks offer some significant drawbacks in terms of cost, lifespan, and maintenance. Building a can cost as much as a third more than installing a concrete paver patio of the same size. The additional costs come from the fact that an above ground support structure is necessary, and railings – which can obstruct views, must be installed for safety.
View Our Gallery Of Patio Paver Projects Completed In The San Francisco Bay Area
While the materials choices for deck construction have improved in recent years, they are still more limited than the choices available for patios. Add to this the fact that a wood deck is susceptible to water damage and boring insects which can significantly shorten their lifespan, and the advantages of a stone or concrete paver patio becomes more apparent.
With an average lifespan of just 10 to 15 years, even with regular maintenance your deck will require staining and sealing every two years. This can take significant time and add additional costs over the life of the deck.
THE CASE FOR CONCRETE PAVER PATIOS
When it comes to perceived value, and actual return on investment, patios reign supreme! According to Gallop, a patio offers a 12% ROI compared to a wood deck. Having a big beautiful patio is also a plus for homebuyers who site outdoor living space as a top ten must have.
While a patio can cost a third less than installing a wood deck, you’ll enjoy a minimum 25 to 30 years lifespan, almost twice s long as a wood deck, all with minimal maintenance. Concrete paver patios when properly installed they are impervious to weather, insects, mold, and rot that can plague wooden structures. In the past, patios were often limited to flat areas of your property, however today with retaining walls, and multilevel installation any area can host a patio regardless of obstacles like tree roots or slopes.
Structurally, decks carry limitations as to load-bearing strength. While structural modifications can increase load bearing, they are a costly addition. Because pavers are seated on a base of crushed stone they are the best solution for any type of weight bearing application like driveways, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces or hot tubs.
Finally, because they are built at ground level, patios offer you the opportunity to expand your outdoor living space over time, creating additional areas for outdoor living rooms, built-in fire pits or fireplaces, outdoor dining or private garden grottos. Visually, you can create the illusion of individual spaces through the use of freestanding walls, improve privacy using trees or other plantings, fences, or privacy panels and can connect areas with beautiful stone walkways to create a complete outdoor environment that will compliment any home.
At the end of the day, both options offer benefits. The bottom line is that adding outdoor living space to your home is a smart investment that will not only improve your quality of life and the enjoyment of your home, it will add value and when it comes time to sell, offer a solid return on your investment.
In the San Francisco Bay area, we recommend concrete paver patios. They are less costly to install, offer a much longer usable life and require almost no maintenance to keep them looking beautiful for years to come.
If you’re thinking of adding outdoor living space to your California bay area home, give the experts at Bayside Pavers a call at 1-866-287-2837 or schedule a free estimate by clicking here. We can help you to design the perfect outdoor environment! If you live in the San Jose area, stop by one of our two locations in Concord at 2455 Bates Ave, Ste K, or visit our location in Santa Rosa at 1619 4th Street Ste 12. We’re happy to sit down and explain all of your options to help you create the outdoor living space your envision!
