Glossary
Patio Glossary: Plain-English Terms
Words you will hear when someone talks about building outdoor spaces, explained simply.
Call us today615-209-7643- Paver
- A small, interlocking unit of concrete, clay or stone used to make patios, walks and drives.
- Hardscape
- The hard parts of a yard, such as patios, walls, steps and paths.
- Softscape
- The living parts of a yard, such as lawn, plants and trees.
- Base
- The compacted layer of crushed stone under a patio that carries the load.
- Compaction
- Pressing a base or soil with a plate compactor to make it dense and firm.
- Bedding sand
- A thin, smooth layer of sand that pavers are set into.
- Polymeric sand
- Joint sand with a binder that hardens when wet to lock pavers and block weeds.
- Edge restraint
- A firm border that keeps the outer pavers from spreading.
- Joint
- The narrow gap between pavers or stones.
- Herringbone
- A zigzag paver pattern that locks tightly and handles vehicles well.
- Running bond
- A pattern like brickwork, with each row offset from the one before.
- Basketweave
- A pattern of paired pavers that alternate in direction.
- Soldier course
- A border of pavers set end to end around the edge of a patio.
- Flagstone
- Flat, irregular natural stone used for patios and paths.
- Bluestone
- A dense, smooth natural stone, often cut into rectangles for formal patios.
- Travertine
- A natural stone with a warm, creamy color that stays relatively cool underfoot.
- Porcelain paver
- A dense, thick ceramic paver made for outdoor use.
- Stamped concrete
- Poured concrete pressed with a pattern and colored to look like stone or brick.
- Exposed aggregate
- Concrete with its top layer washed away to show small stones.
- Broom finish
- A concrete surface lightly textured with a broom for grip.
- Control joint
- A cut or groove in concrete that guides where cracks will form.
- Grade
- The slope or level of the ground.
- Slope
- The change in height across a surface, usually measured per foot.
- Drainage
- The way water moves off and away from a surface.
- French drain
- A trench with perforated pipe in gravel that carries groundwater away.
- Catch basin
- A box with a grate that collects surface water and sends it into a pipe.
- Downspout
- A pipe that carries roof water down from the gutter.
- Swale
- A shallow, broad channel in the ground that guides water.
- Retaining wall
- A wall built to hold back soil.
- Segmental block
- A concrete block made to stack into retaining walls without mortar.
- Geogrid
- A strong mesh buried in the soil to reinforce a taller wall.
- Seat wall
- A low wall at sitting height at the edge of a patio.
- Coping
- The finished cap on a wall or the edge of a pool.
- Riser
- The vertical part of a step.
- Tread
- The flat part of a step that you walk on.
- Landing
- A flat platform at the top, bottom or turn of steps.
- Pergola
- An open structure with posts and rafters that gives partial shade.
- Arbor
- A smaller garden structure, often arched, that frames a path or entry.
- Pavilion
- A freestanding roofed structure used as an outdoor room.
- Gazebo
- A freestanding, usually roofed and open-sided garden structure.
- Cabana
- A shaded structure beside a pool for resting and changing.
- Louver
- A slat that can be angled to control sun and rain.
- Shade sail
- A tensioned fabric canopy that shades an area.
- Covered patio
- A patio with a solid roof over it.
- Screened porch
- A porch enclosed with screen panels to keep out insects.
- Outdoor kitchen
- A cooking and prep area built for outdoor use.
- Island
- A freestanding counter that holds a grill and workspace.
- Side burner
- An extra burner next to the grill for pots and pans.
- Pizza oven
- A dome oven that cooks at high heat with wood or gas.
- Fire pit
- A contained fire feature, burning wood or gas.
- Fire table
- A table-height gas fire feature with a flat surround.
- Fire glass
- Tempered glass pieces used as a decorative base in gas fire features.
- Outdoor fireplace
- A fireplace with a chimney built for outdoor use.
- Chimney cap
- A cover on top of a chimney that keeps rain and animals out.
- Clearance
- The safe distance between a heat source and anything that can burn.
- Non-combustible
- A material that does not burn, such as stone, brick or concrete.
- Ground-fault outlet
- A safety outlet that shuts off power when it senses a leak to ground.
- Conduit
- A pipe that protects electrical wires.
- Low-voltage lighting
- Landscape lighting that runs on a transformer at reduced voltage.
- Uplight
- A fixture that shines up onto a tree or wall.
- Path light
- A low fixture that lights a walkway.
- Step light
- A small fixture set into a riser or wall to light steps.
- String lights
- A line of bulbs hung over a patio.
- Water feature
- A fountain, waterfall or pond.
- Pondless waterfall
- A waterfall that flows into a hidden reservoir with no open pond.
- Reservoir
- A buried basin that holds water for a fountain or waterfall.
- Pump
- A device that moves water in a fountain or pond.
- Sod
- Strips of live grass with soil, rolled out to make an instant lawn.
- Turf
- Grass, or artificial grass, used as a lawn.
- Mulch
- A layer of wood chips or bark that protects soil and plants.
- Edging
- A border that keeps lawn, mulch and gravel apart.
- Raised bed
- A planting bed built up above ground level.
- Irrigation
- A system of pipes and heads that waters a yard.
- Drip line
- A tube that waters plant roots slowly.
- Setback
- The required distance between a structure and a property line.
- Easement
- A right for others, such as a utility, to use part of your property.
- Permit
- Official approval from a city or county to build something.
- HOA
- A homeowners association that sets rules for a neighborhood.
- Survey
- A measured drawing of a property and its boundaries.
- Site plan
- A drawing that shows buildings, patios and features on a lot.
- 3D rendering
- A realistic image of a design that has not been built yet.
- Master plan
- A plan for the whole yard, built in phases.
- Phasing
- Building a project in stages.
- Freeze and thaw
- The cycle of water freezing and melting that can heave and crack surfaces.
- Efflorescence
- A white, powdery film that can appear on concrete and stone as salts rise out.
- Sealer
- A coating that protects pavers and stone and deepens color.
Do I need drawings to start?
No. A few photos of your yard and some ideas are enough. We measure the space, check the site and draw the plan for you.
Can you build in phases?
Yes. We plan drainage, power and gas for the whole yard, then build the pieces in the order that suits your calendar and your budget.
Will I see the design before you build?
Yes. For most projects we prepare a plan and, for larger ones, 3D renderings that show the patio from several angles so you can approve it before work begins.
Request a Consultation
Start a Conversation
Tell us about your yard, what you would like to build and when you would like to begin. We reply promptly and treat every inquiry with care. Prefer to talk? Call 615-209-7643.
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TN Patio designs and builds patios, outdoor kitchens, fire features, pergolas, walls and complete outdoor living spaces for homes across Tennessee, from first sketches and 3D plans to the first evening outside.
- 615-209-7643
- Patios, outdoor kitchens and outdoor living
- Serving homeowners across Tennessee
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Service Categories
Popular Services
- Paver Patio Installation
- Outdoor Kitchen Design and Construction
- Fire Pits and Fire Tables
- Pergolas and Arbors
- Covered Patios and Porches
- Pool Decks and Surrounds
- Natural Stone and Flagstone Patios
- Retaining Walls
- Patio and Landscape Lighting
- Patio Design and 3D Renderings
- Drainage for Patios and Yards
- Permits and HOA Approvals
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