How a Patio Designed for the Coast Becomes the Most Used Surface on the Property in Wilmington, NC

The coastal climate is generous with the outdoor season. From March through November, the temperatures in the Wilmington area support outdoor living almost every day. But the same climate that extends the season also tests every surface that sits exposed to it. The humidity promotes organic growth on hardscape. The afternoon storms dump an inch of rain in thirty minutes. The salt air degrades materials that perform fine fifty miles inland. And the UV, amplified by the reflective surfaces of the coast, fades and heats every surface that faces south or west.

A patio designed for the coast accounts for all of it. The material resists the moisture. The drainage handles the storms. The surface stays safe underfoot when wet. And the layout creates the outdoor living space the family uses more than any room inside the house.