When it was first installed, your brick patio was the ideal size. But as you added a bigger dining room table, a larger grill, or more seating to fit your growing family over the years, it’s become obvious that the current size no longer serves you. That once-spacious patio now feels a little too cramped.
Now what? Do you have to tear it all out and start over? Not necessarily. It’s often possible to extend an existing brick patio to meet your needs while preserving a bulk of the original installation. When you hire a brick contractor in Michigan to evaluate the space, they can determine if the existing patio is in good enough condition to integrate the new section with it.
Start With the Condition of Your Existing Patio
The first step is to ask a few questions:
- Are the pavers no longer level and stable?
- Are large areas sinking, shifting or heaving?
- Do I see drainage problems?
- Is the edging failing?
If you said yes to any of these questions, just adding square footage to the existing patio won’t solve those problems. The area may be better suited to a repair or restoration rather than an expansion.
Can the Existing Brick Be Matched?
It depends. If the original brick or paver is still being manufactured, it may be pretty straightforward to match the addition with the original. However, if your patio is older, it’s possible the original manufacturer no longer makes those bricks or is out of business.
But even when you can find the same exact pavers, they may not look identical to the original ones once installed due to the natural effect of weathering.
Instead of trying to make two different materials look exactly the same, your Michigan brick contractor may recommend incorporating a complementary color, border or pattern as part of the design to make the expansion look planned instead of patched together.
What’s Under the New Patio?
The visible bricks are just one part of the patio puzzle. Just like the original portion, the expanded section will need a properly prepared base so the pavers remain stable and level over time. If you attempt to connect new construction to an older patio without proper preparation, settling and uneven areas will show up later.
Don’t Forget About Drainage
A good contractor will know the importance of drainage and design your expanded patio to allow runoff to move away from the area properly. Failure to take drainage into account can allow water to collect against the home or pool on the patio.
Think About Why You’re Expanding
Before deciding how much square footage you want to add to the patio area, ask yourself why you’re considering the expansion in the first place. Is it to create:
- An outdoor dining area?
- A fire pit and chairs?
- A grill or outdoor kitchen?
- Additional lounge furniture?
- Better flow around existing furniture?
It’s important to plan your patio around how you will actually use it, rather than just adding a few pavers at the end.
A patio that no longer fits your lifestyle and needs doesn’t necessarily need to be completely replaced. With the right planning and design, you can extend your usable outdoor living space while preserving what’s already there. Not only does this save time and disruption, it saves you money as well.
Contact It’s The Brick Guys
Our Michigan brick contractors can assess your existing patio, discuss expansion possibilities and come up with a design that works with your home and yard – now and in the future. Contact us today at (833) 627-4257 to get started.
