How Do I Put Decking Over Concrete
Building a deck from scratch can be a difficult and costly project, but if youre covering an existing concrete patio, its a lot easier. You can check out the different outdoor decking material and choose what the best fit is for you. Youll need some tools and supplies and it cant hurt to be handy but you can do this.
How Do You Calculate The Cost Of A Building
Just find a professional builder. To estimate construction costs, calculate the size of your home in square feet and multiply by the city council estimate. The cost also depends on the standards chosen. A project of a house made of facing bricks can cost 1000 m², and houses made of high-quality bricks can cost 2250 m².
Enjoy A Lush Tropical Feel
Tropical plants say summer, and you can make use of them on and around your patio even in the North . Tropical flowers such as dahlia bulbs color up the patio splendidly. But do not forget the tropicals that function as foliage plants, such as elephant ears: They may not provide magnificent flowers, but their large leaves furnish a terrific background for the showier specimens on your patio throughout the summer. A versatile tropical plant popular now on patios is the famous papyrus plant: Use it in a water feature or simply grow it in a container.
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The Best Way To Fix A Cracked Patio
You dont need to replace your whole patio to make it look like new again.
Summer is upon us, which means plenty of cook-outs, lounging by the pool, and entertaining friends in our favorite outdoor spaces.
From pool patios to front walkways, a good number of homes these days utilize concrete slabs and surfaces. Much like other features of a home, these patios and walkways need repair from time to time due to erosion, settlement, and general wear and tear. These repairs dont need to affect your busy summer schedule though, as there are quick ways and new products to address your patio issues.
Figure B: Border Layout
A Snap a chalk line parallel to the house to mark the location of the border decorative pavers. Remember to leave a gap of at least 1/4 in. between the border decorative pavers and the house.
B Lay out field pavers to locate the side borders. A simple row of pavers will work even if you plan to lay them later in a herringbone pattern as we did. The goal is to establish a field width that allows each course to end with a full or half paver, but not smaller pieces. That means less cutting, less waste and a neater look.
C Position the border pavers and mark their locations. It’s OK if the border decorative pavers don’t quite reach the edge of the patio, but don’t let them overhang. Nudge one border patio block outward by 1/4 in. to allow a little extra space for the field pavers.
D Snap a chalk line to mark one side border. To make this line square with the line along the house, use the 3-4-5 method.E Mark the other side border. Measure from the first side to make sure the two sides are parallel.
F Leave the final border unmarked and install the border after the field is complete. That open end makes screeding off the excess sand easier and lets you position the final border perfectly.
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Stain The Concrete To Look Like Tile
If you love the look of tiles but not the hard work or the expense, you could stain the concrete to look like tile! Use 1/2 inch tape to create grout lines on the floor and then stain over it. Peel off the tape and ta-da, instant tile! Just make sure to clean it beforehand and seal it afterwards and youll have a concrete patio that looks nothing like concrete.
Ways To Cover Up A Concrete Patio
Concrete patios are a favorite for many homeowners because theyre both practical and durable however, they can look dull, especially after a few years. Thats when many homeowners start looking for different ways to spice up the look and feel. You might be wondering: how can you cover up a concrete patio?
To cover up a concrete patio, your options are pavers, tiles, flagstones, carpets, or wood. Carpets are the easiest option, while pavers, flagstones, and tiles offer a more durable cover overall. Covering your dull concrete patio with any of these can improve your propertys aesthetic appeal.
The rest of this article will closely examine each of these options to help you make the right decision. Lets talk more about how to cover up a bland concrete patio!
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Why Resurfacing Is Better Than Installing Pavers Over Your Concrete Surface
Pavers can easily become uneven, causing tripping hazards and spots for water to puddle and weeds to grow through. Also, hiring a professional to lay pavers is expensive.
If you like the look of pavers, we can create that look. We can mimic the look of bricks, wood, flagstone, slate, brick, granite, and more. We can also seal the surface for protection from stains and UV damage.
How To Paint A Concrete Patio Stains & Cracks
Some of our problems:
- lots of staining from spills
- water splash staining from rain and snow
- plant debris staining it just blows onto the patio constantly!
This big stain pictured below, in particular, even after working with it and the pressure washer, it just wouldnt get off!
