Exten

A patio can extend
your living space to the
great outdoors, beauti-
fully.

Bur once vou have decided
that you want a patio, where
do vou start The first ite
consider is the size and shape
of the area in relation to the
house. Take a look at the space
you have available and cons
er your home's layout, ace
on and off the patio and the lay
of the land.

iving space ou

should probably get protes
sional help with the design. ft
will likely save vou time,
money and afew Aspirin.

The most popular patio sur-
faces, according to Graham
Thomas of Bricks ’n Blocks in
North Vancouver, are inter-
locking paving stones and
patio slabs.

The = main — difference
benveen the nwo, savs Thomas,
is the texture. Your choice may
also be determined by price,

quality and person-

Unlike
and asphatr,

poured concrete
which must be
installed by a) professional,
both the paving stones and the
patio slabs can be installed by a
do-it-vourselfer. The stones or
slabs are Led over sand, a
unlike a wooden surface, they
require no protective coating,
even in our wet weather.

“They are great for any cli-
mate from the Arctic to the
equator,” said ‘Thomas.

Bur in order to keep your
patio trom resembling a swim-

A first-time patio builder al preference.

ming pool in rainy weather, it

NEWS photo Paul McGrath

GRAHAM Thomas, of Bricks ’n Blocks, knows his surface stuff. Here he shows off
a variety of surfaces which could be used for a patio.

Get background on builders

Finding the right contractor is a good slice
of the work when it comes to any sort of
home or garden work.

There are a fot of operations out there so
take the time at the beginning to call the hand-
ful of agencies that can help you decide
whether your choice is a good one. CMHC
offers advice while the Better Business Bureau
knows if any complaints have been received.

Probably the best source for home renova-
tions is the Greater Vancouver Home Builder's

Ir

Association, which has a lise of qualified
builders. Unless you know the contractor
check with these sourecs or even your muni
pal hall to find out if they hold a business
license. A professional business operator
should spend time discussing your ideas and
plans in detail. They should give references,
show proof of liability insurance and Workers’
Compensation coverage.

If you do your homework, creating the home
of your dreams can be a pain-free operation.

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other debris buikd-ups. “Phese
can retain water and clog
drainage channels.
Once vour patio ty in

pull out the barbecue, mi
some drinks and get ready to
enjoy the summer!

— Deana Lancaster

must be designed with
drainage in mind.

Water can either drain
through the spaces between
the slabs, or vou can install sur-
face drains.

Either way, keep the patio
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