Patios: Outer Spaces

Patios can be attached to a house, or detached. They are often designed and oriented with the landscape in mind. Patios are versatile: they can take on any shape and be built with a variety of materials, including concrete, pavers, stone, tile, brick, pebbles, rock or pea gravel. See examples of every kind imaginable.

Awards season has kicked off, and it's time to let your voices be heard again. About.com's annual Readers' Choice Awards showcase the best outdoor living, pool and patio and home and garden products -- the things that make your outdoor world look, feel and work better -- maybe fantastic in some cases! Think of it as the People's Choice Awards...

The traditional meaning of the word "patio" pertaining to Spanish architecture is a courtyard or inner area open to the sky. The term patio has evolved to refer to any outdoor hardscaped area, usually with chairs and tables for lounging, dining and entertaining.

When building a patio or walkway, one of the more fun but challenging decisions you'll have to make is determining what type of paving material to use. This photo gallery provides a look at the wide variety of paving and surfacing materials available.

The materials you see in a magazine may not be available in your region, or may be more expensive than you thought. That means you’re going to need to be open-minded and flexible regarding the type of materials that will be used in the project, along with the design.

Patio or deck? How do you know which one is right for you, your lifestyle and your outdoor living space? And how can you really tell the difference between a deck and a patio anyway?

A Pool and Patio Forum visitor asks: "We live in Michigan, and were wondering if the end of September or early October is recommended to build a new concerete patio? Or should we wait until next spring?"

Are you laying tile, pavers or brick for your outdoor patio project? You don't want to go to the store and buy just any mortar. Learn the different types and what applications they're used for in this article by Lee Wallender, About.com's Guide to Home Renovations.

That gross green stuff on your concrete patio is probably moss, mold or mildew. Find out how to remove it and keep it from coming back.

It's easy to calculate tiles if your patio area is perfectly square. But that's rarely the case. "In the real world, there are many complicating factors: tiles of varying sizes and thicknesses; grout lines of different sizes; a variety of tile layouts; and so on," writes Lee Wallender, About.com's Guide to Home Renovations. Find out what he thinks about 'The Tile Estimator'.

When demolishing existing hardscaping before building a patio, it's essential to have a place to put all that debris. You can pile it all in your backyard and hope it goes away by itself. You can hire a hauling company or haul it to a landfill by yourself. The best option? Rent a dumpster or container. Find out how from About.com's Lee Wallender.

Have you built a patio yourself or hired someone to build it for you? Here's the perfect opportunity to show off your patio! Size doesn't matter - no two patios are exactly alike. Include photos.

Did you buy a barbecue grill from JCPenney this year? Read on: there's a recall for a possible fire and burn hazard due to a faulty drip pan. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with JCPenney, announced a voluntary recall of the Cooks Outdoor® BBQ Grills. The grills were sold at JCPenney stores throughout the United States and online at www.jcp.com from February through S…

If you've got some sort of outdoor space, you probably can make room for one of these 10 small grills. Derrick Riches, About.com's Guide to Barbecues & Grilling, reviews 10 gas, charcoal and electric grills that are small in size but big on quality features and grilling flavor.

Outdoor kitchens and grills are a major part of enjoying your patio. Cooking and entertaining outdoors is one of the most pleasurable activities people can do at home, and owning a grill or barbecue is a genuine goal for many. Gas grills continue to be popular, for different reasons. Let's explore.

Decorating for the 4th of July, Memorial Day and other all-American holidays takes place outdoors. These patriotic holidays occur during spring and summer and are centered around outdoor activities. Decorate your porch, patio, deck or other outdoor room with pillows, flags, plants, containers, bunting and other accessories in red, white and...

Perfect for a small space, this detached, circular brick patio can come together over a weekend or less. It measures 7 feet across, takes minimal effort and is an easy project for a beginning do-it-yourselfer.

Some cat owners who would never dream of letting their pets roam free outside have come up with a creative compromise: an enclosed space usually in the form of a screened-in porch or deck that allows them to share the great outdoors. In this article from The New York Times, discover the "catio" -- an outdoor space for cats.

Flagstone is a popular material to use for your patio floor and hardscaping. What do you set it in? Follow the advice of "Ask the Builder" expert Tim Carter and set it in crushed stone for a durable, slip-resistant and good looking patio.

Grab a cocktail and pay a visit to Greg Knight's "Patio Culture" web site. "Everything that was fun revolved around the patio," he writes. "Fun and games. Friends and meat -- red meat. "The pato wasn't just the center of suburban family life, it was a retro state of mind." This fun site includes midcentury memorabilia, barbecue recipes, tiki decor and much more.