Texas Patio Design: Important Local Considerations

All Texas patio design projects are not created equal. Yes, beauty and style are important. But does your patio contractor know how to solve the weather, soil and architecture issues that matter in your neighborhood?

Will your Austin patio foundation stand up to shifting soil on your sloped property? Can your Houston patio materials resist moisture and mildew from high humidity? And how do you maximize a smaller Dallas patio for a big, beautiful outdoor grill night?

We’ve spent decades creating 5-star Texas patio designs, driven by focused solutions to local issues. Let’s talk about the design and installation issues that truly matter where you live:

• Austin’s Hill Country is charming, but presents soil issues. Use smart grading and drainage solutions to create a sturdy, lasting foundation for your rustic patio.
• Maximize your DFW backyard space for outdoor entertainment. Use terraced, multi-level patio design to host more people at your outdoor kitchen and bar island.
• Use Houston’s humidity as design inspiration. Create an island vibe on your patio and protect it with moisture-resistant Carvestone and sealed concrete.
• Bring San Antonio’s historic architecture into the present. Build your own backyard River Walk! Use Carvestone and steel to mimic classic wrought iron and adobe features.

Trust Our Texas Patio Design Experience

Allied Outdoor Solutions serves homeowners in the Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio areas with precision craftsmanship, thoughtful design and premium materials.

Since 2009, we’ve transformed over 20,000 backyards into premium outdoor design spaces. With over 2,500 reviews and an A+ rating with the BBB, you can trust our experience to deliver a dream patio design to your home.

Austin Patio Design: Embrace Hill Country Charm

Austin’s Hill Country is known for its dramatic changes in elevation. For new patio owners, this means natural concerns with sloped properties and proper grading for foundations.

Let’s look at some local patio design solutions that help Austin residents embrace classic local aesthetics and conquer soil erosion and changing temperatures.

Blending Modern and Rustic Design Elements

Expert outdoor living designers know how to blend the rustic charm of Hill Country with modern features that add function and versatility to your patio.

Natural stone is a wonderful way to pay tribute to historic Austin architecture. If you want the aesthetics of natural stone with more durability, design your patio with customized Carvestone concrete overlay materials.

Elevated outdoor kitchens bring modern flair to traditional Austin outdoor living. Use premium outdoor grills from a Texas brand like Coyote — they offer charcoal, gas, pellet and smoker solutions.

Soil Stability in Hill Country

Building durable patios on Austin’s rocky, sloped terrain can be challenging. Design and install a patio foundation that mitigates soil erosion and offers stability for shifting clay soil in your region.

Proper grading is a must. Utilize retaining walls and terraces to level your backyard — this creates a flat, even surface to create a sturdy foundation. 

Clay soil expands and shifts when exposed to moisture, and settles during dry seasons. These fluctuations in your backyard can create instability and cracks in your patio foundation. 

Smart drainage solutions ensure your patio rests on a solid base that won’t shift, swell and contract with every rainstorm. Ask your patio installer about French drains and other solutions to quickly move moisture away from your outdoor living space.

Weathering Changes in Temperature

Austin brings intense heat in the summer and occasional freezing events in winter. Make sure your patio materials withstand a wide range of temperatures and climate conditions — especially your flooring and roof materials.

Carvestone and heat resistant pavers are strong options for patio flooring in Austin. If you prefer natural stone, choose flagstone or limestone — they’re found in your area, and have natural resistance to extreme heat and cold.

Patio covers are essential to protect your outdoor lifestyle from heat, rain and hail events. Consider solid roofing (rather than slatted roofs) to keep an unexpected rainstorm from ruining your outdoor dining experience.

DFW Patio Inspiration: Amplify Your Outdoor Party Space

DFW homeowners love a backyard fiesta. But expansive clay soil and smaller backyard spaces can be a real party pooper for patio design.

We’ve got an expert checklist of Dallas-Fort Worth patio solutions for your home! Take cramped spaces and clay soil off the guest list, and get your outdoor party started.

Material Selection to Combat Clay Soil

DFW rests on a bed of expansive clay soil. That means saturation and pooling when it rains, and rapid settling as your backyard dries.

Much like Austin, drainage is vital to proper installation of your patio’s foundation. Work with your patio designer to create efficient, graded drainage to swiftly move groundwater to the edges of your property.

Choose a patio material that provides stability to your soil. Concrete and Carvestone are strong options.

Creating an Entertainment Space on Your Patio

Homeowners in Dallas-Fort Worth love to get outdoors and host family and friends. Design your patio around outdoor entertainment features that reflect how you like to get the party started.

Love dinner parties? Plan your patio design around a custom outdoor kitchen, complete with outdoor grill, bar island and plenty of refrigerator and cabinet space. Built-in grills from Wolf and grill head options from Bull are excellent choices for Dallas residents.

