Cool spaces: Brick patios and pavers can accent a backyard, offer durability

Landscaper Jim Antonelli says there are two types of Michiganders when it comes to home improvements meant to increase summer fun.

One kind thinks Michigan summers are too short to invest any real money in outdoor pleasures. The other Antonellis best customers say summer is too short and should be savored, so brick patios, new pavers and improving outdoor spaces are worthy investments.

One recent customer, a Washington Township homeowner, spent $65,000 to replace the cement around his swimming pool with brick pavers. Antonelli, who owns Antonelli Landscape (www.antonellilandscape.com ) in Bloomfield Hills and Washington Township, included a natural-burning wall fireplace with woodboxes and surrounding seat walls, plus a Brussels Dimensional cascade water feature. The 2,000-square-foot area took about 2 weeks to finish.

This labor-intensive job wasnt your average brick patio installation, including columns leading to the fireplace area and a 30-degree herringbone design in the brick. The keystone accents in the patio mirror the house design.

Weve created a unique outdoor living space, Antonelli said. Low-voltage Vista lights were placed in steps, columns and walls to accent features and illuminate the area.

Antonelli said there are many benefits to paver patios, starting with the appearance.

The options are limitless, he said. Durability is a benefit, and if there are issues, he said, brick pavers are easier to repair than concrete. Finally, there is the low-maintenance aspect. People are tired of the constant maintenance of decks, he said.

Debbie Cvengros of Rochester Hills said she chose to replace her wood deck with a brick patio. She said the need to strip, stain and power wash the deck over the years became cumbersome. She used Sherwood Forest of Oakland Township (www.sherwoodforestgardencenter.com) to build an elevated brick patio with materials from Haley Stone in Rochester Hills (www.haleystone.net).

In just nine days, the old deck was demolished and a new patio stood in its place. Sherwood Forest used four yards of slag to elevate the new patio about a foot. The elevation makes it feel like a deck, rather than a patio, she said.

Cvengros selected the tumble brick that was used, and an accent border was added to complement the brick house.

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Cool spaces: Brick patios and pavers can accent a backyard, offer durability