Decks - Patios-

< last updated 6 Dec 2022

Bottom Line:
Patios are cheaper to build but decks are a better investment.
The return on investment (average of numbers below) is 55% for patios and 80% for decks.

ROI:
Decks vs Patios | decks.com
Resources like Remodeling Magazine and HouseLogic show the ROI for a deck to be roughly 75% more than for a patio. As an example, a deck that costs $9,000 to build, maybe worth an additional $7,500, 83%, when you sell vs. a patio that may cost $3,500 to build and is only worth $1,500, 43%. when you sell.

However Is a Deck or Patio Better for Resale Value? | RST Brands says ROI's are:
Deck 76%; Patio 100%

6 High-ROI Outdoor Home Improvements | PunchListUSA
You can expect up to 69% ROI for your patio and 80% ROI on your new deck.
You can expect an ROI of 71% for an outdoor kitchen.

After the pandemic, more homeowners value functional outdoor spaces - like backyards, porches, Decks - Patios- Ground cover - because of the safety and distance they offer when people are sick.

How to Sell Buyers On Your Outdoor Oasis | HomeLight.com
A HomeLight survey of top agents estimated that a new patio costing $3,269 to construct would bring a $3,563 increase in value, or a 109% return on investment.

Deck vs Patio - other considerations:
Decks vs Patios | decks.com
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Considerations	Deck	Patio	Pros & Cons
Cost	$25 - $43 per square foot	$5-$15 per square foot	Patios are cheaper to build, partially because the building materials are cheaper and because theyre installed flush with the ground, requiring less materials and labor to create stairs, install joists, railings, and other components associated with decks.
Lifespan	Wood deck (10-20 years)	Composite deck (25-30+ years)	Patios can last for decades if theyre well-maintained. They do need to be cleaned frequently of leaves and other debris to keep them a clean, attractive place to enjoy time outdoors. Composite decks, if well-maintained, can last just as long as a patio. Wooden decks are less weather-resistant than composite decks, giving them a shorter lifespan. However, regular washing, treating, and maintenance can extend the lifespan of a wooden deck.
Other considerations e.g. flexibility	Easier to run services, electrical, gas, water.	Easier to add heavy objects e.g. stove, fire pit, hot tub, fish pond.

See Deck Notes for materials

The cost of concrete ranges between $5 to around $8 per sq ft (0.09 sq m), including installation.

The value based on the above for a 400 square foot (20x20) space would be about $2,400 for a patio and $12,000 for a deck.

See Decks vs Patios | decks.com for other criteria.

Products:
Evaluating products is another project I haven't started yet.
Decks: Composite vs wood ; See Deck Notes
Patios: Concrete, pavers, brick, flagstone, tile, cut stone, loose materials (gravel mulch), ...
A Complete Guide to the Best Patio Materials | The Spruce is a good place to start.

Two eco-friendly products that sounded good are hard to find in the US.
Travertine Pavers Pros and Cons | Green Garage
Travertine is a form of limestone that civilizations have use in a variety of ways throughout human history. It is a useful product around pools, for garden walkways, and various other landscaping needs.

Travertine pavers do an excellent job of replicating the look of marble or granite, especially if you place them around a pool on your property. The price that youll pay for this building item is a fraction of what it would be for those materials.

If your intent is to build a patio or deck around a pool, then travertine is an excellent choice to consider. The porous nature of this natural material allows for additional water drainage when the pavers become wet.

The pavers that you find today that are made from travertine typically come from Europe and South America.

Timbercrete is an environmentally friendly construction material, produced from a mixture of sawdust and concrete. It reuses waste products and replaces some energy-intensive components of conventional concrete.
So far, timbercrete has been used to produce bricks, blocks, panels, and pavers, and can be pressed to create a great array of sizes, colors, shapes, and textures.
I could only find it in Australia as of December 2022.

Designs:
Google it you'll get millions.
500 examples at pinterest
Backyard Patio Ideas at Architectural Digest

Heat:
How hot do common landscape surfaces get in summer? | Ozbreed in Australia
temperature taken at 2 PM after a hot morning on a 104° day. temperature taken at 2 PM after a hot morning.

What	°F
Air Temperature	104°
green grass	114°
shaded turf near concrete	117°
dry grass	125°
grass near gravel	126°
shaded concrete	122°
gravel in full sun	172°
grey concrete on a tennis court	173°
dark concrete drive	167°
light concrete paver	153°
dark clay paver	165°
Wet cast compressed limestone	143°
wet cast quartz	138°
Timbercrete† walls and pavers	121°
flat steel plate	159°
concrete surfaces around a house in full sun	167°
artificall grass	153°
Fine grade wood mulch full sun	147°
bare soil	154°
painted wood bench	154°
treated pine	144°
hardwood	163°
bitumen (semi-solid petroleum)	157°
plastic playground equipment	158°
metal play ground equipment they were surprised by this.*	144°
vinyl seat on our outdoor vehicle	191°

* the metal equipment may have been cooler because the greater conductivity may have transferred the heat to the atmosphere faster.

Sorted by increasing temperature
Temperature taken at 2 PM after a hot morning

What	°F
Air	104
green grass	114
shaded turf near concrete	117
Timbercrete walls and pavers	121
shaded concrete	122
dry grass	125
grass near gravel	126
wet cast quartz	138
Wet cast compressed limestone	143
treated pine	144
metal play ground equipment they were surprised by this *	144
Fine grade wood mulch full sun	147
artificall grass	153
light concrete paver	153
painted wood bench	154
bare soil	154
bitumen (semi-solid petroleum)	157
plastic playground equipment	158
flat steel plate	159
hardwood	163
dark clay paver	165
dark concrete drive	167
concrete surfaces around a house in full sun	167
gravel in full sun	172
grey concrete on a tennis court	173
vinyl seat on our outdoor vehicle	191

† Timbercrete is an environmentally friendly construction material, produced from a mixture of sawdust and concrete. It reuses waste products and replaces some energy-intensive components of conventional concrete.
So far, timbercrete has been used to produce bricks, blocks, panels, and pavers, and can be pressed to create a great array of sizes, colors, shapes, and textures.
I could only find it in Australia as of December 2022.

Maximum time to hold your hand on a surface before it
 becomes too uncomfortable.
wet cast quartz 138° 	indefinite
light paver 150°        7 sec
Others 160° and higher	2 sec

Links:

Pros and Cons of Popular Deck and Patio Materials | New England Enterprises considers another option, Spoftscaping.
Softscape includes the living things (grass, plants, flowers, trees) in your landscape. Hardscape is the hard movable parts of your landscape. It include stones, gravel, paving, water features, decks, patios, and more.

Another option is a hybrid. Using artificial turfs which are very realistic now.
They have an advantage of being moe resilient when kids take a fall.

Artificial grass costs around $2 to $10 per square foot (0.09 sq m), excluding the prices of other essential materials, labor, and site preparation. The artificial grass turf aside, you need road base, weed barrier fabric, bender board, infill, and essentials like nails, stakes, seaming tape, and glue.

Examples with a combination of hardscaping (wood or cement) and softscaping (grass):

Links:
Deck Notes

Slabs Pavers and Flagstone | ParaSpaceInc Artificial Grass vs. Concrete: Cost, Uses, Disadvantages | CaptainPatio Pros and Cons of Popular Deck and Patio Materials | New England Enterprises