Now that the weather is improving, I have started thinking about what I can do to the back patio. The previous owner who flipped the house extended the roof creating a nice covered area. The green outdoor carpet is clean and easy to maintain, but not our taste. I drew up the following diagram to help us visualize the space with different flooring.

There are a few challenges we face when choosing a material. First, there a few contours visible through the outdoor carpet. Second, the sliding door leading from the dining area to the patio is elevated only 1 1/2 inches. This means that the thickness of any flooring material must be less less than 1 1/2 inches or we will have a step.

There are two materials we are considering: ceramic tile and wood decking. The tile will accentuate flaws in the surface, but will easily fit under the 1 1/2 inch height restriction. We would likely use a textured 16in faux-terracotta ceramic tile in a staggered pattern, probably one of the following:

The angled tiles in the diagram would be fantastic, but is significantly beyond our skill level, and with our entire pudget going to a bathroom makeover, we need to be able to complete this project ourselves.

The wood decking is my preference. I could adjust the height of the sleepers to compensate for flaws in the concrete, but I am not sure that I can lay the decking in under 1 1/2 height. That said, I may be willing to compromise on the height for the texture of wood paneling on my bare feet.