patio-with-chairs

What better way to spend the great outdoors in the wintertime than with an outdoor patio and a bar-b-que grill?

Adding a patio to your existing home’s structure not only adds value but can cost below the $10K price range. Naturally, an existing concrete or a bricked flat-surface patio will reduce the cost. For a high-end patio, the price range can go well over $60K. This is with a stone/brick fireplace or an outside grill, even a place to kick your feet up and enjoy the Texas moonlit sky.

Adding a “fire pit” instead of a fireplace will be sufficient. Add about $3K for a homemade fire pit to the basic costs of building your patio. If you want more than a “brushed concrete surface,” you’ll need to add more to the basic costs of materials.

Some other options for the basic concrete slab are “stamped concrete, tiles, pavers, and even flagstones.” For an addition to a one-story patio, adding columns to the existing slab work will work wonders. As all things are being considered, weighing the options that are available in the market begins with the planning process. No more daydreaming about the new space. After carefully browsing through magazines, online blogs, and endless daydreaming, it’s time to turn the patio dream into reality. Endless options for a Houston patio; covered or not.

With a great budget, the possibilities can be endless. Although, if you have a budget of less than $3K, you can have a nice patio to add to your home’s backyard or even on the side of your home’s existing structure. If you’d like a covered patio, with a ceiling fan, this can cost about $10K. Prices like these are low compared to other regions. Houston is a nice place to have those outdoor Texas BBQs, but what better way to have them than on an outdoor patio? With unique designs, you can build one with a grill or a gas range, a stone-walled fireplace with lighting that’ll set the mood. Designing in order to capture the mood is essential in the planning process. The patio will cost between $10K and up to $60K.

For example, a covered patio needs a 13’x29′ concrete slab; here are the specifications. This comes from an existing 10X10 concrete slab to be removed and adding new concrete to make it 13’x29′ with no odd design to the specs. Adding to this cost are the electrician’s cost and labor.

Outdoor Kitchen

– Arch design between all columns; this is with the columns to the wall.- The post will be covered with bricks.- Adding gutters- Electrical: (22 Point) – 2 New Breakers – 3 Fans, 8 Recessed Lights, 3 Lights on a column facing inside, 3 Lights on a column facing outside, 3 GFCI outlets on columns, 2 outlets on the ceiling. The total is between $15,500 to $29,000 for something like this.

These aren’t priced for multi-level patios. With multi-leveled patios, it can include stairs, even some surround sound speakers, a kitchenette with a grill, a fireplace, and most importantly, the dining area. Livable space is what these “dream decks” are for most families. They’re unique in design, and functionality, and for homeowners, this can be of great value for any home.

Outdoor spaces should come with food prep and cooking areas. Some offer those stone-walled fireplaces which seem to be common in outdoor spaces. A screened patio will add value as well, for those Texas-sized mosquitoes and heat during the summertime. Outdoor patios with screens can also be helpful for your four-legged friends. Your pets can play outdoors, without really being outside. And for those rainy days, you can still enjoy the outdoors without getting soaked. In addition, putting outdoor furniture will be just as fun when complete. Finally, all you need is the right idea, some helpful friends and relatives, and finally, carefully plotting out your measurements and vision into the ultimate patio.

Other Factors That Affect the Total Cost of a Patio Installation

As mentioned, the overall cost of building a patio in Houston, Texas ranges anywhere from $10,000 to $60,000. This is determined by a variety of factors, such as the size, accessories, labor fees, and the design itself, to name a few.

If you are thinking of making a patio from the ground up, accounting for the factors provided below will be helpful in making a budget and hopefully sticking with this until the end. Take a look at some of these.

Size and Shape of the Area

One of the most important determining factors that affect the cost of building a patio is the size of the area. The general rule of thumb would be that the larger the size of your patio, the higher the cost associated with it.

In addition to this, you should also bear in mind that irregularly-shaped designs or patios may require more money since this would add time and the labor itself would be quite difficult. These may likewise require special equipment and materials.

You can expect to pay $8 per square foot up to $20 per square foot depending on the size. For example, a small 80-square feet patio that measures 8’ x 10’ can fetch anywhere from $640 to $1,600 to build. Larger ones that measure 20’ x 20’ or 400 square feet can cost around $3,200 to $8,000.

When thinking about your desired size and shape, you want to think about its functionality and how you want to use the space. If you want to entertain friends and family or even host gatherings and cook, having ample space for people to stay and move around is ideal.

Patio Design

Patio designs differ from one property to another and that’s because homeowners have different needs and preferences. Similar to the size and shape of the area, the general rule applies to the design, meaning that the harder the design of your patio, the higher the cost of making it as well.

Intricate designs usually command higher price tags because these take time to make and install. Simpler and standard patio designs and options on the market can take hours or even a day to complete, but detailed ones that add complexity to the project may need additional time as well.

For example, ground patios are among the easiest to install and these cost approximately $1,500 to $5,400. Additional patio covers, pergolas, roofs, or a raised patio design will elevate the cost of building a patio. You can expect these to be in the $2,100 to $25,000 range.

These additional elements to your patio can be more expensive since these are more complex to build and these take time. More often than not, reinforcements and other supplementary aspects to the foundation need to be built in as well, such as retaining walls.

Materials to be Used

The materials you choose in making your patio can make or break your budget. This is one of the factors that make up most of the expenses since these can be costly to move and acquire depending on your preferences.

Some of the most popular options on the market include gravel, concrete, poured concrete, flagstone, stamped concrete, and brick pavers. Among these choices, gravel tends to be the most affordable, ranging from $0.81 to $2.85 per square foot. Gravel is easy to install, drains well, and works well with a variety of landscape settings.

Concrete-based materials, on the other hand, range from $2.67 to $6. It is also a widely preferred material by many homeowners since it is not only affordable, but it is also quite versatile. These even come in a number of finishes, making it suitable for different looks and settings.

Appliances and Accessories

Building your patio is just half the job. Filling it with things you love will complete it and make it more functional. Functionality and efficiency can mean different things to different people. To some, this can mean having an outdoor kitchen and grill that they can cook in during the weekends.

For other people, having a fire pit may be something they have always dreamed about gathering around in, especially with friends and loved ones. Others may simply want some nice and reliable outdoor furniture that can last them for years to come. A furniture set can start around $100 for a two-chair table.

These appliances and accessories, as well as other plans and add-ons, should be discussed with your contractor as these will be factored into the cost of the patio-building project.

Landscaping

Most patios are built in gardens and backyards, so having this blend seamlessly with your landscape is a no-brainer. If you want to install trees, plants, shrubs, flowerbeds, and the like around the patio, hiring professionals who can do the job is the best way to go about it. This will set you back an average of $1,400 to $5,300.

Although you can do this yourself, installing a fountain or other similar water features will require the help of landscape experts.

Fees and Permits

Depending on the area or location that you’re in, there are building and or city permits that you have to obtain and these, of course, come with respective fees. You must be able to get these prior to building the patio. This, however, varies from one place to another, so be sure to get in touch with your local government to know more about how you can proceed with this project.

The Bottom Line

There’s no denying that patios complete the overall look and feel of your property. By taking into consideration these aforementioned factors and the overall complexity of the project, you’ll gain a better understanding of how much it costs to build a patio in Houston, Texas.

A patio building project is a huge undertaking. Consider working with professionals in the field so that you can have a safe and sturdy structure that gives you a run for your money.