I suppose if your walk out is high, deck becomes an obvious choice. But if its low to the ground, which do you prefer - a nice wood deck or a nice stone/interlocked patio?

 

As you said, depends on the property. We built a paver patio at our place because the association doesn't allow decks. Made our decision pretty easy.

Our friends have a poured concrete patio that looks just like slate. It's very cool and didn't cost them a ton of $$$$

 

Wood = Too much maintenance.

Go interlock or concrete.

Permacon has an annual spring sale. Got my interlock for $1.30 per sq-ft 2 season's ago.

Too late this year though.

If you go with a deck, I'd still go concrete.

 

Deck...Where is the poll?

 

I'd say patio...

 

Patio because wood requires much more upkeep. If you don't keep up with the wood (sealer, etc.) it will look like hell in 5-10 years with no way to recover.

If you ignore concrete or stone for 5-10 years just whip out the power washer and its good as new.

 

we did 1600 sqft of decorative concrete for a patio

Wood maintenance plus the structure to support an outdoor kitchen would be horrible.

 

Patio with natural stonework on the sides

 

 

Just got rid of my deck and am putting in a patio (brick) this summer. Wood (like cedar) is great, but you need to keep on top of it as far as maintanance or it will look like hell in no time. I had to clean it every year with a good cleaner just to keep the thing from turning black from dirt and sun fading. It looked great when done but its a pain in the butt. Id go brick with nice stone work on the sides also or a poured and stained and stamped concrete patio

 

I dream of having a large deck overlooking 5 acres of land (currently have a postage stamp size lot).

 

We currently have a deck but are adding in a brick patio within a month or so.
Even despite the maintenance requirements of a deck, I still prefer it over a patio. For some reason, I always associate beers and good times at night with a deck....

 

I'm going to expand my deck, and put in a brick paver patio as well with a nice firepit.

So where's the both option in the poll?

 

www.trex.com

'nuff said

 

Patio, wood deck is too much maintenance.

 

I'm voting deck and here's why....

We have both... two wood decks and the concrete patio around the pool. The deck around the pool isn't as inviting as a nice stained deck. To stain the concrete would cost money, and the stain wears off in time. To have it etched costs about $4 per square foot, and with 1000 square feet, that's $4k, and again, the stain wears over time.

Now, we have a 21'x20' deck off of the house, and an 8'x16' deck under the main deck (the deck off of the house is ~7-8 feet off the ground). To have both decks, the steps down, and our pergola stained is going to cost us $300 (it's actually getting done today). So, if I have to pay $300 to have everything done once every 3-4 years, I'm considering that a bargain. The deck looks so nice and inviting with a nice warm colored stain on it and smokes what a concrete patio looks like. So I don't have to do any maintanence except to put another coat of stain on for a few years, and for that price, I won't lift a finger

You may also be saying, well, what about pavers instead of concrete for a patio. Personally, not a big fan. Over time they shift, crack, weeds and/or grass can grow between them... but that's just a personal opinion.

Then of course, there's Trex. Expensive, yes... but once you absorb the initial cost, you're golden. It will hold up for years and years and years and you never need to do anything to it but hose it off.

 

Post a pic of your backyard. That would help.