Following our posts about verandahs, balconies, and terraces, let’s talk about the patio and the deck. Again, these things are not the same. As outdoor spaces, they may seem alike, but they are actually different.
The Patio is a paved outdoor area of a house which is used for dining or recreational purposes. In Spanish, the word ‘patio’ means courtyard. The patio is usually made of concrete, stone, bricks, tiles, and cobbles which are directly on the ground.
A deck, on the other hand, is a platform without a roof in an outdoor area of a house which is used for dining and recreational purposes, as well. The deck is made of lumber and is always elevated from the ground. Most of the time, the decks are enclosed with railings and can often have a pergola in some cases.
The rule of thumb is that a Patio is a non-elevated outdoor space of the building made of non-wood materials while a Deck is an elevated outdoor space made of wood. We hope this helps.
References:
Oldha, Charlene.“Do you know the difference between a veranda and a lanai? “. St.Louis. https://www.stlmag.com/design/outdoors/outdoor-living-defined/