How To Install A Concrete Patio

How To Build A Pergola Over A Concrete Patio

One of the best things you can do is build a solid pergola in your backyard. This can provide additional shade and ambiance to your house or a good attachment.

If youre looking for the right instructions on how to build a pergola over a concrete patio, Ill show you how. However, we know youll need a few covers and tools to begin.

Cost To Pour Concrete Patio Slab

Expect to pay $30 to $50 per hour for the installation alone. Your contractor will determine the specific labor cost based on a variety of factors such as:

• Urban or rural location

Neil Halasz, Artisan Construction Services, Inc.

Size is the most significant cost factor to consider when you estimate the price of a new concrete patio. Large spaces can become expensive quickly but offer more outdoor area for relaxing and entertaining.

Once you know the slab’s location, measure the perimeter to determine a square footage estimate. That will help you determine your budget for material and labor. If you have a consistent square footage, shape and design in mind, you can get more accurate quotes from professional concrete installation companies.

How To Make Concrete Patio Pavers

Living in a shipping container house? Then transform it into normal housing by adding a paver patio. Use the wood slats to make the pavers patio forms and next fill them up with concrete to make pavers. The concrete patio pavers will cost you $6.20 per square foot, and a solid cedar deck will be ready at $30 per square foot. homemade modern

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Factors Influencing The Cost Of A Patio

• Patio sizeTypically the price per square foot goes down as the patio gets bigger. Alternatively, for small patios, some contractors charge a minimum total rather than a per square foot price.
• Property conditionIf you need grading, demolition or other site work, the price will go up. Also, if your property cant be accessed with the necessary equipment, requiring a pump or additional labor, costs will rise.
• Complexity of designAdding texture, color, borders or other design features will add up. A basic shape with straight edges is easier to form, while curves are more complex and more expensive.
• New patio vs existing patioIf you are looking to install a new patio, it will cost an estimated $3 – $15 per sq ft, and sometimes more. If you have an existing patio and are looking to refresh the look, or have repairs made to any damage, you may not have to start over. The costs of patio resurfacing are less than that of replacement, ranging between $3 and $10 per square foot.

Tip: Since the cost of your patio can vary with the size of the surface and the detail of your design, it is important to find a contractor that will give you the best result for the best price. You can find a patio contractor by using the Concrete Network directory. View portfolio pictures, contact contractors directly, and even request free estimates.

Cost Of Concrete Patio Vs Flagstone Pavers

Flagstone pavers are flat slabs of natural stone, including slate, limestone, and sandstone. These pavers feature a variety of colors, shapes, and patterns. A flagstone paver patio is more expensive than a poured concrete patio, typically ranging between $14.68 and $25.34 per square foot.

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Concrete Patio Vs Pavers

While concrete pavers cost around $5 to $10 per square foot, it is a very manually intensive task resulting in more than 50% of the project cost coming from the labor costs. While both concrete and pavers need a good sub base, without correct impaction procedures, pavers can drift apart.

While costing more initially, your concrete pavers are likely to last between 25 to 50 years. Just like a concrete slab, it does pose the risk of cracking, but replacement is a lot cheaper than repairing a concrete patio because you only need to replace the cracked individual pavers.

Not Being Properly Prepared

The most common issue do-it-yourselfers have when pouring concrete is not being thoroughly prepared. The process takes a lot more than getting the shovel out of the shed and clearing a spot. How ready that spot is to receive a ton of concrete determines everything.

Inexperienced DIY-ers tend to overlook many thingssuch as failing to use a plate compactor to pack the soil, not leveling the area adequately, or not setting up proper formsthe blocking that allows for a smooth, even pour. There are a lot of steps to pouring concrete property.

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Work With A Professional

Installing a cement patio is more difficult than it looks. The concrete needs to be mixed carefully to ensure the end result is strong and durable. To prevent the patio from cracking, the site needs to be prepared before the concrete is poured. This project also requires specialized equipment that homeowners may not have access to, such as an automatic cement mixer. For best results, homeowners should consider seeking the advice of a professional.

How To Pour & Finish A Patio

1. Install reinforcement such as rebar and rewire set on bolsters , and then mix and pour the concrete. The use of fiber-reinforced crack-resistant concrete eliminates the need for wire reinforcing mesh.

2. Screed concrete level with the forms. Use a 2 x 4 in a sawing motion to level and remove excess concrete.

3. Float the concrete surface to create a surface that is both smooth and skid resistant. Wait until bleed water has disappeared before proceeding. Finish options include a broomed finish, a smooth steel-trowel finish or seed with small aggregate after floating.

