Keeping It Simple: More Ways To Improve A Patio
If you’re a beginning DIYer, don’t let all the details on our deck scare you away. Your project can be a whole lot easier if you choose a simple decking design. The simpler you can make your deck plan, the faster and cheaper it will be to build.
Whether your patio is in bad shape or just bland, there are many ways to revive it. But before you weigh the options shown below, there’s one thing to consider
The crack factor: Cracks in your patio drastically limit your options. That’s because cracks tend to move. Some grow wider over time, while others shrink and widen as the soil freezes and thaws. Some become uneven as one side of the crack sinks. Any movement happens so slowly that it’s hard to detect. But if you knowor even thinkthat you have moving cracks, you have to choose a patio upgrade that can float over moving cracks without becoming damaged.
What Is A Cheaper Alternative To Pavers
Gravel. Gravel allows better drainage than solid paving stones, and it is one of the least expensive paver alternatives. If you want to keep the gravel from shifting when you walk on it, opt for unsorted, sharp-edged gravel that is labeled 1/4-inch minus. Pieces of that gravel type fit snugly together.
What Other Options Do I Have For Covering My Patio
Building a deck is a very attractive option for covering your old concrete patio, but there are several other options you could try.
- Resurface your patio to repair cracks and pits.
- Use paint or stain to lend some color and dimension to a boring old patio.
- Cover your patio with pavers and youll add visual appeal and texture, not to mention long-lasting durability.
Also Check: How To Measure Patio Slope
A Step By Step Guide On Installing The Substructure
Installing Composite Decking On The Concrete Slab
Placing decking boards on sleepers is nearly identical to building them on a regular deck. Its important to follow manufacturers instructions for installing decking. In general, starting from the outside of the deck and moving inward, screwing accent boards into place first. Starting with accent boards can help guide the addition of field boards.
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Something Else You Want To Build A Deck Over
If you have any other questions about what you can and cant build a deck overnot matter how strange it might seemcontact David at DeKing Decks. Hes experienced with these kinds of jobs and can talk to you about your options and what is possible.
Deking Deck Service Areas:
DeKing Decks service Brisbane, Redlands, Bayside, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton Bay, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Scenic Rim
Selecting A Trusted Deck Expert
As outlined above, there are many reasons to enhance your home or business with a floating deck. Once you decide to take the plunge and install a deck, you need to make sure that you seek the guidance of a trusted decking expert. As not all deck providers are created equal, it is important to carefully evaluate providers to ensure that you make the best choice. Ideally, the provider you choose should offer the following:
- Composite decking manufactured in the United States
- A strong international presence
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How Can I Make My Concrete Porch Look Better
Take a look at all of these fabulous concrete patio ideas.
Does A Pergola Add Value To A Home
Heres what we tell our customers: yes, a pergola will add market value to any house. Since outdoor living has become more popular than ever, the value of properties with a pergola or a comfortable outdoor space has been on the rise. A safe gauge for a deck or backyard improvement is about 50% 80% for your ROI.
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Composite Decking Over A Concrete Porch Gives A Backyard New Life
I hadnt seen my cousin in over a year, so when I had some free time, I decided to make the drive to her house. I was surprised to see that she had two puffy eyes and a rag held to her nose when she opened the door. Shed been gardening, and while moving potted plants around had stumbled over a crack in her patio, stubbing her toe and smacking herself in the nose with a pot. She was embarrassed, but unharmed aside from a nosebleed.
When I checked out the scene of the crime it was easy to see how it had happened. The slab behind the house was subsiding, and deep cracks had fissured the concrete. I was able to turn over a sliver five inches long with my foot and kick it off the patio. I asked her if shed considered replacing the slab, and her reply was that she didnt have the time. Having a contractor over would interfere with her planting. I suggested putting a ground level deck down, but she likes gardening in bare feet and worried about splinters. I suggested putting composite decking over the concrete porch. Good quality composite decking is barefoot-friendly and looks like real wood decking. These qualities piqued her interest and we started to discuss the options.
