Patio Vs. Terrace (Things You Must Know)

By - Hs Saini

Updated -

I have never seen an issue that poses much debate as that of patio vs. terrace. And this happens especially when it comes to choosing between the two when one intends to construct a new house or one.

Are you also contemplating making such a huge decision? Would you choose the patio, or would it be a terrace?

Stay with me because as this article unfolds, I will be comparing the patio and a terrace in-depth.

And at the end of it all, we will be able to achieve our goal of seeing which among the two meets your expectations. So, to begin, what is the difference between them both?

Although used interchangeably, these two are different. A patio is a typically paved outdoor living space or an area adjoining a building and usually serves the purpose of dining or recreation. In contrast, the terrace is raised from the ground level like on a hill or cliff and has at least a wall or barrier surrounding it.

Patio

Patio Vs. Terrace

Patios can generally is flat, paved, or concreted spaces found outside a building to serve as an outdoor living space.

It functions as an area of the house for recreation, dining, or even as space to carry out projects.

Nevertheless, occasionally when built above another floor, it can be seen as elevated.

In addition, because patios are not constructed with a covering, they often receive a lot of sunlight and may require you to get some shade during the day.

To give your patio a cozy, aesthetic, and natural feel, you can go further in surrounding the area with lovely flowers and plants.

I will advise you to go for succulent plants that are good at purifying air by removing toxic substances.

Patios are of different types, and your choice of patio will depend on your building plan and structure.

Below are five different types of patio you can have the privilege of choosing from:

#1. Wood Patios

The construction of this is unique because it makes use of pressure-treated lumber.

Then a covering over it is done with wooden flooring boards or other unique materials such as concrete pavers and flagstone pavers.

Cover or fill in the gaps between the flooring boards to prevent the wood from rotting by the water seeping through the wood patios.

#2. Cement Patios

Cement patios, often seen with the eyes, have a top layer covered with pea gravel that gives them aesthetic value. But, the underlying layer tends to be a mixture of sand and gravel.

Walking on cement patios can be challenging in some areas because they usually have steep slopes. In addition, poor maintenance will result in cracking of the floor and water damage.

#3. Brick Paver Patios

I know by now you already have an idea of this patio just by its name. The brick paver patio is a combination of both concrete and brick pavers.

And then, they are given the desired arrangement and laid in patterns.

The setup for this particular patio uses a gap filler made from sand. The challenge presented by this patio is that it gets slippery to walk on when wet. It often requires being resealed, and the dyes are prone to fading.

#4. Stone Infill Patios

Here, you will need to lay pre-manufactured interlocking blocks in the pattern of your choice. And then, you will fill the gaps between the block with sand to establish a solid surface.

The advantage of this patio is that it does not require so much maintenance. Meanwhile, the disadvantage of this patio is that installation and repairs seem pretty expensive to cover.

#5. Pea Gravel Patios

Pea gravel patios are constructed from small-sized rocks of about three to four millimeters to about two inches diametrically.

The rocks come in various colors, and the particular set of colors to use will be of your choosing. Then you should ensure that these pea gravel rocks should be placed on the sand bed.

Even after constructing any of the types mentioned above of patio, you will still need to consider the design or style used.

And these styles are;

  • Japanese style: this makes use of thematic bamboo
  • Mediterranean style: here, white is the predominant color
  • Country style: the wooden benches and wicker chairs carry a lot of textiles
  • Scandinavian style: here, the timber and wooden battens have laconic designs on them
  • Bright Moorish: the entire decoration is luxurious and pompous, with many colorful mosaics on the floor.

Terrace

A terrace is an externally open space that hangs over another and is usually elevation. You can see it on the ground floor, second or any other floor, or even the roof of a building.

The terrace is often open, but there are situations where it may have a covering of screens or glass.

The term terrace has its derivation from the Latin word “terra,” meaning Earth. And its origin can be traced as far back as ancient Greek architecture.

Their architectural design uses flat stone slabs to build houses and temples with flat roofs. And then, you can use the space from above to view public places below.

The functions of a terrace we can not completely capture. The space allows for the growing of fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

You can also use it for recreation, entertaining guests, and drying laundry. It also offers a conducive atmosphere for friends and family members to hold meetings.

These days, this space (terrace) commonly serves to have barbeques during the summer and hold other special events.

Below are some of the types of terraces you want in your home:

#1. Open Terrace 

The open terrace offers an ideal environment for someone to relax or a romantic getaway spot for couples or lovers to enjoy time together.

And this also allows you to enjoy a country house and the natural environment surrounding you. 

Although, this type of terrace performs poorly against weather and keeps insects away. As a result, you may have difficulty sleeping at night and in cold weather.

#2. Closed Terrace

These terraces appear to be in isolation, with walls and roofs. The roof is laid separately at times, while at other times, the roof is an extension of the building’s main roof.

It should be insulated if you plan to use an extension roof during winter.

#3. Glazed Terrace

 Many people prefer the glazed terrace because it allows them to enjoy the view of the landscape surrounding the building.

But after careful consideration of the reasons behind your engaging in the extension, you can choose from the following types of glazing:

#1. Frame or Frameless:

Frames bring to mind that one day you will be replacing glasses and that there will be a general repair of the building’s structure.

But unfortunately, the frameless has poor thermal insulation and cannot use the mosquito net even though it is considered elite in terms of architecture.

#2. Roofing or Wall:

If you have a terrace without a roof, you can use polycarbonate or film to serve as your roof canopy. With energy-saving laminated inserts, you can glaze over vertical surfaces.

#3. Panoramic or Partial:

Here, this is a method entirely dependent on the wall’s characteristics. For example, you can use the panoramic glazing method when there is a frame and a roof.

Once you finish with your preferred construction type, the terrace also needs a good design and style.

Below are some of the most popular styles we have around us today;

#1. Colonial style:

Here, the items match the theme of former British colonies and make use of natural materials

#2. Modern style:

Everything is of high quality, simple and functional

#3. Traditional style:

Building materials used are natural, made of stones and wood with no bright colors, and the style is pedantry and rigorous.

#4. Country style:

It is filled with wood and textiles and characterized by rough furniture

#5. Beach style:

Furniture of wood, textile, and leather is most suitable, and thematic imagery is better here if located close to the seashore

Differences  Between Patio and Terrace

It is of great importance that we differentiate between patio and terrace.

And this is because looking around you today, the porch, balcony, and veranda, which generally serve as front door entrances, are now used for recreation.

And because of this similarity, they share with patio and terrace; we are discussing the differences.

Basically, in simple terms, the difference is that a patio is an outdoor living space without walls surrounding it.

In contrast, a terrace is an outdoor living space that doesn’t necessarily need to be surrounded but at least has a form of barrier or wall on it.

Conclusion

So far, I believe that it has become clear that a patio is an outdoor living space without walls that is also an area adjoining a building, while a terrace is an outdoor living space that has walls surrounding it or at least a wall.

And we now know the various types and styles in constructing a patio and terrace and their differences.

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