4. Cut control joints in larger patios. Lay a 2 x 4 straightedge guide on the surface and carefully tool control joints using a grooving tool. Allow the concrete to dry until sheen disappears, and then treat with acrylic cure and seal.

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Do You Need Crushed Rock Under Concrete

Because concrete is a very porous material, it will absorb any moisture that it contacts. This can cause pooling. Without crushed stone, pooling water will settle under it and erode your slab. Adding a layer of crushed stone will add proper drainage, as well as create a barrier between your slab and the ground.

Drying Concrete: Curing The Diy Patio

Patio slabs need to be moist cured to keep their surfaces from drying too quickly- especially in our high desert heat of Twin Falls, ID. If the surface dries too soon, it will be weak and may later become powdery or crumble away. Cure your concrete by keeping it wet. Cover the slab with burlap, sand, straw, or other material and wet it . Wet it down as needed until curing is finished.

Another option is to use plastic sheeting or a commercial curing compound. Water evaporating from the slab will be trapped, eliminating the need for wetting.

Whatever method you choose, curing should last a minimum of three days-longer in cold weather- but it’s best to let the slab cure for a week, just to be on the safe side. Don’t walk on it for at least 3-4 days, nor drive a vehicle until 10 days have passed.

Now it’s time to enjoy your new DIY cement patio!

Need More Help? Check back to our site as we will be adding the best “how-to’s” on concrete, and articles for do it your-selfers.

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Plumb The Posts And Attach To Post Bases

Now to start making the pergola take shape!

Were going to start by raising and plumbing the posts. At one of the corners, place a post in the post base, but laying down on the ground. Pound in a wooden stake about 6 feet away from the post base next to the laid-down post, and another one 90 degrees around the post so that you can brace from both sides. Take two of the spare 2x4s, and attach each at each of these stakes with a single nail for now, and lay them down also.

Stand the post up and grab one of the braces you previously laid down, and bring the brace around into contact with the post. Using the 4-foot level, plumb the face of the post aligned with the brace. Once satisfied with the plumb-ness of the post, use a nail to tack the brace in place.

Grab the other brace, and repeat the steps above to plumb the post from the other direction. Double check that the post is still plumb in both directions, then go ahead and drive another couple nails into the brace at either end.

Now, take your drill with a drill bit slightly smaller than the HeadLOK screw, and pre-drill holes to match those in the post base. Drive in the HeadLOK screws into these holes. For these particular post bases, there are four holes total, with two on each side. At this point, your post should be secure top and bottom and shouldnt move when casually jostled.

Material Type For Paver Joints

When youre gathering your supplies, youll want to consider the type of material that will fill in the gaps between the concrete pavers.

Here are some of the gap fillers you might want to consider for your project:

• Moss: This can be transplanted from your yard or purchased like sod from a nursery.
• Grass: Let grass grow naturally. The drawback here is you may be end up fighting with weeds
• Fill the paver joints with your choice of pebbles. These can be a natural stone color, or brightly colored.
• Glass stones: For a really glamorous look, use sanded glass pebbles.
• Sand: Sand is simple and budget-friendly. I recommend using polymeric sand which will seal and harden the sand so you wont track it.

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What You Need To Know Before Installing A Concrete Patio

Installing a concrete patio to the front yard or backyard of your home offers a plethora of benefits. For one, this added space serves as a great place to relax, unwind, and even throw a good summer BBQ with your closest friends. Also, a concrete patio provides your home with more value and can make a great selling point if you are considering putting it on the market.

Before adding a concrete patio there are a few thing to consider to ensure your project goes as planned and turns out looking as wonderful as expected. Here we detail the most important factors to consider before installing a concrete patio.

Not Knowing The Type Of Concrete You Need

There are literally thousands of types of concrete. What kind will you use to pour your patio? Its all the same, right? Not really.

You might decide to pick up some quick-setting cement, low-heat cement, or sulfates-resisting cement. Should it be blast furnace slag, high alumina, or air entraining? These are just a few kinds of cement that serve different purposes. Whatever you choose, a strength of 4,000-4,500 psi after a one-month cure is an important feature to keep in mind.

