If a concrete patio is decorated well after being built, it can
be an attractive part of your landscaping. It also adds
convenience to your landscaping since it is rectangular and easy
to mow around. Concrete patios also offer great places to
entertain guests and a way to increase property value. Rather than paying someone else to do it, you
can save time and money by building the concrete patio on your
own in about 3 days. It is a relatively small amount of time and
effort to build when compared to how long the patio will last.
It will be very durable and can withstand years of wear and tear.
Planning the Patio
You need to begin by planning your patio. How big do you want it
to be? You'll then need to mark off that area. Do you have all
of the necessary tools? How much concrete will be needed? A
common size for a patio is 50 square feet. To make a patio about
this size, at 6 inches thick, you will need 25 bags of pre-mixed
concrete. For the pre-mixed concrete (the best option) you will
need to have concrete tools and an automatic concrete mixer. If
you do not have these, don't want to buy them, or you can't
borrow them, you can rent them from a home improvement or
hardware store.
After marking off the area, you should use a garden shovel to dig
out the area six inches deep. Digging at this depth will allow
you to use 2 inches of gravel beneath 4 inches of concrete. It
is very important to do this in cold climates where freezing and
thawing can cause drainage problems. The gravel will prevent
these problems and prevent your patio from cracking.
After excavating the area for the patio, you should build a form
out of wood to hold the gravel and concrete in place. This will
prevent the concrete and gravel from spreading out past where you
want your patio to be. Other options besides wood for the form
are to use strong plastic or rubber. No matter what you use, the
entire form should be sunk into the ground and line the entire
border of the patio area. The top of the form should be at the
same level as the top of the lawn if you want the patio to be
flush with the ground. Next, you will add the gravel. Make sure
it is packed somewhat tightly so it doesn't shift in the future.
Next, you should add two-inch high flat pieced of rock. These
will act as supports for the rebar that will reinforce the
concrete.
Forming the Grid
The rebar is made in a grid form, and will be installed in the
middle of the 4 inch thick concrete slab. You should install it
by putting pieces 2 feet apart from front to back an left to
right. Secure the intersections of the rebar together with
wiring. It is necessary to have the rebar to help unify the
concrete and to provide extra support for the patio.
Next, you should use the automatic mixer to mix the concrete.
Closely follow the directions for adding water. You should add
water first with a hose, then begin adding concrete. You can
begin adding water again until the concrete becomes a medium
shade of shiny gray throughout. Once the concrete is mixed, you
can begin to pour it into the form. You should begin to pour at
the end of the patio farthest from the concrete mixer. You will
most likely want to transport the concrete in a wheel barrow. It
is important that you have several filler rocks ready to add to
the concrete mixture. You should have everything prepared as
much as possible before pouring, because once you begin to apply
the concrete, you should pour as quickly as possible.
After the concrete is poured, use a creed to smooth out the
surface and to take off excess concrete above the top of the form
boards. Using a mason's trowel, you should now cut initial
control joints into the patio. The joints should be 2 inches
deep, 3-4 feet apart from each other. When a watery layer
appears, you should wait for it to disappear before you move on.
Using a jointer will help you finish the control joints. You can
then make a clean groove, about one inch deep.
Finishing
Last, you can finish by adding any stylistic elements that you
would like. Pushing a broom lightly over the surface, for
example, will create a nice look while being functional in
preventing a slippery surface in wet weather. After you do this,
you should lay plastic over the patio for the concrete to "cure"
(dry) properly. The plastic should be left on for 1 week, and
you should not heavily use the patio for at least 2 weeks after
that.
Did you know that a landscaped patio area can add as much as 12.4% to the value of a property!
Once the patio is completed it's time to look at adding some landscaping as the next project for your patio.
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