The cracks were already filled with silicone, which the paint cant stick to. So we had to clean that out, but because of a lot of settling over the years the pieces had lifted the to slightly different levels, so we chose to grind them down. Justin used a handheld plugin grinder and a diamond bit grinder blade in about a 4 inch diameter.
Poor Guy! This work was pretty back breaking for sure and DUSTY!!
All ground down the cracks now looked like this:
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Best Outdoor Paint For Concrete And Patios
Concrete outdoor surfaces can face a lot of wear and tear over time, but a fresh coat of paint can provide a welcome makeover. The best concrete paint or stain conceals discolorations and signs of damage while providing a protective coating that extends the life of the surface. This guide reviews the best outdoor paint for concrete and patios, including the different types of coatings for concrete and their applications.
Safety: Fumes and debris may be associated with any of the supplies needed to complete this project. Please take the appropriate safety measures.
Not every type of paint is suitable for concrete and patios. The best paints for concrete contain binders that allow the coating to contract and expand with concrete as it cools and warms.
- Concrete porch and patio paints are frequently low-luster acrylic latex paints designed to conceal imperfections and resist fading, scuffing, cracking and UV damage.
- Epoxy-based paints provide high durability and stain resistance, making them ideal for garage or patio floors.
- Masonry paints are designed for brick and other masonry applications, but also provide effective coatings for concrete.
Tip: Avoid using exterior house paints on concrete as they tend to crack and peel.
If your concrete porch and walkways are showing wear and tear, apply an acrylic latex porch and floor paint with a paint roller.
Resurfacing Patios: Make Your Patio Look Better With An Overlay
SUNDEK of San Antonio in San Antonio, TX
Concrete patios with minor damage, but in otherwise good condition, can be transformed with concrete resurfacing. Instead of starting over with a new patio, you can upgrade its appearance and strength with a cement-based overlay.
Find patio contractors near me
Your resurfaced concrete patio can be stamped, stained, or stenciled and have color added. A professional contractor can determine if your surface is a good candidate, as well as make it look like wood, brick or stone with a combination of different colors and patterns.
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Installation Of A Sundek Patio Coating
Heres an overview of the installation process :
- Prepare & Repair. Etch, grind, or shot blast the concrete surface to make it porous. Fix cracks or other existing damage.
- Clean & Prime. Pressure wash and let surface thoroughly dry. Apply primer if necessary.
- Mix Product. Following instructions, mix the product to prepare it for application. Mix in color if necessary.
- Apply overlay. Depending on the desired look, apply the overlay by spraying, rolling, or troweling.
- Add Patterns & Texture. This is completed using hand-trowels, rakes, stamps and other specialty tools.
- Cure & Seal. After the overlay cures, add a sealer for additional protection. Customers often ask us if a concrete patio needs to be sealed, and our answer is always yes. A sealer will preserve the look of your patio for longer. It also enhances its stain resistance and makes it easier to maintain. Read more about why you should seal your concrete patio.
Resurfacing a concrete surface is not easy. Our professional contractors can do it for you. Find a local contractor.
How Tall Should My Deck Be
Adding a deck over an existing concrete patio will add height. Depending on the step down from your back door to your concrete patio, this additional height could be problematic. However, you do have options if space is limited.
If you are using a composite tile that can be laid directly onto the concrete, the deck will only add an inch or so to the height of the patio. You will likely be adding retaining pieces, called fascia, at the edges of the patio to hide the sides of the tiles and hold them in place. The tiles themselves are designed to allow for water run-off, so this option may be more feasible if your patio is close in height to your back door.
On the other hand, if you have a considerable step down from the back door, a raised deck might be a big improvement! Rather than that short drop to get out to the grill while youre carrying a big plate of ribs, your new deck could be level with the back door. It will be a straight transition from the house to the deck, making it a lot less likely that you drop dinner before you can cook it.
If you have stairs down from the back door to the patio, you can add height to the stairs themselves to compensate for the added height of the deck. This is especially easy if you are using the composite tiles that lay flush on the concrete.
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How Much Does It Cost To Resurface Concrete Patio
Nationally, the average cost for concrete resurfacing is $3 to $10 per square foot, depending on the condition of the original concrete and local labor costs. For smaller projects, some contractors charge a flat fee of at least $500 to $1,000. The new concrete must also be sealed, which costs $20 to $80 per gallon.
