The Best Way to Remodel you Patio in Few Effortless Steps
With patios increasingly becoming a natural extension of your internal living area
, that old, drab concrete pad is most possibly in desperate need of a bold makeover to meet changing requirements. And a makeover of your patio can generally be one of the most cost effective home improvement tasks you can undertake and if it's a professional looking transformation, can add substantially to the value of your home.
A number of options are possible for remodeling or transforming existing concrete pads, depending on the condition of the concrete, such as whether it is severely cracked or not, the amount of money you wish to spend , the amount of disruption you can tolerate and material preference. For example, if the concrete is in excellent condition , then the concrete surface could be simply be stained, given a textured coating or a stenciled tile pattern applied. These options involve only minimal disruption and are applied by specialized contractors.
If the concrete surface is in sound condition, maybe with only hairline cracks, then laying down ceramic, stone tiles or flagstones is an option that could be considered. Ceramic tiles are available in a kaleidoscope of colours, styles, surface textures and sizes. Textured finishes are generally applied to exterior tiles to provide a degree of slip resistance under wet conditions. Check to ensure the tiles are suitable for your local conditions as tiles with high water absorption may exhibit freeze-thaw cracking in freezing conditions. It's important also to note that any existing cracks in the concrete which extend through the total concrete thickness are likely to become more pronounced and eventually can cause any tiles laid above to crack.
Natural stone products such as sandstone, limestone, slate or granite are also an opion but if using such tiles it's a good idea to make sure thay are sealed against moisture or to prevent staining.
Another option is to use new or reclaimed bricks or clay pavers although the extra height that bricks or pavers will add needs to be considered . But bricks or pavers have the advantage that they are normally very easy to lay and it's not normally necessary to fill in the gaps between the bricks .
But perhaps one of the simplest, most cost effective and attractive options is to lay down interlocking deck tiles. Such tiles can tolerate a certain degree of cracking of the concrete and will not cause problems if cracks in the concrete pad are likely to expand. These do-it-yourself decking tiles are typically available as 12" x 12" squares and are easily installed by just clicking the modules into place . The tiles have special tabs built onto the sides of the plastic mesh base which keeps them firmly in place and avoids the need for any particular surface preparation, adhesives or other fixings . The plastic base is designed to allow water to pass freely under the tiles and keep the wood clear of the concrete base . A typical patio area can be fully laid in just an hour or so and is ready to use immediately.
Deck tiles are availabel in various designs, so it is possible to create borders, centerpieces, feature areas etc. to suit your individual preference. And they are now available not only in different species of wood but also in slate, sandstone, granite, ceramic , PVC, rubber and composite wood. With some tiles you can combine interlocking tiles of different materials. So for example you could build a central patio area paved in slate or sandstone tiles , surrounded by wood tiles.
To complete the makeover, you could purchase a few large pots or planters, a few well established plants and maybe a decorative item or two ensuring that your formerly drab patio will become a place you can again enjoy and be truly proud of.
The Best Way to Remodel you Patio in Few Effortless Steps
By: Malcolm Kay
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