There are a number of things to consider when laying a new patio in your garden, yard or outdoor area. You may think that the most important decision you need to make is the type of paving slabs you should have that will compliment the rest of your garden design or the other features in your garden, but a number of other things should be given thought before you begin to lay a new patio.

The most important thing to consider is location. If you want to have your patio as a seating area, perhaps as an entertaining area for friends or family, or to sit in an evening at a table and chairs, or have barbeques in the summer, the last thing you want is to be sitting in the shade. Therefore you need to work out where the sun will be at different times of day, especially during the summer.

The second consideration is size of your patio. What you wish to use your patio for will largely dictate the size of your paved area, for example if you have a large family or entertain often, a small cafe table and chairs will not suffice; you are more likely to require a 6 seater table or 8 chairs and a large table, and you may want extras such as a freestaning parasol or additional seating such as wooden benches. If this is likely to be the case, plan accordingly. It can be difficult to enlarge a patio once the paving slabs have been laid. If you find you don’t need the space for extra seating or garden accessories as originally planned, you can always choose some pretty garden pots or containers and plant them with bedding plants or feature plants to create a low maintenance garden area.

Once you have decided on the size and location of the patio you will need to make preparations to lay your new patio. This is something you can either undertake yourself, or you may choose to call in a professional paving and driveway service to complete the work for you. If you are looking for a reputable tradesman to lay a new patio, localtraders.com can put you in touch with the best local tradespeople in your area.

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2. Planning a New Garden or Outdoor Area Part 2 – Choosing Your Plants
3. Planning a New Garden or Outdoor Area Part 1
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