Tips For Building A Concrete Patio
Buying concrete in dry, premixed bags makes sense for relatively small patio slabs. To get an idea of how many bags you would need, a 50-square-foot slab at 4 inches thick needs about 28 80-pound bags or 38 60-pound bags. You can buy bagged concrete a local home center or lumberyard, and you can rent a concrete mixer at any large rental outlet.
For large slabs, consider ordering ready-mix concrete delivered by a concrete truck. Ready-mix is more expensive than bagged concrete, but it’s far more convenient, and you don’t have the labor of mixing the concrete or the concern of getting the mix just right. Discuss your plans with local concrete companies to compare costs and to make sure your site is suitable for ready-mix delivery.
What Can I Cover My Concrete Patio With
So far, weve seen several ways you can improve your concrete patio appearancessome of the ideas fit in with this topic. For instance, staining is one way you can cover a concrete patio.
;Here is a highlight of some of the materials you may use to cover a concrete patio.
- Painting a solid color or pattern is a great way to cover a patio
- You can also use a rug to cover the patio
- Again, staining is an excellent way to change the appearance of a dull concrete patio
- Paving ideas make an excellent concrete patio cover
- Laying tiles
- Lack decking floor
You can try some of these ideas as fun DIY, or you can hire a professional to do so.
What Is Cheaper Poured Concrete Or Pavers
Concrete pavers are individually placed bricks that can provide a variety of designs and colors. Because of the nature of the labor involved and the cost of materials, a patio made from pavers can cost an estimated $4 – $20 per square foot, depending on the size and detail of the design.
Choosing a plain concrete patio will most definitely save you money when compared to pavers. However, as you add upgrades, like stamping and coloring, the prices become more comparable.
Also Check: How To Fix Screen Door Off Track
Concrete Patio Cost Vs Other Paving Materials
A concrete patio costs less than patios made of stone, brick, or tile. This is beacuse patios made of natural materials are usually higher priced and require more intensive labor to install.
Some concrete contractors estimate that stamped concrete costs one-third less than the cost of other materials. The lower price tag combined with the wide array of patterns and colors available are some of the main draws of choosing a concrete patio.
Failing To Set Up Proper Forms
A concrete form is a frame made of wood, in which the fluid concrete can be poured. These forms must be strong enough to hold the wet concrete in place and in its proper shape until it is dry and fully hardened.
Forms absolutely must have watertight joints to keep concrete from leaking out. They must also be rigid enough that the concrete cant bow outward. Good formwork makes or breaks the performance of a slab of concrete. A bad concrete form is a recipe for a disastrous patio project.
Don’t Miss: How To Get Wood Stain Off Concrete Patio
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.
How To Paint Your Concrete Patio
- Written by Justin Stewart on Sep 18, 2009To 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
If you want to add some color and life to a drab, gray concrete patio, spruce it up with paint. You can paint the patio to match the color of your home or to provide an appealing contrast that helps set your patio apart.
When painted properly, your colorful concrete can last years.
Step 1 Clean the Concrete Patio
Thoroughly clean your concrete patio to remove any dirt and debris. You dont want anything getting in the way of the paint and the surface, or even worse, mixing in with the new paint.
For the best cleaning, mix water and some mild detergent, and then scrub it over the concrete using a broom or a long-handled scrub brush. Make sure that you completely rinse all of the soap away and allow the patio to dry.
After its dry, use a good quality broom or shop-vac to remove any dirt and dust that still may have been left behind.
Step 2 Apply the Exterior Paint
As long as youve chosen a high-quality exterior paint that is rated for use on concrete, you should have no problem adequately covering the patio surface. Paint products usually specify if they are suited for outdoor use and what surfaces they will work best on.
Step 3 Clean the Patio Again
Step 4 Apply the Clear Sealer
Read Also: How To Remove Mold From Concrete Patio
Secure The Concrete Pavers In Place And Fill The Gaps
Once you have finished each section and the pavers have all been laid, make sure none of the paver stones wobble. Youll want to check this before filling the joints.
