Deck or paved patio if backdoor is 4 feet above ground?

[harry chickpea]

A deck that you can walk out on easily will get a lot more use than a patio where you have to go up and down steps. However... I don't see any gutters. Anything on the deck or patio will get pummeled with roof water. Plants don't like that, and furniture doesn't either.

I would go to Tractor Supply and get a couple of stock tanks, put them in the area where the deck would go, build the deck over them, and have gutters installed that put the roof water in the tanks for lawn watering or even drinking water with a proper filter.

With anything like a deck - call your insurance company and zoning board first to see what requirements exist.

[ReblTeen84]

Originally Posted by Kembek

I'd go for a patio since they're low maintenance.

Not quite...I have a 14x19 paver patio, and it's definitely not a lay it and forget it. Between cleaning it every year, weed control and the landscaping around it to make it look pretty, a deck might be lower maintenance, especially if you use Trex. Plus a paver patio can sink, which mine did in one spot. Covered by the warranty, but there nonetheless.