The weather’s warming up! Time to start thinking about your backyard again.
Like many homeowners, maybe you’re thinking about building a deck or a patio so you can enjoy the sun this summer. After all, an outdoor living space can be a great spot for cooking, hosting parties, or just relaxing in the fresh air.
But how do you choose between these two great features?
If you’re struggling to decide between a deck and a patio, these are three factors you should consider before breaking ground.
Deck Vs. Patio Factor #1 – The Terrain of Your Backyard
While a skilled construction team can improvise with whatever terrain they’re given, the texture of your backyard can certainly make a difference in your choice.
Generally, patios are most easily built on flat terrain. If your backyard is one giant slope, a deck is probably the better choice, since we can use footings and posts to create one even surface at any level. While it’s possible to flatten terrain, this requires a lot more labor – and is a lot more costly.
It’s much less expensive to go with the grain rather than against it. 
Deck Vs. Patio Factor #2 – The Maintenance You’re Ready to Put In
How much maintenance are you willing to put into your deck or patio? This is another big factor to consider when deciding between them.
Once again, this is a general rule, but as a whole decks are more high-maintenance than patios. Even with the best sealers and paint jobs, wood just decomposes faster than stone, so you’re probably going to find yourself doing repair work a little sooner than if you had a patio.
But that doesn’t mean patios are maintenance-free. Sand-sweeping paver stones ever few years is necessary to keep the joints locked tight, not to mention you may need to reseal the stone every so often or replace a cracking tile or two. But in general, patios require less maintenance than decks.
Deck Vs. Patio Factor #3 – Return on Investment
Did you know that decks have roughly a 70% return on investment after resale? This is clearly a feature homebuyers are looking for when searching the market.
Depending on a variety of factors, the return on investment for patios could be anywhere from 30-60%.
In other words, if you’re looking to recoup your money later on, building a deck is a solid choice. But often times, it’s better to focus on what YOU want in your home—especially if you’re not planning to sell anytime soon.
You’ve got it in one. Co’nuldt have put it better.