Building a Patio From Pavers, Tile or Brick

Depending on your specific needs, there are several factors that can influence the size of your patio. These include available space, functionality and purpose, furniture and amenities, budget limitations, climate and weather conditions, and aesthetic appeal.

Start by marking the perimeter of your patio with lawn-safe chalk. Then, begin laying pavers and sand, ensuring that there are uniform gaps between each stone.

Pavers

Pavers offer a flexible alternative to concrete. They come in a wide range of shapes, colors and sizes, allowing you to design a patio that suits your tastes, landscape and function. Ask the sales associate at your home improvement store to recommend a paver layout that works well for the project you’re planning.

Prepare the site for your paver patio by digging a shallow bed of gravel and sand, 4 inches of base and 1 inch of sand. Spread the materials evenly with a rake, then screed them with a scrap two-by-four.

A level perimeter string helps you keep the gravel and sand even as you work, as well as promoting drainage. Once the sand is set, hose down the area to settle and compact it.

Natural Stone

Natural stone provides an elegant, luxurious look to any patio. Choose from many different colors, styles and shapes to create a unique look. Mix and match a variety of sizes for a random look or use one size for a more sophisticated style.

When using natural stones for your patio, excavate the area to a depth appropriate for your project. This will provide a strong, stable base for the paving. Locate and mark any in-ground utility lines by spray-painting before digging.

After the patio has been installed, fill in the gaps with sand, DG or gravel and sweep it across the stone to settle. If desired, plant grass or traffic-tolerant ground cover plants between the stones. Water the area to help the plantings establish.

Concrete

Whether built from concrete pavers, tile or bricks, a patio establishes an open ground-level outdoor space for dining, relaxing and entertaining. It may be located next to a house or freestanding in the yard. A concrete patio can be as utilitarian or decorative as the homeowner desires.

Adding reinforcing fibers to the concrete minimizes patio cracking. You can buy them separately or ask for them to be added when you order ready-mixed concrete delivered by truck.

Survey the area where your new patio will be placed to ensure that it is level. If necessary, regrade the site by digging into it with a shovel or rented excavator tool. Drive stakes around the perimeter of your new patio area and tie mason’s lines between each pair.

Bricks

Bricks give patios an earthy look and come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. You can use them to create a distinctive design that uplifts your outdoor space, or to add character to an existing concrete slab patio.

Before you lay your first brick, create a mason’s line with stakes and a mason’s level. This will allow you to clearly identify the patio boundaries as you excavate and prepare the soil for your new patio.

Fill the excavation floor with crushed stone or gravel, a layer that will provide stability and help with drainage. Spread a thick layer of paver sand over the surface, using a plate compactor to tamp it down, then sweep off excess sand. You can also apply a layer of polymeric joint sand to stiffen the joints and prevent weeds from growing between the bricks.

Tiles

Tiles can be laid to seamlessly merge indoor living space with the outdoors — and they offer a vast array of designs, colors and textures. Choose a design that reflects your personal style as well as the architectural style of your home.

Use the trowel’s un-notched side to distribute a thin layer of mortar and work it right up to your patio edges. Rake the notched side of the trowel over the mortar to create furrows and ridges, which will help the tiles adhere to the surface.

Place plastic spacers between adjacent tiles to maintain your desired grout seams. When the mortar is set, sweep it clean and wash away any haze that forms with a wet rag. Allow the grout to cure for a minimum of 24 hours.

from Patios Gold Coast Experts https://ift.tt/nsSXQO6
via IFTTT