The best local patio experts do far more than pour concrete or lay pavers. Our experts at Setting Sun Patios will assess the site, design for year-round drainage, advise on maximizing space and usage, and navigate our local permitting requirements to make sure that your investment lasts for decades.
What makes a true patio expert?
1) Site-first thinking. Our pros start with soil type, slope, runoff patterns, and utilities before they sketch. In the Triangle’s Piedmont, subsoils often have high clay content and slow water movement, exacerbated by construction compaction—so projects that ignore soil behavior tend to heave, crack, or collect water.
2) Code. Residential code sets critical baselines: minimum exterior footing depths and mandatory drainage slopes away from structures. We have extensive knowledge of the regulations to create a space that surpasses all inspections.
3) Structural competence. Working with a qualified expert will give you a peace of mind, especially when it comes to the structural integrity of retaining walls and other permanent structures on the property. From decks to outdoor kitchens and pavilions, understanding the principles of construction is necessary in outdoor design.
Grading and drainage
Beyond code minimums, our Raleigh pros anticipate clay behavior and seasonal storms:
- Clay & compaction reduce infiltration and can trap perched water beneath slabs or pavers. Our designers will guide you through this and deliver the best solution for your soil type.
- Lot constraints like tight side yards or neighbor grades can call for channel drains, French drains that connect to approved discharge points per local code.
Space use: planning for people, furniture, and flows
Our design expert will size and shape the patio around your life and maximize your usable space. Knowing what your expectations are for the space use across all seasons will help you create a better design centered around your activities. We will design a space that is functional and takes into consideration code restrictions, clearances, and possible future expansions.
Materials that work best
An expert in patio design will be able to explain the pros and cons of he use of certain materials and to work with your budget to deliver the most favorable solution.
- Concrete (slab-on-grade): Durable, cost-effective, but demands crack control, base prep, and strategic joints. On clay, subbase, and drainage matter as much as compressive strength. Visually, concrete patios don’t deliver the same level as pavers and may require further maintenance.
- Interlocking pavers: Flexible, serviceable, and easier to repair. Pair with open-graded bases and edge restraints; consider permeable paver assemblies to help with drainage and stormwater runoff.
- Natural stone: Highest craft demands; ensure bedding planes and drainage are detailed to avoid frost-lift and clay heave at edges.
Concept & layout
Right-size zones for dining, lounging, and circulation while enforcing code-required slopes away from the foundation or specifying alternative drainage are proof that the contractor understands the process from start to finish. Experience in effective design, an extensive portfolio of completed projects, are the best ways to verify that your selected landscape and hardscape contractor is the right match for your project.
Read what our clients have to say about the experience of working with our team:
