Looking For A Patio That Can Withstand Winter Weather? Consider These Two Materials

The patio is a great place to escape and relax outdoors in the warmer months, but once the winter hits, this space can start to feel like more of a demanding chore. Weather patterns can feel unpredictable as the temperature drops, making it even harder to prepare a regular routine for patio upkeep. Those harsh, icy conditions aren't exactly nurturing to your patio space, especially when it comes to the foundation you've laid with pavers. Making sure you're opting for the best backyard patio material for cold weather can be the key to making it through the wintertime without suffering too much damage to your design. That said, whether you're preparing for a patio renovation or building your space from scratch, you may want to consider working with materials that can handle seasonal temperature changes, like travertine or granite pavers.

To keep a patio in shape year-round, owners will need to be thoughtful about certain responsibilities, from how to clean and maintain your patio during harsh winter weather to choosing the right materials for the climate they live in. Granite is a classic choice that offers plenty of color and texture choices, allowing you to create a stylish look that fits perfectly with your outdoor space and holds up year after year. Travertine, on the other hand, has a naturally luxe, pool-side appeal with a sleek, long-lasting finish that only looks better over time. Both of these options are worth a closer look when planning your design, especially if you want a patio that is prepared to endure freezing winter temperatures.

The best paver material may vary depending on where you live, as some climates may tend to stay warmer once winter rolls around, while others must prepare to face low temperatures that could damage their outdoor space. When temperatures fluctuate around freezing, moisture trapped in outdoor surfaces repeatedly expands and contracts, starting a freeze-thaw cycle that puts stress on your materials. In the face of this, granite pavers offer an advantage with their lower porosity that can limit the amount of trapped moisture threatening their structure. Granite's natural strength has made it a classic choice in landscaping, allowing it to support heftier weights without cracking, which can come in handy during those heavy snowstorms.

While granite is a common choice for patio pavers, you might wonder when to choose travertine tiles over pavers for your projects. In this case, travertine pavers provide more density for patios in the wintertime, and their heavy nature provides great resistance against extreme weather long-term. However, the freeze-thaw cycle might be more damaging to travertine pavers if they aren't properly sealed, as these materials do have a higher porosity than granite. Both travertine and granite have their strengths come the winter season, so it helps to consider how their unique benefits will work practically within your patio space before weighing other factors like style or price.