Upgrade Your Outdoor Area By Switching From A Rotten Deck To A Gorgeous Patio

If your old wooden deck has seen better days, you're probably thinking of ways to repair or replace it. Despite the innate beauty of the wooden boards, the truth is that wood is just not the best material for outdoor use. Over time, the new deck you're contemplating will likely meet the same fate as its predecessor: rot, mold, mildew, algae stains, discoloration, and deformed boards. By swapping an old, rotten deck for a new one, you're simply restarting the cycle of constant maintenance and frustration, setting yourself up for the same outcome 10 to 15 years down the road. So, now that you're at the critical juncture where your old deck must exit service, why not explore other ways to upgrade your outdoor space?

Like decks, patios give you a usable surface to enjoy the outdoors. And while they're not perfect, patios generally demand less maintenance than decks because they're made from inorganic materials that don't succumb to the elements so quickly. There are plenty of ways to pave the patio surface. If you feel an attachment to your deck's warm, earthy tones, why not build a patio out of brick pavers? Or, if a greater array of colors is your thing, consider concrete pavers. Limestone and slate are also gorgeous materials that will imbue your patio with plenty of character without causing you major maintenance headaches down the road. Below, we'll explore all these options in greater detail, so you can choose the right type of pavers for a beautiful patio to replace your old, rotting deck.

Brick pavers are made of clay and fired in a kiln. They're one of the best options to consider when switching from a wood deck to a patio because of their durability, low maintenance, and charming aesthetics. Brick pavers generally measure 4 by 8 inches and come in a rectangular form. One crucial advantage of brick pavers is their ability to retain color for many years despite exposure to ultraviolet rays. On the downside, the rectangular shape somewhat limits your choice of pattern. To install a brick paver patio, expect to pay $7 per square foot on average.

You may think of concrete as boring or reminiscent of brutalist architecture, but modern concrete pavers are anything but. Nowadays, you can get these pavers in a massive assortment of colors, textures, shapes, and sizes. Aesthetically, they're more versatile than brick pavers, which are constrained by their rectangular shape. Like their brick counterparts, concrete pavers are robust and long lasting, and they cost about $7.50 per square foot, including the stones and installation.

If you're not constrained by a tight budget, consider paving your outdoor space with chic paving stones made from limestone or slate. Limestone is a sedimentary rock, and its use in construction dates back to Ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire. Many of these millenia-old limestone structures still stand, so rest assured that your limestone pavers will serve several generations of users. Limestone patio pavers cost $30 per square foot on average, including installation. Meanwhile, slate is another type of sedimentary rock, one that generally comes in gray and assumes a glossy, wet look on sunny days. These durable pavers will also set you back about $30 per square foot.