S On How To Cover An Old Concrete Patio
Spalling and cracks are the two common severe forms of concrete floor damages. Now the question many ask is, how do I cover old concrete? Is it possible? How about my outdoor concrete, such as the patio?
Todays blog answers all your patio and outdoor concrete flooring woes. And today, learn more about an efficient solution, a patio finishes for existing concrete Seattle.
When spalling, peeling, and cracks start to show up on your outdoor flooring surfaces, there is no way you can restore the concretes prime beauty. What you can do is cover them up through patching, crack filling, and resurfacing.
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Choose Carpet That Can Handle Elements & Traffic
Outdoor carpets come in a wide range of styles and colors. They also come with different types of backings. To decide on a carpet, settle on a style and color, and consider any unique challenges you expect the carpet to overcome. Does the patio get a lot of foot traffic? Is it too exposed to the elements? These are factors you should weigh.
Once youve settled on a carpet, visit the store to check them out physically. If your preferred colors and styles arent available, you can place an order and wait a couple of weeks for the store to bring it in.
Dont forget to get the right adhesive for gluing down the carpet.
Textured Concrete Floor Coverings
If you are looking for a 3-dimensional textured floor covering that resembles most any natural material consider a stampable overlay on your next project. These systems typically range in thickness from ¼ inch to 5/8 inch. The common thickness is 3/8 inch, which is usually thick enough to accommodate most standard imprinting tools. These materials cure in 24 hours, and can usually be sealed and light traffic allowed within 36 hours after application.
Microtopping over old concrete, polysealed & waxed. Frank Zip in San Francisco, CA
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Is It Good To Have A Patio Heater
Patio heaters are economical and energy-efficient heaters that provide a lot of comfort and optimal use of your terrace or outdoor space. Cold summer nights and unpredictable weather are no problem, and you are no longer susceptible to sudden temperature changes, especially if you want to get the most out of your patio.
Covering A Concrete Patio With Wood
Covering a concrete patio with wood is an excellent way to make it cozier and warmer. Its also another good way to cover up the imperfections on your concrete patio. The process is straightforward. You can floor the patio with wood either by using conventional tongue-and-groove floorboards or 5/4 treated decking.
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Prepare Your Patio & Fill Dents With Cement
Before you start laying the carpet, you need to ready the concrete surface. It should be flat, clean, and dry. If there are any dents on the surface, you can level it up using a floor patch.
For deep gouges, filling with cement is a better idea. With the surface adequately fixed, youll have a cleaner installation when you finish.
What Can I Use Instead Of Concrete Driveways
Sawdust uses waste and replaces some of the energy-intensive components of concrete. And it gets even better because it can also be made into blocks, bricks and pavers, making it one of the ideal alternatives to concrete driveways and garage floors.
Pool Screen Repair Cost How much does it cost to replace a lanai monitor? How much does it cost to replace the pool lanai screen? The Lanai pool screen replacement has the same screen repair cost of an average of $ 35 per hour for the pool cover per job. Screenshots made of polyester vinyl or similar material cost between $ 5 and $ 15 per square foot.How much does a veranda monitor cost?Screen In Lanai cost an average of $ 5.97 to $ 7.76 per square foot in 2014. This Screen In Lanai installationâ¦
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Tips For Working With Sleepers
Screwing down sleepers with concrete screws is simple, but there are some things to keep in mind:
- Screws should penetrate the concrete by at least 1 in., so 3-1/4-in. screws are perfect. In low spots, where we had to stack up shims, we switched to 3-3/4- in. screws.
- As you drill, dust compresses around the drill bit. That slows you down, strains your drill and overheats the bit. To clear the dust, pull the bit completely out of the hole once or twice while drilling each hole.
- Drill the holes 1/4 to 1/2 in. deeper than the screw will reach. Extra-depth provides a space for dust and grit, so screws are easier to drive.
- Have extra drill bits on hand. As a bit wears, it doesnt just drill more slowly it also bores a slightly smaller hole and screws become harder to drive. We replaced each bit after about 40 holes. When all the sleepers are screwed down, take a few minutes to double-check for flatness. Set a 4-ft. straightedge on each sleeper, both across it and along it. If you find spots that are 1/16 in. or more out-of-plane, back out the screw and add or remove shims.
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Installing Different Types Of Patio Covers
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