Savannah’s Top Patio Materials: What Works (and What Fails)

Are you looking for the best patio materials for Savannah’s climate?

Some patios in Savannah last five years. Others last twenty. The difference? It’s not the price—it’s the material. Too many homeowners pick their patio the way they pick throw pillows: whatever looks good on Pinterest. But when concrete cracks in the sun, when pavers shift after a storm, when standing water turns your hardscape into a slip-and-slide—that’s when the real cost shows up.

Savannah’s heat, sunlight, and swampy air are no joke. This isn’t Vegas. You don’t get dry heat and cloudless skies. You get wet walls, soft soil, and a battle between longevity and local weather. You wouldn’t put a cloth roof over your grill. So why install a surface that won’t last a summer?

If you’re planning a patio that needs to survive Georgia, not just decorate it, keep reading. We’re breaking down what works, what fails, and what will actually make your space worth the cost.

Quick List of Best Patio Materials Savannah –

Here is our quick recommendations as one of the leading hardscape companies in Savannah:

✅ Concrete Pavers + Polymer Sand

• Handles shifting soil & heavy rain better than poured concrete
• Polymer sand blocks weeds & keeps joints tight
• UV sealant prevents fading & adds years of life

✅ Travertine for Hot, Sunny Areas

• Stays cool underfoot in Savannah heat
• Non-slip, even when wet — ideal for pools & open patios
• Designed to drain, preventing puddles

✅ Raised Patios with Retaining Walls

• Stops water from draining toward your home
• Prevents mold & erosion, protects foundation
• Adds clean, modern lines to your landscape

✅ Mixed-Material Designs or Turf Block

• Combine sandstone, rock inlays, grids under furniture
• Blend beauty, drainage & long-term strength
• Custom features like fire pits & iron accents included

What Makes Savannah’s Climate So Hard on Patios?

Savannah doesn’t just test your patio—it bullies it. First comes the water. Summer storms drench everything. Then the humidity sticks around, baking moisture into every crack. Add UV rays that hit like a hammer and soil that shifts like Jell-O, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster if you chose the wrong surface.

Wood warps. Plastic fades. Gravel washes out. Even that gorgeous deck you saw in a magazine might buckle under Georgia’s wild mix of heat and rainfall if it’s not properly built or supported. And that dreamy pergola or awning? It better be anchored with steel, not good intentions.

Materials like travertine perform better because they dry quickly and stay cool. But even they need smart drainage and a stable base to handle the long game. The wrong roof runoff can pool around your patio, soaking your sub-base and rotting your wood beams from below. Your expensive garden furniture won’t help if it’s sinking into a swamp by fall.

The best patios in Savannah aren’t just built for looks—they’re built for durability, accessibility, and climate survival. That’s what makes them environmentally friendly too. The wrong choice costs more in repairs and replacements than the price tag ever showed. The right one lasts—storm after storm, summer after summer, season after season.

What Fails in Savannah (And Why You’ll Regret Using It)

Savannah’s patios don’t fail because they’re ugly—they fail because they weren’t made for this climate. Heat, humidity, flooding rain, and shifting soil expose weak choices fast. Here’s a breakdown of common materials that don’t survive long—and why they might cost you more than they’re worth. With proper installation and maintenance, many materials can work, but we often recommend more durable options specifically suited for the Lowcountry. After all, the goal isn’t just to build a patio that looks good on day one — it’s to build one that still looks great (and performs) ten years down the road.

1. Flagstone

Looks great in photos, but turns slick and dangerous after the first summer storm. It also cracks easily if not professionally installed with a strong base.

2. Granite

Durable? Yes. Comfortable in Savannah heat? No. This high-end stone soaks up sunlight like a stovetop—brutal on bare feet and tough to cool.

3. Hardwood Decks

Rot, mold, and warping are constant risks in Savannah’s wet, hot climate. Even sealed wood needs nonstop maintenance to stay functional.

4. DIY Concrete Slabs

Concrete is a solid choice—if done right. But most DIY pours skip key steps like compaction or control joints, leading to cracks, stains, and water damage.

5. Brick Patios

Brick shifts and settles over time, especially if your hardscape base isn’t packed correctly. Expect weeds, dips, and uneven walkways if shortcuts are taken.

6. Aluminium or Iron Details

Iron rusts fast in humid air. Aluminum looks clean at first but bends easily and lacks long-term durability in structural features like railings or posts.

