Observation Pays

It’s important to get the patio position right and what appears to be a good position when planned on paper may have serious shortcomings in reality when you decide where to put your garden furniture. It pays to sit out in the garden a few times on different days and ideally at different times of the year to assess whether it is a comfortable position as well as one that works in design terms.

You will soon discover whether shade drips from trees or chilling winds caused by a wind funnel effect between buildings are likely to be a problem. It will also give a better idea of privacy. If you don’t want to be overlooked it may be necessary to erect a screen or reposition the patio. A wall or a hedge might provide a private or sheltered position or a patio overhead of beams supported on posts may give a sufficient degree of privacy. These can all be worked into the design and should be incorporated at the planning stage.