Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeBuildHow To Build Your Own Patio

How To Build Your Own Patio

Building Your Own Patio Cover Heres How

How to Build a Patio – An easy Do it Yourself Project

A typical project between my hubs and I includes us both having completely different ideas on a) what we want, and b) how said project should be achieved. So of course the patio cover was no different. Spencer had this grand plan to make basically this. While that is a very lovely pergola, it didnt have the two essentials I wanted: to provide shade and protect from rain. A few tweaks to his design later and Spencer came back with the most GLORIOUS, solid, awesomely wonderful drawing and I was sold. One of the things I love about building your own patio cover is that not only does it save cash versus hiring it out or paying for a prefabricated one. BUT, youre basically adding square footage to your house. Usable space = WINNING.

Let me waste no more of your time with our spousal disagreements and lets get into building a freestanding patio cover!

Tools and Materials:

Step One: Plan

As you plan out your patio cover, some key questions to think about: How tall do I want it? How large of an area do I want it to span? Do I want it covered or left open? Do I want to slope my roof ? Each of these will help determine the amount of material youll need. Here is an example of what we did. Obviously yours will likely look different if you want a different size, etc. Once you have your design and materials, its time to get to work!

Step Two: Dig, Move to Step Three, Then Dig Some More

Step Three: Measure, Level, and Cement

Step Six: The Beams

Diy Paver Patio Project On A Budget

Regardless of your garden makeover budget, we still believe adding a paver patio is achievable for anyone. While we know it will take a good amount of time and effort to create a larger paver patio, it still doesnt have to break the bank. We always recommend trying to take the project at a leisurely pace, and youll enjoy the process far more than trying to get it done in a rush. Plan your paver patio out a few months before you hope to use it, and it will be ready well in time for your summer gatherings this year. Gardening Channel reminds you to always consider any plumbing and electric lines in your yard before you start digging up the ground. That would certainly be a costly mistake!


Lay A Flagstone Pathway

Its entirely possible to not have to deal with old concrete slabs and already existing patios and thats great, especially if youre planning to lay a flagstone pathway in your backyard. Thats pretty easy to do and you dont need much for the project. Well, you obviously require flagstone slabs and you might need the help of a professional to decide the amount youll actually have to buy. In addition to that, youll also need some sand and shovels plus plenty of time.

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Lay Bricks Along Layout Lines

Lay a row of bricks along the baseline, aligning the end of the first brick with the perpendicular layout line. Butt them tightly together. Lay another row, aligning the end of the first brick with the second line. Continue laying bricks until one section is complete. Then work out from this section to complete the patio.

Build Your Own Patio With Natural Stone

How To Design And Build Your Own Patio

Yet another option is fieldstone, the rocks removed from the soil when land is cleared. Though truly distinctive when installed properly, its finished surface is much rougher than flat stones like slate and bluestone. Flat stones usually are sold in nominal thicknesses from 1 to 3 in. and in 6-in. width and length increments, starting at 12 x 12 in. and going up to 2 ft. 6 in. x 2 ft. 6 in. Anything larger or thicker is usually a special order. Prices vary substantially. We bought ours in upstate New York, where 1-in.-thick bluestone costs about $4 per square foot delivered.

Stonework can certainly be beautiful and can add value to your property. Unfortunately, it’s not very easy to install. Most of the problems are in the material itself. Unlike consistent building units, like bricks or cast concrete pavers, natural stone comes in variable thicknesses. When you order nominal 1-in.-thick stones, for example, you get pieces that have one flat side but that vary in thickness from as little as 1/2 in. up to as much as 1-1/2 in. Because your goal is to create a finished surface that is as flat as possible, this means you have to custom fit the bottom of each stone in the sand base, which can be extremely time-consuming even after you get the hang of the job.


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Patios: Diy Vs Hiring A Contractor

Is DIY a possibility? It depends on the scale of your patio project, what the site requires, and of course your personal skills. A small patio on a flat area can be fairly straightforward online DIY videos will tell you how to do it.

But in an area with a lot of topography, it can be a challenge to find usable space. If its going to be a raised patio, says Petersen, youll need perimeter footingperhaps steel and concreteand a way to address drainage issues.

And if permits are required, youll need to generate a site plan, showing spot elevations so you know where the runoff is going. Building steps means more regulations to comply with.

Create A Custom Paver Patio

One of the best things about DIY projects is that you can let your creativity go wild. Room For Tuesday shares how to install a custom paver patio, and you can simply adjust the instructions to fit the size and design of your garden. One of their top tips is to try this project in cooler temperatures or in the evening. Otherwise, youll find this project to be a lot more challenging and unenjoyable. Remember, though, you can save yourself thousands of dollars by tackling this project yourself, so its certainly worth the hard work.


