A patio terrace can be a perfect addition to your backyard oasis. Building a terrace will allow you to spend more time outdoors and enjoy your natural surroundings. A patio terrace can come in many different styles. However, before you decide on the right terrace for you, you may want to consider several terrace design ideas. Keep reading to learn how to browse ideas for terrace designs, and build your ideal terrace.

Ideas for Terrace Design

One of the first important choices you need to make when building a terrace is your building materials. A terrace is typically made from stone, but you can also use wood, tile or concrete in order to create a backyard oasis. Your choices of materials will determine the type of patio terrace that you’ll create. If you need terrace design ideas, you can consult magazines, home improvement shows, or home and garden shows. Take note of which ideas for terrace design appeal to you, and which ones would coordinate with your home and backyard.

Building a Terrace: Sand Based

Once you figure out what style of terrace design you’d like to build, you need to turn those plans into reality. Sand based terrace design ideas are quite common. This type of patio terrace is made from pavers placed in a bed of sand, hammered down so it’s secure. For this project, you’ll need string and stakes on hand to measure your patio area. You’ll also need the following materials:

• Broom
• Expansion joint material
• Galvanized nails
• Gravel
• Landscape fabric
• Lumber (2x6s)
• Pavers
• Sand

Prepare the bed for your terrace and use the stakes and strings to create a square space. Lay out the landscape fabric over the area so that you won’t have any stray plants growing through your pavers. Use additional stakes in the corners in order to establish the terrace design idea’s outer limits. Build out the frame that will house the sand and your gravel. Place the gravel over the landscape fabric and level it out.

Lay down the sand bed and use a screed to level out the sand. Finally, you’ll add the patio terrace pavers in your desired pattern. Use the string as a guide for keeping everything level. Once the pavers are in place, sprinkle sand over the top of the pavers and sweep it into the cracks. Spray the patio with mist and then allow the sand to dry. Keep repeating the process to layer the sand over the next few days until the pavers are secure.