The Challenges of Building Decks on Top of Concrete
Preparing the Surface by Leveling the Slab
Installing Composite Decking Over a Concrete Porch
Making Sure The Slab Is Even
Okay, so youve done some preliminary investigations. Youve figured out that you have enough clearance to build your deck and gathered all the boards and planks necessary for creating a nice stable substructure over which your platform will be built.
Now the hard work begins making sure that your frame will be level so that the resulting deck will also be level.
Why might this be difficult, you ask? The answer is because few concrete slabs are perfectly even. In fact, most of them are characterised by little dips and rises that are usually imperceptible to the naked eye, but would make for a wonky substructure if you were to just slap one down over the top of it.
This is why you must smooth out any rises and dips, and even out the slab as much as you can before installing the frame over the top of it. The best way to do this is through using a concrete mixture such as:
As you work your way across the slab with your mixture and straight edge, puttying up those dips and cracks, make sure you apply a level at regular intervals to ensure the concrete surface is levelling out and becoming even.
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Re: Merbau Decking Over Concrete Slab
Thank you very much for your very detailed response and advice. I really appreciate your inputs.
When you say brackets on the inside does it mean the horizontal bottom which is to concrete slab stays underneath the h3 timber like my rudimental drawing???
Am I ok to have 3 brackets per timber or do I need more?
I would start with getting the flush fit with the door once the decking is on and then level it from there
Forgive me if this question sounds very stupid, but how can I level further once the frame is bolted to concrete before I lay decking? Wouldnt the packers go underneath timber frame before I attach them to the bracket?
Am I OK to have only one screw per bracket although there are two holes? That way I could raise the timber from floor by 2-3 centimetres.
I wanted to extend the deck past the house to maximize deck space leaving just enough room for a single column stepping stone path. Also there is a water / gas point on the brick pillar and if I wanted to add a gas barbeque I could keep it in that corner. There would be only 35 x 45 cm over hang next to the pillar. Its less likely that anyone would every stand here in terms of load over deck.
Also as you can see on the first image, alfresco sliding door is more or less flush on the left hand side while the sliding door on right hand side is recessed and one layer of brick is exposed. Do I leave this brick exposed or do I cover it with decking board?
Thanks for reading through.
Placing & Installing Sleepers
Sleepers can be placed directly on the concrete, or they can be set apart with ½ PVC spacers. Sleepers can also be level or sloped, as long as their surface forms a single flat plane. Starting from the highest point in your patio, place your first sleeper in position, using plastic shims to raise low spots if necessary.
Use a hammer drill to pre-drill into the spacers, sleepers, and concrete. Secure with concrete screws, penetrating no less than 1 into the concrete. Place additional sleepers in the same manner, using a straight-edge to ensure each is consistent with the last. Finally, use flashing tape to cover the topside of each sleeper.
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Best Results When Adding Railings
Railings aren’t typically required for ground-level decks, but are sometimes added for aesthetic reasons or to allow places to put shelving for plants, entertaining, etc.
There are two ways to install the posts for railings. The first, and most sturdy, is to set rot-proof posts into concrete around the perimeter of the deck.
Or you can use surface fasteners to attach the posts directly to the deck. When using surface fasteners to secure railing to a composite deck, joist location may affect the ease, price and method of the installation of the railing system. Leaving the required 1.5 spacing for surface fastening at the end of the board and 1 from the side of the board, requires two joists for every end-to-end seam. Board seams with double joisting can affect post placement for your railing system.
You may also want to install additional sleepers beneath the decking to give the post supports more strength. Planning is key, since once the decking is installed there is no easy way to go back!!
Thoroughly reading all installation instructions first will make for more successful projects. Failure to do so may result in a more difficult installation and may void the warranty.