Also Check: How To Build A Deck Over A Concrete Patio

A Small Backyard Patio: The Simple Design Steps

  • .This is important because you don’t want to be baking in the sun if you would rather be cooling in the shade.Remember placement is important. Think about the time of day you will use it the most and where the sun will be at that time. You may want to place it under some trees for shade. It all depends on your personal preference after all, this is your little getaway spot.
  • Measure off the length and width of your patio. Decide how much room you need. Do you only want enough room for two chairs and a small table, or do you want to seat your entire family? Mark off the area with some stakes and twine or even with an outline of flour on the grass. Place your intended furniture inside your marked off area to ensure you have the space you require.
  • Visit your local home improvement center to buy paving stones. Paving stones come in a large variety of shapes and colors. The staff at the center can help you decide how many you need, depending on the measurements you have provided them. You will also need to purchase sand as a filler and some crushed stone or pea gravel as a base. Staff at the store can advise you on quantities, but it is always best to buy a little extra.
  • Dig out the area! You must dig to the depth of the pavers plus the sand and the base filler . It is best to go just a little deeper than your estimate you can always level it off with the fillers. Dig out allowing for one inch of sand and crushed stone + the depth of your stone paver.
  • Manufactured Concrete Cobbles That Come In Mats

    Make your own Patio Stones quickly and easily with this method

    Paver patios are definitely practical but laying each paver by hand, one by one gets really annoying quickly. You can make things easier by opting for the more time-saving and practical alternative: manufactured concrete cobbles that come in the form of mats, very much like mosaic backsplash tiles. Theyre super easy to install. Once youve arranged all the mats and filled all the gaps, you just pour grout over everything and you spread it evenly. Youll probably need a few more details so be sure to check out thisoldhouse.

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    Make A Patio Base Of Sand And Gravel

    Make a gravel base by adding crushed stones, sand, or pea gravel to the freshly dug area. Spread it to create a 2-inch deep layer that covers the entire patio space. Then use a hand tamper or plate compactor to create a firm base and settle the gravel.

    Next, add another 2 inches of gravel. Use a tamper or plate compactor again to give your DIY patio a smooth surface.


    How Can I Cut The Costs Of A New Patio

    Pedersen advises keeping the materials and design simple. Rectangles will help control the budget, he says. Doing soft radiuses and turns requires a lot of cutting, and that increases the labor. Keep the geometry simple and dont fight your modulethe reason houses are rectilinear is because wood is rectilinear.

    His second tip: Dont dig too deep. When you begin to move a lot of soil, costs go up. Site work and excavation are one of the most expensive parts of any project.

    N.B.: Planning a patio project? For design tips, layouts, and the best materials, see . For more projects, see our Hardscape 101 design guides to Fences & Gates 101 and Pavers 101. And browse our posts on materials:

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    How Long Will A Patio Last

    Patio durability depends on the materials used. Most stone has a long life expectancy, though some stone weathers faster than others Pedersen avoids slate and Arizona sandstone for that reason.


    With gravel, theres always a level of maintenance, says Pedersen. You can lay weed blankets, but thats not a long-term solution. DG also needs freshening up now and again. But these surfaces can last as long as you want to maintain them.

    As for concrete, Pedersen repeats an old contractors joke: There are two kinds concrete thats cracked, and concrete that will crack. Cutting it into pieces can minimize cracking and help it last longer, he says. But any concrete surface will show more sand after 10 to 15 years of being exposed to the elements.

    What Are The Best Guardrail Materials

    Build Your Own Patio Cover And Fan â Design And Decor ...

    As for the guardrail material, Petersen says this choice should also be driven by the architecture. Well do glass for a house thats sleek and contemporary, or maybe a cable rail with stainless steel posts, he says. For a more traditional house we might do wood pickets and have some fun with patterns.

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    Adding Rods To The Shade

    Sam Henderson


    Spread the fabric shade out on a flat surface, one section at a time. With a pencil, make a line 3/4 from the center on both sides of each long, top-stitched seam. The result should be two lines, 1-1/2 apart, with the seam in the center. Fold long seam to long seam and crease the fold. Use this fold as your guide to make 2 lines, 1-1/2 apart with the crease in the center. These lines will be your guide for the rod pockets. On the 32 pieces of fabric that are 4-1/2×27, fold over each short end 1/2. press or crease in place. Stitch each fold in place. Fold over 1/4 on each of the long edges. Pin four of the pieces to the fabric shade with the long edges lined up with the lines you made. The pieces should all be 4 apart with the two outside pieces lining up flush with the edges of the shade hem. Sew the pockets in place, back stitching at the start and end of each pocket. Repeat for the other 7 lines and 28 pocket pieces. Cut away all excess threads. Insert a rod into each row of pockets. Put eye screws in each of the 40 holes with the metal sides of the holes running parallel with the rods. Add the caps to the ends of the rods.