Make sure there’s plenty of outdoor seating and furniture for your guests! Blend sturdy chairs and sofas with weather-resistant cushions and pads. Arrange your seating around a patio dining table, or construct an outdoor fireplace as a focal point for your gatherings.

Integrated lighting features make sure your party extends past sundown. Use recessed lighting in your covered patio, sconces on your exterior wall, or LED string lights for a fun vibe. Choose smart lighting products with app integration so you can control them from anywhere.

Maximizing Smaller Urban Backyard Spaces

You don’t need a ton of square footage to create a premium outdoor living space. Approach smaller patio design with solutions that make your space look and feel as big as possible.

Multi-level patios are a great option to increase usable space on smaller properties. Add stairs and terraced designs to “layer” your patio to accommodate more guests. Use space-saving furniture to leave ample room to mingle and move around the patio.

Houston Patio Ideas: Humidity, Heat and Tropical Flair

Allied Outdoor Solutions was born in Houston. We love it here — but even we think the humidity is brutal. 

Let’s turn that annoying humidity into a patio design inspiration. Beat the heat with tropical vibes, a focus on poolside living, and smart solutions for drainage and moisture-resistant materials.

A Smart Approach to Local Drainage Concerns

Houston gets ten more inches of rain per year than Seattle. Locals know all about the extended monsoon season, and heavy June rainfall leads to pooling and backyard floods.

French drains, catch basins and downspout extensions are all crucial in the fight to keep your Houston patio dry and stable. 

If you don’t have a sump pump, ask your patio installer if it’s necessary to add one before starting patio construction.

Tropical Vibes and Poolside Living

Lean into Houston’s hot, humid climate with tropical design elements. Customize your Carvestone patio to look and feel like flagstone, travertine or ceramic tile. You’ll get all the beauty and style of those materials, but with far more durability and heat resistance.

Incorporate lush, tropical plants and water features on your patio to enhance the design. Light furniture looks smart in these outdoor spaces — plus it’s quite easy to move and reposition for changing needs and numbers of guests.

Have a pool in your backyard? Make sure your patio flows seamlessly into your pool deck to create a sense of poolside living throughout the space. Use the same material on your patio and pool deck, incorporate similar colors and textures, and provide hardscape pathways that connect your patio to your pool.

Fighting the Heat and Humidity of Houston

When you install a patio, protect that investment with the right materials and design elements to withstand local heat and humidity.

Use sealed concrete and concrete overlay materials to increase your patio’s resistance to moisture, mold and mildew. Carvestone’s proprietary sealer formulation excels in this department.

Reseal your Carvestone patio overlay every 2 years for optimal protection.

San Antonio Patios: Historic Courtyard Living

San Antonio is packed with historic charm and outdoor living opportunities. Bring a piece of Mission architecture and River Walk style home with you in your new patio design.

Let’s talk about how to bring historic local architecture into the present with modern patio materials, design elements, and effective shade structures.

Blending Historic Courtyards With Modern Style

Wrought iron, traditional tile and adobe-style finishes. These are hallmarks of San Antonio’s historic courtyard architecture. Find ways to incorporate them into your patio while bringing your overall design into the present.

Choose more durable patio material options like stamped concrete or Carvestone. These materials offer boundless customization — easily mimic the look, color and texture of tile and adobe, but with far more durability and strength.

Use black and terra cotta colors in your design to pay homage to the historic courtyard style. Rustic ranch patios still look great with wrought iron and brick elements. Modern, transitional spaces benefit from coated stainless steel and faux brick Carvestone or styled patio pavers.

Bringing the River Walk Home

Love hosting backyard parties? Bring a slice of the River Walk home with a custom outdoor kitchen and bar, and host your own San Antonio patio party.

An outdoor bar island with refrigerator and ice maker is a great way to beat the heat. Add ample seating with light-colored materials and cushions to keep them cool in the summer months.

Creating Comfort With Shade Structures

Use a patio cover to get out of the heat, and protect yourself from San Antonio’s high UV radiation. A solid roof is optimal for your area — use sturdy, heat-resistant materials like aluminum and steel.

Use natural stone or faux-adobe Carvestone as your patio cover bases to reflect traditional courtyard style.

Install a ceiling fan (or two) on your patio to cool down the hot summers.

Your Perfect Texas Patio Awaits

The definition of an “ideal Texas patio” changes depending where you live. 

In Austin, it’s a rustic, charming patio with grading and drainage solutions for effective foundation pouring. In Houston, it’s a tropically-inspired oasis with sealed concrete to protect against humidity and moisture.

We’ve installed over 20,000 premium outdoor living spaces for homeowners throughout Texas. We’d love to bring our decades of craftsmanship and local expertise to your patio project.