I had about five that had some wobble and just about every time, the culprit was a raised bit of larger gravel that had been pulled near the surface. The concrete paver stone was resting awkwardly on the raised gravel.
The way to fix this is to gently remove the paver and check for the larger gravel that is raised. Remove it and fill in the hole with sand. Carefully place the paver back down into position.;
If you dont see any gravel, then something in that spot isnt level. It could be that theres a bit of a bump, or just one edge needs a little more sand. Use the float to level it and place the paver back into place.
With all the pavers set as you need them, you can start filling in the gaps. Use the square nosed shovel to scoop the sand or paver dust and place it into the joints, but only add about ½- ¾ of the paver dust/sand.;
Try to distribute it evenly between them. You can use a hand spade and/or a broom to help with this.
Now finish filling in the gaps with your decorative top layer. I used marble chips.
Spread these evenly throughout, but be sure to leave them recessed about ¼ from the top so you dont end up with a big mess of overflowing joint filler.
Those are all the steps! Now youll be ready to entertain on your new concrete paver patio!
Pouring A Large Slab By Yourself With Sakrete Crack Resistant Concrete
Provided by:remodelingguy.net
Have you ever wanted to pour a large concrete slab on your property but felt like the only way was to hire a contractor or bring in extra help? For most DIYers the idea of pouring concrete is firmly in the realm of hire a pro, especially if were talking about something more than a few square feet.
Im going to show you thats not always true.
I used Sakrete Crack Resistant Concrete to create the garden area slab shown here over a weekend. Here are a few design highlights:
- The slab is 9 x 9 for a total of 81sf
- The grid pattern forms look great and make this an easy one person project
- Sakretes Crack Resistant Mix requires no extra reinforcement
- This is a very low-cost, high-durability, beautiful hardscape project
This project allowed me to easily convert an unused and kind-of ugly portion of my backyard into my new favorite outdoor spot.
Large Slabs Usually Mean Extra People, Equipment, and Expense
The thing with larger slabs is that they usually require the entire amount of required concrete at one time. If you dont pour the whole thing at once, you get cold joints. Cold joints happen when concrete poured into a slab is allowed to partially or completely dry before more concrete is added. Cold joints usually dont look good at all.
The other issue with pouring one yard of concrete at one time is the manpower. In order to place and finish that amount of concrete before it starts to set-up, it usually means extra people are required.
Also Check: How Many Bags Of Concrete For Patio
Tiege Hanley Level : Covering Skin Care For Men Basics
This provides a complete system for you to get started. The Level 1 version of the Tiege Hanley Skin Care System gets you going without feeling like youve left something out.
Its got the daily cleanser we talked about to help clean and prep your skin, an exfoliating scrub to get rid of bacteria, and AM/PM moisturizers to keep your skin healthy and smooth.
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
Don’t Miss: How To Make Your Own Patio Awning
Concrete And Wood Patio Ideas
While concrete is a great material for creating patio spaces and walkways, it tends to lack an inviting nature. Whether its due to the rough material or the cold color, sometimes these patios just lack something.;
Bringing some warmth into a concrete patio space with some wood materials, fencing, benches, or other accents is a great way to make a cold concrete space feel a little more relaxing and casual. A stained wooden bench can provide contrast against a gray patio, making the chair pop while also toning down the frigid personality concrete often has.;
There are a lot of ways to integrate some wood into your patio design. You can create built-in benches, buy wooden furniture, build pergolas overhead, or butt the patio up to a wooden structure like a house or fence. Consider some of the ideas below while keeping your patio area in mind, and see if a wooden accent would be possible for you.
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.
Recommended Reading: How To Replace Webbing On Patio Chairs
Level The Ground For Your Paver Stones
Take the four stakes and hit them into the ground 12 outside of your patio area using the rubber mallet. Hammer them in until they are at least a foot into the earth. They should be nice and tight and not move if you pull at them.
Once theyre secure, measure each stake from the ground up to 4. Mark this. This will be your level line and also the top of your compacted base layer.
Reminder- due my patio being boxed in on all four sides, my photos show the stakes placed inside the patio area.