    A Simple Rectangle Paver Patio

    Since you can basically build your backyard patio in any size or shape you want to, its easy to get distracted by all the different possibilities. However, the best option is most often the simplest and most obvious one. A simple rectangle might not seem very exciting but can end up looking amazing once all the pavers are in place. We really like how this design turned out and if you want to find out more about the process theres a video on that you can check out.

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    Make A Circular Fire Pit

    Outdoor fires are so hot right now. Seriously. Mankind has called the hearth home for the centuries, it’s true, but these days people are going ultra-retro and getting their heat from stone-walled pits set into the earth. And, why not? On cool summer nights, you can melt marshmallows and nibble s’mores while you lounge in an Adirondack chair, feet propped up on the rock ledge. So if you really want to light up right, do it in style. Use our step-by-step guide and take a few days to build your very own ring of fire.

    Follow along with TOH landscaper Roger Cook as he builds a circular fire pit and surrounding patio.


    How To Build A Small Backyard Patio

    Extreme How To – Build Your Own Patio
    Sharon Bellissimo

    Sharon is a human resources manager with a passion for reading and research and hanging out in her own backyard.

    Building a small backyard patio with simple patio design ideas is much easier than you think. It doesn’t matter the size of your yard you can still create a corner sitting area that is the perfect place to relax and unwind.

    Creating an outdoor space is a very economical and cost-effective way to enjoy a “staycation.” If you are not familiar with the term “staycation,” it basically means taking your vacation at home locally, and that can be as local as your own backyard! Relaxing in your outdoor oasis eliminates the stress of traveling to other locations. There are no planes, trains, or automobiles to drive or catch.

    We tend to spend our precious vacation time in transit, and it is also costly. Don’t forget about all the stress of preparation there are no bags to pack when you relax at home and no stress thinking about what you may have forgotten to pack either!

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    How To Build A Diy Covered Patio

    Youll be able to enjoy your backyard while protecting yourself from the sun when you learn how to build a DIY covered patio in this detailed tutorial.

    I have a special treat for you today! My brother-in-law, Curt is sharing his first guest post here at Ideas for the Home by Kenarry®. He and his wife built an amazing covered roof for their patio to provide a little shade and rain protection in their backyard. I think it looks incredible and was thrilled when Curt told me he wanted to share a tutorial for how to build a DIY covered patio on Ideas for the Home by Kenarry®. Ill let Curt take it from here!

    Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links for products or services we think youll like. This means if you make a purchase from one of these links, well make a small commission at no additional cost to you so we can keep the great ideas for the home coming your way. All opinions expressed are our own, derived from our personal experience.

    It is that time of the year when I start planning my summer projects. Most of the year I spend my time teaching English: grammar, styled writing, paragraph frameworks and a smattering of really good literature, but in the summer I am able to get my hands dirty and build stuff. This year I picked two major projects. The first is going to be a covering for our outdoor patio, and the second will be a natural swimming pond. This post will be covering the former and you can check out our DIY pond here.

    Diy Patio Cover Size & Cost

    The patio area to be covered is fairly large, 24X12, so spanning it became the major obstacle. The two choices were to run 12 beams and then get 24 engineered trusses to cover the span, or run 24 beams and run 12 2X8s to span the 10 gap. If we had chosen the former, we would have gone with a gabled ceiling trimmed out with tongue and groove cedar, and covered with asphalt shingles.

    In the end, the cost differential was substantial enough that the latter was a better choice. The final cost including all the finishing materials was just under $2000.

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    Greenery As A Focal Point

    You can do a lot with shrubs and flowers. This design is very simple but looks like it took a lot of planning with the plantings. Digging out a focal point in the centre of your patio can be great for many uses. It could serve as a water feature or a fire pit. You could plant your favourite flowers in the centre. Perhaps even a hot tub? Use your imagination.

    The rectangular garden bed around the patio could be planted with shrubs. Keep in mind the height of the shrubs you don’t want them growing very high and obstructing your view, or you may want large shrubs as a privacy wall.


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