Patio Design and Installation by Hometown Landscape in Burtonsville, MD
A patio is the foundation of outdoor living, the flat, stable surface from which everything else in an outdoor space grows. As a patio contractor, Hometown Landscape has designed and installed patios across Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC since 1997, in many materials, styles and layouts. We've built simple 12x12 concrete pad replacements and complex multi-level stone terraces with integrated kitchens, fire pits, and garden structures. What they all have in common: a properly excavated and compacted base that will keep the surface flat and stable through Maryland's freeze-thaw cycles and heavy spring rainfall.
Patio Materials We Work With
- Natural flagstone (bluestone, limestone, slate, granite): Premium appearance, natural variation, excellent durability. Dry-set for flexibility in freeze-thaw, or mortared for a tighter finish. Best for traditional or naturalistic settings.
- Concrete pavers: Versatile, consistent, and available in dozens of colors and profiles. Easier to repair than poured concrete if settling occurs. Suits contemporary or traditional designs equally well.
- Brick: Classic choice for older homes in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and DC-adjacent neighborhoods. Genuine clay brick ages beautifully and holds color well; concrete brick less so.
- Porcelain tile: Large-format outdoor porcelain offers a clean, modern look with excellent durability and low maintenance. Requires a very stable base due to rigid tile dimensions.
- Decomposed granite / stabilized gravel: Lower-cost option suitable for informal garden areas; not appropriate for high-use dining patios but works well for secondary spaces.
Why Base Preparation Is Everything
Maryland's clay soil is the enemy of a flat patio. Clay expands when wet and shrinks when dry, and in a frost year, it can heave several inches. A patio installed on compacted clay without a proper gravel base will look great for one or two seasons and then start to develop low spots, shifted pavers, and cracked joints.
We excavate to a minimum of 8 inches below finished patio grade, compact the subbase, install dense-graded aggregate base, and add the appropriate setting material (sand-set for pavers, mortar-set for stone). Edge restraint prevents lateral movement at the perimeter. Drainage is planned from the start. Every patio needs to slope away from the house at a minimum 1% grade, and we design for where that water goes after it leaves the patio surface.
Patio Rules in Our Area
Montgomery County's Department of Permitting Services lists patios among the projects that most likely do not need a permit in its home improvement permit guide. That changes when a patio comes with other work. A driveway apron, a deck, a taller retaining wall, gas or electrical work, or land disturbance of more than 5,000 square feet each has its own permit rules. The guide also does not cover town or HOA rules.
A patio adds hard surface to your lot. Montgomery County figures its residential Water Quality Protection Charge from impervious area, the hard surfaces rain cannot soak into. Before any digging, Maryland law requires a Miss Utility request, and Miss Utility does not mark private lines such as landscape lighting or irrigation. If you live in an HOA, check its rules before you build.
What Affects the Cost of a Patio
Every patio we build is priced after we see the yard. These are the things that move the price the most:
- Material: concrete pavers, natural flagstone and porcelain each cost different, and mortared stone takes more work than dry-set stone.
- Size and shape: a larger patio, curves and detailed patterns take more material and more cutting.
- Removing what is there: taking out an old patio, concrete or lawn adds labor before the base goes in.
- Base and drainage: wet or soft soil needs more digging, more base stone or a drainage fix.
- Access: a tight path for equipment or a sloped yard adds time.
We walk the yard with you, talk through these choices and give you a written estimate before any work starts.
How We Build Your Patio
We look at the yard, the drainage, and how you want to use the patio, then mark the layout.
We help you choose pavers, colors, and a pattern that suit your home.
We excavate, compact a deep base, and set each paver by hand so the surface stays flat.
We lock the edges, sweep in joint sand, and leave the patio clean.
Recent Work
Related Hardscaping Services
Talk to Hometown Landscape
Call 301.490.5577 or request a free estimate for Patio Installation in Burtonsville, MD and the surrounding areas. Our experienced local team is ready to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big should your patio be?
A dining table for six requires at least a 12x14 area to be comfortable with chairs pulled out. Add 4 feet all around for circulation and you're looking at a minimum of 20x22 for a functional outdoor dining space. We see a lot of patios that were built too small. It's better to size it right initially than to extend it later.
Can you add a patio to an existing landscape without disturbing plantings?
Often yes, with careful planning. We'll assess root zones and existing grades to minimize impact on established plantings. Some situations require temporary removal and replanting; others can be worked around entirely.
How long does patio installation take?
A 400 sq ft patio with no major complications typically takes 3 to 5 working days. Larger or more complex projects with retaining walls, steps, and drainage work take proportionally longer. We give you a project timeline in writing before work begins.
Landscape and Outdoor Living Across the DMV
Hometown Landscape serves homeowners across Montgomery County, Howard County, and the wider Washington, D.C. region with landscape design, hardscape, outdoor living, and outdoor carpentry from our Burtonsville home base.