backyard concrete
A patio is an essential part of outdoor living. You will likely spend many hours with friends and family on your patio. Because of its durability and design versatility, concrete is an excellent paving choice for patios. A concrete patio has numerous benefits when compared to decking and other patio surface options.
If you have an existing concrete patio that is cracked or stained, it can be resurfaced. Concrete resurfacing will make your patio look like new. A resurfaced concrete patio can be colored and stamped.
Another strong trend is to integrate plants into the places where expansion joints would otherwise be located. These help to create a more permeable surface and break up the expansive paving with green. It is not uncommon to utilize artificial turf in these joints as well, particularly in regions where water conservation is vital.
How Much Does A Concrete Patio Cost To Build? A Budgeting Guide (2022)
Concrete is good for warm climate landscapes that do not experience the extreme freeze-thaw of the northern states, which is the cause of uncontrollable cracking. Chris Major of Blue Ridge Landscaping in Holland, Michigan says, "Concrete is great and cheaper at the start, but it cracks." Trust a Michigan landscaper to be forthright about the problem that does and always has afflicted concrete patios. The radical pressures of freeze-thaw make this a problem in the north, but other factors can lead to cracking too.
Virginia marl is a unique soil condition that afflicts projects by Adam Heath at Mid Atlantic Enterprise. "Marl makes our soils unstable, causing big problems with paving. This is a mushy organic soil composed of silt and sediment that is very expansive. You literally can't build on it. We have to excavate all our patio spaces to remove all the marl then backfill it with specific crushed stone to obtain the solid compaction we need."
Similar problems are experienced by Matt Schmuke of Arcadia Design Group. "In Colorado you're guaranteed that a slab will crack. Plasticity of the clay soil is the problem. With pavers we have an infinite number of joints so you'll never see a crack."Concrete Patio Learn how concrete gives you complete creative freedom to bring the style and elements of your indoor rooms to the outdoors Updated January 22, 2021
Concrete Patio Ideas On A Budget
A patio is an essential element in today's backyards. Concrete is the most popular patio material in the country. With many decorative finishes, concrete patios attract homeowners who want an outdoor surface with unlimited design potential (see concrete patio ideas). When compared to wood decks, pavers and natural stone, a concrete patio is also more durable and requires less maintenance.
Concrete Patio Cost How much does a concrete patio cost? Find out average costs and what design features contribute to the price.
Here, we offer tips for designing and sizing a concrete patio, give you an overview of the various concrete patio finish options, and tell you about ways you can accessorize and enhance your patio. For people with existing concrete patios, we also tell you about ways to give your old patio a decorative makeover by resurfacing, staining or engraving.
Pros And Cons Of Stamped Concrete
In addition to serving as a gathering zone for lounging and entertaining, concrete patios allow homeowners to seamlessly blend interior and exterior living spaces. They are the perfect decorative flooring surface for outdoor kitchens and living rooms, complete with cozy seating areas, fireplaces and water features.
What's more, this outdoor floor offers unlimited design options. When enhanced by stains and integral colors, concrete patios can be color coordinated to match a home's exterior or landscape. They can also be stamped or engraved in patterns that mimic other popular paving materials, such as brick, flagstone, slate and tile.
As an investment, concrete patios typically cost less than patios made of brick or natural stone because they are less labor-intensive to install. The lower price tag combined with the wide array of patterns and colors available make concrete an economical choice for most budgets. Plus, concrete is easily formed into any shape to accommodate backyard space restrictions.
How To Pour A Concrete Patio
Upgrading your backyard with a decorative concrete patio is also an investment that will provide many years of enjoyment while improving the look of your landscape. Concrete is easy to maintain and can stand up to the harshest of weather conditions. Unlike paving stones, you won't have joints between units where grass and weeds can sprout. And unlike wood, concrete won't warp, rot or require periodic staining.
Until wood decks became so trendy a decade or so ago, most patios were made of hard materials like concrete, brick or stone. Today, many homeowners who installed those wood decks need to replace them because of rotting or warped wood, or because they are simply fed up with the hassle of staining and sealing them every few years. Patios made of concrete or concrete pavers are making a big comeback as homeowners now realize all the benefits they were missing out on by installing wood or wood-composite decking. Here are some of the reasons why people are making the switch:
Thanks to the design versatility of concrete, your patio will never look just like your neighbor's. And with recent advances in coloring techniques and stamping tools, patios made of poured-in-place concrete are more versatile than ever before. Concrete is easily formed into any shape, allowing you to accommodate backyard space restrictions or incorporate attractive curves. With the use of stains and other coloring methods, you can also achieve just about any hue imaginable, whether you want to match the stone facade of your house or blend in with the natural landscape.
Concrete Patio With Beautiful Cedar Pergola In Taylors, Sc
You can also choose from a vast array of pattern and design options, including stamped patterns, stenciling, engraving, exposed aggregate and more (see Concrete Patio Finishes). While many concrete patios are designed to complement the outdoor landscape, some homeowners choose a concrete patio style that complements their indoor living space to create a surface that blends in seamlessly with the interior decor. Concrete can also be made to resemble other popular patio materials, including brick, natural stone and even wood.
In addition to concrete's versatility, concrete is highly durable and can stand up to the wide range of weather conditions found across the country. In fact, many concrete contractors in colder climates take special measures to ensure the durability of the concrete patios they produce.
Bill Guthro of Distinctive Concrete in Rowley, Mass., says stamped concrete will last longer than any other type of masonry installation. "We use a lot of steel and rebar in a 2-foot grid that controls cracking. We also apply many coats of sealer, " he says. In addition, they use a proprietary high-strength concrete mix that reaches compressive strengths of 4000 psi and includes reinforcing fibers.
Outdoor Living Spaces In Your Backyard
When compared with individual masonry paving units and natural stone, concrete is easier to maintain because it’s a solid surface. Unlike paving stones, you won't have sand-filled joints between units where grass and weeds can sprout. In addition, individual pavers can settle unevenly, creating dangerous tripping hazards.
When compared with wood, a concrete patio saves you the labor of staining and resealing year after year, and it’s invulnerable to termite infestation, wood rot and splintering. (See Concrete Patio Maintenance Is a Breeze).
Installing a concrete patio rather than a wood deck saves lumber and eliminates the need for regular maintenance with solvent-based wood stains and sealers (see Green Building With Concrete).
Top 50 Best Stamped Concrete Patio Ideas
Concrete can be stamped, engraved, stenciled or textured to resemble pricier stone or brick pavers, and often at a fraction of the cost, especially when you factor in the labor savings. The aesthetic appeal and durability of decorative concrete will also boost the resale value of your home. (See Concrete Patio Costs).
In addition to being a great patio material, concrete can also be used to maximize your entire backyard space. The goal is to create destinations in the garden and connect them with welcoming pathways. Use focal points, seat walls, fountains, ponds, arbors, fireplaces, fire pits, and fragrant plantings to create interest at different locations and draw guests out into the yard space.
Pergolas are a great, economical way to add a shade structure to your patio. For denser shade, consider growing vines that will cover the area.
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