Groundwork Design Co. / Online patio design
Online patio design, drawn by people who build patios.
Send photos and measurements from anywhere in the U.S. You get a scaled paver patio plan with sizes, base depth, drainage and a material list your contractor can price.
Most patio plans you can buy online are pictures. A patio is a construction project: excavation, compacted base, pitch for water, edges that hold, and steps that meet code-friendly riser heights. Our online patio design service is run by Muthler Landscaping & Construction, a central Pennsylvania crew that builds paver patios every week. We draw your patio so it can be priced and built, anywhere in the U.S.
How big should your patio be?
Undersized patios are the most common regret we hear. Chairs need room to push back, and people need room to walk behind them. These are the planning sizes we start from:
| What goes on it | Tight | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|
| Bistro table for 2 | 8 × 8 ft | 10 × 10 ft |
| Dining table for 4 | 10 × 10 ft | 12 × 12 ft |
| Dining table for 6–8 | 12 × 14 ft | 14 × 16 ft |
| Fire pit with seating for 6 | 12 ft circle | 16 ft circle |
| Grill station | 5 × 6 ft | 6 × 8 ft |
| Dining plus lounge area | 16 × 20 ft | 20 × 24 ft |
Rule of thumb: leave about 3 feet behind every chair and 4 feet for any path people walk through. Try your layout to scale in our free hardscape designer.
What a buildable patio plan includes
- A scaled layout with every dimension, sized to paver modules so your installer isn't paying for extra cuts and waste.
- Base and pitch. Compacted stone base depth for foot traffic, and a fall of about 1/8 to 1/4 inch per foot away from the house so water leaves the patio.
- Edges and borders. Edge restraint, soldier or sailor course borders, and where the patio meets lawn, beds or walls.
- Steps and door landings drawn with even riser heights, usually 6 to 7 inches, and a comfortable tread depth.
- Where the water goes. Downspouts, low spots and any drain or swale the patio needs.
- A material list: square feet of pavers plus waste, tons of base stone, bedding sand, edge restraint and joint sand. Build-Ready plans add a full quantity takeoff and a written bid scope.
What's on the plan
Which sheets you get depends on the package. This is the same sheet list as our design packages. A patio on its own is usually Single Space.
| Sheet | What it shows | Single Space $349 | Full Yard $895 | Build-Ready $1,795 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L-1 | Site plan: layout, sizes, materials and plants on one scaled sheet | Included | Included | Included |
| L-2 | Hardscape layout: every patio, walk, step and wall dimensioned | — | Included | Included |
| L-3 | Planting plan with plant schedule, sizes and spacing | List | Included | Included |
| L-4 | Grading and drainage concept: slopes, swales, downspouts, where water goes | — | Included | Included |
| V-1 | 3D views of the finished yard | — | — | Included |
| D-1 | Construction details: base sections, edge restraint, step and wall sections | — | — | Included |
| Q-1 | Quantity takeoff and bid scope: square feet, tons, block count, linear feet | — | — | Included |
Add-ons at checkout: lighting plan +$250 · rush, 5 business days +$300 · extra revision round +$150.
Concrete pavers or natural stone?
Concrete pavers are the most common choice: consistent sizes, fast to install, lots of colors and textures, and easy to repair a single unit. Large-format or premium pavers give a cleaner, modern look but need a flatter base and more careful cutting. Natural stone like flagstone or bluestone costs more and takes longer to set, but nothing else looks quite like it. We pick styles that are sold in your area, and your contractor or supplier can swap an equal product.
Patio design mistakes we fix on job sites
- Too small. Size for the furniture you actually own, then add walking room.
- Pitched toward the house, or not pitched at all. Standing water ruins joints and finds your basement.
- No step-down at the door. A patio set too close to the threshold invites water and snow melt inside.
- Ignoring downspouts. Roof water dumped onto a patio washes out sand and freezes in winter.
- Curves with no reason. Curves look great but add cuts and labor. We use them where they earn it.
- Fire pit too close to the house. Many towns set minimum distances from structures. Check your local fire code before you build.
How online patio design works
- Pick a package. A patio alone fits Single Space. Patio plus walks, walls or planting fits Full Yard.
- Send your site. Photos, a short walk-around video and a few measurements. We send a guide.
- Get your draft. A scaled PDF in 10 business days. Mark it up and we revise.
- Build it. Hand the final set to a contractor or build it yourself.
What online patio design costs
A single patio plan is our Single Space package, $349. A patio as part of a whole backyard plan is Full Yard, $895. If you want construction details and a quantity takeoff so three contractors bid the same job, choose Build-Ready, $1,795. See how that compares in our guide to online landscape design costs.
Free planning guides
Planning it yourself first? These guides come from the crews who build this work: real sizes, heights and drainage details, with our sample plans as examples.
- Paver patio ideas: 20 designs with sizes, relative costs and build notes.
- Patio size guide: what fits on 10 × 10 to 20 × 30 ft patios, with chair and fire pit clearances.
- Hardscape design: the 10 decisions behind patios, walks and walls that last.
- Backyard layout: zones, path widths and zone sizes in seven steps.
More reading from our crew
- Top 5 Best Patio with Pavers Designs That Transform Your Backyard
- Patio Installation in Central PA: Is Fall Actually Better Than Spring?
- Top Paver Brands Compared: Techo-Bloc vs Belgard vs Nitterhouse vs Cambridge vs Hanover — Which One Is Right for You?
- Pavers Contractor: How to Hire the Right One
- Techo-Bloc Pavers: Top-Notch Patio and Walkway Design
Questions
Can my contractor build straight from an online patio plan?
Yes. Our plans are drawn to scale with dimensions, base depth, pitch and a material list, so any hardscape contractor can price and build from them. Your contractor is still responsible for permits, local code and calling 811 before digging.
What do you need from me?
Photos from each corner of the yard, a two-minute walk-around video, the overall yard size, and the house walls and doors facing the patio area. A plot plan or survey helps if you have one. We send a one-page guide after you order.
Do you choose the paver brand?
We suggest styles and colors that are sold in your area. Your contractor or supplier can swap an equal product without changing the plan.
How long does it take?
The first draft arrives in 10 business days for Single Space and Full Yard, 15 for Build-Ready. Rush delivery in 5 business days is available.
Do you install patios too?
In central Pennsylvania, yes. Our crews at Muthler Landscaping & Construction build patios around Lock Haven, Williamsport and State College, and if we build it within 12 months, your full design fee comes off the build price. Everywhere else, we design and your local contractor builds.
What if I want to change something on the plan?
Every package includes revision rounds: 1, 2 or 3 depending on the package. Extra rounds are $150 each.
Can you add lighting to the patio plan?
Yes. The lighting plan is a +$250 add-on: low-voltage fixture layout, transformer location and wire runs, so it gets wired once and looks right at night.
Who owns the plan?
You do, for use at your property. Share it with any contractor, your HOA or your town. We keep the right to show the design in our portfolio without your address.
Get a patio plan your contractor can build.
Flat price, paid up front. Single Space $349 · Full Yard $895 · Build-Ready $1,795.