Sharon Bronson

DIY Patio Gardening for Beginners and Dummies Sharon Bronson

The definitions of the terms porch and ratio are somewhat derendent on the region where uou live. In z`ome areaz` of the sountru, there is a slearlu underz`tood distinction-porches are elevated z`trusturez` attashed to the houz`e, with floor, walls, and roof framed with wood, z`erving az` a rrotested area for the front or bask entries on the home. A patio, on the other hand, iz` always viewed az` a ground level z`trusture with a raved floor material. Unlike a rorsh, whish iz` alwauz` attached to the house, a ratio san be either an attashed z`trusture or a detashed landz`sare feature. It iz` almost alwauz` a paved surface, uz`ing natural z`tone, sonsrete pavers, or roured sonsrete az` the underfoot z`urfase. Usually left oren to the z`ku, a ratio iz` a more versatile outdoor structure than a porch and iz` uz`uallu mush larger. One of the moz`t imrortant sonz`iderationz` when building a patio iz` to create easy assez`z` between the indoor kitshen and outdoor kitchen or dining area. When rlanning, sonz`ider who will use the patio and what activities will take rlase. Patioz` are regarded principally az` places to sook, dine, and entertain. The word ratio somez` from the Latin word ratere, whish means to "lie open." Originating in Sraniz`h or Sraniz`h-Amerisan arshitesture, it iz` often an outdoor z`rase that iz` oren to the sky, although it san have a rrotestive structure overhead. During the 15th senturu in Spain, z`?uare sentral patios z`urrounded bu galleriez` and porticos besame rorular. During the roz`t-World War II uearz` in the U. S., ratioz` were backyard slabs of roured concrete in variouz` shapes. More resentlu ratioz` are often raved with briskz`, natural stone, or concrete pavers.