A patio is one of the best additions that you can make on your property. It extends your living space, increases the value of your house, and gives you an area to do more outdoor activities. Sounds good, right?
If you want to have a patio on your property but don’t have much of a budget to spare, here are several ways you can save money on a new patio:
1. Find a good contractor
If you live in Sunshine Coast, shop around and look for the best patio and carport builder who will fit in your budget. Consider at least three to five builders and ask for quotations. After you narrow down your options, check out their reviews online to determine if they are a good fit.
Moreover, remember that if the offer is too good to be true, find another contractor. A cheap quotation is not worth having a patio of subpar quality (and safety) in your yard.
2. Pick a strategic location
Patios are cheaper to build on level surfaces, so if you want to save money on a new patio, build it on a flat location. But if you want to build it on a slope, you can level the surface yourself.
Moreover, have the location of the patio near the house if you want it to have plumbing and electricity. In this way, you don’t have to spend more money on installing power and plumbing lines.
3. Go with gravel
For cheap paving material, you’re going to want to go with gravel. It costs an average of $1.40 for each square foot, compared to other natural stones that can cost around $20 to $30 (e.g. limestone, granite, bluestone).
4. Use recycled materials
Find materials that you can reuse for your patio, such as wooden pallets, existing pavers, or old stones. Not only are you saving money by doing this, but you’re also saving materials from going to the dump.
5. Do the finishing yourself
If possible, do the finishing yourself. Tasks like painting, varnishing, and cleaning are easy enough to handle on your own.
6. Use old furniture
You don’t have to buy new furniture to make your new patio look great. Instead, use old furniture in the house or buy from secondhand stores. With a little elbow grease, you can make old furniture look brand new on your patio.
The same applies to furnishings and decor. Find inexpensive items at thrift stores or garage sales. Better yet, use the ones you already have at home.
7. Decorate with plants
Aside from giving your patio an added outdoorsy vibe, plants are inexpensive decorative materials. You can use potted plants and box planters to decorate your patio’s perimeter. If you want to test out your gardening skills, you can even plant new seeds along your patio, so they can grow over time.
These are just some of the smart ways you can save money on a new patio so that you can enjoy an outdoor living area without blowing your budget. But with all of these wallet-friendly tips, you can increase the value of your property and extend your living space for low investment capital.
