Garden Patios Through Time – and Why Concrete is the Best Foundation

Patios provide a stylish addition to any house and garden, offering that perfect bridge between the inside and outside. It’s a place to relax on a summer’s evening with a glass of wine, have a BBQ or host a party.

Madmix, a leading supplier of domestic concrete in Cambridge and across East Anglia, traces the history of the patio though the ages, and why concrete has played such a key role in its development.

The History of the Garden Patio Worldwide…

The earliest garden furniture was found in Ancient Greece. A combination of personal wealth – many homes had their own gardens – and a temperate climate meant that creating your own outdoor living space became a practical possibility.

However, the origins of the word ‘patio’ come from a little further west along the Mediterranean, in Spain. The rough translation of the word is ‘a pasture at the back of the house where animals are kept’. But with time, as with many words, its meaning has changed, slowly evolving into the general term we know today for any outdoor living space.

…and in the UK

It wasn’t until the 1930s that the garden patio as we know it today began to appear in numbers in the UK. However, many of these were soon dug up to grow fruit and vegetables during World War II, as the need to Dig for Victory was far more important at a time when food was scarce.

It wasn’t until the 1960s and 70s that patios began to reappear in large numbers, as holidaymakers brought back a taste of Spanish living from their summer breaks. Since the millennium the wave of home and garden makeover shows have inspired us to be more adventurous with our garden spaces.

Where Concrete Comes In

Concrete has long played a role in patio construction, especially in the UK. It often serves as a base on which stone slabs are later placed. You can also use it to create a statement patio all on its own. Go to any boutique hotel or open any home magazine and you will see concrete walls and floors a plenty.

The benefits of using concrete are numerous. Firstly, it can be poured into virtually any shape you can imagine or desire, making it an ideal choice for almost any project. Secondly, because it is incredibly versatile and durable, it provides a stable foundation that will not shift or erode like other options. It also creates a barrier that prevents many weeds from growing.

The Advantages of Using Ready-Mix Concrete from Madmix

By choosing an accredited concrete supplier like Madmix you can guarantee that the concrete you receive will always be of the highest quality. And, because it is ready-mix, this will save you a lot of time and trouble. By using our website’s online concrete calculator you can also better estimate how much concrete you need. Don’t worry if you order too much, as we will take the excess away at no extra cost.

Madmix are leading domestic concrete suppliers based in Cambridge, with customers in Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire. If you would like to know more about our range of concrete products, fill in our contact form or call us on 01954 212212.