How To Pour A Concrete Patio
Get your landscaping features with this DIY concrete patio that comes with a solid concrete texture. Our all concrete patio ideas are long-lasting and economical and will require low maintenance too. For this DIY concrete patio, you need a concrete mix, gravel, acrylic cure, and seal as the main ingredients to build this solid concrete patio. Details here bobvila
Patio Drainage Problems & Systems
Do portions of your concrete patio or pool deck sit under water after a heavy rain, ruining your outdoor activities? Thats a sure sign that your patio isnt draining properly. Poor patio drainage not only spoils your outdoor fun, it can also allow water to seep into your basement if the water pools next to your house. Here are some tips for identifying and correcting aggravating and potentially destructive patio drainage problems.
For this patio, strips of decorative gravel offer an attractive drainage solution. Modal Design in Los Angeles, CA.
Drive Stakes Along The New Layout Lines
Drive stakes along the layout lines, putting them at the corners of the patio and every 2 feet in between. Drive the stakes straight up and down, firmly embedding them in the ground, trim them to height later.
The patio must slope away from the house at a rate of 1/8 to ¼ inch per foot-check local code for the proper rate.
Measure down from the batterboards and mark the two end stakes at the finished height of the patio. Hold a chalk like tight at the marks you made and snap it to mark the rest of the stakes.
Also Check: How To Install Flagstone On Concrete Patio
Get Creative With Paint
Other clever and inexpensive ways are available for homeowners to spruce up their existing backyard concrete patios.
A faux rug, created using paint and stencil, is an affordable idea for warming up old pavement on a patio, Mochelle says.
For a long-lasting finish, he recommends porch paint rated for outdoor use. Before applying, you should power-wash the concrete. You can rent a power washer for about $60 per day, according to doityourself.com.
Cost Of Concrete Patios Across The Us
The prices listed in this cost guide are all national averages. Demand and access to materials will vary depending on where you live, leading to diversity in prices on a local scale.
Some regions may have better access to materials and local contractors than others. If there arent many concrete installers in your area, the lack of competition may affect total costs.
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Curate An Outdoor Living Room For Entertaining
Now more than ever, homeowners are fully focused on creating indoor-outdoor rooms for entertaining. Sassano recommends increasing the seating with lounge chairs to make the patio a comfortable gathering place.
A weather-resistant outdoor rug will help establish the dining area. Enhance the landscaping with homemade flower boxes or a container garden, string lights, a water feature, or a pergola, and then heat things up in the backyard with a portable fire pit.
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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.
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Concrete Slab Patios Vs Paver Stone Patios
Although patios formed of paving stone or brick have a lower initial startup cost LandscapingNetwork.com estimates the average cost at $6-10 per square foot pavers dont stand up to the elements the same way that reinforced concrete can.
Concrete contractors carefully plan joints in the concrete slab before they pour it to ensure its durability. Additionally, with concrete slabs, there are options for reinforcing concrete in geographic locations where soil composition makes for a poor foundation, or where extreme weather poses a threat to the integrity of the concrete.
A professionally-poured concrete slab as a patio surface wont shift over time or give way to dirt and vegetation the way that pavers and brick do.
Why Does The Patio Crack
The main issue with outdoor concrete patios is that they settle or sink. When the concrete patio sinks or settles, this occurs unevenly in different sections. This results in wobbly, unstable, and uneven concrete surfaces. When the concretes weight is not supported uniformly from below, concrete cracks start to form.
If you leave these issues unattended to and let the cracked concrete patio remain in this condition, your furniture may be unstable and walking on cracked concrete can stub your toes. Overall, you will have an unsightly concrete patio.
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Extra Design Elements To Add
We have lots of great inspiration from home shows, and where to find similar pieces to complete your concrete patio ideas.
I can almost feel the plans for all of the summer nights and days spent out on the patio. It is going to be your favorite place to hang out with all of these great concrete patio ideas for a makeover.
