Buying and decorating a new house is as thrilling of an adventure as it is a costly one. But, for better or for worse, once you have finished equipping and decorating both the interior and exterior aspects of building a home, you will still be left with the outside section in front or behind your house.
How should you go about designing a house front? Are plants and flowers enough to keep it lively? Or should you add a bench or two if there’s extra space? Given the many options at hand, you can turn this space into a front garden, a vintage porch, a cool deck, a fancy courtyard or a classic patio.
Learn the difference between a patio versus porches, decks and courtyards. Read on as we compare all these and offer top tips for creating the outdoor space of your dreams.
Defining a Patio
Originated from the Spanish language, a patio is an open, uncovered, ground-level space located in front of or behind a building. It is usually paved with stone, gravel, asphalt or other durable materials. A patio can hold additional garden-like elements, like chairs or tables, but doesn’t have to fit a single profile.
Additionally, a patio can be attached or detached from the house itself. But essentially, it has to maintain its principal defining feature — durability. Patios should be made from sturdy and durable materials so they can withstand all kinds of weather conditions and still retain their appeal and functionality.
Patio vs. Porch
Patios differ from porches in various aspects. For example, while patios don’t have to be attached to the house, porches are always attached to the house structure. Moreover, a porch is usually more intricately decorated, dyed in the same color palette as the house and made from the same materials.
Essentially, porches serve as an extension of the house and are covered by the roof of the house, while a patio doesn’t have to follow that pattern.
Patio vs. Deck
Decks are more similar to patios, but they differ in two major ways. One, decks are usually made of wood. They are not always as durable as patios. Meanwhile, patios are typically made of bricks, stone, gravel or asphalt. Furthermore, decks do not have to be ground-level and can even be elevated off the ground, unlike patios that are flat to the ground.
Patio vs. Courtyard
Patios and courtyards have the most in common — both are uncovered, durable and on ground level. The only difference is that a courtyard is usually surrounded by walls and closed, while a patio is a completely open space.
Choosing the Best Patio for Your Home
If you’re interested in building a beautiful patio for your home, look no further than Just Patios. Our Brisbane and Sunshine Coast company specialises in constructing only the most aesthetically pleasing and functional patios at affordable prices.
Contact Just Patios today to learn more about our services, prices and the benefits that come with trusting us with decorating your dream patio space!
Get in touch
Need a builder to custom design and install patios, carports and enclosures in Brisbane? Call the professional builders at Just Patios today!
FAQs
A patio is considered a courtyard if it's surrounded by walls. A deck is specifically a wooden platform—it can be slightly raised, or high enough to require steps—and is recognizable as a deliberate addition to a house, rather than part of its architecture.
What is the difference between a courtyard and a patio? ›
Patio vs. Courtyard. Patios and courtyards have the most in common — both are uncovered, durable and on ground level. The only difference is that a courtyard is usually surrounded by walls and closed, while a patio is a completely open space.
What is the difference between a porch deck and a patio? ›
Though decks, patios and porches can come in all shapes and sizes, decks are typically raised, off-ground platforms, while patios are ground-level living spaces. Porches, meanwhile, are covered structures.
What is considered a patio? ›
A patio is usually a cement slab in the backyard right up against the house. A porch is most commonly a covered deck with screens for walls. A Covered Roof (or sometimes referred to as a hard cover) is a shade covering for a deck or concrete patio and is commonly made from the same roofing materials as the house.
What adds more value to a house, a deck or patio? ›
At this point, you know that a patio offers a slightly better resale value than a deck. But since both patios and decks add significant value to your home, it's usually best to go with whatever option appeals to you the most.
What is the difference between a deck and a courtyard? ›
A patio is considered a courtyard if it's surrounded by walls. A deck is specifically a wooden platform—it can be slightly raised, or high enough to require steps—and is recognizable as a deliberate addition to a house, rather than part of its architecture.
What is considered a courtyard? ›
A courtyard is an area outside a building that's framed and somewhat enclosed by walls. Your friend might ask you to meet her in the courtyard of her apartment complex. In cities, courtyards provide small, private outdoor areas.
What is a porch without a roof called? ›
Deck. There are no roofs on decks. Thus they're open areas outside. Many of them are made of wood to make them appear cozy.
What makes a porch a porch? ›
A porch is defined as a covered area that typically has a roof and adjoins a building's entrance. Though porches often adorn the street-facing side of a home, that's not always the case: Many homes have side or even back porches. But the distinguishing factor from a patio is the roof.
Can you call a deck a patio? ›
A deck is typically located at the back of a house and overlooks the backyard. It can be accessed through various rooms, but a kitchen, living room or family room are common choices. Unlike a patio, it is not built directly on the ground but is elevated, sometimes as high as the second or third floor of the house.
What Is a Patio? A patio is a paved surface made from stones—like pea gravel, concrete pavers, or a poured concrete slab—located at ground level outside a house.
How do you describe a patio? ›
noun. , plural pat·i·os. an area, usually paved, adjoining a house and used as an area for outdoor lounging, dining, etc. a courtyard, especially of a house, enclosed by low buildings or walls.
What is the roof over a porch called? ›
The most common porch roof is a gable roof. The gable roof is a triangle-shaped roof that projects along a ridge down the center of the enclosure. The sides are sloped at a particular pitch rise over run to shed snow and water.
What lasts longer, a patio or deck? ›
Lifespan: Patios last longer than wood decks even though they can get cracked and stained over time. Decks don't have the same longevity, though they can age well with proper care.
Is it cheaper to build a deck or a patio? ›
Building a patio is typically far less costly than building a deck, costing around half as much on average for labor and materials. On top of that, many deck materials require regular power washing and sealing to maintain their beauty and structural integrity, which adds more maintenance costs over its life span.
What is the legal definition of a courtyard? ›
A court or courtyard is a space inside a building that is open to the sky. These spaces were often used for meetings, which leads to the other meaning of court, as in a court of law.
What makes a courtyard? ›
A courtyard or court is a circ*mscribed area, often surrounded by a building or complex, that is open to the sky.
What are the disadvantages of a courtyard? ›
Another drawback of this yard is its extremely low isolation and minimal privacy.
What do you call a patio in the front yard? ›
A patio is usually found in the backyard. It's often made from poured concrete or stone pavers. On the other hand, porches are usually attached to the front of a house and covered by a roof or awning. They're usually built onto the house and considered an architectural feature of the home.
