Concrete may be a popular choice for outdoor patios, but it doesn’t fit everyone’s style or budget. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives to consider.
To make a patio without concrete:
- Choose the right materials for your situation
- Dig for proper drainage
- Line the perimeter
- Fill the base
- Set your patio
Keep reading as we explain what you should consider when choosing a non-concrete patio, what the most common alternatives are, and what the basic installation process looks like.
What to Consider When Choosing a Patio Type
Concrete is popular because you can make it work in several situations, but you usually want to consider certain factors when choosing a type of patio to install.
Beyond style, make sure you look at:
- Existing drainage (or how much drainage you need)
- The slope of the area for installation
- Whether you want to DIY or pay for professional installation
- Your budget
- How much work goes into the upkeep
Pinning down the type of patio that works best for you sets you up for years with a beautiful outdoor patio space.
Drainage
You want some sort of drainage under your patio to prevent issues like:
- Shifting
- Improper erosion
- Foundation damage to your home
- Insect proliferation
If you’re already set up with adequate drainage in the area you have more options, but in most cases, you need to dig 4 to 8 inches down to improve the situation.
The importance of drainage differs depending on the type of patio you install.
Slope
Concrete is not a great option for heavily sloped areas. If you want to attempt a patio install in one of these areas, you’ll need to focus on keeping the surface from getting slick and working with the individual parts of the patio.
Smaller alternatives like gravel work better on an uneven surface.
DIY or Professional Installation
While DIY is much cheaper than paying for professional installation, you should understand the process completely before getting started.
You also need to have plans for handling heavy material, as you’ll need several tons of material like sand or bricks to work with.
Professional installation costs more, but you’re less likely to run into long-term issues.
Budget
There is a wide range of prices for the patio types listed below, and you can easily pay 10x as much on material alone.
Locking down your budget helps make decisions like what type of patio you want to install and whether you want to risk a DIY install.
Upkeep
While some options are cheaper, you may pay more in the long run for fixing them up and cleaning the patio surface.
Some of the more expensive options will last longer, saving you more money in the long run.
Certain materials have picky cleaning methods, so consider how much work and money you want to sink into your patio in the long run.
Alternatives to Concrete for a Patio
The most popular alternatives to concrete for a patio include:
- Gravel
- Brick
- Paver patios
- Slate
- Flagstone
Each gives a unique appearance and has its own pros and cons.
Gravel Patios
Gravel patios are the most inexpensive at about $2 per square foot (with stabilizers) but you’ll need to buy new gravel about every three years as it slowly scatters.
This doesn’t create an even surface for patio furniture to sit on, but you can rectify this with stabilizers.
Gravel doesn’t get slick or flood is great for areas that need more drainage, and works well on an incline. Just remember to use a landscape barrier to separate it from the ground beneath to avoid mud.
Brick Patios
Brick comes in many colors, including:
- Red
- Brown
- Black
- Tan
- Cream
- Gray
- Pink
The ones for your patio are thinner than building bricks, and they cost about $3 to $5 for materials. They’re cheaper when set in sand, but more secure when set in mortar.
You can arrange bricks in different patterns depending on taste.
While brick patios are easy to maintain, they don’t do well in the cost and are more prone to weeds.
Paver Patios
Paver patios are a popular alternative to concrete patios. They cost about $2 to $8 per square foot and take longer to install, but have generally low maintenance.
Keep in mind that most pavers are still concrete, but you can find some made of clay brick or natural stone. They’re not as prone to weather-related issues and don’t crack easily, but you’ll run into similar issues with weeds.
Slate Patios
Slate patios are 100% natural stones that come in shades of red, blue, black, and brown. They’re often larger, irregularly shaped slabs that are more durable.
While you can install them on your own, these slabs are quite heavy. They also require more maintenance to keep up their appearance, but they’re a marker of sophistication.
Flagstone Patios
Flagstone patios also involve thick slabs of stone, usually 1 to 3 inches thick, in irregular shapes. They cost $3 to $10 per square foot, and they’re a great option for a natural look.
They have an uneven surface that’s not suitable for wheels or walkers.
Flagstone usually does better without sealing, but it gets hot and slippery underfoot depending on the weather.
Basic Patio Installation Guide
Once you determine what type of patio you want to install, you can move on to installing the materials.
The method varies depending on the specific type of patio you choose, but it looks like this:
- Gathering your materials
- Digging for drainage
- Lining the perimeter
- Filling the base
- Letting the stones settle
The timeline also changes depending on what material you are working with.
Gathering Materials
You’ll need basic tools, like appropriate clothing, shovels, and protective gear.
When purchasing your materials, have the store deliver as much as possible. You’ll work with at least 1 ton of sand alone for a 12-square-foot patio, and the actual surface weighs much more than that.
Get enough bender board to line the area, and consider laying hardware cloth to prevent weeds. You may want to forego this, as it makes leveling the area difficult.
Digging for Drainage
When digging out the areas you want to remove the top 4 to 8 inches and even out the area. You should also remove all roots, rocks, and large debris you come in contact with.
You may not need to dig as deep with thinner materials or if you’re comfortable with the level of drainage in the area.
Lining the Perimeter
Line the perimeter of the patio with a bender board or a similar material, then stake it down to hold it in place.
This is a plastic edging product that will not decompose or rot, and it will help your patio keep a proper shape and last longer.
FIlling the Base
After moistening your work area, fill the bottom with a road base about 2 to 4 inches deep. This can be gravel, crushed recycled cement, or something similar.
Moisten again, then add in your sharp sand.
Letting Stones Settle
Fit your brick, pavers, or whatever material you chose with a small to moderate gap size. Larger gaps require groundcover plants or decorative gravel between them.
Once you have all the stones in place, fill in the cracks with enough sand until it overflows. Let this settle for a few days, then sweep the sand and water lightly. This is where you would add in any plants, but you’re otherwise done at this point.
Conclusion
Installing a patio is a great way to improve your outdoor living space. There are many different types of patios to choose from, and the installation process is relatively straightforward. With a little bit of planning and elbow grease, you can have a beautiful new patio in no time.
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