7. Poorly Installed Pavers

Pavers are only as good as the prep underneath. Without grading, edge restraints, and compaction, they’ll shift, sink, and look sloppy within a year.

8. No Drainage Planning

We’ve seen patios built right under roof runoff with no slope. The result? Standing puddles, mildew, and stained surfaces by the end of hurricane season.

If your patio design skips the realities of Savannah weather, you’re not saving money—you’re buying into short-term looks and long-term regret. Stick with materials and methods that match the climate, not just the mood board. Your budget, your fire pit, and your peace of mind will last a lot longer.

Local Factors That Should Shape Your Material Choice

Savannah doesn’t play fair with patios. You’ve got moisture that seeps into everything, clay soil that slides around after a downpour, and heat that can warp a deck faster than you can say “replacement.” That beautiful porcelain tile you saw in a showroom? It can crack if it’s set over shifting ground. Gravel paths look charming until two thunderstorms turn them into a messy washout. Even the smoothest limestone gets slick when it soaks up humidity from your roof runoff.

How Savannah’s Climate Impacts Popular Patio Materials:

Material	Climate Weak Point	What Happens Over Time	Better Option?
Wood Decking	High humidity & rain	Warping, mold, rot, high maintenance	Composite or sealed wood
Standard Concrete	UV exposure & shifting soil	Cracks, stains, heat retention	Stamped or sealed concrete
Gravel Patios	Heavy rainfall	Washout, erosion, poor footing	Permeable pavers
Plastic Pavers	UV rays & heat	Fading, warping, poor durability	Concrete or stone pavers
Natural Stone	Moisture retention	Slick surfaces, moss growth	Travertine or shellstone
Brick Pavers	Shifting soil & water absorption	Settling, weed growth, discoloration	Sand-set with proper drainage
Steel or Metal Decking	Salt air near coastlines	Corrosion, heat buildup	Powder-coated steel or aluminum

Some materials hold up better when the climate is working against you. Travertine stays cooler underfoot and sheds water faster, while teak beats out softer wood for resistance to rot. A shaded porch or a thoughtfully placed umbrella can stretch the life of your investment by keeping the harsh midday sun off your surfaces. And don’t overlook what you can’t see—good drainage under the patio keeps cracks from creeping in and weeds from taking over.

If you’re picturing a glass rail or a polished concrete driveway, remember that Savannah’s salty air, pollen, and heat are relentless. Even the most durable brick, flagstone, or travertine still needs smart grading and the right sealants to hold up. Great design isn’t just about the beauty of your materials—it’s how your patio handles the real world, season after season.

What Coastal Hardscapes Recommends (And Why It Works)

We’ve built patios across Savannah that stand up to blazing sunlight, sideways rain, and constant foot traffic. If you want a space that holds up to years of wear and tear without turning into an expensive patchwork, here’s what we trust most:

1. Concrete Pavers with Polymer Joint Sand

These pavers handle shifting soil and heavy downpours better than poured concrete. We recommend polymer sand between joints to block weeds and keep the surface tight. A UV-protective sealant stops fading and adds years of life.

2. Travertine in High-Sun Zones

Savannah heat can make some surfaces unbearable by noon. Travertine stays cool underfoot and doesn’t turn slick when wet. Perfect around a pool or open-air patio, especially when paired with thoughtful design that allows water to drain instead of pooling.

3. Raised Patios with Retaining Walls

Many yards slope toward the house, which is a recipe for water damage and mold. A raised patio with a sturdy retaining wall protects your foundation, keeps soil in place, and adds clean visual lines to your landscape. It’s smart engineering, not just decoration.

4. Mixed-Material Spaces for Style and Strength

For more unique spaces, we design combinations—sandstone borders for beauty, rock inlays for drainage, or polyethylene grids under heavy furniture to prevent sinking. We’ll integrate durable deck edges, shaded seating zones, and even custom insets for a fire pit or iron accent details.

The right patio isn’t built on impulse—it’s built on experience. Our team looks at slope, soil, and sunlight before we ever talk color swatches. That’s how we deliver outdoor spaces that stay functional, stay beautiful, and stay easy to maintain long after the last brick is laid.

The Verdict –

Fun fact: Most patio failures don’t come from storms—they come from bad planning.

That fancy stonework? Worthless if it sits in standing water. The perfect layout? Pointless if it floods your back door. At Coastal Hardscapes, we’ve seen what happens when contractors rush and homeowners guess.

We don’t do guesswork. We create innovative, long-lasting designs built for Savannah’s unpredictable moods.