Make sure when you put the stakes into the ground, that they are at least a foot down. They should be nice and tight and not move if you pull at them.
Measure from the ground, up the stake to 4 and mark this. This will be your level line and also the top of your compacted base layer.
Take the nylon string and wrap it around the mark you made. How you tie the string is important, so take a moment and read this article that explains how to do this so that you ;get the proper tension.
Keep the string as one continuous string and repeat this for all four stakes, using the tying method linked above. When you return to the first stake, tie it off and cut the string from the spool.
Fake It Till You Make It
There are many ways for you to get the stamped concrete look. One is to have someone come out to install it. The other is to do it yourself.
You can do this with a rubber roller.;It looks sort of like a paint roller but it has a pattern printed on it and is specially made with concrete in mind. They come in a ton of unique concrete patio designs for you to pick from.
Once youve chosen a pattern you like, pour the concrete where you want it and smooth it out.
Spray down both the roller and the concrete with a release agent. This will stop the roller from sticking to the concrete. When both surfaces are coated, youre free to now roll out your pattern.
You May Like: How To Identify Vintage Wrought Iron Patio Furniture
Pouring Concrete Patio: What Could Go Wrong With Doing It Yourself
So, youre ready to make this summer the year of outdoor fun in your backyard, and youve got a new concrete patio on your mind. Before you pour the concrete yourself, keep in mind there are practical, aesthetic, and safety concerns that come with any DIY concrete project.
The fact is, pouring concrete requires a good deal more knowledge and skill than other home exterior projects. Doing it right demands careful planning, as well as the proper materials and tools to avoid weakened concrete and an inevitable do-over. There are a number of things you need to carefully avoid in order to stay safe and prevent a DIY disaster.
Splice Boards Together If Necessary
On sides too long for a single board, butt two boards together. Cut a strip of ½-inch plywood and nail it across the joint. Drive a 2-stake at each end of the plywood strip and nail it to the form with duplex nails.
Place a 1/2×4-inch expansion joint against the foundation of the house and any other existing concrete that meets the patio. This will prevent the pad and foundation from bonding and then cracking if they settle at different rates.
Coat the form boards with a coat of commercial release agent or vegetable oil to prevent the concrete from sticking to the form boards, motor oilan early substitute for the release agentdoesnt work as well and contaminates the ground.
You May Like: Wood Patio Plans
Build A Structure Over It
There are two ideas you can try out to get mind-boggling results. One idea is to build a gazebo, while the other is to add a pergola. The gazebo is great for outdoor relaxation and comfort.
With each of these two designs, you need to add furniture because this awesomeness needs it. If you add a pergola, the sunlight hits different on the surface. You get to enjoy the coziness they offer.
Moreso, the pergola or any overhead structure helps to enclose the space. Gazebos and pergolas make the outdoor feel more private, thus comforting. All you have to do is check your patio and see which overhead structure is best suited.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to aweb browser thatsupports HTML5 video
An overhead trellis will play around with natural sunlight creating beautiful patterns, and you can add just about anything such as speakers, vines, or even ceiling fans.
A wooden gazebo will work wonders! Just like a pergola, a wooden gazebo doesnt come cheap. They help concentrate the appeal on a single point over your concrete patio. You can place matching furniture in the middle and trellis frames on the sides to add to the highlights.
There are a dozen ideas on the gazebo painting you can try out as well. Similarly, you can select different gazebo designs.
Stain Your Concrete Patio
This is the most common way of bringing to life an old concrete patio. Staining gives your old concrete patio a tile appearance. The process is pretty simple; you may use tapes to create grout lines all over the patio then stain the entire surface.
Once you take out the tapes, they will leave your patio looking like tiles. The best thing is to contact a professional to ensure the finish is pristine and in order. However, if you are confident enough, you can dig in and make it an enjoyable DIY.
To avoid degrading the paving, you need to add a sealant because staining weakens the patio surface. Generally, staining chirps into the surface and alters the color and texture.;
As a requirement, you need to clean the patio surface before starting the staining process.
You May Like: How To Build A Wood Patio Deck