Patios have featured in landscapes for thousands of years, but never have they been more popular than now, as homeowners discover the elegance, long life, and easy maintenance of stone and decorative concrete surfaces. Today's homeowners can build with mosaic tiles just like the ancient Persians, or natural stone like the Greeks, but they can also build amazing patios with coloured, interlocking geometric shapes, or they can stamp or stain poured concrete for truly amazing effects. "The Complete Guide to Patios" is a comprehensive guide that includes an introduction to the most popular building materials: a fool-proof method for design, planning and layout; detailed step-by-step projects to help readers build any one of 12 different types of patios; instructions for building popular patio accessories and features; and tips for maintaining and repairing all types of patios.