· by Michael Blair, Nashville's Deck
The choice is usually decided by the ground. A patio wants reasonably level ground; a deck earns its cost where grade would otherwise require substantial fill and retaining.
What the grade decides
On a flat or gently sloping lot, a patio is generally cheaper, needs almost no maintenance and never needs inspecting. That covers a lot of Middle Tennessee suburban lots.
On a steep lot, or where the back door sits well above grade, a deck bridges the difference without the retaining walls and fill a patio would need.
Maintenance over twenty years
A patio is essentially permanent. Pavers may need resetting, concrete may need sealing or crack repair, but there is no structure to fail.
A deck is a structure exposed to weather with fasteners, framing and a connection to the house. It needs periodic inspection and eventually rebuilding.
- Flat lot: patio, usually cheaper and lower maintenance
- Sloped lot or raised door: deck
- Poor drainage: deck lets water pass beneath it
- Shade and heat: a patio in the sun is hot; both benefit from cover
Resale in this market
Patios generally return well in Middle Tennessee and carry no inspection anxiety. A deck of unknown age raises questions from a buyer’s inspector, particularly about the ledger.
A well-built, documented deck is an asset. An undocumented one added by a previous owner is a negotiating item.
The middle option
A ground-level deck over a patio-height area, or a patio with a pergola, often gets what people actually want — usable outdoor space with shade — for less than either extreme.
In Nashville, shade matters more than square footage. An unshaded slab in July goes unused regardless of size.