Definition of a patio

A patio (From the Spanish: patio meaning "back garden" or "backyard") is an outdoor space generally used for dining or recreation that often adjoins a residence or building and is typically paved. Specifically, it may refer to a roofless inner courtyard .

Patios are typically made of concrete or stone slabs laid over a firm base. This base is often formed of a layer of compacted hardcore (stone chips), a layer of sharp sand, and a layer of cement mortar. The firmness and stability of the base is essential to the robustness of the top layer of slabs - an infirm base will typically result in cracked slabs. Patios that hold a lot of weight, such as driveways, require stronger foundations than those that are designed for light use.

So whether you are interested in building a new patio or are interested in bringing back to life your existing patio, here is some information and some great ideas to get you started.