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Stylish Patio With Large Poured Concrete Pavers

You will love the shiny, stylish appeal of this concrete and gravel patio. Just build first the frames for the slabs using whitewood studs. Pour concrete in the wooden frames and smooth and then fill gravel in the narrower lines among the slabs. Remove the frames and get a clean, sleek looking concrete patio. homedepot

Build A Concrete Patio

How to build a concrete patio step by step? Get here the step-by-step guides and visual diagrams about how to pour a concrete patio by making the concrete slabs. Use the wood slats to add the bordering and then fill the concrete that you can smooth down a towel, and float using the respective tools. It will be solid and durable and will be super affordable too. twinfallsconcr

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Best Flagstone Patio Designs

1. construction method there are two methods of laying flagstones for pathways, walkways or patios. the first one is the dry laying technique, otherwise known as the dry construction method, which is characterized by simply laying flagstone pieces in a bed of sand and gravel without the use of mortar and concrete. this process is diy

Is It Cheaper To Build A Deck

Concrete is not the only option for your patio, but it may be the most cost-efficient. Decorative concrete on your patio can mimic the look and feel of many other surfaces such as pavers and wood decking.

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A wood deck can cost $15 to $35 per square foot. This cost is related to labor, the materials chosen , and the amount of detail involved in the design. Although a wood deck can give you an attractive finished product, it can be an expensive option when compared to the features offered with a concrete patio.

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Using The Wrong Tools

Strong, heavy-duty tools are absolutely a must when working with concrete. Using the wrong tools results in a shoddy-looking concrete slab.

Before mixing the concrete, have these tools ready: a pressure washer, safety goggles, a large wheelbarrow, an electric concrete mixer, a bull float to flatten the surface, a magnesium float for bumps, tools to create the concrete form, a broom, a brush, an edger, a finishing trowel, gloves and buckets.

Best Diy Concrete Patio Ideas That Beginners Can Do

Every time you wish to transform your patio, the concrete is an ideal choice. It is durable, affordable, and much doable. So, get the outstanding patios with these 12 best DIY Concrete Patio Ideas that involve using the concrete to make concrete patio pavers, concrete patio tiled walkways, and solid clean concrete pathways. You can use the custom forms, stamps, and patterns to give too many variations to your concrete patios like the cobblestone pattern. To check out all stunning patio transformation, just check out these 12 DIY concrete patio ideas that are adorable and will require much low maintenance. You can build a concrete patio around a pool around deck, and it will be great to feature in your outdoor landscaping. You will get the much-needed home outdoor improvements with these concrete patio ideas in a budget-friendly way.

The concrete patio ideas will not merely involve building the concrete patio floors and pavers, but they will also involve doing the decorative makeover of old, tired, and cracked concrete floors. Use the whitewood or 2x4s planks to set up the concrete pavers form and then pour the concrete in them. Smooth them down, float, towel, screed, and add joints if necessary. Finally, finish them off with decorative edging. Install the concrete patio with a gravel base and build the concrete patio pavers with gravel lining.

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How To Install Indoor Outdoor Carpet On A Concrete Patio

• Written by Luke Arthur on Jan 27, 2010To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.Reviewed by

Using indoor-outdoor carpet to cover an outdoor concrete patio can present a number of benefits. The softness and comfort in an outdoor space can make you really feel comfortable. It is versatile, holds up to water and sunlight, and is reasonably priced. If you install the carpet yourself, you can usually save quite a bit of money. It is time-consuming but it is not complicated. Here are the basics of how to install outdoor carpet on a concrete patio.

Step 1 – Determine How Much You Need

Before you can install the carpet on your patio, you need to determine exactly how much you need. Take the tape measure and get detailed measurements of the space. If it is just a rectangle or square area, your job is pretty easy. Just get the length and the width. If it is an oddly-shaped space, you should draw a diagram with the dimensions. Take the drawing into a carpet store and get some help in determining how much you need.

Step 2 – Choose Your Carpet

Step 3 – Prepare the Concrete

Before you lay the carpet, you will want to make sure that the concrete is prepared. Make sure that it is clean, dry, and flat. If the floor is uneven, you will want to make sure that you level it out with floor patch as needed.

Step 4 – Spread the Adhesive or Tape

How Much Does It Cost To Put In A Concrete Patio

The best way to determine the cost of your project is to get quotes from concrete patio contractors near you. But, you can use the ranges below as a starting point when figuring out your budget.

Plain Design

*Calculated using: Plain – $4.50 per square foot Simple – $8 per square foot Custom – $12.50 per square foot Elaborate – $18 per square foot.

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Diy Patio Installation Vs Hiring A Concrete Pro

If you choose to install your concrete patio yourself, you will save the $2 to $8 per square foot you would pay in professional labor. It can be difficult to install concrete properly, and with an improper installation, the surface could crack.

Unless you have significant experience in mixing and pouring concrete, finding concrete patio contractors near you tends to be the better choice.

To select the right patio contractor, research expected costs and gather quotes from a minimum of three professionals..

Perform some research online or talk to previous customers. That ensures you hire a concrete contractor with a good reputation who is qualified to complete your project.