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Published: February 18, 2021Filed Under: , DIY, Gardening, Landscape, Porch and Patio, TipsaholicTagged: budget-friendly, Concrete, DIY, Outdoor living, patio, patio decor, patio furniture, patio tables, Patios, Summer, tips
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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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How Thick Should Concrete Patio Slab Be
So, youre planning to pour a new concrete patio to expand your backyard landscape and get a little more room to grill. Before you start, you need to know the right thickness for the patio. If you get it wrong, youll either spend far too much time and money on a thick patio or waste your money on a crumbling patio that doesnt meet code! So, how thick should a concrete patio be?
Most concrete patios, and other concrete slabs, are 4 inches thick. Building codes across the country usually require a thickness of 3.5 inches and compressive strength of 3,000 PSI. However, many things determine whether a concrete patio should be thicker, or incorporate rebar/reinforcement mesh.
In this article, youll learn how thick a concrete patio should be, the factors and building codes that determine the right slab thickness, and the basic steps of pouring your own concrete patio.
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Stamped Concrete Patio Cost
Stamping concrete costs between $8 and $28 per square foot. While it can be more expensive to complete a stamped concrete patio, the benefit is you can select any pattern you would like to use. Mimicking the look of stone or pavers creates a richer-looking finished space. Stamping concrete is often done in conjunction with coloring or staining your concrete.
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Can You Resurface A Concrete Patio
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. Your resurfaced concrete patio can be stamped, stained, or stenciled and have color added.
How To Estimate Rebar Quantity
Rebar is available in lengths up to 60-feet but is more commonly delivered in 8, 12, or 16 lengths. Different retailers offer different lengths depending on use. The weight of the rebar is often a factor in delivery cost, so you may want to check that out too when ordering or picking up the steel.
Calculating the amount of rebar can be done with some simple math, drawing a plan on paper, or using an on-line rebar calculator. The dimensions of the slab determine the amount of reinforcing steel needed. Pieces that are too short need to overlap by 30 times the diameter, so #3 by 12 or more, and #4 by at least 15, so if possible, try for lengths that dont need to overlap.
To calculate the amount of rebar, convert the length and width of the pad to inches. Subtract 6 from each to allow for 3 inset from the edges. Divide each dimension by the planned grid spacing, and round up to whole numbers, and add one extra piece for the 0 or starter. You may want to add 10% for overlaps.
Here are the steps to calculate the rebar for a double wide driveway 20 x 44 using a 16 spaced grid:
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Stylistic Versatility Of Concrete
Traditional wooden decks are relatively straightforward in the manner they are laid with the greatest design choice being balcony material and the stain and sealant colors.
Similarly, gravel or crushed limestone patios are inexpensive and quick solutions but offer limit style choices to the color of the crushed stone and the material used to border it. In sharp contrast, there are thousands of options when selecting the style and finish of a patio.
Finishing techniques such as stamping patterns to emulate brick, stone and tile, scoring geometric designs, and staining concrete patios in solid colors or blended patterns start as low as $2-8 a square foot.
On the higher end, sophisticated design options such as embossing or engraving patterns and logos into concrete surfaces or complex faux finishes to emulate a variety of natural stones from slate to marble sometimes run upwards of $20 a square foot.
The variety of design options available make it easy to create a patio area entirely unique to your backyard, taste, and budget.
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Using one product or products from a bunch of different brands isnt going to help you achieve and maintain amazing skin.
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- by Allie Lebos
Driving gloves are an old-school accessory that is rarely seen in modern times. While professional racecar drivers tend to wear driving gloves in order to enhance their grip on a steering wheel, those who drive classic or vintage cars might also be familiar with driving gloves. Being that modern cars dont really call for the use of driving gloves, these thin leather hand covers can be nice no matter how unnecessary they are.
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Does Rebar Rust In Concrete
Steel encased in concrete is reasonably safe from corrosion due to the relative impermeability of concrete and its alkaline nature. The high pH value in concrete helps protect the steel with a thin oxide layer. Unfortunately, the chloride ions in marine salt and road salts can permeate into the concrete and attack the steel.
