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 is the difference between a patio and a stoop? ›
Stoops and porches differ from patios and decks in that they are usually a means of gaining access to an elevated point of entrance to a structure (i.e., an entrance door that is above grade). Stoops usually are built of brick, block, stone or concrete. All stoops over eight inches in height require a Building Permit.
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 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? ›
Unlike a deck, a patio is a flat slab built directly on the ground, is not significantly raised and does not have multiple levels.
What do you call a roof over a patio? ›
The term patio cover is often used interchangeably with pavilion and pergola; however, the main difference is that they are attached to the home rather than being a freestanding structure. They are used to cover a patio or deck, and can have either a partially open or completely solid roof.
Patios, on the other hand, sit flush to the ground and may or may not be connected to a structure. Patios are typically made from concrete, brick or stone pavers or stamped concrete, which is patterned or textured to look like flagstone, tile or other materials.
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 are the characteristics of a patio? ›
Typically situated in the backyard or garden, patios come in various designs and sizes, adapting to the preferences and needs of homeowners. The most common feature of a patio is a flat, paved surface made of materials such as concrete, stone, brick, or tiles.
What is a front patio called? ›
Veranda (also called verandah) and porch are terms used to describe outdoor areas attached to a home. Both are covered, and located on the ground level, and both can be used as a space to enjoy the outdoors.
Can a balcony be called a patio? ›
Patios and balconies are distinct structures that are easy to tell apart. Patios are usually made of stone or brick and are installed at ground level. Balconies are elevated structures that are attached to a building on the second story or higher.
What is the difference between a deck and an elevated patio? ›
The main difference between a deck and a patio is their relation to the ground. A deck is raised, where a patio is at (or around) ground level. Two additional factors that every homeowner should consider are the difference in material and cost. Wood or composite materials are go-to's for decks.
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? ›
Courtyards are outdoor spaces typically enclosed on three or four sides and are open to the sky. Unlike a backyard, courtyards can be located within the footprint of a building to provide an alternate form of recreation space.
What is it called when a house has a courtyard? ›
A courtyard house is a type of house—often a large house—where the main part of the building is disposed around a central courtyard.
What are the disadvantages of a courtyard house? ›
An inner courtyard can quickly become an obstacle to natural light and plunge a living space into darkness. The disadvantages of a courtyard can be the height of the walls which block the sun's rays if it is surrounded by buildings.