Building A Patio Deck Over Concrete: Time Money And Tools
Time: Covering a patio with decking typically takes a weekend or two. This patio took much more timefive long days. That’s partly because it’s a big one . The grid pattern formed with different-colored decking also added a few hours to the job. But the biggest time factor was the unevenness of the patio surface. All those ridges and sunken spots meant hours of tedious shimming under the sleepers to form a flat surface for the decking .
Cost: The cost of building a patio deck depends mostly on the decking you choose. Decking ranges from about $1.50 per sq. ft. for treated wood to more than $10 per sq. ft. for a top-grade manufactured product. The other materials for this project add up to about $1.50 per sq. ft., so your total cost could be anywhere from $3 to $12 per sq. ft. For looks and durability, we used two different colors of decking made from PVC, but there are less expensive alternatives.
Tools: Aside from standard carpentry tools, you’ll need a hammer drill for this project. You can get a hammer drill for less than $50 that will do the job. But consider spending $100 or more. Even a very small patio will require more than 50 holes, and a more powerful drill will make that chore a lot easier. Also consider buying an impact driver. Impact drivers pack a lot more torque than standard drills or drivers and will drive concrete screws much better. Most models are cordless, but you can still find inexpensive corded models online.
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Can You Put Composite Decking Over Concrete
Can composite decking be installed over concrete? Yes. In most cases you can lay composite decking over concrete . In fact, concrete surfaces can provide a dry, durable, and stable area thats essentially ideal for composite decking. Available in a wide range of colors and patterns, covering a concrete area with composite can be a quick and simple way to revitalize an area particularly when placing Trex decking over a concrete patio.
However, determining if you can lay composite decking over concrete does involve a closer look at other considerations. In some instances, you may have better options for materials that go over a concrete patio, and some installations may involve more work than others.
Can You Build A Deck Over Pavers Or Tiles
Sure, why not? You can certainly build a deck over pavers or tiles, you just need to make sure that the pavers have been laid correctly and are nicely settled. If its a botched DIY job, more work might need to be done before you can build a deck safely.
To find out if we can build a deck over your pavers or tiles, contact us.
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Should I Use Wood Or Composite Decking
The warm and natural feel of a deck can be accomplished with either wood or composite decking. When youre putting a deck over an old concrete patio, your first decision will be which material you want to use.
Wood Decking
Wood decking is the more traditional approach to building a deck, but it is fading in popularity. While it does look nice, it is prone to fading, rotting and drying over time. It does have the distinct advantage of being considerably more affordable than composite decking, however.
Composite Decking
One of the many benefits of composite decking is that it is built from a combination of wood fibers and PVC plastic. These are molded planks or tiles, not natural wood, and so they are not as prone to warping, swelling, drying or splitting like wood decking. They last longer than wood and require considerably less maintenance. If your project budget allows for it, composite decking is the superior choice.
Glue Down The Border Pavers Over Concrete
After setting each paver, run a bead of construction adhesive up the side of it. That will keep the sand from washing out between pavers.How to lay paving stones
To get started, scrub the border area with a concrete cleaner or muriatic acid mixed with water . Any stiff brush will do, but a deck stripping brush on a broom handle makes it easier. Hose down the patio when youre done scrubbing the border.
While the concrete is drying, grab a tape measure and a chalk line and carefully plan the locations of the borders . Using the chalk lines as a guide, glue down the border pavers along the house and two sides of the patio . We used polyurethane construction adhesive for a strong, long-lasting bond . If adhesive squishes up between pavers, dont try to wipe it off. Just let it harden, then trim it off of the concrete patio blocks with a utility knife.
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Solve The Water Problems
Most of the time, the patio corner had settled by many years. For this reason, rainwater can be stuck in the basement. It is a better idea to fill the reservoir with an exterior self-leveling compound. Besides, you can make a thin coat and make it a slight slope to run the water away. You can keep a gap between the house and the patio. Besides, there are some other ways to solve the water problem.