Rebar that isnt fully surrounded by concrete, or that has been exposed due to cracking or delamination will corrode, so ensure repairs are done to protect the steel. Rebar or mesh will oxidize along the strands and expand, causing the concrete to break from within. Rust marks on the surface of concrete, unless left by something placed on the concrete, often indicate rusting of reinforcing steel.
Proper preparation and installation of steel prior to pouring is as important as maintaining the placement during the pour. Steel that is too close to the edges, top, or bottom of the concrete is at risk of corrosive forces. Using rocks or pieces of wood to support rebar can also expose the rebar to corrosion by groundwater and salt too.
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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What Happens If Concrete Is Too Thin
If the concrete slab is too thin, it can crack and crumble easily. It wont have the thickness required to reach the required compressive strength, and the tensile strength will be very low. A two-inch slab is not enough to support more than a couple of hundred pounds.
The ground underneath the slab can also have a major impact, especially if the concrete slab is too thin. When groundwater and rain erode the soil beneath the slab, the slabs tensile strength is put to the test. This is why sidewalks crack easily: the soil shifts beneath the sidewalk due to rain and erosion and the slab isnt strong enough to avoid cracking.
Thats fine for a sidewalk, almost expected. For your patio, driveway, or home foundation, though, thats unacceptable and even dangerous. So, you never want your patio to be too thin or lacking reinforcement if needed!
Update Your Concrete Patio With Rust
If youve been following along for a while, then you might remember that weve been working on projects to fix up the exterior of our house since the spring.
I shared the whole before of our exterior as well as our plans to improve it early in the season. So far we have worked on the deck the pea gravel fire pit, the siding , the exterior trim, and the front yard lawn, river rock garden, split rail fence, and side shade garden.
One of the last things we managed to squeeze in this year before the weather arrived was the makeover of our lower patio. The before of this patio area from when I shared all my plans for the exterior of our house and the yard shows how it looked mid-way into the deck reconstruction process
We started with a very tired, very damaged, very ugly, old patio area beneath our upper deck.
At some point it had been painted with concrete paint , and it had NOT held up well. It actually made me cringe inside every time I looked at it.
We started out by giving it a serious power washing. We got up as much of the old concrete paint as we possibly could in order to leave a clean, fresh surface for our new treatment. The prep steps may seem like the boring part but they are super important, so dont skip them!
We bought this Subaru Power Washer in the spring and LOVE it
After power washing and getting every last bit of the old paint off that we possibly could, we filled the cracks with a special RustOLeum epoxy filler
Next: The Primer!
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General Ideas How To Make Your Concrete Patio Awesome
Idea 1. Make your Concrete Patio your Outdoor Living Room
Put couches and chairs that are comfortable enough to sit on and lie in. Line them with pillows to make for a completely cozy experience. You can also add a coffee table so you can drink tea or coffee outside while enjoying a good book or listening to fantastic music. When you have couches and chairs on your patio, you can also use this as your personal space for meditation or your mindfulness practice. Consider adding shade if you dont have it already so you can protect your furniture from the elements. Keep in mind that heat and rain, as well as possible snow, can drastically shorten the life of your furniture if youre not careful.
Idea 2. Set Up your Patio as an Additional Dining area
Idea 3. Install a Firepit
If your neck of the woods gets quite cold during the winter, it may be a good idea to add a firepit on your concrete patio. The great thing about having a firepit is your whole family, and some friends could camp out in that area. If you can still fit small chairs around it, thats even better. If not, you can still enjoy the heat by sitting around the fire and savoring the firepit-prepared food like simple barbecues, hotdogs, and of course marshmallows.
Idea 4. Add a Small Fountain in the Middle of your Concrete Patio
Idea 5. If Money is not a Big Concern, you can also put a Hot Tub on your Patio
The Final Word
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